Brainwavz B2 Impressions & Discussion Thread - Page 68

I guess the Westone W4R that retails for $499.99 has zero quality cables. Why does one of the oldest and most reputable IEM makers choose this stupid kind of twisted cables on one of the best universal IEMs in the world?

Oh wait, this cable design is great. It is durable and reduces micro phonics. What was I thinking? Derp.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMarkRemains 

Honestly from memory these B2's recall the Ortofon EQ-5's I had but at half the cost. Nice product, cable gives pretty much ZERO confidence though, I'll be recabling or reshelling these if I keep them. Very detailed, I still prefer some of my others and I think the Vsonics are a better "deal" overall due to construction, but these are worth the $$. i'm going to try Ink's suggestion with Etymotic triflange and others. I wouldn't have guessed a silicone for treble attenuation, but it's worth a try. Foam usually works for me but I appreciate the longevity of a silicone. Best part of this hobby is the different flavors with nearly the same basic ingredients . 

 

These are very detailed. I understand completely why Joker and others swear by them. Brings out subtle details like few others

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inks 

  Here is more info, I recommend this as well. 

Oh my god that Creative Aurvana Live mod is so cool it's ridiculous 

Quote:

Originally Posted by eke2k6 

 

Ok. I ask because I'm considering getting it along with the RE272.

RE-272 in the house. Out of the box goodness. Presently doing the burn. HiFiMan recommends 200-300 hours. I don't know if I can hold out that long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish 

 

RE-272 in the house. Out of the box goodness. Presently doing the burn. HiFiMan recommends 200-300 hours. I don't know if I can hold out that long.

Nice. Could you post your impressions in the 272 thread? I don't want to derail this party.

I have been entertaining the idea of creating a thread for comparing my 3 analytical IEMs (RE-0, RE-Zero and B2), and maybe add more when/if I get more, although it might sound silly considering the more experienced Multi-IEM review threads out there. I was going to start writing just a few lines, but it evolved into a considerable text, so I'm saving it for said hypothetical thread.

Basically if I had to sum it up: the B2 is analytical in every aspect which to me is fantastic, the RE-0 is analytical retaining some dyamic driver aspects, both good and bad. I'll be keeping both =) and the B2 is a fantastic upgrade to the RE-0 if you enjoy things like acoustic rock, jazz and anything that's very vocal-dependent (you listened to Quiet Nights for non-evaluation reasons in the last month).

Quote:

Originally Posted by eke2k6 

 

Nice. Could you post your impressions in the 272 thread? I don't want to derail this party.

You crack me up.

Just wanted to let people know that modding these yourself is fairly easy. The hardest part is getting the outer shell off the first time. Also you can't solder the cable directly to the driver, as the solder points are too far into the housing. But aside from that, you're pretty much good to go.

One other thing, I used to scoff at people who claimed that one cable was better than another. No more. Not big enough of a difference to make me regret it, after all it is reversible and now I don't have to take my iPhone out to change volume or answer a call or change tracks. Still, there is a difference. The iPhone headset cable didn't have that enamel intertwined with the cable, where as the DBA-02 cable does.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadawgis732 

Just wanted to let people know that modding these yourself is fairly easy. The hardest part is getting the outer shell off the first time. Also you can't solder the cable directly to the driver, as the solder points are too far into the housing. But aside from that, you're pretty much good to go.

 

One other thing, I used to scoff at people who claimed that one cable was better than another. No more. Not big enough of a difference to make me regret it, after all it is reversible and now I don't have to take my iPhone out to change volume or answer a call or change tracks. Still, there is a difference. The iPhone headset cable didn't have that enamel intertwined with the cable, where as the DBA-02 cable does.

 

 

 

Very nice work. The color scheme is not my favorite, but it looks good overall. Can you tell us how you opened the shells? If you took any photos that would be great too. I'm still too afraid to mod/recable these and I'd prefer to leave it to BTG Audio if I ever need a new cable, but it can't hurt to know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yggdrassilious 

I guess the Westone W4R that retails for $499.99 has zero quality cables. Why does one of the oldest and most reputable IEM makers choose this stupid kind of twisted cables on one of the best universal IEMs in the world?

 

Oh wait, this cable design is great. It is durable and reduces micro phonics. What was I thinking? Derp.  

Was that supposed to be some sort of attack ? Westone cables are replaceable ( On non removable UM series too). Plus they are readily available. The B2's are not, without some sort of a mod or a reshell. The comparison between these and Sony/Phillips whatever consumer grade. My body oils literally swell and strip the insulation off the wires on those in a month. Shure cables stiffen and crack in 3. Westone cables are the best in the market that I've found but they still don't last forever. As hard as these are to get ahold of I was simply looking at longevity. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by LizardKing1 

 

Funny, I don't actually find them bright. I mean the treble is very much there, of course, but maybe it's just the negative connotation I associate with the word "bright".

 

And the cable is probably the biggest issue with these, maybe the only. For wearing them over-ear without fearing cable stiffening, I'm thinking of buying the V-Moda earhooks, anyone have any experience with them?

Everyone hears differently, I'm pretty sensitive to treble (surprising considering I have some hearing loss). These have very good treble extension, hence the comparison to Ortofon. Some of the high frequencies which seem to be simply bone vibrations and not a tone bother me. These are really great phones, especially for the $. I expect perhaps the extension is the difficulty some have with these ( which I and others probably confuse with brightness). They are tilted more towards treble bias which accentuates the detail. Great comparison gear, may not work for my extended sessions though due to fatigue.

Oh and thanks for the post on the mod. nice job !

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadawgis732 

Just wanted to let people know that modding these yourself is fairly easy. 

 

 

Very cool.  Reminds me that I really need to get a soldering iron.

The B2 being the only low-res phone I have (compared to the rest)...it makes for a good gaming headphone.  I played AC2 Revelations yesterday w/ it to much satisfaction.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMarkRemains 

Was that supposed to be some sort of attack ? Westone cables are replaceable ( On non removable UM series too). Plus they are readily available. The B2's are not, without some sort of a mod or a reshell. The comparison between these and Sony/Phillips whatever consumer grade. My body oils literally swell and strip the insulation off the wires on those in a month. Shure cables stiffen and crack in 3. Westone cables are the best in the market that I've found but they still don't last forever. As hard as these are to get ahold of I was simply looking at longevity. 

Then there's something wrong with you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LizardKing1 

 

Very nice work. The color scheme is not my favorite, but it looks good overall. Can you tell us how you opened the shells? If you took any photos that would be great too. I'm still too afraid to mod/recable these and I'd prefer to leave it to BTG Audio if I ever need a new cable, but it can't hurt to know.

Quote:Originally Posted by shotgunshane 

Sorry, but I didn't take pics. I was too preoccupied at the time with all the tasks revolving around the mod. The color scheme wasn't my choice. I'd originally purchased a pair of DBA-02s (like the ones in the above picture) but the left driver was distorted, by which I mean blown, and the seller turned out to be a jerk. So I ended up with the Red/Black ones you see in the pic. I purchased some Shure Olives but Medium turned out to be too small. (Does anyone want to trade M for L? 2 Pairs of my medium for one of your large.)

Anyway, the left shell popped off with a fingernail and some elbow grease. The right one needed an exacto knife to pry it open. Once inside there, you unknot the black/white wire, and cut it with a scissors 1/4" from the two clear plastic nano shrink wraps. Solder the wires of the cables you are trying to attach to them, and don't worry about shrink wrapping them, if you do they won't have enough room to close anymore. Also don't forget to knot the new cables inside the housing so that you don't put any stress on the solder joints. Good luck, and let me know if you need help.