Today, we are going to be taking a look at the 1Custom Senior(SR). I will be referring to it as SR throughout this review.
Firstly, I want to thank Earphonatics Audio Reviews for having me here today as a guest reviewer and publishing my thoughts for me. The 1Custom SR was purchased by me during a sale. I did not receive any incentives for this review. I will be as transparent as possible throughout this review and share my honest thoughts. The SR can be purchased at Jaben for about $400-500.(I'm not sure about the exact price because the price at the shop is supposed to be $399, but the sticker label says $499 and their website say $466.32. Do contact them to ask before you head down.)
Packaging:
Ok the packaging for the SR is rather basic which I like. It's just a magnetic flip box and once open, you will see the case and the SR. In the case you will have the Stock cable and 3 pairs of ear tips in different sizes. It is exactly the same as the JR. For those who like a minimalistic packaging this is for you.
Accessories:
Accessories are sufficient and of decent quality. The cable does get tangled occasionally but it isn't an issue for me since I have a full proof system to avoid tangled cables. You get 3 pairs of Ear tips which I think is the standard accessories in all IEM and Earphones.
Build & Specifications:
Now for the build, design and driver configuration. The SR shell is almost identical to the Junior(JR) which I have owned 2 years ago. Just that instead of a black faceplate, it is a carbon fiber design. Driver configuration is a 4BA with 1 for the Lows, 1 for the Mids, 1 for the High and 1 more for the Ultra High frequencies and has tuning switches. I used spinfits for the tips and it gave me probably the best isolation till this day. Their stock tips seemed to work well as well. It was at least 2-3 times better than the FiiO FA7 which was already above average by a huge benchmark for my ears of course. I can't guarantee your comfort so it's best you do a test at Jaben with their Demo Unit.
Before I made the purchase of the SR, I was initially very hesitant because I could not find a single review, graph, driver configuration and people to testify. I also did not want to make a wasted trip to Jaben Singapore as it's not exactly convenient for me to get there.
After a substantial amount of digging, I managed to find the graph for the SR on Jaben's Japan website. They also have the graph for the JR so I will be making direct comparisons in this review.
As you can see the lines for the graph start of at roughly the same point. The JR started to dip at 50hz but the SR did the opposite and increased and only started to dip at around 100hz. Even then, the dip was also not as much as the JR and because of this, it resulted in a very different tuning compared to the JR. This graph I would assume is representing the default setting.
Mids:
I am starting of with the mids because it was my main issue with the JR. On the JR it was way too recessed and laid back for my liking but with the SR it was just right. The SR was able to bring out a crazy amount of clarity and detail and avoided sounding harsh in anyway. I also find it easier to listen to for long periods of time. I actually prefer this over my Fearless Audio S8F. Vocals are also more forward sounding than the SR which I like. The SR also performs well with both male and female vocals. If I have to compare this to the Moondrop Blessing 2 which is in the similar price range, this would be a definite winner. The Blessing 2s mids were just over done in my opinion.
Lows:
Ok so the lows here were fantastic. I feel like they could be capable of achieving bass head territory. The sub-bass digs really really deep. Deeper than the JR which is amazing because the JR is using a DD vs the SR which uses a single BA. Because the SR uses a BA, it also has better texture and the roll off is natural. It is tight and more punchy and quick as well and doesn't sound messy on more complicated tracks. Drums on the JR sound blunt and sloppy but the SR was precise and on point.
Highs:
For the Highs, I was really really impressed. They are so detailed. Comparable to TOTL IEMs and Flagships from more famous brands. They are crisp and crystal clear and have no sudden peaks that I found painful to my ears. Throughout the past month of listening everyday, there was not a single time where I found it shouty. I personally feel they are better than the Blessing 2. If you are trying to compare the SR to the JR, that's just out of the question.
Soundstage and instrument placement:
Ok the soundstage here is really wide. I personally feel its got great width and its quite tall as well. It can be considered as above average. Instrument placements are also really accurate. You can tell that low notes on the piano are on the left and the higher notes are on the right. Some IEMs in this price range can't even do that.
Switches:
Whay is there to say? Want more bass? want less mids? need more detail? The 1Custom SR has got you covered. Play around the switches and I am sure you will find something that suits your preferred sound signature.
Conclusion:
The SR is a great contender and definitely a threat to the Blessing 2. Do I think that the price tag of the SR is justified? YES! It is more than worth it. If we want to compare the Blessing 2 head to head with the SR, the SR already has the upper hand in terms of bass. If you are looking for mids that aren't as harsh as the Blessing 2, the SR is also a winner. Fit is also better as the shells aren't too big since it doesn't have the DD like the Blessing 2. And Isolation is top notch since there are no vents. Overall, the SR has just got great bass, great resolution and great vocals and high frequencies. It is close to being a perfect all rounder. As you can see from the title, the SR is just like gold, buried beneath your feet and hidden to everyone. I hope it will be able to gain some form of popularity in the future. So far I have been quite impressed with the JR and the SR
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