Babble:

Disclaimer: I am not endorsed by Dekoni Audio for this review. I did not pay for this product being the nature of a product tour. All I wrote are my honest thoughts on the product.

First off, a big thank you to Dekoni Audio for the opportunity of being a part of the tour. In this tour, I get to demo a pair of the Dekoni Audio Blue for a week along with a Fostex HP-A4BL DAC/amp. This is my first time being a part of a tour for any headphone, so I’m very excited and thankful!

I haven’t actually heard many T50RP mods even with the abundant companies that mod them and guides to mod them. I did work on a mod on a T50RP MKIII but had no idea what I was doing and sold them long before I really got into modding. Other than that, the other T50RP mods I’ve listened to are the MrSpeakers Alpha Dog and ZMF Ori.

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Preface:

So I guess as an "about my preferences", I like a warmer sound signature though I don’t like too much mid-bass emphasis. I do like some emphasis in the sub-bass however. I generally like the 2-5 kHz range to be a bit laid-back - helps vocals and overall timbre to sound more warm and natural (or at least to me). I find emphasis in this area to make vocals sound shouty and unnatural. I really dislike being drilled by any sorts of sharp peaks in the treble. So basically, a bit warm and smooth.

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Specs:

• Driver: Planar magnetic, same driver used on the T50RP MK3
• Impedance: 50 ohms
• Weight: 320 grams
• Sensitivity: 92 db/mW (more on that below)
• Frequency Response: 15Hz - 35kHz
• Maximum Input: 3000 mW
• Cable: 2m or about 6.5ft, terminated into a 6.3mm/1/4” jack, comes with an adapter for 3.5mm compatible devices

Alright so the sensitivity listed here is 92db/mW at 1kHz with 1mW, that means these have the same identical sensitivity listed on the T50RP MK3. However, the sensitivity should be much lower because of the added distance from the earpads. I would think the sensitivity would be from 87-90db/mW. I would recommend a beefy amp to power these things.



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Build:

It feels like a T50RP. Actually, there seems to be a bit of heft here in comparison to a stock T50RP. Probably just from the earpads. It has a nice weight to them, and may or may not survive a few drops.



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Isolation/Leakage:

These are semi-open as with the original T50RP MK3 in that only the bottom vents are opened. I believe the T20RP MK3 has both top and bottom vents opened and the T40RP MK3 has no vents. The Blue muffle sounds a bit but you’ll still hear your surroundings. These do leak quite a bit because of the semi-open design.

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Fit & Finish:

These are, of course, infinitely more comfortable than a stock T50RP with its thick earpads. The surface that actually touches the side of your head is a type of velour (with the provided angled hybrid and “flat” earpads). The headband seems to have a bit of cushion which I don’t remember being on the stock T50RP - it has been a while since I last owned a T50RP, so I don’t remember if it’s the same headband. It does develop a bit of a hotspot on the top of my head. They don’t feel too heavy on my head and the earpads are very comfortable. Clamping force is light but adequate for a good seal which is probably helped immensely by the thick earpads.

The headband yoke is now coated black which I find to be a handsome and welcomed change. The earcups are now blue as the name of the model would imply - it’s like a “70s diner” kind of blue; I like it.





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Sound:

For the majority of this review, I used the provided Fostex HP-A4BL for no EQ and my Gustard H10 for EQ (as it can push more power when I lower the pre-amp). I primarily used the “flat” velour Dekoni pads provided with no EQ.

Unfortunately, I’m going to sound very critical from here on out.

First Impressions (same with both pads):

• Midrange is very recessed and overall sound is uneven
• Bass doesn’t extend well into the sub-bass, rumbles are non-existent
• Bass is very boomy but doesn’t have much “weight” to them
• Treble is fairly bright and gets fatiguing after a short while
• Not very detailed nor clear throughout. Muffled sounding
• Overall, unnatural sounding.

Now, my thoughts are more or less the same.



Bass:

The bass here is very odd. These do not extend low very well. I do not hear/feel any rumbling or feel the “weight” or impact of each note - as some sort of reference, I find adequate “weight” or “body” with a linear or slightly raised response going from 100-20 Hz. On the contrary, these have a BIG mid-bass emphasis that creeps up into the midrange. What’s odd to me is that it sounds very bloated andthin at the same time. It’s weird, I know. The overall response of the bass is uneven which I find makes acoustic drums sound unnatural. It kinda works for EDM with the mid-bass bump but again, don’t expect any rumbling or a good ‘hearty’ bass.

Overall, I don’t like the bass response. It sounds bloated and is not well-rounded. I am led to believe that these were not damped incredibly well or at all.

Midrange:

The midrange sounds very recessed. This is partly due to the big mid-bass hump and also, I believe, from added distance given by the thick earpads. Guitars and vocals sound very distant and congested. The response here is not very detailed nor resolving - most likely masked by the heightened bass and treble response.

Overall, I don’t like the midrange response relative to the bass and treble response. Vocals are muffled and details that fall within this range are either masked or blurred.

Treble:

The response here is elevated and fairly harsh. The headphones are fairly bright, and it does get fatiguing over a short period of time. It is very unforgiving, so poorly recorded/mastered tracks will sound unpleasant here. The sense of immediate detail here seems good with its heightened treble response. However, it’s not a very pleasing response as it sounds way too bright and fatiguing.

Overall, I can’t say I like the treble response here. It does not compliment the midrange well, is sibilant and harsh, and isn’t very pleasing.

Soundstage/imaging:

These don’t sound particularly wide. Instrument separation is ok for the most part - I say for the most part because the mid-bass bloat seems to congest and blur the localization of instruments a bit. On that note, imaging is just ok.

I illustrated what the soundstage would “look like” below:



Pad differences:

Simply put, the angled hybrid pads give a brighter tone. Vocals are a bit more forward on the angled hybrid pads. Otherwise, there were no sonic differences that I noticed.

I actually have stock T50RP MK3 pads on hand, and uhh.. I like the sound with these more.. It’s a lot more balanced. Measurements in the link below.



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Measurements

EQ:

These don’t take EQ particularly well. I’m getting audible distortion bumping up the lower registers (<30 Hz) even while lowering the pre-amp - I think this may be the driver reaching its limits. The midrange and treble are just screwy.

It still doesn’t sound very good but here’s my EQ as of writing this:

Pre-amp: -8db

• 30 Hz: +4 db, Q: 1, peak filter
• 50 Hz: +4 db, low-shelf filter
• 70 Hz: +2 db, low-shelf filter
• 115 Hz: -5 db, Q: 1.5, peak filter
• 300 Hz: -8 db, low-shelf filter
• 375 Hz: -4 db, Q: 1.5, peak filter
• 700 Hz: +4 db, low-shelf filter
• 2000 Hz: +2 db, Q: 1, peak filter
• 2750 Hz: -4 db, Q: 2.5, peak filter
• 3000 Hz: -6 db, high shelf filter
• 4000 Hz: -4 db, high shelf filter
• 4400 Hz: -3 db, Q: 4.32, peak filter

Alright some of the settings seem counter-intuitive or redundant but that’s just what I got. Measurements in the link above, at the bottom of the album.

I keep the pre-amp fairly low since I have a couple songs that still manage to peak the clipping meter.

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Conclusion/TL;DR:

To sum up, I did not like the Dekoni Audio Blue. The odd bass response, recessed midrange, and the harsh treble all add up to an unpleasant listening experience. It is not very resolving nor detailed overall - everything just sounds blurred and congested. At the price of 199 USD new, I am disappointed to say that I cannot recommend these. There are competitors that are better below or at that price point. It seems these headphones are marketed to those who wanna dip their toes in planar magnetic headphones, but I’d recommend an HE-400i or HE-4XX for that. Hell, those cost less than the Blue right now! I daresay that I like a stock T50RP MK3 more than the Dekoni Audio Blue, comfort aside.

As for a suggestion, I would like the mid-bass to be dampened and have better extension, the midrange ironed out (for a less jagged response), and the treble to be smoothed out. I think the frequency response will be better with thinner earpads. These definitely need a re-tuning. The modder in me really wants to take a crack at it but this is just a demo unit so I can’t

Please let me know if I made any grammatical errors!

First off, thanks to Pandora of Brainwavz for sending these out to me for a review. These were sent to me last year and I finally got around to finishing the review now. I’ve written some of this review over a year ago. I have no excuses really, so I’m very sorry about that!

Intro:
I love music.

My Biases:
I tend to lean towards bright headphones. I generally don’t like emphasis around the 4-5 kHz area. My playlist consists mostly of J-pop, female vocalists, electronic, and hip-hop. Think of what you will. Female vocals are my thing. My make-it or break-it’s are vocals and treble. Too harsh or dull = nope.

Onto the review!


Information on Specs, microphone & remote, and included accessories were copied and pasted from Brainwavz Audio’s website.

Features:

• Tuned for clear sound with well-defined bass.
• Special crafted drivers, with high purity copper and feather light diaphragm.
• Made with aircraft grade metal.
• 3 Button microphone & remote, compatible with iPhone & Android.

Specifications:

• Drivers : Dynamic, 8 mm
• Rated Impedance : 32 Ω
• Frequency Range : 12 Hz ~ 22 kHz
• Sensitivity : 110 dB @ 1 mW
• Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold-Plated
• Cable : Braided 1.3 m OFC Copper
• Remote & Mic: 3 Button, Apple & most Android phones compatible

Multi-Function 3 Button Microphone & Remote:

• Supports Apple iOS & Android Products
• Phone Call Control
• Audio Player Control
• Volume Control
• Supports TRRS Connector

Included Accessories:

• Earphone Hard case
• 6 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)
• 1 set of Comply Foam Tips T-400
• 1 Shirt Clip
• Velcro Cable Tie
• Instruction Manual & Warranty Card (24 month warranty)

Compatibility for 3.5 mm Jack:
iPods, iPhones, iPads, MP3 Players, Computer & Laptops & Other Audio Devices




First Impressions

• Very bassy
• Slightly reminiscent of the HD650 in signature
• Mild bass bleed
• Good for lower volumes
• Lack of immediate detail
• Slightly recessed mids
• Sounds like the music is being played in a cavern
• Driver flexing

Bulid/Design:
Brainwavz claims that these were “delicately crafted from aircraft grade metal”. They definitely look and feel very durable. I’m thinking that it’s hard-plastic though the housings don’t feel cheap. I definitely dig the matte black finish.



The strain relief from the housing feels flexible and durable.
The 3.5mm connection is a 45 degree angle jack. Very thick and supple strain relief.



The cable seems to be twisted. To me, it looks like the cables within were twisted and then the sleeves were heat shrunk onto the cables. Of course, this is just what it looks like to me; it feels very high quality though. It feels very durable and microphonics are low. Doesn’t seem to tangle which is a huge plus. The Y-split is chunky but light. Very good!




The 3-button remote is very effective. Clicky and somewhat easy to find the buttons with the 2 bumps over the middle button. One click plays and pauses the music, two clicks changes to next track, and three clicks to previous track.



All in all, I really like the stealth matte black design throughout the IEM. The supple strain reliefs from the housings and the connection are great!


Isolation/Fit:

I used the sony tips on these. They fit very well although maybe a bit of fiddling around to get the nozzle right. Once in, they’re very comfortable - not heavy on the ears.

I’d say the isolation is great. Once the volume is moderate (say about 30 on my LG V20), it isolates pretty much everything.



Sound:

Bass: A bit bloated and boomy while reaching a bit too much into the midrange. Not very articulate nor tight like a blob of bass. However, it does seem to extend deep into the sub-bass with a good amount of emphasis. Overall though, the bass is a bit too much and inarticulate.

Mids: Seems to be shadowed and congested with the bass bloat. Not very detailed either. There does seem to be a bump around 4 kHz which I don’t really appreciate. I guess the word I’m looking for is plasticky? It makes vocals sound unnatural. Overall, unengaging and a bit boring.

Treble: Not very articulate and seems to be heavily smoothed and/or rolled off. On the bright side, no harshness; on the not-so-bright side, no sense of space nor detail. Cymbals lack definition and realism. Air? Forget about it.

Soundstage/Imaging: Erm, not wide nor precise at all. Hard to pinpoint any instruments at all as it’s all like a blur. If I had to put it nicely, it would be “intimate”. If I were to put it critically, I’d say it’s like a blob of sound in your head and even that sounds like a compliment.


Conclusion:

Well, I wanted to like these. Great sturdy construction in its housings and cable, but overall it falls flat on sound. It’s lifeless, boring, and just not a joy to listen to. At its current price of $89.50 on Amazon, I just cannot recommend it.



Sources: LG V20

Some songs that I used:

• MrFijiWiji - Yours Truly (Jikes Remix)
• Kaede Takagaki (Saori Hayami) - Koi Kaze (Love Wind/Love Storm)
• Mai Fuchigami (Karen Hojo) - -Hakka- Hakka (Peppermint)
• Maaya Sakamoto - Dive ft. Gontiti
• Nao Hiiragi - Requiem
• Tech N9ne - Fortune Force Field
• Joe Hisaishi - The Tatara Women Work Song
• Priscilla Ahn - Fine on the Outside
• Yosi Horikawa - Bubbles

First off, thanks to Pandora from Brainwavz for reaching out and offering the opportunity to look at the "Jive".
 
Secondly, I noticed a trend that I'm giving 4 stars to everything I've reviewed so far haha. Am I too forgiving or too harsh? I don't even know!
 
Intro:
Still trying to get this "intro" part right, but basically I love music and headphones/IEMs. Definitely not an audiophile in any means, but I don't think that disqualifies me from being able to tell whether or not I like a headphone or not (I mean I hope not haha).
 
I listen to a little bit of everything, but my playlist consists mostly of Pop, Punk, J-Pop/J-Rock, Electronic, and Hip-Hop.
 
Onto the review!
 

 

 

Information on Specs, microphone & remote, and included accessories were copied and pasted from Brainwavz Audio’s website.

 

Specifications:

1. Drivers : Dynamic, 9 mm
2. Rated Impedance : 16 Ω
3. Frequency Range : 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
4. Sensitivity : 98 dB @ 1 mW
5. Rated Input Power : 20 mW
6. Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold-Plated
7. Cable : 1.3 m, Copper

 

Microphone & Remote:

1. Phone Call Control
2. Audio Player Control
3. 3-Button Remote
4. Supports TRRS Connector
5. Supports Apple iOS and Android Devices

 

Included Accessories:

1. Earphone Hardcase (wide)
2. 3 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)
3. 1 set of Comply Foam Tips S-400
4. 1 Shirt Clip
5. Velcro Cable Tie
6. Instruction Manual
7. Warranty Card (24 month warranty)

 

 

 
First Impressions Notes:
-Driver flex
-Bassy, somewhat harsh in the upper mids section
-Dry midrange
-Sweet hardshell carrying case
 
Build/Design:
Brainwavz claims that they are made out of “high quality metal”. The shiny finish seems to give off the look that they are metal, but they feel like hard plastic to me. I don’t mind, but they still look nice. These don’t stick out of my ears much and they haven’t fallen out of my ears yet once I’ve inserted them; but then again I like to insert IEMs deeper into the canal. I like the added cable cinch to help with tangling though it only goes up until the microphone. The strain relief between the housing and the cable seems to be very stiff though. Also, the color "blue" seems to be off.. I don't think I'm color blind but these look more purple in person than blue.
 

 

 
Cable: 
The cable feels slightly rubberized and thick enough to not feel cheap. Even at that, I did not experience much microphonics if there were any at all. The Y-splitter is a great balance between being light weight and durable. The lower half of the cable is thicker and terminates into a 45 degree angle 3.5mm plug.
 

 

 

 
3-Remote Microphone:
NOTE: I have contacted Brainwavz about the 3-button remote as I think I got the IOS version; I was told that the 3-button remote works for both Android and IOS. It does not work on my Sony Xperia Z3V and so I will not be able to fully review the 3-button remote. 
The middle button works as a play and pause button. There is also a volume up and down on it, but those unfortunately did not work during use.
 

 

 
 
Isolation/Fit:
Upon insertion, I can hear quite of bit of driver flexing where it sounds like something is crinkling inside of the IEMs. I don’t seem to see any ports on the housings so I’m assuming that’s the reason to why there is quite a bit of driver flexing. As for isolation, these isolate very well. I used these in the kitchen the other day and only barely hearing the water running from the sink. I did use them at a fairly high listening level (say like 75%-85% on my phone) so that definitely played a role. As a reference, these isolated quite a bit better than my ATH-CKR10. These fit snugly into my ears with the provided medium tips. I did not experience any discomfort at all.
 

 

 
 
Sound:
Note: These have been burned in for about 40 hours. I think this is a necessary step for some IEMs, but since it’s for a review I do it anyway.
 
Bass: Quite elevated and extends down low quite well. I could definitely feel the rumble of the sub-bass and the bass gives a satisfying amount of authority in the music. Although at times I found it a touch too much energy. It’s great for electronic, hip-hop, rock, and pop; but I found the mid-bass to be a bit too prominent for my liking though. It’s fun at times and at other times, I find myself making faces at how the bass is too strong.
 
Mids: I think it’s a bit recessed in the lower half, but gradually rises giving this sense of “shimmer” in female vocals. I find this similar to how Audio Technica usually voices their headphones, though in return some could find it somewhat harsh, nasal, and unnatural sounding. If you know me, I really like how Audio Technica sounds especially in the mids so I don’t mind this as much. 
 
Treble: Somewhat smooth and maybe a touch recessed in the high treble. I wish there was a little more clarity in the treble without crossing the lines of being sibilant and speaking of which I did not find these to be sibilant. I didn’t find them to be very veiled sounding, but I wished it extended a little more as well. If you’re that person who found the HD600 veiled, then uhh.. you probably would think these are also veiled sounding. 
 
Soundstage:
There’s a decent amount of separation, but not nearly as much width to back it up. It’s not going to take you to a different planet, that’s for sure. Leave that to speakers.
 
Conclusion:
For 25 bucks (at the moment on Amazon), I think it’s a great deal. A consumer friendly sound fitted in a durable and light package with a remote (if you get it working) as a bonus with a hardshell carrying case, it's really hard not to like these!
 

 
Sources:
Sony Xperia Z3V
320 kbps MP3 and FLAC files
 
Some of the songs used:
MrFijiwiji - Yours Truly (JIKES Remix)
One Ok Rock - Jibun Rock
Lady Gaga - Paparazzi
Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
Eminem ft. Lil Wayne - No Love
Eagles - Hotel California
Nami Tamaki - Reason
Joe Hisashi - The Legend of A****aka

First off, thanks to Brainwavz for reaching out and offering the opportunity to look at their BLU-200 model of bluetooth IEMs. 
 
Intro:
Still trying to get this "intro" part right, but basically I love music and headphones/IEMs. Definitely not an audiophile in any means, but I don't think that disqualifies me from being able to tell whether or not I like a headphone or not (I mean I hope not haha).
 
I listen to a little bit of everything, but my playlist consists mostly of Pop, Punk, J-Pop/J-Rock, Electronic, and Hip-Hop.
 
Onto the review!
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Specifications:

1. Transducers/Drivers: Dynamic, 9.2mm
2. Rated Impedance: 16ohms Closed Dynamic
3. Sensitivity: 96dB at 1mW
4. Frequency range: 20 ~ 20000Hz
5. Bluetooth 4.0 (CSRBC8645) with aptX
6. Operation max distance: 30ft (10m)
7. Battery: 60mAh - 4hrs playtime, 100hrs standby, 2hrs for full charge (Micro USB charging)
8. CVC echo and noise cancellation
9. Supports voice prompt for MMI: Power on / Paring / Connecting / Battery low / Power off
10. Supports HFP, HSP and A2DP
11. Supports pairing with two devices at the same time
12. 3 button remote, works with Apple iOS products, Android & Windows phones & PC

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Accessories: 
Good amount of accessories. Awesome case by the way! I bought one just for one of my other IEMs!
 
They included:

1. A hard-shell case
2. 3 sets of silicone eartips (S, M, L)
3. 1 set of medium Comply Foam Tips S-400
4. 1 pair of ear hooks
5. Micro USB charging cable
6. Instruction Manual
7. Warranty Card

 

 

 
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Build/Design: 
The housings feel solid and the cable is rubberized and flat. I didn’t notice any cable noise when wearing them with the cable in front.
As for design, the housings are quite big and they do stick out of your ears quite a bit. Actually more than quite a bit, you look like frankenstein. Though they do stick out of your ears a lot, they haven’t fallen out of my ears once when walking around and about. 
The cable cinch is a nice touch to prevent the cable from bouncing around. The strain relief between the cable and the housings is kind of lackluster though. 
 
    
 
For the mic, the buttons are nice and clicky. There’s 3 buttons for volume up and down, and for playing and pausing. The play and pause button also works to hang and end calls. I had someone on the other side when testing the mic. The other person said that they could hear me fine even when moving the cable to simulate the bouncing of the cable when you walk. The other person didn’t note any cable noise. They also weren’t weighing down my ears either (although you’re asking someone who has no problem with the ATH-CKR10 hanging from the side of his ears so... YMMV).
You can charge the IEM with the included cable on the right earpiece. There’s a flap to open the back of the right side with the bluetooth symbol. I can verify that any (and by any I mean the cable that came with my tablet) micro usb charger will charge them too although I don’t know if I would do so. I don’t want to accidentally fry them with my tablet charger. 
 
  
 
_________________________________________________________________
 
Isolation/Fit:
They block out noise very well. Probably a little too well if you want to be aware of your surroundings. I used spinfit tips as the provided tips took a bit of effort to have the sound actually shoot into my ear canals and not be muffled up against my ears. It seems like the provided tips are good for shallow fit but since I like a deeper fit, the spinfit tips help me with that (not a sponsor of Spinfit). With spinfit tips, I got a good seal and fit. I could get a good seal and fit with the provided tips as well but they take a bit more adjusting in my experience.
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Connectivity:
Bluetooth. Claims of a range of 30 feet. I don’t know if it was thirty feet but I did walk out of my room with them connected to my phone and across the kitchen and living room into another room and finally had some cut outs then. I would estimate it to be over 30 feet. 
 

 
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Battery Life:
Brainwavz claim a battery life of 4 hours. I found this to be spot on. I had them playing on 50% on my Sony Xperia Z3V and a bit over 25% when having them in my ears (2 hours with each listening levels). Oh, did I mention they get pretty loud? Cause they do. I get a comfortable listening level around 25-40%. But uhh, battery life is kind of low so be sure to charge them each time you use them. Brainwavz claim charging time is 2 hours. I haven’t tested that as uhh it’s kind of tedious to look at the LED light that lets you know whether they’re still charging or not. The LED light is above the + button on the mic piece. Honestly it took me a while to find it.
 

 
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Sound:
These are bass heavy. Surprisingly enough, vocals still come through clearly possibly with the help of a slight boost in the lower treble/upper mids which helps voices be intelligible. Definitely a v-shaped sound signature.
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Bass
I believe this is main reason why I couldn’t listen to them very loudly as the bass literally thump your eardrums. I found the subbass to be a bit lacking. I didn’t really feel the rumble I get out of my ATH-CKR10. The bass is a bit loose and boomy as well. All that said, I could do with the bass toned down a bit but I think a bass head will appreciate them a lot more than I do.
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Mids 
Male vocals sound recessed and a bit overshadowed because of the stronger bass. Guitars sound a bit muffled and lack a bit of clarity and sound a bit compressed. Female vocals sound decent though. Because of that little boost in the lower treble/upper mids, female vocals sound a lot less recessed compared to male vocals. 
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Treble
Surprisingly smooth but maybe even recessed after the slight boost in the upper mids/lower treble. I didn’t experience any harshness although it’s probably because I don’t have the volume high enough to experience such because of the strong bass response. Perfect for an easy-going listen (except for the strong bass of course) but not-so-perfect if you want clear and realistic cymbal crashes.
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Soundstage 
Not very wide and kind of below average for an IEM. Definitely an “in-your-head” kind of experience.
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Conclusion: 
They’re good, but not amazingly so. I really like the build, fit, mic, cable, and the accessories package on the BLU-200. The sound while ok, isn’t completely terrible at all especially considering that they’re bluetooth and they’re going for 55 bucks. Some things that I would like to see in possible updated models include a longer battery life, possibly a thicker strain relief, and a much more controlled and tight bass.
 

 
Sources:
Sony Xperia Z3V
320kbps mp3 and FLAC files

Intro:
 
I'm not all too technical about sound (which explains only the bass/mid/treble; I still need to add my thoughts on soundstage though). It's pretty much whether I like a product or I don't. Pictures may come.
 
I listen to a little bit of everything but more so in Pop, J-Rock/J-Pop, Electronic, and Hip-Hop.
 
This time around, I do like this product.
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Build/Design:
 
Decent. But of course nothing spectacular. Plastic housings seem sturdy enough and cable although thin doesn't seem like they will break on you. They have a bit of cable noise though.
The cable is long enough for my needs (since I'm really short). Taller people may find the cable to be a lot shorter than what they would like.
Really like the right angle jack, it has a nice strain relief though the strain relief on the earpieces leaves a little bit to be desired. At least there IS some sort of relief to the earpieces.
 
As for design, meh. Looks like any other earbud. I like the mic though I don't use it unfortunately. It works for playing and pausing my music though which is nice (Android phone).
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Fit:
 
Excellent! They fit my ears extremely well having not fallen out even once even with lots of head movement. They are very comfortable with and without the foams.
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Isolation:
 
FORGET ABOUT IT. Not faulted because earbuds offer no isolation as is.

Sound:
 
Very good. I've tried the Venture Electronics' offerings and will have brief comparisons of them at a later time (when I'm not lazy). They seem to be ever-so-slightly mid focused although that doesn't mean they sound nasal or very congested. Vocals don't necessarily sound very realistic though but that's kind of nitpicking at this price.
The bass is there but of course will never become fatiguing nor will really satisfy you, but it's not non-existent. Very bass light. A good seal does give you a bit of thump so be sure to get a good seal.
The treble is fairly laid back. Great for long listening, but music doesn't sound really engaging nor does it give it the feeling that it sounds big.
All in all, they sound ever-so-slightly warm with a slight focus on the mids.
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Conclusion:
 
I think it's a great first offering and really like how they really stay in your ears even with lots of head movement. Sound does leave just a little bit to be desired but then again you're paying like 10 bucks.
 
Sources: Sony Xperia Z3V
 
Also, please do leave feedback on how I can improve on my reviews. Telling me that I suck isn't helping me improve 8C

I have typed up this review @audio-technica.com a few months back and I thought I should also put it here. 

First, I would like to apologize for my very vague description of the sound (and "flowery" language) and also please don't kill me with your potential comments of hate. Thanks! 

I guess I should also mention that this is my first review of a headphone product excluding the review I made for the IE800 knock offs I bought from Aliexpress. I clearly did not say that those sounded better than the Etymotic HF5, but hey if that's what the seller thought I said then so be it.

Also, I'll try to add some pictures later.

Also failed to mention that I got these from Best Buy. IN 2014! These were an open box pair that was in mint condition except for the box which was extremely beat up; almost didn't believe the headphones themselves were mint until I opened them up at home. All I know is that this is one of my better purchases. Maybe with a slight buyer's remorse but anywho.

Funny story about my ESW9 @ Best Buy:

I saw these hanging in a box that has probably been mauled by a honey badger on a little hanger thing around the corner of the headphones section and I had to walk back and forth past it to make sure I was actually seeing a pair of ESW9 in person. And at this time, I didn't have a smartphone to look up anything about them so I ran to their laptop section and looked up on some reviews on Head-Fi. I skimmed through maybe 2 or 3 reviews and made an internal "HNNNNNNNNNNNNG" hesitation noise but ended up with the ESW9 in a plastic Best Buy bag and my wallet 200 dollars lighter. Twas a very thought out researching process of purchasing headphones. Anywho, onto the intro.

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Intro:

I don't have much to say about myself except that I love headphones and am not an audiophile (which is pretty much a cliche now but I'll say it anyway), and so I'll get right to the review.

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Accessories:
Very minimal, comes with just a soft pouch to protect scratches. I would've like to see at least a hard-shell case. especially the given price-point.

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Build/Design:
The wooden earcups are quite a beauty and along with the low profile, it is a winner in my book. Though I can't say the same about the build. I have used these for about 8 months now and though no major issues have occurred yet, there is a bit of creaking when twisting the earcups to fold flat. The cable also seems to very thin, which at first I thought them to be practical because almost no cable noise occurred, but after getting them caught on a few things, it worries me.

Head-Fi Additional Note: If you don't like how these wooden cups look, you're obviously lying behind your 300 dollar Beats 'cause let's face it: These are sexy.

 



More pictures in spoilers:

Spoiler: More Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 


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Isolation/Fit:
It fits my big head quite nicely. The top of the headband is very plush and easy on the head. The earpads however hurt my ears after about 30 minutes of listening; this can be easily fixed by twisting the earcups a bit outwards but also lets in more noise. Going onto isolation, the isolation is decent at higher volumes. These will not totally block out noise if you're in a busy commute, but for those who want to hear their surroundings just a bit might find this nice.

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Sound:
If I had to describe a picture for the sound, it would be like laying on a couch with a blanket and sitting by the fireplace in the winter. I don't know how someone else might take that but the sound was very unique and excellent to my ears.
The bass is warm with a nice body and punch to them (Head-Fi Edit: Maybe a few notches down from having bombastic bass; or to put it simply: DAYUM DAT BASS IS NICE).
The mids stand out a little more but rarely ever gets harsh. It's very addictive and lush. Some say that it sounds "creamy" though I don't really know what that means (Head-Fi Edit: DAYUM DEM MIDS THO). A bit too nasal for male vocals, but perfect for female vocals.
The treble is slightly behind all of the action, though it never sounded very congested or narrow in soundstage. So, the headphones are not harsh in the treble region. Perfect for those who are sensitive to sibilance (Head-Fi Edit: PURTY GOOD TREBLE, BRUH in the way how it's not harsh, but it does lose out on detail on cymbal crashes).

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Overall:
I really like these for its very addictive sound signature and for its low profile yet dashing looks. It gives off a very "gentleman" kind of look. I only wished it came with possibly extra earpads and maybe removable cables.

 

Head-Fi Additional Note: 

Source: Xperia Z3V, Fiio Andes E07K

Files: Flac, MP3s

Music Genres (Mainly of the following): Original Soundtracks, J-Rock, J-Pop, Pop, Hip-Hop

 

Songs I quickly listened for a quick impression:

 

I feel the best song played through my ESW9 is the track "Extraterrestrial Biological Entities" by EGOIST. It's a Japanese pop song (or at least I think it's pop), and it just sounds extremely emotional, especially when the singer hits the high notes @1:15 in the song in the spoilers below. Totally teared up on my first ever listen with that track.

Spoiler: Youtube - Extraterrestrial Biological Entities

Others songs:
 
Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta (320kbps mp3) (Hip-hop): Bass hits very low, his voice sounds a bit overshadowed by the bass and congested, micro-details are quite hard to hear unless if you really listen for them
 
Noisycell - Innocence (Flac) (J-Pop/Rpck): Definitely not the ESW9's strongsuit, male vocals sound very congested, micro-details almost non-existent, guitars could sound a little more crisp
 
Chiaki Ishikawa - Uninstall (Flac) (J-Pop): Female vocals sound beautiful, electric guitar (or some guitar that plays on the left side) doesn't sound very detailed but it's enough to make you go, "Oh hey, that's nice and smooth", love to just lay down and listen to this with eyes closed
 
Aimer - Starringchild (Flac) (J-Pop) (One of my all time favorite songs):  Could sound a little more spacious;  Again, female vocals are intimate and just amazing; details hard to make out as the vocals are really brought forward during the chorus; not my favorite track to listen with the ESW9; BUT FROM 2:45 TO 3:07 - VOCALS SOUND VERY INTIMATE AND JUST TEAR-JERKING WORTHY OR SOMETHING
 
ONE OK ROCK - Memories (Flac) (Rock): Once again, not open enough for my tastes, this time the male vocals sound a bit distant and nasal, and pushed back a bit by the low notes from the guitars, guitars sound a bit sloppy as in not detailed
 
ONE OK ROCK - Heartache (Flac) (Acoustic-rock-slow-something): Male vocals sound congested/nasal, but since this song is a lot slower than "Memories", high notes sound very nice and bare-able but only in those few seconds, micro-details hard to make out
 
Journey - Don't Stop Believing (Flac) (Pop?): I got the remastered version and so there is just enough spaciousness to get a feel for the stereo-ness.. thing, bass drums sound full, vocals sound nice - as the male singer's voice is higher-pitched than the usual male voice, electric guitars near the end sound nice - again it isn't amazing but it's like a plus or extra credit (horrible description :L)
 
Adele - Rolling in the Deep (Flac) (Pop; I think): Drums have a nice kick and almost like air resonating between each hit, Adele just sound amazing (NO OTHER WORDS), Head-bobbing initiates at high volumes (That's all I can say)
 
Kiyoura Natsumi - Tabi no Tochuu (Flac) (J-Pop) - Extremely sibilant track (could be because of horrible mastering but I have no idea) BUT the ESW9 saves this track, Her voice is something else - it's just something you have to hear to know what it sounds like - just fantastic, bass could be toned down a little though, didn't notice micro-details such as the sounds of climbing wooden steps when I could in other headphones
 
Masuda Toshio - Hihamu Kage (320kbps) (Soundtrack): Amazing mastering, Sounds very full when the meat of the song kicks in, the gong could sound more detailed, BUT STILL BOBBING MY HEAD
 
 
Take these impressions with a grain of salt 'cause who knows, maybe you'll like the ESW9 with fast paced rock with screaming guitars.
 
In conclusion: Great for slow female vocals, pop, certain soundtracks, and that one song: Extraterrestrial Biological Entities 
 
If these headphones were made for one song, they would be made for the song Extraterrestrial Biological Entities.