[jant71]

Thought I'd share some pics I took for my Brainwavz S1 review...

 
 
 

 

 

 
...and I'll say that the S1 should be liked especially by the subscribers to the discovery thread. A big, full, weighty, immersive sound yet very up front. They put you up on the stage and smack you in the face sort of sound.

 

[waynes world]

So Sfwalcer, how goes the m200's???

 

[quartertone]

So when are the S1 supposed to be released?

 

[quartertone]

I think the problem with the S1 is the many reports of bad build. The S2 is extremely well built while there's a lot of reports of issues with the S1 (apparently there's many people having trouble with some kind of plastic ring getting broken).

 
Yes, that is a problem, but a few drops of superglue can fix it easily enough. I really don't understand why a giant like Philips can't prevent something so basic. But still, paying €50 more pretty much for better build and more tips? Not for me.

 

[doctorjazz]

MY X3 JUST GOT HERE! (time to buy hi-rez music...it never ends)

 

[jant71]

  So when are the S1 supposed to be released?

 
Just realized that there will be two S1 models now with the Philips and the Brainwavz
 
 
You can't know exactly at this point. Not long now if no delays. The teaser was posted on the website, the early samples went out. The packaging needs to be finished and the final decision on the accessory kit. My review should pop up at the time they are about due and I can have the specs and final info in it.

 

[doctorjazz]

Man, I'm in audio nirvana, the X3 is crazy good, unbelivable!!!

 

[ericp10]

Quote:

  Man, I'm in audio nirvana, the X3 is crazy good, unbelivable!!!

 

[sfwalcer]

  I received the biggest in-ears I've ever possessed today.  Thankfully the sound is just as big.  Yep, that's the already large CKS1000's next to it.  Comfort is actually very good.  The ear hooks work well.  The cable is kind of cheap since everything else seems to be top notch.  Only three pairs of tips come with it and a very nice hard case.  Tip rolling on this thing is gonna be impossible since it possess a huge nozzle.  Same system as the JVC FXD series for those who know but much bigger.  The sound is very tip dependent and it's the shallowest fit I've ever experienced.  I usually use medium tips for most of my earphones but had to go with the large on the these.  
 
As for the sound, it's top notch.  That big housing allows for a deep sound.  The bass driver works well in the background producing deep and well controlled bass.   Good sub-bass but not too deep.  Just a tiny bit of mid-bass.  These are not bass light by any means and not the boring neutral signature.  Vocals are not Audio Technica forward but it's right there in the mix.  It's actually very smooth and no harshness to it.  Treble is very sparkly but also very smooth.  No fatigue to the treble what so ever.  What's actually quite stunning is the stage and instrument separation.  The music layered quite well.  These are somewhere around the Philips Fidelio S2 and AT CKS1K type of sound.  Possibly more towards the S2 signature.  Very well balanced and controlled sound with an excellent attenuation into the fun realm of sound. I think KEF's first attempt into the headphone/earphone world is a knockout.  
 

 
+
 

So Sfwalcer, how goes the m200's???

 
= Dannys impressions are pretty much spot on, but i like to add a bit mo' on top.  These are the most 3D and Surround Sound set of iems that i have heard to date. The sound and stage is indeed huge with great layering as Danny indicated but the sound, esp. vocals are also very up front and forward as well. These have a big and powerful sound that is surprisingly not fatiguing. You can almost hear the technical innovation in that big ol' housing of theirs. These M200s are very clean, transparent, fast, and accurate, hence this makes them have a slightly less natural sound signature and presentation. These are by no means as "artificial" sounding as Balanced Armature iems , but they do share a very similar sound signature, presentation and capabilities to a lot of other micro/ Carbon Nanotube drivers such as JVCs line up, the new ATH CKN70, VSonic VC02s even the Sony BA XBA-3s. Where these M200 differ is that it is a CRAZY beefed up and refined version with all of the best traits of those BA/ Micro/CNT drivers but yet it manages to not sound cold, analytical, or artificial. I think these M200s are able to achieve a very fine balance of not being overly warm or cold, and not overly natural or artificial but have just enough of all these traits making them fall right in the middle. JUST RIGHT!!!
 

 
P.S. Oh forgot to add that when i didn't get a proper seal and was listening to these M200s they kinda had a metallic tinge to their sound but once achieved a proper fit these sounded much more natural in presentation.
 

  Man, I'm in audio nirvana, the X3 is crazy good, unbelivable!!!

^ Congrats Doc!!!

 

[daveyostrow]

After hearing the S2 and M200, the 1K's seemed awfully colored. Even the Onkyo's don't seem as colored but its closer to the 1K's then the other two in coloration. I am preferring more of the neutral sound these days with good bass.

Thats what is so great about the xb90ex, deep deep bass with great mids and super polite highs. i just got the cks1000 and they are on another level of refinement, but may be too in-your-face somehow for me. ​

 ​

ill hopefully get an S2 on the way too... still waiting to hear more about how the onyko sound before i jump on a pair. if someone wants to lend me a M200 that would be gerat, I will have a mass review eventually, with phones like xba40 and fx700 as well.​

 

[waynes world]

Great m200 impressions Sf! Thanks.
 
 
Quote:

 

Thats what is so great about the xb90ex, deep deep bass with great mids and super polite highs. i just got the cks1000 and they are on another level of refinement, but may be too in-your-face somehow for me. ​

 
How many hours are on your 1K's Dave? They require a substantial amount of burn-in to be all that they can be..

 

[daveyostrow]

maybe around 65. ill keep burning them in and take your word for it... question i am wondering about is if the onyko have the same kind of depth/refinement these have.
 
...either the japs like refinement or warmer signatures:

- (Less than 30,000 yen 20,000 yen or more) earbud headphones
Gold	AUDIO-TECHNICA	ATH-CKS1000
Winning	DENON	AH-C250
Winning	DENON	AH-C300
Winning	JVC	HA-FXZ200
Winning	KEF	M200
Winning	KLIPSCH	Image X10i
Winning	KLIPSCH	Image X7i
Winning	RADIUS	HP-TWF22K W n ° 2 (brevet de Numero de)
Winning	SONY	XBA-30
· (¥ 20,000 less than 10,000 yen or more)-ear headphones
Gold	ONKYO	IE-HF300
Winning	AUDIO-TECHNICA	ATH-CKS99i
Winning	AUDIO-TECHNICA	ATH-CKS99
Winning	JVC	HA-FXZ100
Winning	MAXELL	MXH-DBA700-BK
Winning	PHILIPS	Fidelio S2
...

 

[sfwalcer]

^ No problem WAYNE, was hoping that these M200s would completely destroy my FXZ200s but sadly it does not, more like different flavors like Ds said, dat steak and lobsters analogy.

 
But this one is like lobster stuffed steak.......

 
..... more lobster than steak though.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

[waynes world]

  ^ No problem WAYNE, was hoping that these M200s would completely destroy my FXZ200s but sadly it does not, more like different flavors like Ds said, dat steak and lobsters analogy.

 
But this one is like lobster stuffed steak.......

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

 

..... more lobster than steak though.

 

 
Man, you're making me hungy!

 

[sfwalcer]

   
Man, you're making me hungy!

^ LoL, be content WAYNE, no need to lust after such abominations as these lobster/steak fusions.

 
 
edit: What the heck one mo' to push you over the edge. : P