Disclaimer:  I would like to sincerely thank Salsera and Brainwavz for providing the sample R3 version 2.0 (R3v2) for this review.
 
For most of my audio listening “career”, I was never a big fan of in-ear-monitors (IEMs) or earphone/earbuds, tending to prefer more traditionally designed portable and full sized headphones.  The major issues I had were trying to find the right positioning, fit, and seal to obtain the optimal sound quality.  I could never seem to find the right position for the housings to stay in so the tips could stay sealed so the music could sound good so I resigned myself to sticking to headphones.
 
Then a while back I received a set of Brainwavz R3 earphones as a gift when I ordered an iBasso DX50.  Their design was a bit unconventional but I found them to be an enjoyable introduction to the newer styles and design philosophies of modern IEMs.  I managed to get them to fit in my ears without them wanting to fall out.  They came with more ear tips (of multiple designs and materials) than I had ever seen including some that actually fit!  Finally, along with the fit and seal came a sound was head and shoulders above what I experience before...approaching the level of quality headphones.  It was enough to open my eyes to the potential sound quality of in-ear phones being made today.
 
The one thing the original R3s had that the other IEMs (I saw) didn’t have was memory wire.  It was mentioned on the forums but I had never seen it, not knowing what it was or what it could do for me.  When I got the original R3s, I noticed the driver housings were attached to a long stiff but formable wire that I could bend over and around my ears.  It kept its shape and allowed me to “lock” the driver housings into my ears, maintaining a good solid seal and allowing me to hear the music at its best.  The only downside was there was about six inches of it that stuck out, inflexible, below the ears like the guy from Episode I of a certain famous movie franchise that I dare not mention (for copyright’s sake) lest I start a war amongst the stars.   It was annoyingly long; if I brushed the wire, it could unseat the housings from my ears.  It was also pretty microphonic.  Most of the reviews of the R3 at the time seemed to agree the length of the memory wire was too long and just needed to be shortened (or removed) to significantly improve the product.  I was in the "shorten it" category.
 
A few weeks ago, Salsera contacted me on Head-Fi and asked me if I would be willing to evaluate version 2 of the R3s.  Since I had (unfortunately I’ve passed them on) once owned the originals I was happy to see what (if any) improvements were made in the new version.
 
Here we have the box looking (if I remember correctly) pretty much the same as the original:

 
It comes with the (standard?) little carrying case and accessories including a 1/4" adapter and a selection of ear tips to include Comply Foam tips.

 
Here we see the most obvious difference between the original and version 2…version two has a much shorter, black wire connecting the housings with the gray rubberized cable.

 
The black wire is extremely soft and flexible and does absolutely nothing to help hold the large metal housings in my ears which constitutes my major complaint...more on that later.
The one thing the black wire does do is significantly reduce microphonics which is definitely a good thing.   The gray cable is the same rubberized cable as the earlier version which is stiff and hard to straighten out.  If these were sport IEMs (which they aren't for two very important reasons), the gray cable would be perfect.  As it is, the cable is heavy duty and should tolerate a good deal of daily use and abuse (be warned...the black wire near the housings does not appear to be as rugged so handle with care).
 
The large metal housings are heavy and hold two tuned dynamic drivers (or transducers as Brainwavz labels them).  Each driver has a tuned port for airflow behind the driver and should not be blocked when worn or it will adversely affect the sound.  The housings also have channels cut into them for routing the wire leads to the lower set of drivers.  It is not a good idea to get water or sweat into the ports and channels which means these aren't ideal IEMs for working out.
 
Lower Ports                                                                        Wire Channel

Wire Channel and Upper Port

 
Okay, my major issue with the "improved" version is Brainwavz completely did away with the memory wire and didn't provide a good means of keeping the housings in place in my ears.  The biggest benefit of the memory wire is it helped keep the housings in position in my ear openings.  I have to insert them at an angle and twist them to the vertical to get a seal.  The memory wire would let me "lock" the housings in place, but the black wire is too flimsy and provides no support so the housings tend to want to move around and unseat themselves.  I almost have to cinch the chin adjustment to the point of strangulation to get the housings to stay still.  If Brainwavz would just add a short length of memory wire back along with the black wire (to reduce microphonics) OR a pair of over-the-ear brackets to clip the wire to, then the R3s would have all its problems solved (okay, the gray cable too for people that think it's an issue...). 
 
I've focused on the construction differences because the sound of the R3s is as good as I remembered.  Th R3s were the first IEMs I tried that sounded close to headphone quality (helped no doubt by the tips and seal with my ears).  Please note that all my opinions on sound are completely subjective and your mileage may vary.  My choices of music include pieces that I am extremely familiar with:
 
- Red Wine from "Fresh Aire IV" (Mannheim Steamroller)
- A Recurring Dream within a Dream from "A Valid Path" (Alan Parsons)
- Blue World from "The Present" (The Moody Blues)
- Take Me On and On from "Secret Messages" (ELO)
 
My source was a FiiO X5 and my PC using Foobar2000 and a Soundblaster Z-Series audio card.  The IEMs I had for comparison were the Brainwavz S5 (single-driver dynamic IEM), Dunu DN-1000 (3-driver hybrid IEM), and RockJaw Alfa Genus (single-driver dynamic IEM).
 
Soundstage: The soundstage is a bit narrow compared to the DN-1000 hybrid IEM but pretty much on par with the other dynamics.  The port behind the driver is for air movement but I'm not sure it has the same effect as an open-backed headphone...at least I didn't experiment with plugging the ports.
 
Bass: The bass is better than the two single driver dynamics and almost as good as the hybrid.  That comes from having a dedicated bass driver (transducer).  I found that it didn't reach the sub-bass harmonics that the DN-1000 reached, but that could be due to a number of issues such as poor seal (oh memory wire, where art thou?), poor choice of ear tip (on my part), or not enough burn-in time.
 
Mids: I love the mids.  I had to find just the right position for the mids to appear but when they did they were smooth and silky.  They are only trumped by the hybrid IEMs.  The Single Driver IEMs tend to suffer in the mids while trying to cover all the other frequencies.
 
Treble: Smooth and not fatiguing.  The beauty of having the two transducers was one driver taking the lower frequency load off and letting the other excel in medium to high frequencies and it does.  I find the treble does not roll off like the single driver IEMs.
 
Balance: As in balanced sound...this has been very difficult because of the housing fit and positioning issues.  But when I find that balance, the R3s shine for me.  Two drivers is an excellent way to achieve a balanced sound.  The hybrid DN-1000s use three drivers (of two different types).  I feel the R3's sound is balanced and enjoyable.
 
So I am still impressed with their sound, but frankly the new R3s are let down by their "improvements".  The original R3 memory wire was too long and got in the way but it served to keep the housings sealed and positioned right where I needed them to be.  Brainwavz would do well to re-introduce it (just not so long) or provide over-the-ear brackets that would hold the black wire (and thus the housings) in place.  
 
Then the R3 can be appreciated for what it is...a really good sounding IEM.

Disclaimer:  I would like to sincerely thank Salsera and Brainwavz for providing the sample S5 for this review.
 
For most of my audio listening “career”, I haven’t been a big fan of in-ear-monitors (IEMs) or earphone/earbuds, tending to prefer more traditionally designed portable and full sized headphones.  The major issues I had were trying to find the right positioning, fit, and seal to obtain the optimal sound quality.  Earbuds were out because I prefer to block ambient noise and enjoy the music at a level that doesn’t require an upgrade to a hearing aid before I’m 55.  The IEMs I tried before usually came with two or three sets of ear tips that seemed to fit everybody but me and no instructions on how to actually insert the things.  So I never could seem to find the right position for the housings to stay in so the tips could stay sealed so the music could sound good (got all that…?).  Lastly, the overall musical presentation appeared to be geared towards people who prefer to sit between two 20-inch sub-woofers with a 5-inch mid-range speaker pointed at their face (admittedly, the above mentioned factors may have had some bearing on my impressions of the sound).
 
Then a while back I received a set of Brainwavz R3 earphones as a gift when I ordered an iBasso DX50.  While their design was a bit unconventional, I found them to be an enjoyable introduction to the newer styles and design philosophies of modern IEMs.  First, I somehow managed to get them to fit in my ears without them wanting to fall out.  Second, they came with more ear tips (of multiple designs and materials) than I had ever seen...including some that actually fit!  So along with the fit and seal came number three; sound was head and shoulders above what I experience before, approaching the level of quality headphones.  It was enough to open my eyes to the potential sound quality of in-ear phones being made today.
 
Since then, I have tried several different types to include hybrid dynamic/balanced armature, straight dynamic with replaceable filters, and straight dynamic with different types of ear tips that change the quality of the sound.  I have discovered a new world in universal IEMs with sound quality and comfort approaching the likes of some of the high-end full-sized headphones out there.  When I can turn on the music and forget that I am wearing IEMs (or headphones) and only hear the music, then the manufacturers have done their job well! 
 
Which brings us to the S5 Earphones; a fun little phone that may not hit audiophile heights, but brings some unique character of its own to table.  Coming in a black box with a front opening flap displaying the driver housings and flat cable on the outside and providing some general company detail and cross-sectional info on the driver, cable, and Comply Foam Tips.  On the back is the list of accessories and specifications.

 
The Build:
 
The S5s look solidly built with metal driver housings and ear tip posts/acoustic filters.  The filters do not look to be replaceable.  There is a flattened, beveled area near the rear of the housing that has “Brainwavz” embossed on it and a small air-port on the opposite side (blocking this port will affect the sound).  The cable attaches to the housings at the top rear side in such a way that the only practical way to wear these is with the cable over the ear.
 
There are tiny, barely readable Left/Right markings at the cable connection point.  Frankly, I don’t know what the point of even having them is.  Unless they are larger and with better contrast, you have to have a magnifying glass and bright light just to see them.  The good news is Brainwavz designed the housings to be fairly intuitive; so as long as the beveled side of the housings face away from your ears and the ear tips point forward and in (and the cables point up), then they are pointed in the right direction.  BUT…if you are going to put L/R markings on an IEM, make them READABLE!

 
The Cable:
 
I’ve heard about some IEMs having flat cables before but had never had any before.  The R3 cable was rubberized and seemed more like a thick round monstrosity that you would find on a so-called “sport” headphone.  It was very microphonic and not easy to manage at all.  The S5 cable is the polar opposite, with the cable being thin, flat and supple, I find it very easy to route over my ears and thread it through my clothing so it stays put.  While still having a rubberized coating, it is not as thick or nearly as microphonic as the R3.  There is a convenient chin slider at the Y-connector that helps reduce the microphonics even more.  I quite like the cable.
 
The Sound:
 
Disclaimer:  I find that rating sound is very subjective.  There are those that use measurements, there are those that use descriptive comparisons of the frequency ranges in musical passages, there are those that describe the sound qualities of one headphone in comparison to another.  I will offer that none of these are necessarily wrong, but how can I convince you that the sound I hear is what you are going to hear?  I can’t, and I shouldn’t.  I can only offer that the impressions I write down are what I hear based on my listening experience.  Your experiences may be similar, or they may (in all likelihood) be different.  I offer these impressions as an anecdote and as a service.  Feel free to disagree if you wish but that doesn’t make me any more wrong than it does you right.  Okay, enough blathering…
 
I’ll say it upfront; the ear tips made the sound.  I could not get a real good sense of how the S5s were tuned because every time I tried a different ear tip the sound quality changed…and in some cases, dramatically.  So I would like to offer my opinion of the S5’s sound based on each of the sets of ear tips (and only those) included in the package.  My source was an iBasso DX-90 playing some classic rock, folk (acoustic) instrumental, orchestral, and electronica.
 
One other note: Salsera told me ahead of time the S5s needed several hours of burn-in to tame the bass a bit so I burned them in for 30 hours before even trying to listen to them.
 
Silicone Ear Tip, Black, Small Opening:   My least favorite.  Remember my little description of the 20-in subwoofers and 5-in mid-range?  It wasn’t too far from the mark with these tips…okay, maybe 8-in subs, but you get the picture.  They had the soundstage of a shoe box.  I ended up removing and reinserting them in my ears multiple times to ensure I had got them in right but in the end, they were bass heavy with some emphasis in treble and extremely recessed mids…and a super narrow sound stage.
 
Silicone Ear Tip, Grey, Slightly Larger Opening:  Optical illusion?  Those holes look bigger to me.  But the sound..!  I actually listened to these first and the sound stage is much wider than the black tips above.  There is less bass than the black tips and there is a little more of a mids presence.  There is a definite V-shaped frequency response but it is more pleasant.  There is more bass than treble emphasis but the treble is clear and not harsh.  The mids are recessed somewhat but haven’t been overwhelmed by the bass and treble.  I find myself listening with these tips the most.  They bring out the fun in the S5s
 
Comply T-400: Sorry folks, foam tips and I don’t get along and this experience was no different.  The foam interferes with the fit and usually ends up blocking half the sound channel when I try to use them.  If you find that you like them…more power to you!
 
Bi-flange Ear Tip: To me, the most balanced sounding of the bunch!  I admit I do like a slight bass emphasis to my music and the bi-flange tips provide a little of it while bringing the mids forward for the first time and smoothing out the treble.  It was as close to a balanced IEM that I have heard from a dynamic driver and I really liked them a lot.  They are also the first bi-flanged tips that I could get a good seal along with fitting the housing in my ear.  I may start using these as much as the grey ear tips in the future.  I like what they bring to the S5.
 
Tri-flange Ear Tip:  Unfortunately, the tri-flanges took the balance a little too far and removed the slight bass emphasis that I enjoyed so well.  Other than that and the fact the sheer size of the tips made it impossible to fit into my ears properly, these did sound rather nice with some of the acoustical and vocal music I listened to.
 

 
In summary:
 
Using the ear tips that came with the S5 I managed to find a sound I liked.  With the sheer number and types of ear tips available on the market, the possibilities for customizing the sound signature to fit a person's tastes are almost endless.  I’m sure that it would be possible to find a set offering a sound signature that meets your needs with the S5.  I have at least 20 sets of tips that I can’t wait to try just to see how much more fun I can have with the S5’s sound!

Disclaimer:  I would like to thank Todd at TTVJ for giving me the opportunity to participate in the Grado “e”-series tour.  I have owned many sets of Grado cans including the SR-80, 225, 325i (Gold Edition), RS-1i, and a couple of the Head-Fi Edition HF-2s.  I have also had experience with a pair of broken-in original edition GS1000s.
 
Product review tours can be a bitter-sweet experience…especially with headphones.  There is the desire to be nearest the beginning of the tour and get them soonest (I was number two for these), and the realization that you may not be getting them when they sound their best.  I have had experience buying headphones, listening to them for a short time and then returning them because I thought they sounded awful only later to listen to a well broken-in pair that frankly, would blow me away (the Audeze LCD-XC springs to mind).  So I must say up front that I am a firm believer in sound quality improvement with headphone burn/ break-in based on my own experience (of course YMMV so feel free to disagree but you cannot convince me otherwise in this matter).  Understand that my review will be based on that bias.
 

In and out of the box…

 
The GS1000e’s arrived in a thicker version of the standard Grado pizza box with a colored decal on the front; almost ostentatious compared to the plain black and white of their previous packaging.

 
Inside is the familiar foam packing with custom cutouts for the headphones and the cable and accessories.  The accessories include a Warranty sheet, a paper describing the Grado Story, 15ft extension cable and 1/4”-to-1/8” adapter plug.
 
A word about the build quality of Grado cans I have had and handled; Grado proudly advertises their headphones as hand-assembled and I have no reason to doubt them.  However, the overall quality of the construction that I have seen has ranged anywhere from very good to mediocre; especially cans requiring wood and metal or plastic parts needing to be glued together with excess glue squeezed out and not cleaned off.  Even some of the wooden parts on the HF-2’s didn’t look as well finished as I had expected.  I hope the folks at Grado will please forgive my being OCD about this…all the cans I mentioned above were fully functional, but these details just brought the overall impression of quality down a notch or two.
 
All that to say that the overall build quality of the GS1000e’s is excellent!  It has been mentioned that Grado has instituted some new finishing processes for the wood and new materials for the plastic and even the glue and these cans show it!

 
All of the materials showed top-notch finishing, even the mahogany inside the ear pads was finished as well as the outside.  There wasn’t a trace of glue to be seen!  This was the most finely finished Grado can I have seen to date.  I hope the manufacturing and assembly process extends to all the cans in the Grado line and they will have at last overcome what I perceive as the only real shortcoming with their cans.
 
Two other things about the build; looking down inside the earpiece at the driver shows just how absolutely beautiful and clean the design is!  There is no clutter to disrupt the airflow whatsoever.  I just hope these sound as good as they look!  Then there is the cable…these headphones are incredibly light!  The 12-conductor cable is incredibly heavy!  If you aren’t careful, the weight of the cable can rip the cans from your head!  I know that Grado wants the best sound as possible from these but would there have been that much sacrificed from an 8-conductor cable…while saving 1/3 the weight?  I can easily see a 12-conductor cable on the PS1000e with the extra weight of the metal, but not with the light wood of the GS1000e.  It just makes moving about very awkward (I know, if I am sitting and listening, I am not moving…much).
 

These are Grados…right?

 
I had a variety of sources and amps to try these out with to include:
 
FiiO X5 Headphone out
iBasso DX90 Headphone Out
FiiO X5/FiiO E12 DIY (AD8620/BUF634)
FiiO X5/FiiO E12 DIY (MUSES02/LME49600)
FiiO X5/Schiit Lyr-2 (Low Gain)
 


 
When I first got the GS1000e’s, of course I had to try them.  I had assumed that from reading the first review they were not going to be quite what I expected but I was not prepared for what I heard; they sounded terrible with absolutely no bass whatsoever, a super narrow sound stage, and no warmth.  If I had gone on first impressions (like I had done with the LCD-XC’s), I would have packed them back up, shipped them out, and written them off as a bad experience.  Fortunately, I remembered my previous experiences with Grado cans; they really do require breaking-in to sound their fullest.  The lower end models might require only a few dozen hours but drivers in cans like the HF-2 and RS-1 can still be evolving after 100 hours or more of use.  So I plugged the GS1000e’s into one of my DAP/Amp combos and let them break-in for 30 hours before trying them out again.  The difference was, shall we say, night and day…
 

Oh yes, they’re Grados!

 
Overall:  In just 30 hours of break in, the sound stage had opened up considerably!  The placement of the instruments was fairly easy to pick out from side to side however, from front to back the layers of the sound stage had not fully opened up yet so things sounded a bit congested in areas where there were a lot of instruments in one section (in an orchestra for example).  I think that the sound stage depth will increase in time as it already seemed to be improving during the short time I was listening to it.
 
I found the overall sound to be balanced at low volumes.  This has been addressed in past reviews of the GS1000 series as being a combination of the big bowl ear pads and the slight “v” frequency response in the headphones.  It does sound quite nice and smooth overall but I was afraid that low volumes would be all these cans would be good for.  Fortunately, the last day I was able to listen to them, I found out that isn’t the case (more later…).
 
Bass:  The bass underwent the biggest change with the break-in period and from all indications was still developing as of my last listening session.  Even when I first put on the cans there were hints of the potential.  After the initial break-in period, I found the bass had presence but no real impact or extension, so when played at low volumes the presence did contribute to a good balanced sound that unfortunately petered out at higher volume levels.  However, with additional listening time and some additional break-in, the impact was staring to show itself.  It finally bloomed to an enjoyable level the last day I had to listen when I was able to plug the GS1000e’s into a newly purchased Schiit Lyr-2 Amp running on low gain.  I finally was able to crank the cans and get some bass impact that gave me a warm fuzzy feeling for whoever got to listen to them in the future.  It also made me a little envious of the folks that will own them.  I may just have to get a set for myself and see how much farther the drivers develop!
 
Mids/Treble:  The initial listen showed the mids and treble did not appear to stray much from the classic Grado signature sound.  Break-in allowed the sound to smooth itself out, eliminating some of the initial grain and open up the sound stage to allow more immersive listening.  The mids displayed a slight recessed quality that may be attributed to the “v” shaped sound signature (which might be due to the drivers or the pads).  I found the mids to be smooth with little or no grain but it would have been nice if they were slightly more forward.  I know that would ruin the benefit of listening to these at lower volumes, but that’s just my preference.  I will say that throughout my listening, the treble never showed any sibilance, even though there was really good extension in the upper range.  I do think the bowl pads contributed to the lack of teeth gritting treble and it really was appreciated!
 

Please Sir, can I have some more…?

 
This review was frustrating.  Not because the Grado GS1000e’s are bad cans, because they aren’t!  The frustration lies in the fact that I got them at a time where they are just starting to open up and develop into their real potential.  I really envy the fifth or sixth guy down the line who gets to listen to these after they have more than 100 hours or so and can listen to them the way they are meant to be heard!  Or…I can just go out and get a set of my own, and I haven’t discounted that option yet… 

Preamble:  Break out the Champagne, the silly putty has left the building!  23 Nov 14...Since this review was originally written, Rockjaw did exactly what they said they would do...go out and create a new filter combining the best aspects of the black and silver filters.  In other words they created a balanced filter for those that wanted...well...a more balanced sound (what did you really expect me to say here? ).  Did they succeed?  Let's find out...
 
(Updated info is highlighted in red)
 
“First in last out!”
While the above makes for an excellent military motto, it really sucks for an audio component reviewer.  I must sincerely apologize to Rock Jaw, Rockbob, and the folks waiting on reviews for my tardiness.  Unfortunately, while being one of the first of the review teams to receive the Alfa Genus IEMs; work, health, and family issues prevented me from setting aside adequate time to sit down and record my thoughts for the forums.  Unfortunately, I was no less tardy with the update...my apologies again...
 
While I didn't have much chance to sit and type, I tried to listen to the Alfas at every opportunity, making observations and suggestions to Rockbob.  The good news for readers is all my observations or suggestions were also being made by other forum members and is being/will be addressed by Rock Jaw.  I deliberately did not read any other Alfa Genus reviews so I would not be biased in any way.  The views and opinion expressed here are strictly my own, so if I sound like a broken record compared to the other reviewers, it's all on me.
 
When I received the Alfa Genus IEMs (AGs), they were in their prototype packaging which, it has been announced on the forum, is being changed so the pictures you see below will not match the “Retail” packaging.


The IEMs, tips, cable, and info came in a box made up partially of a slide out tray with foam cutouts for the earphones, two extra filters and a plastic tray for the extra ear tips.


There was also a cable clip included but no ¼” adapter (included in the final release).  One item of note was the lack of a carrying case for the AGs.  It would be very difficult to put them back in this kind of packaging.  I’m not sure about the final packaging, but I believe Rock Jaw intends to address a carrying case or bag of some sort (I believe this was also addressed).
 
Pulling them out of the box, I found the AGs a little more delicate feeling than I anticipated.  For I good while I wondered if I wasn’t going to break the things since they felt so light in my hand.  The wood and lightweight metal make them seem like there’s no weight at all compared to some all-metal IEMs I have that feel like boat anchors (I swear they are made of iron or steel).  My biggest concerns were the metal cable strain reliefs and if they were going to come loose from the housings.  So far I have not had any issues with them and I have not been overly gentle, using them to twist and adjust the housings in my ears.  One problem I did have was telling which side was left and which was right.  The lettering needs much better contrast or color for low-light conditions (or folks like me with poor eye sight). (Fixed as well from what I hear...)
 
I really like the sleeved, braided cable.  While slightly microphonic, I really didn’t find it much of a distraction.  The one thing missing was a sliding adjuster at the splitter.  That would probably reduce the microphonics.

 
The Alfa Genus comes with two sets of “filters” which are really the heart and soul of its sound.  This can be both a blessing and a curse and can lead to some interesting discoveries in how you can affect the sound by something as simple as your fingertips…or silly putty... (and now there are three...)
 
But first I must digress…When Rockbob (RB) first announced the opportunity to review Rock Jaw products, the only real experience I had with IEMs were two sets of hybrids with a dynamic driver and two balance armatures.  Mentioning this to RB, I figured I’d get a chance to try out their hybrid and compare it to the ones I already have.  But RB had a rock-solid idea (sorry, Bob)…he felt the best way to evaluate a product was to try it on a person who didn’t have a lot of experience to get a fresh perspective, so imagine my surprise when I got the Alfa Genus with a dynamic driver and sound filters! (Digression over)
 
Being new to sound filters, I never realized how drastically you can change the sound of a driver just by changing a stem on an IEM.  The stems are threaded and screw on but can loosen easily (a little rubber o-ring might provide just enough resistance to prevent the stems from loosening).  So be careful when removing the AGs from your ears to ensure the filters don’t come loose and fall off.
 
For the filters themselves; there are two now three colors, each representing different sound preferences.  My personal labels for them are thus:
 
Silver: BASS!!!
Black: NOT BASS!!!
***UPDATE*** Champagne: Balanced!!!
 


A bit extreme?  Actually yes, but not an entirely inaccurate description.  Let’s break it down:
 
The silver filters offer a bass that is prominent to the point of being a bit bloated and overwhelming.  Sit in the trunk of your buddy’s 1994 Ford Mustang while he's got his 500-watt sub-woofer going at “11” and you’ll know what I mean.  While never owning a pair, I imagine this is what you would hear if you owned “Beats” headphones, so if you like that sound (and there are many that do), you’ll enjoy the silver filters.  Even with the overwhelming bass, I could hear beautiful mids and smooth treble struggling to break free (which I will address in a following section).
 
You know, I almost named the black filters “Grado”.  If the “NOT BASS!!! issue hadn’t gotten in the way, they would have been my favorite filters.  They have smooth, forward mids and solid treble that reminded me of the several Grado cans that I owned over the years.  I didn’t notice any sibilance even though I was half-expecting it.  What I did notice was the smooth extension in the upper range and going down to the lower-mids and almost to the upper bass but stopping there.  I kept hoping the next notes would go lower in the spectrum but it just never happened.  This is a great filter for listening to acoustic stringed instruments but even guitars hit some lower harmonic frequencies that the black filters can’t support.  Put a little bass extension on the black filters while keeping everything else intact and these would be some beautiful sounding filters!
 
So, you’re saying you didn’t care for them…?  Actually, no.  Surprisingly, I came to enjoy one of them due to the oddest circumstance…ill-fitting ear tips.  (Don't give up, keep reading!)
 
I tried almost 30 sets of ear tips on each filter of the AGs.  It wasn’t so much for the fit but to see if I could alter the sound with a tip in a way so I could live with the filters.  I used different tip sizes and lengths and different opening sizes but nothing seems to tailor the sound in a way that I liked. 
 
One night, I had the silver filters installed and a particularly difficult set of ear tips that just didn’t want to seat themselves in my ears.  I just wanted to see what they sounded like so I pushed the AGs in to seat the tips and…WHOA!!...what just happened…??  Why is the bass tight and punchy?  Why are the mids and treble prominent?  Why does the music sound so balanced?  I pulled the AGs out and looked at them, checked the tips, tried it again without pushing in the earpieces too far…bloated bass…pushing the earpieces in with my fingertips...tight bass.  Is it the ear tips?  Then I noticed the sound ports on the back of the earpieces.  I put on a set of tips that I knew would seal, covered the ports, and proceeded to enjoy an overall balanced sound with tight punchy bass that wasn’t overwhelming, smooth mids, and nice treble.  This was a sound I could listen to anytime…but my fingers were getting tired.  Fortunately, the children had Silly Putty lying around so I made use of a little of it to cover the ports and experiment with the sound some more.  I found the stock tips worked best (although some additional tip options would be nice).  The putty mod did not work with the black filters because it reduced the level of what little low frequency presence was already there. (Almost there...!)
 
The infamous "Silly Putty mod"...

 
I figured people probably wouldn't want putty stuck to back of their IEMs so I PM’d Rockbob telling him of my results and suggesting a third filter be made for the AGs (and it looks as if that’s going to happen) so I guess my work here is done!
 
NOT OVER YET...
 
There are times when you just have to admire the drive and dedication of folks who strive to make the the finest product they possibly can to satisfy a very small (but demanding) clientele.  I've seen that demonstrated in the many products made by small companies I've found through Head-Fi.  I guess that's why I have Audeze headphones, and a Schiit amp and DAC and have owned and listened to many many more from other companies/builders.  I have seen their creators pour their heart and soul into a product for the benefit of others and I have the greatest respect for those folks that put their products before a critical eye looking for a way to make things even better.  Rockbob and Rock Jaw have done just that, going so far as to significantly revise their product before wide release on the market.  They looked to the folks on Head-Fi for comments, critiques, and suggestions; from the most intricate testing conducted to the silliest suggestions of blocking (tuning) the rear port with silly putty to add balance and reign in the bass on the silver filter.  From the cacophony of feedback arose a third filter that is to be included with the Alfa Genus; a "Balanced" Champagne-colored (or coloured) filter.
 
Having received a pair of the new filters, I immediately set them in place with my favorite ear tip and played my favorite test track "Red Wine," from Mannheim Steamroller's Fresh Aire IV.  The first thing I noticed was there was an organic quality to the strumming of the (I believe it's a) Lute.  The mid and treble elements were there in spades and the the bass elements started to show through when called for (It's not a bass-heavy piece).  It's a very natural sounding filter but I was wondering how it would handle heavier bass elements so I threw on Alan Parson's "A Recurring Dream Within A Dream" (from "A Valid Path") which has a prominent bass riff throughout the song.  I find the bass is present but a little light, lacking in punch and with almost no sub bass frequencies present.  Don't look at this necessarily as a bad thing because two issues may be affecting my opinion of the sound this time around; I was having a devil of a time trying to get a proper seal with my ear tips and I was just finishing up with listening to several bass-prominent IEMs and my LCD-3s so Your Mileage May (indeed) Vary.  The more I listened to the Balanced filters, the more I became accustomed to the sound.   The bass didn't seem quite so absent (although sub-bass frequencies still were, but that's almost to be expected of a driver that's supposed to cover the whole dynamic range).
 
(Update to the update): I finally got a good seal and am getting hints of bass punch which just adds to the overall utility of the filter.  I'm listening to rock, classical, modern folk, electronic, and a soundtrack or two.  These Champagne Filters just refuse to come out...they remain versatile enough to handle my everyday needs for music listening with IEMs.
 
As you may have noticed, there is (more than) a little tongue in cheek in the review above.  All of the impressions and observations are sincere but the review is maybe not as "analytical" as it would have been if I'd have had a chance to write it earlier (on the other hand, it may have turned out just as cheeky).  For those looking for an overall assessment, let me say the following in all seriousness.  My primary headphones are Audeze LCD-3s that until recently, were driven by some good Schiit components, so I do appreciate a balance sound with good bass, mids, and treble.  Of late, I have been delving into portable high-fi with two DAPs (iBasso DX90 and FiiO X5), a FiiO E12 DIY OpAmp Rollable Amp, and Two Hybrid IEMs from a Chinese company called Dunu (DN-1000 and DN-2000).  With all of that, you would think I would be quite satisfied with the sound I have.  However, I find the IEMs I reach for the most to listen to all those excellent portable components are...
 
Rock Jaw Alfa Genus IEMs with silver filters and a spot of silly putty on the ends the Champagne Filters.  That's where I get the most musical enjoyment from. 'Nuff said.
 
...I could naught but at least raise the grade half a star for the excellent work by the fine folk at Rock Jaw.
 
I must say it is amazing to watch a company that is so responsive to their customer’s suggestions and recommendations.  If Rock Jaw continues on this course, I see them being highly regarded in the Head-Fi and Audio community.  I truly believe they are headed in the right direction! ...A most apt statement which continues to be true to this day...Rock On, Rock Jaw!
 
 
My sincere appreciation to Rockbob and Rock Jaw for giving me the opportunity to review the Alfa Genus and offer my impressions and recommendations.  Again, I must apologize for the delay in releasing this review while continuing to maintain my faint glimmer of hope that we can all just get along…

Pros: (expanded) Sound quality, versatility, (mostly) easy to use UI, data storage options, charging indicator, user’s manual, most “issues” can be addressed via firmware update
Cons: (expanded) Gapless needs work, lack of markings on control buttons, silicon cover needs larger holes for plugs, twitchy scroll wheel, no playlist support, no easy way to return to “Now Playing” screen, “Next Track” and “Previous Track” functionality needs work, need to read user’s manual just to operate the player
 
Disclaimer:  
I would like to thank James FiiO and Joe Bloggs for giving me the opportunity to evaluate the X5.  It was provided at no charge and with no obligation other than to post my thoughts and impressions to the Head-Fi community.  The X5 was reviewed using Firmware 1.00.  Some of the issues noted below may be addressed in future updates but the player was reviewed and rated “as is”.
 
An Introduction:
 
This review is going to be somewhat different since I won’t be focusing on the sound quality so much as the usability and versatility of the unit.  My needs are fairly specific: I want a dedicated digital transport to replace an old laptop I've been using for a digital music source.  I also want a portable player to carry with me when traveling, something to handle headphones and IEMs.  I also may end pairing the DAP with an external DAC or Amp depending on my sonic preferences at the time.  The beauty of the X5 is that I was able to try all those options.
 
I have owned a number of DAPs in the past to include a Second Generation iPod Nano, Cowon D2, S9, J3, a Little Dot DP-1, and iHiFi 960.  I am currently using an iBasso DX50 as a digital transport for my home rig (along with a Schiit “uber” Bifrost, Lyr, and LCD-2s) and as a portable player for use with IEMs.  My music preferences include 60’s-70’s Classic Rock, 80’s “New Wave”, Classical, Folk and some “New Age” stuff.  While I totally understand and appreciate the advantages of analog sound, I grew up at the dawn of the digital age and recognize the convenience of digital music while being able to accept its limitations.  What does that mean to you?  It means I’m an old fart that doesn’t mind listening to digital music and trying out new toys.
 
Since the tour started, there have been a number of reviews with unboxing pictures so I will just say that the contents of the X5 box were all there and well packed.  The player was already in its protective silicon sleeve and had a screen protector mounted (with a couple of spares included).  A thoughtful inclusion was the USB-to-microSD card reader/writer.  After admiring the contents, I hooked a charger to the X5 to top off the battery.  I noticed the little charging light below the scroll wheel.  It glows red while charging and turns green when the battery is full.  It’s a very useful indicator since the menu screen only stays on briefly during charging.
 
The X5’s rival in my Man Cave is the iBasso DX50.  I got it a short time ago and have found it to be rather nice for my needs.  The X5 would have to equal or better the DX50 if it was going to pass muster.  I also use a Schiit (uber’d) Bifrost DAC and Lyr Amp with Amperex USN-CEP 7308 tubes.  For headphones I have the Audeze LCD-2…and on the last day of the evaluation I received a pair of Dunu DN1000 IEMs.
 
The Build:
 
I found the X5 to be well built and comfortable to hold in my hand.  It is taller than the DX50 but a little thinner front-to-back.  There are four elongated buttons at the 2:00, 5:00, 7:00, and 10:00 positions outside the prominent scroll wheel and center button.  The screen is not a touch screen.  I like the fact all the jacks for the Headphone-Out, Line-Out, and Coax-Out (SPDIF) are all on the top.  I did have some problems with the position of the power switch since I am used to it being on the side of my phone and the DX50.  The position of the power switch makes it a little difficult when you have a cable plugged into the Coax Out and need to reactivate the screen.  The volume controls are located on the side while the USB port for charging, file transfers, or DAC functionality is on the bottom nestled between two microSD card slot covers.  I actually like the covers since they help keep the cruft out of the sockets…and since I ended up loading the X5 up with two 64GB microSD cards I probably wouldn’t have to open the slot covers for a long time (of course, YMMV).
 
The scroll wheel is rather twitchy.  It is the main control for navigating through the menus but it is extremely sensitive to small movements, sometimes jumping several options in the menu when I was only trying to move to the next option.  It's made worse by the scroll wheel being a bit loose, having some play before connecting with the next underlying contact.  It made for a pretty frustrating experience…and to top it off, when spinning the scroll wheel it kept squeaking in one spot.  I hope it is just a fluke confined to this one example and not indicative of all players.  I think if FiiO reduced the sensitivity of the scroll wheel (perhaps adding a slight delay before switching to the next option), it would be a lot less frustrating.  The frustration can be reduced somewhat by being able to use the four front buttons to navigate the menus.  However, this brings up a couple of points…
 
The User Interface (UI):
 
When I think of a UI, I don’t just consider the menus on a screen but physical buttons and controls on the player.  A UI should be fairly intuitive and should not require studying a manual to memorize what a button does.  It can make for a very frustrating out-of-box experience for a new user having to operate the controls by trial-and-error.  In my opinion, one of the biggest shortcoming of the X5 UI is the lack of control symbols on the front buttons.  I really think this can be a major decision factor for people looking to buy based on the appearance of “ease of use”.  Not everyone wants to have to “RTFM” (Read…The…F*...err… Manual), instead preferring to just pop in a microSD card and hit play.  I deliberately approached this evaluation without consulting the manual unless I got really stuck on navigating the UI (...and yes, I ended up having to cheat and RTFM to learn what the physical buttons did).
 
I really like the screen main menu...It works well with the scroll wheel (at least when the scroll wheel isn’t being twitchy).  I also noticed the menu selection rotates opposite the direction of scroll wheel spin which makes scrolling through the menus counter-intuitive.  Perhaps if the menu scrolled in the same direction as the scroll wheel, it would significantly reduce some of the perceived “twitchiness” or at least make it easier to adjust to the UI.  I found the four physical buttons do allow some menu navigation as well (except scrolling up and down in a sub-menu), but I had to RTFM to discover it.  The on-screen menu symbols are pretty intuitive and the sub-menus present all the necessary information (I liked the separate music and player settings menus).  I just have a question…how does one go straight back to “Now Playing” after changing a menu setting without having to navigate backwards a step at a time to the main menu?  Perhaps having an option that returns you to the “Now Playing” screen after a certain amount of time is in order?
 
Using the player:
 
Disclaimer:  Remember, I reviewed the X5 with Firmware 1.00.  Some of the issues noted will probably be addressed in future updates but the player was reviewed and rated “as is”.
 
I used two 64GB microSD cards with mix of Flac and MP3 music files.  I had some initial trouble getting the X5 to recognize the cards after formatting them with my PC.  It was easier to format the cards in the X5 and load them with music via the USB-to-microSD card reader.  I’m sure it was due more to my ignorance than to any issue with the X5 but it seemed to be the easiest way to load music on the cards.  After that, the X5 easily recognized all my folders and tracks.
 
Selecting and playing music was easy using the directory (folder) menu.  I do like the option to choose which microSD card to access but I would also like to see an option where the player indexes both cards and presents all the music folders in a single directory.  I would also like to see multiple playlist support and the ability to add music to favorites by folder as well (playlist support is rumored to be coming in a firmware update).  Gapless playback is a necessity for me so I enabled it.  In Firmware 1.00, the music transition was not smooth with an abrupt transition as if the end of one song and the beginning of the next were clipped and jammed together.  I hope this can be addressed in a future firmware revision since it can be a major factor in choosing a DAP.
 
A note about the sound:
 
This area will actually be rather short since I find offering impressions of sound quality to be subjective and a matter of great debate in some circles.  The only apples-to-apples comparison of the sound quality that I can make is with my iBasso DX50.  I received the DX50 with a firmware that left it sounding rather bland and cold.  Recently, iBasso released a firmware version that brought the DX50 to life musically...it sounded really good to my ears…until I listened to the X5.  I found the X5’s sound to be more full-bodied and musical with good extension in the bass and treble and well-rounded mids.  I also noticed the background of the X5 was completely silent compared to the DX50 which sounds “airier”, almost as if you can hear the noise floor along with the music.  The difference between the two sound signatures is very noticeable with the X5 having the better sound quality.  Again, this is all subjective but are my impressions comparing the two.  I favor the X5 on sound quality if nothing else…
As an aside, I was asked to try the player with my LCD-2 headphones.  The X5 drove them surprisingly well, managing to play them louder than my comfort level...it won’t replace a high-powered amp, but at least it doesn’t suck when the X5 is all you have.  I found the X5 paired excellently with the Dunu DN1000 IEMs!  I would be perfectly happy having the X5 and DN1000 with me if I ever got stranded on a deserted island (with power ).
 
Other functions:
 
I tried out the X5 four different ways…as a player with headphones, as a digital source feeding my Schiit Bifrost DAC and Lyr Amp, as a source/DAC driving my Schiit Lyr Amp, and finally as a standalone USB DAC feeding my Schiit Lyr.  The X5 acquitted itself admirably, performing all the functions I required.
 

Hey, it works!                                                                     The holes in the silicon cover are too small for large plugs...
 

As a Digital Source feeding an external DAC/Amp...             And as a USB DAC feeding an external Amp...
 

The display while operating as a DAC...                               And feeding the LCD-2's...
 

As a Digital player feeding an external Amp via Line-Out...    The X5 and Dunu DN1000...an Excellent Pairing!!
 
Bottom Line:
 
The X5 is a diamond in the rough.  With Firmware 1.0 there are User Interface issues that make operating the player less than intuitive and somewhat frustrating.  Gapless isn’t correctly implemented (yet), and the menus and shortcuts need some refinement.  These, I truly believe, will be addressed in future firmware updates (as I’ve already heard rumor of).  Hardware wise, the scroll wheel is a bit loose and there are no control icons on the buttons.  These could be fixed in future revisions but might frustrate current users not accustom to “feeling their way around” the controls.  While the User's Manual wasn’t completely finished it was excellent in pointing out features and operations but the question is, how many new users want to have to “RTFM” before they can even use a player?
Despite my critiques above, I am looking forward to getting the X5 after it is released in the USA.  While I may have to wait for a few firmware revisions as well as “RTFM'ing" before owning an X5, I think in the end it will definitely be worth the investment when I need a DAP or a DAC or a Digital Source or a…  I think you get the picture.
 
My thanks again to James FiiO and Joe Bloggs for the opportunity to evaluate the X5 and offer my impressions.