Geek Wold GK100 Review

May 17, 2023 5 min read

Geek Wold GK100 Review – Detail Monster

Geek Wold GK100 is developed with a unique 9 drivers hybrid setup on each side. The IEM houses a combination of dual-balanced armature drivers, three dynamic drivers, and four piezoelectric ceramics (PZT) on each side. The drivers are arranged together and tuned professionally to deliver an immersive and coherent sound with high-resolution clarity.

In order to deliver a coherent sound with the pair, Geek Wold has adjusted the GK100 with a four-way frequency crossover. There are 2 high-performance balanced armatures for a high-frequency response, 2 units of composite 8mm PZT drivers for high-frequency, 2 composite 8mm PZT drivers for ultra-high-frequencies, one 8mm DLC dynamic driver for midrange, and one 8mm dual-cavity LCP + composite titanium diaphragm composite dual dynamic driver unit for the lower end.

GK100 features ergonomically designed ear shells. They fit perfectly and provide a comfortable wearing experience suitable for long hours. I had no problems while testing.

Geek Wold includes a high-purity stock cable from Hakugei. The cable adopts a swappable termination plug system with 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm plugs included in the package.

I received my unit with a different cable that had been offered by the brand because the Hakugei cable wasn’t ready for the time when I ordered. And because I’m a sucker for color matching, I said yes.

Features

Unique 9 Drivers Hybrid Configuration.
8mm Dual-Cavity Coaxial Dual Dynamic Drivers For Lower End.
8mm DLC Driver For Mid-range.
Composite Dual High-Performance 8mm PZT Drivers for High-Frequencies.
Composite Dual High-Performance 8mm PZT Drivers for Ultra-High-Frequencies.
Composite Dual BA drivers for High-Frequencies.
High-Purity Hakugei stock cable with swappable termination plugs.
Ergonomic shape.
Comfortable and firm fit.
Easy Driveability.

Technical Specifications

Impedance: 17Ω±1Ω.
Sensitivity: 105dB±1dB.
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz.
Cable Length: 1.2mm.
Cable Material: 8 Strands 6N Single Crystal Copper Silver-Plated (Hakugei).
Cable Plug: 3.5mm+2.5mm+4.4mm (Hakugei).

Price: $199.99

Sound

The GK100’s tuning is quite specific, which requires good source matching and right ear tips.

The general presentation of the GK100 is open, spacious, and bright. The technical qualities are quite high, and the most impressive part is the treble, specifically the spaciousness in that area. It focuses on the upper mids and the treble, with a very roomy and definitive character.

Tip Rolling

The stock tips that come with the package are quite good in terms of comfort. But the presentation is quite bright, especially in the upper midrange and lower treble regions. Foam tips provide a flatter response, with less sub-bass and less treble brightness. My favorite Spring tips from Moondrop, with their larger diameter (wide-bore), give an even brighter presentation, which I found difficult to bear in long-term listening.

What I found the best however are the ddHiFi ST35 tips. To me, those provide the best balance in terms of bass response, mid-range tonality, and treble articulation without any harshness. These tips provide the best balance with a sweet spot that strengthens GK100’s qualities. So I recommend them. I also found out that GK100 performs better with tips that have a rather narrower diameter.

Lows

GK100’s lows show a linear bass reproduction while retaining the dynamics. You get a moderately thick rise into the sub-bass, meaning there will be enough versatility and warmth here for a wide variety of genres – at least when it comes to bass tones. Personally, I would’ve preferred a more distinct sub-bass shelf for a cleaner transition into the lower mids, but I can see a preference for this type of warmth as well.

Lows show neutral depth and thickness in color. The ultra-low extension is quite decent considering its calm nature. The bass in general keeps its presentation in the lowland, offering a stable foundation for the upper ends to build the headroom.

Mids

GK100 provides a fantastic mid-range, where you have the definition, transparency, air, and layering. The tonality is lively, the dynamism is there, and the amount of openness you get here is very impressive.

The instruments sound good as well. The presentation is a bit more definitive in the upper mid-range vs. the lower mid-range.

Mids have lots of detail, and the resolution here is excellent. What’s more, you have great positioning with lots of space and airiness. The mid-range is so well separated from the rest of the spectrum, so you have a vast area for your mids to perform. Overall this is a very impressive mid-range performance.

The upper midrange can be sharp at times, though the sibilance is under control. The presentation here depends on the ear tips once again. The narrow bore silicon tips perform the best for my ears in terms of upper mid-range control.

Highs

GK100’s treble is just as impressive as its mid-range presentation. Again there’s a lot of micro detail with a very transparent and resolving performance. There’s once again a bright and open presence with great transparency. However, the lower treble section can be sharp depending on the tips. I don’t recommend using large-diameter ear tips as I mentioned above. Go with narrow ones.

You get a rich and definitive treble. It is well-controlled despite its bright and rather aggressive nature. I think the treble tuning is spot on for the people who are treble heads, and who enjoy the detail and resolution.

Technical Performance

For its price tag, GK100 has great technicalities, and the best factor here is the soundstage. The spacious and vast staging performance is very impressive with the GK100. You feel like you’re in a concert hall, where there’s great air and space for every instrument and vocal to blend in.

In addition to that, the imaging is spot on. The delivery is very sharp in terms of positioning, and there’s absolutely nothing to cloud the positioning of the elements, it’s perfectly crisp and clear. There’s great micro-detail in every second, where you have excellent transparency in the whole spectrum.

Sum-Up

Geek Wold GK100 delivers excellent resolution. It complements different genres of music well with its crisp output. There are not many IEMs out there that can give this much resolution and technical performance for this price and I think it sounds better than what the price suggests. I know this kind of tuning is not everyone’s cup of tea but if you are into it you should definitely check this detail monster out.