Reviews by Luckbad | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

[Originally reviewed at Basshead.Club]

How do they do it? Brainwavz continues to impress with its budget-friendly new Jive IEM for Android and iOS devices.

Brainwavz Jive In the Box

Brainwavz Jive Earphones (Android or iOS; Blue, Green, or Red)
Hard Case
Silicone Ear Tips (S/M/L)
Comply Foam Tips (S-400)
Shirt Clip
Velcro Cable Tie
Manual
24 Month Warranty

Brainwavz Jive Impressions

Looking at the contents of the box and noting the all-metal, stylish earphones, you’d expect to pay more than $50. You’d be wrong. These bang-for-the-buck IEMs can be had right now for $25-30.

I legitimately had to check the price after listening to them for a few minutes. They are not only very comfortable and attractive, they have a wonderfully lively and energetic sound to them.

I would describe the overall sound as crisp and clear with just a touch of extra weight in the bass department. Not basshead levels, to be sure, but a little oomph to get the foot tapping.

Isolation is good, build quality hits above the Jive’s price point, and the in-line controls and mic are intuitive and functionally sound. They feature a microphone, volume, phone call control, and audio player control.

Complaints? Only one, really. The Jive has a treble peak around 5kHz that’s a little higher than I prefer, because I’m treble-sensitive. If that were smoothed down (which I do via EQ), this would be the perfect budget IEM.

If you’re looking for an IEM with in-line controls that is budget-friendly and enjoyable to listen to, the Brainwavz Jive is an excellent choice. These have moved up to become my primary workout earphone because they’re sturdy, comfortable, and fun to listen to.

How does Brainwavz do it? I really don’t know. I’ve paid hundreds of dollars for earphones with fewer accessories or more questionable build quality. Well played, Brainwavz. You’ve done it again with the Jive.

Brainwavz Jive Frequency Response

This curve was generated using a Dayton Audio EMM-6 Electret Measurement Microphone, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 audio interface, and Room EQ Wizard. The mic calibration file was provided by Dayton Audio and the output calibration file was generated using the program itself (3.5mm out on PC to 1/4″ input on Scarlett 2i4).

Brainwavz Jive Specifications

Drivers: Dynamic, 9mm
Rated Impedance: 16 Ω
Frequency Range: 20Hz ˜ 20kHz
Sensitivity: 98 dB @ 1 mW
Rated Input Power: 20 mW
Cable: 1.3m, Y-Cord, Copper
Plug: 3.5mm Gold Plated

Brainwavz Jive

$28.00

7.9

SOUND

7/10

QUALITY

7.5/10

COMFORT

8/10

VALUE

9/10

REVIEWER BIAS

8/10

PROS

- Clean, Crisp Sound
- Great Value
- Ample Accessories
- Comfortable
- No amp needed

CONS

- Jack of all trades, master of none
- Some songs can sound edgy
- Treble peak can fatigue some
- Not a basshead IEM!

[Originally posted as Basshead.Club]

In the search for the best basshead gear, we’re willing to search far and wide. In this case, we’ve landed on an amplifier from a boutique audio company in Germany called Vorzüge.
They have a beautiful little amplifier called the VorzAMP Duo. What makes this a basshead amp? EQduo. In short, it provides both a Bass switch and a Treble switch, and good lord does the bass kick into high gear with that switch (we’re talking about +15dB of sub-bass with the flick of a switch–measurements later).

Vorzuge VorzAMP Duo In the box

VorzAMPduo (Headphone Amplifier)
VorzKabel (20cm long)
Set of Li-ion batteries (2x1000mAh)
Protective pouch
USB Power Adapter (100AC to 230AC)
Mini USB to USB Cable (Charging from Computer)
A nice padded box
Documentation

I’ll talk about the features for a moment before diving into the sound. It’s about the size of a deck of cards, so it’s easy to transport in your pocket. Internally, they use silver solder with gold compound on the gold plated PCB, high grade metal film resistors, quality metallic capacitors, and 4 internal amplifiers. If you like the Earth, it is also RoHS compliant, so it’s environmentally friendly.

They’ve refined and revised this beast over time to make it feasible to use IEMs as well as high impedance headphones without the need for a gain switch, and it’s a fully analog system. The battery power gives you about 26 hours of play time per charge, and it charges via USB. One great feature is that you can use the amp while it’s charging, which is a weakness in one of the oft-recommended competing basshead amps, the Cayin C5.

It has one 3.5mm input and one 3.5mm output. No room for balanced or extra frills here. On the back is the mini USB input for charging. The volume pot and power switches are metal, while the EQduo switches are plastic. The entire chassis is a nice lightweight metal and feels very solid.

On to the sound… the standard configuration without either switch flipped is wonderfully clear. It rolls off a little in the sub-bass and feels like it cleans up a little bit of the upper frequencies for me on my hotter cans. Great separation of instruments, excellent detail and soundstage, and all of the other fun audiophile buzzwords come out positive. I often listen to it with no switches flipped, but what I’m really interested in is the Bass switch.

BOOM. +15dB, peaking just below 20Hz and diving down quickly enough that it doesn’t bleed into the mids. Phenomenal. To put this in perspective, the commonly recommended basshead amp over on Head-Fi is the Cayin C5. It gives +5dB of bass and bleeds a bit into the mids. To be fair, it’s also much cheaper.

The Treble switch gives just a few dB of extra high end, which is great for some headphones like my JVC HP-DX1000, although I tend to prefer rolled off highs anyway. It has been noted by some that the Treble switch introduces hiss, but that hasn’t been my experience.

What are the weaknesses of this extremely capable portable amplifier? There are two. First, it’s expensive. A boutique amp with incredibly high grade components demands a high price tag, and this is starting to approach Summit-Fi at $520–though many audiophiles would consider that to be a perfectly reasonable price.

The second weakness is volume. While it can drive low impedance IEMs, I like to listen to music all day long. It’s simply too loud for 16 Ohm earphones if you’re feeding a line-level signal into the amp and want to listen all day. You either have to reduce the volume at the source (which can mess with signal quality) or come up with another solution. I came up with another, and I purchased a 75 Ohm Etymotic adapter. This makes those 16 Ohm IEMs essentially 91 Ohms, so the volume is no longer an issue. You can get decent ones from eBay for under $20 (ping me if you want to know who I bought them from–I’ll probably review those separately later).

Is this the best basshead amplifier on the market? It is the best I’ve heard, and I’ve tried quite a few. The Bass boost is absolutely bonkers, and it has extremely good clarity as well. It works both as an always-charging desktop amp or a portable amplifier. It works with IEMs (especially if you reduce the line volume or grab an adapter) on up to high impedance headphones (my most demanding are the Sennheiser HD650, and it did wonderfully with them). It costs a lot, but you get a lot for it.

If you’re a basshead and can afford it, the Vorzuge VorzAMP Duo amplifier is glorious. Check this beauty out at the Vorzuge website.

Vorzuge VorzAMP Duo Measurements

I wanted to perfect my measurement setup before reviewing this amp, but alas, I still haven’t perfected it. At some point, I’d love to get THD and all the rest posted here, but for now, you get a frequency response graph that includes the Bass and Treble switches. Look at that BASS!

UPDATE: I now have RightMark Audio Analyzer results for the VorzAMP Duo. These will be meaningless to all but the most hardcore amp-heads, but I love data and measurements. This is coming from the Sound Blaster ZxR DAC at 192kHz and is being measured by the DBpro card with a 75 Ohm load.

http://www.basshead.club/measurements/vorzuge_vorzamp_duo/

Vorzüge VorzAMP Duo

$520

9

OVERALL SOUND

9/10

FEATURES

8.5/10

BASSHEAD POTENTIAL

9.5/10

BUILD QUALITY

9/10

REVIEWER BIAS

9/10

PROS

- Smooth, crystal clear sound
- Insane +15dB bass switch
- Treble switch for dark cans
- Excellent build quality
- Extremely portable

CONS

- No gain switch: Some IEMs loud
- Expensive for non-audiophiles
- Without switch, sub-bass rolled off
- Wish bass had levels (+5/+10/+15)
- No rubber feet--slides on my desk

Me wants!

[Originally posted at Basshead.Club]

A dark horse of an earphone that is certain to polarize listeners. Can the Westone W50 prove to be the best Balanced Armature IEM for bassheads?

Westone W50 In the Box

5 Balanced Armature drivers per earpiece with 3-way crossover
1. 1 Low, 2 Mid, 2 High
2 Cables (one EPIC braided, one Apple MFi w/ 3-button control and mic)
3 Faceplates (Red, Gunmetal, Gold)
Monitor Vault (aka “a really good case”)
A grip of tips: STAR silicone, True-Fit… they’re nice small bore tips, some long flange silicone and others foam.
Cleaning tool

Westone W50 Impressions

I’ve been listening to the Westone W50 for a couple weeks now, and I still don’t know if I love them. When opening the box, you are greeted with a beautiful IEM, multiple plates, and many options for eartips.

Turning on some music yields a very dark tonal signature that some people are going to absolutely loathe, while others will get used to it and appreciate the zero fatigue you get from listening to the W50 for extended periods of time. The comfort of the earphone combined with the very relaxed, bass-emphasized sound and incredible soundstage (some of the best separation and staging I’ve heard in an IEM) will win some people over.

Me? I’m honestly still unsure. I love my bass, but I also enjoy being directly engaged with my music. Until I listened to some jazz on high quality Chesky recordings, I really didn’t get engrossed in any music with the Westone W50. These tracks are extremely well recorded and are amazing for trying to hear different instruments and positioning. These IEMs do it better than just about any other I’ve listened to. I can tell where every instrument is and I can identify every nuance in the songs. That alone could be quite a selling point for some.

If I apply equalization to the W50 to match what my ears want to hear (and, of course, push the bass harder than any sane person would), they can dive very deep into the sub-bass and have formidable impact for a BA-only IEM (as opposed to a Dynamic or Hybrid setup). They can almost match the Noble 5 in bass depth, which is an achievement given that I’d never heard a Balanced Armature-only IEM that could go so deep until hearing those.

I have absolutely no criticisms with the build quality, comfort, tips, cables (you get two) or accessories with the Westone W50. Everything is top notch, and I even love the case (many high end IEMs come with the same case that is almost too small to avoid damaging the earpieces; the W50 has a nice thick case that fits them perfectly).

Where I have qualms is the extreme price tag ($600-$750) coupled with a sound signature that is not going to appeal to many. It’s dark and, to me, unengaging. The earphones are extremely capable, respond well to EQ, and can get to basshead territory. With consideration for the cost, however, I don’t expect to have to hand-tune an equalizer until I find the sound pleasant. Westone took a risk with the W50, and I’m not sure it panned out terribly well for them.

Note: The Westone W50 were tested with various amps/dacs, including the Creative X-Fi Titanium HD, Asus SupremeFX 2014, Objective2, ODAC, Cayin C5, and Samsung Galaxy S5. Better pairing recommendations are welcome.

Westone W50 Frequency Response

This curve was generated using a Dayton Audio EMM-6 Electret Measurement Microphone, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 audio interface, and Room EQ Wizard. The mic calibration file was provided by Dayton Audio and the output calibration file was generated using the program itself (3.5mm out on PC to 1/4″ input on Scarlett 2i4).

Green: Stock frequency response (Dark)
Blue: Basshead frequency response after applying EQ (I like how they sound this way)

Sample Basshead EQ Curve

This is just a basic graphical EQ. I forgot to save my parametric settings, so you get a screenshot of this one:

Westone W50 Specifications

SENSITIVITY: 118 dB SPL @ 1 mW
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
IMPEDANCE: 25 ohms @ 1 kHz
PASSIVE NOISE ATTENUATION: 25 dB
DRIVER: 5 balanced armature drivers with a 3-way crossover.
WEIGHT: 0.445 ounces/12.7grams
CABLE: EPIC Replaceable cable and MFI G2 cable
CABLE LENGTH: 50″ / 128 cm

Westone W50

$599.99

7.6

BASS IMPACT

7/10

BASS DEPTH

8/10

OVERALL SOUND

7/10

BUILD QUALITY

9/10

REVIEWER BIAS

7/10

PROS

- Great bass depth
- Good impact for BA
- Excellent soundstage
- Amazing build and accessories
- Really comfortable

CONS

- Dark tonal signature
- Expensive
- Needs EQ to sound good to me
- Need an amp to sound their best
- Overhyped

It's great for sure but I also agree that it's overhyped. Nicely done!

Good honest review. Not sure if you read my W50/W60/Pro50 reviews (look under my profile, I have index link to all my Head-fi reviews), but I found W50 to be a different bird for sure which needs a low impedance source, doesn't play nice with colored amps, and benefits hugely from an aftermarket cable upgrade (silver one would make a big difference). Driving it from Galaxy S5 or some of your colored amps will make them sound muddy. But with everything else into consideration, you can make them shine if you like good bass impact. Also, everybody dropped their price to $599 for these. I'm not a fan of EQ, but tweaking mid-bass can bring them close to $1k W60 performance where once you balance the sound, upper mids and treble come up.

Regarding being overhyped, that is one I don't agree with. There are hardly any comprehensive reviews about it on the net. I few good ones from reputable websites, and I also consider mine to give people an honest perspective, and then a few other reviews from places that have no idea about headphones and just praise the looks with one-liner about the sound.

[Originally posted at Basshead.Club]

Crystal clarity, smooth presentation, layered bass, and expressive mids are all hallmarks of this exquisite 5 Balanced Armature receiver IEM from Noble Audio.

Noble 5 In the Box

Noble 5 Earpieces
Crush proof carrying case
Cleaning tool
2 audio bands
12 pairs of ear tips (2 types of single flange, double flange, and foam, 3 sizes of each)
Ownership card

Noble 4 and Accessories (Credit: d marc0, Head-Fi)

Noble 5 Impressions

Not all bassheads are alike. Some people favor clarity and beauty in sound over raw, chest-thumping bass power. People in that category should seek a Balanced Armature earphone. I reached out to Noble Audio and asked what IEM they would recommend to a basshead like me, and they were gracious enough to send me the Noble 5 to review.

While the impact of a BA-based IEM is never going to reach the levels of a Dynamic Driver, the sub-bass depth is outstanding on the Noble 5. The impact is also superior to many other earphones I’ve heard, including a fair number of Dynamic Driver-based ‘phones. The Noble 5 reaches impact levels similar to the Audio Technica ATH-CKS1000 and a bit shy of the JVC HA-FXZ200. That is, frankly, rather incredible given that it’s all BAs (5 of them!) in each earpiece, especially considering the clarity offered by the Noble 5.

There are 2 drivers (technically, they’re receivers, but everyone calls them drivers so I will too) dedicated to highs and 2 dedicated to mids coming from one bore, and 1 driver dedicated to lows coming from the other. Apparently, you can/should only put ~4 Balanced Armature drivers in a single tube, so all of Noble Audio’s IEMs are dual or triple bore.

The overall sound is smooth and silky, with a mild emphasis on bass and tuning that works well for extended listening sessions. The basshead in me can’t leave headphones to their default tuning, so I pulled out the equalizer and Cayin C5 to see what these could do. A boost in the sub-bass combined with the bass boost switch on the C5 yields true basshead-level bass, and no further tuning of the sound signature is needed to my ears.

They scoop low into layers of bass depth I didn’t know were possible with Balanced Armature earphones and ride a silken wave all the way up the spectrum. The attack of tom drums sounds a bit emphasized, which suggests emphasis in the 5kHz range, but it drops off well shy of sibilance. I am not posting a frequency response graph with this review in part because my setup couldn’t get the best seal (the bores are more of an oval than a circle), so this is more based on subjective impressions than any real data.

As for what the Noble 5 comes with, the case is the standard hard shell I’ve been seeing from many high end IEMs lately, the eartip selection is very good (I prefer the foam tips or double flanges), and there are bands presumably to strap to audio players.

Weaknesses? The only audio-related weakness might be, for some people, that the highs could be slightly fatiguing. There is a slight edge to them, but not enough for me (and I’m sensitive to treble) to drop them with EQ. I find the frequency response to be very pleasant. Soundstage is intimate, so if you’re looking to feel like you’re in the Sydney Opera House, this might not be what you’re after. My only real criticism is that they’re a little tough to get a good, comfortable fit at first with the tips and over-ear wear. I tend to mess with them for a few minutes every time I put them on before everything feels right.

If you’re looking for a Balanced Armature-only earphone that satisfies your basshead cravings, I have heard nothing better. The competition in the high end Balanced Armature Basshead market is fairly slim, so these might stay on top of the heap for some time to come.

Noble 5 Specifications

5 precision tuned balanced-armature drivers per side
1. 1 low frequency driver
2. 2 mid frequency drivers
3. 2 high frequency drivers
3-way design
Impedance < 30 Ohms
Detachable silver-plated copper cable with Kevlar stranding in the shielding (w/ industry standard two pin configuration)
Signature Noble universal form factor
Rose gold plated pentalobe screws

Noble 5

650

8.3

BASS IMPACT

7.5/10

BASS DEPTH

8.5/10

OVERALL SOUND

8.5/10

BUILD QUALITY

8.5/10

REVIEWER BIAS

8.5/10

PROS

- Silky sound
- Great bass depth
- Very good impact for BA
- Amazing clarity
- Wonderful build

CONS

- Less impact than top-tier Dynamics
- Expensive
- Fit isn't perfect for everyone
- The packaging is fairly minimalist if you care
- Need an amp to sound their best

Would be interesting to see a comparison to W50, those Westones are also regarded as "basshead" 5 BA driver IEMs :wink:

@twister6

@twister6 The Westone W50 is here for review as well, and will be the next review posted. Spoiler alert: The Noble 5 sound better. The Westone W50 are very dark and need EQ to sound good. They are supremely comfortable and well built, and with EQ can sound pretty amazing, but they are just too dark sounding for almost anyone (and I I typically like/am fine with veiled or dark signatures).

[Originally posted at Basshead.Club]

Inexpensive, stylish, dynamic-driver based earphones that satisfy the budget-conscious basshead in me. The Brainwavz S1 is better than I expected for a price that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket.

Brainwavz S1 In the Box

Brainwavz S1 Earphones
Eartips: Comply S-Series (x1), Standard S,M,L (x6), Bi-Flange (x1), Tri-Flange (x1)
Hard Case
Manual, Warranty (12 Months)

Brainwavz S1 Impressions

Brainwavz is a company I’ve been aware of for a while now, but I’ve never heard any of their headphones. Instead, I’ve purchased several of their HM5 replacement earpads to use with my tall guy ears (I love circumaural headphones, and 99% of around-the-ear headphones I try are on-the-ear without the Brainwavz HM5 pads).

I contacted Brainwavz to see which of their earphones they would recommend for a basshead, and they suggested both the S0 and S1. The S1 has a bigger driver, so I opted to try these out (thanks go out to Brainwavz for providing a review loaner to Basshead.Club).

The default sound signature is one part bassy combined with sparkly, delivering a v-shape that many of us have become familiar with over the past several years. The treble sometimes peaks a bit sharply for my taste, and the bass is more balanced than I am after, so (as I do with all headphones) I went ahead and pulled out the equalizer and Cayin C5 bass boost to see what the Brainwavz S1 would be capable of.

They are capable indeed. Pushed with EQ, the S1 reaches basshead levels without distortion. I pulled the peaks down a bit so I could punch the volume up without any harshness. I look for a couple of sensations when deciding if an in-ear is basshead level, including if I can feel deep sub-bass in my chest and powerful bass impacts in my right foot (weird, I know, but the human body is weird). It can check off both boxes, though at a reduced rate compared to the Aurisonics ASG-2.5 (way more expensive) or Pioneer SE-CX8 (uses a proprietary Bass Exciter to cause tactile impact).

The Brainwavz S1 feel well built and look great. They come with more than enough eartips, including Comply foam tips that so many people love. They are light and comfortable, although I tend to dislike flat cables for over-ear wear. If you’re looking for earphones to use on the go with your mobile phone, be aware that the cable does not include a microphone. Reviews elsewhere talk about one of the earpieces giving out after several months of use, which I wouldn’t be entirely surprised about because both sides have driver flex when I put them in my ears.

That said, these are a solid value and better than most other offerings in the price range (currently ~$55 on Amazon). They are similar in sound signature and superior in build quality and included accessories compared to the less expensive NarMoo S1 (currently ~$34 on Amazon), and less basshead-worthy and harsher sounding than the more expensive Sony XB90EX (currently ~$73 on Amazon). If you are unwilling or unable to EQ, these only slightly favor bass and the treble can get fatiguing, but with EQ the Brainwavz S1 becomes a stylish basshead earphone that is better than others I’ve heard at ~$50.

Brainwavz S1 Frequency Response Graph

This curve was generated using a Dayton Audio EMM-6 Electret Measurement Microphone, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 audio interface, and Room EQ Wizard. The mic calibration file was provided by Dayton Audio and the output calibration file was generated using the program itself (3.5mm out on PC to 1/4″ input on Scarlett 2i4).

Brainwavz S1 Specifications

Drivers: Dynamic, 10mm
Rated Impedance: 16 Ω
Frequency Range: 20Hz – ˜20kHz
Sensitivity: 93 dB @ 1 mW
Max Input Power: 2 mW
Cable: 1.3m, Y-Cord OFC Copper
Plug: 3.5mm Gold Plated
Fitting: Over Ear Style

Brainwavz S1

$80 MSRP - $55 Street

7.1

BASS IMPACT

7/10

BASS DEPTH

7/10

OVERALL SOUND

7/10

BUILD QUALITY

7.5/10

REVIEWER BIAS

7/10

PROS

- Solid bass with EQ
- Good initial build quality
- Attractive and stylish
- Tons of included eartips
- Decent overall value

CONS

- Driver flex issues
- Strange angle on connector
- I don't like flat cables for over-ear
- No mic for mobile users
- Unknown longevity

Great review
Nice to see the graph that has been "adopted" by some of head-fi's regular reviewers.
I can get images from google but I need the graphs.

[Originally posted at Basshead.Club]

Bring on the thunder and lightning.
Aurisonics’ flagship triple driver hybrid combines the incredible sub-bass of the ASG-B’s 14.2mm dynamic driver (plus a tuneable bass port) with two balanced armature tweeters for a unique earphone experience.

Aurisonics ASG-2.5 Features

Triple Driver: Hybrid combination of 14.2mm Precision Dynamic Driver with custom tuned next generation tweeters.
Tuneable Bass Port: Tune the bass for precise, mechanical tuning of low-mid bass frequencies.
3D printed, Digital Hybrid Technology (DHT)™ shell: Fits 95% of ears like a custom (Hybrid custom/universal fit derived from ear scans).
Born in Music City: Hand-crafted with pride in the heart of Music City, Nashville, TN.
Color Options: Available in Polished Black, Polished Red, Brushed Nickel, and 24k Gold.
Custom: The AS-2.5 is the custom version of the ASG-2.5, adds an Ambient Port option for pass-through sound, and has additional color options.

Aurisonics ASG-2.5 In the Box

ASG-2.5 earpieces
Detachable silver-plated low oxygen copper cable (92 Pin Style connector)
Shock/Dust/Waterproof hard case
SureSeal™ tips
Cleaning brush
Valve adjustment tool

Aurisonics ASG-2.5 Impressions

If I were to have one complaint about the Aurisonics ASG-B I reviewed a couple weeks ago, it’s that they lacked clarity and no amount of EQ would be able to get you perfect, sparkling highs. The ASG-2.5, however, includes two balanced armature tweeters in addition to the 14.2mm dynamic driver it uses to produce its incredible bass response. Clarity and detail are excellent, and the tuneable bass port (which, being a basshead, I have fully open) is a welcome addition for those of you who aren’t as into bass as I am.

The ASG-2.5 floats effortlessly between rap, EDM, classical, rock, blues, and every other genre I’ve thrown at them. These are some of the most versatile IEMs I’ve used–as well as some of the most expensive. With their versatility, however, these approach real affordability since I have half a dozen other earphones that serve a more specific genre well (e.g. I use the JVC HA-FXZ200 almost exclusively for bass-heavy but subued electronic music and Pioneer SE-CX8s for hard-hitting rap and EDM). The ASG-2.5 can do virtually anything you want them to.

I rarely talk about audiophile terminology like soundstage, but I have to betray my standard for simplicity by commenting on it with these earphones. The soundstage is out of this world. Listening to a track like Chesky Records’ Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring is almost transcendental in its delivery and staging. While I usually drop some of the mid-bass and low-mids to lay the sound back a bit, I actually like to remove my equalizer from the equation entirely listening to the Chesky tracks.

To speak only of the basshead potential of this earphone, it is second to none in its bass depth and ability to cause your chest to rumble and breath to catch. It is only equaled by its bass-player-centric sibling, the ASG-B. Coupled with the ASG-2.5’s ability to shine with nearly all music genres, this could be the end-game basshead IEM for many. It lacks only in bass punch and impact when compared to the Pioneer SE-CX8/SE-CX9, and those only achieve their mind-blowing levels of impact with a proprietary Bass Exciter, so it really isn’t a flaw of the ASG-2.5 to have less raw impact.

If any other company boasts that it has the end-game IEM for bassheads that can challenge the ASG-2.5, I welcome the opportunity to review them (Lear, 1964 Ears, AAW, Tracluent, Sony, JVC, errybody else, I’m lookin’ at you).

No earphone is perfect, so let’s talk about a few of the things I’d criticize.

The mid-bass is a bit bloated and clouds the mids with the bass port fully open. I prefer to have it cut off by ~150Hz for the ultimate basshead experience, so I use EQ to drop the mid-bass and low-mids a bit (see the frequency response graph to see where it’s a bit high).

CAUTION: Don’t use the case they send you. The case that comes with this flagship IEM is inexcusably small. If used, it can actually damage the casing of the earphones. They sent me an extra clamshell case, and I expect Aurisonics to replace the included case in the future (they’ve commented as such, which is great that they’ve listened to customer feedback).

If you are looking at IEMs in this price category, you definitely have a good amp to complement them, right? If you don’t, you shouldn’t consider an earphone at this level until you have a good DAC and Amp to drive them. The ASG-2.5 needs a good amp to sound great, so don’t try driving them directly from your phone or you’re doing these beauties an injustice.

Others often criticize the SureSeal tips as being hard to find a proper seal. I liked them for the ASG-B, but curiously agreed with others for the ASG-2.5 and used double-flange tips instead.

Conclusion: The Aurisonics ASG-2.5 is my current top pick overall for a basshead IEM. It has matchless sub-bass depth, solid impact, and manages to give you the best of both worlds with its dynamic driver providing deep bass and 2x balanced armature tweeters delivering crystal clarity.

Aurisonics ASG-2.5 Frequency Response Graph

This curve was generated using a Dayton Audio EMM-6 Electret Measurement Microphone, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 audio interface, and Room EQ Wizard. The mic calibration file was provided by Dayton Audio and the output calibration file was generated using the program itself (3.5mm out on PC to 1/4″ input on Scarlett 2i4).

Frequency Response Graph for ASG-2.5 (Bass Fully Open and Bass Fully Closed) and ASG-B

ASG-2.5 Bass Port Fully Open = Red
ASG-2.5 Bass Port Fully Closed = Green
ASG-B = Blue

Quick Notes

ASG-2.5 Bass Port Fully Open (Red) and ASG-B (Blue) are virtually identical up to ~700Hz.
ASG-2.5 Bass Port Fully Open (Red0 and ASG-2.5 Bass Port Fully Closed (Green) become identical after ~1500Hz.

Aurisonics ASG-2.5 Specifications

Driver: Precision Dynamic 14.2mm + 2 custom-tuned, next generation tweeters
Frequency response: 8Hz – 25kHz
Impedance: 41 ohm +/- 10% @ 1kHz
Sensitivity: 123dB @1mW
Passive noise attenuation: NRR 22db
Construction: 3D printed, Digital Hybrid Technology (DHT)™ shell fits 95% of ears like a custom (Hybrid custom/universal fit).
Cable: Detachable silver-plated low oxygen copper cable
Colors: Polished Red, Polished Black, Brushed Nickel, 24k Gold
Warranty: 1-year

Aurisonics ASG-2.5

$699.00–$1,099.00

8.8

BASS IMPACT

8/10

BASS DEPTH

9.5/10

OVERALL SOUND

8.5/10

BUILD QUALITY

9/10

REVIEWER BIAS

9/10

PROS

- Thunderous bass depth
- Bass complemented by clarity of 2 BA tweeters
- Doesn't need EQ to provide satisfying bass
- Adjustable bass port
- Comfortable, fits like a custom

CONS

- Expensive
- Small case may damage earphones
- Needs an amp to shine
- Some dislike the stock tips
- Mid-bass overemphasized w/ bass port open

[Originally posted at Basshead.Club]

Bring on the thunder.

The Aurisonics ASG-B has the most bass depth of any IEM to grace my ears. They are absolutely thunderous, digging deep into your chest and taking your breath away.

Aurisonics ASG-B In the Box

Shock/Dust/Waterproof hard case
SureSeal™ tips
Cleaning tool
ASG-B
Detachable cable

Aurisonics ASG-B Impressions

Aurisonics has in-ears for a wide variety of musicians and music listeners. The ASG-B fills a very specific niche: it is targeted at bassists, drummers, and DJs. Because of this, the sound signature leaves the upper frequencies intentionally dark so bass players can hear themselves above other musicians. That means to get a overall pleasant tonal quality to your music–with a few exceptions–you’ll likely want to use an equalizer to compensate. If you’re a bassist playing on a stage, you’re all set.

The ASG-B uses a 14.2mm dynamic driver that pounds harder than anything I’ve heard. The direct impact is good to very good–surpassed only by the Pioneer SE-CX8 and SE-CX9 (which create an artificial hit with a Bass Exciter)–and the depth is absolutely outstanding. They are the sub-bass kings.

Listening to a fair amount of electronic music and rap is absolutely enjoyable. The bass depth is on another level. I was taken by surprise when I actually had to stay my hand with the equalizer. I usually nearly max out the dB on the low frequencies with my system using any headphones or earphones. With the ASG-B, I was much more conservative than usual. My ears surrendered well before the IEM waved the white flag; it could still have pumped out more bass than I could handle.

The earphone housing itself is 3d printed to fit 95% of ears like a custom, and apparently I am one of the 95%. They are very comfortable with an over-ear cable for long term listening comfort. If you care about microphonics, these cables are better than most I’ve heard and really don’t need to be replaced. The ear tips are also excellent. They’re more gel-like than other ear tips I’ve used and do a great job of creating a seal.

The case is super durable, but it’s a little tight for the IEMs. I believe Aurisonics plans to send a larger case with these in the future, but I haven’t received official confirmation on that as of yet.

The main weakness of the ASG-B is its dark default signature with highs rolled off in favor of the bass. These are never going to achieve the clarity of something that also has a Balanced Armature driver (like the Aurisonics ASG-2.5), but they’re also a lot less expensive than hybrid offerings.

The bottom line: These deliver more bass depth than any other IEM I’m aware of. They are not inexpensive, and offer a very dark tonality. If you are a bassist, drummer, or DJ, I would not hesitate in this purchase. These are perfect for you. If you are concerned primarily with listening to music instead of playing it, you’ll need to invest some time into getting the EQ to sound good to you, and even then you’re not going to achieve great clarity. However, with such amazing sub-bass, these have really made me interested in the Aurisonics ASG-2.5, which use the same dynamic driver for the low end and add 2 Balanced Armature drivers for clarity. The Aurisonics ASG-B is a true bassist IEM, and the most thunderous basshead IEM I’ve heard for breathtaking depth.

I wanted to thank the folks at InEarGear.com for providing me with the Aurisonics ASG-B on loan for this review.

Aurisonics ASG-B Frequency Response Graph

This curve was generated using a Dayton Audio EMM-6 Electret Measurement Microphone, Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 audio interface, and Room EQ Wizard. The mic calibration file was provided by Dayton Audio and the output calibration file was generated using the program itself (3.5mm out on PC to 1/4″ input on Scarlett 2i4).

Aurisonics ASG-B Specifications

Driver: Precision dynamic 14.2mm
Frequency Response: 8 Hz – 25 kHz
Impedance: 41 Ohms +/- 10% @ 1 kHz
Sensitivity: 119 dB @ 1mW
Passive Noise Attenuation: NRR 24 dB
Construction: 3D printed, Digital Hybrid Technology (DHT) shell fits 95% of ears like a custom
Cable: Detachable silver-plated low oxygen copper cable
Color: Frosted Clear
Warranty: 1 year

Aurisonics ASG-B

$299

8.3

BASS IMPACT

8/10

BASS DEPTH

9.5/10

OVERALL SOUND

7/10

BUILD QUALITY

9/10

REVIEWER BIAS

8/10

PROS

- Incredible bass depth
- Good bass impact
- Top notch quality
- Nice ear tips and cable
- Perfect for bassists

CONS

- Default sound signature is very dark
- Case is too small
- Not cheap if you just want crazy depth
- Needs amp--not great directly from a phone
- Won't fit some ears well (true of most IEMs)

Listenable, for sure. It's not like it sounds bad, but it doesn't sound as good as an IEM of its price normally would without EQ. I'd more likely consider jumping up to the 2.5 (B Stock from ebay/Freq City Sound) if you have no way to EQ. Both IEMs also benefit from an amp, so straight from an iPhone 6 might not be ideal either.

To be honest, if you want to go straight from a phone, you're probably better off sticking under the $200 mark for the most part. Many more expensive earphones don't need an amp to sound good, but they do need one to sound better than something cheaper.

Someone good to ask would be ljokerl at The Headphone List. Tell him you want a good basshead type IEM to listen straight from an iPhone without EQ, and I bet he'll have a lot of suggestions.

If you listen to a lot of electronic music like me, the JVC HA-FXZ200 is great even without EQ or an amp. If you have a way to bump the bass a bit, it's an absolute pleasure to listen to and has wonderfully deep sub-bass.

@Luckbad

Hey @Luckbad thanks for the reply! (wish I could subscribe to this thread...)

To clarify, I actually do use an amp, either the oppo ha-2, or cayin c5 for moar power. The issue with EQ'ing is that when listening to Tidal or Spotify, they can't be routed through a software eq (spotify has some presets built in, but they are just ok). I think the spotify API would actually allow someone like audioengine to run spotify through their Equalizer app (like SONOS does) but so far no one is doing that...

So my main dilemma between the B and the 2.5 was that I really just want in on the Aurisonics bass action going around as I have severe "fear of missing out on bass" syndrome, and if all I want is bass, then does the b deliver more than the 2.5 on that front? But I think the answer is no, or not really, or not enough that I'll like the experience more than the 2.5 because it's lacking the mids and highs.

That being said, I always am on the lookout for the best non-amped basshead iem as I don't really like to use too much gear when I'm commuting or just running around the city. I haven't tried the HA-FXZ200 but they're on my radar, as well as the newish fx1100, and I've been hearing some good things about the dunu dn-2000J now too.

@Infinity Knives

@Infinity Knives
You should be able to route Tidal or Spotify through an EQ. I have Equalizer APO at work and use the Peace GUI for it, and it works for everything on my machine there.

The ASG-B does not deliver more bass than the ASG-2.5, it delivers exactly the same amount. I posted some graphs on the ASG-2.5 review at Basshead.Club that show a comparison, and they are identical frequency response up to ~700Hz between the ASG-B and ASG-2.5 with the bass port fully open (they have the same dynamic driver, but the 2.5 adds 2 BA drivers to the mix, apparently after ~700Hz).

Neither Aurisonics is going to be the best for commuting if you don't use an amp--they're both pretty power hungry to sound great. The HA-FXZ200 is decent unamped, although I always use it with an amp (I use cheaper IEMs when I just use my phone, which is only for when I'm at the gym).

The Wooduo 2 has a few quality control issues (just buy from somewhere you can return/exchange through Amazon in case you have issues with driver flex) but doesn't really need an amp. The Sony MDR-XB90EX is also pretty solid without an amp. The Pioneer SE-CX8/SE-CX9 don't really need an amp, but benefit from them as well as EQ to get them to actually shake (reviews up for both here and at Basshead.Club).

It would be impossible to replicate my first impressions of the Pioneer Superior Club Sound in-ear headphone series. As such, if you’d like my initial reaction, check out myPioneer SE-CX9 review. The short version is that the Bass Exciter in these is clearly a gimmick, but it’s a gimmick that works. No IEM comes remotely close to having as much bass impact as the Pioneer SE-CX8 or SE-CX9. If you’re a true basshead, you might as well stop reading the review right now and move on to buying it for its current discounted price.

Pioneer SE-CX8 Features

Featuring the “BASS EXCITER” vibration element that that generates a low-frequency vibration and offers a new sense of deep bass reproduction
9.4mm dynamic speaker unit
High-quality aluminum housing
Designed for optimal fit and comfort
High-quality, tangle-free cord with in-line microphone and volume control for smartphones and MMCX connectors
Available in Bright Silver, Indigo Black, and Bright Copper

Pioneer SE-CX8 Impressions

These earphones have more impact than anything I’ve put in my ears. It’s pretty ridiculous what they can do. You can feel them vibrating if you hold them in your hand. I have to reduce my bass EQ well below what I’m used to or they start tickling the inside of my mind. One issue with engaging the Bass Exciter is that you have to bring them up to a moderately high volume for it to kick in. If I’m casually listening at low to mid volume levels, nothing shakes and I have IEMs that have more pleasing audio (and bass) for quiet listening.

That said, these IEMs sound good. They lean toward bass without equalization. The mids are somewhat recessed and the highs are present but not annoyingly so like in many v-shaped sound signatures. If you really love clarity or just prefer the sound of Balanced Armature drivers over Dynamic, you might lean toward the SE-CX9 instead. If you want a little more bass depth overall and are willing to sacrifice some of the crystal clarity you get with a BA driver, the SE-CX8 is for you. I prefer the SE-CX8 because of its depth.

One issue I have with these is that they are heavy, and the no-tangle cord is as bulky as the earphones it attaches to. After a couple hours of use, I have to swap these out for another earphone. I plan to replace the cable at some point with something else that uses MMCX connectors. Using the Monster gel SuperTips has improved comfort a bit for me over the stock tips.

Ultimately, there’s nothing else out there like these earphones. The Bass Exciter works, and it really is exciting for bassheads. Your canals will shake, your chest will rumble, and you’ll find yourself dancing as you listen.

If you’re a basshead, you owe it to yourself to try out the Pioneer SE-CX8 or SE-CX9. At current prices ($80 and $130, respectively), they are absolutely worth a listen. The SE-CX8 has a permanent place in my collection unless it’s somehow usurped by its own successor or someone else invents an IEM that shakes my ears even more.

Pioneer SE-CX8 Specifications

Headphone Type	Fully Enclosed Dynamic Headphones with Exciter
Frequency Response	4 – 30,000 Hz
Impedance	16 Ω
Maximum Input Power	100 mW
Sensitivity	102 dB/mW
Driver Unit Diameter	9.4mm Dynamic Driver
Plug	3.5 mm 4P mini-plug (gold plated)
Cable	1.2 m (detachable OFC Litz wire with lock-function) MMCX connectors. In-line mic with remote.
Weight	0.46 oz (without cord)

Pioneer SE-CX8

$200 MSRP ($80 tested)

8.3

BASS IMPACT

9.5/10

BASS DEPTH

8.5/10

OVERALL SOUND

7/10

BUILD QUALITY

8.5/10

REVIEWER BIAS

8/10

PROS

- Great bass impact
- Very good bass depth
- Shakes your canals
- A unique in-ear experience
- Can replace cord w/ MMCX connectors

CONS

- Bulky, somewhat uncomfortable design
- Requires med-high volume for the Exciter to work
- List price is too high, current is not
- Cord is heavy
- Uses a gimmick to get bass impact... but it works

[size=17.0300006866455px][Originally posted at Basshead.Club][/size]

Review is awesome and that chart on bottom is sick!! Very cool! Reviewer Bias....man...that should be a new factor put into all reviews

Nice work!!

After being impressed with the value of the MEElectronics M6 Pro, I wanted to take a look at a bassier IEM from the same company.

The M-Duo is a dual dynamic driver earphone with a separate subwoofer and tweeter unit. That said, they were quick to point out to me that these are not basshead earphones, but are bassier than their standard offerings. As such, I’m reviewing these as what they are: an in-ear headphone that has a discreet dynamic driver dedicated to the low end.

Features

Dual driver design with separate subwoofer for deep, impactful bass with clean vocals and clear instruments
Integrated microphone and remote for calls and media control on smartphones, tablets, and more
In-Ear design provides noise isolation and comfort for extended use
Stylish and durable metal construction looks as good as it sounds

What’s in the Box

M-Duo Dual Dynamic Driver in-ear earphone with inline mic and remote
6 sets of ear tips
Zipper carrying case
Shirt Clip
User manual

Impressions

I like to keep my reviews short and sweet. The shortest version of this review: These are the most pleasant dual driver earphones I’ve heard for under $100. They sound lovely, clear, and gratifying. They are v-shaped, but nothing overwhelms anywhere in the frequency range and the treble (which I am sensitive to) is not fatiguing at all.

These slot in nicely for me in the “curl up and read a book on the patio” category when listening to more ambient type electronic music (like Melorman’s Open Your Eyes). But, they can also flex their muscles with indie rock music (like The Fratellis’ Chelsea Dagger) by providing an engaging experience complemented by a good kick line.

Being a basshead, these don’t quite satisfy with extremely bassy music for me, though they can provide some rumble when equalized. However, for people who haven’t corrupted themselves by listening to headphones and earphones that literally rock your ears, these provide plenty of bass without overwhelming the frequency spectrum.

If you’re looking for versatile earphones and enjoy a little extra bass punch on top of wonderful clarity, the MEElectronics M-Duo provides what you want in spades at a price point that won’t break the bank. For many, this would be a great first step toward the world of audiophile earphones.

I’ve become a fan of MEElectronics because of the generous value on their entire product line (many companies would charge 2-4x the price for what you get) and the excellent customer service I’ve received.

The main negative for me with these earphones is that MEElectronics also has the brilliant M6 Pro at the same price point. Compared to the value for the money, these are slightly less comfortable as I can’t sleep with them on my side, they have fewer accessories (though plenty compared to other offerings), don’t have detachable cables, and the in-line remote lacks volume control. Compared to everything else at this price point other than MEElec’s own M6 Pro, this is great value for the money (it should be noted that you get two drivers and crossover for the price).

Burn-in: I burned these in for ~20 hours before engaging in a proper review. Burn-in seems to have improved bass response a bit, but no significant changes were noted.

MEElectronics M-Duo Specifications

driver	dual dynamic drivers
frequency response	10 Hz to 20 kHz
impedance	16 Ohms at 1K
sensitivity	101 dB
noise isolation	up to 27 dB
cable length	135 cm / 53 in

MEElectronics M-Duo

$50 MSRP

7.9

SOUND

7.5/10

QUALITY

8/10

COMFORT

8/10

VALUE

8/10

REVIEWER BIAS

8/10

PROS

- Ample bass and clarity
- No listening fatigue
- Good quality construction (and stylish)
- Amazing customer service
- Comfortable for hours

CONS

- Cables not detachable
- Value eclipsed by their own M6 Pro
- No inline volume controls
- Not a basshead IEM

I’m a basshead. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t own or use other headphones and earphones that wouldn’t qualify. If something catches my eye, I’m likely to try it out.

The MEElectronics M6 Pro caught my eye.

Let’s cover what you get for $50:

Universal-fit in-ear monitors (with plugs for detachable cables)
Stereo cable with shirt clip and cable cinch and memory wire
Headset cable with shirt clip, mic, remote, and truly universal volume control (integrated) and cable cinch and memory wire
Gold-plated 1/4″ stereo adapter
Carrying case large enough for included accessories and many portable amps
6 sets of silicone eartips and 1 set of Comply tips
1 year warranty + lifetime half-price replacement

That’s more features and accessories than anything I’ve seen at this price point. The bigger question is, how does the M6 Pro sound?

Impressions

I already mentioned this is not a basshead earphone. I’m not going to be talking as much about bass depth and impact as I normally would.

That said, the MEElectronics M6 Pro is warm sounding earphone with very good bass depth and decent impact, as well solid clarity throughout the frequency range. The treble is not sibilant, but on some particularly sparkly songs, the M6 Pro can get a little fatiguing (though I’ve found this to be reducing with time–it seems these are benefiting from a bit of burn-in, or my brain stopped getting headaches from the frequency response with familiarity).

I haven’t found the sound to scale up much at all with amplification. These sound just as good out of my phone as they do from my four amps I had on hand. This isn’t a bad thing at all, because most people are going to use these straight from their phones, and the quality is solid that way. They respond decently to equalization, and you can pull out a fair amount of bass depth from them with EQ. I wasn’t able to get a lot of impact with them before they started to distort (more than most IEMs, just not to basshead level).

Isolation is par for the course with universal in-ear monitors. It’s good and doesn’t have a bunch of extra ports to let noise in and out, and with the Comply isolations tips included, you don’t hear a lot of the outside world.

Comfort is superb. I can wear these for hours on end, and I have slept with them in without issue (and I’m a side sleeper).

Build quality is very good overall. Everything seems sturdy. Minor qualms: My volume control was a bit sticky and hard to adjust in micro-increments, and it introduced some channel imbalanced. MEElectronics sent me a new cable with return shipping included. I’ve also started rubbing off the R and L indicators already, which means I’ll eventually have to guess which side is which if I keep swapping cables.

The MEElectronics M6 Pro is an incredible value and is the best-sounding IEM I’ve heard at its price point. Despite owning in-ears at many times the price, I plan to use these when I’m looking for more balanced tonal character, when I’m sleeping, or when I’m talking on the phone for a long period of time.

MEElectronics M6 Pro Specifications

Speaker Specifications

driver type	moving coil (dynamic)
driver size	10 mm
frequency response	20 Hz to 20 kHz
impedance	16 Ohms at 1K
sensitivity	100±3 dB (1mW at 1KHZ)
maximum power input	30mW

Microphone Specifications

directivity	omnidirectional
frequency response	100 Hz to 10 kHz
sensitivity	-42dB± 3dB

Product Details

ear coupling	intraaural (in-ear)
cable length	51 inches (1.3m), detachable
cable connector	3.5mm, right angle plug
weight	5.8oz (164g)
water resistance rating	IPX5
included accessories	protective carrying case, eartips, shirt clips, spare cable, ¼” adapter

[Originally posted at Basshead.Club]

I just grabbed the Sennheiser G4me Zero. It isn't remotely similar to the PC 360 as mentioned elsewhere, apart from the basic shape and approach. The Zero is a closed headphone, while the PC 360 (and G4me One) is open.

If you need headphones that isolate well but still perform well for gaming, the G4me Zero is absolutely excellent. It's comfortable as heck with earpads (interior) measuring ~76mm (3 in) tall, ~45mm wide (1.75 in), and ~25mm (1 in) deep. The earpads are also thicker on the bottom than the top, conforming better to your face than most pads.

I'm listening to some liquid dubstep right now and really enjoying them. Audio quality is up there with Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pros for music, but presenting with Sennheiser's signature sound.

The Sennheiser G4me Zero feels like a closed version of the HD 598 (or a fun version of the 380 Pro), with better bass punch and a little less clarity and soundstage (like you get with any closed vs. open headphone).

If the G4me One is virtually the same but open instead of closed, I suspect it will be the better set of cans for pinpointing people in shooters (open headphones are better for positional audio than closed). That said, The G4me Zero is no slouch, and I am having good success in Battlefield 4 using a Creative X-Fi Titanium HD sound card's RCA outs (in game mode with surround on) into an Objective2 amp.

For super competitive FPS play, I'll pull out the HD 598 with Antlion Modmic instead of the G4me Zero, but I suspect I'll use the Zero for most other gaming.

I'm pleasantly surprised by the G4me Zero with its flashy marketing, stupid name (I can't not say "guh-four-me" when I see the name... yes, I know it's pronounced "game.").

I must admit that I am a bit of a Sennheiser fanboy because of their quality, sound, and--particularly--comfort. I have very tall ears (68mm) that only fit in a few of the circumaural headphones I've tried. I routinely use Sennheiser HD 555, Sennheiser HD 598, Sennheiser HD 650, Sennheiser IE80 headphones, as well as Beyerdynamic DT-880s with Brainwavz HM5 earpads (great pads for large ears--the infamously comfy Beyer pads don't fit me), Narmoo S1, and Logitech Ultimate Ears.

If you pick up the G4me Zero, note that they are 150 Ω and sound better with an amplifier, particularly when listening to music.

Or GeFour(ce) Me

I know, I just see "Guh-Four-Me" because of some reviewer on YouTube who said it that way. It makes me chuckle, though.

the name G4ME is saying "GAME", it's leet or 1337.