Rule of Threes - Geek Wold GK3 Review

Introduction: Geek Wold(Old English for Forest) is a new audio company that has recently hit the market with their first offering the  GK3 sporting a novel configuration of 3 dynamic drivers at the reasonable, and entry friendly price of $19.99. Much has been made of the GK3 since it was announced, will it meet the lofty expectations levied upon it as the new king of budget-fi? or will it be another forgotten face in the ever growing list of IEMs? It turns out, as usual that the answer lies somewhere in between.

Disclaimer: I received the GK3 from Geek Wold free of charge in exchange for a free and honest review.

Specifications: 

Brand: Geek Wold

Model:GK3

Driver:3 dynamic driver

Frequency response:20H-20Khz

Impedance:8ohm

Sensitivity:102db

Cable :1.2M

Packaging and Accessories: The GK3 arrives in a simple non-descript black box, with gold lettering on the debossed logo giving basic information of the item in the front and some specifications on the back. Opening it reveals some pre-cut black foam housing the IEMs and some generic silicone tips, removing the foam insert reveals a compartment for the warranty card as well as space for the cable to hide. The accessories on the other had is admittedly barebones, all one gets it the different sizes of eartip, and while perfectly adequate given the price, competing products have a far more expansive catalogue of accessories creating an even larger burden on the rest of the facets of the GK3. Overall the packaging is simple the accessories are few, and while nothing is substandard or low quality, it loses a chance to put it over the top of the competition especially in the crowded budget market.

Build: The build quality of the of the GK3 strikes me as completely, but understandably middling. The shell is of some indiscernible hard plastic, that comes in 2 parts, with the nozzle being capped off with a metal perforated disc that works as a screen. The main housing is in glossy black with a pinhole vent that allows the drivers to breathe, while the faceplate is what appears to be carbon fiber set in plastic with the brand name also inlaid in gold. It presents itself with a classic color scheme, with some modern touches that if not for the apparent quality of the material, as something more upscale. The quality of the build itself presents no glaring mistakes or deficiencies outside of one, the word wold on one side of the faceplate is missing, moving past the main shell, the cable is a 4 core affair with shrink wrap to make ear guides, that is non-removable. The cable is mildly springy and tangle prone, which presents itself to be a mild inconvenience. The chin cinch is functional and simple, and the only other adorned piece is the Y split made of a aluminum tube with a plain print of the word "Geek Wold" in white.  The build is overall quite good for the price bracket with some improvements that could greatly enhance quality of life for the end user.

Fit: The GK3 shells are a somewhat generic IEM shape, providing a decent fit for most individuals. The size is slightly on the larger size but the IEM is very light providing with minimal problems of it falling out of the ear due to the weight alone. Those with small and shallow ears may find proper wearing somewhat difficult and the IEM will protrude slightly from outside the ear. Isolation provided is average, a change of tips help, but the standard silicone tips are on the stiff side and lend to a difficulty to get proper fit and isolation. However for the majority it should be adequate to fit and average to isolate.

Sound: The GK3 utilizes 3 dynamic drivers, a somewhat novel concept that especially in its price bracket hasn't really been seen before. The overall tonality presents it self to be L shaped with the most defining characteristic of  it being bass reproduction. My listening tests were done with an Hiby R6, LG G6, FiiO Q1 Mk II and an ifi xDSD to ensure accurate information across a range of devices.

Bass: The bass is surely the highlight of the GK3, where a dedicated dynamic driver is showing its capability. The subbass extension is deep, with bass drum hits in songs like "Royals" by Lorde have a good "visceral" feel, and the midbass is similarly prominent that bass is likewise high impact. The bass is relatively well textured and isn't something I would describe as muddy. On the other hand this means the bass has a rather slow decay and can somewhat feel lethargic when it gets mixed in with the other frequencies. 

Mids: The midrange takes a step back from the bass, while the boosted lowend aids in the thickness of notes especially in the lower midrange, it isn't something that takes the stage for the IEM. It has decent resolution and detail retrieval, but overall serves as an adequate complement to the bass the precedes it. The vocals in "Girls Like You" by Maroon 5 are all generally placed somewhat intimately with an overall warmth no doubt again due to the low end lightly coloring it. 

Treble: The high frequencies are overall smooth, and has moderate extension. Though the GK3 does not exhibit much in the way of sibilance which is a plus for those that are sensitive treble. It is relaxed and very much only there as it is called, and the with the smoothness there is a lack of crispness or bite as well as sparkle, overall lending the signature a darker tone. There is some air to it making the overall sound not feel congested, and Trumpet in "Feel So Good" by Chuck Mangione does give a hint at the tonal limitations of the IEM. But while not a con per se, it's just merely something to keep note of for those with a preference.

Presentation: The GK3 staging was has average width, and somewhat below average height, though the width can sometimes surpass the ear on some tracks. This can lead to some congestion on tracks as it can negatively affect the finesse of the layering, though in tracks that aren't busy it shouldn't be overtly problematic or even noticeable. Overall the technical aspects are OK in most applications and is something that while it doesn't excel at, it isn't terrible at it either.

Conclusion: Overall it may seem like I am down on the Geek Wold GK3, but it is wise to remember that it is only a mere $19.99 and when you consider that, it is an amiable performer and something that relative to the cost I would recommend to some people as long as it fit their taste. So if you're interested in a cheap IEM, that has an attractive aesthetic and smooth, if not refined sound, then by all means the GK3 is for you.