Review: Base Audio G8 – Best bang for buck?

On Sound

I should mention that I did most of my listening on my Cayin N6.  It’s a wonderful sounding DAP, and I don’t care what L says, it is the best looking player on the market! Base Audio says the G8, “Delivers strong bass, yet provides a very bright sound signature.”  That is very accurate.  I love it when companies know what they gear sounds like.

“These larger drivers make for powerful lows and a good low-mid depth sound, while the highs are clear and crisp. The G8 earphones deliver a strong bass, yet provide a very bright sound signature as well. Bass lovers will find plenty to love about the G8 Earphones. While offering an admirable level of passive noise isolation and comfort, the G8’s deep spacing and brilliant detail across the soundstage, provide a remarkable sound at an affordable price. Simply put, listening to music with the G8 Earphones is truly an enjoyable experience.”

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Strong bass certainly is accurate.  The bass on the G8 is quite powerful.  This is NOT a neutral amount of bass, but oh is it fun!  The boy is big and the impact is hard.  Bass decay is on the slower side, and this isn’t the tightest bass I have ever heard.  It isn’t bloated or shapeless by any means, but some tightness was sacrificed for the body.  Detail, layering and what not is very good for the price it is at, but don’t expect this to provide the last word bass clarity.  If chest thumping bass is your thing, the G8 will certainly provide.

The upper range on the G8 is somewhat aggressive.  It extends pretty far and offers good detail.  It is definitely forward sounding.  I don’t find it harsh in the least, but I can see how, over a long listening session, one might find the treble here a bit fatiguing.  Here is where having a good source helps (well, having a good source always helps, but you get what I mean).  I really like the highs here though.  They, in tandem with the bass, kept me energized and engaged with the music.

Now, you would think that with the big bass and aggressive highs that I would be calling the G8 V-shaped in terms of its sound, but I really can’t do that.  Neither the bass nor the treble overpower the mids, or bleed into them in any way.  The mids are clear and detailed.  It is almost as they offer a place of sanity between the more intense elements of the sound.  It doesn’t sound like it should work, but it does.  What’s more, the vocals manage to have good presence in the sound as well.  Buried they are not.

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Base Audio is making a deal about their large 9mm drivers, and I think they have good reason to.  The sound on the G8 is surprisingly large for an IEM.  The sound feels as if it is coming from out of your head, which is a pretty impressive achievement for the G8 if you ask me.  The sound stage is pretty large, but the sounds, as I’m sure you could have guess, is rather forward.  This might not be the best IEM for relaxing, but it sure is great for rocking out.  Instrument separation is merely adequate.

I found the G8 to be enjoyable with most different kinds of music.  I do have to admit I EQ’ed a little bass off when I used it for classical music, but it worked really well, and I found the music to be totally engaging.  The tuba in the final movement of Kurt Atterberg’s 6th symphony is killer.  The highlight for me here though is with good, old fashion rock music.  The combination of the powerful bass and the clear voices made me feel like I had a rock concert going on inside my head.  It really captured that sensation well.  I can’t see myself ever tiring of that.

Comparisons

I just happen to have a Hifiman RE400 with me here, which is a very nice IEM that retails for $79.  The RE400 has some softness at both extremes, which makes it pretty easy to listen to.  It has good balance and clarity, and… sounds completely anemic next to the G8.  Switching back, I really miss the extra presence at both ends, plus the G8 sounds so much larger, making the RE400 sound puny and polite by comparison.  It keeps the music at arm’s length.  Detail is also a solid win for the G8.

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A more interesting comparison is with the Alclair Curve universal ($250).  They feel more like they are playing in the same league.  Both have larger bass, but the Curve is more laid back, and doesn’t have the energy in the treble that the G8 has.  The Curve is more v shaped and does a better job with more mellow vocal music (like my eternal goddess Jenny Lewis), but the G8 rocks harder.

Conclusion

The G8 by Base Audio is a competitive earphone.  For the price of $145, it makes a good impress… what, its price is only $45?  That’s absurd!  No, it is actually worse than that.  There are still plenty early bird specials left where you can get it for $35 with free shipping in the U.S.   Or, you can order 2 pairs for $60 (maybe you and a buddy go in together, or perhaps give one as a gift).  That’s nuts.  For $45 tops, you can get an IEM that trounces a very good $79 dollar model and is very competitive with something that costs $250.  They don’t need me.  At this price, the G8 is beyond self-recommending.  Unless you absolutely hate the idea of a brighter sound signature, or you just don’t do in ears (and to be fair, I do know a few people like this), there simply is no reason not to own one.  You need an ass kicking IEM on the cheap?  Check.  You need a beater earphone that doesn’t compromise in sound quality?  Check .  The G8 is really good without bringing price into it.  As far as bang-for-your-buck goes, it is just absurd. The Base Audio G8 is a steal.  So please, help me rob Base Audio blind!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1797632509/premium-high-fidelity-earbuds-under-50?ref=nav_search

EDIT: At the time of publication Base Audio has already raised $16,021 of the $12,500 goal

 

 

3.4/5 - (27 votes)
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3 Comments

  • Reply March 27, 2018

    ROLAND AGUILERA

    Date: March 27, 2018

    THANK YOU AND VERY INFORMATIVE
    BUT CURIOUS THOUGH!

    HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO EVALUATE THE BASS AUDIO G9 MODEL AND HOW DOES THAT IEM EARPHONE COMPARE TO THE G8’s?

    TWO VERY DIFFERENT DESIGNS BY THE SAME COMPANY

  • Reply March 28, 2018

    Dave

    I actually have heard the G9 a bit. The sound is fairly similar, but slightly more refined.

  • Reply April 4, 2018

    ROLAND AGUILERA

    NO
    I HAVE ONLY LISTENED TO THE G9’S
    IN MY ENTHUSIASM TO COMPARE THE G8’S, THEY ARE NOW ON ORDER
    IF THE G8’S ARE HALF AS GOOD AS THE G9’S, THEY WOULD STILL
    BE BETTER THAN THE MAJORITY OF THE BETTER NAME $50 BUDS

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