Gatevs.Variations

Sound & Specs Comparison

Information

Both IEMs are widely regarded in the audiophile community. See how they differ in terms of sub-bass response, upper mids, clarity, and overall tonality. Spider charts and rating breakdowns included.

Objective Comparison

Facts, details, stuff.

Meta Ratings

In terms of overall sound impression, Variations clearly outperforms Gate. It presents music with substantially greater accuracy, air, and stereo separation (6.5 vs 4). For comfort fit, Gate performs slightly better (7.5 vs 7). The tactile feel and solidity of Variations suggest evidently greater robustness and longevity compared to the more fragile impression left by Gate. It’s cable appears softly more premium in both aesthetics and function, from its braid quality to termination. Accessory-wise, It includes markedly more practical and high-quality items, enhancing both protection and usability.

Sound Characteristics

Variations produces sub-bass that is a more textured and present in cinematic or bass-heavy tracks (6.5 vs 4.5). It offers m stronger and more impactful bass response, adding weight and presence where Gate feels less assertive (6.5 vs 5). Listeners may find the low-end impact on It overwhelmingly more engaging during high-dynamic passages (8.5 vs 4.5). It achieves n better warmth and coherence in the lower mids, bringing more realism to guitars and cellos (7.5 vs 5). In the upper mids, It sounds m clearer and more articulate, highlighting vocals and lead instruments better than Gate (8 vs 6). It provides a more refined lower treble, resolving fine detail and air with greater finesse than Gate (7.5 vs 5.5). It extends n further into the upper treble, adding air and openness that Gate lacks (8 vs 5). It creates a a wider soundstage, giving instruments more space and a better sense of placement than Gate (7.5 vs 5). The retrieval of faint audio cues on It is m more convincing, while Gate tends to gloss over them (8 vs 4.5). Track elements feel a more isolated and clean on It, offering clearer focus than Gate (7 vs 4.5). It shows n better control of masking effects, maintaining clarity across frequency ranges better than Gate (7 vs 4.5). The note presentation is a fuller and more tactile on It, giving instruments a stronger physical presence than Gate (8 vs 5). It delivers overwhelmingly stronger slam and physicality, making drums and transients hit harder than Gate (8.5 vs 4). It controls harsh sibilant peaks overwhelmingly more effectively, making vocals smoother than on Gate (9 vs 3.5). It renders timbres with m better harmonic balance, preserving the character of instruments more accurately than Gate (7.5 vs 4). The overall tonality of It is m more balanced and cohesive, offering a sound signature that feels better tuned than Gate (7 vs 3.5). It portrays textures in vocals and strings with overwhelmingly more realism, enhancing emotional depth over Gate (7.5 vs 3.5).

Tonal Signature

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