Introduction

Today we’ll be reviewing a interesting offering by Advanced Sound recently being crowd funded through various crowdfunding sites like kickstarter. The Accessport is a Lightning/ USB-C powered DAC/Amp meant for mobile users to up their music game on the go. In this review, I will be going to take you through the lightning version as it is paired daily with my Iphone 7 Plus, after receiving it almost 2 months ago. Before I continue, this review is not paid as I backed this project myself through Kickstarter and all comments are of my own personal opinions in all honesty



As Apple did away with their 3.5mm earphone jack, all who refuse to go wireless had to resort to a short lightning to 3.5mm dongle to attach their nice cable-d IEMs. With the camera connection kit, we could use USB type DAC’s like the Zorlo’s ZuperDac and the Dragonfly Red/Black. These however are not “Made For Iphone” and may face issues whenever Apple updates their iOS versions. On the other hand, the Accessport is “Made For Iphone” and every time its being plugged in, I’ll never get the “ This accessory is not supported..” message and I feel that I can rely on it whenever I need it.



This small DAC is actually my first audio accessory as I have always played music directly from my source, either from my Macbook or my Ipod Touch 4G previously. So without further ado, lets see how these perform!



Packaging and Build Quality


The Accessport came in a unassuming, no frills packaging, that shows off a big Accessport logo and accompanying that is a “funded by kickstarter” logo that reminds us where this project came from. The “Made For Ipod” logo is obvious and it certainly gives iOS users the confidence to purchase this. Sliding off the packaging reveals the Accessport, together with the lightning termination glory.





The Accessport is full plastic and has a soft touch plastic matt black finish which feels very premium and pleasant to touch. Branding and logos on the device are very subtle with only Advanced Audio’s tag line “Designed For Musicians” placed near the 3.5mm port and a “Powered by AAW” logo on the other side of the device, showing off the collaboration with AAW. The short cable are also braided which should add to the durability since this is meant to be used as a replacement for daily commute or daily listening sessions on our mobile devices. The termination is probably made of some sort of aluminium which feels solid and has the usual ADV logo on both sides.

Overall I was satisfied and pleased with the build quality of the Accessport.





Functionality

The Accessport is meant to give users the ability to charge and use earphones at the same time, which proves really useful when I am watching movies on flights and am required to use the phone throughout the day, so having the option to charge while listening to music is a definite advantage over the standard dongle from apple. I had no issues with the charging though I must admit, I charge through the Accessport seldomly.



This nifty device also has 3 buttons on one of it sides which act as a standard 3 button remote on your earphones. I find this quite useful as most of earphones do not come with a remote and I found this handy when i had to answer calls or to increase or decrease volumes. Then again, it is not something I use often but It is really handy when I need it.



Sound wise, I have almost no comparison with other amps or DACs, but i must say there is a difference when A/Bing with my IEMs and even on the legendary VE Monks. I found my music to sound fuller, with deeper bass and a clearer mids. I did not find much improvement to the highs of the music I was listening to, but overall it was an improvement and I did not look back afterwards. I stopped using the small apple dongle completely and switched over to the Accessport.

Sometimes I get people asking me what this was and I always get skeptical looks whenever I say this improves the music you are listening to, even when you are on spotify. However as they gave this a try and started listening, expressions start to change and they were like wow, there is a difference afterall!

Using the app

The app accompanying the Accessport can be downloaded from the respective app stores regardless if you are a iOS user or Android user, it serves as a firmware update app and it was very easy to use from my experience. Simply plug the Accessport in and the app will inform you if the version was the latest or if it needs an update. Really appreciate and enjoy these kind of constant fuss free software updates as it keeps my device up to date easily.



Overall Impressions

This device is easy to recommend as I enjoyed the portability of this device and how it worked seamlessly with my iOS device. Given that I listen to music on my commute, the small size of this is very much bigger to the apple adapter and could fit into my earphone carrying case easily. At $60, it is more expensive than the Belkin Rockstar or the Apple adapter but with a added DAP functionality, it is sure worth its money.

Introduction

In this review, I will be providing my unbiased review and honest opinion about the Oriveti BASIC.


Woah wait, why would a company brand their earphones as basic? Is it too demeaning, putting off users who are looking for more high-end earphones? Hmm, maybe not. In fact, there are only two models from Oriveti, the New Primacy and Basic, thus branding this IEM as BASIC is just to distinguish it from its higher end brother, the New Primacy.

So the BASIC is a single dynamic driver IEM compared to the hybrid New Primacy and some may ask, would a Single Dynamic driver still be relevant in today’s increasing world of hybrid earphones? Maybe. Priced at $99 at the point of writing, the BASIC faces stiff competition from may other competitors but i believe they managed to rise above the earphones in their price range and I will be elaborating in this review





Packaging + Accessories

These came in the mail in a strong, sturdy black box, something you don't see often nowadays, and it reveals the sexy black shells in a beautiful matt black finish.


The other things that is packaged within are:

• Black braided MMCX cable
  
  
• A Carrying case
  
  
• Different sized eartips
  
  
• A pair of earhooks
  
  
• A carabiner

I felt the inclusion of the ear hooks were rather unnecessary as the soft cables would drape over my ear and just sit there comfortably during my entire commute with the help of the chin slider.



The black carrying case provided is circular in shape and is wrapped in a fine soft textured fabric that screams quality. Comparing to the much lauded Brainwavz semi-hard case, the rectangular case is a little harder and feel like they can take more impact, however the fabric on the Brainwavz is coarse and does not look as fine as the one that came with the basic. I feel that the round black is certainly a much needed accessory to protect this IEM as you won't want the matt finish on the basic to be scratched. Kudos to Oriveti!



Build Quality



With the earphone removed carefully from the box, the Oriveti Basic feels light and very solidly build, and the circular build with curves at all the right places mesmerised me at first sight. I particularly like the rounded edges as it means that it would be comfortable in my ear when i lie on it especially on long flights or on the bed.


The black and white colour scheme is also Oriveti’s signature style and they look stunning. The right side of the shell has the brand splashed across it while the left side has the simple logo that matches with the rounded shell. I also like the matt finish which look understated yet classy. However it can be difficult to distinguish from the left and right earpiece as the “L” and “R” lettering can be difficult to see but with these sort of over-ear design, finding the right side should be muscle memory.



Unlike the smooth one-piece design of the New Primacy, the basic has a plastic extension coming out from the shells leading to the MMCX connectors that fit very well with the cables, with a distinct click every time it's being pushed in. Really appreciating the quality build here. Through my time of usage, I have not experienced any bad connections or excessive play with the connection such as my Magaosi K3’s



Moving on to the MMCX cable, this cable is actually one of my favourite stock cables especially in this price range and I especially like that the basic has removable cables as this would improve the longevity of this IEM! The nice matt black finish again coats the very nicely braided cables as it joins at the Y junction with a black shrink wrap. I believe Oriveti changed to the black shrink wrap after receiving feedback from the community about the transparent and rather cheap looking shrink wrap. (Y). The cable becomes thicker, weaving differently and terminates to a matt black straight 3.5mm plug which is not too long and has a decent amount of strain relief. Printed across the plug is the branding and on the other side prints a model number of some sort.




Comfort + Isolation

First off, I would like to say that these are comfortable, they sits flush against your ear and makes you forget once they are on. The cables have no memory so they just go around the back of your ear and just sits there. Isolation wise, they have average isolation as the fit feels quite shallow for me, if anything, i feel that increasing the short nozzle length would give it a better seal. However, i feel that a shallower fit can also be more comfortable for me.




Sound opinion

So after giving it about 100 hours of burn-in, It is time to test it out and bring it on the road with me. When testing the BASIC, most of the time it was listened during my commute sessions with my Iphone 7 plus on Spotify Premium in extreme settings (320KBPs) or when I’m studying using my 2017 Macbook Pro 13”, also on Spotify premium in extreme settings


Sample of some of the music i listen to:

1. Palette - IU
2. Lust for life - Lana Del Rey (ft. The Weeknd)
3. Thunder - Imagine Dragons
4. 风 - Jay Chou
5. 你，好不好 - Eric Chou

When i heard this, It sounded warm and bassy, and that's just what I like. The highs are tamed and have no signs or even hints of sibilance when I listen to IU’s songs, whereby it can get a bit sharp on my Magaosi K3. The mids are also not very pronounced leaving it a spot whereby it sounds musical yet not shouty at all. While some feel that the bass is aplenty, It sounds like the bass can get a bit muddy at times while overriding the mids, and I think I would enjoy just a little more of that sub-bass extension. With this in mind, the bass is still enjoyable and I still can feel the thunder while listening to Imagine Dragons.

On the other hand, I feel that the instrumental separation and detail is not as fine as I would like, however coming from a single dynamic driver, It is forgivable. I would even say for a single dynamic driver, it is certainly commendable. Coming from the brainwavz b200 and magaosi K3, the soundstage on those are much wider compared to the basic and I must have been spoilt by them.



Conclusion

All in all, I feel that these pair of IEMs is a fusion of both form and function and would be a great addition to those who prefer the sound of dynamic drivers. Balanced Armature drivers can sound too analytical but these are fun, easy to listen to and ready to go with almost all music genres. At $99, it can be a tad expensive, especially with the hordes of chinese hybrids in the market at a low price point, but if you’re looking to upgrade your earphones and want a really good quality product, I believe you should give the basic a shot.





At this point, I would like to thank Oriveti for giving me the opportunity to review the BASIC.

Intro

Today we’re going to look at the new flagship Brainwavz B200 Dual Armature earphones. This pair is the new king of the Brainwavz BA series, with two other IEMs in the series, namely the B100 and B150. The B200 is also the highest priced at $277 SGD at the time of writing on their website. Some consider this a revival of the popular Brainwavz B2 dual BA IEM, however i have not heard it thus i can't make any comparison to it. Just how would this flagship fare? Let's find out below.

Basic Specifications (brainwavzaudio.com)

• Drivers : Dual Balanced Armature
  
  
• Rated Impedance : 30 Ω
  
  
• Frequency Range : 12 Hz ~ 22 kHz
  
  
• Sensitivity : 110 dB at 1 mW
  
  
• Cable : 1.3 m Y-Cord, Over the ear, OFC Copper
  
• Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold plated

Packaging & Contents

As usual, the earphones are packaged in a low-key, minimalist box, with just the model number in front.

Included in the packaging besides the earphones are

• A hard case
  
  
• 6 sets of silicon ear tips (S/M/L)
  
  
• 1 set of comply T-100 foam tips
  
  
• 1 shirt Clip
  
  
• Velcro cable tie
  
  
• Warranty and instruction manual

Gotta give love to the hard-case that Brainwavz provides, as i have mentioned before in my previous reviews, the rectangle-ish shaped hard-case provides more than enough protection for your newly purchased IEM and some extra tips for the road. For a $200 price tag to this flagship model, i was hoping for a more “premium” case like a aluminium hard case or a pelican case that gives more incentives to buyers. Not a deal-breaker as the case provided is good enough.

Construction

The earphones are sport an all-plastic construction with a glossy black finish with very minimal branding along the edges of the shell. The B200 follows the same shell design as the B100 and the B150, a nice small shell that fits the concha of the ear nicely and snugly. Due to the plastic construction, the weight is very light and they sit rather flush and i have no problems sleeping with them on.





The B200 is meant to be worn over the ear and is aided by pre-formed cables that are super light and does not have a memory effect. The cables on the B200 are non-removable which is really a pity given the price tag, whereby removable MMCX or 2 pin connectors would be great to have. However, this reduces a point a failure as the connection point of the cable and the shell is also reinforced by sturdy strain reliefs, giving extra durability to the product.



The twisted cables are encased in a soft touch rubber sheath similar to the M100 that is not too springy and feels nice to the touch. The cables are joined at a beefy Y-splitter that has good strain reliefs on both ends and is terminated by a angled 3.5mm plug.







I generally find the comfort level to be excellent, however it does not sit as flush as my Magaosi K3’s which i reviewed earlier. Don't get me wrong though, it is still very comfortable. I was hoping for removable cables, so users who use balanced cables can take advantage of the earphone more. The build is generally okay, but they do not scream premium or look premium given its premium price tag. However, compared to the popular Audio-Technica IM02 and the ATH-LS200IS, these B200 trumps it in terms of comfort. When shown to friends, they thought it was nice, but they don't look like $200 earphones to them. But this all changed when i got them to try it on.





Sound

I have used this IEM daily for almost a month mainly on my iphone 7 Plus and my Macbook Pro 13 inch on Spotify Extreme settings.

Song samples:

1. Console Myself - Rocoberry
   
   
2. Through the Night - IU
   
   
3. Alone - Alan Walker
   
   
4. The One - Kodaline
   
   
5. Skinny Love - Birdy

This is the most important part of all isn't it? Why would we spend $200 on this IEM?

Well, when you first put it on, I found the mids to be lush, just the right amount, not too forward, not shouty either, they were in the right place, putting a smile to my face. The had highs the right amount of detail, Not sparkly or bright but just enough for my taste, with zero sibilance in all of my songs which was really a joy to listen to.


Coming from a triple hybrid, i am spoilt by the dynamic bass driver pumping out nice deep bass that adds some oomph to my songs however, as the B200 is a dual BA IEM, i find this deep bass lacking. I would say they have a nice bass texture and but just a little more quantity and more sub bass extension would be good. However the B200 is advertised producing “balanced and accurate” sound signatures, thus those picking these up might like their song less bassy.

Overall in terms of sound, there is not one area this IEM is strong in, but it is very musical, with nice layering and soundstage, performing well with the acoustic or more vocal songs however when i listen to pop music or EDM, i would prefer something more bassy. Isolation is above average with this IEM, compared to the Magaosi K3’s which i find really welcoming.





Conclusion

With a $200 price tag, one might demand more from Brainwavz, i.e a nicer casing, removable cables, more premium construction. With bluetooth audio being more prevalent nowadays, it would be a good idea to incorporate bluetooth cables together with it, assuming that the cables are removable. This would appeal more to buyers who like to listen wirelessly as well as having the option to use it with the standard cable. On the other hand, the B200 is a very pleasant and detailed sounding IEM in the competitive dual BA market with the likes of Audio-Technica’s IM02, ATH-LS200IS and faces stiff competition from the growing hybrid market.



Gotta thank Brainwavz and Pandora for the review sample. This review has no monetary value and the above comments are purely unbiased comments from myself only.

 
Introduction
 
Having owned the earphone for more than 2 months, this pair of earphones have been thoroughly burned in for over 100+ hours and used on my commute to work as well as while i study. This review is kinda late as the K3 Pros have been released. Nevertheless, i would share my thoughts about this IEM and my likes and dislikes about it.
 
Magaosi has been on the Chi-fi scene for awhile now, offering the BK-50’s and the K1 hybrid IEMs. The K1’s has been quite a hit, but faced with qc issues and subsequently losing its popularity. With the introduction of the new K3s, Magaosi is hoping it would be a weapon to fight with the ever popular LZ-A4. The LZ-A4 has been the “king” of chi-fi hybrids since its release with its customizable filters but with a higher price tag, it may be too much for some. With a lower price of about $135usd, the K3’s may be the trump card that both Magaosi and the audio community is looking for.
 

 
The K3’s come packaged with the usual bunch of accessories with nothing to shout about. 2 pairs of silicon tips, 2 pairs of foam tips and a carrying case. I found the carrying case to be rather small and use a different case to store my K3’s in the end.
 

 
Something aside from the smooth gun-metal finish that i really like, something refreshing was the pre-moulded ear hooks on the MMCX cables. I was used to memory cables, non-memory cables, but i must say i really enjoyed these pre-moulded ones. Having used the **** UES before this, the satisfying click of the MMCX cables gives me a strong impression that the cables and the IEM is much more well made and assuring me that it's a quality product. The **** ones previously were loose and did not have the nice “click” sound.
 

 
Regarding fit, these fit like magic. Low profiled, they sit flush in my ear and i had no problem with these on my flight to Taiwan (4 hours) and they have been a joy to use even while i sleep. With the silicon tips, these sit well in my ear but does not give very good isolation.
For the technical bit, these IEMs are a triple hybrid of twin Knowles 30017 Balanced Armature drivers and dynamic driver to punch the bass. There are two bass ports on the lateral side of the shell that catches wind when the wind is really strong. Which happens to be a problem for me sometimes. The MMCX cable is is twisted and wrapped with a plastic sheath. The Y splitter is well made with substantial amounts of strain relief and looks like it will last a long time. The cable is then terminated with a L-shaped plug which may not be the preference for some. Personally, L-plug or not, it doesn't really bug me, but i prefer the straight plug.
 

 
Let's get down to the most important bit! THE SOUND!
 
 
Source and Sound Preferences
Iphone 7 plus on Spotify Premium Extreme setting. I have a bias for slightly warm sounding earphones and i have the tendency to be allergic to sibilance or strong highs, I like my bass strong with good sub-bass extension so as to feel the “rumble”.
 
Before i get flak with using my source, i’m using Spotify due to the extensive library and the ease of downloading and organising my music. Previously i used Flac converted to ALAC on my ipod touch and i really dread the hassle of putting new music into my player.
 
Sound
 
The sound of these blew me away and i thought the UES was good already. Immediately, i felt the mids were nice and forward, the spaciousness was incredible and the bass was kickin’! So i kept on listening. IMO, this iem have a rather balanced signature, without being too warm or bright. They sound pretty much similar to the KZ ZSTs but with better representation, clarity and spaciousness. The representation of strings on this IEM was amazing, giving it a very precise reproduction of how it should sound like. Mids were sweet and did not seem too “shouty’, female vocalists like IU and Birdy were really enjoyable. Male led bands like Imagine Dragons and Kodaline were pleasant to listen too.
 
The highs were just nice, with most songs hitting the spot, no sharp treble spikes either. However some Kodaline songs such as ‘High Hopes” and “The One”, i experienced some sibilance and it got me slightly annoyed but no matter as they were still a joy to listen to. The details were incredible and i could really enjoy my music in another way, listening to my old songs again with the K3’s.
 
The bass extension is a marvel, not bleeding into the mids and still giving me the nice rumble that i was looking for. Definitely not too overpowering, certainly not for bassheads.
 
In all, the earphones sound spacious enough to me go “mmhm, this is good”, which meant the soundstage was wide and imaging precise. I could say this has the widest soundstage of earphones that i ever had.
 
* The K3 pro’s have interchangeable nozzles so that should allow you to customize the sound to your taste a bit more!
 

 
Conclusion
Conclusion, this has easily become my daily driver and my favourite earphones to listen to. They are easy to drive and sounds great with whatever source i paired them with, be it my macbook pro or my desktop with my Creative external sound card. I certainly think that Magaosi have a winner on their hands and with the K3pro’s they should be able to grab a substantial amount of the market share. I have personally not tried the LZ A4’s but it would be very interesting to see how they compare!
 
Disclaimer: This unit has been provided as a review sample, however the above comments are true to my personal beliefs and are not biased in anyway as i am not affiliated nor paid for this review.
 
The Product can be found on their taobao shop below:
 
https://520cecilia.world.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?spm=a1z0k.6846577.0.0.BvuZkU&shop_id=65248274
 
 

 
Introduction
Based on the very successful Delta earphones previously, Brainwavz has come up with a second version of the Delta’s, now upgraded with Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity. As these are not meant for sports, these will be aimed at the growing users of mobile devices without the standard 3.5mm ports.
 
 .  
 
Unboxing
Boxing the Brainwavz Delta was a pleasure, being encased in a small box with a picture of how the Delta’s look like on the front and details of the accessories provided at the side and at the back of the casing. Opening it reveals a large semi-hard case, similar to the ones provided by the M100s previously. I really like this case as it gives it ample protection without being overly bulky and is able to store the earphones as well as accessories together with it. I really like this approach of just packing everything within the hard case as it helps to reduce cost of materials as well as helping consumers like myself save space since i like to keep product boxes.
 
Apart from the Delta’s, accessories included within the case would be:

1. A Shirt clip
2. A Microusb charging cable
3. Silicon tips in S,M,L
4. A set of T-400 Black Comply Foam tips
5. User Guide
6. Velcro cable tie

 
Overall, accessories provided are pretty standard, but i personally find the case top notch.
 

 
 
Build Quality
Encased in an all metal shell, I'm impressed with the construction of these IEMS. They feel solid and well made, with a hefty amount of strain relief to increase the durability of the earphones. The cables are soft and pliable with the remote on the right side of the wiring. The remote is rather large and has a soft touch finish to it. The in line remote has three standard buttons and also has a mic. At the mid section of the cable, there is a slider to secure the earphones to your head and also a shirt clip to secure it to your shirt. I’ve no complaints but only compliments of the build quality and for the price, i think it’s a pretty good upgrade from the usual plastic shells.
 
 .     
 
 
Sound
The equipment i used with this earphones is my Iphone 7 Plus with media from Spotify Premium, in extreme quality (320kbps)
 
When connecting the earphones to the phone, it was fuss-free and easy. Upon pairing, a voice prompting “Your Brainwavz product is turned on” is a nice touch. However i found it odd that once paired with my iphone,  the usual indicator that shows the pairing and the battery indicator on the status bar is not shown, instead a headphone icon is displayed.
 
A rough representation of the songs that i listen to :

• Bohemian Rhapsody - Panic! At the Disco
• LIFTED - CL
• Reminder - The Weeknd
• All We Know - The Chainsmokers
• Shape of you (Acoustic) - Ed Sheeran

 
In general, I found the sound signature to be quite neutral, with no obvious colouring. Comparing to the previously reviewed M100’s, these are less warm and have less bass quantity. The bass seem quick and just the right amount for songs without an overbearing sub bass. I found the sub bass to be somewhat lacking without the rumble in some of the songs i listen to. The mids are also not too forward sounding although it can be more prominent in acoustic songs and in vocals. However on some songs, it can feel a tad recessed, especially while listening to EDMs. As someone who leans towards the warm sounding types of earphones, I tend to be quite sensitive to sibilance and sharp highs. The deltas are pleasantly tuned and i had no trouble with the highs on this IEM. I would not say these are the most detailed pair of earphones around, but the for the price, i would be happy with it.
 
I think the soundstage is rather decent, and rock songs don't sound congested. Imaging is somewhat better than the M100s that i reviewed previously. There was something weird about the soundstage which i can't seem to phrase it in proper terms but here goes: usually the tune would come from the far left and right but with these, they seem to be behind my back diagonally backwards to the left and right.
 
 .   
 
 
What can make this better?
First up, i found the in-line remote being a tad too large. It's large enough to make the earphones feel unbalanced. However, wearing this behind your neck with the remote resting on your shoulders is find. I found the shirt clip to be extremely useful in this earphone as without the clip, when the remote slides to the front of your shoulder, the cable will fall towards the right side, making it uncomfortable to turn your head. With the clip cleverly placed behind the cable slider, it secures the IEM to the shirt collar,  giving enough length to turn my head comfortably and without worry that it might dislodge the earphone. With a smaller remote, the earphones can be more comfortable to wear and using it would be a more pleasant experience.
 
Second, i thought with a higher price point, more sizes of foam tips can be provided. This may add to the cost and i guess not everyone is a fan of foam tips or open to the idea of trying them.
 
 
Conclusion
I found this offering to be a great one by Brainwavz, to move with the current trends without the 3.5mm jack. At $70SGD, it is being priced competitively compared to more common and popular offerings like the Apple Airpods ($239SGD) and Beats X ($198SGD). I don't know how they compare sonically, but i feel that at $70, it is much more affordable for those who want to give wireless audio equipment a go.
 
 
Last but not least, I would like to thank Brainwavz and Pandora for this opportunity to review this IEM.

 
 
Unboxing
This package came in an unassuming black box with the branding directly on the front. Opening it reveals the very nice semi-hard case that stores the earphones. Opening the case will reveal the package contents which include:

1. The Evo X with Foam tips
2. 1 microUSB charging cable
3. 3 pairs of black silicon tips in S,M,L
4. 2 other foam tips

 

 

 

 
Build quality
Touted as a wireless IEM for Sports, i would expect these to be light and durable for a rugged workout. When i first picked it up, it feels pleasingly lightweight, and it feels slightly lighter than my other sports earphones like the Jaybird Bluebud X and the MeeAudio X7’s, though i don't have a digital scale to weigh them. The EVO X has majority of surface covered in soft touch plastic, with a portion being glossy and showing of the branding of the product. I liked the soft touch plastic which feels great but the glossy surface is a major fingerprint magnet that might be a turnoff to some.
 

 

 
The bottom of the shell would end with a red and blue shiny plastic which indicates the right and left sides. The both sides are then connected with a semi-translucent cable sheath which shows off the twisted cables beneath. There is also a slider which ensures a secure fit to the users head to prevent these from falling out. I've noticed that this IEM does not come with an inline remote that are a common for most sports earphones, but this being a over ear design and sporting a bigger shell, the controls are in built into the earphones as shown in the pictures below.
 

 
The usb charging port, volume rocker and power button are all on the right side of the IEM. As usual, the usb port is covered with a rubber cover which prevents sweat from damaging the port. I liked that the both edges of the volume rocker are raised, making it easier to navigate and press during workout sessions as compared to a flat volume rocker.
 

 
Another praise for this product is the very well sized carrying case that they provide. Large enough to store all the accessories without the need to squeeze into tiny cases like some other companies. The Semi-hard case is slightly smaller than the Pelican case as shown below.
 

 

 
 
 
 
Comfort
During my workouts, i would want a fuss free wearing process and a secure fit to minimise any disruptions during runs or burpees. While wearing them for my workout for a week, i’ve found that these indeed have a secure fit and i was able to put it on with ease thanks to the cable slider at the back, securing it to the back of my head. The nozzles on the EVOX are also angled, giving the user a good fit. I felt that isolation was just average, but it might be a safety feature to let in some ambient noise from the surrounding hazards one might face.
 
Sound Quality
An IEM’s sound quality is indeed one of the major factors in purchasing it. These have been advertised as
 
“A set of quick and transient beryllium dynamic drivers that are specifically tuned for sports application in order to provide additional emphasis on the mid / treble details which tend to be lost during workout.”
 
Testing out these in both commute and during my workouts, i felt that these IEM’s really do deliver, with an increased focus on the treble and not so much the mids which i feel might just be average. This made acoustic songs and female voices nice to listen to. The bass is fast and have a good quantity to it but i personally i feel that the bass doesn't have the oomph and the deep sub bass extension to give me the heart thumping adrenaline that i like to have with my EDM music during my workouts.
 
I liked that the subdued bass doesn't overpower the mids and highs, giving me a more enjoyable experience for normal pop songs before and after the gym session.
 

 
What can be improved
This pair of IEM’s have been a joy to use but there are some areas i felt that is able to make it a notch better. Apart from the fingerprint magnet on the glossy shell, there is a groove on the ear hook for the wire to pass through and this exposed area might be a melting pot of accumulated sweat and bacteria that would disgust some people. The exposed area gives it a nice aesthetic look, however, allowing the user to clean the groove under the cable would be a nice addition.
 
I also felt that the cable are quite springy and stiff, and tended to irritate me once in awhile as i prefer a softer more pliable cable. Since we’re on the topic of cables, PERSONALLY i feel that i like the memory cable fit more than the rigid over the ear fit as the memory cable made me feel like it's more secure on my head. Don't get me wrong, these are secure and did not fall off or get dislodged but with the memory over the ear cable, i felt more secure that the IEM will stay on my head.
 
Comparing to the MeeAudio X7s and Jaybird Bluebud X, i felt that these have some advantages over them like having the controls built into the shell rather than having an in-line control, and that some may prefer the less overwhelming bass on the EVOX.
 
Conclusion
I felt like this pair of IEM is priced at a price at $59.99 on the ADVANCED website, these are at a competitive price point and should appeal to users looking for a well tuned sports IEM. Apart from the little niggles that i pointed out, i feel that these would give other companies a run for their money with more expensive offerings like the Jaybird Freedoms and the POWERBEATS 3.
 

 
Before i forget, I would like to thank ADVANCED for an opportunity to review this set of IEMs. 
 

 
Before I begin, I would like to thank Brainwavz and Pandora for sending me this review sample for my honest comments and unbiased feedback. 
 

 
 
Packaging, Package Contents
These were sent to me with the retail packaging and a drawback was that I couldn’t view the earphones through it, usually on retail boxes there would be a flap, or a transparent window to show how aesthetically pleasing the earphones would look, however in this case, I had to wait till I opened it to see how it looked like. This may be a turn off to customers in retail shops as most would want to see how the earphones look like before purchasing and not doing it blind.
 
I was pleased to see that the earphones were kept in an elongated case, complete with the user manual, a pair of comply tips, 3 sets of silicon earbuds with different sizes and a shirt clip. As always, the Brainwavz case is one of my favourite earphone cases as it is semi rigid, and has space for spare tips and even a small USB DAC/AMP.
 

 

 
 
Build quality
 
These are touted as crafted by “Aircraft Grade Metal”, these feel good and have a good weight to them while not being heavy at all. The cables are twisted and are encased in a matte finish plastic/rubber sheath, giving it a nice smooth touch feeling to them. The cables are split with a Y splitter together with a chin slider which I find pretty solid and kinda difficult to slide .The cables are terminated in an angled 3.5mm connector increasing its durability.
 
Source of Music

• Macbook Pro 13 Inch Late 2013
• Iphone 7 Plus
• Spotify Extreme

 
After about 100 hours of burn-in, this pair of earphones was put to the test with some of my current favourite songs. The songs I listen to are mostly pop songs, EDM or mandarin songs that speak to my heart.
 
Heres a few examples of my choice of music

• Feel it coming – The Weeknd
• Bohemian Rhapsody – Panic! At The Disco
• Closer – The Chainsmokers
• If it wasn’t for you – Alesso
• 爱一直存在 – Rachel Liang

 
I found these earphones to be pretty competent with pop songs, with no major glaring issues. In view of the other reviews from more critical listeners, maybe I just enjoy my earphones being warm and slightly dark. As with all reviews, sound is subjective to the person using the earphones and we all have different preferences.
 
However, I found the bass to be slightly lacking while listening to EDM songs, and certain songs with more bass emphasis. The mids seem to be slightly recessed and slightly more tuned towards the high side. This did not create and sibilance or discomfort when I was using this to listen to higher pitched female vocals like Rachel Liang. I find myself to be sensitive to treble and these earphones does not make me uncomfortable. I might feel this way as I am accustomed to the bass on the LZ-A2S. The mids like I mentioned feel slightly recessed but this may be due to the decreased bass extension. I found vocals to be clear and slightly cleaner compared to the LZ-A2S.
 
Overall I find it sounding dark but it has a signature that caters to the masses, good enough bass, not sibilant, very smooth if I should put it. Most of the people whom I let them listen to told me that they find it enjoyable and not too much bass so I guess that’s a good thing for them, but not to the ones who prefer neutral signatures or a flatter signature.
 
Comfort
 
I feel that these have no comfort issues, eartips are soft and fit well, however isolation with the stock eartips are slightly below average with the medium sized ones. For some reason, I find that the earphones stay in your ears but they tend to dislodge pretty easily with little movement compared to the other earphones I have. Perhaps they will be better with the comply tips provided, however I am not a fan of foam tips thus I did not try it on.
 
Conclusion and verdict
 
I feel that these are decent earphones but are not justified by the price. At close to $90, there are many earphones out there that might trump the M-100’s, hybrids such as the LZ-A2, the new LZ-A2pros. Even at the $50 price range, popular choices like the Tennmark Crazy Cellos or the LZ-A2S might trump it. Disclaimer, I might mention a lot of LZ products, but I am not affiliated to them in any way. For a casual listener, using these earphones to watch Anime or drama series casually may be ok if they don’t mind forking out for something more expensive. With more and more Chinese or asian companies stepping up their game, Brainwavz will need to offer more for a higher price tag. For this price, I will think twice. 

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Jaybird in any way, and this unit was borrowed from a friend. This review would be my honest opinion about this product.
 
 

 
 
Here goes:
 
I previously owned a pair of Jaybird Bluebuds X and after it died on me, I was on a lookout for another pair of Bluetooth earphones for use during my workout sessions. Without a high budget, I dismissed the idea of these sexy earphones and looked further for a pair of cheaper ones within my budget of 100 dollars. Fortunately for me, a friend agreed to lend me a pair to try out since he has too many earphones.
 
When I first got my hands on it, it felt like a déjà vu experience with my Klipsch X10’s but with a Bluetooth cable. These are small and light and they feature a slender shell much like the Klipsch X10/11’s giving off a sleek and premium look to it. These are made of metal and the sand-blasted finish do really make them feel and look “atas” (local slang for upmarket) They are passed to me in a nice small pouch with a magnetic closure and a smooth and soft touch to the exterior.
 
The earphones have a 3-button remote and mic on the right side of the cable and a cable management plastic piece to keep the excess cables flat and folded at the back of your neck. I used the medium sized silicon tips for my review but included in the package are the usual 2 types of silicon tips of 3 sizes, 4 sizes of silicon ear fins, and also a comply sports foam tips that are supposed to “stay” in your ears but to me, they are a bit more fragile than the isolation and comfort comply tips.
 

 
 
This pair of earphones are able to be worn down cable or over the ears.
 
Cables down
My experience from using this pair of earphones with the cables “down” is that there seem to be too much friction at the base of the neck and when I turn my head during my commute on the train or bus, the earphones tend to get “stuck” and becomes slightly dislodged. With that I wasn’t able to focus on my music and tend to have to keep adjusting it. Wearing the earphones this way is not possible during exercise as I feel that the increased movement causes the earphones to get dislodged further. Previously with the Bluebuds X, they are mostly worn over ear and I can’t compare with the Freedoms.
 
Over the ear
This is the style of wearing that I use most of the time, especially while working out. They seem to fit better, stay better on my ear and also don’t have the problem of the friction on my neck. However, as the distance of the base of the right earbud and the remote is quite short, when I wear it over the ear, the remote tends to sit on top of my ear and it might not be as secure as I want it to be. When I wear my spectacles together with the earphones, there will be some discomfort due to the number of things congested at the top of my ear and whenever I shift or take out my spectacles, the earphone will be shifted slightly. Using the accessories like the rubber fins was a bit fiddly was a hit or miss but they stayed in my ears securely once they are fitted properly and would stay on even during my HIIT Workout.
 
This earphones was used with my iphone 7 plus and the source of music was from Spotify Premium on Extreme setting
 
Touted to have a “enhanced” 6mm driver, the sound of these are surprisingly unflattering, with the lack of bass and a veil on the highs. They seem to have slightly laid back mids too. IMHO, they have a similar sound signature to the original bluebuds ex but with slightly less bass quantity. However, music was still enjoyable with these as it sounded quite detailed and also not congested and messy on EDM tracks during the workout. Listening to Kodaline and Jay chou songs on them was also a pleasure.
 
However, the MySound app on my iphone was able to tune the earphones to my preference, ever so slightly but critically. With some tweaks, the bass was increased and also the highs sounded more crisp. I believe this is a smart move by Jaybird as we all hear sound differently and being able to adjust the sound to our ears would make many people happy. I would think that this app would be made available for our Android friends too!
 

 
 
Misc Comments
The charger provided was a snap on dongle, which is able to give the earphones some extra juice when you’re out and it goes out of power. I found the snap on dongle a good solution as it reduces the need for a micro usb port and in turn allowed for a smaller earphone footprint.
 
Connectivity wise, they were easy to pair, easy to install the app, and drop outs happened but not as common as when I first used the Bluebuds X. Generally did not spoil my listening experience.
 
 
Conclusion
To sum it up, I believe these are a pair of premium quality Bluetooth earphones but costing a good 179.99 on the Jaybirds website, the price would make many think twice. These can be one of the best sounding and also lightest sports earphones I’ve tested thus far. 

Before i begin, i would love to thank Pandora and Brainwavz for the chance to review this product. I am not in any way affiliated with Brainwavz and this is my honest opinion on the product.
 
           
 

Overview
 
Before this, there was the Hengja, the Hooka, the Truss. All those were of fantastic build quality and being all metal, built like a tank. The products mentioned above were all catered to the headphone lovers but this product is ideal for the lovers of Earphones, Earbuds and anything with wires. Similarly built entirely from metal, this product is meant to last a lifetime.
 
 
            
 
 
The Krudul Duo consist of the Krudul Monitor and the Krudul Vertical which both serve the same purpose but are placed in different areas of your desk. Both are mounted by 3M VHB mounting tapes which is strong as hell!! Once they’re on, THEY DONT COME OFF!!
 
Basically the Krudul Monitor sticks behind your monitor and you can hang up your earphones by the side of your monitor after every listening session. In my opinion this is really convenient and a nice way to hang your earphones and declutter the table, but for me, it will kinda ruin a nice sleek monitor if you value clean lines and have a OCD for things to be symmetrical. But hey, you could get 2 and place one one each side!
 
 
        
 
 
 
The Krudul Vertical is the typical hanger that mounts on the wall at the side of your desk, similar to the Hooka that i reviewed earlier. These do their job well and have the strength to hold up ANY earphones you throw at it.
 
            
 
The main problem to me is the inflexibility of the mounting option. For people who likes to modify the layout of their desk, add shelves to the walls at the side of their desk or just flexibility in general, These hangers may be very frustrating to remove. Upon clarifying with Brainwavz, the adhesive mounts can be removed via a heat gun or a hairdryer, slowly heating it up and removing it. They can also be repasted onto another surface but adhesiveness might be decreased. Otherwise they do a fantastic job at holding up your precious little buds up and can be even considered an overkill!
 
These can be had for 15USD over at http://www.brainwavzaudio.com and for 15USD these are pretty reasonable since you get 2 mounting options and the chance to declutter your table too!
 

 
Before I begin, I would like to thank Pandora and Brainwavz for providing me with a sample unit for this review. I’ve used this headphone hanger for over 2 months now and this review would just be my honest opinion on the hanger over this period of time. I would not go into the specifications as there are many previous reviews which covered it already. 
 

 
Pros
 
1.     Construction
-       These are no doubt built to last. They would probably outlast your current headphones or the next few headphones you have. Built out of solid aluminium, there are no areas of failure which could potentially render this useless. They are actually so strong that there was once my bag was hung on it by mistake and it did not drop. These have a slight curved surface for your babies to rest on, so that there are no sharp surfaces that may cut pleather headbands due to wear and tear.
 

 
2.     Mounting solution
 
-       These are mounted via a 3M VHB tape, which are strong as steel, I actually have no idea how to remove these and have no intention to anyway. However I felt that if I ever want to change the position of these hangers, it’s gonna be a mess, as I can foresee the chore of removing such a strong mounting solution.
 
Cons
 
1.    Price
-       At $17.95 USD, some might find this too much of an investment. Personally I feel that as a student on budget, these might not find their way to my table at all. However for someone with slightly higher budget, these are definitely a worthy investment for the long term

Intro
 
 
First and foremost, I would like to thank Fiio for this review unit from a reviewer application on Head-Fi where they were looking for 20 reviewers! Luckily for me, snagged a spot and received a review unit in exchange for my honest opinion and review of these earbuds.
 
Probably the most popular earbuds in the market are the Apple EarPods, where most non audio enthusiast users just use them for everyday use. Users who seek to upgrade from that pair of EarPods would normally seek to purchase In-Ear Monitors(IEMs), not Earbuds. Why? Probably from classical conditioning that IEMs will give better sound and when tested with a bassy track, the reaction would be “Whoa, this **** is good. BUY”. Interest for earbuds seemed to have dipped over the years with the rise of IEMs and people love them for the bass extension, noise isolating properties. With the general public being more aware of hearing safety, many IEM companies market their IEMs with good seal, providing good noise isolation and thus reducing the volume of music played while commuting, to shut off the droning noises of our surroundings, resulting in the decrease in popularity of earbuds.
 
However, some people still love the airy sound, the fuss free fit when they put on the earbuds.. and a more natural representation of music. Similar to open headphones with a airy, spacious sounding sound signature. In recent times, the company Venture Electronics came up with the ‘Monks’, a $5 pair of earbuds which swept the audio community off their feet and love was in the air for earbuds. Then came the EM3’s, Fiios answer to the Monks (In my opinion). With a $10 price tag, the company is set to target the budget user, who also demand quality music from the equipment they purchase. Would you buy it? Lets see in the review below.
 

 
 
Packaging, Build Quality
 
 

 

 

 
 
These Earbuds are made from a single dynamic 14.8mm driver with a weight of 13.6g and a normal cable length of 120cm. On the cable of the left side of the earbuds, there is a mic unit, with a single button to control the play/pause. I would not delve into the specifications as they would be stated on the packaging and on the official website.
 
These come in a small paper box packaging, which features the earphones on the front cover. Nothing to shout about here and within the box contains the earbuds, a quick start pamphlet and 3 pairs of black foam covers. Everything is neatly packed and organized, a real pleasure to slowly take them out bit by bit.
 
The earbuds themselves are completely black, giving off a bit of the batman vibes. The finishing is not completely matt or glossy though, with a mix of both all round. It is matt finishing until the Y splitter. Following which, the mic unit is glossy and almost the entire earbud unit is matt black except the top part which features a glossy finish. They sport a vertical bass port along the shaft of the earbud, with another opening towards the top of the earbud, which looks like another bass port too. Overall, the Earbud unit looks and feels solid and svelte, with a slim shaft and a nice strain relief at the end of the unit. There are also strain reliefs at the both ends of the mic unit, which is a nice touch and adds to the durability of this product.
 
The EM3’s terminates to a L plug, with a flexible and robust looking strain relief. Certainly feels like it could last awhile with proper care
 
If I could suggest any improvement, would be the inclusion of a chin slider to keep it more s secure for those who might want to do some activities in it.
 

 
Sound Impressions
 
Source: Apple Ipod Touch 4G 64GB
 
Songs:
1.     童话- 光良 (FLAC)
2.     小幸運 – Hebe Tian (FLAC)
3.     LIKE I WOULD – ZAYN (320 CBR)
 
 
 
These earbuds with the foam pads, fit really comfortable in my ear, the fit is really secure too. A few other Head-fiers have reported pushing on the top of the earbuds to get a better seal and better fit, but for some reason, these just sit snugly and have no major sonic difference or difference in comfort however I adjust them.
 
When playing 童话by 光良, the mids seem to be forward sounding, warm and smooth. There is still detail in the voice and I like the soundstage I'm hearing, decent width, can’t distinguish height and depth though. While listening to the popular 小幸運 by Hebe Tian, the opening instruments and strings on the guitar sound sweet, and has a nice energy to it. The female voice sounds good, but they sometimes sound a tad too warm and smooth, and it doesn’t sound that crisp, I think I can describe it more towards the darker side. Let’s go on to one of my favorite tracks recently, LIKE I WOULD by Zayn, it is these kind of tracks that the EM3 excel in, a nice low end that makes the song enjoyable, albeit on a earbud. The forwardness of the mids and the slightly dark signature of the earbuds gives the song more groove and that’s the way I enjoy it.
 
 
Comparisons
 
VE Monks
 

 
 
Straight up, these muds are more comfortable than the VE monks. I wore both with the foam pads and I believe the Monks have a slightly wider diameter, thus pushing against the ear, making It slightly more uncomfortable. I found the Monks to have a bigger soundstage and it has a slightly airier feel to the music coming out from it. It also sounds more laid back, not as mid centric as the EM3’s. Bass wise I would say the EM3 trumps it, giving the songs I listen to more oomph into it. The monks are also less dark, and sounds slightly clearer and more spacious overall.
 
Hardware wise, the monks lack strain reliefs on the earbud unit and does not have a mic. It also terminates into a straight plug and it seems that the cables on the monks are thicker, a more industrial/OEM feel to it. The monks also lack a chin slider..Design wise, the EM3 also trumps the monks, with a slimmer profile, and subtler branding (or no branding). If it matters, the EM3s are slightly harder to drive compared to the monks, but difference is very minor.
 

 
 
Conclusion
 
Overall I would say that these are great buds’ for the price, a definite upgrade from the EarPods you have been hearing. One might just wanna try these out to open their world up on earbuds, if you (like me) have given up on earbuds awhile back. Honestly, I still prefer the sound of IEMs due to the natural basshead in me, but I would really like to throw these in the bag on some days while doing my revision at the library, with less ambient noise. For those interested, these can be had for $10 on amazon.

First of all, I would like to thank Brainwavz Audio and Pandora for the review unit which I would now review objectively without any biases. I used to own the M2’s from Brainwavz and after that pair died on me, I'm ready to give Brainwavz another shot. I must say I have enjoyed the M2’s thoroughly though
 
For this review, I have tested this IEM over the course of three weeks, and taking it on a trip with me overseas where I used it while sleeping, on noisy public transports, and doing multiple short workouts.
 

 
 
Intro
So these are the Brainwavz IEMs that are designed for the active user, for the athlete in us. They sport a Single Dynamic 9mm driver and an over the ear design, giving the user a snug fit. At a $25 price point, one might have their reservations, but they are a budget offering with absolutely bang-for-the buck sound quality.
 
These are the complete specifications below.
 
Specifications:



Drivers: Dynamic, 9 mm

Rated Impedance: 16 Ω

Frequency Range: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz

Sensitivity: 95 dB at 1 mW

Rated Input Power: 10 mW

Cable: 1.4 m Y-Cord, Copper

Plug: 3.5 mm, Gold plated

 

 
 
Packaging
These sweet IEMs came in an assuming plastic packaging, but upon opening it, what came with it really amazes me at this price point, the standard Brainwavz case, which is one of my favorites, with just the right size to not occupy so much space in my bag, compared to the Pelican Case 1010. Included in the package is also a pair of Comply tips, not just any OEM foam tips but proper Comply ones. I was surprised how they were able to squeeze so much into such a small price point. Apart from that, they had a pair of Bi-flange tips and 3 sets of normal silicon ear tips. I used the default M sized ones which fits me like a glove. They also come with a shirt clip, to clip onto your workout attire, to prevent swinging cables getting in your way while your do burpees or other intensive activities. I found this especially useful especially during my workouts.
 
Build Quality
The IEM shells are plastic, actually, the entire IEM is made from plastic and rubber, which makes it lightweight but I am actually impressed with the build quality, it doesn’t feel cheap in anyway and has good strain relieves at the connection between the shells and the cable, and at the Y splitter as well as the termination. The strain reliefs look sturdy and could take a beating without giving way. As a IEM catered to sports and meant to take some abuse, these certainly lived up to expectations. Another point I like to point out is the engraving of the Brainwavz branding onto the shells and the Y splitter instead of printing as I believe after much use doing activities and sports, abrasion or wear might wear out the branding, making it unsightly, thus I guess kudos to Brainwavz. The cables seem to be slightly thicker than the usual cables and has a slight rubbery tactile feel to them which feels good, not sticky or too rubbery. They feel solid and just exudes quality.
 

 
Sound
Using the M sized eartips, the comfort surprised me. They sit flush in the ear conchae and don’t seem to budge. The shells are rather flat-ish and I could sleep with them without problems. With a good and comfortable fit, I could enjoy the sound of these to the fullest.  These came across overall as a basshead pair of earpiece, with emphasis on the strong punchy bass and extensive sub bass that extends really deep. In my opinion, as a pair of IEMs designed for active use, I would assume the user to be listening to fast paced, bassy tracks to give some extra kick to the workout, at least for me. These sounded really good while listening to artists like Alesso, Skrillex, Major Lazer. The bass had quite a bloat, which I enjoyed but does not come off as muddy or sloppy. They were accurate and sounded really pleasant. Mids wise they sounded slightly forward to me, but nothing to shout about in these regions. Vocals were smooth when listening to songs from Kodaline and Adele but not exciting or crisp like the FXT90s which I own. For the highs, they sounded like they roll off abit too quickly, and just doesn’t sound exciting and crisp, which is an area which I think this IEM could be better at. But speaking of which, these are supposed to be a fun pair of IEMs, ready to rock a workout and give thumping bass to the active user, thus I think they did the job perfectly well
 

 
Conclusion
For 25 bucks, I would say these are an absolute gem, I think Brainwavz has nailed it with these pair of active earphones and for those who don’t mind a wired pair of IEMs while you work out, do give these a shot at your local store, or purchase them from the Brainwavz webstore with the link below.
 
http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/xfit-xf200-noise-isolating-sport-iem-earphones-w-3-button-remote-microphone

For starters, I would like to thank Fischer Audio Singapore and Royston for the very warm hospitality and for the chance to review this pair of earphones. These are my honest opinion on these pair of earphones and will be unbiased in whatever way.
 

 
 
Intro
 
The Fischer Audio ‘Twin’ from the Omega series is a Dual dynamic driver pair of earphones with 7mm and 9mm drivers. They can be only worn over the ear and has a very low profile and sit mostly flush with the ear. They are constructed in a solid plastic housing with slightly translucent finishing, showing off the drivers and wires that’s packed within. The cables are strong, sturdy and wrapped in a plastic sheath touted as ‘Highly durable TPU’. The part where the cables go over the ears also have an additional memory segment where I feel is quite rigid, compared to the one LEAR has. On the left side of the cable there is also a microphone with a single button that controls play/pause and the cable descends to a Y splitter with a chin slider. The cable terminates to a Gold plated L plug with a robust strain relief to prevent any cable damage.
 
The retail packaging is neat and compact, with a magnetic opening mechanism that once opened, reveals the earphones and the included hard case. The package also included 3 sizes of single flange tips, a pair of double flanges and a pair of foam tips (Not from comply).
 
I will not be going too much into the technical specifications but just an idea of what these earphones can offer to the general public, and my experience with it for the past month or so.
 
From my conversation with Royston, these earphones are meant for the average user, with the idea of having ‘One earphone for the throughout the day, as a Do-It-All.’ To further elaborate, it was after Fischer Audio did market research that Singaporeans, or Asians generally prefer a single earphone for all their needs, from commuting to work to working out at the gym, as people generally find it too troublesome to carry different pairs of earphones around. These earphones also have been tuned by the team to provide a listening experience that they can be proud of.
 

 
 

 

 
 
Sound impressions
 
To evaluate these pair of earphones, I have given it a burning in time of over 50 hours, and used it as my daily commute, as well as while cramming for my exams and lastly sweatin it out at the gym. My song choices spread over a wide range and some songs will be listed below.
 
1.     Roses (ft. ROZES) – Chainsmokers
2.     Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
3.     I Can’t Feel My Face (Martin Garrix Remix) – The Weeknd
4.     Skinny Love – Birdy
5.     Beat the Sunrise – SNBURN, Andrew Watt
6.     On my own – Samantha Barks
 
When I first tried them on without burn-in, they were like woah! They sounded just so good! Mind you, I was coming from the LEAR AE1D’s which are single dynamic drivers but still have pretty good sound. I was getting excited as I put the earphones through the burn in.
 
I feel that the earphones have a general warm sounding signature, with smooth vocals, decent highs that might sound rolled off for some and a deep bass and sub bass that gives the oomph to the kind of songs I listen to. They don’t come across as being forward or recessed in terms of the mid range but at a middle ground where it is nice to listen to.
 
With songs like ‘On my own’, I can really immerse myself in Samantha Barks’ voice and empathize with her feelings. Even songs like Hallelujah, I am able to hear details like the breaths that Jeff Buckley takes in between and vocals and clarity just amazes me. On EDM tracks, I get the nice bass, very full sounding, not too tight or flabby but just the right amount whereby I get to enjoy my music. Kudos to Fischer Audio for this. I mainly listen to EDM tracks in the morning before the day starts or during my runs where the thump of the bass really gets me going and feeling pumped. I like that I also get to hear details in the song, with decent sound-staging but also sometimes imaging I feel can be improved. With some songs, the Instruments can feel very congested and just not very pleasant. Don’t get me wrong, its just something to nitpick if I were to be fussy about it. 
 
While doing sports
 
As these earphones are supposedly able to withstand the rigors of a workout, they are being put to the test. They perform.. really well! The rigid memory wire of the earphones keeps the earphones on my ears the whole time and there is close to no microphonics (wire noise) during my runs. Wires are of adequate length with my phone being in my pocket while doing weights and the wires are curled around my armband while running outdoors.
 
However, I don’t know if they can withstand heavy sweating or are even water resistant in the first place. Although they are meant for a workout and I have used it without problems.
 
Comparison
 
IM50/70
Royston mentioned that these earphones are competitors with the IM50/70 series, but IMO, these trump them. I find the IM50 a tad too bid and it sticks out of your ears, points dropped on cool factor, they do sound a bit too boomy too, though I do enjoy some bass once in awhile. Vocals are also pretty good on these but I think the clarity on the twins do trump these. Comfort wise I find the IM50 quite fiddly to wear, and gets annoying when I want to just put it on quickly. I find that I can’t sleep on these also as they stick out of your ears.
 
I did not own the IM70’s but the bass seemed lesser than the IM50 and its similar to the twins in my opinion. Vocals are great too but then again same problem with the shape of the earphones. Some may also not like the bright red colour scheme of the IM70’s and that’s also one of the reasons why I purchased the IM50’s
 
Another thing to note is the removable cables of the IM50/70 series. They are firm and solid and are replaceable unlike the fixed cables of the twins, but with the rugged feel of the twin, I'm pretty sure they are able to last too.
 
LEAR AE1D
 
I thoroughly enjoyed these earphones, especially with the adjustable bass option but in comparison to the twins, the twins with the dual dynamic drivers do sound really really more lively and I enjoyed my music more on the twins although comfort wise, the ‘over the ear’ memory cable of the LEAR is one of my favorite as they are soft and easily shaped. But then again the shell of the AE1D is quite large although it is ergonomically shaped to your ear’s conchae, but much heavier compared to the twin. At almost 2.5X the price of the twin, I would choose the twin on a tighter budget.
 
JVC FXT90 LTD
 
These came in shortly after I received the review unit and it might be a fairer comparison compared to the Twin as it is also a dual dynamic driver offering from JVC. I believe they are comprised of the same diameter of dynamic drivers. Sound wise, they are very much different from the Twin, with forward mids and a sparkle to everything. It just feels fast and exciting whereas the Twin feels smooth and deep with also a decent amount of sparkle. When I started using the FXT90s after the twin, it really feels as though some amount of bass and the rumble is taken away as well as the smaller soundstage. This might be due to the shallower fit of the JVC earphones. The FXT90s are worn straight down and has a little protrusion at the back for better fit for the ears. I would think that these are ‘complimentary’ earphones to the Twin and I was able to enjoy my music on both!
 

 
 
What can be improved
 
1.    I think the hard case that comes with the earphones can be more robust, something similar to the one provided by Brainwavz. The ones given together with the twins are covered in fabric and has a similar generic shape to the usual ones from OEM's like KZ, works okay, but I’ve got to coil my wires really nice and compact.
 
2.    I think perhaps more kinds of tips can be provided, something that goes in between sizes, I’ve found myself having some difficulty initially with the fit. Ended up going small, not the perfect seal, but still works good.
 
3.    I think the memory part of the cable that goes over the ears can be made to me more flexible, similar to the one LEAR has, although the rigidity is good for keeping the earphones in place while exercising, sometimes it just feels thick and uncomfortable with spectacles. Remolding it also requires a bit more effort with the rigidity.
 

 
 
Conclusion
 
I think these are a great pair of earphones and they are good for the money. The good folks over at Fischer Audio has done a good job with the tuning of these earphones. I dare say that these to me, sound better than the popular Shure 215se’s and the Audio technical IM50/70s at a similar price point. For those going for a do it all pair of earphones, give these a try at your local store
 
For Singaporeans, these can be had for below a hundred dollars at @StereoSingapore and be sure to always try before you buy! 

OK, so this is a budget offering from Beyerdynamic, saw this on sale on the local Jaben site and decided to give it go! 

 
It was packaged in a neat, small box, with magnetic opening to a window to get a glimpse of what you are buying. Really nice touch to it.
 

 

 
Build Quality - I would say these are decent for its price, It has a full plastic build, greyish/gun-metal in colour. The shells are fairly small and are touted to be 'Ergonomic' by Beyer. They also have fairly thin cables and terminates to a L plug which I prefer to the normal straight plugs. The strain relief seem decent on the L plug termination, and is expected to hold up for awhile. The wires, although thin and light, they do not coil up and get tangled easily, even when I stuffed them into my bag a few times. I usually store my iem’s in my pelican case, but I was lazy and did the coil method around my ipod touch 4G.
 
Comfort – When I first put these on, I was quite amazed by the isolation (on medium buds). I found the tips to be soft and really gave a good seal. The fit reminded me of the Klipsch oval tips and I enjoyed the isolation. I would not say it’s a deep fit but it isolated really well. Due to the light weight, the earphones were clearly forgettable once in your ears. I wore them over the ear to reduce the prominent microphonics due to the cable rub. I guess the shirt clip would help, but I prefer the over the ear method, keeps it secure too.
 
Sound – I found the earphones to have a neutral sound signature, and very clear too. Clarity is its plus point! Bass is strong, punchy but not overbearing, and does not have that “Rumble” you get in certain songs. There are nothing much to shout about in the Mids department, forward sounding or too laid back, just nice and neutral. Treble might sound a bit harsh, but just slightly, sometimes a bit more than what I would like, and it gets slightly fatiguing after awhile. I think the the highs are aite, does not really have the bright signature or the sparkle that some would like, but I found them to handle Sam smith and Mariah Carey pretty well. I’m not the sort that likes too much sparkle. The weakness comes at the Imaging and Instrument Separation. I found them to be Congested and don’t have the capability to do much of instrument separation as much as the LEAR’s that I reviewed before. Soundstage is not very wide too, but of acceptable level.
 
General Summary – These are good In-ears for those who wants an upgrade to their apple earpods or those supplied by their respective smart phone manufacturers. They do sound better than the cheap in-ears you find all over the place, and I would seriously consider this if I'm on a budget of less than $30 SGD. With the latest trend with KZ buds, I'm not sure how these compare with them. But I'm glad I bought them and can be my spare buds any day! 

 
 
 
 
Link to purchase : http://www.lazada.sg/beyerdynamic-mxp-50-ie-in-ear-headphones-with-in-line-mic-90617.html

Hi Head-fi,
 
I would like to thank Tatco Ma for providing me with this set of earphones in exchange for my honest opinion. Just for disclaimers, I'm not one with golden ears or one that can distinguish sound waves from one another, I listen to generally quite a wide range of music, and I will let you know how this earpiece fare with my preference of music.
 
I will not be going through the technical specifications of these earphones as it can be viewed from their website, other than it being one with Universal Fit Mould, 10mm DYNAMIC driver and pretty solid removable cables with a memory hook. I would say, to me, the most interesting feature about these earphones were the Bass adjuster knobs found on each side of the earphones, giving me free play on how I want my music to sound. My previous pair of cans were a pair of Audio- Technica IM02’s and upon listening to these pair at a audio shop, I was mesmerized on how fun and exciting they sounded compared to the analytical IM02’s. It felt almost like you’ve always eaten bread plain and though its good, a layer of Peanut butter is now applied, and you’re into a whole new world.
 
I generally listen to music powered by my Macbook Pro from Spotify and powered solely from an ipod touch 4^th gen on the go. Apart form the Spotify, most files are either 320 or Apple lossy converted from FLAC files.
 
An example of the songs I usually listen to are:
 
1.     Sam Smith – You’re not the only one
2.     Kodaline – All I want
3.     Mariah Carey – Hero
4.     Birdy – Skinny love
5.     Justin Bieber – Sorry
6.     Tiesto & KSHMR – Secrets
7.     Drake – Hotline bling
8.     Corinne Bailey Rae – Like a star
9.     Kygo – Here for you
10.  The Weeknd – Prisoner
 
As you can see they are a mix of pop are vocal heavy songs, some Tomorrowland mixes here and there. Sometimes I just use it for classical music or Piano pieces and they fare just fine.
 
As I like to listen to highs, I find them rather pleasing, clear and it rolls of smoothly to have a non fatiguing kind of sound signature, very nice to listen to the likes of Mariah Carey and Sam Smith.
 
As for Bass, my knobs are turned to the 3^rd last dot, as I like my bass to have a bit more oomph but also not bleeding into the mids or highs, when I turn it down a notch, I find some songs lack the punch and this is where it is just so easy to bump it up a notch and perfect!
 
The Mids are neither recessed or too forward sounding, just balanced and I would not say it’s a specialty, but they sound really nice. For those who tried the the IM02, I would say the IM02 is more forward sounding but comparing to the Klipsch X10’s I would say the AE1D is really much warmer and slightly more forward sounding.          
 
In my opinion, I think soundstage and Instrument separation is where it is Achilles heel is, WOAH wait, I don’t mean its lacking, but sometimes I listen to my Grado Sr80e’s and found it to be not that kind of level, considering those are open headphones, its really quite difficult to argue. But I think its an area Lear can look into to improve and make these pair of cans a BEAST!
 
When it comes to accessories, LEAR is really generous, the Case that comes with these is really solid, and quite hefty, feels like an iron man armor, but the glossy nature of the surface of it makes it a finger print magnet. The rubberized interior is also welcomed, making sure the precious cargo is very well kept. For me, I prefer to use my Pelican Case 1010 to store it, together with my IPod touch 4, since I already used it with my IM02 previously.
 
There were also a generous selection of ear tips present, from foam to Sony styled tips, and some wide bore ones.
 
Did I mention the exchangeable tips to some custom ones? Yeah, if one is bored of the universal tips, you can get just unscrew the canal and fit on some custom ones from LEAR! I have not opted for that option, so I guess I can’t comment much! I personally like the Sony style tips and have stuck with it ever since.
 
Let’s talk about the cables, they are probably the C2 wires from the web-store and they are light, westone styled two pin tips with a memory wire near the attachment of the earphones. I personally like these memory wire as it feels really non-obstructive and it keeps my earphones secure. Once its on, no worries about it falling out. According to the web-store, “C2 is made with high purity silver plated copper conductor and "Tinsel wire" technique.” I’ve no idea what difference the different cables make, but they do sound pretty good to me, they are not very tangle resistant and sometimes a minimal memory effect to them.
 
Ending off with comfort, I really like the comfort of these, they are made to fit into the external ear ergonomically. When I compared it with the IM02 and Shure’s SE215, I found these the most comfortable and the easiest to wear. In my opinion it’s a put on and forget. However, during my extended usage thus far, sometimes I feel that if not put exactly at the correct spot, matching the curves of the external ear, it will create unwanted pressure sores, or just area of hotness and just a little sore after awhile. It can be easily remediated by taking it off and letting the ear cool down and making sure you put back correctly in the proper position. These seldom occur but it makes me annoyed once in awhile. I want to highlight that since these are a universal fit mould, they do not sit flush with they surface of the cheek
But it sits at least flush with the most lateral portion of the ear. Meaning, it wont stick out that much. So these are not for side-sleepers who use earphones for sleep a lot. I use them on a few 5 hour flights and they seem to be fine while sleeping with a neck pillow.
 
In Summary, I think this pair really fits the bill of a exciting, customizable earphone, without a hefty price tag. The option for exchangeable nozzles especially with custom tips is very welcoming. Good Job to LEAR for this piece of audio equipment and I hope to see more products out in the market soon! I set out to give this piece of equipment more awareness and I hope this review will help potential buyers out there!
 
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
 


 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Disclaimer : Im no professional audiophile or a audio critic. I consider myself an enthusiasts that is trying out new equipment and also demanding of my audio products. Please go easy on me. 
 
Songs i listen to : Mainly Pop, acoustic versions or just vocal-centric.. Muscials, sometimes classical music for studying.. EDM sometimes on good days 
 
 
Introduction : 
So i was looking for a new earphone, an upgrade from my Klipsch R6, saw some SE215 LE's and was about to purchase them, i was worried about the fit, so as we all say 'Try before you buy'. I went to the local store to try it out. The shop representatives also passed me some Westone UM10 PRO's to have a go at it. Verdict, I found the signature on the 215s similar to my R6, nothing much to shout about, a fun sounding earpiece. The Westone's was lacking in bass but was very clear. So the representative took out these IM-02's and got me to try. PHEW was i blown away. However, i found the price a tad hefty and had to leave for my appointment anyway. Man.. was i impressed by these Earphones.
 
So i found a second hand pair from a fellow headfier and proceeded to purchase one promptly. Process was smooth
 
So on these IM-02's 
 

 
 
Build Quality - Solid. Feels solid in your fingers. Cables have a good feeling to them and they have these memory segment where it loops over the ear. Some people dont like it, But i personally dig it. They allow me to forgot that these were in my ears after awhile. Taking the weight off these beasts. 
 
Cable Security - They never once disconnected and never felt loose in anyway 
 
Sound Quality - Here goes. The Clarity would hit you right off, making Sam Smith's voice sound so clear, even on songs from musicals such as Phantom, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, voices from the cast are just so distinct. Since i'm listening to some musical songs, soundstage is wide and imaging was good, having that theatre feel all over again. I found that after since acquiring these, i felt the need to listen to more vocal and acoustic songs, just to take advantage of the clarity. The Mids are very forward sounding, and have lots of detail. Highs are clear, does not have any sibilance effect too. 
 
About the Low ends, thats where these might lack. Don't get me wrong. These beasts do pack a punch, just that it doesn't have all that rumble that some of those EXTRA BASS earphones have. Bass doesnt really cross over to the mids, getting clean, punchy bass that performs even on some EDM track. I like to listen to hip hop songs sometimes such as 50 Cents' 'Candy Shop' and they still give me a very sweet sounding bass response. Not overwhelming and still enjoyable. 
 
Accessories - They come with the standard 3 sizes of stock tips, plus a pair of COMPLY ISOLATION T-500 tips. There was a case too. 
Verdict : stock tips were fine. nothing much to shout about. Not a real fan of foam tips and the stock tips gave me enough comfort and isolation to not want to change to the foam ones. The Case was a disappointment though. As these tips have a 'memory' cable, i don't want to squeeze them into the case and then remodel them to the contours of my ears again. I bought a Pelican 1010 to resolve this issue.
 
Verdict - These pair may not be for everyone, but i sincerely vocal and acoustic lovers to give them a shot. Try to find one off the bay or from your local marketplace with the right price for you and these might work out just fine. 
 
 
Purchased some Spinfit's off the bay' and was curious about how they sounded. 
 

 

These were how they looked like
 
So i was quite excited about these tips, hoping they improved my listening experience, but they dont seem to stay in the ear as well as the stock tips! Sometimes they slide out after awhile and doesnt have the isolation of the stock tips. 
 
Will update when i try the JVC Spiral Tips! 
 
Do comment on how i can improve on my review!