Greetings Head-fi,
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the ANC-G5, a budget active noise canceling (ANC) in-ear earphone from Mixcder.
 
Noise canceling earphones are an intriguing, niche aspect of the hobby for me. They nearly always seem to sacrifice sound quality to make your listening experience more pleasurable in areas where standard earphones would be significantly compromised. The UE6000 was my first noise canceling product, but this feature's application seemed to be used more as a built in amplifier to make them sound more exciting, with some minor noise reduction being a secondary benefit. Next up was the Sony MDR-NC13, an earphone that offered barely enough noise reduction ability to make the numerous ergonomic compromises worthwhile.
 
When Mixcder showed up in the forums looking for reviewers for their new ANC-G5 model, I jumped at the opportunity. My experience thus far with noise canceling earphones from larger, more established brands had been average at best, and I was curious to see what Mixcder could bring to the table at a price that would be fairly accessible and enticing for consumers.
 
Did the ANC-G5 meet my expectations? It certainly did, so let's find out why.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Grace and Mixcder for providing a review copy of the ANC-G5 in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Mixcder or any other entity.
 
The ANC-G5 can be purchased through a variety of different Amazon regions (69.99 on Amazon.ca, 59.99 on Amazon.com).
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an XDuoo X3, HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

---

 
 

---

 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
While the ANC-G5's packing is minimalist, it comes across as very clean and professional.
 
The simple black box has adorned on the front in Gold writing the brand and model, emphasizing that within you will find your new "active noise canceling in-ear headphone". On the sides Mixcder ANC-G5 is printed, and on the rear is a sticker displaying the product specifications and features in six different languages. There is not a whole lot going on, and I like that. Oft times packages are plastered with images and color, screaming "Buy me, I'm awesome!" Mixcder's packaging feels premium to the touch and is much more subtle, letting the ANC-G5 do the talking.
 
Lifting the lid I was greeted by a User Manual and a Golden Card. The Golden Card outlines Mixcder's warranty, reviewer/user, and product programs. Underneath these two items cushioned by a foam cutout was the ANC-G5's excellent hard clamshell case.
 
Pulling out the case and opening it reveals the ANC-G5 itself, a USB charge cable, and additional medium and large silicone tips sealed in their own individual bags. The small tips come preinstalled. I really like the included tips as they're not the same generic green ones that come with countless earphones right now. They are made from a very flexible silicone that seals exceptionally well, or at least it does for me. The USB cable, however, makes me scratch my head.
 
The standard for mobile products right now seems to be micro USB, but Mixcder went with a much less common Mini 8 pin connector. I have a ton of gadgets, none of which use Mini 8 pin cables, and I'm guessing this will be the same for many of you. It's a good thing the included case is more than spacious enough inside to carry the ANC-G5 and all included accessories.
 
While the packaging and accessories are all quite basic, the quality is there and impressions are positive.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Design, Build and Comfort:
 
The ANC-G5 utilizes a half-earbud form factor, making the most of the large 14.5mm driver. The nozzle protrudes from the housing at less of an angle than most earphones I've tried with this design, and is very short. The nozzle also takes on an oblong ovular shape, similar to that found on the Panasonic HJE-120. I find that ergonomically, it works well in tandem with this form factor.
 
The housings are amply ventilated. You will find ports on the back plate, on the top behind the adjustable ear hooks, and a third hidden behind the grill located on the inside facing your ear. All this ventilation results in below average passive isolation. The housings are composed mostly of plastic but feature aluminum back plates on which channels are denoted through printed L and R markings. Fit and finish overall is good without any sharp edges or sloppy construction, though slight mold lines are present.
 
The cable is a mixed bag I feel, mostly due to the decision to use a cloth coating on the lower half. In my experience cloth cables are noisy and fray, sometimes very early in their lifespan. The ANC-G5's cloth section is already showing some wear at common bend points near the jack and where it enters the y-split. Above the y-split is a more traditional rubber-coated section that leads into flexible rubber tubing as you near the housings. This tubing allows the cable to be used as an adjustable ear hook, sliding up and down through a notches in the housings to help guarantee a secure fit. Overall I found cable noise, or microphonics, to be reasonably managed and not overly intrusive.
 
The y-split doubles as a housing for the noise-canceling electronics, battery, and call controls. Despite the size, it is fairly light, especially compared to the housing found on the Sony MDR-NC13. Most of the housing is a smooth slab of plastic, though the front uses a nicely coated strip of aluminum. The call control button depresses with a satisfying click after just the right amount of pressure being applied. The on/off switch for the active noise canceling feature slides with reasonable tactile resistance. This makes it clear when it is in the one and off positions, reinforced by a blue LED that lights up when ANC has been activated. The clip on the back is fairly large with sharp teeth around the rim and a strong clamping force. This allows the y-split to be securely fastened to your clothing with little worry it will slip off. It would have been nice to see a chin slider included, but this omission is somewhat easy to overlook due to how well the ear hooks work.
 
I found the ANC-G5 to be a very comfortable earphone. The half-earbud design forces a shallow insertion depth allowing the earphone to unobtrusively sit in your outer ear. The ear hooks can cause uncomfortable pressure points, though this can easily be alleviated by carefully extending them to lightly hook into the upper edges of your inner ear. For the most secure fit you will want them to press tighly into this area, sacrificing some comfort for stability. The weight of the y-split is negated through the proper use of the shirt clip preventing it from tugging at the earphone housings. If for whatever reason you are unable to clip it somewhere, the weight does eventually become noticeable.
 
The battery was over halfway charged when they first arrived, and it took about six hours to deplete it. Charging to fully from my laptop took around two hours. From a full charge the ANC-G5 lasted just over eight hours. Mixcder's claimed two hour charge time and eight hour play time seem to be right on the mark.
 
Overall I feel the ANC-G5 is a well designed product. The materials chosen seem durable, are aesthetically pleasing, and are price appropriate. Minus the potential for discomfort caused by the ear hooks, the ANC-G5 is very comfortable and easy to fit and seal in your ear. The media controls work well and are easy to locate and use without looking at them. The choice to use cloth for the lower half of the cable is a bit of a misstep I feel, but that may be more of a personal preference thing.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Performance:
 
In this section, I am going to be covering both ANC performance and sound quality as I feel they are intrinsically tied together. Listening to the ANC-G5 critically in the quiet and comfort of your home doesn't make sense to me, as it defeats the purpose of a product like this. This is a product meant to be used in noisy environments, and I feel it has been tuned to suit such circumstances. Let's start with why.
 
The ANC-G5 is tuned with a fairly large mid-bass hump. Listening to them critically in a quiet environment, this hump is intrusive and makes them sound boomy and bloated. Treble extension and detail is decent, and their midrange is clear and fairly forward with some interference from the mid-bass. Sub-bass extension could be better, but I find myself saying that often with earphones using large drivers like this. Their overall sound is warm, energetic, and lightly v-shaped. While they're not stellar performers, they are pretty smooth and quite fun and musical sounding, only needing a bit of refinement to soften up some rough edges.
 
I find that in noisy areas the aspect of sound most hindered is usually bass, so when tossing them into a loud environment this mid-bass heavy tuning begins to make sense. Boosting the mid-bass compensates for any loss, especially when the ANC-G5 has poor isolation and noise reduction abilities with ANC off. Adding ANC knocks out the ambient background chaos and just enough noise is let in passively to counter the mid-bass hump.
 
With ANC on, I didn't notice a huge shift in sound quality, but there were some minor changes to note. For one, I thought the ANC-G5 became more focused. Treble and bass tightened up and the midrange became more apparent balancing out the signature somewhat. Maybe these observations were a placebo resulting from the accompanying boost in volume that comes with turning on ANC, but dropping the volume back down netted the same feelings and observations.
 
Throughout the week, I had the chance to check out the ANC-G5 in a number of situations and locations. These were my observations.
 
City Use: ANC on was wonderful for deadening a city’s typical ambient background noise. The cacophony of sounds that blend together to makes cities seemingly always alive disappears the moment the ANC switch is flipped, leaving only tire noise, muffled bugs (crickets, cicadas), and deep engine noise, such as diesel trucks. It's a very serene and somewhat surreal experience, as my mind was constantly search for and expecting more noise. It's enough to allow you to shut off and relax. Sitting there on a park bench watching the world silently slip by (no music playing) was very peaceful.
 
Workplace: With ANC on, the blended voices of 100 busy call centre employees became muffled, the whirring fans of my computers and those nearby died out. Left was only the clacking keyboards and voices of myself and those around me. It was not perfectly silent but as with my park bench experience, the standard call centre drone was nullified and replaced with a somewhat serene soundscape peppered with select noises.
 
In a Vehicle: The ANC-G5 succeeded in drowning out tire and wind noise, allowing me to lay my head back, enjoy the drive, and eventually slip into a light sleep. Engine noise was dulled, but the voices of those in the car remained clear.
 
In the Wild: Not a standout if I am to be honest. The forest is already a fairly quiet and serene place, and the types of low frequency noises the ANC-G5 excels at cutting out were not present. Tuning on the ANC didn't do much at all, until I went to the beach. The low roar of waves was completely cut out, leaving only the trailing splashes. Given how calming and serene crashing waves can be, I can't imagine any reason why you would want to cut those sounds out.
 
Wind noise: With ANC off, I found the ANC-G5 dealt with wind noise fairly well. The angled edge running down the front of the earphone worked to soften the effects of wind rushing over the body of the earphone. With ANC on, wind noise was greatly exaggerated leading me to believe the outermost or topmost vent contains the microphone that enables the G5 to mute ambient noise so effectively.
 
The combination of limited natural isolation and good low frequency noise cancellation abilities makes the ANC-G5 a fantastic earphone for every day, out of the house use. I found this combination allowed me to listen to music clearly, but still let in important auditory queues such as voices and some tire noise, keeping me safe while walking about. In a workplace environment the minor passive isolation let me hear my colleagues, but the ANC drowned out the usual background drone that can be tiring and invasive.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Select Comparisons:
 
Sony MDR-NC13 (~75.00 USD): The NC13 doesn't stand a chance against Mixcder's offering. Material quality falls short with the ANC-G5 which uses more premium plastics and a much better cable. The j-cable on the NC13 is manageable, but strain relief is lacking and it tangles as if it was meant to be a positive feature.
 
Noise-canceling on the NC13 falls short as well. It seems to reduce similar frequencies, but not anywhere near to the same extent. It also takes a few seconds to kick in, while the ANC-G5's cancellation takes effect near simultaneously with the switch being flicked. The NC13's housing is slightly more comfortable since it orients the driver perpendicular to your ear, similar to something like Sony's own XB90, but it lacks any stabilizing features and is easy to tug out of place. The ANC-G5 also sounds more impressive with a cleaner, more detailed presentation and significantly more texture across the board. The NC13 is more balanced, but extension at either end is poor and they come across veiled.
 
The ANC-G5 clearly stands as the superior product with more thought put into it's design and functionality.
 
UE6000 (Prices vary wildly): The UE6000 and ANC-G5 are very different products, most notable is that one is a headphone, one an earphone. They also show off markedly different design philosophies with the UE6000 featuring a modern, edgy design that draws your attention. Where their similarity lies is that they are both ANC products.
 
The UE6000's signature is darker and bassier with ANC feeling like more of an afterthought, though it isn't useless. It can be used to very mildly tone down ambient noise, but the electronics are best used as an amplifier to boost volume, bass, and treble making the UE6000 a very fun and exciting listen. You want to keep the volume up because unlike on the ANC-G5, the UE6000's ANC hardware hisses noticeably when activated. Passive isolation is much better than on the ANC-G5.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Suggestions for Improvement:
 
Move the ANC microphone to a location that is less affected by wind. These would have been an excellent earphone for running since they do not block certain sounds, enabling you to listen to media while remaining attentive to your surroundings. However, the wind noise with ANC on is exaggerated too much to make them suitable for this activity. With ANC off the passive isolation means you will probably be forced to crank the volume to unsafe listening levels.
 
Swap out the cloth cable for a more traditional cable. The cloth looks good and feels nice, but it is already starting to fray and does not leave me confident that it will last.
 
A simple chin slider would be a nice addition for those that enjoy them. For me personally this was a non-issue but I know that this feature is very important for some, especially if they have fitment issues with in-ear earphones and need to slider to help ensure a secure fit.
 
Overall:
 
The ANC-G5 comes across as a carefully planned and well-designed product. They are not suited to in-home or critical listening, but I don't think that was what Mixcder had in mind for them.
 
The blend of below-average passive isolation and strong low-frequency active noise canceling allows them to excel in urban environments where you want to reduce extraneous noise without drowning out the world and important auditory queues. As a second earphone to use when traveling between destinations, the ANC-G5 is near perfect. Leave the critical listening to something that was designed with sound quality as it's primary focus.
 
I have no problem recommending the ANC-G5 as they've been an absolute pleasure to live with this past week. The ANC works well, they're solidly built, and while a little rough around the edges they produce a fun, musical sound that you can enjoy in noisy environments. If on the lookout for an inexpensive noise canceling earphone, Mixcder's entry into this segment should definitely be on your radar.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Test Albums
 
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Incubus - Movement of the Odyssey Parts 2/3/4
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Culprate - Deliverance
Various drum and bass mixes from SubSil3nt and Going Quantum Podcast

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be looking at the most spectacularly teensy, tiny little earphone ever to grace my ears, the Advanced AcousticWerkes (AAW) Q.
 
AAW is a Singapore based company best known for their comprehensive lineup of custom in ear monitors which you can check out here. Their customs range from a single dynamic to their flagship 5way hybrid and certainly provide some variety.
 
AAW is going all out this year with three new universal models; the Nebula One, Nebula Two hybrid, and what we are looking at today, the Q. The Q is a unique product in the micro-driver world because unlike most, it's not an in-ear monitor (IEM). It's an in-canal monitor (ICM) made possible by an exceptionally minute footprint. What this downsizing results in is an earphone that once inserted leaves around 70% of the body inside your canal. For me that number is possibly a little higher as you will see in images later on.
 
I definitely recommend checking out AAW's brochure for the Q if you have a moment since it explains the tech in more detail.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Le and AAW for providing the Q in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I simply had to put up 15 SGD to help with shipping costs to Canada. Another thanks to Kevin at AAW for hooking me up with some images of what to expect in regards to packaging for the final retail product. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of AAW or any other entity.
 
The Q is planned for release in the first week of September at a price of 199 USD.
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products from outstanding companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear I use for testing is composed of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 (shout out to my cousin Rob!) has recently been added to the crew, and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

---

 
 

---

 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
My Q did not arrive with any retail packaging. It along with it's accessories and relevant documentation were simply placed in a quality ziplock-style bag. Please see the following images for what to expect from the Q's packaging when it is released.
 
 
 
Included with the Q is a number of really nice accessories such as a 1/4" adapter, a flight adapter, a magnetic cable clip, and six pairs of eartips held by an upscale looking metal plate, three of which are silicone tips in s/m/l specially designed to accommodate the Q's larger than standard nozzle size.
 
The other three tips are foam, also in s/m/l. That's the first time I've comes across the inclusion of foams tips in multiple sizes. Very thoughtful as most earphones that include foam tips come with mediums only. While their inclusion is fantastic, the foam tips expanded a little to quickly for me to make effective use of them. This is a similar issue I had with the foam tips that came with my VSonic VSD3.
 
The final accessory is a carrying case. The exterior is made from from a dyed blue leather, but it feels more like durable pleather. The case clips shut via a magnetic flap. The interior is constructed from a stiff foam cutout. Initial use of the case is for display purposes, as there is a foam insert used to show off the Q. To make proper use of the case you simply remove the foam insert and that's where the earphones sit. A clever design and I appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into it, even if it might not be 100% ideal. A more traditional case would probably offer more consistent protection and be more pocketable.
 
Three documents are also included; a user guide, your warranty card, and a product overview guide. This final guide seems to contain the same information found in the brochure linked above.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Build, Design, Comfort, Isolation:
 
We have already established the Q is very, very small. Does this mean they're fragile? I don't think so.
 
While trying to treat them nicely during the review period I managed to catch and snag them on things over and over. It was driving me nuts because normally I'm not this clumsy. I thought maybe it was due to an overly long cable, but nope, pretty standard there. Despite my incompetence these survived some severe tugs and pulls. Though they seem light and dainty, I'm pretty confident in their ability to take a beating.
 
The housings are made of stainless steel and at 8.8mm in length and 6mm in diameter are not large. Neither are they heavy. Far from it actually, weighing in at less than 1 gram per side. They have a wonderful machined finish to them and while the design is very simple and somewhat plain, I find them smartly attractive.
 
The cable is made of a tightly wound cloth below the y-split and rubber above, very similar in quality to the cable found on the Dunu Titan 1. This is a good thing as I normally detest cloth cables due to the microphonics (cable noise). With the Q this is kept pleasantly in check despite the majority of the housing being directly in your ear canal. Microphonics are definitely still there and probably unavoidable, but it's not as thundering as I was expecting given the design and form factor. Wearing the cable over-ear is recommended since it cuts noise greatly.
 
 
The cable enters the bottom rear of the each housing at a 90 degree angle. There isn't much strain relief there which is somewhat of a concern since the cable presses against your outer ear once the Q is in your ear canal. Strain relief down the rest of the cable is similarly minimal but is thankfully more substantial, protruding from the bottom half of the y-split and entering the straight jack. The y-split and jack are also stainless steel with cleanly cut knurling giving you excellent grip if needed. The cable also features the cutest little chin slider that breaks away on one side. I never felt the need to use it, but in a quick testing session it stayed in place just fine.
 
When it comes to isolation, the Q won't win any awards. It isolates like your average dynamic driver, maybe even a little less. However, with music playing at even at my typically low volumes, isolation seems to improve enough to make them quite usable in reasonably noisy areas.
 
Comfort is just as outstanding as I was hoping it would be. The lack of weight, small housing size, and light cable means you never have to worry about tugging, pulling, odd angles, etc. They bring plug and play to the earphone market. That said, since the nozzle is thicker than average I'll have to give my usual warning for tip-mounted micro-drivers; they might be too thick for those with small ear canals; a bummer because otherwise these things disappear.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Sound:
 
*Tips: When it came to tips, I stuck with the pre-installed stock mediums for the majority of my listening, especially early on. They fit perfectly, gave me an amazing seal, and there really wasn't any incentive to change them out. Eventually I tried out JVC's FXD/FXH tips and found I had a tough time getting a proper seal. The stock foams I just couldn't get to work. They expanded way to quickly. Finally I gave the Huawei Honor tips I use on JVC's HA-FXH30 a whirl. Yes! We have a winner. The wide bore made the Q a little brighter and more airy. Mid-bass was reduced slightly letting the sub-bass come forward a touch. If you like the Q's mellow stock sound, stick with the stock tips. If you want them to be a touch brighter and more lively, find a set of wide bore tips that fit.
 
* Amping: The Q is a micro-driver through and through, meaning it likes some additional encouragement to reach their full potential. I found amping made them more agile and brought out their upper end a fair bit. Unamped I found their treble presentation somewhat dull. Amping gave them more presence and sparkle offering up a more pleasant and well-rounded listening experience. Straight out of a smartphone they sound okay, but amping is preferred in my opinion.
 
I really didn't know what to expect when I first laid eyes on the Q. Micro-drivers are my forte, but the Q was so much smaller than anything I'd used before. The whole driver and housing unit is around the same size as the tip section of the Yamaha EPH-100, or about the size of your standard medium ear tip. That's pretty small. I tossed them in for my first listen and was treated to a warm, smooth, musical signature that sounded much more grand than you would expect from a driver crammed into a housing hardly larger then the driver itself.
 
After more the 60 hours of listening, I can safely say that this is not an analytic, overly detailed earphone. What they are is a fairly balanced and neutral sounding product with a welcome and polite boost to their bass. They somewhat remind me of a cross between the Havi B3 Pro 1 and Brainwavz S5; B3-ish treble and midrange with S5 bass presentation (not quantity). Soundstage falls somewhere between the two, but with depth greater than both.
 
Treble on the Q is fairly mellow and inoffensive. Unamped and with the stock tips they sounded a little dry and dull, sapping the air out of the soundstage. Adding in a amp definitely livened them up, and swapping over to wide bore tips improved them even further. With my ideal setup (XDuoo X3/NX1/Huawei Honor tips) the Q offers up good detail and clarity but if you primarily listen to balanced armature earphones or dynamic drivers with a strong treble emphasis, these might come across as lacking. What I enjoy most about their treble is how tight the presentation is. It never comes across as thin or sharp, but focused.
 
The midrange on the Q is certainly one of their great strengths. Its expertly balanced within the rest of the signature. Vocals have just the right amount of presence and clarity and are never overshadowed by overly energetic treble or boomy, invasive bass. Both male and female vocals sound fantastic, making it hard to decide which I like more. The dynamic duo of Aesop Rock and Rob Sonic under the guise of Hail Mary Mallon is captured perfectly. Aesop's unique drone and complicated lyrics and Rob's aggressive, stilted delivery battling through 12 tracks of grimy hip hop is a joy. The Q captures and replicates the three very unique vocal styles of Jessie J., Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj on Bang Bang. I often find that if an earphone handles Jessie J. well, Nicki Minaj sounds robotic and unnatural. Not the case with the Q. Sarah Jay on Massive Attack's 'Dissolved Girl' sounds forward, breathy, and intimate, just as it should. Guitars have the presence and impact to deliver on the soul and passion heard in solos on classics like Lyndard Skynard's 'Free Bird' or Peter Frampton's live rendition of 'Do You Feel Like I Do', though the Q doesn't have the speed and separation to master metal tracks like JVC's FXH30 can.
 
The Q puts more focus on mid- than sub-bass; not unexpected from a micro-driver. It is not so skewed towards mid-bass so as to have a negative impact on the listening experience, and in this case I think many would find the balanced achieved a positive thing. Given my preferences for stupid levels of sub-bass rumble, I obviously would like more sub-bass presence but what is there is acceptable. Where I think the Q stumbles a bit is in impact. Their bass has nice texture and realistic decay, but they lack punch and attack and as a result their presentation comes across somewhat soft. This is especially evident on Massive Attack's 'Angel' which has a punchy bass kick running throughout the length of the song. It hits, but without much force. Not bad, but it's not going to get your blood pumping either.
 
While the Q's soundstage isn't massive, it definitely overshadows my other single micro-driver earphones. Where most have good depth and are somewhat confined elsewhere, the Q manages to offer up a real sense of depth, height, and width, with great imaging and positioning to boot. I was playing Wipeout 2048 on my PS Vita (best game ever by the way) which has amazing sound design. Using the Q, it was easy to determine where opponents were, even on tracks where they were looping above you on alternate paths. I've played that game to death with dozens of earphones. The Q gave me one of the best experiences I've had to date.
 
Overall the Q is a really nice listen. They offer up a very capable but inoffensive signature. They're not an earphone that immediately wows you with devastating bass or hyper-detail, which is similar to how I feel about the Brainwavz S5. The Q is something that grows with you. You learn to experience and appreciate their nuances and strengths.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Suggestions for Improvement:
 
It would be nice to see a future tuning turn down the mid-bass a touch and add a sliver more treble energy. I think this would make them slightly more exciting to listen to. This might induce listening fatigue earlier during long listening sessions, but I think the trade off would be worth it.
 
It might be worth looking into slightly altering the angle at which the cable enters the housing. Around 45 degrees with some strain relief to take the cable weight could be good. This would take pressure off that area once the Q is inserted. It would also give users a little more flexibility with finding the best fit.
 
Overall Thoughts:
 
When it comes down to it, I really like the Q. The unique form factor captured my attention when I first saw them, and it still makes me smile at how AAW managed to pull out such a solid sound from something the size of an eartip. It's a pretty crazy achievement and I hope other manufacturers stand up and take notice.
 
AAW has something very unique in the Q and I would love to see them continue to develop and refine the design. With a few tweaks it would be absolutely stellar. For now we will have to settle on them simply being great. Darn eh?
 
If you are looking for a very compact earphone that also happens to sound great, Advanced AcousticWerkes has you covered..
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Test Albums/Tracks
 
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
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
 
Jessie J. - Bang Bang
Lyndard Skynard - Free Bird
Peter Frampton - Do You Feel Like I Do (live)
 

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be taking a quick and dirty look at the YHC S600, yet another outstanding hyper-budget earphone worthy of consideration.
 
What the S600 brings to the table is excellent build quality, a great soundstage, and a fun, bass-heavy signature done well all for around 5 USD. It's stupidly good for the price and gives Knowledge Zenith products a healthy run for their money, especially since it's even cheaper than many of those budget champs (and better built to boot).
 
Disclaimer:
 
I purchased the S600 on AliExpress from this seller. I'm not affiliated with them in any way nor did I receive a discount for writing this review. The thoughts and opinions within this review are mine and mine alone and do not represent YHC or anyone else. 
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 (shout out to my cousin Rob!) has recently been added to the crew, and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

---

 
 

---

 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
The YHC S600 arrived in a package befitting of such a cheap earphone. To be honest, I was expecting them to arrive in a little plastic bag, so it was a pleasant surprise to see retail packaging included. As you would expect there isn't much to it. You get a thin cardboard skin with a hyper-cheap plastic insert holding the headphones. It looks like something you would find in a dollar store. But, to it's credit it covers the important parts; a window to view the earphones and on the rear, specifications.
 
Accessories are limited to a twist tie and one pair of tips; medium, preinstalled. Yup...
 
Build, Design, Isolation and Comfort:
 
You might recognize the housing YHC went with. Yes, it seems to borrow from Shure's discontinued E2 model. This is actually why I bought them. I wanted a comfortable housing that could be gutted so I could install a higher quality driver. To my pleasant surprise, a better driver isn't needed and that's why this review exists.
 
This thing is built to a standard far exceeding it's meager price tag. The plastic chosen for the housing looks attractive with a matte, smoked finish. They also feel very solid and any worry I had of them being weak or brittle was quelled the moment I held them. They also isolate extremely well, enough to frustrate my fiancee more than a couple times while she was trying to get my attention. Sorry babe!
 
The cable is even better. It's of average thickness above the y-split and much thicker below. At least on par, if not a touch thicker, than the cable Brainwavz uses with their Jive and XF200 models.There is even some thread wound in there which I suspect would further improve durability. Picture a VSonic VSD2 cable but much, much thicker. It is a little bouncy, but seriously, this cable does not belong on a five dollar product. My new favorite hyper-budget cable? I think so.
 
Strain relief is non-existent at the straight jack or y-split, but is excellent leading into the housings themselves.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Microphone and Controls:
 
Normally I group this in with the previous section, unless of course it does something to stand out. Well, the S600 gets it's own section, so that should tell you where this is going.
 
Let's first talk features; volume slider, Android/iDevice switch, microphone, single button control unit. Not bad. The volume slider adjusts with a silky smoothness befitting a more expensive product and unlike some doesn't throw out balance at low volumes. I don't have a functioning iDevice at the moment so I couldn't test the switch beyond making the earphone sound horrendous with Android devices. That's a good an indication as any that it will work with an iPhone...I guess. The control button worked perfectly with my HTC One M8. I could answer and hang up calls, switch back and forth between tracks with ease, and even access Google voice functions. The only qualms I have are that the button is slightly difficult to locate as it's slightly above centre in an odd spot. Muscle memory will eventually address that. The device support switch is also hilariously small.
 
Now for the best part; microphone quality. I recently reviewed the LZ A2S and praised the recording quality of the inline microphone. Well, the S600 performs on a nearly identical level, but with a touch of static in the background where the A2S had none. It's also a touch quieter, but not so much that you're hard to hear. Other than that, voices are clear and carry some weight and body. It sounds surprisingly natural.
 

---

 
 

---

Sound:
 
If you like bassy earphones then read on. If you were hoping for something neutral, you should have read the pros and cons before making it this far. This is an earphone you turn down the seriousness for and just enjoy.
 
The S600 is unapologetically warm and bassy, bringing forth a similar signature to the Rhapsodio Clipper. As with the Clipper, the S600's bass is the star of the show. Its impactful and digs deep. Unlike the Clipper, bass on the S600 can be a little loose and boomy, especially with songs that naturally focus on mid-bass but it still somehow manages to mostly leave the midrange alone. How!? At this price this bass is very well done and easily outperforms many other more expensive bass emphasized earphones like the Sony XB50.
 
The midrange takes a small step back but is wonderfully natural sounding with both male and female vocals. Male vocals do shine a little brighter as female vocals can come across a touch raspy at the upper edges, but it's hardly noticeable and entirely forgivable. These sound amazing with electronic and classic rock. Just give Hendrix's 'Are You Experienced' a whirl. The guitar work, drums, etc. It all just sounds right. The S600 romps through old Skrillex tracks like 'First of the Year', 'Roughneck', 'Scatta', and 'Devil's Den' like the banger's they are. So much fun!
 
Even treble is well done. It has just enough presence without being overpowering or harsh, and its clean and tight without the splashiness I notice on many of KZ's outstanding budget picks. These should be fine for someone who is treble sensitive but doesn't want a dark earphone.
 
The S600 has a pretty good soundstage for such an inexpensive product, easily on par with the now infamous KZ ATE if not a little deeper. The ATE has better separation but the S600 does a better job with imaging and placement. Overall detail and clarity is not amazing, but it's not bad either. Again, it's at least on par with the ATE, especially in the bass where textures are slightly smeared. 
 
The S600 is very easy to drive and works just fine from any of the cellphones I used them with. That said, amping. Do it. Bass tightens up quite a bit. Soundstage feels more defined around the edges. Unlike the aforementioned A2S, the S600 can actually handle the crazy finishing moments of King Crimson's Starless and Bible Black without dissolving into a convoluted mess. The spacious, airy soundstage definitely helps with this.
 
Overall Thoughts:
 
The S600 came out of nowhere and shocked me by being an overachiever in almost every way. Build quality is stellar, the in-line remote and microphone are much better than they have any right to be, and they even bring forth a surprisingly competent and fun sound, though it is one that is very bass heavy.
 
If you are looking for a new beater earphone to use as a daily driver or for the gym and really, really enjoy electronic music or classic rock, get the S600 and save yourself a ton of cash for something special. 
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be checking out the A2S, a dual-driver hybrid and successor to the well-received LZ A2.
 
Given all the positive feedback the LZ A2S was getting from some Head-fi'ers I follow, when Head-fi sponsor Gearbest put them on a sale I figured they should be added to my collection. It was now or never. Do I regret this decision, or is the LZ A2S another stellar earphone among the many bursting onto the Chinese earphone scene at the moment? Let's find out.
 
Disclaimer:
 
The LZ A2S was purchased from Gearbest during their summer sale in July. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of LZ, Gearbest, or any other entity.
 
The A2S can be purchased through Penon Audio, Gearbest, AliExpress, and a number of other online retailers.
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 (shout out to my cousin Rob!) has recently been added to the crew, and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

---

 
 

---

 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
Unfortunately my A2S' package arrived looking like the box Jim Carrey successfully delivered in the opening scene of Ace Venture: Pet Detective.
 
Had the package arrived fully intact as I am sure Gearbest had intended, it would have been nice. Nice if you ignore the odd statements printed on the outer sheath that is. "Old Faithful Hifi Audio" is written in a cursive-ish font on the front. Old Faithful, huh? Don't worry, it's expanded upon on the back with "The prison system: old faithful hifi audio." Now I completely understand.
 
 
 
Slide off the questionable sheath holding in the goodies and you are treated to the A2S nestled comfortably in a foam insert. Below it is a plain black cardboard box which contains some of the plethora of accessories. Underneath the box is a nice little hardshell carrying case that is barely large enough to hold the A2S as a result of it's large, generously relieved y-split and somewhat chunky 45 degree angle jack.
 
Back to what was in the little black box. Well, we've got earhooks, a shirt clip, and high quality yellow single-flange eartips in small and large (mediums are preinstalled) that are very reminiscent of the ones that come with the Brainwavz BLU-200. You also get another complete set of fairly generic but good quality, single flange, small bore eartips in s/m/l sizes, a single pair of dual-flange tips, and some foam tips. Overall this is an excellent selection and should ensure you find something that works for you, but then again you might not.
 
Outside of the weird statements on the packaging, the unboxing experience while basic is quite pleasant. The included accessories are generous though the inclusion of two sets of very similar single-flange tips seems unnecessary. Personally, I wish they ditched the second set of single flange tips and added a set of wide bore tips instead to give you some additional variety if you weren't a fan of how they sounded when using a small bore.
 
Build, Design, and Comfort:
 
The A2S's all-metal shells feel very solid, hefty, and reassuring. They are a little heavy, but the excellent ergonomics ensure this doesn't become an issue. This is a very comfortable earphone. The nozzles do seem a touch thick, but with my preferred JVC HA-FXT90 tips installed this never came across as an issue. Cable noise while worn down is minimal, and non-existent when worn cable up.
 
Speaking of the cable, when I first saw it all I could think was, "Oh, this looks familiar. QKZ W1 Pro anyone?" Unfortunately, I seem to have misplaced my W1 Pro's cable so I can't directly compare the two but I'm 99.9 percent sure they're the same. What does that mean? It means the A2S comes with an exceptionally plush and memory resistant cable that behaves very well, though it tangles easier than preferred. Finally, the cable is amply relieved at the 45 degree angle jack and y-split. The strain relief attached to the shells is too stiff to be of any use.
 
The design of the shell itself is a pretty basic barrel-shape with a large seemingly non-functional vent at the rear. I say nonfunctional because the sound doesn't change at all when covered. There is a tiny little vent on the nozzle. I was very pleased to see that the A2S, or at least my copy, does not suffer from driver flex. The faded Gold color looks good and is fairly subdued in person. It doesn't stick out and look overly flashy like the shade of gold Accutone chose for their Pavo model.
 
Physically, the A2S is a winner. They look great, feel very durable, have a top notch cable and are quite comfortable.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Microphone and Module Performance:
 
With a simple single-button control unit you would be excused in thinking that I would gloss over this feature. No sir, not today.
 
The single button control unit is basic, sure, but it does everything I want it to and does it with ease. The button is easy to find, gives of a nice tactile click, and works well with my HTC One M8 offering all the media and call controls I need. No fuss.
 
The real reason why I added this section is for the in-line mic. It is really quite good! Callers always heard me loud and clear without any complaint. When I tested it in recordings, it performed nearly as well as my top tier benchmark, the JVC HA-FRD60/80. Voices were clear and crisp without sounding overly thin or even remotely sibilant. They just came out sounding natural and realistic, not something you can normally say for a basic headset mic. Wind noise wasn't blocked anywhere near as well as it is on the JVCs, but that's really my only complaint. Well done LZ!
 
Sound:
 
*Tips: I really didn't like any of the included tips and after spending some serious time playing around with my tip collection, settled on an old favorite; JVC's stock single flange mediums that come with most of their earphones. They allows the BA to give it it's all (which I found out isn't much), and toned down the overly enthusiastic mid-bass.
 
* Amping: Not necessary in my opinion. The A2S is very easy to drive and sounded pretty much the same from my HTC One M8 as it did filtering through the Topping NX1 amp. The only reason I chose to run them amped with the XDuoo X3 as my primary was because those two together further reduced the mid-bass presence (are you seeing a pattern here?).
 
Now we are onto what is arguably the most important aspect; how does the A2S sound? I'll admit that on first listen I was thoroughly underwhelmed. After about 10 hours and a ton of tip rolling, device pairing, and patience, I was slightly less underwhelmed. After listening for some more (I stopped counting after 10 hours) I chucked them onto my "burn-station" for LZ's recommended 200 hour burn and hardly touched them for nearly two weeks. When I finally came back to the A2S I expected to feel the same. What I got was initial excitement followed by disappointment leading to a mixed opinion.
 
On first listen the A2S did not sound as I would expect a hybrid to sound, and it still doesn't. It had all the dynamic stuff down pat with warm, deep, impactful bass, though it came across as overly mid-bassy. It had some good punch and was somewhat quick. Sub-bass extension was merely acceptable, or at least it was with the right tips. Mids were very warm and inviting, right up there with the Havi B3 Pro 1 for my preferences. It's just too bad all that mid-bass occasionally decided to stick it's head in there and muddy things up.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Where the A2S fell down for me was in treble energy and detail. I was expecting they would be fine here even though I knew coming in that they were supposed be a fairly relaxed listen. When I first tried them out I gave them a go with a live King Crimson track, 'Indiscipline' from their On Broadway release. The crowd clapping and cheering was a horrible, dull, muddy mess with no definition. 'Cat Food' from The Great Deceiver set was even worse. Hmmm...
 
I know burn-in is a hot-button issue for some which is why I almost never mention it in my reviews. My "burn-in" is also usually done through regular listening so if there are any changes my mind has already adjusted to the signature and I'm unlikely to notice them. This in mind, when I tossed in the A2S after not using them for nearly two weeks and went back to my King Crimson test tracks, I wasn't expecting anything different.
 
Well slap my chin and call me Billy-Goat McGrufferton, was I ever proven wrong. The crowd clapping and cheering sounded like human beings. There was detail! Actual detail and definition to the noise being pushed down my ear-drums. Mid-bass wasn't invading the midrange to the same extent it was before but it's still too boosted and unbalanced. The midrange is nothing if not outstanding. Picture a thicker sounding B3 Pro 1 here and you'll understand.
 
Where the A2S fails me is in their emotion and energy. On some tracks this earphone just feels dull and comes across as if its simply going through the paces. If any of you are familiar with King Crimson's track Starless and Bible Black, after a very slow build (around 9 minutes 10 seconds) the band explodes into a chaotic jazz piece. It's one of my favorite aspects of any track and it's completely lifeless on the A2S. They just don't convey any energy or excitement. There's no gusto. No hooplah! They also fall down in the chaos and the song ends a disorganized, jumbled mess. Such a massive disappointment. Same experience with track from The Prodigy's The Day is My Enemy and numerous other high energy bands.
 
What it comes down to is that I can't listen to certain music or bands with the A2S. King Crimson, The Prodigy, and other like groups that bring a ton of energy to their music just sound sterile and lifeless. All the edge and excitement is sapped out and you're left with an empty husk. Less energetic stuff or music that focuses primarily on vocals sounds fine, though you better hope the mid-bass stays put.
 
Edit (Aug 22, 2016): I wanted to mention that these are fantastic media consumption earphones, particularly for Youtube videos and podcasts, Their lush mids ensure commentary is always clear, and if the content provider is using a lower quality mic smooths out the imperfections. Excellent for podcasts imo.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Overall:
 
The LZ A2S is a well-built earphone with off putting text on the packaging and a solid if not somewhat redundant tip selection. Their signature is warm and inviting with a lush midrange and fleshed out low end. Where they lose it for me is in their energy. There's just not enough of it and as a result the A2S comes across as dull and little more than a decent earphone. Not great, or outstanding, or something I would recommend. It's just decent. Okay. Average. Not bad. It can have one of my thumbs in the up position, the other sitting horizontally.
 
I really wanted to like them and do with some tracks, but on the ones I want it to be good at, i.e. most of my favorite tracks, it stumbles and falls far short of expectations. I will continue to use them because I like the design, comfort and in-line mic, but for music they are far from my number one choice or recommendation as a top tier budget earphone.
 
Thanks for reading.
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
 
Test Albums and Tracks:
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Incubus - Movement of the Odyssey Parts 2/3/4
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
 
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black (Track)
King Crimson - Cat Food (Track)
King Crimson - Night Watch (Track)

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the Pavo, Accutone's first foray into the wild world of dual-driver earphones.
 
The Pavo first crossed my path after reading @Cinder's coverage. What sparked my interest most was their physical similarity to one of my favorite dual driver earphones, the NarMoo W1M. In fact, they looked pretty much identical. With curiosity at the forefront, I reached out to Accutone to find out firsthand what the Pavo was all about.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank Jensen and Ada with Accutone for providing the Pavo in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Accutone or any other entity.
 
EDIT: The Pavo retailed for 51.00 USD at the time of this review. They have since gone up to 79.00 USD. I have adjusted my value rating accordingly. They were amazing at the original price but lose some of their appeal with this price increase which puts them up against much stiffer competition. Still a great headphone regardless
 
http://www.audio.accutone.com/#!pavo/t8f0u
 
Follow Accutone on Facebook!
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 (shout out to my cousin Rob!) has recently been added to the crew and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

---

 
 

---

 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
The Pavo comes in pretty simple but fairly attractive packaging. The other sheath contains an image of the product on the front. The statement "Dual-driver high-fidelity audio headphone with microphone" is printed on either side. On the back is a smaller image of one housing and the universal controller., and a brief paragraph explaining the product and it's purpose; to deliver "an elite level of balanced audio performance". We will address that statement later on. Sliding the sheath off revealed what looked to essentially be wax paper but is more like a thick tracing paper. Underneath the Pavo was neatly tucked in a cardboard slip covered. Different.
 
Included with the Pavo were three sets of silicone tips; two pairs of single flange tips in small and large sizes, and a pair of dual flange tips that I guess occupy the medium slot. They also tossed in a set of nice foam tips not mentioned anywhere on Accutone's Pavo webpage.
 
Finally, the included carrying case is quite good. It looks to be made of pleather, but has a nice leathery smell to it. It is very similar in design to the case that came with my Sony XBA-2, but is thinner and stiffer offering better protection. It seals with a satisfying magnetic "snap!".
 
I like the case and the foams tips, but I wish Accutone also included a set of medium single flange tips. The dual flange are a good addition but are not as universally applicable to a wide variety of ears as a basic pair of medium single flange tips can be.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Build, Design, Comfort, Isolation:
 
The Pavo uses aluminum for their housings and is a fairly traditional barrel shape, tapering smoothly to a slightly smaller than average nozzle size; 6mm at the tip, 4mm down the remainder of the shaft (stop giggling...). While that sounds all fine and dandy, it makes tip-rolling a challenge since many wide-bore tips sit too loosely for me to be comfortable using them. Tips that seal particularly well will show off some minor but still annoying driver-flex on insertion.
 
About halfway down the housing is a ring of knurling. This was a point of contention for me with the NarMoo W1M as it was very poorly cut and quite rough. The Pavo's cut is much smoother, though I can still see it being an issue for some if it touches your ear. Luckily, this is not an issue for me.
 
Left and right channels are clearly marked by blue and red rings on the rear of each housing. L and R are also printed on the strain reliefs, with an additional dot on the left side to help out the vision impaired. Channel indication overall is clear and easy to understand.
 
Due to their simple design, light weight, and slightly thinner nozzle, the Pavo is very comfortable. Wearing them cable up or cable down is just fine, though I recommend wearing them cable up to deal with microphonics which can be a bit intrusive when walking around. The cable is very pliable and carries enough weight to hold it's place when worn cable up making ear hooks unnecessary. Strain relief if excellent at the housings, and good everywhere else. There is even a handy chin-cinch for those that like them.
 
Isolation is good but not great. It's about what you would expect for a dynamic driver eaphone. With music off I can carry on conversations with those around me just fine. With music playing at my lower-than-normal listening volume, outside noise is muted just enough to make them work for commuting and walking around outside.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Microphone and Module Performance:
 
The microphone on the Pavo sounds pretty great actually. It falls just short of more accomplished mics like those found in JVC's FRD series of canalphones, but overall I came away impressed. In testing callers noted little background noise, minus the occasional bumping of the mic against my clothing, and had no issues hearing me. In recordings, I sounded clear and crisp with a touch of sibilance when I raised my voice.
 
The inline controller module is well built from a durable matte plastic. The buttons are easy to depress but slightly difficult to differentiate blindly since they're all on a level field. The controller is advertised as a "Dual OS Digital Control" supporting both Android and iOS. While I didn't have an Apple device on hand to test with, I did give it a go with four different Android devices.
 
With the HTC One 8 the volume up and down buttons would skip and reverse through tracks. The centre button took over starting/stopping tracks. My trusty old Samsung Nexus S worked just fine with it too, giving you the same functionality as it's M8 from HTC. I found the Nexus S more responsive as the HTC would lag a bit with control inputs. I'm running Shuttle on the One M8 versus Google Play on the Nexus which may have had a hand in this, but I'm not so sure as using Google Play on the HTC was still sluggish.
 
On my Galaxy S2X the centre button functioned as expected, used to start and stop tracks. To my pleasant surprise, the volume buttons actually controlled volume! Wow. What a novel concept. This is the second time I've come across the volume buttons performing their intended function on an Android device (first was with the Brainwavz S5). It's too bad the S2X outputs pretty terrible sound and that I retired it long ago.
 
Finally, we have a 1st gen Motorola Moto G. Compatibility with three button remotes is a known issue with this phone, and use with the Pavo was no exception. The remote didn't register at all.
 
Sound:
 
*Tips: Due to the shape of my ear canals, most multi-flange tips just don't work. The Pavo's included tips were no exception. There were only a few wide-bore tips in my collection that fit these nozzles (UE600, Marley, NarMoo) but I wasn't a fan of any. They boosted treble throwing off the nice balance small bore tips and the includes foams achieved. The majority of my listening was done with the included large single flange, purely out of convenience. I preferred the foam tips since they were the most comfortable and smoothed out the touch of graininess the treble displayed.
 
* Amping: I found the Pavo to be easy to drive to excessive volumes out of any device I used, including the PS VITA which has a notoriously weak amp. Pairing the Pavo with my X3/NX1 combo sounded lovely. I found bass a little sluggish out of the One M8, but nice and punchy when amped. It's not blisteringly quick like JVC's FXH30, but the Pavo's 10mm can be quite nimble when powered correctly. I also found minor improvements everywhere else, notable enough to make listening to them amped worth the hit to mobility.
 
Accutone says the Pavo delivers "an elite level of balanced audio performance." Elite might be a bit of a stretch, but every aspect of their sound is nicely balanced. Neither treble nor bass are boosted to be the centre of attention. The midrange isn't sucked out in favor of a popular v-shaped signature. No, the Pavo does a good job of giving every aspect of it's signature it's due.
 
Treble on the Pavo is well-extended and quite sparkly for a budget offering. Not over the top like the JVC HA-FXD80 or subdued like the LZ A2S. It's just right, giving off a nice airiness that I haven't heard often from earphones in this price range. It's tight and accurate with none of the splashiness common in cheaper and/or less well-tuned earphones. It also lacks the brittle, somewhat dull edge of the Rhapsodio Clipper, an earphone that is outstanding in every other measure of their sound.
 
The Pavo's midrange is very pleasant, reminiscent of their NarMoo cousins. The Pavo edges ahead in clarity and detail but the W1M conveys more emotion and carries more weight, especially in something like Daft Punk's Touch or Culprate's Undefined. Maybe that's a result of their more forward nature, or the W1M's more mid/mid-bass centric sound, but with vocal-focused tunes I find the W1M the more intimate and enjoyable listen.
 
Mid-bass on the Pavo is quick and punchy. Sub-bass falls off too early for my liking. On tracks like Skrillex's Ruffneck, the pulsating bassline that dominated the intro has little to no impact. Still, for tracks that focus less on obscene amount of sub-bass, the Pavo delivers. It's got lots of texture, it can handle rapid changes, and has enough warmth and mid-bass presence to satisfy most tracks.
 
Soundstage on the Pavo comes across pretty spacious with solid impressions of height, width, and depth. Using them with World of Tanks and the updated sound engine, you could easily tell where shots were coming from and approximate where on the tank they were ricocheting. In fact, I think their soundstage and imaging are accurate enough for the Pavo to be a solid gaming earphone for when you don't feel like using full-sized cans.
 
Overall I find the Pavo to be an excellent sounding earphone with lots of energy, good detail, and an accurate soundstage. They can be a touch grainy at times but they easily complete with, and in my opinion, best the well-received LZ A2S dual-driver hybrid which typically runs you anywhere from 60 to 90 USD. Goes to show that a well-tuned dual dynamic earphone can keep costs down and remain competitive with at least one of the many budget hybrids that are all the rage at the moment.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Select Comparisons:
 
NarMoo W1M (49.99 USD): The NarMoo places their focus on the midrange and mid-bass making them comes across a somewhat dull and stuffy against the Pavo. I prefer the W1M's more intimate and forward midrange, but the Pavo displays better detail in the treble, a larger and more accurate soundstage, and quicker, more detailed bass. Sub-bass on the Pavo thankfully digs deep than on the W1M. Build is identical minus the Pavo's cleaner cut knurling. The W1M's cable is also a good three inches longer which might be a plus if you are tall.
 
LZ A2S (~60-90 USD): Admittedly I didn't much like the A2S on first listen. However, after giving them LZ's recommended play time of 200 hours and rolling tips to find the best match, I now enjoy them with some music. That said, if someone were to hand me the A2S and the Pavo and ask which was the hybrid, Accutone's product would have gotten the nod.
 
The Pavo's 6mm driver handling treble is so much more detailed and quicker that the A2S' balanced armature. The midrange of the A2S is hard to best under 100 USD, and oneups the Pavo with a warmer more natural tone despite being less detailed. While the A2S can dig deeper than the Pavo, bass is still quicker and better textured on Accutone's dualie. The Pavo is certainly the more balanced of the two with the A2S showing itself to have recessed treble and overly boost mid-bass.
 
I prefer the LZ's housing as it is more ergonomic and comfortable despite the additional weight. I like both cables for different reasons. LZ's cable is very plush and flexible, minimizing microphonics. Accutone's cable is noisier but has proven to be exceptionally durable, at least in it's application on NarMoo products.
 
Rhapsodio Clipper: The Clipper is Rhapsodio's first entry-level earphone. It's a 55 USD, single driver earphone with a light plastic shell and a low profile design. They also have a stellar removable cable with the best built in earguide I've come across to date. The Clipper comes with no retail packaging and a bare bones accessory kit. In other words, they couldn't be more different than the Pavo. Well, yes and no.
 
Where they compete is in sound quality, i.e. both are stellar but for different reasons. I found the Clipper's treble presentation to be underwhelming. It is dry, brittle and somewhat recessed, but still fairly detailed. The Pavo is easily the more accomplished earphone here. Their midranges sound similar, though it's more forward on the Pavo. Bass is where they stray. I enjoy the Pavo's presentation and it works well in most instanced, but the lack of sub-bass extension is a letdown. The Clipper makes up for that with the most visceral and entertaining bass you can get in a budget earphone. It can be overwhelming, but I don't care. It's way too much fun.
 
JVC HA-FXH30 (~55 USD): I don't include the FXH30 in most of my reviews for the simple reason that I don't see the point. It stomps most of the competition in their price range (and well-above) into the ground. While the Pavo doesn't best my budget king it at least puts up a fight.
 
The Pavo and FXH30 have similar signatures with the JVC being the more energetic and less balanced of the two. The JVC is faster, more refined, hits deeper subbass notes, and to my ears sounds more natural despite a slightly thinner presentation and a less forward midrange. The Pavo emphasizes the one shortcoming of my beloved FXH30; soundstage width and height which are merely average at best. The FXH30 offers up greater depth, but the Pavo's more well-rounded presentation is preferential.
 
I also have no doubt that the Pavo will be the more durable of the two down the road due to it's aluminum housings and PU cable, but when sound quality is key those single, tip-mounted, titanium-coated micro-drivers will be in my ears.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Overall:
 
Accutone has entered a doozy of a dual-driver budget earphone into the 50 USD earphone market. While their design may not be for everyone (especially in the flash-tacular Gold you see here), there's no denying that their excellent sound and good build quality allows them to complete with some heavy-hitters.
 
In this price range, the Pavo will likely become my go-to recommendation for someone that wants a well-rounded earphone that does essentially everything well without breaking the bank.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
Test Albums
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Incubus - Movement of the Odyssey Parts 2/3/4
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Culprate - Deliverance

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be checking out the S5 from Brainwavz, an earphone that really doesn't need much of an introduction at this point.
 
The S5 was released in 2014 to a mostly positive reception and has been heavily reviewed since, getting an average of 4 out of 5 starts over 49 reviews on Head-fi.org, and an average of 3.75 stars out of 5 over 175 reviews on Amazon.com. The newest revision released in 2015 has addressed some of the concerns reviewers raised, adding an inline mic and toning down the chunky y-split with the more sleek, yet no less durable, split found on their S0 model.
 
With these minor updates and a 99 USD price tag, how does the M5 stack up versus proven challengers like the Dunu Titan 1? Does it still hold up as a good purchase or does it's single 10 mm dynamic driver fail to capture your attention? Let's find out.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thanks Pandora and Brainwavz for providing the S5 in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Brainwavz or any other entity.
 
The S5 retails for 99.50 USD: http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/brainwavz-s5-iem-earphones
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 (shout out to my cousin Rob!) has recently been added to the crew, and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

---

 
 

---

 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
The S5's package strongly departs from the methodology shared by other Brainwavz products I've had the opportunity to review this year. It ditches the simple plastic box sounding the carrying case containing the earphone and accessories, instead taking a more traditional route. While it is a very slightly more upscale unboxing experience, I prefer the simplicity in the packaging of Brainwavz's less expensive products.
 
The front of the package contains a glossy hi-res image of the S5 above the Brainwavz name. The S5 name is tucked into the top right corner with some Comply branding and other details in the top left. Both sides of the box advertise Brainwavz's generous 24 month warranty and microphone/remote module compatibility. The rear of the package contains a quick blurb explaining the S5 along with a list of contents and specifications.
 
Things get more interesting when you open the magnetically sealed front flap. Inside you find displayed a number of diagrams showing the internals of the S5, an unusually descriptive breakdown of a Comply T-Series foam eartip, the cable's composition, and a complete list of the inline remote's features. There is also a viewing window showing off the always outstanding Brainwavz hardcase. If you look back to post-update reviews, you will see that the remote function diagram has replaced a viewing window displaying the S5 itself. A somewhat odd decision in my opinion, but I guess Brainwavz wanted to show off how flexible the 'new' remote is when paired with iOS devices.
 
Opening the box you will find the classic Brainwavz hardcase, tips and user manual nestled in a flimsy, plastic insert.
 
Brainwavz was very generous with their tip selection. I am sure there is something in there that will work well for you. They provided two sets of single-flange silicone eartips in s/m/l. The black pair are very similar in design to Sony's Hybrid model, but are made of a much harder and less compliant material. They seal just fine, but feel nowhere as nice in the ear. The green tips are pretty generic, often provided with even the cheapest of earphones. That said, they're not bad tips and are crafted from a fairly comfortable material. They seal and sound fine. You are also provided a single set of dual-flange tips, a single set of triple-flange tips, in addition to some Comply T-400 foam tips. Tucked away in the case is the S5 itself wrapped in a very thick Velcro strap that has Brainwavz subtly printed in large lettering. This strap ended up being quite useful, not the throwaway accessory as I was expecting.
 
The unboxing experience itself is pretty standard, but this is made up for by a plethora of quality accessories.
 

---

 

---

 
Build, Design, Comfort, Isolation:
 
The S5 is a very robust and well built earphone. The housing is a simple bullet shape, painted in a semi-gloss black with a flattened section where Brainwavz is printed. I think it looks very clean and unassuming. For such a sleek aluminum housing it has a fair bit of weight to it though the over-ear design ensures this is never an issue. I know some reviewers found the housing to stick out and not sit flush within their ear, but that was not at all the case for me. Once inserted, I just tucked them into my antihelix and they virtually disappeared. These join a very exclusive list of earphones that I can comfortably lie on my side while wearing. Since they tucked into my ear so well, wind noise was virtually non-existent when out and about.
 
They can be worn cable down without the need to swap channels, but I don't recommend it. The cable can be a little noisy and heavy and the housing sticks out pretty far as a result of its length.
 
If you read a number of reviews, one oft repeated con is the cable Brainwavz chose. Personally I feel the cable is excellent, especially for a flat cable. Try the one on the Don Scorpio Bass Colour and come back to the S5. Night and day when it comes to usability and comfort.
 
While a flat cable may seem like an odd choice for an earphone designed with over-ear wear in mind, curving it properly around your ear during insertion really does solve a lot of problems. The weight of the cable holds it in place and due to the width I found it wasn't tugging uncomfortably at my ear while walking. Cable noise is present wearing them either cable up or down, but is vastly reduced wearing them with the intended cable-up orientation.
 
The y-split was greatly refined with the S5's 2015 revision. You might recognize it from their S0 model. It's still thick and durable, but not comically large as it was on the original S5. The chin slider is brilliantly designed to look like a part of the y-split. I might have missed it if it wasn't noted in the user guide (yes, I actually read that). The S5 uses a straight jack which is my personal preference. No awkward bends at the base of the cable when your device is in your pocket!
 
Speaking of awkward bends, I'm afraid the visually appealing strain reliefs will offer little protection everywhere but the jack where the rubber is soft enough to effectively take some pressure. At the y-split and housings the rubber is too stiff to easily bend, so the cable takes the brunt of any tugs. Not a huge issue given how rugged the cable is, but still worth mentioning.
 
I found isolation to be above average for a dynamic, especially when using foam tips or Sony's Hybrid isolation tips.
 
Overall the S5 is a tank of an earphone with comfortable, well-isolating, solid metal housings and a thick, meaty flat cable. Strain relief could be better, but the cable feels beefy enough to more-or-less make up for this potential concern.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Microphone and Module Performance:
 
The microphone on the M5 sounds fine, but it's not going to blow the doors off more accomplished mics like those found in JVC's FRD series of canalphones. In testing callers noted a fair bit of background fuzz, something I was able to replicate in recordings. It's too bad because voices actually carry a very full-bodied and mature sound.
 
The inline module is well built from a durable smooth-touch plastic. The buttons are oddly small and while easy to discern from each other, require an unusual amount of pressure to depress. Despite being advertised as "Designed for iOS Devices", which usually means only centre button functionality on Android, the inline module setup worked fully with three different Android devices I tried, though with different results.
 
With the HTC One 8 the volume up and down buttons would skip and reverse through tracks. The centre button took over starting/stopping tracks. My trusty old Samsung Nexus S worked just fine with it too, giving you the same functionality as it's M8 from HTC. Where things took a turn was with the Samsung Galaxy S2X.
 
The centre button functioned as expected, used to start and stop tracks. To my pleasant surprise, the volume buttons actually controlled volume! Wow. What a novel concept. This is the first time I've come across the volume buttons performing their intended function on an Android device. It's too bad the S2X outputs pretty terrible sound and that I retired it long ago. I won't be enjoying this feature again anytime soon.
 
Finally, we have a 1st gen Motorola Moto G. Compatibility with three button remotes is a known no-go with this phone, and use with the S5 was no exception. Only the centre button served a purpose, the others being dead weight.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Sound:
 
*Tips: I wasn't able to make any use of the double or triple flange tips, but really enjoyed the sound with the Sony Hybrid look-a-likes. Since they sounded the same as real Hybrids, I just used a medium sized pair of those during testing since they were more comfortable.
 
* Amping: I found the S5 to be fairly power hungry, but out of my HTC One M8 I could easily hit comfortable listening volumes. Pairing them with a more neutral sounding source, an XDuoo X3/Topping NX1 combo, sounded nice. This gave the S5 a notably more balanced and airy sound. Bass also came across a touch punchier. I prefer to listen to them with this configuration, but your standard cell phone should be enough to enjoy their sound.
 
If I were to describe the S5's sound with one word, it would be "soft". This is an earphone completely devoid of sharp edges, uncomfortable peaks, or other qualities that can cause listeners fatigue. To my ears their 10mm dynamic driver presents sound in a very liquid manner. Bass and treble are lightly boosted focusing on sub-bass and lower treble regions. I would like to say the S5 is balanced, but the midrange is just too recessed which to me is their one notable, but not fatal, flaw.
 
Treble on the S5 seems well-extended, natural, free of peaks, and overall quite smooth. As a result of this general smoothness you might find they are lacking a little in detail, yet still somehow quite clear. I never found myself wanting more. They are one of the least fatiguing earphones I've come across to date. I am also very impressed with how precise it is. Going back and forth between the S5 and the splashfest that is the Macaw GT100s emphasizes just how well controlled and tight the S5's treble is.
 
Mids on the S5 sound so good, right in line with my expectations based off listening sessions with a number of Brainwavz's other earphones. Its very unfortunate that they take a backseat to the S5's already quite relaxed bass and treble, which themselves are hardly boosted. This recession gives the S5 a clear u-shape to their sound. This is one of the few earphones where I feel forced to turn up my music a little louder than I like to get the most out of some vocal-focused tracks. Both male and female vocals are wonderfully textured and naturally accurate. They lack any metallic edginess, coldness, or extra warmth that would make them feel forced or unnatural.
 
That said, there are some exceptions to this recessed midrange such as with Galantis' Runaway (U & I) (Dillon Francis Remix). Especially in the opening seconds, vocals are very forward and clear. I also find Aesop Rock comes across in a pretty forward manner on many tracks, such as on anything found in his Daylight EP.
 
Bass on the S5 tiptoes a fine line and really emphasizes that "soft" comment I made earlier. I wouldn't call this a bassy earphone but I wouldn't say its lacking either. It sits in a nice place that I feel would please the majority of listeners offering decent mid-bass thump and attack, with a comforting sub-bass rumble backing things up. Where the softness comes in is with a lack of detail and texture. Not quite at one-note levels, but not far off either.
 
Soundstage on the S5 isn't anything special. It's equally wide and deep, with a distinctly intimate and in-head presentation. This isn't an in-ear that tries to fool you into thinking it's a sealed on-ear headphone or earbud. It's no Havi B3 Pro 1 or Titan 1 in this regard. It delivers an unashamedly in-ear style soundstage. The plus side to this is that the S5's excellent imaging and instrument placement really stands out. The way it tosses around effects in a fairly small space is quite addictive.
 
Overall I really enjoy the way the S5 sounds. They're not particularly energetic, too thin or thick, overly bassy, or hyper-detailed. In fact, there is nothing about their sound that I find particularly notable in either a good or bad way, except maybe the occasionally too-recessed midrange. They come across to my ears as a very competent and pleasant earphone that excel for long listening sessions.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Select Comparisons:
 
VJJB K2S (~16 USD): The K2S is an excellent budget offering from VJJB utilizing a 6mm driver. They're small, comfortable, and bring to the table a similar signature as the S5. The S5 and K2S have a lot in common despite their unique driver and form factors. They share a flat cable design, though VJJB chose to use a less robust and more manageable cable.
 
The K2S is a touch brighter than the S5 and lacks the same level of subbass extension. Overall the two sound very similar to the point that I would say the S5 is a natural progression if wanting to upgrade from the K2S while keeping a similar sound. The S5 is clearly more refined and technically proficient, just be prepared to sacrifice a bit in midrange presence since they're more forward on VJJB's offering.
 
Dunu Titan 1 (~100 USD): Another earphone that really doesn't need much introduction. The Titan 1 took Head-fi by storm upon it's initial release due to it's unique semi-open, half-earbud design and high fidelity sound that competed with many higher priced earphones. They were so popular that a wild FiiO EX1 rebrand (sort of) appeared shortly thereafter.
 
The Titan 1 comes across as brighter and bassier with more detail and a larger soundstage. Despite being tucked away a bit, the S5's midrange is more natural and vocals more present. The S5 is notably thicker sounding than the Titan 1, though it lacks the midbass punch of Dunu's titanium-coated terror.
 
I feel the Titan 1 is the better sounding product, as long as you don't mind some brightness, but you give up isolation to achieve this. Given in-ears boil down to many as earplugs with a driver, this may not be desired. I also find the S5 more reassuring when it comes to build quality and durability. The Titan has an air of fragility surrounding it that the S5 avoids.
 
Overall Thoughts:
 
Brainwavz has shown that they can release quality earphones at pretty much every price bracket from 15 to 100 USD. Despite it's age and some serious competition cropping up in the under 100 USD category, I think the S5 is a good buy. They are very well-built, come with a slew of quality accessories, are comfortable, isolate well, and produce an inoffensive, mellow sound that is excellent for long listening sessions.
 
Yes, you can find better sounding earphones at lower prices, but they will have probably made some notable sacrifices to get there; cheap cable, low quality and/or few accessories, poor quality control or material quality, etc. To my ears, eyes, and hands, Brainwavz didn't make any sacrifices with the S5. Its a solid product that does exactly what it needs to do to justify a $99 price tag.
 
Another massive thanks to Pandora and Brainwavz for giving me the opportunity to listen to and review the S5.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Test Albums
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Incubus - Movement of the Odyssey Parts 2/3/4
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
The Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the ADVANCED M4. Yes, they feature dynamic 6mm micro-drivers. Yes, I am excited. Some of you may realize by now that I have an unhealthy affinity towards micro-drivers.
 
The M4 originally came to be as part of a successful Kickstarter crowd funding project. On their product page, ADVANCED claims the M4 to be "one of the most accurate in-ear monitors in the market" and is crafted from premium materials. They've got custom acoustic filters, a sand-blasted and diamond-cut aluminum chassis, and one heck of an awesome cable that is completely overkill. At first glance I'd say we're off to a good start.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thanks Peter and ADVANCED for providing the M4 in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of ADVANCED or any other entity.
 
The M4 currently retails for 39.99 USD. You can pick up your copy here (link to https://adv-sound.com/collections/all-collection/products/m4).
 
Please note that ADVANCED was previously known as ADV.SOUND. Earlier this year they changed their brand name. The packaging of the unit I was sent reflects the original branding, likely planned for an update with the next batch set for release in August.
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 (shout out to my cousin Rob!) has recently been added to the crew, and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

---

 
 

---

 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
At $40 I don't really expect much when it comes to packaging and accessories, but sometimes a company will go the extra mile to make their product stand out. In the very crowded and increasingly competitive under $100 market, and especially for a newcomer like ADVANCED, it pays to put in that extra effort to give your buyers a greater sense of value upon choosing a potential unknown. I feel they succeeded with aplomb when it comes to the M4.
 
Unboxing the M4 didn't wow me to the extent of something like the Havi B3 Pro 1, but it still impressed. ADVANCED makes it evident whom the M4's target market is; musicians and those who are looking for something that isn't a bass-heavy bleed-cannon.
 
"It was for the love of music. It was the respect for all musicians of the past, present and future. It was for the struggling instrumental buried under the heavy bassline. It was for the audiophiles craving that crystal clear and mid-blowing detail."
 
Admittedly, I'm no musician. I was inspired by my sister to try clarinet and saxophone in high school, have messed around with pianos and keyboards for ages, and there was a failed attempt at guitar at some point during university. I realized that I prefer to listen to musicians work their magic as opposed to struggle to create my own. Still, that statement printed on the side of the box held my interest. I'm totally down for crystal clear, mind-blowing detail.
 
Moving to the rear things are kept interesting with a frequency chart and a list of what's included. Unlike on most packages I've come across, the list is accompanied by a glossy photo with everything on display. The M4 with pre-installed Complys, the shirt clip, the compact clam-shell carrying case, and all three sets of eartips.
 
Yes, the M4 comes with three complete set of eartips, though two of them seem to be the same tips in different colours. The tips are of decent quality, especially the dual flange which are made of a softer, more comfortable material than those provided with the B3 Pro 1. Both the shirt clip and case are imprinted with the ADVANCED logo (or in my case, the ADV.SOUND logo).
 
Slide out the insert to find the clam shell case and M4 chassis safely secured and neatly displayed in a dense foam sheet. Pretty standard, but still pleasing to the eye and with just enough of a premium air to make it feel good. Underneath the case is a simple user guide that outlines the functions of the inline control module, tip selection, how to use the included Comply foam eartips, and information on the generous 3-year warranty which covers material and worksmanship defects. That warranty sure puts most to shame *cough* Sony AS800AP *cough*.
 
Overall the unboxing experience for the M4 is an attractive, if uneventful, affair with just enough spice to get you excited to try out what's inside.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Build, Design, and Comfort:
 
As was mentioned earlier, the M4 uses a sand-blasted and diamond-cut aluminum chassis. They are finished with a matte, pebbled look. While I personally am not a huge fan of the textured effect it does serve to give the housing a unique look and also makes them easier to grip, always welcome on such a small, light housing.
 
The cable starts off with a quad-braid, moving up to dual-braids on either side past the y-split. The winding is tight and consistent throughout, except for the left side where the control module is. The twist is notably looser there, lacking the consistency found everywhere else. The cable feels thick, durable, but also a bit too heavy-duty for this application (not that I'm complaining). If wearing the M4 cable-down I found it to tug uncomfortably at the housings, but not enough to break a good seal. Wearing the cable over-ear completely negates this issue and what little microphonics there are. This is an excellent cable for a budget earphone, one that I was not expecting to see in this price range.
 
One area of potential concern is with the inline control module. It fails to inspire the confidence in longevity that the rest of the earphone presents. Compared to the quality materials used elsewhere, it seems to be made from pretty cheap plastic, though it feels solid and the button depresses with a satisfying click. It would be nice to see ADVANCED release the M4 with a mic-less version, and update the existing model with something that better matches the rest of the earphone.
 
Comfort is quite good, though they fall slightly short of my personal expectations of a micro-driver. The heavy cable makes cable-down wear slightly less than ideal since the housings are quite long and there isn't much support for them. As expected, wearing them with the cable wrapped around your ear pretty much solves the problem outright. Using the included Comply foam eartips also helps out a lot. While they're certainly not uncomfortable to wear, they never quite disappear.
 
Overall they are made from quality materials, the design is simple but attractive, and they're comfortable when worn cable-up, with the one question mark being the in-line control module
 

---

 
 

---

 
Isolation:
 
Normally I group this in with build, design, and comfort, but isolation on the M4 ranges from sub-par to outstanding depending on the tips used. The dual flange tips provided the least isolation, letting me hear a good bit of what was going on around me. The single flange tips were ever so slightly better, rolling in about average for a dynamic. The included Comply Isolation 400s boosted isolation to above average levels. With KZ foam tips which are made of a very dense, almost rubber-like foam, isolation was intense and way beyond what I was expecting.
 
Sound:
 
And now for the fun part. One of the reasons I love micro-drivers so much is that I find they share qualities with balanced armature (BA) earphones while maintaining the benefits of dynamic driver (DD) earphones. While there are exceptions to everything, what I've come to expect from BA drivers is speed, detail, and excellent treble performance. I think this is a fair expectation given the majority of hybrid earphones use BA(s) for treble and mids, and a DD to give you a robust and well-sorted low end.
 
The micro-driver that best encapsulates everything I love about this design is the JVC HA-FXH30. It's easily holds it own against my BA and hybrid earphones by providing extremely detailed and accurate treble response, while bringing to the table a very lush and natural mid-range with a full low end that leaves no want for more bass. How does the M4 fare? Quite well.
 
*Tips: I have spent a significant amount of time tip rolling this earphone, coming to the conclusion that they have Comply Isolation 400s preinstalled for a reason. With the standard single-flange silicone tips they come across mildly harsh and grainy, more so with the dual-flange, and their extension into sub-bass regions falls off rather quickly. With foam tips, they smooth right out and early sub-bass drop-off is no longer an issue. As a result the majority of my testing was done with the included foams and those that came with the KZ ATE.
 
As a special mention, the tips that come with the Syllable D900S pair exceptionally well with the M4. Everything I said about their use with foam tips applies, but you also get an enhanced soundstage thrown in for good measure. If ADVANCED could include a version of those tips but using a more comfortable material, it would be awesome. The two paired together sound outstanding but comfort is compromised somewhat due to the tip material used.
 
*Amping: The M4 is a typical micro-driver in that it is a power hungry little guy, begging for some juice so they can reach their full potential. I found amping to tighten up their overall response and give them some extra punch. Recommended.
 
I found the M4 to be dominated by bright, highly detailed treble. This is followed by a prominent if somewhat thin sounding midrange with a fairly neutral bass presence pulling up the rear. If you want to "shape" their signature, it could probably be described as a light v or u, with the treble end showing the greatest emphasis. To my ears they lean towards being cold and analytical, with a touch of warmth in the low mids and mid-bass.
 
As noted above, treble on the M4 leads the charge. It's bold, crisp, in your face, and quite aggressive. Despite this, it is not as fatiguing as something similarly aggressive like the JVC HA-FRD80 or RHA S500i, but of which are quite treble-happy earphones. The M4's presentation gives their high end a very open and airy quality despite the soundstage being about average in size and depth. My only real qualm here is they can sound somewhat unnatural and metallic at times, most noticeable with cymbals.
 
ADVANCED noted that they put an emphasis on the M4's midrange "for abundant details". I can't argue with this. Mids on the M4 are forward, clear, and rather detailed. They're also mildly thin and on the cold side, especially with female vocals. I find this takes away from their fun-factor a bit, but it's no deal killer. These mids are very nice enabling you to clearly hear artists licking their lips, minute intakes of breath, fingers sliding along guitar strings, etc. It's pretty impressive for a $40 product.
 
I was initially underwhelmed with bass on the M4, feeling it was lacking impact, depth, punch; everything that makes a dynamic driver so much fun. The problem was the tips. Once I swapped over to foam tips I got what I wanted. Bass on the M4 is boosted slightly above what I consider neutral (my neutral bassline is the Havi B3 Pro 1). It's snappy, well-textured, and while it falls short of digging into my favorite sub-bass regions, is still pretty satisfying.
 
The M4 has a nice airy and open soundstage, even if it isn't huge. What impressed me most was their imaging and separation. They make it pretty easy to pick out individual instruments or effects and their locations, though they do get overwhelmed with thrash/speed metal.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Some Select Comparisons:
To even the playing field, I used KZ's foam tips. This worked out better than expected as all sounded at their best this way.
 
RHA S500i (49.95 USD): The S500i has been one of my favorite earphones for a while now. They offer an attractive design, great build quality, and a fun, energetic sound. While the two are similar in many ways, RHA's take on a microdriver is warmer and less balanced.
 
The M4 is ever brighter, more detailed, has a more forward midrange, and less bass presence though they dig deeper into sub-bass regions than the S500i (even with the same foam tips). If you liked the S500i's sound but felt it was too bassy and the midrange too recessed, the M4 would be an excellent alternative. You also won't have to deal with the S500i's horrible microphonics.
 
JVC HA-FRD80 (original MSRP ~80.00 USD): I like my earphones bright, but the FRD80 takes things a step to far. Their sound is grating and way too sharp, but I do welcome the extra sparkle they have that the M4 doesn't. That said M4 is significantly more comfortable to listen to for long periods. The M4 falls between the FRD80 and S500i in the brightness category which I think is a safe place to be.
 
The FRD80 takes the texture crown, showing the M4 that things can be better, but falls behind in mid presence. The M4's more forward mids are quite welcome on vocal-focused tracks. The JVC undeniably comes across as the quicker and more nimble earphone, handling complicated metal tracks with ease. This is one area JVC's microdrivers always seem to excel, and despite being very competent, the M4 misses the mark in direct comparison. I would still take the M4 though because the FRD80 is just way to intense and tiring.
 
Ultimate Ears UE600: Despite it's age, the UE600 is still a pretty great sounding single BA earphone. To my surprise, it was the warmer sounding of the two. The M4 was much more vibrant and lively with even cleaner, more emphasized treble. Mids on the two were quite similar with the UE600 taking the edge through a more robust texture that suited female vocals quite nicely. Bass presence is similar, with the UE600 being more mid-bass heavy, lacking the texture and depth the M4 could provide. The UE600 came across sounding a little dull, but was more forgiving for long listening periods.
 
Overall:
 
With the M4, ADVANCED jumped into a very competitive segment guns a'blazing. They offer a solid accessories kit with a variety of eartip options, quality materials, and a very energetic and unique sound in a field dominated by bassy earphones. They may come across as too treble heavy for some and too light on bass for others, but if you want something that breaks from the norm, the M4 is certainly worth considering.
 
Thanks again to Peter and ADVANCED for the chance to review the M4. I am very excited to see what you have on store for us next.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
 
 
Test Albums
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Incubus - Movement of the Odyssey Parts 2/3/4
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
wThe Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
 

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the Jive, a funky fresh offering from the people over at Brainwavz.
 
The Jive popped up around the final quarter of 2015 as another high-quality, low-cost earphone in Brainwavz's arsenal. It's clean design, quality accessories, and excellent sound have made it one of my favorite earphones this year, so let's look at this little gem in greater detail.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thanks Pandora and Brainwavz for providing the Jive in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Brainwavz or any other entity.
 
The Jive retails for 28.00 USD: http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/jive-noise-isolating-iem-earphones-w-3-button-remote-microphone-black
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear I use for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. An XDuoo X3 (shout out to my cousin Rob!) has recently been added to the crew, and was used for the majority of my testing. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to signature preference I tend to lean towards aggressive and energetic, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

---

 

---

 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
Like the Omega and XFIT XF-200 that I reviewed previously, the Jive arrived in simple yet clean packaging consisting of a basic plastic box. I personally love the aesthetics, giving you a bit of an old world feel through a combination of faded colours, striped textures, and at least on the front, font types that invoke thoughts of the 40s and 50s. It's a neat introduction, and with a very clean image of the Jive itself shown front and centre, made me pretty excited to try them out.
 
The rear of the package contains the usual blurb about what to expect, stating "...These earphones are great for any kind of music, especially when listening to rock, jazz, or classical music." The specifications, which are shown in the following images, and accessories are also listed.
 
As with the BLU-200, opening the package reveals one of Brainwavz's excellent hard cases. Sliding out the case and opening it up reveals the Jive, it's accessories, and instruction manual safely wrapped in a plastic bag. Thankfully there are no plastic inserts to mess about with.
 
While I prefer the more traditional shape of the case that comes with the BLU-200 and XF-200, I found the Jive's elongated case better for travel. It's easier to hold (still too big for most pockets) and it's dimensions are perfect for keeping the Jive and XDuoo X3 safe during my travels.
 
While the presentation is simple, I really like it. It's honest, enjoyable, and does exactly what it needs to do. The accessories are of the high quality I have come to expect from Brainwavz, and while not as generous as some of their other products, it's still more than you get the majority of from the competition. The inclusion of a pair of Comply S-400 tips is also very welcome.
 
Build, Design, and Comfort:
 
Like the packaging, the design of the Jive is simple but effective. They utilize an all-metal, barrel-shaped housing with a smooth slope leading into the nozzle. The nozzle features a prominent lip which holds the tips on very securely.
 
The cable is very thick below the y-split and a little too thin above, just as it was in it's application on the XF-200 and Omega. It has also retained a little too much memory for my liking, still filled with bends from it's initial unwrapping, even after weeks of use. Strain relief is generous at the y-split and 45 degree angled jack. Moving up to the housing everything looks like it will be hunky-dory, but nope. The strain relief up there is just hard, immovable rubber designed more for aesthetics than functionality.
 
For my ears, the Jive is sublimely comfortable. The pre-installed medium silicone tips combined with low weight and the gentle slope leading to the nozzle meant they slotted into my ears like they belonged. No fiddling around was required to get a good seal, and I didn't feel the need to wear them over ear to deal with microphonics (cable noise). Still, there is a handy chin slider to help with these things if necessary. I was also thrilled to find that the Jive displayed no driver flex despite the housings lacking any sort of ventilation. Despite the lack of a vent, the Jive isolates no better than your average dynamic driver based earphone, probably due to the shallow fit.
 
This is how a budget earphone should be built. Quality materials, excellent ergonomics, plus they're quite attractive in their simplicity.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Microphone and Controls:
 
It's always nice to see a manufacturer include an inline mic with full controls at this price. While call quality was fine, it's the versatility of this unit that impressed me most.
 
Most inline mic+control setups work with either Android or iPhone, offering only limited functionality in the one it doesn't specialize in. Brainwavz is more generous than that, giving buyers something a little more versatile. This setup does it all, offering full use of the three button remote on both mobile platforms. It worked flawlessly controlling my HTC One M8, and could be used to start/stop music, end calls, and skip/scan through tracks. While I didn't get to test call functionality on my iPod Touch, I was able to do everything I could on Android with the added functionality of volume control. Sweet.
 
I also wanted to note that the two raised dots on the centre button make blind-use of the control unit a breeze. Simple, but really effective.
 
Sound:
 
As noted earlier in the review, my biases lean towards aggressive and energetic. The Jive does a good job of playing into these interests so I'm going to get this out of the way now; I love how these sound.
 
Treble on the Jive is detailed, energetic, and surprisingly clean for such an inexpensive product. Extension is excellent, though there may be a little too much emphasis around the 5k region. This peak first popped up somewhere in an early listen to one of the Subsil3nt's drum and bass mixes that I've listened to a trillion times. The particular effect that caught my ear was not supposed to be that forward in the mix, and it took me by surprise. While this peak is not something I would knock them for, it's something to look out for if you are treble sensitive. Check out Luckbad's review for an excellent graph; http://www.head-fi.org/products/brainwavz-jive/reviews/14145.
 
Mids seem to be something that Brainwavz have no issue nailing, regardless of their balance in the overall signature. The Jive is no exception offering up warm and sweet mids that are just a touch on the thin side. Despite being slightly recessed this permits them to maintain a clear and strong presence. They're never overshadowed or overbearing, just clean, clear and ever present.
 
When I first tossed in the Jive I thought they were coming up a little bass shy. Silly B9. No, no they're not bass shy. What they are is well-balanced. When called upon, bass will cascade from these lovely 9mm drivers in quantities that would please most listeners. Where the Jive's bass is lacking is in texture and slam. It's presented in a very smooth and slick manner that doesn't give your music a lot of punch. This presentation is relaxing, not authoritative.
 
I find the Jive to have a fairly average to slightly-small soundstage, not really giving you much in the way of spaciousness. It's large enough to not feel constricted or stuffy. These haven't made me think someone behind me was trying to get my attention when it was really just part of the song. Imaging is similarly just okay, immediately evident on Infected Mushroom tracks which throw sound effects around like they're caught in a windstorm.
 
Overall the Jive is an excellent listen presenting you with a lively and high-energy sound that is well-balanced.
 
Tip-rolling: This review was based on use with the stock medium tips. I tried a number of different options, including the included Comply T-400. Foams and small bore tips such as those provided with the RHA S500i or Sony Hybrids helped tame the treble peak at the expense of some energy. I also tried some JVC tips with a wider bore than stock. Not recommended. The stock bore is about as large as I would go.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Select Comparisons:
 
Brainwavz Omega (15 USD) - The Omega is currently Brainwavz's least expensive earphone. When I reviewed it originally I listed 'versatile tuning' as a pro. The Jive offers up a similar experience but through a more balanced and significantly more refined/matured sound. While build quality is on par, the vastly improved sonic performance more than makes up for the jump in price. Listening back-to-back, the Omega comes across quite dull, lacking the energy, clarity, and texture of the Jive.
 
VSonic VSD2 (30-40 USD) - The VSD2 is a pretty solid product and these two compare quite well, though the Jive comes out on top offering up greater clarity, detail, and a more balanced AND fun sound. It also shows how picky the VSD2 can be with sources. Out of my HTC One M8 I thought there was something wrong with the VSD2. It sounded muddy and dull, not at all what I remembered. Moving over to the X3 brought it to life. The Jive sounded similarly excellent regardless of the source. The VSD2 is less fatiguing since their emphasis shifts more towards the low-end. Despite VSonic's spotty reputation for build quality and the use of all-plastic housings on the VSD2, I would still put it on par with the Jive. It has held up exceptionally well since I bought it on release and shows virtually no signs of wear.
 
Audio Technica ATH-CKP300 (39.99 USD Discontinued) - The CKP300 has more or less been my go-to earphone for a while now if I'm leaving the house. It's shallow fit design and silky smooth sound make them easy to wear and even easier to listen to. Treble is more restrained than on the Jive, and soundstage more spacious. Bass is similarly relaxing, not authoritative, but greater in quantity. Mids on both are fantastic. What the Jive brings to the table is greater detail and clarity across the board, and the inline mic and control module makes them the better of the two for everyday use. Build quality on the CKP300 is excellent, though the cable leading up to the all-plastic housings is way too thin for a sports oriented product. I expect the Jive to display greater longevity.
 
RHA S500i (49.95 USD) - The S500i has long been one of, if not my favorite earphone under 50 USD. The Jive certainly gives it a run for it's money and then some, offering up a very similar signature and level of build quality at what is not an insignificant price difference. The RHA offers up a slightly more spacious soundstage and similar balance, but really steps thing up with much better imaging. While the S500i's cable looks nice, it's cloth coating is horribly microphonic and the inline mic module offers full functionality only with iDevices. The cloth section is also subject to fraying. I would take the Jive's cable and in-line module any day of the week even if it looks and feels nowhere near as premium. The Jive is also easier to drive.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Overall:
 
The Jive is awesome. It's well-constructed, feature rich, comes with a solid pick of quality accessories, is inexpensive, looks good, is comfortable as heck and even comes in an attractive, albeit basic, retail package. Oh yeah, and there is even a chin slider for those that like them. Yes, they have a potentially irritating treble peak and the cable above the y-split is a little thin, but the treble peak can be addressed through equalization or tip rolling. So really, a thin cable is pretty much all I can complain about.
 
For 28 USD (less if you look around) the Jive is a steal and without a doubt one of the best products I've come across in the under 50 USD category. Thank you Brainwavz for giving me the opportunity to review the Jive. This earphone is an absolute pleasure.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
 
Test Albums
 
BT - This Binary Universe
Gramatik - The Age of Reason
Incubus - Movement of the Odyssey Parts 2/3/4
Infected Mushroom - The Legend of the Black Shawarma
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Skindred - Roots Rock Riot
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
wThe Crystal Method - Tweekend
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Prodigy - The Day is My Enemy
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
 

---

 
 

---

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at something a little different, the Syllable D900S.
 
The D900S is a pair of fully wireless in-ear earphones and a revision of Syllable's original version, the D900. In the 14+ hours I've put into them over the last week, I've found them to offer up a unique and pleasant experience, but not without some incident. If you are looking for a solid pair of Bluetooth earphones, the D900S may be worth your time.
 
Disclaimer:
 
The D900S was provided courtesy of George from GearBest in exchange for a fair and impartial review. I do not receive any financial compensation and the D900S remains property of Gearbest. All thoughts within this review are my own and are not reflective of GearBest or Syllable. Thank you George for the opportunity to review the D900S.
 
EDIT: I may update this review again in the near future after spending more time with the D900S on other sources, and in direct comparison to some other Bluetooth offerings. I feel that a week is not quite enough time to get a complete picture of a product like this.
 
EDIT (28-mar-2017): After having owned these now for an extended period I've decided to drop the rating to 2.5 stars. Compared to other Bluetooth offerings like the ADVANCED Evo-X and SoundPEATS Q16, and even a number of other less expensive options, the D900s' lacklustre connection quality really stands out and runis the experience. They can still be an enjoyable listen, but have too many problems to make them recommendable. If they gets sorted in a future revision, they'd be worth a buy.
 
Purchasing:
 
The D900S is currently available for purchase through GearBest. Just follow this link to check it out;
 
http://www.gearbest.com/sports-fitness-headphones/pp_345581.html
 
Their current price is listed at 102.38 USD. Promotion code LHSY drops the price to 60.49 USD which I think is quite fair.
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear used for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone and my old Samsung Nexus S. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to earphone preferences I tend to leans towards aggressive and bassy, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 

---

 
 

---

 
Packaging, Features, Charging, and Accessories:
 
The D900S comes in what I think is pretty nice packaging. The front contains an image of a fine young gentleman immersed in sound, along with some logos and branding. The rear contains an image of the D900S and it's charging station, outlining a few key features. Overall nice to look at, though the translations could use some work.
 
Open the very solid cardboard box and you're greeted by the D900S tucked safely inside their charging station. The station is bordered by two simple cardboard cutouts that hold it in place. The remainder of the box is occupied by another smaller box containing the instruction manual and remaining accessories.
 
The D900S comes with the smaller of the two provided dual-flange tips installed. The larger pair is tucked away in a resealable plastic bag along with the tether used to link the two buds together. Also included is a micro-usb charging cable and a simple velvet-textured pouch.
 
Underneath it all lies a quick start guide outlining the most basic steps needed to get going; how to turn on the D900S, pair it to your device, engage stereo sound, and basic troubleshooting.
 
This is a fairly feature-rich product; Bluetooth 4.0, APTX, IPX4 water resistance, fully-wireless, wireless charging station, 4 hours play time with 25-30 minutes charge time (2 hours using the charging station), and more. The list is lengthily though they don't offer up media controls beyond starting and stopping music.
 
As a special note, I must mention that the instruction manual needs some work. It DOES NOT make clear that the 20-30 minute charge is achieved only when the case is plugged in via the included USB. I was getting maybe two hours of use and was wondering what was up. Only when I went to Syllable's primary website did I realize that the case alone charges in two hours (troubleshooting recommends three hours charge time if the headset dies during use). Once I figured out what I was doing wrong, they hit their 4 hours play time claim with ease.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Build, Design, and Comfort:
 
Syllable touts the D900S as "Comfortable, like wearing nothing. They fit your ear stably and light in weight." I certainly found them light and pretty comfortable, but they never disappeared and were not quite as stable as I was hoping. I found myself fiddling with them non-stop trying to regain a good seal. There was also a fair bit of driver flex in the right bud. Crinkling can get pretty tiresome after adjusting them for the umpteenth time and I'm afraid it might damage the driver eventually.
 
The all-plastic design is very-lightweight, something I was concerned about given they are a fairly large earphone. While light, the plastic used also looks low-rent; I levy this criticism primarily at the buttons on the earpieces themselves. The colors look washed out and a little off. The white-ish outline houses blue LEDs and looks nice when lit, but otherwise they look a little cheap. The buttons also rattle around, most notable in the left-earpiece where even a slight tilt of the head is enough to cause the button to shift. On the other hand, they do look cool when on and in use as every once in a while the outline will glow a nice shade of blue.
 
The large housing tapers down into a very slim nozzle that can accommodate a wide variety of tips if the stock ones aren't working for you. I tried a number of options, but ended up going back to the smaller of the two provided. The included tips do not seal outside noise out overly well, but they did offer me the best sound and comfort which I find more important than isolation.
 
Overall the design is nicely thought out and the buttons on the housings easy to locate and press. With some minor tweaks to ergonomics, such as shaping them more like a a typical outer ear, these would be very stable and comfortable.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Connection Quality:
 
While for the most part the D900S provided a stable Bluetooth connection, it did stumble here and there.
 
Pairing was as easy as could be expected for a fully wireless device;
1. turn on your device's Bluetooth and search for available connections
2. on the D900S, hold down the button on the right earpiece until it was cycling between red and blue
3. locate the D900S on your device and select it
4. adding in stereo sound was as simple as turning on the left earpiece by holding down the button
 
Once connected, I found that for the first few minutes the left earpiece would fade in and out as it gained and lost connection. After a few rounds of this it would be stable for around an hour or so of listening before it would fade in and out again for another few cycles. I also had the left ear piece break connection with the right once, but this ended up resolving itself. Annoying but manageable.
 
Also annoying was that if I placed my phone in my left pants pocket the right ear piece would routinely lose connection, forcing me to move the phone to my right pocket where the connection would remain stable. As a lefty this was a royal pain because the right bud is the primary. Even after a week of non-stop use I can't get used to leaving my phone in my right pocket. Connection would also suffer if I set the phone on my left on my desk, forcing me to set it in front of me, or to the right. Maybe I'm being picky...
 
Range is listed as 10 meters. In an uninterrupted straight line, yes, that seems about right. Start adding in obstructions, such as a thin wall or corner and expect that to start reducing pretty rapidly. If you are one to connect to a device and leave it broadcasting from a central location while you walk around, you may be a little disappointed.
 
Call Quality:
 
Overall my experiences with calls was positive, but again with a few caveats.
 
Answering and hanging up calls worked fine. A quick press to answer and a quick press to hang up. Perfect.
 
Callers found me clear and easy to understand, but quiet. Raising my voice a bit resolved that issue. Occasionally they would ask me to repeat myself, stating it sounded like they were speaking to someone at a drive-through. Waiting a moment before speaking again seemed to be the only way around this.
 
I was very impressed with the D900S' ability to filter out external noise. Here they performed beyond my wildest expectations. To simulate walking around in high winds, I sat about two feet in front of a fan on full blast. My caller didn't have a clue. No wind noise at all regardless of the angle it was hitting me at. WHAT?! Now that's pretty damn impressive.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Sound Quality:
 
So far my experience with the D900S has been pretty hit and miss. Luckily, they output an enjoyably warm, v-shaped sound, albeit lacking a bit in detail and clarity. Still they sounded much better than I expected when I had a good seal.
 
Treble extends pretty well and overall is very inoffensive. It can be harsh at the high volumes the D900S achieves, but you really shouldn't be listening at those volumes anyway. Mids are clear and natural and have good presence despite being set slightly behind the rest of the signature. I especially like how female vocals are presented, such as on Massive Attack's Teardrop. Elizabeth Fraser sounds lovely. Bass comes along slow and steady, presenting itself in a very robust manner. On first listen with one of SubSil3nt's drum and bass mixes, I was taken aback by their low end and just how prominent it was. Despite this there is little interference with the mids. The D900S doesn't offer up basshead quantities of bass, but it's far more than neutral and well controlled.
 
The D900S does not image well, or much at all really. This was a bit of a disappointment especially with Infected Mushroom tracks which usually have an unusual amount of depth and space for electronic music. You get left, right, and centre with little indication that there is anything between these three spaces. At least the D900S sounds spacious and avoids congestion; almost a cross between an earbud and earphone actually.
 
Overall the D900S treats your ears to a well-tuned, warm and bassy sound that should please most users not looking for tons of detail.
 
Overall Thoughts:
 
Despite minor annoyances here and there, the D900S remains a solid product. It is by no means perfect, but it's also far from bad.
 
The portable charging station is an awesome feature and probably my favorite thing about them. Getting six charges out of it is awesome. At around four hours of listening per charge, you can easily take them traveling for a weekend and leave any cables at home. Since they're pretty compact, they make for a great traveling companion. Drop them in the provided carrying pouch and toss them in your bag or pocket and you're good to go for the day. Improved isolation would be nice, but I suppose it's safer to not be deaf to what's going on around you.
 
There are a couple items on my wishlist for the next revision or successor, the first and most important being to further improve connection strength. It's not horrible by any means, but it would be nice to have to worry less about where your device is in relation to the right earpiece. Next up is to alter ergonomics. Updating the housing to be a little narrower and less bulbous would go a long way towards improving fit and stability. Comfort is already great and they would probably disappear in your ears if they would more consistently seal well.
 
Despite it's flaws, I like the D900S. It sounds good, it has character, and it's unique. Plus, you look like a Cyberman with them sticking out of your head.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler

Greetings Headi-fi!
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the TW1, an attractive new micro-driver earphone from MusicMaker.
 
Anyone who has followed my posts around Head-fi over the last little while may have noticed that I have an affinity for earphones with 6mm and smaller micro-drivers. I've picked up quite a few good ones over the last while such as the uber-budget KZ HDS1, the excellent VJJB K2S, and what so far is my micro-driver to beat, the JVC HA-FXH30.
 
MusicMaker has been impressing Head-fi'ers lately with releases like the Tomahawk earbuds, TK12, and Shockwave III hybrids. When I saw they had released the TW1 micro-driver, I knew it was my turn to see what they were made of.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Disclaimer:
 
The TW1 were purchased through AliExpress at full cost. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of MusicMaker or any other entity.
 
A Little About Me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.
 
The gear used for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to earphone preferences I tend to leans towards aggressive and bassy, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only. I also tend to listen at lower than average volumes.
 
Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?
 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
While the TW1 doesn't arrive with any formal retail packaging, it at least comes with a decent number of tips and a nice Tri-Force emblazoned carrying case courtesy of ToneKing. You might recognize it if you've been following Trinity Audio's products. While I think it's somewhat too large for comfortable pocket use, it's still a very good case. There is more than enough room for the TW1 to be loosely wrapped and stored, and plenty of room in the mesh pocket for all of your favorite ear tips or even a second pair of earphones.
 
In addition to the standard green with red-shaft ear tips that seem to be included with every other Chinese earphone as of late, the TW1 includes some above-average white wide bore silicone tips. Both tip styles come with three sizes, s/m/l. While I like the green tips, the white tips provide the best seal and sound so I've settled on the medium sized pair.
 
For your 25 USD, the provided accessories are pretty good. The two styles of ear tips should ensure you find something that seals well, and the carrying case is of excellent quality.
 
Build, Design, and Comfort:
 
The TW1 is a well-built earphone with an interesting and eye-catching design. Despite it's minuscule size, it feels positively bulletproof. The housings are all metal, aluminum or steel I can't tell, but they are beautifully put together regardless. The nozzles have a fine metal mesh protecting the drivers, and are very neatly installed.
 
Since I hesitate to call them strain reliefs, the rubber nubs where the non-detachable cable enters the housing are the least impressive aspect of the build. They offer no strain relief and are tilted at an odd angle. I thought initially they they were either poorly installed or just didn't fit correctly, but it seems they contain a small indent allowing the dynamic driver to vent.
 
The cable itself is pretty damn sexy. The clear sheath shows off the wonderfully coiled silver -colored wire within, and catches the light giving it a jeweled texture. Above the smooth metal y-split sits a handy chin slider that I know many Headi-fi'ers will appreciate. This cable is not particularly quiet and while wearing the TW1 over ear cuts down on noise, the chin slider takes things a step further to alleviate this issue. The cable is terminated in a very sleek straight jack that should fit just fine in any cell phone case.
 
Comfort doesn't get much better than this. They're small, light, and unintrusive, pretty much disappearing into your ear when installed. Isolation is very good for a dynamic driver, and goes both ways; sound doesn't get in, and sound doesn't escape.
 
Sound:
 
If you know anyone whom is in doubt that a micro-driver can output big bass, the TW1 would be a good earphone to introduce them to. I'm confident it would immediately quell this doubt as bass dominates their signature. Unlike many earphones where bass is complimentary to everything else, the TW1 reverses that role. It leads the charge, followed by mids, and off in the distance you'll find their good buddy treble.
 
The TW1, unamped (this is important and I'll come back to it later), proudly displays overly boosted mid-bass on it's sleeve, something that often ruins an earphone for me. I welcome the fact that the TW1 remains an enjoyable earphone despite this. Their bass isn't overly well textured, but despite the quantity remains well-controlled and avoids coming across as boomy and sluggish. It does tend to bleed into the lower mids a bit, but not to the extent I would expect given just how much mid-bass there is.
 
Mids are nicely balanced, warm, silky smooth, natural, but also slightly veiled. If there wasn't a bit of bleed from the mid-bass they would be quite excellent.
 
Treble takes a backseat to everything else, but is still prominent enough to not be overshadowed, except on the most bass heavy tracks. It's slightly splashy, but not to the point of being distracting. Detail and clarity are just okay.
 
Soundstage I thought was pretty good, especially for something so small. It is more wide than deep, just narrowly avoiding a "wall-of-sound" effect but allowing strong imaging qualities. Instrument separation seems good for the most part, but things can get a little muddy, once again due to their mid-bass presence.
 
The TW1's stock sound works very well in one niche role; extremely low volume listening. At the lowest possible volume straight out of my HTC One M8, the TW1 sounds amazing. Combined with their great isolation, these would be amazing for a university or college student that wants to sit and study in a quiet area without being bothered, or bothering anyone around them.
 
Amping and EQ:
 
As you may have noticed above, I mentioned that the TW1's mid-bass is intrusive. Nothing else really stands out as a flaw. Yes, there could be improvements but as is their sound is on point everywhere else. Luckily, there are a couple ways around this ugly mid-bass beast, the first being amping.
 
Unlike others, I found the TW1 pretty easy to drive. My HTC One M8 needs only four upticks on the volume dial to bring them to a comfortable listening volume. At volume 9 of 15, things start to get painful (no noticeable distortion though). Admittedly, I do listen at lower volumes than my peers so I don't think amping is necessary, unless of course you want to get the most out of this little bass cannon. Running them through the Topping NX1 improved treble response, reduced mid-bass, and tightened everything up. Treble became sharper, mid-bass hardly bled, and overall they just sound tighter and more competent.
 
If you do not have access to an amplifier, equalization goes a long way towards addressing their overbearing mid-bass hump. Using the simple 5-band equalizer in Shuttle (Android music player) I settled on a 4 db drop at 290 Hz and a 5 db drop at 75 Hz. This really balanced out the signature making the TW1 much more listenable for me. Adding 1 or 2 db to 14 kHz brought in some additional sparkle and airiness, but isn't necessary.
 
Combine the two and the TW1 becomes an outstanding little earphone. It's too bad their stock sound has so much mid-bass muddying the waters.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Select Comparisons (Using HTC One M8/NX1/No EQ):
 
Brainwavz Omega (15 USD): Brainwavz also brought to market this year their first micro-driver earphone, the Omega, which was well-received by the Head-fi community. I found it to be quite a solid pick, offering up a fun v-shaped signature that worked well with a wide variety of music genres.
 
The TW1 in comparison is significantly more bassy with the Omega showing greater balance between mid and sub-bass. Mids on both are very sweet and welcoming. Treble on the Omega is much more prominent and energetic. The most striking difference between the two is just how much smoother sounding the TW1 is, at the expense of detail and clarity.
 
VJJB K2S (~15 USD): Another micro-driver newcomer for 2016, this time coming from VJJB. Personally, I don't think there is much of a comparison here. The K2S offers up a more mature and cleaner signature all-around, matching the smooth sound of the TW1.
 
Initially I found the K2S a little too mid-bassy recommending a 1-2 dB drop at 60 Hz and 230 Hz. When listened back-to-back with the TW1, nope, no changes necessary. K2S is perfect as-is. The TW1 comes across as uncomfortably boosted in the low end, lacking the detail, clarity, and technical ability of the K2S across the board. *With both EQ and amping the gap closes significantly, but the K2S is still hands down the better sounding of the two in my opinion.*
 
Sony MDR-XB50 (~40 USD): When I picked up the XB50 back in May of 2014, I really enjoyed it. It was a fun earphone. As I experienced a greater number of earphones over time, their flaws really started to stick out, namely recessed mids and treble and a lack of overall clarity.
 
The XB50 offers a similar experience to the TW1, but with greater sub-bass extension, less energy and warmth, and a drier sound. Unlike the TW1, they lack the potential to improve showing themselves to be unreceptive to equalization and amping. While both the TW1 and XB50 are just okay stock, the TW1 proves to be the superior sounding earphone out-of-the-box, and it only gets better with some TLC.
 
Overall:
 
The TW1 is a decent micro-driver earphone. Build quality is outstanding, their design is both interesting and beautiful, the accessory kit is well-thought out and fairly generous, and with some tweaks here and there they also sound quite good. As a fashion focused earphone, the TW1 is a great choice. They certainly look and feel impressive, and much more expensive than they actually are.
 
If sound quality if your primary concern, the TW1 may come up short. The mid-bass hump is drastic and intrusive, and they fall behind their competitors when it comes to detail and clarity. That said, if you are willing to take the time to equalize out the invasive mid-bass, the TW1 takes a huge leap forward and becomes a much more enjoyable listen. Adding in an amplifier serves only to further improve on their performance.
 
If MusicMaker were to re-release the TW1 with some minor tuning changes, primarily addressing their vastly over-emphasized mid-bass, I think they would have a real winner on their their hands. As-is, the TW1 is a very attractive and pleasing earphone, made better through some minor tweaking.
 
Thank for reading!
 
 
- B9Scrambler
 

---

 
 

---

Some Test Tunes:
 
Dillon Francis & NGHTMRE - Need You
Dillon Francis & Martin Garrix - Set Me Free
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang
Soil - One Love
Run the Jewels - Sea Legs
Aesop Rock - Crows 1
Aesop Rock - Saturn Missiles
Gramatik - It's Just a Ride
Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
Supertramp - Rudy
Various DnB Mixes crafted by Matson of the SubSil3nt Podcast 

Greetings Head-fi,

Today we are going to be looking at the Clipper, a new entry level offering from the good folks at Rhapsodio. Congratulations Rhapsodio on celebrating your fourth year anniversary! Here is to many more years of success and further growth.

The Clipper can be purchased right now from Rhapsodio for 55 USD. Here is a link to their site where you can check out the other cool products they make; http://www.rhapsodio.com.

---

---

Disclaimer:

I would like to thank @flinkenick for reaching out to me to see if I would be interested in reviewing the Clipper, and Sammy at Rhapsodio for sending it over for review. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions.

This review has been updated to better reflect why I have opted to give them 3.5 Stars. Edited sections are denoted via italicization.

Edit (Dec-12-2017) - Edited down to 3 stars due to account for newer products that do the same thing as the Clipper, but with various improvements/enhancements.

A Little About Me:

Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done.

The gear used for testing is pretty basic composing of an HTC One M8 cellphone, Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with a Plantronics Rig USB amp. I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. When it comes to earphone preferences I tend to leans towards aggressive and bassy, but I try not to limit myself to one signature only.

Enough preamble. Let us dive into the good stuff shall we?

---

---

Packaging and Accessories:

The Clipper comes as a pretty bare bones package including only a simple carrying case and three sizes of silicone ear tips; s/m/l. No retail packaging is included. While the point of this was to help keep costs down and focused on the earphone itself, I have to admit that I was still somewhat disappointed if only because of the actually quality of the accessories.

The case is the same simple square case that you get with many Knowledge Zenith purchases (10 USD budget earphones), and that can often be picked up online for around 1.50 USD, or less. At least its a decent case with netting in place for tip storage, though it's not overly firm and squishes easily. It is also quite small forcing the cable to be wound more tightly than I would prefer. The opaque white wide-bore tips feel a low-rent compared to those from JVC, UE, Sony, Dunu, etc. but they do the job and provide a great seal.

The accessories provided work, but are well below average in quality. If number of accessories matter, the Clipper falls behind the competition there too.

Build, Design, and Comfort:

The Clipper takes on a stubby, low-profile design, wrapping itself neatly around its 10mm dynamic driver. The plastic used for the housing feels quite solid and of good quality, and the interior frosting is a nice touch. It is a very unassuming design, free of flashy colors, logos, or anything overly defining. That is, until you get to the cable.

The Clipper features a removable cable with MMCX connectors. While I only have a few other earphones the use an MMCX design these offer the most secure and confidence inspiring connection I’ve come across. The cable is an eye-catching candy cane swirl of black and white, terminated in a simple, well-relieved straight jack. The y-split is uncommonly relieved at both ends, something I welcome with open arms. Absent is a chin slider which doesn't bother me any, though I know for many of you this omission will not be ideal. The most brilliant part of this cable can be seen where you would normally find memory wire, or a preformed ear-guide, a la Brainwavz XFIT XF-200 or Somic MH415.

The built-in ear guide on the Clipper is by far and away the best I've come across to date. Unlike every other earphone I have with this feature, Rhapsodio went with a soft rubber that not only acts as strain relief, but does a fantastic job of guiding the cable around your ear comfortably and securely. I haven't had any issues with the cable coming out of place which makes the omission of a chin slider more acceptable. Other companies that opt out of memory wire and decide to move forward with a built-in ear guide need to take a hard look at what Rhapsodio has done here. It's awesome.

Comfort or fit with the Clipper is a bit of a mixed bag for me. Everyone's ears are different, but if you have had issues in the past with earphones shaped like the Brainwavz XFIT XF-200, QKZ W1 Pro, Mee Audio M6, or a slew of other earphones sharing this basic design philosophy, I suspect you may run into problems here too. Driver flex is also quite prevalent. Not surprising given the housing are sealed. This does lead to pretty good isolation though, so there's a win.

The biggest issue for me is that the nozzles are just too short. Medium tips do not insert far enough to create a seal meaning I have to resort to large tips and settle for an extremely shallow fit. After running through my tip collection I ended up going back to the Clipper's stock large silicones. With a bit of finagling, I can get them to seal comfortably and consistently right at the entrance of my ear canal. Other tips required even more effort to seal properly and tended to easily come out of place. Very annoying because all I want to do is sit and listen to the wonderful sounds being produced.

In summary they're well-built minus the invasive driver flex, offer little in the way of a unique design, and are eventually comfortable once you can get them to fit in and seal correctly.

---

---

Sound:

And what a wonderful sound it is. The Clipper is a very good earphone, leaning towards a warmer sound that does it's 55 USD price tag justice. While they are bass-heavy, the quality of the bass they output is phenomenal and in no way takes away from the experience. In fact, it is by far and away my favorite thing about the Clipper.

If you primarily listen to EDM, hip hop, pop, or other bass-heavy genres the Clipper is going to slap a stupid grin across your face. I usually try to remain a little reserved in my reviews and hold back my excitement for fear of coming across a bit over-enthusiastic, but the bass on these things deserves some serious praise. Rhapsodio has tuned them with an expert balance of mid and sub-bass presence, with additional focus on sub-bass. Not only do you get to hear every detail, but you feel it too. Despite how robust the low end is, it's also quick and well-controlled. In my opinion Rhapsodio absolutely nailed the low end on the Clipper.

So, we know the Clipper outputs some seriously good bass. Thankfully their mids are pretty juicy too. Clear, well-separated, natural, and detailed enough. I suspect that as a result of the little spike in the 3K region some female vocals (ex. Nicki Minaj) occasionally come across a little hot, exaggerated by mediocre recordings.

Treble presentation on the Clipper is merely acceptable. It comes across as slightly dry, brittle, and a touch grainy. It lacks the natural and organic feel of the rest of the signature. On the plus side you still get a decent amount of detail and clarity. It's not bad, just a little too easily overshadowed by mids and bass. It's need some of that special sauce that Rhapsodio dumped in everywhere else.

The Clipper presents itself with a full soundstage. While not huge or offering an out-of-head experience, it is refreshingly spacious for such a bassy earphone. Moving from Brainwavz's XF-200 which has a pretty decent soundstage, you will notice the Clipper is notably larger and more vivacious. It's not going to be rivaling the budget king, the Havi B3 Pro 1, anytime soon, but it holds its own. Imaging on the other hand is brilliant. These things do a great job of throwing sounds around realistically and with a distinct sense of distance and space.

In summary, they are an excellent sounding earphone with okay treble. If the rest of the signature wasn't so enjoyable this wouldn't stick out so much.

Amping:

While not mandatory, the Clipper does seem to benefit. Results? Even better bass. It's tighter, quicker, and overall just sounds that much more refined. Amping also helps out the treble by giving it some life , bringing it more in line with what it should have been from the start.

---

---

Select Comparisons:

Brainwavz XFIT XF-200 (25 USD): The Clipper is less v-shaped, smoother, and more refined but lacks the upper end excitement of the XF-200. The XF-200 puts more emphasis into the midbass regions and still offers up good subbass extension, just not to the extent of the Clipper. I also lacks the same level of control, though it's not far off. The XF-200 has the edge when it comes to offering a more energetic listen. The Clipper is a bit more laid back and better for longer listening sessions. The Clipper requires notably more power to drive to similar volumes.

QKZ W1 Pro (~8.50 USD): In my review of the W1 Pro I compared it directly to the XF-200 saying "Sound quality is also very similar, with the XF-200 being the more aggressive of the two. In comparison, the XF-200 is bassier and brighter, appealing to those wanting a more "fun" sound." Let's revise that comment to apply to the Clipper. "Sound quality is also very similar, with the W1 Pro being the more balanced yet also more aggressive of the two. In comparison, the Clipper offers less detail, is bassier, and would appeal more to those wanting a "fun" sound that also happens to be smoother and more refined."

The W1 Pro highlights what I dislike about the Clipper's treble presentation. Listening to them back to back the Clipper comes across a bit lifeless. But then that bass kicks in and the W1 Pro stands aside. The Clipper can teach them a thing or two in that department, both in quantity and quality. Both require similar power to drive.

JVC HA-FX3X (~45.00 USD): Now this is more like it. One of my favorite JVC's going head to head with the Clipper. Their overall tonality and signature is quite similar with different levels of emphasis. The JVC turns up the treble, leaves the mids, dials up midbass a touch, and drops the subbass a bit. Soundstage on the Clipper is larger and their bass texture is improved, but the FX3X bests them in detail and clarity everywhere else. Imaging on both is great with the Clipper showing greater competence. Both require similar power to drive.

---

---

Overall:

What can I say? The Clipper is a bassy heavy earphone that offers up an addictive sound and a great removable MMCX cable with the best built in ear-guide I've come across. While the 55 USD price tag seems pretty fair at first, I then look at the 8.50 USD W1 Pro and start to second guess things.

Does the W1 have a removable cable? Yes, and it's a good one too (not MMCX though, which might be a plus to some). Carrying case? Got it. Low profile, over-ear design? Uh huh. Basic collection of s/m/l eartips? Indeed. Memory wire? Yes. Not only does it go feature-to-feature with the Rhapsodio, tossing an inline microphone and single button remote into the mix, but it still manages to sound pretty good. Not to same level of the Clipper, but much closer than you would expect. You also would not expect such a price disparity when holding them in hand as the perceived build quality is very close. The edge goes to the Clipper with it's better fit and finish.

And therein lies what I think is the Clipper's Achilles Heel; value. I love this earphone, don't get me wrong. They sound fantastic and if that's what's most important for you, you will be a happy camper. That bass is ridiculously addictive and their mids are very welcoming. I would love to see Rhapsodio sell bucket loads of them. BUT, the budget earphone market has been on a roll lately bringing consumers some amazing value-for-dollar earphones. Outside of their bass quality and that awesome ear guide, I fear the Clipper is being sent to battle with a great weapon and inadequate armor.

For the budget conscious consumer that decides to cross-shop the Clipper with other similarly priced earphones, I can understand if they are hesitant to drop 55 USD. What warrants the price? There are no exotic materials, the same general design philosophy that can be found in products by numerous other manufacturers, and the included accessories are cheap feeling and barren. While I am NOT under the impression the Clipper is of poor value, I AM under the impression that it is not good value. This is Rhapsodio's entry into a very crowded segment with the bunch of excellent earphones that offer consumers more than just great sound. The Clipper can hang with the best and beat most there, and they have an excellent cable with an ear-guide that puts most to shame, but the rest of the package is lacking. You can add onto that workable but underwhelming treble presentation and very noticeable driver flex.

At a lower price or with an accessory kit befitting of the price tag and overall quality of the earphone, the Clipper would be a must buy for a bass lover on a budget. As is I think they could be a tough sell, though one that you will undoubtedly enjoy should you decide to purchase them.

Thank you again Rhapsodio for giving me the opportunity to listen to and review the Clipper. This will be a great gateway earphone to your brand and higher end offerings.

Thank you for reading! Comments and suggestions are welcomed.

- B9Scrambler


Some Test Tunes:

Dillon Francis & NGHTMRE - Need You
Dillon Francis & Martin Garrix - Set Me Free
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang
Soil - One Love
Run the Jewels - Sea Legs
Aesop Rock - Crows 1
Aesop Rock - Saturn Missiles
Gramatik - It's Just a Ride
Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
Supertramp - Rudy
Various DnB Mixes crafted by Matson of the SubSil3nt Podcast

Explanation of title:

Clip represents the removable cable.
Click represents the driver flex.
Boom represents dat BASS!

Greetings Head-fi,
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the Sony AS800AP. When I saw first saw them and their Cadbury Mini Egg shape appear in Canadian outlets late in 2014, I knew I had to have them. They were waterproof, had a large 12mm dynamic driver, and looked quite unique compared to other sports earphones kicking about. Since there were no reviews of them at the time, I decided to drop the 79.99 CAD and risk a pricey purchase. What I didn't expect was for them to be as good as they were.
 

---

 

---

 
Disclaimer:
 
I purchased the AS800AP from Future Shop (RIP) in December of 2014, and have been thoroughly enjoying them even since. All comments within this review are my opinion and not that of Sony or any particular seller.
 
Build Quality, Accessories, and Features:
 
Lets start with a quick look at the included accessories. While more or less standard, the quality is top notch. Included are four sizes of extra long Sony Hybrid earbuds (ss, s, m, l). They provide a great seal and are comfortable, though I still prefer Sony's standard Hybrids. Three different sizes of stabilizers are also provided (s, m, l). I would like to see an 'ss' size since I have pretty average ears and the smallest stabilizers fit me without any room to spare (ie. perfectly). Someone with smaller ears would probably have to leave them off. Since they offer a significant advantage in both fit and comfort, this is a bit of an oversight in my opinion.
 
A shirt clip is also included. It is still hands down the best one I've received with an earphone due to its wide mouth and strong bite; necessary if you are active while listening. A quality carrying pouch is also provided. I would prefer a hard case, but the included one is made from a sturdy material and is more portable than a hard case. Like the AS800AP itself, this carrying case has held up well over the years and shows absolutely no signs of wear.
 
The AS800AP supports Sony Smart Key. This adds additional and programmable functionality to the multipurpose button on Android devices, such as song skipping, volume control, and more. While nice in concept, it did not work on either my old Nexus S or Moto G. I have yet to try it with the HTC One M8 and really haven't felt the need sime I have been using them so long without taking advantage of this feature.
 
These are also waterproof; IPX7. While I would love to test this out myself, I put down my hard-earned cash to get these and do not want to ruin them. They have handled my sweat just fine and am sure they would be fine if used in the rain.
 
The warranty is less than stellar and to be frank, disappointing at a mere three months. Luckily this earphone has proven itself to be bulletproof. Sony could learn a thing or two from Brainwavz as they back the majority of their products with a generous 24 months of coverage.
 
The cable is of average thickness, flexible, and features Sony's oft used serrated texture so they rarely tangle. The chin slider certainly helps prevent tangling during storage as well. The cable performs pretty well in cold weather which I appreciate given I live north of the good ole US of A. Strain reliefs for both the jack and housings are extra long and flexible. These are probably the best reliefs I have come across and instill confidence that this cable will be alive and kickin' for quite a while longer. There is no strain relief to the y-split/inline mic, but given the majority of bending happens at the jack and housings this is acceptable. The chin slider slides easily along the cable and does not shift itself out of place when in use. The inline mic works as expected, doing a reasonable job of nullifying wind and cable noise. My callers never had any issues hearing me.
 
The build quality has proven itself to be well above average. The cable is as I have come to expect from a Sony product; good, if not great. The inline mic is quite nice with the multipurpose button being covered in a waterproof sheath. The housings themselves are all plastic and quite large. They feel extremely solid and are well put together without any moulding artifacts or obvious gaps. This certainly feels like a quality product even if it looks a touch goofy. Outside of the cable developing some quirky little bends, the AS800AP looks exactly as it did when I first purchased them at the end of 2014.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Comfort and Isolation:
 
For a large-bodied earphone they are surprisingly light and comfortable. Cable noise is apparent when wearing them cable-down but is not overly intrusive. Removal of the stabilizers makes them a little more straightforward to wear since you don't have to worry about slotting the fins into your upper ear, but this seems to boost microphonics a touch. The AS800AP can be worn cable-up if you remove the stabilizers. This completely nullifies cable noise but is not an ideal way to wear them due to the extra long strain reliefs.
 
Isolation is pretty average for a dynamic driver. There are two small vents; one underneath the housing where the strain relief meets, and another under the stabilizing fin. The fin has a small path molded in to ensure the vent isn't blocked which is a nice detail. They do a good job of blocking out most sounds but let is just enough to be aware of your surroundings. Important if using them when jogging. 
 
Sound Quality:
 
This is an area where the AS800AP has done nothing but impress. While they are a warm and bassy earphone, they do not make sacrifices to their mids or treble and are smartly tuned offering up a fairly balanced listening experience. With some eq and amping they are certainly capable of outputting some head-shaking bass but I prefer to listen to them stock so I can fully appreciate their capabilities.
 
AS800AP - Frequency Response : 5 - 25,000 Hz; Sensitivity (db) : 108 dB/mW (Full Specs: http://www.sony.com/ng/electronics/in-ear-headphones/mdr-as800ap/specifications)
 
The AS800AP is very easy to drive and does not require amping, though pairing them with the Topping NX1 results in tighter, reigned-in bass with an even response from the deepest subbass regions to their well-extended highs. Amping allows you to get the most out of this earphone but is not required for an enjoyable listening experience.
 
Treble is detailed and extends with greater clarity and detail than you would expect from a big, fully waterproof driver. It stops short of being bright and it never harsh or edgy. There is just enough shimmer and glimmer to bring some excitement and life to your music, perfect for those intense workouts. Mids are balanced nicely with the other frequencies, if not a touch dry. I wouldn't say they're recessed at all, but they're not forward either. Guitars are presented with a nice crunch, and vocals are sweet and engaging. Bass digs deeps and focuses more on sub than mid-bass. This is excellent because it doesn't bleed into and interfere with their mids. Bass is snappy and has some quality punch and texture to it, and the sub-bass rumble is addictive.
 
Soundstage on the AS800AP is one of my favorite aspects. It is large, much larger than average, seeming to nip at the heels of my Dunu Titan 1. It provides an excellent feeling of depth and layering, but could improve slightly on instrument placement which I find a touch vague.
 
The AS800AP had proven itself as a mobile gaming and media consumption guru. They have the right amount of bass to allow for an engaging and exciting experience. Sound effects such as guns firing, engines reving, etc. are presented with some serious grunt and punch which is always appreciated.
 
While the AS800AP may not be the best for critical listening, given their intended audience and position as a sports earphone they handle themselves pretty darn well.
 

---

 
 
 

---

 
Overall:
 
The AS800AP is still one of my favorite earphones to date, standing proudly alongside my other favorites like the Dunu Titan 1, JVC HA-FXH30, and EE846 DIY Hybrid. They bring to the table outstanding build quality, a generous accessories package and feature list, and surprisingly good sound. Even though I've been enjoying them for over a year and a half now, I'm still shocked at how good they really are, especially when you remember that they are fully waterproof.
 
If in the market for a top notch sports earphone that sacrifices nothing, except maybe an attractive design, the AS800AP should definitely be on your short-list.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler

Greetings Head-fi,
 
Today we will be checking out a new headphone hanger from Brainwavz; the Hooka. This wonderful little product has a low MSRP of 17.95 USD, is constructed entirely of aluminum and with its simple yet detailed design, looks quite nice. Is it any good? I certainly think so. Let us find out why.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I want to thank Pandora and Brainwavz for hookaing (sorry) me up with this product in exchange for a fair and impartial review. The views expressed within this review are not representative of Brainwavz and I am not receiving any form of monetary compensation.
 

---

 

---

 
Packaging:
 
The Hooka comes in a compact plastic package with the hanger on full display via a generous viewing window that takes up the front and top sections of the package. The sides contain notification of the Hooka’s generous 24 month warranty and information on how to locate Brainwavz online, and through various social media outlets. The rear of the package contains two images of the Hooka with brief statements about its build quality and easy installation. Opening the package from the top reveals the Hooka nestled snugly in a separate plastic holder.
 
The packaging is simple and free of excess waste, using just enough material to keep the Hooka secure and safe from damage during transit.
 

---

 
 

---

 
The Hooka:
 
I knew little of the Hooka coming into this review, other than what I read on their website and that it looked to be closely related to the Truss, another of Brainwavz’s new headphone hangers. I was excited to try the Hooka after reading @Wokei’s enthusiastic review of the Truss. When it arrived was I pleasantly surprised at the quality.
 
The Hooka is an all-aluminum product with some thoughtful design flourishes. The seat where you hang your headphone is curved spreading the headphone’s weight across the headband. I find this helps to prevent unwanted dents and notches in the padding. There is a lip at the end of the arm holding the seat which keeps your headphone from sliding off. Should you be traveling with the Hooka and want it to take up even less space, it can be broken down into two small pieces simply by unscrewing the two bolts holding the seat in place.
 
For something built to such a relaxed price point, the Hooka’s build and material quality is excellent. The black-painted finish is flawless with the Brainwavz logo and name cleanly printed on the arm and base. I couldn't find any flaws in the mold, and the double-sided 3M VBH tape was placed with OCD-like precision (this pleased me greatly). Speaking of double-sided tape, this stuff grips like it’s nobody’s business. It can’t hold the weight of a human being but I highly doubt there are any headphones out there heavy enough to cause any concerns.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Suggestions for Improvement:
 
The Hooka is a fantastic little hanger but I feel it is missing one critical feature and another that could be very handy if implemented in a future revision.
 
For someone wanting a more permanent mounting solution, since tape loses its grip over time, it would have been nice to see some holes drilled in the base to accommodate mounting via screws. I could certainly do this myself, but I doubt my workmanship would be up to Brainwavz’s standards, harming the visual cleanliness of the Hooka in its stock form.
 
Given the size of this product, the ability to mount via a Velcro or rubber strap would be welcome. For someone that travels a lot and doesn't like setting their headphones down on random surfaces, the ability to mount the Hooka via a reusable strap of some sort would be ace. It could be strapped to the leg of the desk in your room, the headboard of your bed, or a variety of other locations. I also find that clamps damage or mark surfaces. Using a well-designed strap system would allow for quick, painless mounting and the surface you attach it to would remain blemish free.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Overall:
 
Brainwaz has put out yet another stellar product. The Hooka is well-built, features a mature design, can hold pretty much any headphone you throw at it, and is easy on the wallet. It would have been nice if double-sided tape was just one of a few mounting options, but it works well and can be overlooked especially when they are so well-built. Two thumbs up to Brainwavz for making a great headphone accessory.
 
Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to review the Hooka. I am excited to see what you have up your sleeve next!
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9
 
 
 

Greetings Head-fi,
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the K2S, a new micro-driver earphone from VJJB.
 
If you have been perusing the Chinese earphone thread within the last year or two, you might have noticed the VJJB K1S, an attractively designed earphone that brings to mind elements of the Final Audio Piano Forte lineup. Most recently, VJJB’s gorgeous K4 wooden earphone has been getting some positive feedback from the Head-fi community. So what talk is there of the middle child, the K2S? To my surprise, not much at all.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I purchased the K2S through AliExpress and am not affiliated with VJJB or any online sellers. This review contains my personal opinions and feelings about this product. I hope you find this helpful when looking to purchase your new earphone. 
 
A little about me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If I can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done. My gear used for testing is pretty basic composing of the HTC One M8 cellphone, the Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with the Plantronics Rig USB amp.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Build, Accessories, Comfort:
 
The K2S makes use of aluminum for the housings, y-split, and straight jack. This keeps them light and comfortable. The housings are a traditional barrel shape with tapered sides. This tapered design feature trickles down to the jack, functional in giving you something to grip when plugging them in and out of your favorite audio device.
 
The flat cable used is one of the better I've come across. It's not nearly as wide or heavy as what you will find on the NarMoo R1M or Don Scorpio Bass Colour. This keeps it nearly as manageable as a more traditional cable. Wearing the cable over ear cuts down on microphonics (cable noise) which are fairly intrusive when worn cable down. That said, it's no worse and quite a bit less intrusive than some fabric sheathed cables I've used, like those appearing on the RHA S500i and Piston 2/3.
 
My K2S came without any retail box to cut down on shipping costs, but was still delivered with some basic ear tips (s/m/l) and a soft, fabric carry bag. While a basic hard shell case would be nice, the included bag has held up well over repeated use and protects the K2S from scratches and dings.
 
The inline mic with single button media controller is the same found on the QKZ W1 Pro. My experience with callers was the same; they won't be stunned by the quality of your voice, but at the same time they won't be asking you to continually repeat yourself. The single button controller worked flawlessly with the HTC One M8 allowing me to answer and hang up calls, skip back and forth through music tracks, and even fast forward or rewind.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Sound:
 
The K2S is a good example of a budget micro-driver done right, even though it took a while for me to warm up to them. Out of the box I was underwhelmed so they ended up getting very little use over the first few weeks of ownership. They sounded okay but lacked any "wow factor". A big part of this was the tips used. The generic stock tips wouldn't seal well in my ears, and the small bore constrained their sound. I recommend swapping to something with a wider bore and used the large sized white silicone tips from the Havi B3 Pro 1 throughout the duration of this review.
 
Despite my initial misgivings, throughout the months they’ve shown themselves to be a pleasant listen and a capable earphone, more often than not traveling with me on a daily basis. There is something about their warm signature that works with everything I toss at it. Add in their comfort, decent isolation, inline mic, and easy-to-drive nature with mobile devices and you have a great earphone for out-and-about use.
 
Treble is slightly emphasized and in some instances comes across sounding a little artificial or thin. The K2S isn’t as detailed and clear as the notably more costly JVC HA-FXH30, but brings more to the table than the similarly priced Remax RM-720i. It strikes a nice balance between the two. Their treble presentation is also more refined and less strident than the RHA S500i but falls short of the RHA's impressive detail output.
 
Mids are mildly recessed, but clear and unimpeded by other frequencies. I especially like their male vocal presentation which is intimate and natural. While more forward than the mids of the S500i, they lack the raw detail of RHA's foray into the world of micro-drivers.
 
Bass on the K2S trails off early leaving just enough subbass extension for a mild and satisfying rumble. Midbass is quick and punchy, giving your beats some authority. Texture is excellent throughout. To my ears midbass is a little too present, but a 1-2 dB drop at 60 Hz and 230 Hz helps to bring it down to more pleasurable levels. I wouldn't say they are a bassy earphone, but they're certainly not light on bass either.
 
The K2S has an average soundstage with a typically intimate iem-like presentation. You get the impression of a decent sense of space with nice transitions to the sides and behind, but nothing in front. They avoid sounding congested and display solid separation and black space between instruments.
 
Overall:
 
Despite my initial lack of enthusiasm for the K2S, it’s grown to be one of my favorite micro-driver earphones. At its price point it does a lot right without any glaring negatives or auditory quirks to bring it down. If you are looking for a light, comfortable, and inexpensive earphone to use as a daily driver, you may want to keep the K2S on your shortlist.
 
Thank for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
Test tracks:

 
Aesop Rock - Daylight EP (full album)
Distorted Minds - Hexstatic
Felt - G.I. Josephine
Gorillaz - Empire Ants ft. Little Dragon
Between the Buried and Me - Three of a Perfect Pair (King Crimson cover)
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
King Crimson - Night Watch (live)
Gramatik - Control Room Before You Feat. ILLUMNTR
Skindred - Death to all Spies
Steely Dan - Haitian Divorce
Supertramp - Rudy
Haywyre - Sculpted
Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place

Greetings Head-fi,
 
Today, we are going to be taking a look at the QKZ W1 Pro. This is a budget-minded, sports-focused, earphone that offers some great value for those looking to purchase something in the sub-10 USD, hyper-budget segment.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I purchased the W1 Pro through AliExpress and am not affiliated with QKZ or any online sellers. This review contains my personal opinions and feelings about this product. I hope you find this helpful when looking to purchase your new earphone.
 
Edit (Oct 7, 2016): I purchased a second pair of W1 Pro in the red/blue color scheme after reading so many comments about them being quite bassy. After spending a week with them, it seems there have been some changes made to the way they sound. My new pair seems to be have more pronounced bass and treble, and are not as well balanced as the original pair used for this review. The memory wire also seems to have been updated and works a little better. A couple quick pics and back to the review;
 

---

 
 

---

 
A little about me:
 
Over the last couple years I decided to dive head first into the world of portable audio. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread and being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own reviews. Fast forward a couple years and I've had the opportunity to write about some great products for wonderful companies like RHA, Havi, FiiO, NarMoo, Brainwavz, and Meze. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because I enjoy it. If I can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done. My gear used for testing is pretty basic composing of the HTC One M8 cellphone, the Topping NX1 portable amplifier, and my aging Asus G73 gaming laptop paired with the Plantronics Rig USB amp.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Build, Accessories, Comfort:
 
Build quality of the W1 Pro is solid for an earphone in this price range with durable if uninspiring plastics, just like the design. The cable is the star of the show. It's supple, not at all sticky, resistant to holding any particular shape, and removable which is quite rare at this price.
 
As an additional aside to the cable, I was lucky it was removable. This review would never had been written were this feature not implemented. While washing dishes it caught on the drawer handle, damaging it with a mighty tug. It still works if you play around with the positioning but not consistently. If it wasn't so well relieved, I'm sure it would have snapped or be completely non-functional following such an aggressive tug.
 
The W1 Pro comes with a small plastic carrying case, similar in design to the one provided with the JVC FX1X and FX3X, just larger in size and made from lower quality plastic. It works well, easily holding the W1 Pro and it's included silicone eartips (sizes s/m/l).
 
After performing some tip-rolling and settling on the large silicone tips from the RHA S500i, the W1 Pro ended up being a comfortable earphone. Eartips from the UE600 also worked well. The cable runs over ear courtesy of memory wire ear guides and is mostly absent of cable noise. Those with glasses may hear some muted thumps. The design sits flush with your outer ear, making lying on your side while listening to your favorite music a pleasant experience. Wind noise is thankfully kept to a minimum. Isolation is above average for a dynamic driver, mostly due to the lack of vents. To my surprise, driver flex was also absent.
 
The inline mic works well for phone calls and is the same as the one found on the VJJB K2 . Your callers won't be stunned by the quality of your voice, but at the same time they won't be asking you to continually repeat yourself. The single button controller worked flawlessly with the HTC One M8 allowing me to answer and hang up calls, skip back and forth through music tracks, and even fast forward or rewind.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Sound:
 
The W1 Pro surprised me with the quality of sound their 10 mm dynamic driver produced. In my experience, earphones in this price range are often bassy to a fault, especially so for those intended for sports use. The W1 Pro greets your ears to a wonderfully balanced sound, avoiding excessive boosting of any particular frequencies. How refreshing.
 
The W1 Pro won't win any awards for it's treble presentation, coming across only as competent. It's crisp, verging on brittle, and as a result can occasionally sound rough or edgy, most especially with low quality tracks. Detail is not outstanding, but unless I was listening to particularly complicated tracks they never felt like they were smearing over any important information.
 
Mids on the W1 Pro are pleasant. I would go as far as to say that they are slightly boosted, as voices are always clearly present even on even the most bass heavy of tracks. I wouldn't call the W1 Pro a warm sounding earphone, but they do present some warm qualities, especially in the lower mids transitioning into the mid-bass.
 
Bass on the W1 Pro is one of my favorite aspects. They'll never please a basshead, but those looking for a sports earphone without a ton of bass should be pleased. It digs deep enough (deep insertion required for increased quantity) to provide some comfortable sub-bass rumble and is free of mid-bass coloration or bloat. Polite is a word I would use to describe the W1 Pro's bass presentation.
 
Overall detail throughout all frequencies is good, but not mind blowing. Soundstage is airy and spacious, but won't be giving you the sort of 3D or out-of-head experience that something like the Dunu Titan 1 would. Then again, expecting something like that from such an inexpensive product isn't entirely realistic now is it?
 

---

 
 

---

 
Quick Comparison:
 
Prior to receiving the W1 Pro I reviewed the Brainwavz XFit XF-200. Their overall design is shockingly similar, and as a result fit on both is equally fiddly and tip-dependent. Sound quality is also very similar, with the XF-200 being the more aggressive of the two. In comparison, the XF-200 is bassier and brighter, appealing to those wanting a more "fun" sound. The W1 Pro costs less than half as much and while it lacks the excellent three button remote and accessory package of the XF-200 you instead get the freedom of a removable cable. The tug that damaged the cable of my W1 Pro may have ended the XF-200 for good.
 
Both earphones are excellent at their respective prices. If looking for a more balanced, spacious sound and can forego higher quality accessories, the W1 Pro is a great alternative to the XF-200.
 
Overall:
 
I came away from the W1 Pro quite happy with it's performance. They were comfortable (after tip-rolling), well-built (if you excuse my clumsy destruction of the cable), and feature-rich. While they'll never win any awards for their sound quality, they are a good sounding product and to my ears, unique among their similarly-priced, sports-focused peers. They genuinely gave me the impression of money well-spent.
 
For someone looking for a new earphone that they can use and abuse for exercise, the W1 Pro would be a solid choice and the only one of can think of that would provide such a well-rounded signature. They're cheap enough to not worry about, and should you have spare cables with the same connector lying around, should last a very long time. Well done QKZ.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scramber
 
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
Test tracks:
 
Aesop Rock - Cook It Up
Batmang - Holy mang, Batmang!
Gorillaz - All Alone
Gorillaz - Empire Ants ft. Little Dragon
Between the Buried and Me - Three of a Perfect Pair (King Crimson cover)
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
King Crimson - Night Watch (live)
Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)
Skindred - Death to all Spies
Steely Dan - Haitian Divorce
Supertramp - Rudy
Haywyre - Sculpted
Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be taking a look at the new EM3 from the good people at FiiO!
 
The EM3 is an earbud, just like those basic earphones that usually come included with your average audio device. Unlike those cheapo freebies it seems FiiO actually put some effort into the development of the EM3. As a result you have a solid, mass-market earbud that's actually worth putting down your hard-earned cash on.
 
Disclaimer:
 
The EM3 was provided in exchange for a fair and impartial review. The comments and thoughts within this review are my opinions and not representative of FiiO or any other physical or spiritual entity on this or any other plain of existence. I am not receiving any monetary or residual compensation for this review. Instead, I get the pleasure of listening to a cool piece of kit and sharing my experiences with you, the reader.
 
A little about me:
 
As with many who include this section, I'm not claiming to be an audiophile with golden ears. I don't base my opinions on numbers or graphs, though I have to admit that those things are always nice to have around. I still like to think of myself as fairly new to this hobby; green you might say. My gear is basic and my musical tastes somewhat funneled or biased towards EDM, hip hop, classic rock, and various combinations of the three. For the most part I am a very low volume listener (at least compared to my friends, family, and colleagues), only cranking the volume for that special song now and then. I tend to gravitate towards products that many consider bright, though I prefer the term "energetic". In the end, I just love music, earphones, and writing about them.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Packaging, Accessories, and Features:
 
The EM3 is a budget-minded product, ringing in at less than 20 USD 'round the word. The packing and accessories reflect this low-cost approach, which I appreciate. Unfortunately, Customs or Canada Post were just as excited to check these out as I was and took the opportunity to open the packaging before they were delivered. As a result my images (and unboxing video) fail to reflect the raw opening experience. Sorry about that, mates.
 
Packing for this wonderful little earbud is an elongated, rectangular box measuring in at 14.5 cm x 4.5 cm x 2 cm. Printed on the box are some attractive soundwaves rippling behind an image of the buds, with a scratch n' sniff (sans sniff) sticker used to check authenticity, on the side. Open it up to a pull-out tray containing the EM3 itself, an instruction booklet, and another, smaller box holding three pairs of spare foams.
 
All-in-all this presentation is clean, basic, and a little nicer than what you would expect for something in this price range. It's nice enough for someone like myself who keeps packaging for display purposes (though I have a box full of empty boxes in my closet...), but not so nice that you would feel bad tossing it out.
 
Build Quality, Features, and Comfort:
 
The EM3 is a well-built earphone. It doesn't feel as if FiiO used low quality plastics or a sub-par cable. Neither does it feel like they broke the bank. Let's start with a look at the housings.
 
Personally, I find this to be a fairly attractive little earbud. There isn't anything particularly unique about the design, though the swooping rear edge of the housing looks nice and is helpful when installing and removing the bud from your ears since the tip of your finger slots in nicely. I would prefer if the vent was shifted down and into the swoop so it wouldn't be covered by foams, since as-is you need to be careful not to cover it. Doing so can affect the sound greatly, and not necessarily in a good way. This driver needs to breath.
 
The EM3 features an inline mic with a single button remote. As with everything else, it is made from substantial feeling plastic. The button feels good in hand and has just the right amount of resistance preventing unwanted or accidental presses. It worked well skipping back and forth through tracks on my HTC One M8, and with answering and ending calls.
 
While I only took a few calls with the EM3, I noticed an odd little quirk that was easy to replicate. The mic would pick up wind noise quite easily, but it could only be heard by me. My callers said I was loud and clear, hearing none of the interference. I'm curious if anyone else has run into this oddity. Since it doesn't affect those on the other line, I would say that this is something to highlight, but not be concerned about.
 
The light weight and clean smooth design of the EM3 meant it sat comfortably in my outer ear. There are no sharp edges or odd angles to work around. A huge plus, and one that many may overlook, is they sound pretty much the same no matter how they sit in your ear. I have a feeling this will make them very versatile for a variety of ear types. Big ups to FiiO here!
 

---

 
 

---

 
Sound and Comparisons:
 
FiiO called the EM3 the top-bang-for-your-buck earbud on the market. Venture Electronics makes a very similar claim with the Monk, and I have a pair of those earbuds on hand to compare the EM3 with. Since the EM3 made a good showing in the previous categories, let's see how it tackles sound quality, arguably the most important metric.
 
*Please note that I found the EM3 very stuffy and muddy when using the included foams. I was not a huge fan of them in this orientation. Naked, they clean up nicely offering up good detail and clarity while maintaining some acceptably tight, punchy bass. That said, with donut-shaped foams they really shine, maintaining the clarity of going foamless with the sub-bass performance of the stock foams. All further testing and comparisons was done using donuts, ironically enough, from the Monks.*
 
One of the first things that captured my attention when first hearing the EM3 was their bass. Prior to hearing the Venture Electronics Monk, there wasn't another bud I had heard with such prominent bass. The EM3's presentation is forward, thick, quite warm, and actually manages to dip it's toes into the sub-bass frequencies before rolling off, pulling out, and getting too wet. They offer up a quantity of bass that should please most consumers, even those demanding big bass. I listen to a lot of EDM, and these perform admirably with my favorite tracks. There is a bit too much midbass for my personal preferences, occasionally making them sound bloated, but it's nothing a touch of equalization can't address.
 
Mids are often an area where earbuds shine. For the most part, the EM3 is no exception. The only qualm I have here is that the overly prominent midbass often peeks it's head up over the fence to interfere and sap some energy, especially from vocals. In general their mids are forward, cleanly done, and pleasing to the ear.
 
Treble on the EM3 offers up some good energy without ever sounding strident or simblant. They lack the sparkle of some other products I've heard in this price range and as a result come across a tad dull at times, but it's not distracting or unacceptable. I'm a little picky when it comes to treble presentation, generally shying away from the splashy, uncontrolled, and recessed. The EM3 meets all my needs here.
 
Soundstage was another aspect of the EM3 that put a smile on my face. I found them to sound wide open and with good separation. Stereo transitions and instrument placement are also well done, especially for something budget-minded like these are.
 
The EM3 overall offers up a cohesive sound that runs a bit thick in the upper-bass, lower-mids. For critical listening this isn't adequate, BUT, these are meant to be used when out and about. Take that into consideration when using the EM3 in their expected element, and this no longer becomes an issue. This is a similar experience that I had with the Ausdom M05, a set of over-ear Bluetooth headphones. The stock tuning wasn't the best for listening in a quiet environment, but take them outside and things balance out nicely.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Some select comparisons:
 
Venture Electronics Monk (w/ Sennheiser MX470 foams) vs. EM3
 
The Monk has been taking Head-fi by storm, and rightfully so. They cost around 5 USD and carry the title of "Best Bang for Your Buck". Heck, they're shipped with a VE business card that states it front and centre. To top it off, they sound stellar and are worth way more than their meager asking price.
 
This is the EM3's most dangerous competition and while I think the Monk is the better sounding of the two, the EM3 may just have the advantage. When it comes to sound, the Monk is more balanced, detailed, spacious sounding, and has tighter, snappier bass with better texture. The EM3 sounds v-shaped in comparison, and a little rough around the edges. The Monk is shockingly smooth and refined. While I found it's treble to be less prominent than the EM3's, it sounds more natural.
 
The EM3 doesn't lay down without a fight, however. They nearly match the Monk in soundstage presentation, will appeal more to those that want quantity in their bass, and well, just look at them. The Monk's housing is from a bygone era, straight out of the 90s. The EM3 looks modern and sleek and is much more comfortable to wear, at least to my ear. The kicker is that the EM3 offers an inline mic, something sorely missing at least as an option when ordering the Monk.
 
These are products intended to be used on the move, and in many cases straight out of a mobile phone. Taking this into account the EM3 offers a more comprehensive experience. Oh yeah, the EM3 is also much easier to drive from a basic source. 1/2 volume out of my HTC One M8 is equivalent to about 1/3 volume on the EM3. I listen at such a low volume that this doesn't really matter to me, but it may affect those that listen at louder volumes.
 
When would I take the Monk over the EM3? The Monks are a technically more proficient earbud and as a result are more pleasant for general music listening when in the comfort of your home. Leave the house, and the Monks are set aside.
 
Philips SHS3200 (w/ Sennheiser MX470 foams) vs. EM3
 
Yup. I'm comparing the EM3 to the age old SHS3200. "Why?" you might be asking. The SHS3200 is an earbud that I've owned at one point or another pretty consistently over the last 15 years. I've always enjoyed the combination of comfort, build quality, and solid audio performance they've offered to buyers for years and years at a price hovering around 10 USD. Their design has aged very well in my opinion, and of the three earphones I find them to be the best looking and quite comfortable, though I suspect the massive housings will probably cause hotspots in those with smaller outer ears.
 
The EM3 feels like the more bass heavy of the two due to it's much more notable mid-bass presence, but the SHS3200's big 15mm drivers offer up some sub-bass depth that the EM3 lacks. They aren't as warm as the FiiO, especially in the mids. Treble presentation is pretty similar between the two, making it tough to decide which offers up better performance here. Where the EM3 and SHS3200 part ways is in soundstage. The Philips sounds more like an iem with a notably more confined stage. They just lack the spaciousness and depth of the EM3 and can come across congested.
 
When would I take the SHS3200 over the EM3? Well, they're a sports earbud and the earhooks keep them in place quite well. During activity they are much more secure than the EM3. Other than that, the EM3 is hands down the one I would pick up and take with me. Sorry old chum, but you're outclassed nowadays.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Recommendations for improvements:
 
What could FiiO do to improve upon the EM3? I would love to see some donut foams included, or at the very least full foams that are less dense. The cable is great, but a little thin above the y-split. The SHS3200 uses the same gauge of cable above the y-split and is similarly relieved going into the housing, where they almost always end up failing. Finally, I would love to see the vent on the back of the housing moved to a location where it is not impeded when using foams.
 
Summary:
 
The EM3 surprised me with their bass-heavy signature, spacious sound, and versatility. They look good, feel good, and are priced well for the overall performance on hand. The Monks are still the bang-for-your-buck champs, but they make some sacrifices to get there; ancient housing, no inline mic, few accessories. I will note that some of this, especially accessories, is addressed by the new Monk +, though the price jumps considerably if you want more than the basic package. The EM3 on the other hand sounds almost as good while being something that should be easier to purchase, plus it brings to the table an inline mic.
 
FiiO has brought to market a great earbud, and one that should help to further dispel any thoughts that earbuds are obsolete. Earbuds are amazing, and this is a great entry level offering. I hope FiiO follows these up with something focused more on providing an even better audio experience.
 
Thank you FiiO for giving me the opportunity to review these. I hope you enjoyed my review, and for those that buy them, enjoy the EM3!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
Sources: HTC One M8, Topping NX1, Plantronics Rig USB Amp out of an Asus G73J gaming laptop
 
Some test tracks:
 
Aesop Rock - Cook It Up
Gorillaz - All Alone
Gorillaz - Empire Ants ft. Little Dragon
Between the Buried and Me - Three of a Perfect Pair (King Crimson cover)
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)
Skindred - Death to all Spies
Steely Dan - Haitian Divorce
Supertramp - Rudy
Haywyre - Sculpted
Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling Into Place
 
I also listened to long EDM mixes by SubSil3nt Podcast and Going Quantum Podcast on a daily basis.

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we're going to be looking at the BLU-200 Bluetooth headset from Brainwavz. This is their third new release of the year, and a follow up to their well-received BLU-100 model released in 2015.
 
Outside of listening to the excellent Ausdom M05 on-ear headset and using the g.k. DS3, my experience with Bluetooth products is admittedly pretty limited. This made having the opportunity to try out the BLU-200 all that much more appealing. The technology inherent in making a good sounding wireless earphone is intriguing and with the more widespread use of aptX technology, things have never sounded so good. Luckily most of the Bluetooth products I've tried use aptX, and my HTC One M8 supports it so life is good!
 
The Brainwavz Blu-200 can be picked up from their website at the time of this review for 54.50 USD, but I've seen it drop as low as 35.00 USD.
 
Disclaimer:
 
The BLU-200 was provided in exchange for a fair and impartial review. The comments and thoughts within this review are my opinions and not representative of Brainwavz or any other physical or spiritual entity on this or any other plain of existence. I am not receiving any monetary or residual compensation for this review.
 
A little about me:
 
As with many who include this section, I'm not claiming to be an audiophile with golden ears. I don't base my opinions on numbers or graphs, though I have to admit that those things are always nice to have around. I still like to think of myself as fairly new to this hobby; green you might say. My gear is basic and my musical tastes somewhat funneled or biased towards EDM, hip hop, classic rock, and various combinations of the three. For the most part I am a very low volume listener (at least compared to my friends, family, and colleagues), only cranking the volume for that special song now and then. In the end, I just love music, earphones, and writing about them.
 
Enough of this preamble business. Let's take a look at the BLU-200!
 

---

 
 

---

 
Packaging, Accessories, and Features:
 
The BLU-200 comes in a fairly compact cardboard box, white, with images of the earphones and incline controls on the front and back. On the rear the contents and accessories are outlined:
 
- BLU-200 earphones
- hard case (yes, the same excellent case that Brainwavz offers with many of their products)
- ear hooks
- Velcro cable tie
- micro USB charging cable
- 3 pairs of silicone eartips (s/m/l)
- a set of S-400 Comply eartips
- instruction manual and 24 month warranty card (which is just part of the final pages of the manual)
- cable cinch (not actually on the box, but it should be)
 
Opening up the box you are immediately greeted by the hard case which contains the BLU-200 and all of it's accessories. The silicone eartips look nice with their yellow core and are of good quality, though they feel a little stiff.
 
The joint BLU-100/BLU-200 instructions are particularly handy as the BLU-200 can do a pretty wide variety of things during the 4 hours of playback time you get. For example, you can pair with two devices at once. Cool. Pairing is as easy as you would expect having to do nothing more than turn on the headset and your devices, locate the BLU-200 in the list, and select it. Painless and quick.
 
This headset has it's own volume controls which work well with great variability in the available volume levels. You can skip and go back a track but I found this a little cumbersome since you are required to hold down the buttons for three seconds. Doesn't sound like much of an issue but it does get tedious. I found I would bounce between using the in-line controls and just pulling out my phone since neither ended up being more convenient than the other.
 
The BLU-200 can also be used for phone calls. You can answer and hang up, reject incoming calls, and redial the last number called. Voice dialing can also be accessed without ever touching your phone. When it comes to microphone performance and quality my benchmark is the setup used on JVC's HA-FRD60/80. They enabled me to carry on a full conversation while walking around in a windstorm without my caller even realizing I was outside. Impressive! While the BLU-200 did a good job, it still fell short of my benchmark. Callers said I sounded reasonably clear, but there was a noticeable hollowing effect that was distracting. On the plus side, the BLU-200 did a good job of blocking outside noises (cars and other annoyances), something I find many inline mics fail to do well.
 
Charging is reasonably quick at only two hours. Brainwavz claims 30ft/10m of range which I found to be accurate. I was able to walk around my apartment with the phone in my bedroom without any connection issues, and only if I left my apartment would I start to run into connection issues.
 
While the depth of the accessory kit of the BLU-200 isn't anything too unusual, the addition of Comply tips and such a well-rounded feature set is great.
 

---

 

---

 
Design, Build Quality, and Comfort:
 
The BLU-200 features a straightforward barrel-shaped housing. Given this common shape they are easy to slip in without having to worry about cable placement or finagling with finding the proper fit. I had no problems getting a good seal with the stock silicone tips but they quickly became uncomfortable. Whether this was due to the slightly stiff silicone, significant weight of the housings, or both, I don't know. Swapping to some soft JVC or UE600 tips helped out quite a bit.
 
The included stabilizing fins, or ear hooks, are a great idea. Unfortunately I wasn't actually able to get a deep enough seal to make them of much use, regardless of the tip size used. If I placed the fins right on the tip of the housing (covering the L/R markings) they could somewhat tuck onto my outer ear but usually ended up slipping out of place. I suspect most people will not have an issue with this but it's worth keeping in the back of you mind if your ears work best with shallow fit earphones.
 
Build quality overall I found to be excellent. All of the accessories have a quality feel to them, and the solid metal housings seem bulletproof! The flat cable is very manageable and inclusion of a cinch for cable management is appreciated. Tighten it up and the BLU-200 won't be going anywhere.
 
Connection Quality:
 
The Blu-200 connected strongly and without drops or interruptions. I tested connection strength with the HTC One M8, Motorola Moto G (1st gen), and ol' reliable, the Samsung Nexus S. Background hiss on the other hand was very noticeable on my M8 and Moto G, much less so on ye ol' Nexus. Your mileage may vary.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Sound Quality:
 
So far the BLU-200 has been an enjoyable experience with great build quality and acceptable comfort. How do they sound? Let's just say I'm glad I spent a few extra weeks listening to these before finally deciding to settle down and write my final review. While I didn't keep track of how many hours I've put through them, it's definitely more than 20.
 
The BLU-200 makes no effort at trying to be an audiophile-oriented product. They are unabashedly warm and bassy, putting a smile on your face, a bounce in your step, and a few extra beats in your heart-box. To me, this is exactly what a bassy earphone should strive towards.
 
I was actually pretty shocked at just how bassy the BLU-200 was, and how deep into the sub-bass regions it could dive. I was expecting them to be very mid-bassy and punchy, rolling off before getting to my favorite part of the sound spectrum. Nope, not the case. Mid-bass is ever-present but not uncomfortably so, and with some much appreciated emphasis placed on that deep, visceral rumble these things can kick!
 
Mids are about what I've come to expect from Brainwavz, just a touch more recessed and occasionally interfered with by that delicious bassy goodness. Nothing overly noteworthy here, either good nor bad. Just competent.
 
Treble is where the BLU-200 falls short in my opinion. It is well-controlled and not at all splashy which I appreciate, but with the stock tuning is completely overshadowed by the mids and bass, lacking sparkle or any real emphasis. It feels empty and dull. Luckily, this earphone takes equalization pretty well so you can raise the treble or dial back everything else to bring some life to the BLU-200's top end. This was a saving grace because otherwise, I found them very difficult to enjoy for any real length of time, unless I was listening to vocal free music with bass dripping from every corner.
 
Normally I find earphones with recessed treble to have a confined soundstage. Not so much with the BLU-200. They won't give you that out-of-head 3D experience, but they sound way more spacious than you would expect. Nicely done Brainwavz!
 

---

 
 

---

 
Overall:
 
The BLU-200 is a well-built, reasonably comfortable, decent sounding earphone with some great features, quality accessories, and solid Bluetooth functionality. They won't win any prizes for outstanding sound quality and could definitely benefit from a more ergonomic redesign, buuuut, for what they are they are a solid pick.
 
If Brainwavz were to change anything going forward, I would love to see them move away from a common barrel-shaped housing and try to make something significantly more ergonomic, ala. VSonic VSD2. Surely they could cram those electronics into something wide and flat and work on dispersing that weight more comfortably within your ear.
 
Thank you again Pandora and Brainwavz for giving me the chance to review this earphone. I hope you enjoyed this review and thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 

---

---

 
Greetings Head-fi!
 
The 99 Classics first appeared on my radar when I read @BloodyPenguin's review. Not only did his description of the 99 Classics sound intrigue me, but his images showed off the physical beauty of this amazing headphone. When I laid eyes on the 99 Classics, it was love at first sight.
 
When I saw that Meze was running a Canadian leg to their 99 Classics tour, it was pretty late in the application process. I'm not sure if it made a difference in @MezeTeam's selection process especially since I'm pretty inexperienced compared to the majority of their selected applicants, but I want to thank @nmatheis for putting in a good word for me.
 
When Meze contacted me to advise that I would be put on the tour, I was taken aback. This amazing looking pair of headphones would eventually serenade my ears, even if only for a short period. To say that I was stoked was an understatement. The best headphones I've heard/owned to date have been the UE6000, AKG K512 MKii, and my current favorite, the AKG K553 Pro. I was VERY excited to hear how the Meze 99 Classics would compare to these headphones which I have become very familiar with.
 
Disclaimer: The Meze 99 Classics were sent to me for seven (seemingly very short) days as part of their Canadian tour. I am in no way affiliated with Meze and receive no financial compensation for this review.
 
A little about me:
 
While I'm still pretty new to the world of hi-fi portable audio, my love of budget earphones and headphones has allowed me to more-or-less find my preferred signature. Don't think this means that I avoid variety, because that couldn't be further from the truth!
 
My gear is still pretty basic, consisting of the venerable Topping NX1, HTC One M8, and an Asus G73 laptop with Plantronics Rig USB amp. My current favorite earphone is the JVC HA-FXH30. I primarily listen to EDM (liquid drum and bass ftw), hip hop, and classic rock, but have been known to dabble in metal and jazz. While I enjoy a good sounding product, physical design is also key. If they look boring but sound great, that's cool, but I would like to have something interesting to look that is also great sounding. Since I have such an unnecessarily large collection of headphones and earphones, I spend just as much time listening to them as I do enjoying the variety of designs. Luckily, the 99 Classics had no problems nailing my criteria for beauty in both sound and design. Now, to the fun part.
 
*****
 
I flip back the magnetically sealed flap after spending a few moments dissecting the subtle images of the 99 Classics printed on the front and sides of the box. On the inside of the flap I see foam has been glued, preventing the beautifully molded case from being scratched or damaged in any way.
 
I reach into the box and lift out the hard EVA case. It molds to my hands. The leather texture feels premium to the touch, smooth but not slick. The zippers, thick and durable, fluidly move their way around the case, splitting it in two.
 
Tilting back the top half of the case I get my first glimpse of the 99 Classics. They look great in pictures, and even better in the flesh. I lift them out and set them to the side, picking up a small velvet case about the thickness of two hockey pucks. Coiled inside I find two cables, one for mobile use, one for home use. Let's set that aside too. Also inside is an airplane adapter and a 6.35mm adapter. Very nice. I zip up the case and return my gaze to the 99 Classics.
 
Wow, what a glorious looking headphone. My eyes flow from the golden inserts where the cables plug in, across the flawless surface of the wooden ear cups, up to the leather headband that arcs gracefully between the two cups. I could stare at these for hours, but if they sound as good as they look that would be a waste.
 
I plug the cable into each ear cup, lift the 99 Classics onto my head, and let them rest around my ears. Perfect. The weight distributes across my head flawlessly. My ears fit just inside the ear cups, held snug by the memory foam. Now this is comfort.
 
So, what to listen to? Some Crystal Method? I don't think so. Rage Against the Machine? Not quite. Tool? That could be nice, but it doesn't feel quite special enough. Oh! I know. Supertramp's Crime of the Century, one of my favorite albums of all time. That's the perfect choice.
 
I lay down on the couch, lean my head back, close my eyes, and hit 'play'. From the sweet harmonica intro of "School", to the Wurli piano solo in "Bloody Well Right", to the intense journey through jazz, rock, and progressive that is "Rudy", to the closing moments of "Crime of the Century", everything is played without effort. The emotion immaculately portrayed, no detail missed. Bass hits just right. Treble is prominent and sparkles with gusto. Hodgson's voice effortlessly echoes across the soundstage. My smile widens. Let's throw on King Crimson's "Lark's Tongues in Aspic" next...
 
*****
 
That was my intro to the 99 Classics, and an experience that carried over to practically every listening session I had with them. Their natural, slightly warm and mostly balanced sound, supreme comfort, and delicious good looks completely won me over. Not since first listening to the AKG K553 Pro, my primary headphone, was I so pleased.
 
Sound Impressions:
 
Since the K553 Pro was the best headphone I'd heard to date, it was only natural that this review compare the two. Prior to the 99 Classics crossing my path, the K553 Pro met pretty much all my needs. At times I felt they could be a little bright and their sub-bass presentation leaves a bit to be desired since they roll off early, but they offer up lots of detail with clean, smooth mids. As long as you avoid unnecessarily high volume listening, the AKG K553 Pro can be a very pleasant listen.
 
To my surprise I found the 99 Classics and K553 Pro similar in many aspects, though they did differ in some important criteria, those being the areas where I had issues with the AKG. Treble provided just enough shimmer along with lots of detail, and never approached discomfort or sibilance. The 99 Classics don't have quite the same extension as the K553 Pro, but they never felt like they were lacking in any way. Mids were just as clean and clear, handling anything I tossed at them with aplomb. I particularly enjoyed them with male vocals and the lengthy guitar solos you find in many classic rock tracks. Sub-bass met the needs that my AKG K553 Pro fails to address. The 99 Classics have just the right amount of extension and rumble to work with all of my favorite music, something the K553 misses the mark on. Mid-bass is punchy and reasonably quick, never bleeding into the mids. I enjoy the snappy sound of the K553 Pro, but the 99 Classics retains most of that energy while being easier on the ears and more versatile across a variety of genres. I'll chalk that up to their additional warmth and slightly more relaxed treble presentation.
 
Listening to all my favorite tracks again and again was nothing but pleasant, and there really wasn't anything about the 99 Classics that I disliked. They're just a darn good headphone. Every listen was an event, from the time I picked them up to examine their curvaceous design and flawless construction, to the last note played before they were returned to their case.
 
If I were to make any suggestions for improvements, it would have to go to the cables. They look beautiful and feel wonderful, but being cloth-covered meant they could be a bit noisy, and will likely be subject to fraying down the road. Still, this is a VERY minor issue in my opinion, and is pretty much negligible.
 
I can't say much on isolation since they were used only indoors in a relatively quite environment (no way I'm taking a loaner outside!!). That said, they were able to adequately block my lovely fiancee's music and videos, so there's something.
 
Summary:
 
The 99 Classics are my favorite audio device, hands down. The unboxing experience leaves nothing to be desired. Simple but effective. The accessories are of high quality. The headphones themselves are drop dead gorgeous. All that backed by amazing sound quality means the 99 Classics are just a stunningly good piece and worth every penny.
 
Thank you @MezeTeam for giving me the opportunity to try these out, and for exposing me to my new favorite headphone. I'm excited to see what you have in store for us later this year. If you ever run another Canadian tour, I'll be the first to sign up!
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler

Greetings Headfi,
 
Today we are going to take a look at Brainwavz's second new release of 2016, the Xfit XF-200 sports in-ear earphone. Brainwavz has been on a roll this year releasing some affordable new models, starting with the Omega, followed up by the XF-200 and BLU-200 Bluetooth model. I quite enjoyed the Omega, so let's see how the XF-200 stacks up.
 
Disclaimer:
 
The XF-200 was provided by Brainwavz in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. There is no monetary gain for me. I just get to listen to a cool new iem and share my thoughts with the community.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
Like the Omega the XF-200 comes in a fairly standard plastic encasement, plastered with imagery of joggers. Brainwavz is making it very clear who these are intended to be used by. Open the box and slide out the inner plastic tray to be welcomed by a slew of accessories.
 
Brainwavz is giving you some serious value for your $25. You get their excellent hard case, a burly shirt clip, a Velcro strap for wrapping up your earphones, a set of Comply T-400 ear tips, a pair of silicone dual-flange tips, and two sets each of their single flange tips in small, medium, and large. In all, that's 8 pairs of tips. Much better than the three pairs you get with most earphones.
 
Comfort, Design, Isolation:
 
I really like the design of the XF-200. It's quite reminiscent of similar sports offerings from MeeElec and Moxpad, but with it's own flair. The "speed lines" and inset Brainwavz logo are subtle. Even with the black housings, in the right light and at the right angle you can just barely see through the bottom of the housing and catch a glimpse of the driver.
 
Unfortunately, the nice design did not seem to play nicely with my ears and getting a good fit was more of a challenge than I like. Once I finally found a set of tips that provided a good seal, it still took a good bit of twisting and finagling to get the XF-200 into a nice position, especially with my left ear.
 
The built in ear guides I also found pretty unnecessary. They didn't do much to keep the cable behind my ear and ended up creating a ton of noise, especially whenever they rubbed up against my glasses. I would have liked to see Brainwavz install some traditional memory wire, or forego it altogether and include some removable ear guides.
 
I found the XF-200 to isolate pretty well. Slightly above average for a vented dynamic driver.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Microphone and Controls:
 
*Since I didn't notice any significant differences between the mic on the Omega and XF-200, this part might seem a little familiar if you read my review of the Omega.*
 
It's always nice to see a manufacturer include an inline mic with full three-button controls at this price. While call quality was fine, not bad but not amazing either, it's the versatility of this unit that impressed me most.
 
Most inline mic+control setups work with either Android or iDevices, offering only limited functionality in the one it doesn't specialize in. The setup on the XF-200 does it all, offering full use of the three button remote on both mobile platforms. It worked flawlessly controlling my HTC One M8, and could be used to start/stop music, end calls, and skip/scan through tracks. While I didn't get to test call functionality on my iPod Touch, I was able to do everything I could on Android with the added functionality of volume control. Sweet.
 
I also wanted to note that the two raised dots on the centre button made blind-use of the control unit a breeze. Simple, but really effective.
 
Sound Quality:
 
I was actually quite surprised at how much I liked the sound of the XF-200. Getting a good seal was a major challenge, but integral to properly enjoying them. The only stock tips that provided anything close to a good seal were the included dual flanges, but they really nerfed the XF-200's bass output. In the end I swapped out to an ancient pair of large, oddly shaped single flange tips from a pair of near-release Skullycandy Smokin' Buds, before they moved to their more traditional tips with the imprinted Skullycandy logo. With these tips I was able to get a great seal, comfort improved, and the excellent sound quality of the XF-200 was able to shine through.
 
Brainwavz boasts on the box that the XF-200 features crisp, clear, bold sound. I can't argue with that. It's pretty darn accurate. Treble is slightly cold and crispy in it's presentation, and is quite sharp and detailed with solid extension. Compared to the Omega which I found loose and sloppy, the XF-200 is very clean and tight.
 
Mids are reasonably forward, very clear, and detailed. If you are the kind of person that works out to podcasts or vocal only files, the XF-200 will be perfect. I also found that guitars were represented with a realism and grit you hardly ever find at this price point. Sit down and listen to Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain" and you'll get where I'm coming from. Pure bliss. Vocals can come across a little sterile, but it works for the most part with the slightly cold presentation.
 
The XF-200, while not bass-lite in any way, was not anywhere near as bassy as I was expecting after reading other reviews. Mid-bass was toned down quite a bit, which I appreciate, leaving you with excellent sub-bass extension. These 9mm drivers can put out some serious rumble when called upon. Bass was also shockingly quick and nimble, and much more capable than I was expecting. It could handle some of the insanely quick double-bass drum moments you find in a lot of metal songs (Dragonforce represent) that usually leave budget iems a confused mess.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Overall:
 
Once I got past the painful fit issues, the XF-200 surprised me as a very capable earphone. They offered up a reasonably balanced sound, solid build quality, and a very generous pile of accessories which was another plus. There are other earphones that I enjoy more in this sports-focused category, the KZ ZS1 most notably, but I can't think of anything else that gives you such good value for your money when you take into account the full package. Great job Brainwavz!
 
Thanks for reading.
 
- B9Scrambler
 
************************
 
Some test albums:
 
System of a Down - Toxicity
Skindred - Union Black
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Broken Bells - Broken Bells (2010)
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
The Crystal Method - The Crystal method (2014)
Slipknot - The Subliminal Verses: Vol. 1
Evil Nine - They Live
 
Equipment:
 
HTC One M8
Topping NX1
Plantronics Rig USB Amp
 

Greetings Head-fi,
 
Today we are going to be looking at the Omega, a shiny new earphone from the brilliant minds over at Brainwavz.
 
Those who have seen my posts around here may know that I have an unhealthy obsession with micro dynamic drivers (DD). They often share qualities with balanced armature drivers, such as excellent detail and speed, but offer up the realistic bass dynamic drivers seem to specialize in. When I saw that Brainwavz was releasing their own 6mm micro DD, I knew I had to check it out.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Disclaimer:
 
The Omega was provided by Brainwavz in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. There is no monetary gain for me. I just get to listen to a cool new iem and share my thoughts with the community. Win win!
 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
The Omega will run you only $15, and at this price I found the accessories provided pretty generous. The package is a pretty standard plastic box with some clean imagery. On the front you have a picture of the Omega, and on the sides and back some statistics and information. Inside you find the Omega, neatly wrapped with a velcro strap, an instruction sheet, and your spare eartips nicely tucked away in a plastic tray.
 
The silicone eartips, size s/m/l, are the same as those provided with many other Chinese earphones, such as what I receive with purchases from Knowledge Zenith (KZ) or Remax. Decent in quality and fairly comfortable, though a bit stiff. Brainwavz was generous enough to also provide a pair of high quality Comply S-400 foam eartips.
 
Microphone and Controls:
 
It's always nice to see a manufacturer include an inline mic with full controls at this price. While call quality was fine, not bad but not amazing either, it's the versatility that impressed me most.
 
Most inline mic+control setups work with either Android or iPhone, offering only limited functionality in the one it doesn't specialize in. Not the Omega! This setup does it all, offering full use of the three button remote on both mobile platforms. It worked flawlessly controlling my HTC One M8, and could be used to start/stop music, end calls, and skip/scan through tracks. While I didn't get to test call functionality on my iPod Touch, I was able to do everything I could on Android with the added functionality of volume control. Sweet.
 
I also wanted to note that the two raised dots on the centre button make blind-use of the control unit a breeze. Simple, but really effective.
 

---

---

 
Build Quality and Comfort:
 
The Omega is a tiny little thing, no doubt. The 6mm driver definitely had a hand in achieving that. I found them very easy to wear, either cable up or down, equally comfortable in either orientation. When wearing them cable down, microphonics (cable noise) was present, but it was pleasantly minor. Intrusive driver flex was present in the left driver on the other hand. It made critical listening in quiet environments less relaxing than it otherwise should have been.
 
Build quality in general I found to be pretty good. The steel housings are nicely constructed and have a cool industrial feel to them. Strain relief at the y-split and 45 degree angle jack is present and effective. It would have been nice to see more generous strain relief at the housings given the cable above the y-split is pretty thin, but that's really my only area of concern for durability.
 
Sound Quality:
 
So far the Omega is doing an admirable job of giving you a good product for your money. That said, their primary purpose is to play music and sound, so how well do they do this? Good enough, I say.
 
I found the Omega to be a 'good at everything, fail at nothing' type of earphone. They aren't spectacular in any way, but there are no glaring flaws either. At this price point, this style of tuning is extremely smart, in my opinion. Why? Well, you can play pretty much any genre of music and they'll handle it admirably. Since they offer up a v-shaped signature there are some genres they will undoubtedly handle a little better, but for the most part you can toss anything at them and they'll play it without sounding like they're too far out of their comfort zone.
 
Bass on the Omega is strong and punchy, but it can occasionally sound a little flabby. For the most part it's quick and accurate. It is also nicely textured. Mids are pulled back slightly, but very clean and clear. I was pretty impressed with how the Omega displayed vocals, and they always sounded pleasant and were never overshadowed by other frequencies. Treble presentation is where I was least pleased with the Omega. It is too splashy and uncontrolled for my liking, and as a result I found imaging a little inaccurate. Still perfectly acceptable for the cost, but there are other iems in the price range, and less, that do a better job with treble.
 
I found tossing on some wide bore tips helped clean up the overall sound and made the Omega slightly more balanced. Something to keep in mind if you find them a little too bassy with the stock tips.
 

---

 

---

 
Some Brief Comparisons:
 
vs. Piston 3.0
 
I found the Pistons to be more balanced and smoother sounding. They also had a larger soundstage and better positioning. The lack of treble peaks and slightly lesser detail of the Pistons made them slightly less engaging, but also easier to listen to for longer periods.
 
vs. Panasonic RP-TCM125
 
The TCM125 places even greater emphasis on the low end than the Omegas. Despite this, their bass still seemed snappier and more accurate. Where the Omegas took a clear step forward was in the treble which was much more detailed and prominent, though not as smooth, making the TCM125 sound somewhat woolly. Mids were surprisingly similar with upper mids on the TCM125 being slightly more forward.
 
vs. KZ HDS1
 
The HDS1 were notably more balanced with the Omega sounding exaggerated in the bass and treble. The HDS1 sound slightly more concentrated than the Omega but this works with their more impressive layering and separation. Again, the Omegas sounded a little rough around the edges with the HDS1 providing a smoother more refined sound, though I preferred the texture and umph the Omega provided in the lower frequencies. Sub-bass extension on the Omega was much more engaging, as the HDS1 focuses more on mid-bass.
 
Overall Thoughts:
 
Brainwavz did a great job with the Omega. They're not the best sounding earphone in class, but they are enjoyable to listen to and are quite versatile across a wide variety of music. You get a solid accessories package, good build quality, and a very useful inline mic and control setup for your money.
 
Thank you Brainwavz for giving me the opportunity to review the Omega. I think you've got a winner on your hands.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
***********************************************************************************
 
Equipment:
 
HTC One M8
Topping NX1
Plantronics Rig Amp
 
Some Test Albums:
 
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
King Crimson - Red
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Crystal Method - The Crystal Method (2014)
BT - This Binary Universe
High Contrast - The Agony and the Ecstasy
Asian Dub Foundation - Tank
Felt - A Tribute to Christina Ricci
Jethro Tull - Aqualung