Reviews by jant71

Reviewing the Meeture MT3 is my first introduction to the brand. I was sent the MT3 and EM2 for review by Simgot through Amazon.com in the US. First up will be the Entry level Meeture MT3. After spending several weeks with them I have found them to be an extremely solid offering where the Pros really outweigh the Cons. The MT3 is available at Amazon with a variety of color accents.
https://www.amazon.com/Ear-Monitor-Headphones-Detachable-Smartphones/dp/B07JPL6RDS

Specification:
· Impedance: 18Ω

· Headphone Sensitivity: 101dB

· Frequency Response Range: 15Hz-40kHz

· Power Rating: 10mW

· Distortion Degree: <1% 101 dB

· Channel Balance: <1.5 dB (at 1000Hz)

· Vocalism Principle: 10mm High Magnetic Circuit Coil Dynamic Driver

· Plug Type: 3.5mm Straight Plug

Packaging...



Package Includes:

• 1× Pair of MT3 IEMs
• 3× Balanced Eartips
• 3× Penetrating Eartips
• 1×Soft Pouch Carrying Case

The MT3 come with a good accessory kit. At the $70 price tag it is solid but perhaps could have been even better. A pair or two of foams tips and a semi-hard zip case would have upped the ante more. A nice presentation and two types of tips to adjust the signature are the two best aspects.

Build Quality...

The MT3 have a very nice build to them. Quality plastics are used and they exhibit a very smooth finish with no rough edges or glue issues Nothing is out of place. Cable fits well and the Y and plug are rubber capped to protect both themselves and your devices. The cable has a nice braid that has come undone so far. The chin slider is also metal and works fairly well.

One thing I don't like about the construction is that the cable does like to tangle more than others especially above the split. Another is the left and right indicators. On the cable itself there is no coloring and they are small so very very hard to read them unless in good lighting and closer up. The L and R printed on the housings themselves will rub off fairly easily after some time. The indicators are not a big deal unless you want to change the cable all the time. Once on right you don't really need them since the formed ear guides dictate R or L at a glance. Speaking of the ear guides, they are very nice. Pliable and thin so very comfy and shape very well to the ear and are no issue with my glasses.


Fit and Comfort...
For me the MT3 have a really good fit. Easy to get the right fit and seal. No fiddling. Very comfy and slightly above average isolation. I feel the shape is well done and a good part of the design. Housings are lightly on the large size so not the most flush fitting but they fill the ear well and lock in better than smaller housings may. I feel they are very well done here and a great fit makes them easier to get along with and more likable.



Sound Signature and Quality...
The Meeture comes with two styles of silicone tips to adjust the signature some. You can choose to go slightly more bass heavy or balanced depending on tip. I chose the less bassy of the two options as my preferred choice. I prefer the balance tips that I hear as a slightly down sloped "W" signature. The bass tips do push it more towards a bass focused and heavy sound that starts to "V" some.lance. Mids still have a good emphasis and treble is a good amount to satisfy most tastes but the bass is the foundation or focus. The balance tips are softer, wider bore while the bass tips are firmer and have a smaller bore diameter. They work pretty well to push the earphone towards the intended target signatures.

The sound is quite well done. The MT3 basically has an analog type sound. A bit vinyl like with a smooth and forgiving nature. That vinyl like tone is a bit warm, darker, and thicker making it a good entry level tuning choice. The analog nature is a smooth and engaging blanket to the sound that isn't over done esp. with the balance tips.

For the $70 you pay, the technical ability is solid. A very coherent single driver. Not all single drivers have to be coherent especially under $75. Many have mid-bass issues that will miss the mark for true low to high coherence. The analog tone does not mask detail much and there is a solid amount. The housing I think keeps things a bit larger with some space in between elements giving things room to breathe and help stave off congestion. The clarity is solid all through. The warm and slightly dark tone is smooth and enjoyable combined with enough technical ability is also still satisfying. Bass is nicely tight even out of the box with nothing out of balance. Sub, mid, and higher bass notes all in a nice and balanced amount. Tight, clean, and balanced bass leads to handling most genres well and being engaging and very satisfying bass. Vocals carry on those same traits. Good separation and air regarding vocals with the balance tips. The emotion is good and the slightly dark tone is good for male vocals yet not too much to dull female vocals. The tight bass stays out of the mids and the air lets them breathe fine even if adding some richness and weight which makes for a natural midrange sound that is impressive for a sub-$100 earphone. The treble is slightly polite but correct sounding. Natural and again airy and light but not actually bright. No peaks at all but still keeps the same good detail as in the bass and midrange. Not the drop off that many budget earphones filter out or start to choke off of the high end.

Stage size is above average and has a bit more width than height or depth but the height and depth are still good. Just the width is where it excels a bit more. The separation and air give things room and make things more easy to hear and pick out. Imaging is slightly more colored than accurate but it is engaging and they are not trying to be a monitor anyway. A good compromise of natural and realistic with a bit of it's own flavor.

Conclusion...
Most aspects of the MT3 either satisfied or even quite impressed me. Overall a very good set that sounds good with all the devices I tried it with, is easy to fit and comfortable, is fun and makes you want to listen to them, and have an impressive tuning and solid technical ability for the price. A satisfying listen. Just a few things like the case, R/L indicators, and stage placement accuracy could be better but those are smaller qualms especially for the price. The Meeture MT3 are a set that I can really recommend!

Today I would like to review Advanced Sound Group's new model, the Sleeper. I was sent a pair free of charge to try out and review. I have spent over a week with them and have tested them out in various uses. They are marketed as a model designed sleeping and travel. I tested them in bed, outside walking/running around, and basic traveling such as a commute. The Sleeper is only $19.99 and can be found on the ADV website: https://www.adv-sound.com/products/sleeper

Specifications

Driver unit Full-range dynamic driver
Impedance 16 Ohm+/-15%
Sensitivity 90dB+/-3dB at 1kHz
Frequency response 20Hz – 20kHz
Rated power input 3mW
Max. input power 5mW
Cord length 1.2M
Plug 3.5mm gold plated

In The Box

In the small and simple box are only the earphones and two small cards for registration of the product and the warranty.

Design
The Sleeper is designed to be small and unobtrusive. Easy to use. Good for travel and when sleeping. They have integrated the one button mic remote into the Y-join so you may sleep without a small pod on one side of your face bothering you. The cabling after the Y is color coded red and black for easier right and left identification. The housings are a soft and flexible one piece silicone rubber sheathing that incorporates the ear tips. The cable has a decent rubber like covering. The cable ends in a straight or "I" shaped plug.







Design Thoughts
What did I think of the design? How did it work for me in my time with them? I found the Sleeper a bit of a mixed bag. A bit hit or miss that depended on the use. I found that the small housing did allow wind noise more than a ear filling design might. Though if used for sleep or travel in a car or bus/train that would not be an issue. I like the color coded cables. No looking for little dots or letters to Identify L and R. The small one piece silicone design is small and great for laying down and wearing any type of head wear or scarf over them. Though not being able to changes tips did not let me get above average isolation. The tips are a tapering narrower to the front design with no other way to change width and they are fairly soft and average thickness of the silicone layer itself. Fit is not difficult and won't stick out at all. The after Y length is shorter so the mic is at a higher level. This did hinder over the ear wearing for me being a bit over six feet in height. There is also no chin slider if you do prefer one. The rubber cable going practically straight into the ear cabling did transmit some noise more than average so a clip would be useful and using one did help me on this front. I did pass this along to ADV and they were quite agreeable in that a cable clip was a good idea and may be a future batch add on. This will sort out the microphonics nicely. I like what they were trying with the design though, in my time spent living with them, I did have some positives and negatives.

Sound
The Sleeper is a well tuned earphone. Always nice to see solid tuning for $20 and also tuned for it's intended use situations. It is both neutral leaning in it's tuning but also weighted nicely. Decent clarity yet some warmth and weight to it lending itself nicely to lower level bed listening and travel. Does not sound thin or bass light in bed with less volume. Has a little bloom that sheds off against external sound but doesn't lose too much substance or weight outdoors either. Smooth and level on the treble so you can use higher volumes without them getting shouty. Enough treble is there to not disappear and dull them in lower listening situations.

Solid SQ level for the $20 you pay. The overall balance is very good. The treble shows enough to be heard in the mix and give some detail but still be polite. The mids are a nice focus making them great for podcasts and watching shows on your phone. The bass is well done like the treble is having a very even character. The emphasis is lower on the spectrum since the midbass is not boosted. The reach is decent but seems even better since the lowest end is the most emphasized part of the bass. The bass is also quite tight so it has a good amount of decay that has weight but does not slow it down like a consumer tuned earphone might. This tightness shows a bit more detail and gives some air/space to the bass notes. Well done bass that is both pleasant and realistic and has just enough resolution to not feel lacking. The mids and treble do exhibit the same traits so the Sleeper is coherent and closely matches the graph you'll find on their site. They exhibit a "W" type of sound with the focus at good points; the lower of the lows, the rising through the vocal range, and a small hump boosting between 5K and 10K just enough to give some extension and focus so cymbals and such don't get too smoothed and buried. Sound stage is average and has a bit less depth than width or height. A little bit of air as to not be cramped but I would not call the Sleeper very open airy. I might think making them more airy would hurt the weight that makes them good for sleep and travel situations so that is not a bad thing. Very well tuned with just enough technical ability for your $20. Nicely done!

Overall
The Sleeper are not much too look at. They are not about that. You most likely see no more of them than a cable sticking out of someone's ears. They are not about that. They are about being small and easy to use and being pleasing on the ears in most listening situations. I gave them 3.5 out of 5 stars taking off for zero accessories, more limited size range of the one tip option(the more handy can certainly tweak the tips for best fit if needed) and for having some wind and cable noise when out running around in the real world. You may find hoods, hats, and cable clips help out so you may find they are a 4 out of 5 for you. Or if your use is indeed sleep or sitting on a bus or in a car those issues will not factor in as much. The sound quality side of the coin is very solid with a well done purposeful tuning that will appeal to most looking at the Sleeper. The sound proved enjoyable and issue free in most situations and with all devices I tried them with. They are indeed an nice little sleeper model that fills the niche they are marketed for.

Just looking around the web, as many of us do to find new stuff, I saw the Oomo Sound earphone were among the things being shown at CES2018. I read the story about the founder of Oomo hearing them on a trip to China, how they were developed by Dr. James lee of Taiwan over 8 years, and had a special three cavity structure to give a surround sound 3D sound to them. Pretty interesting read and peaked my curiosity about them. So, I inquired about them and the founder, Aaryan, sent me a pair for free to check out.

They retail for $69.95 and can be found on tier website...http://oomosound.com/

I have spent a little more than two weeks with the Oomo sound earphones. I will state my conclusion about them early on here. They are a bit niche and during my time with them I have liked them but they have performed just okay to very nicely. I feel they are 3.5 stars which is a mix or average of the sometimes good and sometimes just okay nature of them. They are an earphone trying to give a 3D sound which can be good for movies and other video, games, and certain listening types. They are more about the effect than being technically good. As a Head-Fi straight up music earphone they seem to be on the level of an Auglamour RT-1, another earphone I have on hand, which is solid sounding and a bit cheaper. So, they don't seem to stand out much in their price bracket in sheer ability on things like clarity, detail, speed, and the like. They do fine but are more niche in the ability to give a movie style sound where the low bass, vocals, and cymbal are treble are distinctly emphasized. An extreme "W" if you will which makes them better suited for Movies, radio, podcasts, and such things though they are fun for music but can be picky with files and devices for that use. They were a bit up and down but responded well to EQ, a source with a more audiophile tuning and some power, and certain tips. With radio, my podcasts, games, and video they came into their own more and quite good. Hence my title - Niche but Nice. Sometimes they do wow and sometimes they are just okay but they can fill that niche and be useful for some.

Onto the earphones themselves...

They come in a decent folding type but with magnetic fasteners. Inside reveal marketing and a generic white plastic tray holding the earphones and accessories.

Not quite as nice as the flocked black trays others may include that looks a bit more upscale. I'll give a 3.75 out of 5 for the presentation.

Accessories:
The case has a decent red/black scheme going on to match the earphones some and has a decent zipper but still a bit generic clamshell with one pocket type.

Tips are a mixed bag. I think they are well matched for the earphone and can sound nice on them. There are three types, silicone and two types of foam. One foam is a more generic cylindrical type and the other is rounded and comes in two sizes. The foams are nice while the silicone are sturdy but only come in two sizes and have a smaller bore which kinda works against the 3D they want to give. Wider bore tips and a third size would have been nice. Including a bi-flange would have been nice at the $70 price.

At the price and being a straight down design(though you can wear them over ear) a clip would have been a nice inclusion. I'll give a 3.25 out of 5 for the accessories.

Design:

The Oomo are a flowerpot shaped housing with a rounded front that has a fairly long nozzle. The nozzle has two position post when using silicone tips you can use further out or in more positions on the nozzle. Either this can be used to improve the fit or get more bass or less bass depending on the tip you may be using. The Oomo have a straight plug capped in a metal cylinder. The y join is the same with a slightly smaller cylinder of the same color. A matching gold mic/remote unit with one button is on the right side of the cable. The cable is a slightly glossy plastic look to the sheathing. I have tested it in single digit temperature and it does not stiffen which is nice. I even shoveled snow with them w/o issue. The sheathing is smooth and makes less rubbing noise and doesn't grip or catch on things. It does hold on to the bends from out of the box even two weeks in. Also likes to tangle up a bit above the Y. Microphonics are average. Cable is fixed which is good for the fit(having smaller reliefs) but might not excite at the price these days. Nice housing and okay cable. I'll give a 3.75 out of 5 for the design.

Fit:
Fit, for me, is nice. The angled reliefs and longer nozzle give an quick and easy fit which is comfortable. The stock tips work well. The foam tips are comfy especially the round ones. A simple nice shape seems to give easy insertion and removal. I'll give a 4 out of 5 on the fit.

Sound:
Oomo marketing talks of "movie sound" which is what I think describes the earphones signature. An exaggerated "W" frequency response pushing the low bass, vocal region, and cymbals to the forefront. The bass goes low and the near sub-bass region is most emphasized over the midbass. Bass clarity is good but not great. Again similar to the Auglamour RT-1 and also decent with detail but not special. The draw is the sub-bass effect that is given due to the 3 cavity design. Can be fun and really stand out with certain uses or with a good synergy with a device. At times a real good low end thunder is there and is movie theater like. With those cavities still pushing the vocals and cymbals up to the front and keeping them separate that thunder doesn't intrude but keeps a nice sub woofer sound to things.

The mids are even and again pushed to the front so they are not buried. Nice clarity and open nature to them but not the most resolution. Keeping them smooth but not trying to be sibilant or sharp. They do a great separation between a main vocalist and back-up or teamed vocals that is different and unique in it's presentation. Great for radio listening and podcasts(the radio play kind) and movies/video. Cool and a bit different for music files but not so accurate separating what an artist is combining at times.

Cymbal and treble are interesting. The last part of the "W" always pushing the cymbal range to the front yet the treble is a bit rolled and smooth outside of that. Detail is most in the cymbal area but not pushing it outside of that. When comparing to the RT-1 the armature in that earphone is a bit more articulate and a little more extended but the Oomo is more shimmery without being brighter. More done with cymbals pushed to the fore. Again cool with music but not gonna score high on the accurate side but excels in it's niche really well at times.

Being touted as 3D sounding would suggest a big stage. While they are bigger than average they aren't the biggest. Wider bore tip help with the height. H x W x D are above average and bigger than many earphones but the effect is more about the lows reaching lower and giving a subwoofer effect and having a separate vocal channel and another for cymbal range treble than giving absolute size to the stage or being so out of head sounding. Good size but focusing on those three elements being easy to hear and pushed close towards you which tends to limit the room size more than pushing things away to make a bigger room which they aren't trying to do.

For sound they are hard to score. Perhaps a 4 out of 5 for environments where the effect is more useful. Love them for radio and podcasts and you tube and such. For music they can be picky with compressed files and are not going to be true as far as accuracy and they are trying to be smooth a fun sounding instead of technically proficient but yet their ability isn't as good as other earphone at their price. Perhaps a 3.25 out of 5 if just talking straight up music vs. other earphones in ability and the effect doesn't work it's best.

Conclusion:
Such a hard product to judge really. A bit niche. At times unique and really good or just average depending on the use. Comfy, easy to get along with, usually fun. Could have a better cable and tip selection at it's price. I have enjoyed it very much with certain uses like sports talk radio and podcasts as they shine there as well as with some you tube and even music with the right source pairing. They don't stand out as a straight up music listening earphone for ability yet if the effect works with a source and you feed it good files they can be really fun and enjoyable and immersive. The RT-1 I compared the Oomo to were fun for a bit and I am now selling them. I like them! The Oomo really won't suffer the same fate but can fill a niche as that unique and fun sounding earphone for other uses where it still has something going for it instead of being an inferior back up to higher performing models that you relegate to a drawer after a while. Still it isn't typical Head-fi equipment but maybe a more specialized use phone. Glad I was able to give some impression of them but still they are kind of hit or miss as far as recommending them as a sure thing. Could not choose between 3 and 4 stars in the title section but I give them a 3.5 out of 5 overall as they have potential and I do enjoy them for certain uses.

Intro:
Today I'd like to give a review of the new Brainwavz B400 quad armature earphones. Thanks to Raz from Brainwavz who contacted me to offer me the B400 in exchange for an objective review.

I have heard plenty of Brainwavz earphones from the S series to the R3 to other B series models such as the B2, B150, and B200. I liked the previous lower models B150 and B200 for their fit and smooth, well behaved sound yet thought they were a bit overpriced for their lack of removable cables and overall technical ability at the original prices. You might have seen a post from me applauding Brainwavz for adjusting those models prices lower.

This time around Brainwavz comes pretty strong with a current flagship product that is an evolution of the lower B models. They have upped the comfort/fit, added plenty of color choices, removable cables with options, high technical ability, and started with a very affordable price point!

The B400 can be found here: https://www.brainwavzaudio.com/coll...-quad-balanced-armature-earphones-stay-frosty
Features:

• 4 Balanced armature drivers
• 3D Printed housing
• Ergonomic Design
• Detachable MMCX Cables

Specifications:

• Drivers : Quad Balanced Armature
• Rated Impedance : 30Ω
• Frequency Range : 10 Hz - 40 kHz
• Sensitivity : 115dB
• Cable : Detachable MMCX
• Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold plated

Included Accessories:

• 3.5mm Standard MMCX Stereo Cable
• 2.5mm Standard MMCX Balanced Cable
• Earphone Hard case
• 1 Set earphone cleaning kit
• 6 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)
• 1 set of Comply™ Foam Tips T-100 Red
• 2 Earphone sanitary wipes
• 1 Shirt Clip
• Velcro Cable Tie
• Instruction Manual & Warranty Card (24 month warranty)

I did receive the B400 w/o the retail packaging so not much of an unboxing experience. Still opening up the case found a very handsome earphone with nice accessories! Here is the B400 in pics:









My B400 came with the Candy Cane 2.5mm balanced and Frosty 3.5mm cables:



Design:
Some info provided to me by Raz...
- Drivers are produced by Knowles
- 3D printer and resin are from/made in the US, printed & assembled in house at Brainwavz
- The silver cable is made in USA by a very well know manufacturer within the IEM industry, high purity, OFC silver plated cable
- The balanced cable is made in Taiwan, high purity, OFC silver plated cable
- The standard cables will be made in Taiwan by the same manufacturer of the balanced cable using OFC copper cable
- The litz wire used within the housing is from Netherlands by a premium litz cable manufacturer
- We are using Kester Solder (made in USA) for soldering the wires within the housing, and soldering the balanced cable and standard cables.
- Comply T-100 tips included (made in USA)
- The only components that are made in China are the earphone case, silicone tips and packaging material.
- The entire earphone is assembled and packed at our workshop in Hong Kong by our own team, so the quality control and attention to detail is very high.
- The entire process from printing the housing to final assembly, finishing, burn in, quality checking and packing per earphone takes 28+ hours.

The Frosty B400 design is excellent. A frost translucent textured finish with an excellent fitting ergonomic shape. The housing seems decently thick and sturdy. It has MMCX connectors that spin free with no locking mechanism for the cable. I have found the connection snaps in nicely and have had no connection issues in my time with them.

The shape fits me wonderfully. Flush, very stable, and extremely comfortably. The Frosty cable has a metal wire memory portion you can shape to fit the ears. I went with more of the squared off bend style which I like.

Looking straight into the B400 bore you don't find any screens or filters right away but further back you'll see two Knowles dampers one green and one white. Like a little speaker with woofer and tweeter then some room in between allowing things to mix and then out the bore/tip and into the ear canal.

Sound Impressions:
Coming off the speaker-like design description, I will describe the sound presentation.

If you have read the B400 thread on Head-Fi you'll have seen that fellow member Brooko posted an early F.R. graph for the B400 and it agrees exactly with how I hear the B400. A bit of a low arched smooth bass hump that rolls slow into the sub 50Hz frequencies and gentle sloping treble with nice reach and a bit of a peak between 3-4K right before that keeping them from being too smooth like the B200 is to my ears. I also hear an excellently matched earphone that delivers wonderfully well edged notes that are sharp clean and super well focused helping the detail and resolution be top notch.

Not a flat earphone nor boosted to really U or V but right at a sweet spot that many will love and others can push in either direction to suit either more neutral or more warm tastes without too much trouble.

The "little speaker" look inside the bore seems to help give then a wonderfully well layered and blended image and soundscape. Like a more speaker presentation on a smaller scale. Stage is a good size and things inside can be placed pretty much anywhere the recording may call for it. Aided by the great channel matching and sharp edged notes from the Knowles drivers the particular set-up can seemingly place things anywhere in that little room/space in front of the dampers and the ears hear a realistic image that is further up the scale from earphone sounding to a more realistic speaker sound than most of the earphones I have heard. Only thing holding back here is the sealed design not being as open or 3D as an earbud or semi-open earphone can be.

Still you are transported to a warm smooth but not dark musical place that really engages with great ability, great balance, and great character or personality. Not a monitor sound here stripping away towards the sterile but a real house sound. The Knowles flavor is there and familiar but a Brainwavz has instilled a house sound or flavor more like a dynamic earphone does and more well done than most any all armature earphone I have come across. Not all the dynamic bass reach or power but impact and some feel is there. In fact notes throughout the range have a good weight and tactile nature making them more 3D in and of themselves.

As for the bass we have a high quality bass with some heft and a bit of warmth. Solid sub reach only bested by TOTL armature models and quality dynamics. I do feel when using the stock silicone tips the note get a little smudged and loss their sharpness and tightness. A bit easier to hear with the ability of the B400. Any loss of that sharp edge in any part of the spectrum is easy for me to pick out. Points to the resolving ability of the B400 and is fixed with tips if ones hears it. The bass mixes with the treble wonderfully for cymbals and drums to form a realistic drum kit that is integrated and positioned accurately. The bass is both very tight and quick enough to keep up with any type of music yet still has good punch and weight. Satisfying armature bass if you will

Mids are airy, clean, wonderfully imaged, and to me the most 3D part of the spectrum. Imaged in front of the drum kit nicely they space out well, are super intelligible, and float wonderfully in thier own space. Revealing and the most well spaced or distinct part of the spectrum. Probably hearing all my familiar tracks the mids stood out most as far as a "hearing them like I haven't heard them before" kind of effect.

The treble is a team player but still excellent. Accurate and clean tones. Just metallic enough, transparent with an accurate decay. Blends in well but still reaches quite high with the polite roll off. Plays well with the whole image popping up to highlight things when called for more than being a constant focus. Real treble detail and not forced, or boosted/exaggerated to give more detail or hear it easier. Lacks only the highest registers as far as reach.

Overall:
The new B400 is a quad done right plain and simple. All the technical ability you'd expect from 4 armatures blended together the right way to give weight, texture, personality, and a wonderfully coherent and immersive presentation. They designed a sturdy housing with one of the better fitting shapes, added an array of color choice and cable options. Then they gave it an extremely fair price and configuration options that don't make you pay for something you don't want or need. Brainwavz took what they started with the B100/150/200 and nearly perfected it! I recommend them heartily!!

Today I'd like to talk about the Rock Jaw Audio Resonate in-ear headphones. I was among the lucky few to be chosen for a 7 day slot on the U.S. tour of the Resonate in exchange for my honest opinion of them. Many thanks to Joe of Rock Jaw Audio!

The Resonate can be found and ordered here:
https://rockjawaudio.glopal.com/en-..._GB&utm_medium=pr&utm_source=rockjawaudio.com

The Resonate retails for ~$160(exact price depends on current exchange rate).

The Specs:

• Drivers: Balanced armature + 8mm dynamic - Hybrid
• MMCX detachable cables
• 3x Interchangeable tuning filters
• Can be worn as a standard earphone, or upside down with the cable over the ear
• Compatible with iOS / Android Windows Smartphones
• Impedance: 16 Ohm
• Sensitivity: 103+/-3dB
• Frequency response: 20 – 20000Hz
• Cord Length: 1.25M
• Jack type: Gold plated 3.5mm (spring loaded)
• MIC with universal pause/play button
• Eartips included: (S/M/L) silicone | (M/L) memory foam | (S) double flange.
• Resonate comes with a 12 month standard warranty

The Resonate is an earphone with tuning capability. 3 Pairs of interchangeable filters are include and explained as such (taken directly from the product page):

TUNING FILTERS EXPLAINED BY COLOUR
Fusion (Yellow tuning filter) = Reference class. How the artist intended. A fun and exciting middle ground of all frequencies combined.

Emotion (Blue tuning filter) = Treble. Offering a reduced bass sound signature with more detail on the upper mids and treble.

Energy (Green tuning filter) = Bass. Whilst keeping plenty of detail in the music.

The Resonate come in understated yet handsome black box with a magnetic flap and front window panel to display the earpieces and filters...


Opening the box reveals the ear tip selection...


The Resonate with it's cloth covered cable attached. The cable has a mic/remote for use with iOS and Android phones...

In my many years frequenting Head-fi, I have had experience with hundreds of earphones, headphones, and earbuds. The Resonate earphones like to incorporate some of the current trends. I have had experience with them all before. Tuning filters to help adjust the sound to one's liking, They also adopt the current favorite MMCX connectors for their removable cables. They employ a hybrid design with 1 armature and 1 dynamic driver per side. The Resonate also use the offset strain housing design.

Design:
I like what they were thinking with the Resonate design. Good ideas but with okay execution. Some may dislike MMCX especially the type that allows spinning like the Resonate do. Assuming you do not plug and unplug often MMCX should be fine. I have had nothing but a perfect connection in my time with the Resonate.

My issue is more with the Resonate cable. The cloth covering is not the softest and it transmits rubbing noise quite a bit. The cable itself is a bit thin above the Y join and really likes to tangle. A cord slider may have been nice as well. The mic unit is positioned on the left side and a bit lower for both over ear and straight down wearing. The cable does use a nice spring strain relief on the 3.5mm straight plug.

The housings have an offset strain design that routes the cable entry point off the front and towards the outside edge of the housings making them easy to grasp for insertion and removal. The filters screw in the center of the front of the housings. The housing are fairly large and weightyy so I need to go up a tips size to L for a secure fit since the filters are not quite long enough for me. I am fairly average and usually M size tip person. Certainly necessary when moving about such as on your commute.

Overall the design is good in it's ideas but could use some changes to make it perform as well as it could in real world use. SCORE: 7.25 out of 10

Accessories:
The Resonate come with a good array of accessories. Different styles of tips(foam, single, and bi-flanges), a clip, a suede look pouch, and of course the filters. I do feel that at the $160 price the quality of these accessories is only so-so. At least a handful of competitor options add a second non-mic cable which is absent here. The pouch could have been a cheap clam shell zip case and both upped the kit's cache and protected the Resonate better and had a pocket to store tips/filters. The included single flange tips are a bit narrow in the front for the previously mentioned short filter / large housing combination. They really don't aid as much as they could in getting the best fit/seal. I also don't hear them giving the Resonate it's best sound. They leave a bit of SQ on the table compared to others I have in my collection. For example, a wider bore will give a more open and airy sound than the stock tips do. SCORE: 7.25 out of 10

Sound:
The Resonate sound comes down mostly to the filters. Overall they present a technically capable sound with price equivalent clarity and detail. The bass extension is solid but not special as is the treble extension. The treble is fairly evident regardless of filter. The F.R. also varies with filter. They perform nearly exactly as stated. Green leans to a bass slanted response. Blue leans to a brighter treble slant and the yellow is the most even and also the most cohesive to my ears. The green filters do add a slight bit of low bass extension to it. Blue adds brightness but not more treble reach to my ears.

The dynamic driver is solid giving tight and quick bass that both provides detail w/o ever really losing the ability to separate and pick out an above average amount of detail up and through to the mids. The green filter adds a just more than noticeable amount that you can discern but doesn't hurt the previously mentioned ability. The bass has both proficient and fun nature. Bassheads may need EQ as 2 of the 3 choices give "reduced" and "reference" bass amount and the green adds a limited amount. The Resonate seem to EQ well enough if you wish to further add to the tunability via that route.

Outside of the yellow "reference" filter, the armature does come the slightest bit too apparent and can be a bit bright depending on source. Green filters bass is just a bit less clean and clean compared to the high end to these golden ears Then on the other end of things the blue filters bass may be bit too light on the presence/impact for some. Not enough bass there to really hit down low though a good amp will certainly kick up the Resonate's overall bass kick.

The Resonate has a slightly above average stage that does like some power to open up even more. A good amount of separation makes most everything in the mix be able to be picked out. Slight improvement on this ability in the low end with the blue and yellow filters since they take a bit of meat off the bass notes than the green filter.

The Resonate has a pretty natural tone and has a good blend of fun color with some realism and accuracy. The basic sound should appeal to most and of course can be push some to a particular signature within reason.
SCORE: 8 out of 10

Comparisons:

Resonate vs. Elecom EHP-CH1010:
Resonate add removable cables and filters but CH1010 is half the price and does come with better single flange tips and a nicer looking leather look pouch. Elecom has a more agreeable cable and the brass housing are more elegant to me. The smaller size is helps the Elecom's similar offset design fit easier and more stably than the Resonate for me.

Across my devices the two earphones are nearly a draw in SQ except for the Elecom's synergy with Sony Minidisc where it sounds bigger and more natural. Otherwise they perform on technically the same level with the Elecom being darker and with less of a high end lean.

Resonate vs. Brainwavz B150:
Different form factors. Resonate is straight down design that can be worn over ear though the B150 trumps it for over ear fit and the B150 can only be worn over ear due to the formed ear guides.

Even with the best tips that make the B150 brighter and push a bit more detail, the Resonate wins in the SQ dept. They sound a bit cleaner and detailed and bigger in stage size. Bass reach is a win for resonate. The B150 is trying to sound more like a dynamic and the Resonate trying to be tight and a bit bright so the armature powered B150 has no speed edge on the resonate even down low. The blue filter has a bit less bass and bass punch than how the B150 armature is tuned.



Resonate vs. Pioneer CH9T:
Pioneer is a bit cheaper at $129 in the US but also has sparser accessories and also a pouch instead of a case. Pioneer has MMCX removable cables and is able to be worn both ways. Pioneer cable is a good deal better than the Resonate cable regarding noise transmission and tangling..
Sound goes to the Pioneer as a bigger and more natural sound. The wide-band dynamic drivers out reach the Resonate's hybrid set-up a bit on both ends. A bigger stage, more textured bass, sweeter vocals, and smoother but equally detailed treble edge out the Resonate by a bit on most SQ traits. The single driver is more natural and cohesive and can just sound a bit more realistic. Pioneer goes with a single higher quality driver with some higher quality materials like brass and a special air flow design instead of going hybrid.

Value:
There was a nice 40% discount but at the full US$160 price I would like those few things previously mentioned like better silicone tips, a step up to at least a basic zip case, a better cable design, and perhaps an improved filter set that was a bit longer. Sound is solid at the price and tuning is a nice option though I might like another filter with even more bass than the green and another with even more treble reduction for greater versatility.
SCORE: 7.25 out of 10

Overall:
Overall I want to like the Rock Jaw Resonate more than I actually do. For me they could do some things better than they do. The design is good but not quite realized to the full potential. Just a bit more to be had with regards to fit, cable, and the accessory kit.
OVERALL SCORE: 7.5 out of 10

  Brainwavz kindly offered me a B150 prototype for review. Thanks goes out to them! I have reviewed quite a few of the Brainwavz products in the past but it has been a long time since I have heard an armature model from them. I was very happy to get a chance to hear the B150. I didn't get any packaging and heard that the red silicone tips I received may be black for the production model. Not sure if they are identical except for color. Brainwavz always mentions that they may change the accessories at any time if they need or wish to.

 
The B150 can be found here...http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/b150-balanced-armature-in-ear-earphone
 
They are part of the new armature range that will consist of the lower B100, the B150, and the dual armature B200.
 

Specifications:

1. Drivers : Single Balanced Armature
2. Rated Impedance : 30 Ω
3. Frequency Range : 16 Hz ~ 22 kHz
4. Sensitivity : 105 dB at 1 mW
5. Cable : 1.3 m Y-Cord, Over the ear, OFC Copper
6. Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold plated

 

Included Accessories:

1. Earphone Hard Case
2. 6 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S/M/L)
3. 1 set of Comply™ Foam Tips T-100
4. 1 Shirt Clip
5. Velcro Cable Tie
6. Instruction Manual & Warranty Card (24 month warranty)

 
ACCESSORIES
  First I'll talk about the included accessories listed above. The usual solid Brainwavz set for the most part. A sturdy clip, tips, velcro cable tie and paperwork. I like the case. The first time I have had the newer skinny case. Still in the red/black color scheme it is slender and nicely ergonomic. Good to wrap your hand around and fit in pockets yet still carry all you need. Wish they would drop the extra zipper pull which can come in handy on a suitcase or large case but not really needed here. The tips I have are red and I would have liked them to be a bit firmer as they make the bass a bit softer/less tight than the Comply and others I tried on the B150. Still nice tips and if the same as the black they are good tips. I like the Comply on this earphone. They don't fit me that deep on the B150 but do give a clean, transparent, and extremely cohesive sound. A solid accessory set that includes more than some sets in the price range and less than some others but doesn't leave you lacking anything and all things, esp. the tips, work well with the B150.
 
DESIGN and BUILD QUALITY
  The B150 design is quite well thought out. You still have the long slender oval Y which is low profile yet easy to handle. The forty-five degree plug is a good size and easy to grab with a good depression for the fingers and thumb to grip it. Might like it better as a RA though. The cable is nicely done. The bottom is braided then sheathed over in a rubber that is a bit smoother than the upper part. After the Y the cable is thinner and is more sticky, for lack of a better word, which is nice to hold both the chin slider and the over ear guide portion in place well. Nice thinking though the upper part is thin enough that I find it wedges itself in the teeth of open zippers of jackets and hoodies so keep an eye on it. The over ear guide portion is one of the better implementations I have seen. Pre-shaped, thin, a great length, and the more sticky sheathing make it work really well even with glasses. Better w/o a memory wire inside. Also better than other implementations like the Alpha & Delta D2 which is a bit long and doesn't have a real set shape nor sticks to the ear as well. I like the somewhat kidney shaped housings of the B150. Small and fits in the ear very well. Plastic is faceted a bit if you look close and the plastic feels sturdy with no give when pressed on firmly. Reliefs are small, stay out of the way and are quite stiff. Nozzles are thinner but seem strong enough. Thinner means many of the wider bore tips won't stay on but little adapters can be fashioned if you are so inclined! The overall build of the B150 is fairly sturdy outside of the thinner upper cabling.
 
FIT and COMFORT
  As for fit and comfort, the B150 gets high marks. A great shape and small size should fit in most ears very nicely. The shortness of the strain reliefs means they won't touch many ears; just the pre-formed over ear portion will touch the skin. The B150 nozzles don't go very deep so they are less intrusive in the canal than some other thin straight barrel designs will. The B150 still can give well above average isolation. It will fall short of the best isolating models but enough for most to be happy with.
 
SOUND QUALITY
  On to the sound. We do part from the Brainwavz dynamics here. Those usually have some area they falter in. Too much mid-bass or not enough mids or whatever. The B150 offer a complete, refined, and mature sound. They do everything you'd want and have no real flaws. There is the current hybrid craze so an $100-ish single armature may not excite at first glance but they get to be small and have no crossover worries and the B150 are nicely cohesive and there are zero worries about an inconsistent tone or bad F.R. overlap here. First thing to note, to my ears, is the Brainwavz house tone is in the B150. I think it imparts from the cabling they use. Unfortunately it is hard to describe and more something you recognize when you hear it. I recognize it from most of the other dynamic models. I also don't remember it back it the B2 which used a different cable. Just a distinctive trait and nothing negative.
 
I found the B150 to be good across multiple sources and quite easy to drive. They do not require amplification at all but will scale some being a bit more open/airy and quicker with transients. I found they take to EQ nicely. A bit sensitive with tips as far as bore size altering stage height and tip firmness helping bass tightness and impact.
 
  Overall the B150 are about great balance in all things. Detail is evenly balanced across the range. The frequencies are well balanced across the range and nothing tries to take the focus for itself. The ends are evenly balanced as well with extension being very similar on either end. Roll-off is also similar on the highs and lows. The extension is nice for the price as is the overall technical ability. Again, the B150 is an earphone that does very little wrong and only doesn't do as much or do all things as well as pricier models may. 
 
  The overall presentation is again cohesive and about balance. Front to back, bottom to top is nicely even regarding width, height, and depth. The ear tips do affect the presentation the B150 give. Wider bore will sound bigger and I hear the Comply as bigger than the silicone tips. Stage is a good size with the right tips and can be more immersive with the good cohesion. You don't hear more width or height or lack of depth that sticks out and takes any focus from enjoying the presentation. Just a good rounded off stage with very accurate placement of voice and instruments. You put them in and they sound "right" and "correct" which is a nice trait to have.
 
  The bass on the B150 is a solid thing. The armature bass conception is persistent but doesn't follow here. True the B150 is not a punchy dynamic driver but the bass has a nice balance of bass traits. There is solid extension, good detail, some speed, and even some impact with a good seal. A closer to neutral  bass that is clean, clear, even, and nicely resolving so still armature but not lacking and has presence enough to be a solid foundation. So, I find the B150 will work with most devices regardless of signature. A leaner source need not be avoided. There will still be bass with good qualities. Of course the basshead crowd would need EQ to get close to what they want. The bass head crowd would more likely go for Brainwavz dynamic models. The B150 is some of what you would expect an armature based earphone to be but isn't one to be scared off due to lacking anything down low.
 
  The mids on the B150 have a nice little bit of warmth and weight. Been liking radio and podcasts more than I first thought while using the B150. Again a balanced performance with male and female voices and good balance in being neither recessed or forward. vocals sit well in the mix and take their place nicely and perform well. Nice separation and placement of vocals that as again "correct" and "right". Good mid clarity and details in songs, podcasts, and radio broadcasts. I think they even present the room a bit better than many similarly priced earphones as far as mids/vocals. Accurate portrayal of voices, where they come from, and the distance between them when there are more than one.  Just like the bass head might go elsewhere for big bass, if you want lush and syrupy sweet vocals you may want to look elsewhere but I still think most all vocal lovers will like what the B150 bring in the midrange.
 
  The high end is a nice surprise. What to expect from the middle model?? I wasn't sure when I heard they had one more B150 lying around for me. The B150 again try for balance and are not trying to impress with treble reach and sparkle. The treble reaches enough to not be lacking at all but keep all the info and detail you'd like to hear for a hundred dollar earphone. They do it with a very smooth roll off that is well done. They do it with a smooth peak free response that makes them very well behaved. you can play with EQ and tips and still never encounter bad peaks and sibilance. It just tries to stay polite. Smooth and competent. Tone and timbre are nicely done. Natural sound on cymbals and other high notes. The treble probably won't wow you but you should come to appreciate it. Again something I had concern for as a podcast and radio listener. Something I had concern for if using my Cowon w/o an amp since it brighten as you crank the volume. The treble is a very good generalist that can sound satisfying on a minidisc Atrac compressed file(dulls the highs) or a badly recorded podcast that can be harsh. The treble has a solid amount of detail but again not trying to sparkle and throw detail in your face. You look for it and it is there kind of thing. The same good spacing and placement like the mids and bass is here as well. Again well done. Perhaps the treble head will want to EQ or perhaps have another couple armatures in their phone. Still a well done and problem free treble presentation striking a balance of good behavior and technical ability.
 
CONCLUSION
  The release of a $110 single armature phone in the current climate of hybrid mania could be a tough sell. Of course those who know better understand it is more in the implementation and driver type or combination does not guarantee a well done earphone. The B150 doesn't have the cache hybrid seems to have atm. Only has one driver. Yet the execution is just where the B150 has succeeded. It is a well done earphone. Great size and good fitting with high comfort. Not out to wow you but will satisfy you with a competent and complete sounding performance that may surprise when comparing to quality earphones. Then they may just show you how good a little earphone they are.

Hi All,
 
I was given the chance to review the new Shozy Zero Rosewood earphones in exchange for just a small fee to cover the shipping. I received, as I'm sure some other reviewers did, an imperfect model with just tips but no packaging or case. The Zero can be found here...http://www.shozy-hk.com/zero-earphone/
 
Product Details:
Features:

1. Milled CNC nozzles with special front venting
2. Rosewood acoustic chambers
3. High efficiency drivers

Specs:

1. Sensitivity(at 1Khz) :94db
2. Frequency response :20hz-18khz
3. Input connector :3.5mm/1/8 inch gold-plated stereo TRS plug

 
The Zero is available at several e-tailers including Penon Audio Online store which is reputable...http://penonaudio.com/SHOZY-Zero
 

(credit to Penon Audio) Shows the case which I am not able take a photo of.
 
 

 
My pair with my favorite tips on them. Note the small marks on them
 
 
Build Quality:
The Zero build quality is a combination of solid yet lightweight. Rosewood housings and capping for the Y join and plug. Rosewood is handsome and fairly lightweight but the finish may show signs of use or abuse after a while. The CNC nozzles are pretty much bulletproof. Sturdy rubber reliefs come out of the housings and plug. Fit and finish is perfect. Everything straight and clean with nothing out of alignment or ill fitting and no type of adhesive residue to be found. The cable is lightweight and has a slight plastic feeling sheathing. A bit bouncy is the cable but a nice blend of strong yet lighter weight. There is no chin slider which would help with microphonics and over the ear wearing style. A fairly simple design: straight barrel housings, straight plug, and a straight cylinder Y join.
 
Fit and Isolation:
I find the Zero to have a fairly easy and comfortable fit. The straight housings lend to both straight down and over the ear cable routing. The lighter cable can bounce off the ear at times so the a chin slider would have been nice for over the ear wearing.
 
Isolation is above average with the Zero. They are a sealed design with a special notch cut out of the nozzle lip. This can give better than average isolation but may introduce some driver flex with a deeper fit for those trying to get the absolute best seal. I have experienced it some on my right side. I find I can still get even slightly above average isolation with a medium depth insertion.
 
Sound:
The Zero has an overall well balanced sound with a slant towards bass and warmth. A decent bass amount but still far from basshead territory. Even with a tight seal I find them only a bit U shaped and not quite a V sound. Bass focused but the mids and treble are still right there. There is a good driver here combining with the sealed back wood housings for added richness and warmth. The added warmth of the wood and good driver dynamics give a enjoyable and smooth sound that doesn't become too thick or syrupy like many other wood earphones do. The driver is solid in it's performance being very coherent, quick, and accurate. Good extension on both ends that is above the price but short of the best. Dynamics are quite good with crisp lively treble and tight and fairly agile bass unless you seal them up too much where the drivers slow down a bit if they can't breathe as well. Detail is also good for a single dynamic and even presented throughout the range. Just don't expect mutli-armature detail. Clarity is quite good and close to some very good $100 offerings.
 
The Zero drivers sound quite accurate and the housings add in some wood richness. Vocals sound real. Most instruments sound realistic as well. Treble and cymbals are quite well done here. I hear nothing that comes off as artificial. A good portrayal with some nice transparency that gives a convincing experience. I find the Zero is also true to source as far as working well with most sources and not coloring the sound much and performing well. I may have a preference for using the Zero with less warm things but it still works well with those sources since the bass(sans unwanted vibration) is quite tight and composed. The Zero amps well but the extra juice can increase the vibration problem so the bass can muddle up/smear but if countered the bass seems to like added juice and should be quick and tight with more power provided the gear isn't adding significant warmth/bass.
 
The staging is quite good. Not very deep nor too forward though they are slightly on the forward side. Soundstage is large esp. with wide bore tips. Above average but falls short of huge. Smallish housing and a good seal won't present like a Titan 1 or other more open designs. Height, width, and depth are in nice proportion with each other. Maybe a bit taller than wide or deep but not enough to stick out and hurt the cohesion to any large degree.
 
*The caveat to the Zero sounding their best, IME, is keeping unwanted vibration in check. The wood housings seem to vibrate if not held place better with the right fit and/or tips. I noticed this on my pair early on when there was bass bloom combined with a surprising still clear upper mid/treble combination. Odd to hear that much difference and it was clear the front screens weren't to blame being quite fine and extra bass bloom that needs to burn off would effect the upper frequencies more and not leave them with that stark a difference in clarity. So, testing by holding the housing tightly and steady the bass cleaned up instantly and was much more clean and cohesive with the rest of the spectrum. YMMV on the issue with personal fit and tips used. A potential with wood which can resonate beautifully in an instrument but if not seated firmly causing low end smear/bass bloom. You don't know till you hear for yourself if or how much may be present. 
 
Select Comparisons:
I find the Zero compares quite well to two other earphones I have that cost about double the price...
 
Zero vs. ATH-E40(price paid - $89) - The Zero and E40 share a similar slight bass focus and smooth sound. E40 is a bit further back and spaced out not having the wood thickness in the sound. Only a bit more clarity and detail with the pricier Audio-technica monitor earphone which also works well with most of my gear. The Shozy is smaller and lighter and can be worn both ways while the E40 is over the ear due to having a memory wire portion. The E40 has twice the drivers in a dual phase configuration and can give a bit more bass quality and extension but not much difference comparing the overall SQ level of the two.
 
Zero vs. JVC HA-FXT200($100) - I did swap out the JVC's wool-like screens for a pair of metal mesh ones so they are not totally stock. I find the two phone at the same level of performance though a bit different in presentation. The JVC a more forward and immediate sound of similar thickness as the Zero. Again two drivers vs. one and at times or with certain sources the JVC shows a give in the cohesion of the two where the Zero won't. The Shozy has a bit more accurate/transparent treble. Both are very comfy and have lighter cables.
 
Conclusion:
Short and sweet, the Zero is a great little earphone. A good value. Easy to fit and can be worn both ways. Comfy. Sounds smooth and easy on the ears out of most gear but still quick and has some energy, transparency and good resolution and cohesiveness. No annoying flaws. Not the most accessories and could use a chin slider but you get one of the best performing earphones for $50. 

  I received these earphones as a sample in exchange for my honest opinion of them. The current Amazon price at the time of this review is $29.99.
http://www.amazon.com/IEB6-headphone-engineered-mini-driver-exceptional/dp/B0178BC13W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
The IEB6 have a one year warranty. More info available on the website: http://store.firstharmonic.com/
 
Description:
Ultra-small, HiFi metal headphone with an engineered 5.5mm mini-driver for exceptional sound.
• Voiced by acclaimed audio engineer, Aaron Fournier
• Microphone with single button control
• Compatible with iOS and Android devices
• 9Hz-20kHz frequency response
• Lightweight and strong aluminum construction
• Passive noise isolation minimizes ambient sound
• PVC-free tangle-resistant cable
• 3.5mm gold plated plug for increased sound clarity
• 5 sizes of flexible silicon ear inserts (xs/s/m/l/xl)
• Cord clip and carrying pouch included
• One year limited warranty
 
Pictures:






 

 
 
 
Packaging and Accessories:
  First up is the packing and accessories. This is where I am glad the price came down $10 from what they were. Just a small thin cardboard box contain the earphones, tips, cable clip, pouch, and manual/warranty paper. Not much in the way of presentation here. The pouch is a very basic thin fabric drawstring bag. Will keep them wound up and not get dirty but not much more protection than that. The cable clip is better than the generic type and is sturdy and can swivel when on the cable. You get five sizes of silicone tips and they are decent but actually a bit soft for use with the earphones making the right seal a bit more tricky in my experience. For such tiny earphones perhaps slightly longer or firmer tips would have been a better choice. The most basic of pouches and only type of tips lets it down a bit. A longer bi-flange tip would have been a welcome addition to aid in fit.
 
Build Quality:
  Build quality is quite good. Metal housings, Y join, and remote casing with solid strains coming out of each. Plug is rubber covered forty-five degree with raised rings to grip it better. The cable is a rubber type with a bit of spring before the Y join but not a real issue and should relax some with time. The cable is a decent thickness and has a good feel. Not the best cable I've seen on an under $40 earphone but solid and should hold up well. The remote play/pause button is a decent size rubber button with a solid click to it. Combined with the metal casing the mic/remote is much nicer than some plastic jobs I have seen.
 
Comfort/Isolation:
  Comfort is relatively high with the IEB6. The IEB6 are small and light which is good for comfort. Round housings without any rough edges should give few people any comfort issues. Isolation for me is slightly above average. I think they have potential for even more with aftermarket tips if one chooses.
 
Mic/Remote:
  I give it high marks. As mentioned the build is very solid. The mic hole stays facing the right direction and is placed at a good height for me. The clarity is good. The single button functioned as it should in my limited testing of it. It is designed to work with iPhone, Android, and "more".
 
Design:
  The IEB6 design is quite well thought out in most aspects. I like the metal parts and I like the raised ring edges of both the plug and remote for better fingertip use. The choice of rubber over metal on the plug is nice for gripping it and many times a plug may swing into other things and metal can cause scratches or marks on other devices if not careful. Where the design falls short for me is the housings and strain reliefs being very small. The small size actually makes the earphones harder to fit and get the best seal and sound. The small, short strain reliefs are going to make some people pull them out by the cable which is never a good thing. I also know the size of the "room" helps the stage size. A larger housing would give the sound more air and be more open and less in the head which is always good. The earphones could have been a decent bit larger and still be quite small just easier to manipulate between the fingers and fit in the ears.
 
 
Sound Quality:
  Happy to report sound quality is the IEB6's best attribute. The caveat here is the softer tips and very small size of the housings can make getting the right seal and best sound harder than some other earphones. Once you do they are a good sounding earphone that is well tuned. Free of humps in the bass region or nasty peaks in the highs. Sibilance is absent on both instruments and vocals. Extension reaches fairly well and evenly on both ends of the spectrum. Neither is absolute best in class but not lacking at all. Notes are pretty tight/sharp throughout the spectrum keeping the IEB6 from having a more one note bass or smearing when things start to get complex. Tone of voices and instruments is decently accurate and neither really favoring a warm or cool tone. Depends on your source. I like to warm up the IEB6 a bit to make them more fun and have a more engaging sound. Clarity and detail is solid for $30. Better than average and both are quite evenly done across the lows, mids, and highs. The bass is tight enough and lively enough for most music. The vocals are clean and clear and good with both male and female vocals. A bit more smooth than dry on the vocals. The highs are nicely even and lacking sharp peaks. Treble is good at being in the middle of bright and dark and should not offend anyone by either being bright nor rolled off/lacking. Overall sound is quite cohesive. Soundstage is nicely even in all directions but just not very large. Average spacing and depth, width, and height. Imaging/positioning is done well enough but is like many budget earphone lacking real 3D ability in this regard. They are more 2D(up and down, left to right, but really limited front to back layering ability). A larger housing size could have given a larger sound and helped with front to back placement. Aside from possible difficulty getting the right fit to hear them at their best there are no real complaints about the sound quality for the IEB6's price tag.
 
 
Conclusion:
  Overall, the IEB6 are a solid choice in the $20 - $30 price range. Really solid build quality, a nice looking phone, and quite well tuned. A decent starting point with some ability and a balanced/slightly warm tuning. They also take EQ well to tune to your taste a bit more. Only downsides to me are a very average accessory pack and the housings being so small they are harder to fit and take out than they need to be. Still recommended and worth the price and they are worth working through a potentially longer learning curve for fit and seal.

INTRODUCTION:
  Brainwavz was nice enough to send me their latest in ear, the low budget Omega. It retails for $15, comes in multiple colors, and has Apple/Android compatible 3 button remote/mic. I have used them for a while, put some hours of use on them, and tested them with multiple sources and tips. My pair are the red/blue color combo.
 
WHERE CAN YOU FIND THEM:
   You can find the Omega on the Brainwavz site or on Amazon. http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/omega-iem-noise-isolating-earphones-with-microphone-remote
 
SPECS AND ACCESSORIES:
 

Specifications:

1. Drivers: 6mm Dynamic
2. Rated Impedance: 16 Ω
3. Frequency Range: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
4. Sensitivity: 98 dB at 1 mW
5. Rated Input Power: 3 mW
6. Cable: 1.2 m Y-Cord, Copper
7. Plug: 3.5 mm, Gold plated

 

Included Accessories:

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

 
WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE:
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  You'll notice the more plum red color of the Y and plug is a bit different from the more brick red color of the remote. It would be great if the plug and Y were brick red as well as I think it is a stronger color that goes better against the blue and would, of course, match the remote perfectly. The Red/Blue is a blue cable with red trim and not red and blue housings for right and left which has been popular as of late.
 
 
BUILD AND DESIGN:
   The Omega has solid build quality and some nice ergonomic touches to the design. The new color scheme aside, the Omega sports a very similar cable as the older Delta model which is a round style cable which is not as robust or weighty as the S-series flat cables. Fairly thick and sturdy on the lower section, it is a bit on the thin side above the Y. The lower section inspires some confidence on the durability while after the split makes you pause for a second. The housings are steel cylinders and pretty much bulletproof. Since they house a 6mm micro driver they are small enough to fit most everyone without any issue. The plug is a forty-five degree angle with room to easily get the fingers around it and an indent for fingers and thumb to get a good grip. The wide Y join and housing strain reliefs also are good for the fingers to feel and grip. The reliefs of the housings have small raised letters indicating R/L but they are the same plum red so they do not stand out well at all. Not great for symmetrical housings but the mic/remote comes to the rescue. It is on the right side so you can easily identify using the remote instead. The remote itself is fairly sturdy plastic with nice reliefs and buttons that click solidly. Very nice overall build for the $15 price tag.
 
FIT AND ISOLATION:
   I find the Omega to be one of the better fitting Brainwavz phones I have had. A gentle push in with the thumb and they slide right in. They are quite comfortable for me. Even more so with softer tips than the stock silicone tips. Softer tips also help prevent driver flex which can be present if you push them in too firmly. A bit of practice and flex is no longer a concern, or shouldn't be.
 
   Isolation is average as is microphonics. Isolation is pretty good but not great. Microphonics are there but not very bad at all. Neither area wins an award nor is any kind of deal breaker Both can be adjusted plus or minus depending on tip choice if you have other types to try.
 
  The omega can be worn over the ear or down. The only real change is the mic/remote becomes higher and if resting or even bumping against the face noises may be an issue when on a call. But it is easy enough to just flip that side when making/taking a call to use the remote without that potential issue.
 
SOUND QUALITY:
  Sound quality on the Omega is quite solid for the $15 price tag. I find them quite fun and engaging. They promise a crisp clean sound. The issue I have is with the stock silicone tips. I hear them taking the crispness and cleanliness down a notch compared to other tips. They are firm and not the widest bore size and they make the Omega sound warmer and smoothed over with a bit less air than others I have in my kit. Not quite as sharp or dynamic as they are capable of being. With the stock tips they are a bassy sound than slopes downward slowly going towards the treble end. Smooth up top with decent detail and dynamics. Not the fastest but not sluggish or smeared. At their best with the right tips they have some more balance with a bit of a crisper high end and they are a bit more dynamic and lively. Detail is a little more impressive with better tips or at least easing off the seal with the stock tips.
 
Extension is solid in this price range. You won't find it lacking and the ends behave evenly as far as reach and roll off. The stage size is average overall and pretty even in being average in most dimensions. We also have separation in the same average range. The Omega does sound quite cohesive with good balance and even spacing in most all directions. They just won't sound big like phones with large sound stages.
 
It may be due to the new steel housings but I am quite fond of the tone of the Omega. Vocals and cymbals sound a little less artificial and more real than in some of the previous Brainwavz offerings. Not a huge difference but noticeable esp. in the treble. Even a bit better than the pricier S3 model when using the same tips on both.
 
Overall an easy listen, that is nicely balanced in frequencies as well as in size and spacing with some warmth, free of excessive humps in the bass or peaks in the treble, has a bit more realistic voices and cymbals, and enough detail and clarity to not make you think you are missing much. Just better, IME, to use the include Comply S400 tips, upgrade the silicone tips, or ease off the seal to get the best sound quality out of them. Very nice for $15! 
 
REMOTE AND MIC:
   I tested out on an Amazon fire tablet and iPhone and the controls works as they should and the mic worked well in average conditions.
 
VALUE:
   I think the Omega present a good value. Solid enjoyable sound,  good fit and comfort, headset capability, a decent accessory kit, and a two year warranty
 for $15 is a good buy! Even better value if they had tips that brought out more of a crisper clearer sound than a bassier smoothed over sound.
 
CONCLUSION:
   Once I got some softer wider bore tips on the Omega and they had more lively, cleaner sound, and more freed up dynamics, I really started to enjoy the SQ of the Omega. Really like the housings and ergonomics from the start. I scored them 3.5 stars but with better tips keeping more SQ potential and a bit thicker cables above the Y they would have gotten four stars. Still I find them quite likable and probably the most enjoyable and fun listen of all the low budget Brainwavz I have heard. I think quite a few will enjoy them! Thanks for reading!
  

 This is my review for the new S3 from Brainwavz. Nicknamed the silver bullet for it's silver color and long slender shape. Thanks to Brainwavz for the S3 review sample. I have previously had the S0, S1, and S5 models. The S3 is rumored to be last in the S series line and now brings the Clearwavz remote and mic for Apple iOS products. The S3 retails for $79.50. The S3 can be found here:   http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/collections/earphones/products/brainwavz-s3-earphones
 
Specifications

1. Drivers: Dynamic, 8 mm
2. Rated Impedance: 16 Ω
3. Frequency Range: 16 Hz ~ 22 kHz
4. Sensitivity: 96 dB at 1 mW
5. Rated Input Power: 10 mW
6. Cable: 1.3 m Y-Cord, Copper
7. Plug: 3.5 mm, Gold Plated

 

Included Accessories:

1. Earphone Hard Case
2. 6 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S/M/L)
3. 1 set of Comply™ Foam Tips T-400
4. 1 Shirt Clip
5. 1 set of Silicone Bi-Flange Eartips
6. 1 set of Silicone Tri-Flange Eartips
7. Velcro Cable Tie
8. Instruction Manual & Warranty Card (24 month warranty)

 


The familiar front Brainwavz packaging. It opens to reveal this...
 


...showing the Brainwavz zip case and the earphone features.
 

 
 


The S3 accessories.
 





The S3 has the Clearwavz remote and mic. A well done job here. Silicone covered gives a good grip, raised portion to also aid in grip and easy button ID. For me the height of the unit is just right and the unit works just as it should with Apple products with good clarity and SQ with calls. The only real issue is with the flat cable exiting the housing sideways, it places the remote unit sideways to the body. Not an issue with the remote but more the cable. Easy fix with the included clip or twisting the left earpiece around will train it(the mic side) to face toward the body/mouth  more than away from it.
 
Build and Fit
 
We have the usual Brainwavz build quality, that is to say quite good. Pretty well tested and reputed to hold up well. I have had a Delta fail on me after some use but none of the three S series have given me any issues.
 
The S3 have the rubberized, sturdy flat cable, beefy strains all around, all metal housings, and a straight plug. I leave it to the reader as far as one's flat or round cable and straight or L plug preference. Even with the remote unit they seem to be lighter than other S series like the S1 and S5 by a small amount. They are in the middle range as far as their weightiness. They won't be pulling themselves out of your ear nor will you forget they are in there.
 
In the third to last picture above you can see the vent hole in the top side of the housing which is a concern as far as rain/moisture and wind noise unless you wear the S3 over the ear style.
 
Fit is subjective but I find them very average here. The slightly longer and straight housings can lead to some closing off of the ear canal hurting sound at times. I seem to like a more shallow fit. Of the three people that tried this pair of S3, the comfort was rated as just OK by two(me included) and one not very comfortable. I think that Brainwavz should adopt the 15 degree angle nozzles so many use can eliminate these issues. Even if this is the last S model they should think about using it in future models. More comfort and easier fit for a better sound.
 
Sound Quality
 
I settled on the medium red core stock tips and used three players to put the S3 through it's paces. A Sony S639, Xuelin 770C, and Lanhui E109 were the players used to test. The Sony is a bit warmer and consumer sounding, the Xuelin is audiophile sound, and the Lanhui is in between those two. YMMV some as to what you have and exactly how much it influences the final result. The S3 are a bit more bassy with an S639 and a bit more neutral and open sounding with the 770C. I tend to like the middle of my road match with the S3 and E109 quite a bit
 
Fit is pretty key to the sound here. I experienced a too deep highest seal type fit to be both less comfortable and hurt the clarity and speed and muck the S3 up a bit. Too loose a fit and you do lose isolation and some low bass reach. The wide selection of tips provided is good here to increase the chances of one getting the optimal sound quality.
 
Each of the S series earphones have had a slightly different sound signature. S0 is airy and balanced, S1 is thick, bassy and warm, and the S5 is V shaped being bassy and brighter on the ends. The new S3 is a bit of S0 and S5. It is balanced like the S0 but it more extended and resolves more like the S5. It has brighter treble and more detailed bass like the S5 but both ends are toned down some. The S3 lacks some low bass extension vs. the S5 and with the right fit that preserves the most bass reach. I have no issue at their current price point, yet sub-bass reach is not the S3's strong suit. Overall range of the frequency response is good though. The longer housing seems to be adding some depth to the stage like the S5 and better than the S0 and S1 models. Stage has depth, width, but is a bit narrower from top to bottom. Wider bore tips are recommended to get the best as far as height.
 
As stated before, the detail and resolution is up closer towards S5 levels and the clean and balanced signature lets you hear things quite easily. The added high end over the S0 and S1 also seems to give more detail. The leaner bass is tight and pretty quick combining with the treble for a lively sound that may not be as much fun w/o more bass like the S5 but it is technically proficient with good separation and speed and mids that are more level with the bass and treble.
 
The S3 bass has somewhat muted levels of mid, low, and sub bass which causes them to roll off a bit. As if they shelved the whole bass range some to balance them out. Overall frequency balance with no mid-bass humps, some tightness, quickness, and clarity in exchange for sub-bass reach. Bass detail and texture is solid. Comparing to pricier phones they hold up pretty well even if they may lose. The narrower stage and lessened bass really differentiate the S3 from the S5 which certainly kicks the bass up as notch. The bass area does seem to appreciate more output power to get the best out of it.
 
The S3 mids I find quite nice. They fit in well and are clean and clear. Neither dry nor wet to any real big degree they are transparent and have nice detail and separation. Vocals are above average as far as intelligibility and male and female seemingly done equally well with no real favorites here. Mids are staged and positioned well and are just a hair more transparent than the bass and treble notes. That is the only things that makes them stand out in the otherwise well integrated nature of the S3.
 
The S3 treble is nicely extended and fairly lively and bright. Not very bright nor is it peaky or sibilant. Reigned in enough and this can be adjusted with tip choice to be slightly less or slightly more. Cymbals sound nice with the right amount of decay. Treble notes have some air between them. the lack of height hurts here but, while not airy, neither is the S3's treble constricted or congested. A nice amount of detail comes from the high end unless you use the wrong tips or a bad fit cuts it too much. Other than tending to hide sometimes with fit the treble is well behaved and nicely straddles the line between smooth and bright. 
 
The S3 exhibits the usually bass and treble tone that seems to come from the driver/housing combination of the whole series. Mids are pretty transparent here but the bass and treble notes have that sound that them that makes them sound like a Brainwavz S series phone and either you will like or dislike it. Hard to exactly describe it but it does differentiate these from higher end products including Brainwavz own B2 and others. Not losing any points here but someone stated something to the effect of them not being very audiophile sounding and not that accurate. I'm sure this is part of that complaint but these are not $100 plus phones and are consumer sounding just so you know what you are getting. They are touted to be generally balanced and clear but yet they will still have the S series house sound to them. Etymotic or higher end monitor sound is not the promise here.
 
Conclusion
 
This may be the last member of the S series and probably should be. Not many signature changes left and the only really new thing is the remote. I do like the S3 however. Probably my favorite of the S as far as signature though I like the S0 fit better. The strong build is still there, plenty of accessories, a signature I like combined with better technical ability than lower Brainwavz models. Points taken away for a little more difficulty to find the best fit for sound and the average comfort level. Another solid effort but time for a change hopefully that will include some new designs including cable style and angled sound nozzles.  

INTRO:

Sennheiser goes way back with their line of sports earphones. The most current generation is all new and brings further improvements and changes. The MX model is now a hybrid earbud style and not totally open as before. The PX headband model has been dropped and we have a new color scheme, new cabling, and build and sound quality improvements. Rosmadi from Sennheiser has graciously arranged for me to have a pair of the MX686G for review.
 

SPECIFICATIONS, BUILD, AND ACCESSORIES:

Technical Data

 

What's in the box?

1. MX 686G SPORTS
2. Storage pouch
3. Cable clip

 

 

 
The MX686G build quality is top notch. I have owned earlier versions of the Sennheiser sports phones and these are more robustly built. The more tangle prone, thinner round cables have been replaced in favor of a weightier, thicker, flat, serrated cable. The plastics are thicker and more overbuilt this time. Weight does go up some but they are not truly heavy and the added heft helps them to bounce around less during your active pursuits. The mic/control unit is incorporated into the Y join and now has a relief on the bottom where there was not one before. The plug and housing strain reliefs are quite beefy and sturdy. The clip is strong and holds fast to where you attach it. Here are some pics:
 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 

FIT/COMFORT: 

Fit and comfort are always personal and a bit subjective traits. The MX686G is both good and not so good in it's design and fit. I find that they do the main job of staying in the ear securely quite well. This is achieved with plastic arm extensions that slide up and down. Rubber ear fins are adhered onto the plastic pieces. The fit can be a bit more difficult because of thickness of the build. The plastic arm extensions are not flexible at all. Neither is the piece that attaches the drivers to the arm section. Third, the rubber ear fins are also pretty thick and not as flexible as they might be. The overall "stiffness" does make the fit more difficult. Takes a bit longer to get the hang of it. You can also just slide the ear fins all the way down and use them that way but the they fit more like a normal earbud and lose the stability and won't lock themselves in anymore. Of course you may not need it with normal use and just for sports. You may be able to use them both ways depending on need.
 
Comfort is a bit less than ideal as the ear fins have a more pointy crest that could be rounded a bit more. So if you use them the fins may make the ears sore after a while. Takes longer but the comfort period gradually gets longer and longer with more use. It does depend on the ear and how the fins rest in them of course. If/when you don't use the fins or if they lock in with little pressure against the ear you will be better off.

SOUND:

Being a hybrid earbud design, the MX686G has soft silicone caps over the driver housing. This allows for a less open design with a bit of a seal. Depends on the fit of the caps which only come in one size. Ear canal size will most likely dictate the seal and exact bass and warmth amount you will get from the MX686G. The caps have notches to line up the nozzles position but they do not lock in place as far as direction. You may twist/rotate them clockwise or counter clockwise to aim the nozzle which helps to get both the best seal and sound and balancing it on both R/L sides.
 
Aside from the particular to one's canal fit, the MX686G departs from the usual sports earphone bassy signature for a closer to balanced and neutral one. A smaller canal and more seal will be warmer but they will never be close to a bass head phone. They have an open and airy sound. This sound is seemingly designed in conjunction with the hybrid design. Hybrid designs usually loss some stage size and sacrifice some air not being as open. Listening with the caps off is a very airy sound almost a bit too spaced out and just right with the caps on. The caps do not restrict the airiness nor the SQ to any appreciable level. The best of the hybrid cap design I have ever heard. Yurbuds and others have a more negative effect on the overall SQ. If you can fit and aim the caps right you should have a sound free of any hollowness or boxy sound. 
 
Open and airy and balanced. Frequency response is very well balanced between bass, mids, and treble as is the frequency extension at both ends. Detail is good as well as clarity and texture. They have quite the natural sound. More natural sounding than the previous Senn sports earbuds and less bassy. Treble is more apparent and very refined. Smooth and even and has a correct sounding tone. Previous versions had either grainy and peaky treble that was far from smooth or it was too laid back and rolled off. This is a more "audiophile" treble that reminds me of the BLOX BE5 though not quite as extended. Clean notes, no peaks, a good sense of separation and air. The bass and mids follow suit as well making them have that natural, cohesive overall sound. Bass has good extension and a bit of speed for a bud. Not high end but a cut above the lower models and worthy of the price tag. Bass is free of any bloat or excessive mid bass humps. Those who feel the need for big bass or more thump for their workouts may need to use EQ to add some more low end but the 686G take equalization quite well. The mid range and vocals are again clean and quite airy with good separation. More than one vocalist and they are clearly distinct and legible. Male and female vocals both sound good and sibilance is kept in check. Mid range is natural and neutral in between a dry and a sweet sound.
 
Overall presentation is, again, open and airy and the spaciousness keep things easily heard and does not let things smear up. The overall tone is neutral and smooth. Neither a dark sounding phone nor bright but clean and clear. Smoothness keeps sibilance at bay in the mids and treble. Notes are crisp and have a clean edge throughout.
 
They do sound a bit more monitor than sports phone but it works. A lack of flaws to the sound and the 686G being refined, natural, and smooth works by staying out of the way and letting you enjoy your audio during a workout or activity.   
 

VALUE:

The price is already dropping on the street from $60. At $50 to $60 they are a good value. Some design thought went into them. The build is very sturdy and the cable is strong a behaves itself. The case is decent. The sound is very likely the second best below the MX985 of all the Senn models at this point in time(I did have the MX880 but not the MX575; MX686G is better than the MX475, MX760, MX880 IMO). Could have been an even better value with more cap sizes and a nicer hard case. Still, a good deal here!  

CONCLUSION:

I gave the MX686G four stars. A very good design that may be improved a bit more to allow for an easier and even more comfortable fit is the only thing holding it back. A bit of a longer learning curve to get the right fit for comfort and sound gets better with time and practice but very worth it. The sound may not be everyone's first choice for sports but it is good sound and good sound works!. Sennheiser made more of a change in this round of sports phones and these are a bigger step up in quality than the last. Keep it up!!

I was sent a pair of the new Brainwavz S0 to review. I do not have the packaging or final accessories which may or may not change. Many thanks to Audrey from Brainwavz for the sample!
 
The S0 can be found here:http://www.yourbrainwavz.com/s0.html
They will retail for $49.50
 

Specifications

1. Drivers: Dynamic, 9mm
2. Rated Impedance 16 Ω
3. Frequency Range 18Hz - 18kHz
4. Sensitivity 100 dB @ 1 mW
5. Cable 1.2m/Y-Cord/Flat/Copper
6. Plug 3.5mm Gold Plated

Contents/Specifications subject to change without notification

 

Contents & Accessories

1. Foam Tips Comply S400 (x1)
2. Silicone Tips Standard S,M,L (x6)
3. Silicone Tips Bi-Flange (x1)
4. Silicone Tips Tri-Flange (x1)
5. Shirt Clip x1
6.   Hard Case x1
7.   Manual x1
8.   Warranty x1 (12 Months)

 
PICS:






^^ The S0 Y joint on the right compared to the S5 Y joint on the left. ^^
 
 
BUILD:
The S0 build quality is quite good. Very solid all around. The metal housings are bullet shaped and essentially bulletproof. Strains are thick and solid all the way around. The Y has slimmed down but is still robust and has a small cinch integrated into it. The S0 is a straight down design and also has a straight plug. The aesthetic is mostly black with a hint of red in the housing strains, on the case, and the inside of the dual density silicone tips. Looks that are understated yet not unattractive. 
 
OVERALL SOUND IMPRESSION:
Most who have heard the S0 so far agree. They are a well balanced, clear, well separated and airy sound with nice detail. Well done for the price. I agree along with everyone else. They are well balanced in most ways. The stage size is even in all directions so no one dimension stands out. The extension is fairly even in both directions and rolled the same way(quickly and tightly) on both ends. Soundstage is maybe only slightly bigger than average to the outer edges but the sound is open and airy with a nice amount of separation giving the impression of a bigger sound. Imaging is well done and quite accurate. Notes are clean and tight throughout the range making the S0 cohesive sounding and lively. A departure from the S1 signature. They are the best generalist amongst the Brainwavz models. The S1, R1, R3, and S5 sound different and/or unique and appeal more to certain preferences. The S0 is the most straight arrow of the recent models and also performs very well in most aspects.
 
BASS:
 Bass amount is on the warm side of neutral but the S0 is closer to neutral than it is to basshead territory. The S0 bass is tight and almost quick. Reach is pretty low and is helped by the tightness of notes, good decay, and separation the S0 has. Good articulation of sub-, low-, and mid-bass notes. Even as well. Mid-bass is there but doesn't smear or dominate, low bass is clean and articulate, and the sub-bass they have is still well shown off and doesn't fade or lose focus to the other two. Timbre is good and the bass sounds natural and enjoyable. Not the most transparent but no complaints at this price. The bass is very well behaved and cohesive as one can expect though.
 
MIDS:
The mids are are quite clean and right up with the bass and treble. Maybe even a bit forward with longer tips on them. Vocals are very intelligible and clear if a bit on the dry side of the spectrum. The vocalists are well separated and positioned accurately. Emotion comes through a bit more than average for the S0's price tag. No sibilant traits or other flaws have been noticed in my time with the S0. Just good clean mids.
 
TREBLE:
The treble is toned down from the previous S5 model. They are quite smooth and free of noticeable peaks. Still hold their own with the bass and mids taking their share of the focus. Smooth, yet just a nice hint of liveliness and agility. I might stop short of calling it real sparkle. They may sparkle a bit if your chosen device adds some when you raise up the volume. I have some devices that do and it is done well w/o sibilance or sizzle being introduced. The separation and airiness of the treble is very good and helps the S0 sound extended, detailed, and clear. The treble balances with the bass in rolling off the same way, sounding almost quick, and sounding natural and enjoyable.
 
DETAIL:
The S0 has a good amount of detail. The accurate decay, good clarity, separation, and air allow it to be heard easily and naturally. It is spread out well because of the even and cohesive nature of the S0 sound. Bass, mids, and treble have close to even amounts of that detail.
 
 
IN CONCLUSION:
The S0 is closer to that middle of the road signature that has general appeal than the previous S5. They may be the S5's "little brother" but are more smooth/even, less up front and aggressive, and less bass heavy making for a great balance. I happen to prefer the S0 sound signature to the S5 signature and also like the smaller size and weight. The S0 also fit in being a departure in signature from their other brother, the S1. The S0 do pack a fair amount of technical ability for their price as well. An unassuming aesthetic that finally matches the red/black Brainwavz case  , solid build quality, and good accessories make for package that is easy to recommend!! Do give the S0 a try!   
 
 
 
 
 

Brainwavz have been around since 2008 and have been working on providing improved and more original products as time has gone on. If you are familiar with the last round of Brainwavz offerings it was easy to see how they were improving and what they were attempting to try design-wise. We did see a very wide range of products from the brand in the Delta, S1, and R3. Fairly unique from each other in design, sound, and price. They have now introduced the S5 model priced at ~$99 with an excellent blend of sound traits, design, and quality. Many thanks to Audrey for sending me a pair of the S5.
 
The S5 page:  http://www.yourbrainwavz.com/s5.html
 

 

Specification (from S5 page)

1. Drivers Dynamic, 10mm
2. Rated Impedance 16 Ω
3. Frequency Range 18Hz - 24kHz
4. Sensitivity 110 dB @ 1 mW
5. Cable 1.3m/Y-Cord/Flat /Copper
6. Plug 3.5mm Gold Plated
7. Fitting Over Ear Style

 

Contents & Accessories (from S5 page)

1. Foam Tips Comply T400 (x1)
2. Silicone Tips Standard S,M,L (x6)
3. Silicone Tips Bi-Flange (x1)
4. Silicone Tips Tri-Flange (x1)
5. 1/4" Adapter x1
6.   Hard Case x1
7.   Manual x1
8.   Warranty x1 (24 Months)

*Contents/Specifications subject to change without notification

 




 
Accessories:  Listed and pictured above include Comply brand foams, single, bi- and tri-flanged silicone tips. So all types are represented. The range of tips do provide multiple fit and comfort options but they also tweak the sound certain ways. In my experience, the Comply provided the most balanced and clean sound. The tri-flange a more neutral sound with the least bass amount. The bi-flange which is slightly different than the generic type is nice for a warmer bit of bass boost w/o sound quality degradation. The black silicone sound like a slightly smaller version of the bi-flange as the smaller opening knocks off some height from the stage. The gray tips are warmer and have more bass and thicken and compress the sound a bit; might be nice for a neutral player pairing but may also darken and thicken the sound hurting the dynamics and detail/brightness. The 3.5 to 6.3mm adapter is aesthetically different than previous one with the red stripe and more mirror-like finish.
 
S5 Design:  The design is much like the S1 model with some changes. The larger forty-five degree plug is gone in favor of a smaller straight plug. The housings are longer tapered design with a black semi-gloss finish. The strains coming out of the housing have been shortened from the S1 length. The Y remains the same outside of the color change for the Y, plug, and strains from purple/berry-like color to black.
 

Picture showing the exposed view of the basic internal design. The presentation of the sound would seem to be influenced from the design. The upfront, more in your face nature from the close to the bore driver is quite different from the R3's more distant and airy sound with its drivers back at the ends of a capsule. The decent cavity size behind the driver should indeed be helping give the S5 it's nice large stage and good depth even with their close, up front nature.
 

Build Quality:  The S5 are solidly built with strong metal housings that are coated in a seemingly thick black semi-gloss finish. A bit of sheen yet not shiny enough for fingerprints to be an issue. The S1's hefty cable and Y are still present and still sturdy. The strains are strong and a bit stiff all around. As before a bit of physical manipulation, moving them back and forth some will break in the plug and Y strain reliefs a bit so they flex more easily. The cord draw tolerance is nice and tight, not overly so, and it will stay at the position you want or need.
 
Fit and Comfort:  The S5 are designed as an over the ear phone but I have no problem wearing them both ways and more often wear them straight down. The shorter reliefs out of the housing makes this even easier than with the S1. The angled sound tubes provide a more flush fit over the ear. Enough styles of tips to achieve a good fit and seal for most everyone. Isolation depends on the tips used and ranges from average to above average. The S5 are quite comfortable for me regardless of wearing style. The weight of the thicker cable, while not uncomfortable, is always there. The S5 are not going to "disappear" like a smaller, lighter earphone may.
 
Sound Quality:  The overall sound quality is excellent. The Comply and bi-flange are my favorite tips for sound. As with many dynamic earphones, trying to get the absolute best seal will thicken them up a bit and make the bass a bit more dominant and the treble less apparent. Obviously fit them to your preference. An in-between fit renders a full sound with warmth, a slight bass emphasis, even mids(not recessed, not forward), and a nice treble sparkle.
 
Bass is clearly dynamic, well extended, capable but not really quick. Mid-bass is under control nicely and there is good detail and texture down low. The bass is fairly tight. Not the tightest you'll get like from an armature or much more expensive dynamic but a little more weighty and rounded of note which is a great spot in between the consumer sound and the audiophile sound. The bass stays out of the way of mids and gives some rumble and adds towards giving the S5 a larger sound.
 
Mids and vocals are quite clean and easy to hear. Make a fine showing even with the solid full bass presence and treble sparkle the S5 can have. The up front sound puts the vocals, and even back-up vocals, close and in good focus. Detail is good, words articulated more highly, and emotion shows well. "Shhh", "s",  and "f" sounds are emphasized without sibilance helping show the singers inflections and energy, and emotion. Vocals are quite engaging and draw focus here but without being really sweet or syrupy. Just good quality mids that are not too light or dark, thick or thin, sweet or dry but safely in the middle in most aspects.
 
Treble is nicely extended and sparkly enough without going too far. A best possibly seal situation will smooth them though leading to a less energetic and lively sound from the high end. The treble is nicely detailed and helps the mids be quite clean. They help give the S5 good energy and a more lively sound which is very engaging and stands out over other phones. Good decay on the high notes helps give a sense of air and better separation. Fatigue is not an issue.
 
The overall presentation is a sound that is quite forward, quite engaging, and exciting. A bit wider than tall with good extension in both directions, good depth, and nice separation. It does tend to grab one's attention as a few reviewers have attested to already. The forwardness of the sound combined with good clarity and sparkle gives an immediacy that is engaging and shows the S5's detail easily. Yet they don't fatigue or offend. They strike a likable balance between smoothness and sparkle. The S5 are also enjoyable due to their above average stage size and fullness of sound. The sound fleshed out and almost like they are amped even if not. Combined these previous traits with nice technical ability in terms of extension, resolving power, timbre that makes you not miss anything even if the S5 aren't detail or transparency kings. Again a really likable balance that many more people will like; that consumer sound fans and Hi-Fi fans can both enjoy and be drawn to. 
 
Conclusion:  Brainwavz have hit on a well done recipe of sound traits. Their best balance yet of smooth, full, enjoyable, and technically capable. One of the best for the price right now I'd imagine. In addition to the sound the build, packaging, accessories, and price are all quite likable as well. Brainwavz has a real winner here that is worth hearing!