Beta Brainwavz Impressions

[jant71]

I as well as other Head-fiers and/or MP4nation forum members have gotten review samples of the Brainwavz canalphones. I will talk about the current top model, the Beta Brainwavz.

Others can post their impressions/pics here also if they want. I personally don't like a bunch of different review threads on the same earphone.

The Beta brainwavz can be found here...
Beta Brainwavz Pro IEM **BLACK** [BetaB_BLACK] - $27.50 : MP4 Nation!, :: Low Priced MP4, MP3 Players and the latest scoop on the newest MP4 Player
All the specs are there and if you scroll down there are photos. I have the earlier sample currently which is white and has no branding so please refer to the photos in the link.

My Beta Brainwavz have around 80 hours on them and and my impressions are from using them with a Degen 1123 radio/MP3 player, a Samsung U5, and a Sony Minidisc all without EQ. The Degen is neutral and well extended but not cold. The Samsung has the current DNSe 3.0 and is warmer than the Degen. the Sony is the warmest of the three. I am using the big bi-flanges which are the same as the ones offered with the RE series earphones.

The Package
I don't have the full retail packaging but I am only missing the cord wrap and the box/paperwork. Included with the earphones are two screw on bass caps, a cord wrap, a clip, and four pairs of assorted tips. http://mp4nation.net/catalog/bmz_cac...ge.733x550.jpg

Tips:
Higher quality tips are supplied with the Brainwavz. There are two pairs of cone shaped tips; one clear and one orange. I guess you can use one of each to tell right from left easily if you choose. I find these tips accentuate treble. You get on pair of orange foam. These give the most bass. You also get one pair of the big bi-flange.

The Build
The build is also high quality. The housings are solid and tight. Half plastic half metal. The sound tube is metal and the end is threaded for a metal bass cap/filter to screw on to. Phonak take note: you should have done it like this with metal caps to screw on instead of the little plastic/paper filters and tool set-up. For a little more bass, you grab the caps and screw them on.

The cable is average thickness and is fairly light in weight. Seems slightly supple and fairly strong. Time, oils/sweat, and tugs will tell the tale about durability.

Never heard any driver flex/crunch with insertion or removal. That inspires some confidence.

Isolation
As a canalphone you get canalphone isolation and not full-on IEM isolation that we term for Shure and Ety-like amounts. It is higher than average for a canalphone though.

Fit
Fit is subjective and varies. I can say that these are larger earphones. They come with very long tips and have a long sound tube so they should pose no problem but they are not tiny. I personally find them very comfy and easy to insert/remove. Quite easy for me to get a consistent seal each time with no fiddling, they just go in with one push.

Sound
Many earphones claim a wide frequency response. These claim 8-28,000Hz which is quite wide. They do deliver going quite high and low. More than you expect for around $30. They go on my list of phones I don't feel the need to add treble to. For dynamics that list is short; the RE0 and AI-M9.

I would describe the sound as very balanced and neutral. A large stage with good separation and depth. Not upfront or in your face, there is some distance between you and the music.

You have a choice to use the bass cap filter or not. I find a bit lighter bass and more speed w/o them and a bit more bass/impact with them. The filter change is less dramatic than with the Phonak as far as treble change, separation change, and bass amount change. I would predict most will use the caps.

The Beta Brainwavz are as complete an earphone as I have heard for the price. Balanced, detailed, clear, and quick. The soundstage, extension, separation, tightness are well above the price point. They do start to go beyond that though. The image depth and delineation between notes and sounds is what is not heard at this price. Each bass note has it's own tone, space, and direction as does each vocalist and guitar etc. Fast and complex stuff is well done since the bass is quick tight and well resolved and separation is so well done. No smear and it still delineates well with distinct tone and impact differences on the low end easily heard.

The Beta are full sounding even though the sound is not blended together. They also manage a full sound without being really bassy since they extend low and roll off more slowly. They do have an option of purchase with a FiiO E5. They respond to amping quite well and they do take the E5 bass boost and my Penguin Ultra's Bass boost well since the bass is so tight. I don't need the boost myself as I find just the extra power brings a nice kick in the low end. A somewhat dramatic improvement that some might not go back to using them unamped. They get quite bigger sounding and develop good impact.

I doubt anyone will not be impressed with their SQ. As far as preference though they might lack bass for some. With bass caps and with the warmer Sony they are still not a really warm or bassy phone. IME, a shade above the Phonak(black filter) for bass amount. More than RE0/RE2 also. Some might find them more analytical. Amp or EQ can change that quick if you are so inclined. They respond very well to both.

If they sound like they are for you, I fully recommend them in every way! You definitely won't be disappointed!

[a_tumiwa]

how good is Beta compare to IEM with 2x more cost like Philips SHE9850 (BA driver)??

[mark2410]

Originally Posted by a_tumiwa

how good is Beta compare to IEM with 2x more cost like Philips SHE9850 (BA driver)??

you can get the she9850 for us$55? if so go and buy them right now

[a_tumiwa]

the price exactly around us$60 in my country, its still too expensive for me though, i prefer something cheaper because my country`s currency is very low.

[jant71]

I have done some A/B with my other earphones.

Against the CK10, the Brainwavz do have a very similar sound balance regarding bass, mid, treble amounts. The CK10 is more separated, clear, transparent and tonally correct. It is still bigger a little soundstage-wise and quicker. The Brainwavz are veiled, slower, less airy, and don't reach up high as far. Just to show that the Brainwavz are good but they don't punch up with the big boys. Maybe they can take on up to $80 - $100 phones like the Turbines, Klipsch S4's, Metro.fi 220's, NE-8 etc.

Back in their realm we have the Meelec AI-M9 and Maximo IM-590. The Betas' have the tightest bass of the bunch and more detail than the Maximo and pretty much equal detail to the AI-M9.

I still like the AI-M9 the best preference wise. It is more enjoyable. It is faster and more separated than the Beta's. It goes near as high on the scale away from one note bass to real high quality bass. The Beta are smoother but a bit less transparent. The Beta fit easier and are better built. The nod goes to the Brainwavz simply because both pairs of my AI-M9 have issues. A channel imbalance developed in one pair and the other pair has an occasional bass buzz on the left side.

The Maximo IM-590 has more bass, less treble and a bit less detail. The Beta are again easier to fit. The Maximo needs a bit of treble added for my taste. The Beta need a bit of bass added for my taste. After that come out pretty much equals with slightly different presentations. maybe the Maximo has a bit more transparency(mostly in the mids). Both are well made and have good accessories.

The Brainwavz stack up well. The only thing I would amend might be their speed. They are really that quick compared to the CK10 and AI-M9 which have very good quickness. They are on the quick side but probably less than I first thought.

[jant71]

Originally Posted by a_tumiwa

how good is Beta compare to IEM with 2x more cost like Philips SHE9850 (BA driver)??

I haven't heard the Philips outside of my current SHL9500 headphones. ClieOS has/or had the 9850 and also has a Brainwavz review sample. ClieOS gave the Philips a 3.25/5 for SQ and is currently burning the Beta in/working toward a review.

[a_tumiwa]

thanks for the information , its really helpfull

[jant71]

I also tried the Beta out with the FiiO E3 which I had from the RE0.


Cute little baby budget rig there!

The very tight bass of the Beta allow lets them work very well with an E3. I took the bass caps off. I find the E3 bloated and degrades SQ more than helps. The Brainwavz are not high end clarity/transparency and smooth so the clarity hit due to the E3 is not so bad. The tight bass reigns in quite a bit of the E3 bloat. Takes them from neutral and gives them a more fun bassier signature.

The Beta Brainwavz are probably more an exception to the notion that there is no point to amp a ~$30 phone. They do quite good with them. Probably not a good match with an Icon Mobile unless you want them to sound like an Etymotic.

[ClieOS]

I still have the SHE9850 (and every IEM I reviewed for that matter, never quite a seller). Anyway, the Beta Brainwavz review is planned for (hopefully) later next week since I am going to finish another review first plus the Beta still has 3 more days of burn in ahead.

[mark2410]

Originally Posted by a_tumiwa

the price exactly around us$60 in my country, its still too expensive for me though, i prefer something cheaper because my country`s currency is very low.

well seeing as you give the price in dollars for that cost the 9850 are a steel

you do see it sitting in list of currents, its well worth us$60

[mark2410]

Originally Posted by jant71

I also tried the Beta out with the FiiO E3 which I had from the RE0.

Cute little baby budget rig there!

The very tight bass of the Beta allow lets them work very well with an E3. I took the bass caps off. I find the E3 bloated and degrades SQ more than helps. The Brainwavz are not high end clarity/transparency and smooth so the clarity hit due to the E3 is not so bad. The tight bass reigns in quite a bit of the E3 bloat. Takes them from neutral and gives them a more fun bassier signature.

The Beta Brainwavz are probably more an exception to the notion that there is no point to amp a ~$30 phone. They do quite good with them. Probably not a good match with an Icon Mobile unless you want them to sound like an Etymotic.

having paired it with the icon briefly, i can say oh god its not a good combo. actually i had it paired today with an E3 and a shure attenuator to remove the ungodly amounts of hiss the E3 spits out and it made for a more pleasant sound. i think i preferred the E3 than the E5 as the 3 kills the highs a bit which im still finding just too abundant for me. feels like its trying to ety like in its sound signature, overly bright and not much if anything in the low end.

vocals are impressively clear but for me they feel just so forward, like really really forward even with the fiio killing some highs and boosting the bass. im sure much of that has to do wil my choice of music being often quite heavy on the vocals anyway.

[PharaohsVizier]

Are these comfortable to sleep on, as in in your ears, then sleeping sideways ear on the pillow? If so, how do these compare to ADDIEMs and RE2?

[robjrock]

Originally Posted by PharaohsVizier

Are these comfortable to sleep on, as in in your ears, then sleeping sideways ear on the pillow? If so, how do these compare to ADDIEMs and RE2?

I too would like to see a comparison between the RE2 & Brainwavz Beta!

[jant71]

Originally Posted by PharaohsVizier

Are these comfortable to sleep on, as in in your ears, then sleeping sideways ear on the pillow? If so, how do these compare to ADDIEMs and RE2?

They seem to be just fine on a pillow. The metal tube is strong for laying on them and not worrying about breaking them. They fit is very stable so the sound doesn't alter(for me anyway) when laying on them. Quite comfy and you can wear them both ways so they can be made to fit pretty flush. The are larger in width but they don't stick out much.

I know they are somewhat similar in signature to the ADDIEM and RE2. A few Head-fiers have them so I'm sure will hear comparisons with the RE2 at least if not both.

[mark2410]

Originally Posted by robjrock

I too would like to see a comparison between the RE2 & Brainwavz Beta!

x2

i dont have the RE-2 but the betas sound something akin to what i think the RE-2 must sound like

they feel like they are trying to sound like etys


gosh these things are bright