Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX

This is a review of the Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX IEM’s.
 

 

 
The Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX was sent to me from Blue Ever Blue for free for the purpose of me making a review of them. I’d like to grab the opportunity to say thank you to Bentley at Blue Ever Blue for letting me try them out, THANK YOU!
 
The Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX is on sale at the Blue Ever Blue Model web store and the price at the time of this review was $130:
 
http://www.blueeverblue.com/product_model_1200ex.html
 
But wait, there’s more................there are a sale going on for Head-Fi members at this very moment:
There’s a $31 discount for Head-fi members that last throughout 2016. This is available to Head-Fi members that purchase the Model 1200EX between November 10th and December 31st. All you need to do is purchase the earphone from their site and send an email to info@blueeverblue.com along with your Head-Fi username. Once received, they will issue a $31 refund making the final price $99.
 
I’m not in any way affiliated with Blue Ever Blue.
 
About Blue Ever Blue:
Blue Ever Blue is a US based company and this is what they say about themselves on their homepage:
“We are a Delaware USA limited liability company. Our administrative offices are located in Washington, D.C. Our products are designed in the United States of America and contract manufactured in China. Our earphones have HDSS® technology. Our objective: Deliver quality audiophile sound at a low price.”
 
About me:
 
Built and accessories:
The Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX is a single dynamic in-ear monitor featuring one 9.2 mm dynamic driver.
 
AFAIK it comes in two flavors: silver or dark. I've got the dark one.
 
The build and design of the Model 1200EX feels very reliable. They’re a bit heavy but that also adds to the impression of a very solid construction. The housings are all metal and do come across as very durable, of course only long time usage will prove if this is the case in real life.
 
The non-detachable cable is of high quality with good flexibility and a quite low amount of microphonics. I’ve been using them straight down but they can also be worn over the ears if one chose to remove the earhooks. Unfortunately there’s no chin slider on them so I had to make my own. The strain reliefs are in place in all the right places and the Y-split seems solid without being overly large. L/R marking is in black on black background so it’s not very easy to spot but when you look for it you’ll see it.
 
The retail package is very nice for the price point as is the accessories which includes the following:
5 pair silicon tips
4 pair of ear hooks
1 case to store them in when not in use
 
The Model 1200EX is slightly harder than average to drive but still worked very well with all the sources I’ve tried it with including cellphones. I don’t find them to benefit significantly from a more powerful amplifier and they seem to work well with all the sources that I’ve tried them with.
 

 

 

 

 

 
The specs:
 
Fit and ergonomics:
The design of the Model 1200EX is kind of industrial looking to me but I like it a lot. They’re also quite heavy, due to the metal housings, but that’s nothing that I notice when wearing them in my ears. As a matter of fact I find the Model 1200EX to be very comfortable. One thing to notice is that they don’t sit very flush to the ears so I wouldn’t recommend sleeping with them.
 
The included silicone double flange tips works well for me but the Model 1200EX seems very  sensitive on tips and fit (especially for bass reproduction) and I ended up using them with JVC Spiral Dot tips for best combination of sound and comfort with my ear anatomy.
 
Isolation is about average, maybe even slightly below. With music playing I wouldn’t say that isolation is a big issue with them though. They do also leak some sound out as my wife, who’s apparently VERY sensitive to leakage, doesn’t let me use them in the bed room.
 
Sound:
I’ve used them back and forward in the last couple of weeks and they’ve played for well over 100 hours. I’ve used them both around the house and when out and about and I haven’t really found any significant weaknesses in the way they’re designed.
 
I’ve used them mostly with my LG G5 phone, the bit Opus #11 amp/DAC as well as the Opus #1 DAP but I’ve tried them with a number of other sources as well and they’ve worked very well with all of them. I’d like to specify that’s not often, if ever, I’ve come across a pair of IEM’s that sounds this good such a variety of sources.
 
As already mentioned I enjoy the Model 1200EX the most with double flange silicone tips.
 
Demo list:
 
This is my first encounter with Blue Ever Blue and I’ve got to admit that I didn’t know much about the company or their product before getting the Model 1200EX In so naturally I was very curious about the way they’d sound. I've had the Model 1200EX for about two weeks by now and they've played fro well over 50 hours. 
 
My initial thought upon the first listen with the Model 1200EX was that it is has very playful presentation, wide soundstage, a touch of warmth and a fantastic midrange.
 
The sub-bass extension is actually quite good and the layering in the lower bass is also very good and the impact is good enough that I don’t feel much lacking but at the same time I’ve heard many IEM’s with more impact. Mid-and upper bass has good presence with excellent quality and there’s very little bass bleed into the midrange and only on some recordings. The overall quality of the bass is really good and bass speed is excellent. Still, this is probably the area where some will fine the Model 1200EX lacking, for me it’s not a problem but I would probably not suggest them to bass-heads or people listening exclusively to bass driven music. That being said I do find them to have enough bass presence for my preference to be very enjoyable with all kinds of music.
 
The midrange is definitely the star of the show on the Model 1200EX, being a midrange lover this is a very welcome thing to me. The midrange is forward and highly detailed with an excellent natural sound. The upper bass presence is enough to give weight to the presentation and make it feel very life like. I really like the way the Model 1200EX combines speed and transparency in the midrange but still manage to avoid sounding clinical and unengaging. Male vocals and string instruments has enough weight to feel natural and female vocals are very enjoyable and non-fatiguing. String instruments do also sound absolutely fantastic with good weight and amazing timbre.
 
The treble extension is good and feels perfectly in line with the rest of the presentation. Despite having good extension and not being very lush the treble never feels harsh or fatiguing to my ears but rather quite distinct.
 
Clarity and micro details are very good as is transparency and resolution. I’m very impressed by how natural the Model 1200XE sounds and a good contributor to this is the great balance between the soundstages in all direction. Soundstage width is very good while depth and height is good giving a coherent sound in total that makes the overall presentation very life like with great timbre to the notes. Like I’ve already said the soundstage width is very good (almost on par with Havi B3 Pro1) and so is separation, this combined with an airy presentation that’s very “out of your head” gives the Model 1200EX a quite unique overall presentation. Actually the whole sound signature on the Model 1200EX reminds me a lot of the kind of sound one usually gets from a pair of open headphones.
 
The Model 1200EX sounds great with all music I’ve tried it with but in my opinion it, like pretty much all mid forward IEM’s, performs its best with acoustic music like Mark Knopfler, Leonard Cohen, Melody Gardot and Ben Howard.
 
Comparison:
Please note that the comments in the comparison section are not in absolute terms but in comparison between subject A and B. This means (as an example) that if subject A is found to be brighter than subject B it does not necessarily mean that subject A is bright sounding in absolute terms. I hope this makes sense.
 
These comparisons were done listening from my phone through the bit Opus #1 DAP.
 
AAW Nebula 2 ($149) vs Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX:
The Nebula 2 is a hybrid using one dynamic and one balance armature driver. Compared to the 1200EX the Nebula 2 has a bit deeper sub bass, more mid bass presence and are overall warmer sounding. The midrange on the 1200EX is more forward and has much more air in the presentation while the Nebula 2 is slightly V-shaped and thicker sounding. The 1200EX does also have a fuller and smoother treble. The 1200EX has a larger soundstage and better clarity. The Nebula 2 does actually sound a bit congested in comparison.
 
Fit is equally good for me with both of these.
 
Build quality is also good on both but I prefer the cable on the 1200EX.
 
The Nebula 2 is a bit harder to drive.
 
Isolation is similar, and quite low, on both.
  
Moni One ($99) vs Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX:
The Moni One is another well balanced and fairly neutral sounding IEM that uses a driver configuration consisting of one dynamic and two balance armature drivers. Compared to the 1200EX the sub bass on the Moni One doesn’t reach as low and has less impact, it does also have less mid bass presence. The Moni is leaner and cleaner but also thinner and brighter in its overall signature. The Moni is actually more even in the frequency response while the 1200EX has a more forward midrange and especially more presence in the lower mids. The Moni One does have a slightly higher resolution and a bit thinner treble while the 1200EX has better 3D presentation, timbre to the notes and more natural vocals.
 
Fit is equally good for me with both of these.
 
Build quality is also good on both but the Moni One offers a detachable cable.
 
The Moni One  is slightly harder to drive.
 
Isolation is similar, and quite low, on both.
 
Vsonic GR07BE ($129) vs Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX:
Compared to the 1200EX the Vsonic’s has less sub bass impact and depth. It does also have less mid bass presence and an overall thinner sound. The midrange on the Vsonic’s are more recessed and vocals on the 1200EX are more forward and fuller, richer and overall more natural sounding. The treble on the 1200EX is fuller and smother end they does also have a more 3D presentation.
 
Fit is equally good for me with both of these.
 
Build quality is better on the 1200EX.
 
The GR07BE is slightly harder to drive.
 
Isolation is similar, and quite low, on both.
 
Havi B3 Pro1 ($59) vs Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX:
The Havi is another mid centric IEM that uses dual dynamic drivers. Compared to the 1200EX the sub bass on the Havi’s doesn’t reach as low and has less impact, it does also have less mid bass presence. Both have excellent midrange but the 1200EX is much fuller and vocals on the B3’s do actually sound a bit nasal and hollow in comparison. Overall midrange quality is actually quite similar with an effortless and liquid presentation but the 1200EX has a good deal more weight to it. The treble is fairly similar on both. Havi is a bit smoother all over but with less clarity and lower resolution. Both of these offer great soundstage width and 3D presentation with the B3’s pulling slightly ahead on the former and the 1200EX on the latter.
 
Fit is equally good for me with both of these.
 
Build quality is better on the 1200EX.
 
The Havi is a lot harder to drive.
 
Isolation is quite similar, and a bit lower than average, on both.
 
Summary:
The Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX is an amazing, and quite unique, sounding pair of single dynamic IEM’s and I think it’s probably the best performing single dynamic's I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to, beating other excellent performers such as the Aurisonics Rockets and VE Duke. I really enjoy how fun they are to listen too. Normally in here when people talk about a fun signature it’s a bass tilted one but, as I’m sure you’ve understood by now, this is not the case with the Model 1200EX. Its “fun” comes from being playful and lively while never crossing the point of being fatiguing. Best way I’d describe it is like a calf jumping with joy when getting let outside in the springtime, I hope you get the picture
 
In addition to have a signature that’s pretty spot on for my preferences the Model 1200EX also have great build quality and a design that I like a lot. If there’s anything missing I’d say that I could live with a bit more sub-bass impact and detachable cables are always nice, especially on offerings in this price range but both of these would be “nice to have” rather than “need to have” for me.
 
Despite all multi driver offerings popping up everywhere these days stealing the attention I can’t help feeling impressed and also a bit relived by the fact that Blue Ever Blue has managed to produce a single dynamic that keeps up with pretty much everything I’ve heard at its price point, even offerings with multiple drivers, and by doing so shows that tuning is at least as important as how many drivers one manage to put in a shell. For those of you that know me you also know that I’m a huge fan of the Havi B3 Pro1 and the Model 1200EX to me feels like a direct upgrade to my beloved B3’s. They both have an excellent midrange as well as a very wide soundstage but the Model 1200EX also has more weight to the notes and more bass slam making them an even better all-rounder. They do also manage to maintain everything that I love with the B3's. It’s taken me over 100 IEM’s to find a direct upgrade to the B3’s without breaking the bank so please forgive me for being a bit enthusiastic in this review but I really didn’t see this one coming. Once again I’d like to thank Blue Ever Blue for letting me try out the Model 1200EX and not the least for making it in the first place. 
 
For more information and discussion about the Blue Ever Blue Model 1200EX feel free to visit the dedicated thread her:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/827410/blue-ever-blue-model-1200ex-impression-thread#post_13047941
 

Greetings Head-fi!

Today we are going to be taking a look at the newest earphone from the good folks over at Blue Ever Blue, the Model 1200EX.

Based out of Washington, D.C., Blue Ever Blue (BeB) exploded onto the earphone market in 2011 with a variety of products featuring HDSS (High Definition Sound Standard) technology. A number of respected Head-fi'ers like @jant71 and @clieOS gave them a go. After some outstanding initial coverage, it was apparent BeB was bringing to market some heavy-hitting earphones in the under 100 USD category.

Fast forward five years and BeB has continued to expand their lineup, releasing higher quality and seemingly more technically proficient models along the way. Their new flagship, the Model 1200EX, was recently released on October 28th, 2016 and I feel we're going to be hearing a lot more about it in the coming months. Why is that? Let's find out.

Disclaimer:

I would like to thank Bentley with Blue Ever Blue for providing a sample of the 1200EX in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving financial or any other form of compensation for this review. All comments and opinions within are my own and do not represent Blue Ever Blue or any other entity.

The 1200EX retails for 130.00 USD. You can purchase it here on Blue Ever Blue's website: http://www.blueeverblue.com/product_model_1200ex.html

The nozzles on the sample I was sent came misaligned, a QC issue BeB is keeping a close eye on. It didn't affect fit or sound quality.

Edit: Review reduced to 4 stars to sit more in line with competition from other products. The 1200EX is still a fantastic buy.

A Little About Me:

---

---

Packaging and Accessories:

Looking back to BeB's older models and the heavy use of blister packages, you can see they've taken a pretty big step forward here. While nothing mindblowing or uber premium, the outer package clearly outlines what to expect from the 1200EX; what it looks like, specifications, and features. The magnetically sealed front flap is a welcome touch, giving you a sneak peak of the earpieces and BeB logo embossed on the carrying case. An area of improvement would be the layout and presentation. It's overly busy with six or seven different fonts used on the front alone, and the red on grey is nearly impossible for a color-blind chum like myself to read.

HDSS and some of the benefits of this unique technology are noted, such as 3D full stereo sound, high definition audio, and a 14.32% reduction in psychological stress. I don't fully understand how that's supposed to work, but I highly recommend heading over to HDSS.com (http://hdss.com/technology.html) to read up on it as it's an interesting subject. There are some big names backing the tech as well, such as Asus, Marantz, Sharp, Head-fi favorite Dunu, and of course, Blue Ever Blue.

Moving on to the contents, sliding out the inner package you'll notice the foam inlay is covered in a smooth, felt-like fabric. A unique touch compared to the bare foam inserts used by most manufacturers. The 1200EX earpieces are on full display up top, with the compact carrying case on display below. I was afraid the case would be a bit too small, but it holds the 1200EX just fine.

Inside the case you find a bunch of goodies; medium bore eartips in s/m/l sizes that were very similar to those included with the ATH-CKP300, a single set of wide bore tip in medium size, and a single set of dual flange tips reminiscent of those used by Brainwavz. There are also three alternative ear hooks in s/m/l sizes. Another ear hook in a completely different and more compact style comes preinstalled.

Tucked away underneath the inner tray is a 1 year limited warranty card. Not as great as the three year warranty you get with RHA's products, but it's a heck of a lot better than the hilariously short limited 3 month warranty Sony offers with the AS800AP.

Overall the presentation is a little hit and miss, but quality materials are used and the accessory kit is comprehensive.

---

---

Build, Comfort, and Isolation:

Cheap materials and poor build quality can quickly quell enthusiasm and cast a dark shadow over a great sounding product. Now way would I want to drop my hard earned cash on something that's probably not going to be in good working order in a couple months, especially when I start dipping my toes in the 100 USD and over market. The 1200EX meets my expectations and feels like it should stand the test of time.

If my experience with old school Hot Wheels toy cars from the 70s, 80s, and 90s is any indication, these housings will take a licking and ask for more. The solid feel and weight of the 1200EX immediately brought to mind that classic toy the first time I held them in my hands. The hefty metal alloy and thick, reassuring plastic used for the earpieces inspires confidence. Only time will tell of course, but I would be shocked if the Model 1200EX ran into durability issues.

All this girth means the 1200EX is a heavy beast but the weight is fairly well distributed. This is further aided by the use of the included ear hooks. The ear hooks are made from a very soft silicone so while they taper into a seemingly sharp edge you hardly notice they're there. I would like to see BeB include slightly beefier ear hooks in the style appearing on Brainwavz's BLU-200 model. Their ear hook works amazingly well with the 1200EX, adding additional stability the stock ones lack while maintaining most of the comfort.

When I first saw the winded cable, the QKZ W1 Pro came to mind. While the 1200EX's cable is similar, it's thinner above and below the y-split and uses a much stiffer sheath. It's fairly resistant to tangling but has some memory, retaining mild bends from being stored in the case. Cable noise (microphonics ) is almost completely absent and is very likely the best I've come across in an earphone designed predominantly for cable-down wear. Strain relief is present at the 45 degree angled jack and leading into the earpieces, if not a touch too stiff. It is completely absent at the y-split. Overall it's a very nice cable. While thin, it feels tough and the near complete lack of microphonics is a HUGE plus.

The Model 1200EX isolates like a dynamic driver earphone, that is to say it is simply okay. The large vent in front of the driver, just beside the nozzle, lets in a fair bit of sound. Once you have music playing, even at low volumes, its not so much of an issue but you're still going to need to crank it up when using public transit.

Overall the Model 1200EX comes across as a very durable earphone. The fairly comfortable design, which makes good use of the included ear hooks, combined with very low cable noise means they're great for mobile use, just try to avoid overly loud areas because their passive isolation could be better.

---

---

Sound:

Tips: I tried a variety of tips with the 1200EX but didn't hear much of a difference moving between bore sizes. In the end, large dual-flange Havi tips and medium Mixcder ANC-G5 tips offered up the best comfort and most consistent seal, so I settled on them.

Amping: Please do, even though this is an earphone optimized for low volume listening. They are a slightly warm, treble leaning, mid-range forward earphone that with extra power is extremely clean, tight, and very detailed. Straight from a cellphone, they certainly sound great, but an amp kicks it all up a notch.

Bass seems to be the prime focus of most manufacturers as of late. Warm, smooth, monstrous bass that will please the masses. What I love so much about the 1200EX is that their bass quantity is sidelined putting everything else in the spotlight, with just enough warmth to tie it all together.

Treble is crisp, accurate, full of detail, and prominent, along the lines of Dunu's Titan 1. Unlike the Titan 1, the 1200EX is a touch dry and quite crisp that results in them sometimes coming across a bit over exuberant, such as during particularly energetic cymbal crashes. For the most part, however, it's well behaved. Well behaved enough for this to become my go-to earphone for metal, taking the place of my beloved JVC HA-FXH30.

Their midrange is truly something special, making the Havi B3 Pro 1 sound almost muffled and veiled in comparison. The B3 has one of my favorite midranges, and still does, but listening to the two back-to-back confirms the 1200EX is not playing the same ballgame. The realism and ease with which voices are presented is outstanding and in my earphone collection, I'd be hard pressed to find a rival.

Their low end is pretty tame, with not much more emphasis than the Havi B3 Pro 1. Extension into sub-bass regions is quite good, showing that a somewhat bass light earphone can still hit the low notes if called upon. It is also insanely quick and punchy. Drums sound spot on with just the right amount of decay, and so good I caught myself spending a couple hours on Youtube hunting down the craziest drum solos and battles. The intent was to find one that would exceed the 1200EX's capabilities. Still looking...

BeB touts a 3D, full stereo soundstage. I don't know about it being 3D, but it sure is impressive. Definitely larger than average and nigh identical to the Titan 1 but with improved depth. Where the sweetness comes in is with the way sound travels within this space. I've run into earphones that make me aware of non-existent activity in my surroundings, but not quite like the 1200EX does it.

Overall the Model 1200EX is an outstanding sounding earphone with a stupendous midrange. Don't let the ear hooks fool you into thinking this is a sports earphone your typical bass-heavy signature, because it couldn't be any more different. If you like a fairly neutral sound with a ridiculously sweet midrange and some extra energy up top, these are well worth your time.

---

---

Final Thoughts:

Blue Ever Blue has eschewed standard tuning expectations for the Model 1200EX, and like the Havi B3 Pro 1 shows that you can release a very capable, audiophile friendly tuning at a good price. They don't spam your ears with "EXTRA BASS!!!", they output gobs of detail top to bottom, and they present their midrange and soundstage in a way that would make most earphones jealous.

While the misaligned nozzles are something to watch out for, it wasn't something that affected my enjoyment of the Model 1200EX. The packaging design also needs some work, but this is pretty minor in the grand scheme of things especially when most buyers will be tossing it out anyway.

I've been thankful to have the opportunity to listen to a number of outstanding earphones this year, but the Model 1200EX really stands out. It's always refreshing to try out something that's intended for low-volume listening. It's even better when the earphone sounds this good.

Thanks for reading!


- B9Scrambler

Earphone stand provided courtesy of Aural Life​

***** ***** ***** ***** *****​

​

Test Albums

Alan Parsons Project - I Robot
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Going to Eat That?
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Tom Cochrane - Trapeze
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Incubus - 2nd/3rd/4th Movements of the Odyssey