Packaging and Accessories

I was looking forward to this section more than anything else, if only because the unboxing experience of the Ikko OH10 was the sole reason it went from a quick look to a full-fledged review. This time, I got the box straight from Ikko, so we take a quick look at the shipping packaging to kick things off. The Ikko logo is all over the box, which shipped inside a larger bubble wrap envelope as well, with the box perfectly sized for the product box itself. I was wondering why the box was so thick, but that was cleared up when I realized there were two separate boxes inside!


When Ikko asked if I had a color preference for the OH1S, I had mentioned that either of these look good and I had no specific preference. Apparently that was some sort of code for "send me both," at least to the extent of Ikko's interpretation. So here we are with both color options, which actually is good in that I can show you the similarities and differences between the two. Packaging for both begins with another plastic seal over the box, and we may now better admire what Ikko's in-house illustrator has been done with another artistic design that once again puts an anime-style character center stage. The company logo is on the front as well, and "Gems" instead of "Obsidian" as on the OH10 box is spelled out. No typos to be seen either, as three salient marketing features round off the front.

It is on the back that we see more specifications and marketing features laid out, and in multiple languages, too. A render of the actual IEMs reveals which box has which color version, with there being a gray and blue color set to choose from. This continues on the side as well, with a sticker also confirming which variant you have, and a second render on another side leaves no doubt. We now find out that Ikko is using a two-piece packaging with an outer sleeve that slides off the inner cardboard box.


Interesting, this box design is basically identical to what the OH10 got, so it seems the whole purpose of the outer sleeve was for the design team to flex further. This time, the design on front is much simpler with another render of the IEMs made to look like what appear to be rocks suspended in a night sky?? The back is identical to the outer sleeve, and then we see what we now know is the actual inner box. Russian dolls, anyone? This box slides out of the thicker intermediate box and has a gold Ikko Design label on the bottom to go along with a gold Ikko logo in the top-right corner. The rest of the box is barren, so we finally move on to the actual contents.


This box opens up identically to what we saw with the Ikko OH10, and I have shown both boxes above since you see the IEMs right away in the top layer of either set. The Ikko logo and its fox mascot are on the underside of the lid, and the IEMs are in cutouts inside a piece of very thick foam. There is a nice illustration on the top that marks the various components on and underneath, making for another guide to this nice unboxing experience.


In the middle is the same gold and black Ikko brooch as last time, with the same fox design—I am still not sure how it applies to the company, but it is neat even though it was immediately put back into the foam packaging to never be taken out again. Under the foam lies a black envelope with yet another Ikko logo because why not at this point!


Inside the envelope is a basic multi-language user manual that includes some useful tips and warnings if new to the world of IEMs and detachable cables. There is also a customer service card that may be handy for a warranty claim, and turning it over reveals a secret card of yet more anime girls inside an outline of the Ikko fox. The bottom layer contains the final set of accessories, including lots of ear tips in a plastic support layer with raised posts acting as stems for the tips to go into. In the middle is a cardboard box marked "IEM cable," inside which clearly is the cable we will examine in more detail on the next page. Finally, we get a carry case on the right to round things off.


I think I was mistaken in the OH10 review, where I thought the carry case was indeed genuine leather given a tanned finish, as it is far more likely leatherette at this price range. We see a nearly identical design for this case with stitching on the edges and the Ikko logo etched into the front. A strap goes around in the middle to keep it closed, and it goes through the case material and is knotted to keep it tied at one end. No markings or instructions are engraved into the case this time around, with those having been positioned on the foam piece from earlier.


The case is roomy enough to fit the cable and IEMs on the go and comes with two accessories inside, a translucent plastic tool for taking the cable off the IEMs and a zip-lock bag containing two replacement meshes for the IEM nozzle. The mesh insert is oval rather than the usual circle, which is definitely the first time I have seen this geometry employed, though this is also the first time I get replacement mesh inserts to begin with!


Here is a look at the included ear tips, and Ikko generously provides six sets of silicone tips, as well as three additional sets of memory foam tips. The silicone tips in particular have the same exterior oval shape as the mesh inserts, which I originally thought were just the tips pressed in one direction during shipping. Nope, this is how they come, and it does look weirder the bigger in size you go. The foam tips have differently colored cores to indicate sizes S/M/L as seen above.