Fast Look: Remaining Audio VR500 Assessment

Introduction

The Japanese outfit Remaining Audio (stylized as “ultimate audio”) is finest identified for its wired and wi-fi Hello-fi headphones, however the firm could not resist dipping its toes into the cellular and VR gaming market. Remaining provides three in-ear displays with hooked up in-line microphones and teams them collectively inside the VR product line. They’re priced from $40 (VR500) to $80 (VR3000), so all of them can positively be thought-about reasonably priced. Now we solely have to determine in the event that they’re value their price.

Remaining was sort sufficient to ship me all three of their gaming IEMs (VR500, VR2000, and VR3000), and I’ve determined to cowl all of them in a brief sequence of quick-look articles. With that in thoughts, we’re beginning with the $40 VR500, a pair of gaming IEMs that have been launched to me as “reasonably priced all-arounders.”

IEMs are a preferred alternative for cellular and VR gaming primarily due to their superior portability in comparison with conventional over-ear (or on-ear) headphones, in addition to excessive effectivity, making them simple to drive even by smartphones, moveable gaming consoles, or your VR headset’s 3.5-mm audio output. They’re additionally far more snug to put on in scorching climate. Players like them for his or her nice passive noise isolation, too, which helps with spatial consciousness, within the sense that you just’re higher immersed in no matter you are taking part in merely due to an absence of exterior distractions. The advertising supplies for the VR500 lean into this closely, declaring not solely that the VR500 IEMs are inherently good at delivering refined in-game cues, but additionally tuned for wonderful spatial consciousness.

With the Remaining Audio VR500 being wired IEMs, it goes with out saying that they supply a lag-free expertise; the in-game visuals and sound are at all times in excellent sync. That is of explicit curiosity to anybody who’s into on-line shooters, rhythm video games, and different titles the place wi-fi headphones might trigger latency-related points.

Specs

• Drivers: Dynamic (diameter not specified)
• Impedance: 18 Ω @ 1 kHz
• Sensitivity: 98 dB/mW
• Frequency response: Not specified
• Design: In-ear
• Microphone: Omnidirectional (in-line)
• Connectivity: 3.5 mm
• Cable size: 1.2 m
• Weight: 15 g
• Equipment: 5x E-Sort eartips (SS/S/M/L/LL), in-line one-button controller

Packaging and Equipment

The easy field depicts the IEMs and mentions options resembling an in-line controller with a microphone, dynamic speaker drivers, and colour. So far as I am conscious, the VR500 at present is not produced in any colour aside from matte grey. Except for the IEMs hooked up to a 1.2-meter rubberized cable, the one different gadgets you will discover contained in the field are substitute ear suggestions. There is a complete of 4 additional pairs to select from, with sizes specified as SS, S, L, and LL, so you need to be capable of discover a variant that fits your ear canals finest with ease. There are not any variations in supplies – all equipped ear suggestions are made from silicone.

Nearer Look and Consolation

The design of the Remaining Audio VR500 may be very easy. The IEM casings and speaker tubes are completely made from ABS plastic resin. The tubes are utterly straight; there have been no makes an attempt to affect the sound efficiency by angling them in any means. The model identify and emblem, in addition to the product identify, are printed on the IEMs. The left and proper channel markings are subsequent to not possible to see anyplace aside from exterior, as they’re the identical colour as earphones themselves. I’ve ended up differentiating them by on the lookout for the in-line controller, which is hooked up to the fitting IEM, quite than looking for the almost invisible markings. That is a workaround to a problem that should not exist.

The nozzles aren’t notably thick and the ear tip bores slide over them simply, which means it takes little or no effort to suit a special set of ear suggestions, which is sweet as you will not be demotivated to strive all of them out. I ended up sticking with the default ear tip variant (M), which supplied me with the very best mixture of seal and luxury. I do not discover the VR500 fantastically snug, as I used to be by no means in a position to overlook that I’ve the IEMs inserted in my ear canals. On the similar time, they did not trigger important discomfort even in longer listening periods.

The in-line controller has a single multipurpose button on the entrance, and a pinhole microphone on the rear. The button is used to play and pause music (single click on), skip songs (double and triple click on), and reply cellphone calls (single click on when receiving a name). The controller is so small and lightweight that it requires no garments clip.

Sound and Microphone High quality

Remaining would not reveal a lot when it comes to the VR500’s technical specs. We do know that every IEM has a single dynamic driver with 18 Ω impedance and 98 dB/mW sensitivity, however that is about it. They do not disclose the speaker driver measurement, though some web-shops have their diameter listed as 6.4 mm, which might be right. The required 98 dB/mW sensitivity is not insanely excessive within the IEM universe, however the VR500 can nonetheless be declared as simple to drive. Nearly any USB-C audio dongle or a handheld console’s 3.5 mm output will present Remaining’s earphones with loads of driving energy, permitting you to take heed to them as loud as you would presumably need. The identical goes for PC sound playing cards. I am pointing that out as a result of some PC players choose the comfort and minimalism of IEMs over conventional gaming headsets. For those who’re a kind of, simply take note you will probably want an extended cable, in addition to a Y-splitter, that is going to separate a mixed 4-pole (TRRS) audio enter/output into two 3-pole (TRS) connectors, one on your sound card’s microphone enter, and one other one for the headphone output. An audio extension cable is affordable and simply obtainable, and Remaining is not advertising the VR500 to PC players anyway, so I can not take its absence within the manufacturing unit packaging as a draw back.

I’ve measured the frequency response of the Remaining Audio VR500 with the miniDSP EARS headphone take a look at fixture, most likely the least costly such system in the marketplace. It consists of two miniDSP UMIK-1 microphones positioned inside a pair of silicone ears and affixed to a metal headphone stand. It is a USB-powered system, completely built-in with the improbable Room EQ Wizard (REW) software program, which is used for headphone and microphone calibration, in addition to doing the measurements themselves. Each single miniDSP EARS unit comes with its personal microphone calibration information, that are loaded into REW earlier than doing the measurements. The miniDSP EARS definitely has its quirks. An important one on this case is the truth that the bogus ear canals aren’t notably deep, and that makes the fixture less-than-ideal for IEM testing.

With that in thoughts, this is what I received after becoming the miniDSP EARS with the Remaining Audio VR500 and operating a frequency sweep 10 instances.

The frequency response graph utterly coincides with my subjective listening impressions within the midrange area. The mids have an underlying presence, one which instantly interprets into a way of a surprisingly detailed sound replica, the place you are in a position to simply make sense of what is taking place even in complicated in-game scenes or music items. If good spatial consciousness is what you are after, the VR500 positively delivers in that regard, thus making its predominant promise. In video games like Battlefield 2042, PUBG (Cell), and Counter-Strike 2 you can simply maintain monitor of your targets and decide up on very refined clues, resembling distant footsteps. This form of tuning works properly for VR, too, as such hyper-awareness improves immersion, which is what VR players are all about anyway.

The bass appears a bit on the lean aspect on the frequency response graph, however that is positively not how I might describe it from my precise listening expertise. In follow, it has a good snap and stunning thickness. There’s not a lot texture and particulars to be heard within the decrease registers – if something, I might name them barely stuffy – however should you discover the VR500 sounding lean, that solely means it’s important to change to a bigger set of ear suggestions.

The higher a part of the frequency vary is totally inoffensive whereas staying open sufficient to supply a good sense of spaciousness. That is just about all you possibly can count on from a funds pair of gaming IEMs. Initially, I used to be afraid Remaining would chase excessive openness of the sound by severely boosting the treble, which might inevitably lead to shrillness and listening fatigue, however that is not the case in any respect. Fairly the other; it is the thick bass that I generally discovered overwhelming.

This is a pattern of the omnidirectional pinhole microphone, hooked up to the rear aspect of the in-line controller.

The standard of the Remaining Audio VR500’s microphone is disappointing. It is too quiet for use comfortably, and boosting it (assuming your recording system even helps such a characteristic) introduces annoying background noise and distortion. It may be used to bark orders to your teammates if no different choices can be found, however do handle your expectations. You will not have a lot enjoyable utilizing it for limitless late-night Discord chats with your pals.

General, contemplating the modest $40 price ticket, the Remaining Audio VR500 performs higher than anticipated, particularly within the sound high quality division. I consider its house owners will really feel like they’re getting their cash’s value – after which some.