Brainwavz B200

INTRO:-

Almost everyone is aware of the Brand Brainwavz. They are one of the most active and most popular brands in budget and mid range buyers. They have plenty of things in their inventory, starting from single DD priced to quad BA earphones to full size planar headphones priced in the range of $20 to $400.

The Brainwavz B200 calmly lies in the mid of their product list which has a price tag of $90 and comes in two colors Cosmic Black and Stay Frosty. It has two BA driver in tweeter and woofer configuration and is a revised version of the older B200 which lacked the newer models refined qualities and removable cables.

In the market which is getting flooded with new earphones in this price range every week, I have some of the competing earphones like the Simgot EN700pro, DT500 and the TFZ series 4 for comparison.

You can get one for yourself from here.

https://www.brainwavzaudio.com/collections/earphones/products/b200-dual-balanced-armature-earphones



ACCESSORIES & PACKAGING:-

The B200 comes with their signature black and red long earphone carry case, the newer packaging too looks more premium and classy compared to the older B200. The set of accessories is exactly same except the removable mmcx cable.

There are 6 pairs of rubber tips, one pair of comply T-100 tip, a cable clip, Velcro cable tie, and few documentation completes the list of accessories.



BUILD QUALITY & ERGONOMICS:-

I never had any problem with the build quality of any of the Brainwavz earphones, and the Bxxx series being their flagship range are some of the most ergonomic earphones in their price ranges. The newer version has 3D printed shells and are as comfortable as the older version. The size of the earpieces are fairly small the fit is very snug.

The all plastic build looks fairly strong and is very light weight. The nozzle is longer than most and is one of the most secure fitting earphones as it gets nicely deep into the ear. There is a vents on the shell, maybe to keep the pressure in control. Keep in mind that BA based earphones don’t need vents.

The B200 seals very well, one of the best to be precise.

CAUTION:- don’t use earphones where you have to be aware of your surroundings like driving and walking on the road, stay home and enjoy your music or at gym.









CABLE:-

In their words:-

"The Brainwavz B200 use the industry standard MMCX cables.
Detachable cables extend product life span, allow for additional features and creates a truly custom product experience."

The newer cable is very similar to the older version, thankfully the newer one has removable cables and swapping the cables with something aftermarket is now possible.

The cable is internally braided with a layer of rubber coating on it. it does have some bouncy characteristics and is on the stiffer side of the spectrum when compared to cables which comes with earphones in this price range. It retains the exact 45degee jack, Y splitter and even the cable guides, but thankfully it terminates at the MMCX port. The cable guides are fairly comfortable.

SOUND QUALITY:-

In their words:-

"The B200 plays host to some of the finest drivers around, and tuned to produce a balanced and accurate sound signature, with little to no colouring, hear the music as the artist intended.

Brainwavz unique 3D modelling and printing allows us to create a unique system that lets the the Balanced Armatures perform above and beyond expectations."

The brainwavz B200 has flatter and more detailed tuning compared to the older version. The bass doesn’t have the boomyness to it and the treble has fantastic reach and energy for the price.

The newer version has better balance across the spectrum. Unlike the Oder version, the newer one has little to no coloration. The tonality is not exactly neutral, there is some brightness to it.

Burned for more than 100hrs, I am using the Plenue R and D for this review, the B200 doesn’t need much power and can be driven out of mobile devices but some devices like my Galaxy A7 exhibits huge amount of background noise. I advice to use it with an aptly powerful DAP.







TECHNICALITY AND MATCHABILITY:-

The Brainwavz B200 has a nominal impedance of 30ohm but it is not exactly mobile device friendly, the twins inside are like, no no no.. this thing we don’t like, bring us something DAP like. It has a sizeable amount hiss and distortion with some under powered mobile devices.

The 110db sensitivity helps the B200 to get very loud. So the thing is, match ability of the B200 depends on your device, it does perfectly fine with the Galaxy Note 8 but not with low ringers.

BASS:-

The B200 has a typical BA type bass, powered by a single BA, its does have better like and thump compared to The legendary ER-4P but earphones like klipsch X10 have slightly bigger presence. Nothing close to what single DD bass monsters like King pro and dynamically driven BGVP DMG can deliver with their bass body and impact size.

The B200 triumphs those bass heavy earphones with better details and accuracy. What B200 have is very good sub-bass reach and rumble, for a BA based earphone in this price range, it has one of the best bass extension along with the Earnine EN210. The mid-bass is not as forward as the sub-bass but gives the bass notes the required amount of body. There is good amount of slam when called upon and it moves nice amount of air when. I cannot call the bass full bodied but it's not lean. The upper bass lacks a bit of forwardness and lies flat on its back.

The decay speed of the B200 gives the bass notes a very accurate presentation, its slightly slower than the flatter ones and considerably faster than bassier ones. There is very good amount of details

What is really interesting is that this B200's bass is like the Fibae 3 bass on budget, very similar, the Fibae 3 has better body and rumble and tonal accuracy but the B200 has faster decay.

Those who are looking for a bass heavy signature will find the B200 lacking.

MID RANGE :-

The first thing that catches the attention of the listener is the mid range, it is very accurate and transparency along with level of details is class leading. Level of details too is something I had not seen in this price range. The mid range is more forward compared to the bass region, giving it the driving seat. The whole mid range maintains very good amount of energy. The overall tonality is on the metallic side.

The Transition from upper bass to lower mid is nearly flawless. There is a little dip in energy nearer to the bass side, nothing anyone can hold against any earphone under $300, let alone at this price range.

The Mid-range of the B200 has very good clarity and transparency. The tonality and polished notes presentation pulls the B200 ahead of the competition. There are many chi-fi earphones who lack refinement, resolution, presentation, evenness with density and tonal balance the B200 can achieve. They tend to be unrefined and either edgy or sibilant.

The forwardness of the mid range makes both female and male vocals sound very clear and lively. The tonality of female vocals is very good, the male vocal sound a bit sharper than required.

Instruments have very good amount of transparency and details to them, they have fantastic amount of sharpness to them. Upper mid range is nicely balanced with the vocals and rest of the mid range with good accuracy. There is no sibilance to worry about but some tracks might induce some upper mid peak.

Level of layering and separation is class leading thanks to the bigger than most stage size in this price range. The stage has more depth than width and height.

HIGHS:-

Transition from upper mid to lower treble is very good. The amount of energy in this transition region is nicely maintained. There is little to no reduction of energy when compared to the mid range.

The B200 has one of the most lively highs for the price range, there is plenty of spark to it with very good amount of energy until the end. The extension is one of the best if not the best. There is no edginess or unwanted smoothening to the notes sharpness.

The level of transparency and clarity is class leading. There is a bit more energy than needed but there is nothing to worry about. Sibilance is just kept out of the equation. The extension is exceptional, the last one I had seen with this type of extension in this price range was the hifiman RE-400.

Just like the mid range, layering and separation is very good, there is plenty of air between instruments and the bigger stage size helps with instrumental placement.

COMPARISON:-

VS Simgot EN700pro, TFZ Series 4, Ostry KC09 and Final F3100:-



VS the old Version:-

The older version had slightly bigger but slower bass, lacks some details, was not this transparent and lacked a bit of air. The stage size was more cylindrical, the newer version is equally deep with more rounded width and height. The treble extension was not deep enough.

In other words, the newer version is an improvement to the older version in every aspect.







CONCLUSION:-

The B200 is fantastic for the price. It is immensely capable. It has one of the best transparency and resolution for a $100 earphone and the level of details is the best. There is little to no fault in the SQ of the B200. The stage size is very good. The only thing which holds the B200 a little back is the slightly metallic vocal tonality (mostly because I was listening to some $1000+ earphones before this, which are better with tonality, obviously).

The B200 is so good that I can tell you, those who bought a Fiio F9 will find the B200 doing far better than it in every aspect, nothing the Fiio F9 does better than the B200, not a single thing.

If you are in the market looking for an earphone under $100 which deliver at every front, the B200 fits the bill. It might lack some bass but it still has enough.

It is very difficult to find a better sounding earphone for $100.

Greetings,

Today we're checking out the B200 from Brainwavz.

The B200 was originally released early 2017 alongside the B100 and B150. What set the B200 apart from it's more budget friendly brethren was the use of two balanced armatures per side in the vein of the B2, a legacy model in the Brainwavz lineup that found quite the following.

2018 saw the B200 receiving a pretty hefty update. Gone were the shells shared with the B100 and B150. That was replaced by a 3D printed unit very similar to the design and shape used for the successful B400. Fixed cables were also made a thing of the past with the B200 now featuring MMCX equipped removable cables.

How does the current generation B200 perform. Let's take a closer look!

Disclaimer:

A thank you to Marlon with Brainwavz for sending over a sample of the B200 for review. The thoughts within this review are my own opinions based on time listening to and using the product and do not represent Brainwavz or any other entity. At the time of writing, the B200 was retailing for 119.50 USD. You can check it out here: https://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/b200-dual-balanced-armature-earphones

Sources:

The B200 was generally used straight out of a Shanling M0 on low gain. It's not particularly challenging to get up to volume and the M0's warmth paired nicely with the B200's lean neutrality. It was also used with my TEAC HA-501 desktop amp on low to mid damping with the M0 or a ZiShan DSD playing source duty. The B200 doesn't hiss when paired with a more powerful source which is welcome.

Personal Preferences:

I listen primarily to various EDM sub-genres (liquid drum and bass, breakbeat, drumstep, etc.), hip hop, and classic rock. My preferences for earphone tuning are quite relaxed and as such their is no one signature I look for. The HiFiMAN RE800, Brainwavz B400, and Massdrop x MeeAudio Planamic are examples of earphones with wildly varied signatures that are enjoyable for different reasons. I generally listen at very low volumes, so keep this in mind when perusing my thoughts on how an earphone sounds.

Specifications:

• Driver: Dual balanced armature
• Impedance: 30ohms
• Sensitivity: 110db @ 1mW
• Frequency Range: 12Hz - 22kHz

Packaging and Accessories:

I quite enjoy the packaging Brainwavz has created for their armature series. It has a very premium feel to it compared to much of the competition, partly because it shares a number of qualities with the packaging of the significantly more expensive HEM series of earphones from Optoma Nuforce. The cardboard has a nice texture and is dense and durable. It offers lots of protection for the contents inside so they're kept safe and sound until they get to you, the buyer.

On the front of the cream white exterior sheath in a clean, contrasting black font you find the usual Brainwavz branding and model information. In addition, there are notifications for the inclusion of Compy foam tips and Brainwavz's generous 24 month warranty. The sides of the sheath are completely blank while the back contains some trademark info, the Brainwavz logo, and a number of images to coincide with the contents.

Sliding off the sheath reveals a matte grey box with 'Brainwavz' pressed into the magnetically seal flap and '24 month warranty' pressed into the main panel. Flipping back the flap you find the inner left panels contain the Brainwavz mission statement and a short description of what the warranty covers. In the enclosure on the right you find one of Brainwavz's outstanding black and red elongated hard shell cases set within a foam insert, a spare cable tucked in beside it. Resting on top of the foam, surrounding the case, is a paper insert with a psychedelic colour scheme thanking you for your purchase. Within the case resides the B200 and accessories. In all you get:

• B200 earphones
• MMCX 3.5mm cable
• MMCX mobile cable with inline control and microphone
• Shirt clip
• Velcro cable tie
• Red Comply T-100 foam tips (m)
• Single flange silicone tips (s/m/l x2)
• Manual and 24 month warranty card

Overall a great accessory kit. You get a spare cable, one of the best cases in the business, quality ear tips, and some potentially useful little extras like the shirt clip and velcro strap. No complaints here. Plus, you can't argue with a 24 month warranty which shows that Brainwavz is confident in the quality of their products.


Build, Comfort, and Isolation:

Like other models in Brainwavz's armature lineup, the B200 features liquid resin 3D printing for their construction. The shape and design is quite similar to it's bigger brother, the B400, but shrunk down to something more suitable for a dual-driver. The printing quality is good with the two halves of the shell fitting together nicely and the MMCX ports smoothly integrated, though the cloudiness is a bit of a turn off. I also miss seeing the Brainwavz logo integrated into the face plate design. It all looks somewhat barren and overly simple. FiiO's recent release, the uber stylish FA1, is also 3D printed but unless you knew ahead of time it would be exceptionally difficult to tell just by looking at them. While I appreciate what Brainwavz is doing with the tech and give them huge kudos for being one of the first to start making retail-ready earphones with it, some additional refinement would go a long way towards improving the visual appeal. As is, I think the appeal is in function over form giving the B200 a very subtle appearance that does not draw attention.

The cables included with the B200 will be familiar to Brainwavz faithfuls. They feature multiple twisted strands coated by a tough, matte black sheath. While they tend to retain bends out of the box and are a bit springy, the cable materials used have shown me time and again that they are tough as nails. Plus, microphonics are pretty minimal, strain relief is prominent (less so on the mobile cable), and you get the same style of angled ear guides that were first introduced with the B100 and B150. I love the shape of these guides as they work very, very well. While the wire and sheath materials are the same between the two, the hardware is quite different. The standard cable has a rubber 45 degree angled jack with excellent strain relief, and a beefy rubber y-split that is equally well-relieved. Above it sits an effective chin cinch. The mobile cable adds in a metal three-button remote. The y-split and chin cinch are swapped out for more compact metal units, still with adequate strain relief. I'm glad they didn't omit the chin cinch, even if it can only raise as far as the inline control unit. The 45 degree angled jack becomes a small metal straight jack. Strain relief here is a bit short and stiff making me think it won't hold up as well long term as the 45 degree jack. Overall, both cables are quality items and welcome inclusions.

Due to the B200's light weight, small size, and low profile ergonomic design, this is one earphone I can't see too many having issues with. It tucks into the outer ear like it belongs there and ceases to exist while you enjoy your music. The tiny nozzle, 4mm at its widest and not ideal for tip rolling, does help the B200 with it's universal designation in that it should be suitable for ear canals of all shapes and sizes. Another nice perk is the location of the vent on the inside of the ear piece. Thanks to this and the sleek shell design, it doesn't pick up much wind noise making the B200 a nice companion when walking around outside on a windy day.

Like other models in the Brainwavz armature lineup, the B200 provides well above average isolation thanks to it's reasonable insertion depth, minimal and smartly placed ventilation, and form fitting shape. These are nice to wear in noisy areas, even more so with the included Comply foams installed. Chilling at my computer you hear only the highest pitched portion of a key stroke. In my local coffee shop and on my walks around the city, you hear only a dulled murmur from the activity going on around you. The only thing stopping the B200 from being an amazing travelling companion is the bass quantity which is more suited to the quiet of your home than the chaos of the outside world.


Sound:

Bass on the B200 is certainly not a focal point thanks to what is quite a reserved presentation. Playing a support role, it goes about it's job without ever overstepping boundaries. While some might call them anemic, I can't agree. Extension is just enough and they've got some solid mid-bass punch and overall speed. Running them with The Crystal Method's “Bound Too Long”, a track that in the past I found reliant in a robust low end to fully enjoy, was a surprisingly complete experience. The B200's presentation certainly isn't ideal for bass heavy genres, but it can still hold its own thanks to its extension, speed, and impressive texturing.

The midrange is where the B200 is at its most impressive. Thanks to the reduced midbass the midrange runs lean, but that's the only criticism I can levy at it. The detail and clarity afforded by the B200s mids are intoxicating and impressively capable. The vocal presentation in particular is stellar. From the screams of Warlock's Doro on “East Meets Wesrt” to the soft, melodic crooning of Riya on Lenzman's “Open Page”, female vocalists sound like they should. Male vocals work too, regardless of whether you're listening to Aesop Rock's relentless barrage on “Catacomb Kids” or Paul William's emotional discharge on Daft Punk's “Touch”. Timbre is fairly accurate as well with instruments sounding mostly accurate, but a bit lighter than they should thanks to the lean note presentation.

Treble is extremely tight and well controlled with a clean, inoffensive presentation. Extension is fine with a smooth roll off and a fairly even emphasis between upper and lower regions, though the lower treble sees more of the spotlight. This gives the B200 an extremely detailed and airy presentation without it coming across overly analytic or bright. I like the snappy decay of cymbals and crispiness each hit displays. The treble really nails my personal preferences. Elevated just enough to give me the detail I want without stepping too far. It's not laid back, but not aggressive either.

The B200's sound stage gives off a pleasing sense of depth and width that I just don't hear often from armature-only iems. This seems to be something Brainwavz does better than most. Notes swirl off into the distance and multi-instrument tracks sound layered and well-separated. This presentation is fantastic and about as far from congested as it gets for this driver layout, at least of those I've tried.

The B200 is a pretty impressive performer. If it had the B400's low end emphasis it would probably be my favourite of the lineup. As is, if you value detail and clarity and a neutral bass presentation, the B200 unquestionably delivers.

Select Comparisons:

EarNine EN2J (267.00 USD): Like the B200 the EN2J is a dual armature model, though the EN2J uses EarNiNE's own in-house designed drivers. The EN2J is a brighter, more precise sounding earphone that is quite analytic. Like the B200 it is light on bass. The EN2J is more textured but lacks the extension and as such doesn't offer much in the way of visceral feedback. The B200 doesn't offer a lot of that either, but it does better than the EN2J. The EN2J's mids are rife with clarity but not as timbre accurate giving vocals a dry tone that is characteristic of the EarNiNE drivers. I personally like the presentation quite a lot, but someone wanting a more realistic tone would be better served by the B200. Treble on the EN2J will be overwhelming to those sensitive to upper frequencies. If you aren't, you'll be rewarded with a level of clarity the B200 cannot match. It's tight and extra crisp and almost makes the B200 sound veiled, which it isn't. Sound stage on the EN2J is similarly large but it sets the listener closer to the action by default. This gives sounds a greater range of motion and more impressive imaging. Layering and separation are slightly better on the EN2J as well. While the EN2J is the better performer, for less than half the price the B200 more than holds it's own.

Where the two are somewhat comparable in terms of audio performance, the EN2J takes a few leaps forward with it's stainless steel build. Like the B200 it is low profile and isolates quite well. The EN2J's cable is not as dense and durable, but is much lighter and more flexible. I liked it enough to donate it to my Campfire Audio Polaris. It's an awesome cable but feels like it needs to be babied to survive. Brainwavz's cables need no such thing thanks to their tough sheaths and effective strain relief.

Havi B3 Pro I (discontinued): The B3 Pro I is a classic example of budget neutral and has a legendary status in the Head-fi forums. Outside of the B200 being much easier to drive, it and the B3 are quite comparable in their style of tune. Light on bass with a luxurious mid-range and smooth, detailed treble. The B3 and it's twin dynamics have a larger sound stage, width in particular, but the B200 isn't too far behind and offers more depth to its presentation. B200's imaging is more precise and accurate with better separation. B200's treble is slightly more forward and it's overall presentation a bit more lean and cool. Seems tighter and more defined. I'm split on the low end. B200 is tighter and more punchy but the B3 Pro I provides more extension, though it isn't impressive on either. The B3's mid-range has a thicker note presentation with a warmer, more organic feel, but it isn't as crisp and clear.

Build isn't spectacular on either with the B3 suffering from cracked housings. It certainly looks more impressive with it's Sennheiser inspired design and Gorilla glass face plates. It's fixed, quad-core flat cable also looks snazzy but is subject to drying out and cracking over time. While the B200's 3D printed housings are somewhat uninspired looking and I doubt their ability to stand up to heavy abuse, Brainwavz offers a 24 month warranty and a solid repair service, something you never received with the now discontinued B3 Pro I. The cables are also replaceable. And they're far more form fitting and comfortable than the B3's housings.

Along with the Macaw RT-10, the B200 is one of the closest things I've come across to a proper replacement for the B3 Pro I. The RT-10 is closer in tone sharing the same, soft, slightly warm presentation as the B3, but it's not as capable on a technical level and is notably bassier. The B200 bests the B3 technically, but gives up warmth and note weight.

Final Thoughts:

Aiming for an “ideal” target tune is great and all, but when everyone is doing it you end up with a bunch of samey products that lack a unique identity. It's boring if I'm being frank. The B200 doesn't have that problem.

It has a niche tune that is not going to have wide appeal with your average consumer. Bass on the B200 is well-extended and nicely textured but very much downplayed in favour of the detailed mid and treble regions. To some that is a fatal flaw since it means the B200 isn't well-rounded. To others that specialization is exactly what they want. Neither party is right, but neither is wrong either. This is simply another flavour to choose from within the vast see of earphones available to us consumers, and choice is always a good thing. It breeds competition and innovation.

The rest of the package is nice too with Brainwavz's usual in-depth accessory kit. Their case is durable and spacious and the two cables are useful. Even the quality of the stock tips is good avoiding the need to replace them immediately. I hope to see some refinements to the printing process in future products making the frosty/clear models a more attractive, but as is the printing process does what it needs to do. Function over form as they say.

In the end, I think the B200 is a pretty good product. If a bass-lite sound is your jam, there aren't too many options at this price range, and fewer still that do it as well as the B200.

Thanks for reading!

- B9Scrambler


Some Test Tunes:

Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid (Album)
Hail Mary Mallon – Are You Going to Eat That? (Album)
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in Aspic (Album)
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black (Track)
Supertramp – Crime of the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack – Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels (Album)
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy (Album)
Tobacco – screw*d Up Friends (Album)
Felt – Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa Bonet) (Album)
Michael Jackson – Thriller (Album)
The Crystal Method – Grace (feat. LeAnn Rimes) (Track)
Jidenna – Long Live the Chief (Track)
Skrillex – Ragga Bomb (Track)
Big Grams – Run for Your Life (Track)
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain (Track)
Aesop Rock – Fishtales (Track)

BRAINWAVZ B200 (late) REVIEW:



SOUND: 8/10
CONSTRUCTION: 8/10
DESIGN: 8/10
VALUE: 8/10

INTRODUCTION :

Brainwavz lauch 3 new universal customs earphones since 2018, the last on the list is a single BA name the KOEL. With the B200m we have a dual BA’s Brainwavz describe as ‘’not coloured’, and leading to a neutral sound presentation. I can already comfirm that this is mostly the case, and that for a dual BA’s the B200 cover a very wide range of frequencies, never sounding dull even if bass light.

As well, Brainwavz are quite pround of there new 3D print machine, and for good reason, as it can create very organicaly shaped housing that offer next level of comfort, and unlike the B400 being slightly big but still very comfy, the B200 is so small that you will be able to keep it all day as well as all night sleeping with them.

AT 100$, this dual BA’s enter a price range with lot of competitors, so can it keep up with the competition and represent a good value? Let’s see if it do in this review.




Disclaimer (whatever) : I contact Brainwavz to know if they would be interested I review this because of my eternal quest to find the best sub-100$ budget earphones. I’m happy they send me this sample free of charge even if I underline the fact that I’m an independant reviewer that share is NO BS toughs. I’m not a promoting agent for Brainwavz and I buy other earphones from them in the past.



SPECS & Features :



- 3D Printed ergonomic housing
- Detachable MMCX Cables
- Balanced audiophile grade sound
- Dual balanced armature, tweeter & woofer configuration
- Ergonomic over the ear design for comfortable fit.




Drivers : Dual Balanced Armature

1. Rated Impedance : 30Ω
   
   
2. Frequency Range : 12 Hz ~ 22 kHz
   
   
3. Sensitivity : 110 dB at 1 mW
   
   
4. Detachable cable : Yes, MMCX Type
   
   
5. Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold plated

CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN & ACCESSORIES :



When Unboxing the B200, you know this is a serious audio products you have. The presentation is really nice as it come in an elegant grey box that you don’t wanna put in garbage after. AT 100$ this type of products presentation is very rare, and appreciate.
In this intriguing grey box we have a good lot of accessories, wich will impress the humble consumer. We have a nice quality protective case, good lot of eartips including foam tips, and more importantly 2 mmxc cable-one with mic and other being standard. Again, all look of standard irreprochable quality.




Now, about the B200 housing, first thing is how VERY small they are for a 2BA’s, wich explain too the level of comfort we get. The resin plastic is very slippy and will fit perfectly any ears. The nozzle is very thin and nozzle hole is so little, like 3mm in circumference, that I wonder how sund can go out of such a little hole . As well, the 3D resin printing make the housing trasparent at some place and opaque at other, for esthetical aspect thats a little disapointing because they would be so more beautifull if all perfectly translucide. MMCX connection is well implemented in housing and will must likely never break. So, about durability i’m not that worry, perhaps the plastic can crack if beaten up, can’t tell for now.



As said, these are slippy iem, because the form design have an organic shape, wich is perfect for comfort and fitting, but can make connecting MMCX cable a little clumsy….but this is not really an issue. Just don’t change mmcx cable in front of a grinder or alligator.


SOUND:




OVERALL Sound impressions will really depend on music style, as well as music source because the B200 are very sensible to too powerfull or noise source, these are delicate sounding earphones that need special care. What impress me at first listen with these is how airy and mid centric they sound, when signer is either alone, with a piano or acoustic intruments, the voice have a wonderfull presence that really take your attention and impress by its level of details without sibilance. Solo soprano signer was really what impress me the most, as if I was in the very church she sign, the voice expending greatly in a hall like soundstage. Solo instrument like violin or harpsichord are real delight too, but, when I try bassy music my happy face turn to yucky face because of messed up crosstalk, and distorted transient response. So, i decide to put low gain and lower volume of my Xduoo X20 to see if there any change and yes, it solve the distortion issue, but do not make the bass sounding marvelous, just okay. Anyway, here, the tuning is really about mids and treble, wich are fantastic and give plenty of presence and highs sparkle and brillance, with an admirable naturalness to it. So I really think the B200 are targeted for classical, acoustic instrumental and folk (or guitar, piano accompanied) singnersongwriter, for any beat driven music, they should be avoided.



AMPING is not suggested at ALL, I mean, B200 are very sensible to current (or sound source) distortion and the drivers can’t handle too much of it. Even if high gain can open the mids even more, as soon as bass will appear, transient problem with lower ends and lower mids will occur. This would NOT happen with low gain. You really need to push the volume high before hearing any type of distortion. Anyway, don’t use portable with the B200, it will hurt them and make them bleed.


SOUNDSTAGE is average wide but quite great in deepnest and tallness. It have an airy feel that is taken full advantage off with solo or not over crowded instrumental music. B200 have a circular hall like presentation, where the air can flow, for the better or the worst (as with too much instrument soundwave can mess up in all this background air).


SOUNDSIGNATURE is Mid centric, with extra focus on extended sparkly treble and slight soft mid bass push.


BASS is the weakest aspect of B200 and take a back seat under the mids without interfering with clarity. It have a roll off before 20hz, and a dry sub bass, the mid bass is better and have more body and punch, but still is on the soft side. Bass is really moe about timbre than impact with the B200, wich can do good to give enough body to cello or acoustic bass, but will feel underwhelming for punchy rock, beat driven electro, and well, its neither for basshead or hip hop lover for sure.


MIDS are simply breathtaking even if they do not lack air to breath at all! The presence is wide and immersive, the timbre is transparent but well detailed, its really the star of the show and take advantage of treble extension as well. They feel very realist and alive and not unnaturaly push fowards or overly bright, they have a kind of juicy musicality. Rarely I have been as impress by vocal, piano, cello or violin performance, there a sens of urgency to it that give attack and decay great grip, in the 500hz to 6khz range, Magic happen. But the magic tricks do not always work, especially when the soundstage is crowded in whole frequencies range, where we will hear more precisely upper mids instruments than lower mids, because there extra treble texture to upper range that can shadow a little rest of spectruc, when bass come in too, well, suddenly it became too warmed up. Anyway, as I am a big fan of chamber orchestra, this problem do not really happen and it sound really lively and marvelous.


TREBLE is the other aspect of B200 that utterly impress me, its full of sparkle and brillance without near any harshness or violent peaks. The highs are very resolved and you will sure find secret microdetails in upper range wich is sharp like the razor of a talented barber that never hurt his beloved consumer. This type of treble give extra air to overall presentation as well as more grip to instruments and voice. The decay do not feel artificial as we can heard with harpsichord note that sound full of brillance and authority, with fast decay and realist presence. This again, make me in awe, and underline the fact B200 is a special contradictory earphones, it can sound phenomenal with some music and ackwards with other. Treble extension go so far, and were it emphased is so well tuned, that in fact the B200 will perhaps became my go to suggestion for instrumental music and chamber orchestra.

SCORES:

LOWER BASS: 6/10
MID BASS: 6.5/10
LOWER MIDS: 8/10
UPPER MIDS: 8.5/10
LOWER TREBLE: 9/10
MID TREBLE: 8.5/10
UPPER TREBLE: 7.5/10
SOUNDSTAGE: 7.5/10


COMPARAISONS:




VS GT600S :

B200 is more detailed and airy sounding, have more attack and decay in mids and highs and a wider-deeper soundstage. GT600S is warmer and bassier, especially in sub bass wich B200 lack dangerously, tough bass impact of GT600S bleed a little on lower mids, giving it extra body but less resolution. Being V shape inits ADN, GT600S will do better with electronic especially if lower end is very present, but separation will be less good as well as detailsand mircodetails. B200 will shine with acoustic, instrumental, jazz, folk, classical and signersongwriter and feel from another leaguein term of overall musicality, realism and layering. HIGHS and treble extension is sublime with the B200, while without being bad feel unbalanced with the GT600S. Anyway, because bass never distort with GT600S I feel its a better all arounder even if inferior in treble extension, if you only listen to isntrumental B200 are marvellous earphones that will certainly wow you with its timbre, attack and vast airy musicality.

CONSTRUCTION of GT600S metal housing is sturdier, neer invincible, B200 housing seem fragile compared to it even if more comfortable. Accessories of both products are god but B200 have 2 cables, one with mic and one without, while GT600S have only one.



VS Final Audio Design E4000 (150$) :



B200 have a wider around your head soundstage, with more decay, wich is a plus for not too complex tracks while a drawback for more complex due to extra echo and decay that can veil certain frequencies range especially in bass region and lower and middle mids.

E4000 in other hand feel overall better balanced and more agile in layering.

Bass of E4000 is more bodied, especially in mid bass where the punch have more weight than the dryer hitting of B200, sub bass of B200 have some roll off begining around 100hz that make it feel tinner than the E4000 even it have a bump to compensate lack of weight. This make E4000 more natural and realist in lower end without the need of any treble push, its lively and make it for better rounded up presence. B200 feel mid centric compared to more neutral E4000, and have upper mids fowardness give extra presence to violin or vocal, but not to piano note that lack weight, another time, the mids of E4000 are more realist and have better attack and body in a tigher more intimate presentation, between 2-8khz we can easily separate each instrument that play in this range, while it will be more messy and veiled with B200 mixing.

Highs have more emphasis with the B200, but do not give more details, tough you will have more sparkle and decay and better feel of air with certain music style like solo harpsichord, classical guitar or folk signer. Talking about harpsichord, even if the strings plucking sound less full in attack timbre, but the decay will give extra liveness to the instrument wich is quite delicious in fact even if I would have like better weight in attack. As well, it most be noted that B200 can sometime create little distortion when too much different instrument are mix togheter, like bass, electric guitar, violin and voice….this will never happen with E4000 whatever you trow at it.

All in all, the E4000 is more neutral and agile with less emphasis on mids and vocal, while the E200 is more airy and less bassy and is less a great all arounder than the masterfully tuned E4000.



VS TinAudio T2 :

Soundstage is deeper with the B200 and have a clearer more transparent layering, where the T2 is more about widness.

T2 have way more sub bass presence as well as more mid bass body, while the B200 feel anemic in this region, with fowards dry mid bass punch. Bass of T2 is slower tough, and can warm the lower mids more than B200.

MIDS make the B200 fell more balanced because they are more controled and less coloured in upper range, where the T2 can have some harshness in this region, B200 doest and sound more natural in tone and timbre. T2 have more thickness to the vocal but less transparency, and can hollow other instrument more easily, so the B200 are more agile and well layered.

TREBLE is more emphased in lower region with a mid treble peak, while the B200 feell more extended and linear, giving more air and sparkle to highs. B200 are more resolved and will not hide any details in this region, while the T2 will focus on specific microdetails.

For construction, even at 50$, the T2 feel more sturdy and esthetically pleasant than resin plastic B200, cable included with T2 is beautiflull twisted SPC but we have 2 cable with the B200 (of lower quality).

All in all, the T2 is a better all arounder even if B200 is more balanced and will sure surpass it with instrumental music.







CONCLUSION :


The Brainwavz B200 is generous in mids and treble tuning as well as accessories, little less generous with bass, wich in fact is a good change from too coloured sounding iem we can find nowadays.

For 100$, you get a well tuned iem that deliver lush immersive vocal in an above average soundstage, level layering and details is as well quite impressive for this price range. If you listen to mostly bass light music, I think the B200 is a stellar contender for 100$, but if you listen to electronic or bassy music, you should look elsewhere.

Brainwavz get more and more serious with there iem offering and have a bright promising futur if they continue to create such good sounding iem that put to shame most other chi-fi audio engineer in term of tuning capabilities.

Disclaimers:
1) This product was provided to me by Brainwavz as a review sample at no cost. There is no incentive for a positive rating and this review expresses my honest opinion of the product.
2) Audio is a very subjective hobby, and my opinions might not accurately reflect your preferences and experiences. So please keep this in mind when reading my review.
3) Due to the similarity of the two products, I have adapted some sections of this review from my previous review of the Brainwavz B150.

I welcome any feedback and questions.

Introduction
Brainwavz is a Chinese audio company that is based in Hong Kong. They are known for offering products that provide great sound quality at a great price. The B200 that I am reviewing is part of their balanced armature lineup, which consists of the single driver B100 ($49.50) and B150 ($69.50), as well as the dual driver B200 ($119.50) and quad driver B400 ($179.50). There was a first-generation B200 that had a similar housing design to the B100 and B150 but I am reviewing the newer second-generation that shares the housing design of the B400. All of these models feature plastic housings and are designed to be worn over-the-ear, but the B200 and B400 housings are 3D-printed from photopolymer resin. According to Brainwavz, this resin is very different from the ABS plastic most products are made of. The B100 and B150 have a fixed, non-removable cable while the B200 and B400 have standard MMCX connectors that allow the cable to be removed and replaced. The B200 comes with two cables, both of which are advertised as being OFC litz copper. These cables both terminate in a 3.5mm jack, with one including a 3-button remote control and microphone and the other not. I am reviewing the B200 at its current price of $119.50.

It is important to understand that the B200 uses two balanced armature drivers, and what this means for sound. Balanced armature drivers generally have more detail than dynamic ones, with the downside of offering weaker bass. This problem is often rectified by using multi-driver designs. When I reviewed the B150 almost a year ago, I commented on how I wasn’t aware of any balanced armature competitors in its price range. I feel like in the past year this has changed greatly, with Massdrop and others offering their own balanced armature models. But Brainwavz was at the forefront of bringing balanced armature designs to consumers at an affordable price, and it is important to keep price in mind, as Brainwavz is clearly targeting this model at someone on a budget that likely wouldn’t have previously considered a balanced armature IEM due to the higher price.

For this review, I used my iPhone 6 as a source and music ranging from 320kbps Spotify to lossless. I own higher end desktop sources, but believe that IEMs should be able to be driven well from a smartphone. While the B200 might sound slightly better with more expensive equipment, I believe that at its price point the vast majority of customers will be using it with just a smartphone. As such, they are relatively easy to drive at 30Ω, and I had no issues using them with my iPhone. Brainwavz specifies the frequency response as 12 Hz – 22 KHz, and the sensitivity as 110 dB at 1 mW. Rounding out the specs is a 24-month warranty, which is competitive at this price point.

The best place to buy the B200, or any of its siblings, is probably from Brainwavz’s own website. The links above will take you to it.

Design and Accessories – 9/10
The design and workmanship of the B200 is great. The housings are a durable plastic with a clear, semi-transparent color that makes them really stand out. I found it cool being able to see the drivers and wiring through the housing. Each housing has an embedded left or right channel marker, although they are difficult to see if not looking closely. The MMCX connectors seem durable and are an excellent change from the B150. The inclusion of these standard connectors means that a plethora of replacement cables can be used. If using one of the included cables, extending from the MMCX connectors are rubber strain reliefs that connect to the ear guides. These strain reliefs also have a channel marker on them, and I found them easier to read than the ones on the housings themselves. The rubber ear guides work great. They are soft enough to mold over your ear without irritation, and in general do an excellent job of keeping the B200 secure. After about three inches, the ear guides give way to the cable, which is thin, but also seems sturdy. The two-piece splitter provides some strain relief to the lower portion of the cable, which is braided and slightly thicker. The termination is a very well-made straight 3.5mm jack. The jack is thin enough that it should easily fit through the opening on most phone cases.

For this review I used the included cable with a three-button remote control and microphone. I found the microphone worked well. None of my callers noticed a difference in sound-quality compared to using the phone’s built in mic. The three-button remote is a welcome improvement from the B150, but I found it to be difficult to use. All three buttons are the same shape and close together, which makes it hard to tell where to press for each button. I deducted half a point from this section because of this.

The packaging is an upgrade compared to the B150, with a fancier cardboard box. The inner packaging flips open to reveal the cable without a microphone and the hard-shell carrying case, containing the B200 with medium silicone tips preinstalled, a pouch containing five other sizes of silicone tips, a pair of red T100 medium Comply foam tips, a clip to attach the cable to your shirt and a user manual. A Velcro band is also provided with each cable to keep the B200 wrapped-up when inside the case.

The case is black, with red accents providing a nice contrast and complement. There is a metal Brainwavz logo embedded in the bottom-right of the top. The case does a great job of protecting the B200 and holding all of the included accessories. I have deducted half a point from this section because the case, while functional, is almost too thick to be pocketable. Overall though, I am very pleased with the B200’s accessory package. Including two cables means that the customer can choose whether or not they want a remote and microphone and also have a backup cable in case the primary one fails. There is an abundance of silicon and foam tips included as well as cable clips and velcro bands.

Comfort, Fit and Isolation – 9/10
I have grouped these three together because I believe that for IEMs they are all intimately related. If you don’t get a good fit, the earphones are likely to be uncomfortable and not isolate well.

As discussed previously, the B200 comes with six different sizes of black silicone tips and one pair of medium red Comply foam tips. Foam tips generally provide more isolation, and can be more comfortable, but they are more of a pain to take in and out and need to be replaced every few months. I initially tried various silicon tips and was unable to get a good fit. The housing went too deep into my ear when using the silicon tips, causing irritation. There was also a small bump on one of the housings that rubbed against my ear. I believe this might have been a defect from the 3D-printing process. Fortunately, the Comply tips gave me an excellent fit with no irritation. When using the foam tips I am able to wear them for hours at a time, so I have not deducted any points for the issues I experienced with the silicon tips. To me this experience just further reinforced how important it is to try each included tip because what works best for some might not be what works best for others. The cable guides do a great job of keeping the housings inside your ears. They don’t fall out on their own, even when shaking my head vigorously in an effort to make them do so. So once I found the best-fitting tips, it has been easy to get and maintain a good fit.

The B200 has below average cable microphonics, as do most other over-the-ear designs. This means that when you walk or move around with them you will hear less of the cable rubbing against your shirt. They also do a great job blocking out noise when used with the Comply tips. When I walked around with them outside while listening to music, I could not hear any of the cars or other noises from the environment. For regular on-the-go use, the B200 will be great. However, for flying I would still prefer an IEM or headphone with active noise cancelling to block out engine noise.

The comfort is excellent. I have not experienced any discomfort, even during long listening sessions. The plastic housings fit in my ears well. The B200 is definitely among the most comfortable IEMs that I have yet to use.

Soundstage – 9/10
The soundstage of the B200 is great for an IEM. When listening to more complicated tracks the imaging does a great job separating the different instruments and vocals. Vocals in particular are close and up front which makes the music more intimate. I also wouldn’t go so far to say that the soundstage compares to an open headphone or an open IEM such as Audeze’s iSINE series, but it does a great job overall and I have no complaints.

Highs (Treble) – 9.25/10
I have really enjoyed the highs on the B150 and rank it well above average in this category. Strings, piano notes and cymbals are all very clear. Higher piano notes have a nice sparkle to them. There is a great amount of detail and resolution. I wouldn’t call the B200 bright or piercing.

Mids – 8.75/10
The mids on the B200 are great. Vocals, both male and female, sound excellent. I want to emphasize how great the B200 sounds for vocals. On high-quality recordings I sometimes felt like I was there in the studio with the artist. Drum hits sound fast, but are somewhat lacking in depth and extension, particularly in lower-quality recordings. I also felt the blending between the mids and the lows is a bit muddy. Despite these criticisms, the sound is non-fatiguing.

Lows (Bass) – 6.5/10
My biggest disappointment with the B200 was the bass. I had high hopes that it would be better than the B150’s due to the additional driver, but it is not. The sub-bass is nonexistent. There is little boom or rumble. When listening to some of my favorite rap or EDM tracks I just feel like something is missing. The B200’s bass is not going to satisfy a basshead either in quantity or extension. That being said, the mid-bass is present and I found it to be fast, tight and accurate. Those that prefer neutral or less bass might not mind the B200’s bass. It definitely doesn’t bleed into the excellent mids or highs, and I was only bothered by it on electric or bass-centered tracks. I felt it did a fine job keeping up on acoustic recordings.

Value – 17/20
I have increased the weight of this section to twenty, up from ten, given that this IEM is targeted towards those on a budget. I think the B200 represents a tremendous value to someone looking for a neutral or bass-light sound signature. It combines high-quality sound with durable construction, MMCX connectors that allow for the cable to be switched out and an excellent accessory package. A twenty-four-month warranty provides plenty of reassurance that the B200 will last. To summarize, I think the B200 represents a strong value at its price. However, its price is nearly double that of the B150, and I found that its weak bass prevented the B200 from excelling at all musical genres. Therefore, I have deducted three points from this category, as a customer looking for a single IEM to listen to all genres with may want to look elsewhere.

Selected Comparisons
Brainwavz B150 ($69.50) – I imagine many reading this are wondering whether or not the B200 is worth the additional money compared to the B150. And this is not an easy answer. First of all, the B150 is much more barebones. The cable is not removable, there is no microphone or three-button remote, the materials are slightly worse and the design is more boring. But it is not simply a case of gaining these features by upgrading to the B200, since the two IEMs have very different sound signatures. The B150 has better bass, with more quantity, extension and accuracy than the B200. This comes at a price though, as the B150 loses some, but not all, of the clarity in the mids and highs that make the B200 great. The vocals are more recessed on the B150, and the soundstage is slightly worse as well. The accessory package is almost identical for both IEMs, except for the fact that the B200 comes with an additional replacement cable. I still think the B150 represents a tremendous value for the money, and whether or not someone is better served with it or the B200 will depend on their preferred sound signature and whether they require the additional features offered only by the B200.

Final F4100 ($279) – The Final F4100 is a single balanced armature design. The F4100 also includes a generous accessory package, with better silicon tips and more foam tip options. The included silicon carrying case is much nicer and more practical than the B200’s hard case, in my opinion. However, the F4100 only comes with one cable and there is no microphone or three-button remote. The included cable is more microphonic than the B200’s, especially when worn down instead of over the ears. In addition, the F4100’s non-standard MMCX connectors make finding third-party replacement cables near impossible. When it comes to the design, the F4100 is extremely tiny, looks elegant and is comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The design of the F4100 is definitely more unconventional compared to the B200, but both are well-designed and visually appealing. The sounds are definitely different. The F4100 has the same clarity in the highs in mids as the B200, with much better bass. The F4100’s bass is definitely neutral, with better quantity, extension and accuracy than the B200. The F4100 has an incredible soundstage and imaging that is slightly above the B200. Overall, I definitely think the F4100 sounds better than the B200 in all areas. But I feel the B200 can compete with the F4100 given its equally impressive accessory package and clarity, despite its shortcomings in the lows. Given that its price is less than half of the F4100’s, the fact that the B200 is able to offer a somewhat similar sound signature in a more affordable and smartphone-friendly package makes it an option worth considering.

Conclusion – 8.56/10
My recommendation of the B200 really depends on what genres you listen to and how much bass you prefer. If you tend to listen to mostly acoustical, vocal and live recordings then you will likely love the B200’s clarity and superb highs and mids. If you listen to a lot of rap or EDM you will likely find yourself missing the sub-bass and wanting more. On its site, Brainwavz claims the B200 are tuned to, “produce a balanced and accurate sound signature, with little to no coloring.” At its price point of $119.50, I feel the B200 has done a good job at achieving this goal.

Averaging out the scores for all seven categories results in a score of 8.56/10. This is in between four and five stars. As it is below the cutoff for four and a half stars, 9/10, I am going to go ahead and show the rating of four stars on this review. However, you can change the weighting of the various categories to better reflect your own preferences and come up with your own rating.

Brainwavz B200 V2 Review: Now With 3D Printing!
Brainwavz is a regular here at Resonance Reviews. They release so many good products that it's hard to avoid seeing them here at least once a month! Starting with the B400, Brainwavz began housing their IEMs in 3D-printed shells. After successfully mass-producing such shells for the B400, they’ve brought them to the B200 as well. That’s right folks, the B200 is now being housed in the same great 3D-printed shells as the B400.

You can find the B200 here, for $120. As of writing it is on sale for $99.

About My Preferences: Heads up, I’m a person! As such, these words are my opinion, and they are tinged by my personal preferences. While I try to mitigate this as much as possible during my review process, I’d be lying if I said my biases are completely erased. So for you, my readers, keep this in mind:

• My ideal sound signature would be an extended sub-bass with a leveled, but textured, mid-bass.
• I have a mild treble sensitivity.

Source: The B200 was powered like so:

HTC U11 -> USB-C adapter -> earphones

or

Hidizs AP100 3.5mm out -> FiiO A5 3.5mm out -> earphones

or

HiFiMAN SuperMini -> earphones

or

PC optical out -> HiFiMe SPDIF 9018 Sabre DAC 3.5mm out -> earphones

All music was served as MP3 @320Kbps or as FLAC.

Tech Specs

• Rated Impedance: 16Ω
• Frequency Range: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
• Sensitivity : 100 dB at 1 mW
• Rated Input Power: 20 mW
• Cable: 1.3 m Y-Cord, Copper
• Plug: 3.5 mm, Gold plated

Sound Signature
Sonic Overview:

The B200’s sound signature is generally U-shaped: an emphasized treble with a gentle upwards slope and a somewhat recessed midrange. The B200’s bass is polite, yet stubbornly present.

Treble: Songs used: In One Ear, Midnight City, Outlands, Satisfy, Little One, Show Me How To Live (Live at the Quart Festival)

The upper midrange of the B200 is arguably its most dominant feature: it really sets the tone for the entire sound signature. It is very well extended, lending definition and texture to many instruments and sound samples with its precision and speed. More than anything, though, it gives the B200 a sense of “cleanliness”. Detail retrieval is pretty good in the B200’s treble, and above-average for its price-point. Its instrumental separation is very good too. I could easily distinguish individual crashes of cymbals and high-hats over the duration of In One Ear and could easily make out each instrument in a live recording of Show Me How To Live.

The B200 never became sibilant, even on my worst-mastered tracks. A big plus in my books, since I value my hearing.

Midrange: Songs used: Flagpole Sitta, Jacked Up, I Am The Highway, Dreams, Too Close, Little Black Submarines

The B200’s midrange is clean, articulate, and precise. In fact, the B200’s clean and neat midrange is what sets it apart from the other sound signatures in the B-series lineup; the rest are all warmer in some manner or another. And while the midrange is recessed behind the treble and mid-bass, this doesn’t stop it from being internally linear. There’s a spike in the upper midrange to add some definition and separation to vocals, but other than that it appears to be left mostly untouched.

Speaking of separation, the B200’s instrumental separation is very, very good. It outperforms many of its peers and sets itself squarely at the top of its price-bracket in terms of performance. The air from the treble synergizes well with the detail retrieval of the midrange, generating a very enjoyable midrange experience.

The B200 does all of the above while not losing a natural timbre. Guitars, pianos, drums, basses, it doesn’t matter. The B200 can handle it with grace.

Bass: Songs used: Moth, Gold Dust, In For The Kill (Skream Remix), War Pigs (Celldweller Remix)

The B200 is not a basshead’s IEM. It is meant to portray an articulate and balanced sound signature, and it does so consistently throughout its sound signature, lower-register included. This means that you’ll be able to hear each detail in a song’s bass line, but won’t necessarily be able to feel it through rumble and impact. So while genres like Dubstep and Progressive House were nice to listen to, as the bass-line was easy to distinguish, it wasn’t as fun as it would be to hear it through a bassier IEM. But hey, that’s only to be expected.

With that said, I had a great time listening to Rock, Metal, and even electronic remixes of Metal songs like War Pigs. The quick and tight nature of the bass added a lot to the experience that one might miss with a slower and more bloated bass.

Packaging / Unboxing
Build
Construction Quality

As mentioned in the title of this review, the B200’s housing, originally made of a thin plastic, is now being 3D-printed much in the same way the B400’s shell is! So that is to say, the B200 has gotten a huge bump in build quality while not changing in price.

The B200’s shells are very smooth and are polished with extreme care. There are no physical defects that I can locate on the surface of the shell with my sense of touch and none that I can find visually. You can easily make out the internals of the B200 through its misty, semi-transparent shell.

This IEM also features detachable cables, using MMCX as its connection standard. The MMCX ports sit flush in the shell and feel very sturdy when connected to the stock cables. There is minimal rotation and a good sense of security, even when using questionable aftermarket cables.

The B200’s nozzles are small in diameter but are actually quite beefy when you take into account what percentage of the nozzle is actually hollow (hint: a very small amount of it). As such, I’m concerned with the longevity of the nozzle when subjected to normal usage.

The B200 comes with two cables, a TRS cable with all-plastic connections, and a TRRS cable with metal ones and an inline remote. Both cables use the same wires and are coated with the same rubbery layer. The two cables also share an ear-guide to help keep the B200 in place while being worn. Each cable is sturdy and sports the appropriate stress relief.

The inline controls of the B200 are universal and should work with any smartphone. I’ve confirmed that it works with all its features intact on my HTC U11 and Pixel. Microphone clarity is solid, and noise cancellation is above average: a big help for me when on the phone during a bike ride or when hiking through the wind.

Comfort

The B200 is, like the rest of its B-series siblings, very comfortable. I was able to wear it during extended listening sessions with no discomfort and had no problems wearing them to bed, though turning on my side did generate some discomfort after about an hour or so.

Accessories
Inside the box you’ll find:

• 1x pair of Comply eartips
• 5x pairs of extra eartips
• 1x extra cable
• 1x shirt clip
• 1x semi-hard carrying case

This accessory load-out is very comprehensive, missing only perhaps a pair of double-flanged eartips for the picky user.

Comparisons
1: Brainwavz B150 ($80)

The B150 has a warmer midrange and a more pronounced mid-bass. It has a softer timbre than the B200 does and pulls a couple fewer details as well. The B150 is evidence of a good upwards trend in sound quality as you progress through the B-series.

2: Brainwavz B400 ($200)

The B400 is a more linear IEM, in a relative sense. It has a more pronounced mid and sub-bass, giving it a notably more visceral low-end, and a more pronounced midrange. As such it has a warmer and thicker sound, but one that nicely compliments the cooler and more analytical take on music that the B200 has.

3: Massdrop x NuForce EDC3 ($100)

The EDC3 and B200 are fairly close in sound signature. The B200 has a more prominent upper-treble and a more textured lower-midrange, but ultimately has a less cohesive sound signature than the EDC3. It’s lower midrange is less pronounced than the EDC3’s by roughly 3 dB. The B200 is like a more V-shaped version of the EDC3.

Summary
The B200 is a five-star IEM from Brainwavz. A clean, articulate sound signature that doesn’t sacrifice lower-register intelligibility, housed in the same outstanding shells as the award-winning B400, it’s sure to impress many. I could find no flaws with its build quality, nor its accessory package, and it is comfortable to wear. Not much you can ask for, especially at this relatively low price point. So if you’re in the market for a balanced-sounding high-performance IEM with a unique look, grab the B200 and take a listen.

As always, happy listening!

INTRODUCTION
Just on three months ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing Brainwavz’s B400 IEM – a quad BA in a 3D printed shell for $190-$275 (depending on your choice of cables and colour). It took me back to the days when Brainwavz were on a high with the B2 – a dual hybrid with incredible sound (an IEM I absolutely loved). The B400 was a different tuning – well extended, nicely balanced signature, but with a polite lower treble. For the price and its technical capability, I had no hesitation in grading it a 5 star IEM.

Shortly after its release, Pandora advised me that they were going to redo their B200 with the same 3D printed shells, and asked if I’d be interested in hearing them. I didn’t get a chance to take part in the B200 V1 review round – but evidently it met with positive feedback from a lot of people on Head-Fi. Two of my favourite IEMs are both dual BA. So lets see how good these are ……

ABOUT Brainwavz
Brainwavz Audio was formed in 2008 as a subsidiary of GPGS Hong Kong. Their goal has always been to develop a full range of audio solutions (mostly earphones and headphones) that cater for a variety of different tastes, uses and price brackets. They originally started with predominantly OEM designs from other companies, and more recently have been working to develop their own stand-alone products.

In their own words:

At Brainwavz we have a simple mission, to produce innovative, high quality audio products with a dedicated focus on high-end sound. Our strength, success and product range is built on the unique relationship with our customers. A relationship that has produced a simple and obvious result, we give real users real sound quality.

DISCLAIMER
The Brainwavz B200 V2 IEM that I’m reviewing today was provided to me gratis as a review sample (outside normal tours etc). Pandora has asked me for my subjective opinion and feedback, with no restrictions or caveats. Brainwavz have asked me to keep it for my personal use, or for follow up comparisons, and I thank them for this. The retail price at time of review for the basic model is ~USD 120. Additional upgrade cables can be purchased at time of ordering for $30-$55

PREAMBLE
If you haven’t read any of my reviews, I suggest starting here, as it will give you an insight into my known preferences and bias.

For the purposes of this review – I used the Brainwavz B200 V2 straight from the headphone-out socket of many of my portables, but predominantly the X5iii, X3iii, X7ii and my iPhone. I did not generally further amp them (I did test them with my Q1ii, XRK-NHB, and E17K), as IMO they do not benefit greatly from additional amplification (YMMV and it may depend on your source). I did spend some considerable time with the XRK-NHB (more on that later). In the time I have spent with the B200 V2, I have noticed no change to the overall sonic presentation (break-in). Time spent now with the IEM would be approximately 25-30 hours.

This is a purely subjective review – my gear, my ears, and my experience. Please take it all with a grain of salt – especially if it does not match your own experience.

THE PACKAGE
The Brainwavz B200 V2 arrived in an approximately 93mm x 165mm x 45mm retail box with “B200” in embossed red text on a black background. Inside the retail outer is a plastic tray with the longer Brainwavz carry case. Inside this are the B200V2 and the accessory package.


This includes:

• 1 pair B200 IEMs
• 3.5mm MMCX stereo cable
• 2.5mm MMCX balanced cable
• Brainwavz carry case
• 2 sets of silicone ear tips (S M L)
• 1 set of Comply™ foam tips T-100 Red
• 1 shirt clip
• 1 x velcro cable tie
• Instruction manual & warranty card (24 month warranty)

THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS


MEASUREMENTS


The graphs I use are generated using the Vibro Veritas coupler and ARTA software. Ken Ball (ALO/Campfire) graciously provided me with measurement data which I have used to recalibrate my Veritas so that it mimics an IEC 711 measurement standard (Ken uses two separate BK ear simulators, we measured the same set of IEMs, and I built my calibration curve from shared data). I do not claim that this data is 100% accurate, but it is very consistent, and is as close as I can get to the IEC 711 standard on my budget. I suspect it is slightly down at around 9-10 kHz, but seems reasonably accurate through the rest of the spectrum.

I do not claim that the measurements are in any way more accurate than anyone else’s, but they have been proven to be consistent and I think they should be enough to give a reasonable idea of response – especially if you’ve followed any of my other reviews. When measuring I usually always use crystal foam tips (medium bore opening) – and the reason I use them is for very consistent seal and placement depth in the coupler. For the B200 V2 I had to use Shure Olives simply because of the nozzle size, and to ensure a consistent seal. I use the same amp (E11K) for all my measurements – and output is under 1 ohm.

The graphs are provided merely as a point of discussion, and later in the review I’ve included comparisons to other IEMs for similar reference.

Channel matching is extremely good (practically perfect) on the tweeter BA driver from 1 kHz up. Unfortunately the woofer BA is out slightly and on my pair is noticeable with some tracks.

BUILD


The Brainwavz B200 has a traditional peanut or jelly bean ergonomic shape, and one which is adopted by most manufacturers when they really want a small and completely ergonomic in ear monitor. It is very much a slightly smaller version of the B400 and also reminds me a little of the MEE P1 or Shure standard housings. The B200 V2 I have is clear (or frosty) standard shell, and as far as I am aware is not being offered in other colours (at this stage). It is 3D printed into two halves using the same type of resin usually used for Custom IEMs. These are then populated with the BA drivers, crossover, filters, MMCX socket and joined to become the final earpiece.

The shell is approx 20mm across, 12mm high and 11-12mm deep at its widest point. It is very light, but feels quite resilient. The shell is translucent, and you can clearly see the armatures inside. There is no text on either shell apart from an “L” or “R” adjacent to the MMCX sockets. Apart from that, the only other noticeable point is a small pressure release hole on the internal side next to the L/R indicators.



The shell join is pretty seamless over most of this pair of B200 V2, and there isn’t the same “ridging” that I had on the prototype B400 I reviewed. Both the internal and external surface areas are well rounded with gentle ridges and valleys designed to perfectly fit with the main contours of your ear.

The nozzle protrudes slightly forward and slightly up from the front of the IEM and extends approx 6mm from the main body. It has an external diameter of approx 4mm, a generous lip, but is very small – and takes a Comply T100 tip. The lip really helps being able to use some larger tip sizes, but overall many of the larger tips I have simply won’t fit (more on that later).

At the top rear of the B200 V2 shell is a recessed standard MMCX socket. The socket is firm with both included cables and requires a firm hand to change them.



There are 2 cables included, one single ended and one balanced. The single ended is OFC and features formable ear-guides (which work pretty well for me), and a twisted pair of wires (with PVC sheath) to the y-split. The Y-split is made of flexible black rubber, with good strain relief and a cinch. Below the Y-split, the two twisted pairs become a heavier twisted pair (again wrapped in PVC sheath) as the channels are wrapped around each other. The balanced cable is basically a mirror of the single -ended, except with a 2.5mm jack. Both balanced and single ended jack are ~45 deg angled and have very good strain relief. The cables are pretty flexible and only have mild residual memory. There is slight microphonic transfer with both cables, but this can be alleviated by using the cinch.

FIT / COMFORT / ISOLATION
Isolation is generally good with the B200 V2 but ultimately will depend on the tips you use and how good the seal is. The other dual BAs I own (Curve and q-Jays) do ultimately isolate far better, but these will be good enough for most people for public transport. I would guess (based on my experience with the B400) that these should be OK on a flight – eliminating most cabin noise and having the music mask the rest of the ambient drone.


Fit and comfort thoughts are more subjective, and will vary from person to person, and my experience has been one of complete satisfaction. As I mentioned earlier, the B200 V2 has been designed for a completely ergonomic fit. For me they are a perfect, sit flush with my outer ear, and basically disappear within a few seconds of wearing (I could forget they are in). I have slept with them intact, and woken hours later with them still there and no discomfort. The lack of hard edges and the smooth finish contribute to an extremely positive experience. The B200 V2 is designed to only be used cable over ear.



The B200 V2 has an excellent lip on the nozzle, but has quite a skinny nozzle width (similar to Shures SE series). I’ve tried Spiral Dots, Spin-fits, Ostry tuning tips and Sony Isolation tips, and unfortunately while they fit, it was somewhat loose, and I’d leave tips in my ears. The included Comply 100 tips fit the nozzle well, but are too narrow for my big dumbo ear canals. The included silicones would not seal, but I did have plenty of options with a lot of generic small tips I’ve collected over the years.

The one tip I do have and which tends to fit me extremely well with shallower fitting IEMs is the Shure Olives. They are perfectly sized for the nozzle, long lasting, and provide a great seal.

SOUND QUALITY


Most of the testing at this point (unless otherwise stated) was done with my X7ii, no EQ, and Shure Olive tips. I used the X7ii simply because paired they not only gave me a very transparent window to the music with low impedance, and more than enough power – but also allowed me to use the balanced option. There was no EQ engaged.

For the record – on most tracks, the volume level on the X7ii (paired with AM3a) was around 35-40 Balanced or 50-55/120 Single Ended (on low gain) which was giving me an average SPL around 65-75 dB. Tracks used were across a variety of genres – and can be viewed in this list https://www.head-fi.org/f/articles/brookos-test-tracks.17556/

Relativities

• Sub-bass – rolls off early and is just barely audible (sits well in the background). No real rumble, and no sense of impact.
• Mid-bass – elevated compared to sub-bass and has a very slight mid-bass hump. Impact is light (probably because of the missing sub-bass), and I would describe the bass overall as “polite”. There is some good quality mid-bass there (quick and very clean), and if you like a lighter more mid-focussed signature these may appeal.
• Lower mid-range – very slightly recessed compared to bass and upper treble, but not enough to make vocals distant. Male and female vocal fundamentals are good – with nice weight and overall timbre.
• Upper mid-range – elevated compared to lower mid-range, and there is a very even rise from 1 kHz to the first peak at just over 2kHz. Cohesive transition from lower to upper-mids, and very good euphony for female vocals (the upper mid-range is close to perfect for female vocals IMO).
• Lower treble has a nice overall balance throughout, and is reasonably linear throughout. There is the tiniest bump at 7 kHz which gives good clarity with cymbal strikes, and the subsequent decay is also very good. Because the bass impact is lacking, the lower treble is perfect in this context – smooth but also has good detail.
• Upper treble rolls extends quite well with some decent “air”, but is pretty difficult to capture properly on my budget measurements set-up, and with my “aged” hearing I’d be lucky to notice much over 13-14 kHz anyway.

Resolution / Detail / Clarity

• Clarity overall is really good. Upper-mids and lower treble have enough emphasis to give guitars bite and definition. Micro details are quite evident and this is likely due to the light bass presence.
• Cymbal hits have good clarity and presence but aren’t emphasised and sit quite nicely within the overall mix. Decay is brilliant, and trails off nicely after the cymbal strike.

Sound-stage, Imaging

• Directional queues are good – clean and clear without being over emphasised. Presentation of stage is just on the periphery of my head space with binaural tracks, so not what I would call expansive.
• Lately I’ve been using Lakme’s “Flower Duet” – an excellent live recording which has two sopranos (Netrebko and Garanca) moving to the rear of the stage at the end of the song, and continuing the last chorus from there. This gives me a good medium to capture the impression of stage depth. The B200 captured the transition quite well – a nice ability to present change of stage depth (good imaging).
• The applause section of the same track showed a very good sense of immersion (the sound of the audience flowing around me), and the tonality gave a reasonable touch of realism. Width and depth seems nicely matched.
• “Let it Rain” (Amanda Marshall) gave a nice 3 dimensional feel (the way it is miked) with extremely good guitar definition and nice overall clarity. There was the usual sibilance with Amanda’s vocals – and it should be there because its in the recording, but it wasn’t over done. By now I had to reset my ears as the lighter bass was starting to sound normal – and its quite amazing how good the B200 V2 sounds when you adjust to the overall signature.

Strengths

• Overall tonality and reasonable (but overall lean) balance of the frequency range.
• Very good imaging and a nice (if slightly intimate) sense of staging.
• Very nice cohesion with lower and upper register vocals
• Good for both female and male vocals.
• Balance between mid-range and lower treble is a real strength.

Weaknesses

• The sub-bass is quite clearly deficient / subdued, which is a real pity, because if it was linear, the B200 would be an incredible monitor.

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS


The Brainwavz B200 V2 doesn’t need amplification for overall volume – and because its impedance isn’t overly low, any source with an output impedance of less than 3-4 ohms (to meet damping requirements) should pair OK.

With my iPhone SE around 35-45% volume is more than enough with most tracks, and the FiiOs are generally at around 45-55/120 single ended. I tried the B200 V2 with the Q1ii, A5, E17K and XRK-NHB, but noticed no real differences in dynamics on any except for the XRK-NHB. The second order harmonics with the XRK-NHB were very enjoyable and did tend to add perceptually more weight to the mid-bass (harmonic warmth) which I thought really suited the slightly cool and lean B200.



None of the amps seemed to be adding additional quality (compared to the non-amped DAPs), but what both the Q1ii and A5 were able to add was there hardware bass boost, and this really did add some quite nice impact. The B200 V2 is an easy IEM to drive though, and I think amping (while not necessary) might be the easy choice for hardware EQ tweaks.

RESPONSE TO EQ?
By now you already know where I consider the B200’s weakness to be – that pesky sub-bass. I’d already shown what hardware bass boost would do, so it was time to bring the E17Ks tone controls into play. Even a +4dB bass boost was enough to put more than enough warmth back into the signature, and in my humble opinion completed the overall balance. Using the X7ii’s built in EQ was an even better result, enabling me to initiate more of a change to the sub-bass only.

In reality though, I can get used to the default signature quite quickly – but its nice to know that those wanting a more warmth can do so easily and quickly.

BALANCED VS SINGLE ENDED
I measured these, and there was no difference with the X7ii’s AM3a amplifier module apart from volume. Even the slight change in impedance wasn’t enough to change the overall frequency response. I’m not a great believer in the adage that balanced makes a huge difference. Yes, if the implementation is vastly different you can sometimes notice a difference, but more often than not the changes to cross-talk are already below the audible barrier, and most modern set-ups don’t have crosstalk issues anyway. Its nice to have the option – but sonically I don’t hear any benefits. If you volume match properly, I doubt you will either.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER IEMS
These comparisons were all done with the X7ii, (no EQ) – and volume matched using a calibrated SPL meter and fixed 1kHz test tone first.



For the comparisons I chose the B400 (Brainwavz current flagship), the two other dual BAs I have (q-Jays and Curve), the FiiO FH1 and Meze 12 Classic. This gave a good mix of value, driver configuration and price band.

Brainwavz B200 V2 (~USD 119) vs FiiO FH1 (~USD 75)
The FiiO FH1 is a dual hybrid IEM, which (like the B200 V2) has a very ergonomic design, is very comfortable, and comes with both SE and balanced removable cables. In terms of overall comfort, build, fit etc – this is a pretty even match. The FH1’s finish does look slightly more professional – but that would be splitting hairs.



Sonically the two might look similar on a graph, but are fairly different when in the ear. The difference is of course in the lower and sub-bass where the FH1 has a lot more extension and this translates into a deeper, warmer, richer signature. Both have a similar mid-range, and very similar treble also. To me, the FH1 overall frequency balance is better (even though I’d prefer slightly less overall bass). And when you factor the price difference, and the similarity in build and comfort, I do think the FH1 is the better option (unless you prefer a very neutral/lean bass).

Brainwavz B200 V2 (~USD 119) vs Meze 12 Classic (~USD 79)
The Meze 12 Classic is a single dynamic IEM, which is small comfortable, and shares a pretty similar overall signature. The 12 Classic is comfortable when worn (due to its size), but the B200 V2 is more comfortable, has better ergonomics, and has the benefit of the replaceable cables (the 12 Classic cable is fixed). Both have good build quality.



Both have a very similar sonic signature with neutral/lean bass, slightly elevated upper mid-range and reasonably good extension on the treble without it being highlighted. The B200 V2 sounds slightly thicker through the mid-range, and also has a little less lower treble energy. The 12 Classic in turn has a little lower end impact. The two sound very similar – smooth and slightly lean/bright. In this comparison the two are variations of a common theme. The question is if the B200’s superior fit and replaceable cables are worth the extra outlay – and that will alrgely depend on an individual’s budget and intended use.

Brainwavz B200 V2 (~USD 119) vs Brainwavz B400 (~USD 179+)
I can make this fairly quick. The B400 is Brainwavz’ current flagship quad BA IEM. It is also 3D printed, and the actual shell design is pretty much an exact replica of the B200 V2 (just very slightly larger to accommodate the two extra drivers). Everything else is pretty similar, although you do get a few more accessories with the B400.



In terms of sound, this is a similar situation to the FH1 comparison. The main difference is in the lower and sub-bass again, with the B400 having more extension, and a warmer overall signature. The mid-range on the B400 is also a touch less forward than the B200 V2, and the overall signature is warmer, but also a little more effortless. The obvious question is if the B400 is worth the extra $50, and IMO te answer is definitely yes. For its price, the B400 (in my humble opinion) is one of the best buys currently in the sub $200 category.

Brainwavz B200 V2 (~USD 119) vs Alclair Curve (~USD 250)
This is the first of the dual BA vs dual BA comparisons. The Curve from Alclair is easily the most comfortable and ergonomic monitor I own. When worn they simply disappear. In terms of overall build quality the two are close, with the Curve having slightly better finish aesthetically. The Curve comes with one x 2 pin cable, but it is arguably better quality than the two from Brainwavz.



The Curve is also one of the most balanced monitors I have, with superb extension at both ends, but it is also ever so slightly on the cool side of strictly neutral (probably one of the reasons I like it so much). The bass is there when you need it, but never dominates. Switching between the two, the B200 V2 is both leaner (in terms of impact), and also more coloured (vivid – but clearly emphasised) in the mid-range. The Curve is a little brighter in the lower treble, but this can be easily managed through the use of different tips (Comply tend to cut the 7 kHz small peak).

So is the Curve worth double the admission price of the B200 V2? This is again down to preference. For me the Curve sounds a lot more natural – both with vocals and in term of instruments. The B200 V2 is easy to get used to with its lighter bass and more euphonic mid-range. For me though, the Curve is closer to my individual preferences, and worth the extra outlay.

Brainwavz B200 V2 (~USD 119) vs Jays q-Jays (~USD 289)
Now we get to the second of the dual BA vs dual BA match ups. The q-Jays from Jays Audio is a diminutive dual BA with exceptional design , build quality, and because of its size – fit and comfort. The q-Jays has replaceable proprietary cables which are great quality, but do not come with a balanced option. Overall on build quality, fit, design and aesthetics, the q-Jays are a class ahead, but the B200 is not that far behind, which is very good considering the price difference.



Like the Curve, the q-Jays have a very balanced overall signature, but this time with comparatively more bass extension, and actually sound slightly warmer than the Curve, and definitely warmer than the B200 V2 (which sounds quite this and lean in comparison). Again, when quickly switching, the B200 V2 is comparatively both leaner and also more coloured, with the mid-range sounding quite airy and definitely coloured. The q-Jays do have a 7 kHz peak which some have found problematic (I don’t), but this is easily managed by slightly deeper insertion (it cuts any sibilance).

So again are the q-Jays worth more than double the admission price of the B200 V2? Again this will depend on budget and preference. I really like the q-Jays for their natural tonality, and when A/Bing it is easy for me to pick the q-Jays as closer to my overall preference. But in isolation, the B200 V2 is again quite easy to get used to with its lighter bass and more euphonic mid-range.

VALUE
This is a tough one to grade. The B200 V2 has a lot going for it in terms of overall build, comfort, accessories, and even its default signature. Yes its bass light, and IMO this is a flaw, but its also an easy fix. I could say the FH1 is better overall value, and it is – but its also exceptional for its price range. The B200 V2 represents above average total value when you look at the total package, and for someone who really appreciates a lighter bass presentation, that value will grow.

BRAINWAVZ B200 V2 – SUMMARY
Its always harder reviewing the flagship of a range first, and then the lower or mid-range offering afterwards. Especially when the flagship is a very good performer like the B400. The good news is that Brainwavz have kept many of the good parts of the B400 (excellent mid-range, well designed and ergonomic shell, good accessory package).

The B200 is comfortable to wear, and its build is pretty good for a sub $150 IEM. The cables are replaceable, and you get a balanced cable as well as single ended. The mid-range is exceptional, and there is some pretty good treble extension without being overbearing. The main issue is that they are noticeably bass light, and for many this will be a turn off. What I did find though was that in isolation (just using the B200 exclusively), once your brain adjusts, they are still a really nice overall signature. And if you use an amp with a hardware bass boost, this can add to the sub-bass that the drivers aren’t delivering.

While they aren’t (to me anyway) massive bargains at their asking RRP, they still represent pretty good value overall, and if you like a lighter, leaner, more mid-focussed signature – chances are these will tick most of your boxes.

For me personally, I think the FiiO FH1 represents better overall value, and I’d probably also look at the Simgot EN700 Pro as another sub $150 value proposition with a pretty nice signature. But definitely its worth the extra money to go straight to the B400.

My thanks once again to Pandora and the team at Brainwavz for their continued faith in me as a reviewer. You have a pretty good IEM here, and one that will definitely appeal to lovers of a lighter signature.

At the time this review was written, the Brainwavz B200 was listed for sale on Amazon. Here is a link to their listing of the product:


https://www.amazon.com/Brainwavz-Ar...80&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=Brainwavz+B200&psc=1


Introduction

I started reviewing earphones by doing write-ups of budget friendly earphones from companies like Mee Audio and Brainwavz. Their budget earphones were respectable for the price and it was a great opportunity to take a stab at writing comprehensive articles for those who visit Head-Fi. Covering earphones has been a lot of fun. The work I’ve done has opened the door for more and more opportunities. It’s an honor and privilege to share my experience with these great products.


I am going to be brutally honest here, but I’m going somewhere with this…


For the last year and a half I’ve avoided reviewing most Brainwavz products. Not because I don’t want to cover their stuff, but rather because the last two years I’ve grown accustomed to what Brainwavz has been offering for the most part (allow me to explain). Many of Brainwavz products have been budget friendly single dynamic driver in-ear monitors with tweaks in their appearance and tuning. There’s nothing wrong with this, but to be honest I’m always looking for the next best technology to hit the market, not the next sidegrade to what has been previously released a few weeks/months earlier. Progress is the most important product when it comes to almost every market, and I honestly wasn’t seeing Brainwavz making a progression in design and tuning. That is, until now. Brainwavz has launched an armature driver in-ear monitor lineup. Kudos!


When I first heard about a Brainwavz audiophile friendly armature earphone I was immediately curious to see what this was all about. It was nice to see them turning the corner on their designs and try something beyond what had become their norm. Reviews reported that the single armature B100 and B150 were somewhat solid performers. When the B200 was announced, I had to try a pair for myself to see what Brainwavz had cooking at their headquarters. Long story short I am very pleased with what they accomplished. Let’s find out why as we take a look at, and listen to the B200.


Disclaimer

I was given a free sample of the B200 in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Brainwavz. I would like to take this time to personally thank Pandora for the opportunity to experience and review the product.



REVIEW

The B200 comes in a discreet black box with red foil print. There’s nothing flashy to point out. I was kind of pleased with the fact that Brainwavz took a less flashy approach and let their product do the talking this time around.


Opening the box I’m greeted with an elongated version of Brainwavz black and red clamshell case. Opening the case reveals the earphones and accessories. As always, Brainwavz offers a really nice accessories package and case.


Specifications and Accessories


Specifications:
Drivers : Dual Balanced Armature
Rated Impedance : 30 Ω
Frequency Range : 12 Hz ~ 22 kHz
Sensitivity : 110 dB at 1 mW
Cable : 1.3 m Y-Cord, Over the ear, OFC Copper
Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold plated


Accessories:
Earphone Hard case
6 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)
1 set of Comply Foam Tips T-100
1 Shirt Clip
Velcro Cable Tie
Instruction Manual


Housings

Plastic. Yes, plastic. Almost cheap feeling. They are glossy and have a black Brainwavz logo imprinted (very incognito). They are very, very light, and relatively small. Still, they have great ergonomics and a form factor that is ideal for those who go for an over the ear fit. These things won’t turn heads, but they look sleek, do their job, and fit extraordinarily well. Although there’s not a whole lot to say appearance-wise, there’s not much bad to say either. For the asking price I would hope for a more premium aluminum/metal shell, but this is definitely not a dealbreaker for me.


The B200 nozzles are of average length but skinnier than average. I usually bring up tip rolling in this portion of the review, but I honestly didn’t feel inclined to find an aftermarket tip for the B200. I will say that the B200’s skinnier than average nozzle will make it impossible to use with wide bore aftermarket tips. My recommendation, you should first try to use the included stock silicone tips. They are supple, soft and seal well. Of course your mileage may vary, but I don’t see many people needing a different tip than the stock pairs that Brainwavz has provided.


Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

At first glimpse I was disappointed. Although the cable has held up very well, to a certain extent I do feel the B200 could have done better with the cable considering the asking price. A rubber jacketed cable is used which has small amounts of spring and memory. The Y-split is heavy duty and splits into two somewhat frail (for the price) wires that lead to each housing. I had a few occasions where the upper part of the cable (above the Y-Split) would tangle and was somewhat of a pain to untangle. A chin/neck slider is included and works great to snug things into place. A shrink wrap style memory wire is applied about two to three inches from each housing and works great to provide a secure and comfortable fit. The B200 uses a angled gold plated 3.5mm jack. Strain reliefs are well done. Although the cable works great it’s not the most durable cable and mirrors that of cheaper priced earphones.


Although I would have prefered to see Brainwavz offer a detachable modular braided cable, I have to say that I’ve put the cable to the test and haven’t had any hiccups yet. Do I think this cable is awful? The answer is no, but I do think that once the price gets above one hundred dollars there should be a noticeable improvement in design and durability over a budget model. Brainwavz didn’t do that here. The upper portion of this cable seems one tough snag away from making these earphones worthless. The good news is that like all Brainwavz products, they have a nice warranty.


Functionality

The B200 is a plug and play device. My pair didn’t have any microphone or remote. Plug in, play, enjoy music and repeat.


Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation

At first glimpse the plastic housings seem downright cheap. However, the lightweight shell does have some distinct advantages, primarily in terms of comfort and wearability. The B200 gives me the luxury of putting them on and forgetting about them. They’re ideal for long listening sessions. Over the course of using them, I’ve fallen asleep several times with them in my ears (binge-watching Netflix). Between the springy over-ear memory wire and small form factor, it’s almost like wearing nothing at all.


If you’re a fan of comfortable over the ear in-ear monitors, Brainwavz has hit a homerun. If you have worn a pair of the B100 or B150, these are virtually identical. The super lightweight housings in combination with an ideal form factor will provide many with an over-ear fit that will work with just about anyon’es ear size or shape.


Sound Review

I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-V20 and iPhone 6 for smartphone use, and either my Fiio X7, Aune M1S or iBasso DX80 DAP/Bushmaster D14 DAC/Amp for high fidelity portable use. For desktop use, I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a ifi micro iDSD playing at 32/192 kHz, or Aune S6/S7 combo. I tested them with several other sources as well. I used Google Music in its highest download quality (320 KBPS), and also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.


I used my usual same songs for testing gear:

“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)

“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)

“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)

“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)

“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)

“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)

“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)

“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)

“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)

“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)

“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)

“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)

“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)


Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.


Source Selection

We’re talking about 30 Ohm dual armature in-ear monitors here. They’ll work well with any portable source you have. The B200 will scale with a portable amplifier while avoiding EMI and floor noise for the most part. You aren’t going to find audio Nirvana by plugging them into your high powered desktop rig. Use the B200 with your portable source and you will be rewarded with some great sounding earphones.


The B200 is for the most part a neutral sounding earphone with a hint of warmth and slight roll of at the highest and lowest registers of human hearing. I enjoyed them almost all my portable gear, but primarily with the Fiio X7 and LG V20.


Sound Signature

First things first, the midbass through upper midrange on the B200 is world class. The balance, spatial queues and clarity are phenomenal in these ranges. Where the B200 loses it’s edge is in the highest of highs and lowest of low frequencies. Summarized, there’s adequate treble and punchy bass, but it doesn’t have rumble and sparkle needed to maximize the listening experience with modern genres of music.


With acoustic, classic rock, symphony and movies the B200 sounds incredibly natural and is easy to listen to for hours with no fatigue or discomfort. With Hip-Hop, Pop, Rock, and R&B there’s enough frequency range to enjoy these genres, but not enough girth or shimmer for me to feel like the B200 is ideal.


Depending on what your listening preferences are and what your preferred music genres are will dictate your impressions. If you want neutral and succulent sounding earphone that makes vocals and midrange sounds pop, this is an awesome option. If you want to listen to your favorite Hip-Hop and R&B artists, these aren’t for you.


The good news is that the B200 smokes every other Brainwavz earphone I’ve heard to date. The fidelity of these are world class. Add a few dB on each end of the sound spectrum and we might have a revelation in earphones. Don’t forget, EQ is a viable option for elevating the frequencies you feel are lacking. This applies to just about any earphone. For the record, the B200 responds to EQ reasonably well.


Bass

What bass is there is tight, clean and punchy with timbre at mid-bass frequencies. Where the B200 loses out is in it’s ability to sound robust and deep. It’s mildly audible, but you won’t feel the deep stuff, especially sub bass rumble in genres like Hip-Hop, R&B, and other modern genres that utilize synthesized earth rumbling low frequencies.


During Daft Punk’s “Doin it Right” everything sounds adequate with the only exception being the lowest of low bass notes. There was enough mid-bass presence to make the enjoyment of the music adequate, but the range wasn’t there to maximize all bass tones. To summarize, the B200 has awesome mid-bass, but it doesn’t extend into the depths of which a person can hear.


What bass there is is very well done. I’d go as far as saying the mid-bass response of the B200 is one of my favorites for in ear monitors in this regard.


Mid-range

Midrange has a very responsive sensation with a splash of warmth and nice timbre, all while still leaning towards a primarily neutral presentations. Clarity is far above average, especially for a pair of earphones under two hundred dollars. From what I’ve heard, the B200 is definitely going to appeal to vocal lovers. The tuning is slightly intimate, leans more towards the middle of the ranges of human hearing while adding a dash of dynamics in this range that will satisfy many who like singers of the track to take center stage without drowning out the rest of the band.


The B200 midrange is something that grows on you over time. I can say with confidence that the midrange of the B200 is the earphone’s best attribute in terms of audio presentation. I enjoy vocal and acoustic tracks immensely with these things in my ears.


Treble

The B200 packs an adequate and comfortable upper frequency response. Just like the Bass tuning, B200’s treble has a formidable presence with a slight roll off as things approach the farthest ranges of human hearing. Lower treble/upper midrange are nicely balanced with mid-range frequencies and sound forward enough to give a snappy presence with good PRAT. What’s there is natural and engaging.


As we approach sibilant ranges, they are slightly (albeit not completely) subdued. I think Brainwavz did a great job giving us an earphone that will let listeners crank up their favorite songs and get a natural presentation that isn’t harsh. With that being said, sparkle and shimmer from things like cymbals and hi-hats could be a little more “in your face”. You’ll hear them, but they won’t jump out at you. Long story short, there’s once again a slight roll-off at the highest frequencies.


Soundstage and Imaging

Natural and somewhat intimate soundstage is what I experienced. The B200 has some nice neutrality and transients with a vocals forward/band in the back type of feel. This wasn’t an extreme case, but more a sensation do to the slight roll off on both ends of the spectrum.


Although the soundstage sounds smaller with these earphones than an unnaturally tuned V-Signature earphone, I can honestly say that I appreciate the way these create a somewhat realistic sense of imaging and instrument placement. For the tuning, the B200 gets a good score from me in this regard. There’s a nice sense of space, albeit not a significantly large one.


Comparisons

Noble X (Approx. $250 USD on Massdrop when available)

The tuning of these earphones actually have a lot in common. Both are a smooth sounding dual armature earphone with a bit of roll off at upper frequencies. The biggest difference I can hear between the two is that the Noble X seems to be able to dig deeper at bass frequencies, making more out of modern genres of music. Noble X also seems to be a bit warmer at lower midrange frequencies and sounds a bit less neutral and natural than the B200. Treble response on both are very similar and almost identical to my ears. Summarized, if you prefer modern and bass heavy genres, go for the Noble X. If you like more natural, airy and somewhat midrange focused sound without losing a sense of the overall sound, go for the B200.


The build quality of the Noble X is far superior to the B200. The Noble X comes with Noble’s braided two pin replaceable cable. It’s much sturdier than Brainwavz attached rubber cable. . Accessories is a draw. In terms of fit it’s close, but the B200 gets the edge. Simply put, the Brainwavz B200 is one of the most comfortable earphones I’ve ever worn. It’s hard to top that!



Kinera H3 (currently $99 on Amazon)

I picked this earphone because it’s not only a recent release with a somewhat similar price tag, it will give you an idea of the tuning in terms of how it compares to a V-Signature earphone.


The H3 is the tuning opposite of the B200 from what I hear. They have boosted and extended lows and highs and a dry and subdued midrange with tons of clarity and minimal warmth. The H3 low end exposes what is lacking in terms of extension. However, the B200 midrange and treble destroys the H3 in terms of balance and enjoyability. The H3 sounds pretty good, but you won’t be able to crank up your favorite tunes too much without sibilance becoming an issue.


I adore the build, fit and isolation of the H3 So I’m going say it’s a draw between the two earphones in this regard, with the H3 getting a slight advantage for their detachable braided cable.


Conclusion (TLDR)

The B200 is the best earphone I’ve heard from Brainwavz, and a huge step forward from their single dynamic budget bangers. There’s nothing wrong with budget earphones, but it's fantastic to see that Brainwavz dabble in a multiple driver earphone at a slightly higher price point. Although not what I would consider a perfect product, they do a lot of things very well. The fit and sound are fabulous for their current asking price. However, their achilles heel is their build quality. For this much money I would hope for a detachable cable, metal housing, or both. Just looking at them and holding them in my hand, the build is reminiscent of their budget models.

If you ask me if I’d rather have three pairs of their $20-$40 budget models or a single pair of these, I resoundingly recommend the latter. The sound quality destroys just about every single dynamic driver brainwavz earphone I’ve listened to. As always, Brainwavz brings it with a nice accessories package and a nice warranty.


When rating a product I have to take all criteria into account. The B200 gets three stars for build quality (plastic housings and relatively cheap non-detachable cable), four and a half stars for sound quality (minus a half star for lack of extension on both ends), five stars for ergonomics and comfort (super-duper comfortable and easy to wear), and four and a half stars for accessories. If this sounds like a product you’d like, I have no problem recommending them. They fit and sound great.



Thanks for reading and happy listening!

Firstly I would like to thank Brainwavz for the sample, I always try to write honest reviews. These received over 50hrs of burn-in, no differences were noted.

Gear Used:
Audio Opus #2 DAP > B200 (Comply tips and Silicone tips)



Tech Specs:

• Drivers : Dual Balanced Armature
• Rated Impedance : 30 Ω
• Frequency Range : 12 Hz ~ 22 kHz
• Sensitivity : 110 dB at 1 mW
• Cable : 1.3 m Y-Cord, Over the ear, OFC Copper
• Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold plated
• MSRP: $199

Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The packaging of the B200 is very simple, a black card box with red lettering on it, the model B200 is in big red letters on the front, it doesn’t have any info or specifications on the box apart from saying they use dual balanced armature drivers. Inside the box you just get a plastic tray that holds the carry case, the IEM’s and accessories are inside. I feel that the box looks good, and is small, but I would have like to see the specifications listed on the side.

Build quality overall is pretty good, the housing is plastic but feels sturdy and helps keep weight down, the cable is non-detachable though which I fear will be the first part to break. For the price I would have liked to see detachable cables, but the cable has good strain relief on the jack and the bottom half of the y-split, on the top half of the y-split there is a lack of strain relief. Where the cable goes into the housing you have a short section of moulded rubber that acts as memory wire without the discomfort that comes with normal memory wire, and again good strain relief. If you are careful with these I don’t see there being any problems with the build quality, it is just a shame the cable is fixed.



Accessories included are good, you get 2 pairs of each size of silicone tip (S, M and L), a pair of medium T100 Comply tips, a cable clip, hardshell case and a velcro cable wrap. Nothing missing in the accessory department and with the tips included most people will be able to get a good fit.

Comfort, Isolation and Cable Noise:
These are some of the most comfortable IEM’s I have had the pleasure of using, the housing is plastic and very light, once in your ears you do not feel them. The cable is flexible and very comfortable; I am not a fan of conventional memory wire so it’s great to see these use a small moulded bit of flexible rubber instead. I find Comply tips to offer the most secure and comfortable fit with these, although have some slight impact on the sound.



Isolation is fairly good with silicone tips, blocking out a good amount of outside noise and offers more than enough for most purposes. If you are using the underground to commute, or fly a lot, the Comply tips offer increased isolation, with them you really do block out most of the world around you.

Cable noise is slightly present, but the chin slider really helps reduce this so I do not find it to be an issue.



Sound:
Split into the usual categories with a conclusion at the end:

Lows: The lows hit hard and fast, especially for a balanced armature IEM, I have not found the lows to ever be lacking in presence or body and the speed is incredible. With the Comply tips the lows are slightly warmer and fuller than with the silicone tips, but the silicone tips offer a more balanced sound. They won’t be the best for EDM music, but the lows extend extremely well being audible to around 30hz. These excel if you don’t need pounding bass, but they can offer a more fun sound with the Comply tips. The silicone tips have a slightly drier kick down low, whereas the Comply tips offer more body.

Mids: The mids are slightly forward in presentation and offer exceptional tonality and detail, the mids are not warmed from the lows yet they are not thin sounding either. There is a slight dip in the upper mids to avoid sibilance, but the detail retrieval, separation and layering are all excellent. If you like a well balanced and detailed midrange these are great.

Highs: The highs are good but not great, they lack presence and extension unfortunately. I prefer the highs when using the silicone tips, as they do not attenuate them like the Comply tips do. Now the highs have good instrument placement, and they are fairly track dependent. Where they are present, they are actually excellent, with taps on cymbals offering great detail and insight, whilst being well separated too. So the highs sound excellent when present, but do lack a little presence, this does mean that these are not fatiguing to listen to.



So tip wise: Silicone offers a more balanced sound, tighter bass and slightly more treble presence.
Comply tips offer a warmer, fuller sound that has a slight trade off in the treble, but the bass sounds more realistic with Comply.

Instrument separation is excellent, the soundstage is not overly wide but there is plenty of air between the instruments, and the stereo imaging is very good.

Now I did not hear the original Brainwavz B2, but did have the Fischer Audio DBA02 MKII, and they were more analytical with better highs but not as good tonality, offering a more airy but slightly thin presentation.

Also the Shure SE425 is one of my all time favourite IEM’s and I would say these are slightly darker sounding, but do extend better down low. The Shure have an excellently textured midrange, and overall balanced sound, but the lows do not extend as well, nor have as much body. The highs on both are slightly lacking in presence however. And for the price the B200 is much better value.



Conclusion: For the price, I would have liked to see detachable cables, as it stands they are not the best in their price range. But saying that, I can still recommend these, their mid range is full of detail, the lows never lacking and highs that are non-fatiguing. The two different tips offer slightly different sound signatures but overall for I think I prefer the Comply tips.

I think the strengths of these are the detail retrieval, instrument separation and especially the coherency of the overall sound.

They are great all round performers with only a slight lack of presence up top, and their comfort and isolation means I could wear these for hours on end, also the size of the housing means you could likely sleep in these.

Kings Of Leon – Day Old Blues is one track that stood out and highlighted the strengths of these whilst I was writing this review.


Sound Perfection Rating: 7.5/10 (Slight lack of treble presence, but excellent detail and midrange)

"Brainwavz B200: Very enjoyable and with a nicely adequately detailed Presentation"


Preamble:

Derived from my mixed content German & English review site, http://kopfhoerer-lounge.blogspot.com/, here comes my review of the Brainwavz B200, continuing Brainwavz' recently (re-) launched range of in-ears with Balanced Armature drivers.




Introduction:

Brainwavz Audio is no unknown name in the audio world – the Chinese manufacturer of mainly in-ears has been around for some time and is best known for various very budget-friendly dynamic driver models – but this is probably about to change.

Not too long ago, Brainwavz revived the “B” series, a line of in-ears with Balanced Armature drivers, following the success of the dual-BA B2 they offered a couple of years ago but that is already out of production for some time.



Currently, Brainwavz have three BA in-ears in their portfolio – the two single-BA models B100 and B150, as well as the dual-BA called “B200” (https://www.brainwavzaudio.com/coll...roducts/b200-dual-balanced-armature-earphones) that is the protagonist of this very review. And in the next few months, there is more to come as well (yes, Brainwavz are continuing their B series and will be soon releasing the B300 and B400).


How does the B200 perform and what does it sound like? Let’s find it out!


Full Disclosure:

I was contacted by Pandora who asked me if I was interested in reviewing the B200 after I already reviewed the B150, B100 and several other Brainwavz products in the past. I surely was interested in reviewing the B200, a lot actually, so quickly afterwards, I received a sample of Brainwavz’ latest dual-BA in-ear free of charge for the purpose of writing a review. Thank you for that!


Technical Specifications:

MSRP: $199
Drivers: Balanced Armature (2 per side)
Impedance: 30 Ohms
Frequency Response: 12 ~ 22000 Hz
Sensitivity (@1 mW): 110 dB
Cable: 1.3 m, OFC Copper


Delivery Content:

The B200 arrives in the exact same packaging as the B100 and B150, with the only exception being the model number on it.



Inside, we can find the in-ears, a really nice Brainwavz-themed carrying case that is already well-known from other Brainwavz models, a Velcro cable tie, a shirt clip, one pair of red Comply Foam tips, four pairs of small silicone tips, four pairs of medium silicone tips, and last but not least four pairs of large silicone tips.



While it is nice to have a uniform product line, at least some variance for the dual-driver B200 in terms of package design (such as a white instead of black cardboard box) wouldn’t have been too bad in my opinion.


Looks, Feels, Build Quality:

The B200 looks exactly like the B150 and B100. While this clearly isn’t a bad thing and shows that they are related and belong to the same product line, separating the B200 from the two single-BA models by offering different shell colour options, using a different cable or even a removable cable wouldn’t have hurt.



The shells are pretty small, have got a semi-transparent black colour and feature some nice angles that set them apart from other companies’ products (those angles are however not noticeable when one is wearing the in-ears).

The B200’s cable has got ear guides without steel wire inside, and the cable is twisted and rubber-coated. It is neither super flexible nor super stiff, nonetheless I would have expected something better in the range above $100 – it definitely doesn’t have the flexibility or esprit the B2 was carrying, cable-wise.

Nonetheless, strain relief is nice on all transitions except for directly above the y-splitter, and the B200’s cable does fortunately not lack a chin-slider.




Comfort, Isolation:

Since the in-ears’ shells are really small, almost everybody should be able to find a very good seal and fit – I certainly do not have any problem with than in my large ear canals.



The B200 has to be worn with the cables around the ears, which is the more professional way and can be found in about any in-ear in the medium and high price range except for just a few models. This improves the fit and reduces microphonics (cable noise) that are pleasantly very low anyway and disappear completely once the chin-slider is just slightly tightened.

Exterior noise isolation is pretty good due to the closed shells, which was also to be expected.


Sound:

My main sources for listening were the iBasso DX200 (AMP1 module) as well as Cowon Plenue 2 and HiFime 9018d.

The largest included single-flange silicone tips were used for listening, comparisons and sine sweeps.

Tonality:

The B200 picks up on the single-drivers’ general tuning, being very smooth and tendentially warm and dark, with just a bit of counteracting upper treble energy, sounding very coherent and without any sterility, boringness or sudden peaks and dips.

A thin, mid-focussed and bass-light sound is definitely not what you get from the B200, however real bassheads, medium bassheads or people who want a whole lot of warmth won’t be satisfied either.

It has got a forward bottom-end that is a bit more on the stronger side, coming in at around 8 dB north of what would be neutral based on the diffuse-field target (that for example the Etymotic ER-4S and ER-4SR are following in the lows). Therefore it can address the “case of the missing 6 dB” (https://www.etymotic.com/media/publications/erl-0137-1982.pdf) plus a little extra quantity on top, meaning that the bass quantity and warmth are not too much north of a balanced sound at all.

The upper bass can definitely kick and has some authority without ever becoming dominant, and the midbass carries the same amount of weight. The sub-bass doesn’t roll off and is present when called upon on the recording, with just very little less absolute quantity compared to the midbass.

The midrange heads into the warmer direction, with a full and rather warm root that does however not feel bloated or unnatural, but rather cosy and intimate.

Some extra body is added to lower male vocals and instruments such as bass guitars and contrabasses that come more into the foreground, however without getting an unnatural timbre; as a side-effect, vibrations from those instruments feel “almost tactile” sometimes.

Female vocals are on the darker and warmer side as well which is due to a recession taking place in the upper midrange (/presence area) and middle treble, without sounding unnatural or out of place. This exact dip helps for a more relaxed overall presentation and guarantees for fatigue-free listening over a long period of time, however some people might also perceive it as a little overdone and too “sugar-coated”. Interestingly enough, this is not the case for me when listening to the B200, because even though its 5 kHz range is more recessed than my Shure SE846’s that I regularly find a bit too smooth and “sugar-coated”-like sounding because of this exact recession, I don’t perceive the B200 as that relaxed and smooth at all (which might however also have to do that the SE846 has got the more forward midrange and the ultimately worse extension past 10 kHz even though being technically clearly superior in terms of resolution etc. (well, it better be costing 5 times as much)).

The upper treble gains energy again without really crossing the ground line, bringing a little countervailing sparkle without adding sibilance or harshness (in fact cymbals and high notes sound realistic, spot-on and neither skewed to the brighter nor darker side), and extends really well past 10 kHz, something that is very rarely found in this price range for Balanced Armature-based in-ears.



- - -

Talking sine sweeps, the B200’s bottom-end emphasis starts slowly climbing around 750 Hz and reaches its climax around 125 Hz, keeping it all the way down to 20 Hz.

Level is a bit in the background between 2 and 6 kHz but comes back to normal right after that. There are no sudden and noticeable dips or peaks except for a small climax at around 13 kHz, which is a quite remarkable achievement, and even more so for the price.

Extension past 10 kHz is really good and the B200 doesn’t start dropping level before 14.7 kHz.

- - -

The overall presentation, while heading into the warmer and more relaxed direction, appears quite natural and no area sounds artificial or out of place.

Yes, I would definitely say that Brainwavz did a really great job with the B200, since it sounds realistic with some added warmth and smoothness, doesn’t subdue any area, doesn’t make any range sound unrealistic/unnatural/artificial and extends very well in the lows and especially highs, sometimes that is very rare for a multi-BA in-ear costing around $200.

Resolution:

The B200 sounds really nice for a dual-driver in-ear from an internationally known brand below $200 and delivers just the fidelity and details that could be expected.

The bass is well-controlled and tight, and only shows some really minor softness in terms of attack compared to some of the more expensive multi-BA offerings.

Details in the lows are good and the B200 manages to separate single bass lines and fast bass punches very well.

Speech intelligibility and midrange resolution are spot-on as well and again, the B200 delivers a smooth, detailed presentation for the price. Even though vocals are on the somewhat fuller and mellower side, nothing is covered up here and the dip in the upper midrange and middle treble was not placed to mask anything – yep, there is clearly no hidden graininess in this area at all.

High notes are rendered realistically and sound neither metallic nor subdued. Separation of single notes in the treble is good and instruments are cleanly rendered, however not as cleanly as when comparing the B200 to multi-BA in-ears costing $100 or $200 more. For the price however, the separation in the upper range is more than satisfying, and it is especially nice that the B200 has got a very good extension past 10 kHz that is very rarely found in this price range.




To wrap it up, the overall presentation is really nice and spot-on for the price without showing any audible flaws, neither in terms of tonality or resolution.

Soundstage:

The B200’s soundstage is neither really small nor especially large, and about a little more spacious than average/normally large in terms of dimensions and extension, with a more circular and spherical presentation than being flat and two-dimensional.

Separation of single instruments is plenty good for the price, and notes, single instruments or musicians don’t stick together but are separated nicely and cleanly, even when busier tracks with many musicians are played.

Layering is good as well although compared to some of the better and more expensive multi-BA offerings, there is not as much empty space between instruments – which clearly is no fault though given the price, since the B200 behaves clearly better than expected in this regard, and a good bit of $300 and $400 multi-BA in-ears are no “kings of soundstage and portraying emptiness” either.

- - - - - - - - -



In Comparison with other In-Ears:

Brainwavz B150:

Tonally, these two in-ears are very similar with the B200 ultimately having the better extension towards the lowest registers of the bass and the more forward upper treble that extends further. The B150 has got the slightly more intimate midrange.

In terms of detail retrieval, the B200 clearly is the direct upgrade to the B150 – it sounds tighter, resolves small details better in the midrange and treble, and separates single notes better as well in busy songs. Both sound equally coherent to me, which really speaks a lot for the B200 and the implementation of its two BA drivers (sometimes the more affordable dual-BA in-ears below $200 don’t reach the same coherency as many single-BA in-ears – which is fortunately not the case with the B200).

Its soundstage is larger as well, also sporting the superior separation, layering and portrayal of emptiness.

Overall, it clearly is the more refined sounding in-ear to me with a more forward but still smooth upper treble.


Rose Technology Mini2:

The Mini2 is the more neutral in-ear out of the two, sporting the lesser amount of bass elevation in comparison as well as a less recessed lower and middle treble. The B200’s upper treble is a bit more forward to my ears despite measurements interestingly indicating otherwise.

The B200’s bass is ever so slightly tighter while the Mini2 is slightly more detailed in the midrange to my ears. While the B200 is a bit more forward in the upper treble to my ears, the Mini2 manages to have the somewhat cleaner separation up there – the difference is rather small though.

The Rose’s soundstage, to my ears, is somewhat more spacious and has got the more precise layering, separation and placement of instruments.


the t.bone EP-7:

The EP-7 is the OEM version of the JTS IE-6, manufactured for the German music store Thomann and retails for more than $100 less than the original model.

The EP-7 sounds thicker, warmer and darker than the B200. Both have got the same bass quantity while the EP-7’s root appears fuller. Female vocals are more on the darker side when listening to the the t.bone.

Absolutely regarded, detail retrieval in the midrange is about similar and the two in-ears only differ in terms of tuning in this range. Treble details appear about similar. The bass is ever so slightly more detailed and quicker in terms of attack on the B200’s side with the EP-7 having the slightly better control and texture.

The B200’s soundstage is slightly smaller and has got the ever so slightly cleaner separation.


Shure SE425:

The Shure is undeniable the more neutral in-ear in comparison, having just a slight bit of upper bass and root elevation compared to something really flat such as the Etymotic ER-4SR/ER-4S.

The B200 is warmer and bassier in comparison, also carrying a little more fullness, warmth and darkness in the midrange. The B200 however, in contrast to the SE425 that sounds a little mid-focussed and unfortunately rolls off pretty early in the highs, has got some good treble extension and therefore sounds clearly more natural in the highs in comparison to the Shure that sounds a bit muffled when it comes to cymbals and also clearly lacks extension past 10 kHz.

Bass tightness and control is pretty much on the same level between the two, with probably just a very minor advantage for the Shure when it comes to attack tightness but a similarly fast and controlled decay.

Overall resolution is similar in the midrange to my ears, with a slight advantage for the Brainwavz in the bass and highs when it comes to details.

The B200’s soundstage is a bit wider and also deeper – while there is ultimately no huge difference in terms of size (but it’s noticeable, especially in terms of width), separation-wise, the B200 is somewhat cleaner and generates the cleaner “empty space” around single instruments.

- - - - - - - - -

And last but not least, as a bonus, here is a comparative frequency response measurement chart of the Brainwavz B200, Brainwavz B100, Rose Technology Mini2, the t.bone EP-7 and Shure SE425:



Please note that this is what I recorded with my pseudo-diffuse-field-compensated-calibrated Vibro Veritas coupler (you can read more about the graphs and process of how they are taken and the inaccuracy in my measurements following this external link: frequency-response.blogspot.com/p/about-measurement-graphs.html).

It is not ideal yet but should give a rather good idea of what the in-ears sound like when mentally adding some level around 3 kHz as well as 6 kHz where my calibration is rather off.

- - - - - - - - -


Conclusion:



Brainwavz are back at their old glory, offering (really) good performance and a nice tonal tuning for the respective price point – they have definitely got a winner with the B200, following the positive direction that they took when they released the B150 and especially B100.

The only things that do not quite fit to into the picture are the cable and shells that I would expect to be a bit more premium and special at this price point – having different shells (at least colour-wise) and a different cable would have been definitely appropriate to set the B200 apart from the B100 and B150, since the dual-driver clearly manages to achieve that on the technical level; but I guess it will be the upcoming B300’s and B400’s task to set a visual and haptic border to the lower-priced models from the B series.


To wrap it up, the B200 is a really nice, smooth and yet still realistic and very harmonic sounding in-ear that is very convincing on the technical side for its price point, however the cable and visual appearance don’t fit entirely into the while picture.

/Edit 09/2017: Updated the rating to the well-deserved 4.5 stars since half star ratings are now finally possible again after the major Head-Fi update.

Intro



TL;DR: The Brainwavz B200 exceeds expectations with its flagship IEM status, providing an excellent all-around package that embodies the very best of Brainwavz.

Brainwavz has long been known for being a manufacturer that consistently releases great-sounding, high-quality earphones at price tags that won't break the bank. This combination has been the core of every Brainwavz release since the very beginning. But what if they decide to take all of that experience and channel it into a set of truly extraordinary earphones? That, my friends, is what I'll be covering here today: the Brainwavz B200.

The B200 is the highest-end model of Brainwavz' brand new balanced-armature B series of earphones, and is priced at a cool $200 – by far the most expensive Brainwavz earphone to date. But does that mean they're the best Brainwavz earphone? Let's find out.

(Disclaimer: the product in review was received free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. Please take the following with a grain of salt and always try before you buy.)



== Aesthetics ==
Packaging, Accessories



The Brainwavz B200 is packaged in a compact box draped in Brainwavz' classic black and red colour scheme. Details on the box are minimal at best, which gives off a more serious first impression. Interestingly, the packaging is identical to that of the Brainwavz BLU-Delta I reviewed prior, which may be a move by Brainwavz to reduce packaging costs by using the same box for their products. I have yet to confirm this with Brainwavz themselves, so for now this remains my own theory.

Inside is Brainwavz' wide earphone case, containing the B200, five additional pairs of eartips, a shirt clip, and a manual and warranty card. Typical Brainwavz stuff.



Design, Build, Microphonics



At first glance, I had a hard time figuring out what I was looking at. The B200, for a $200 IEM, seemed quite unassuming with its simple, all-black looks. Its construction didn't do much to impress, either, using plastic housings and a non-removable cable setup derived from the XF200 - thirty-dollar IEMs, mind you. However, over the past two weeks I have taken them on a trip out of town, and they held up wonderfully.

From further inspection, I found the B200's build to be focused on being lightweight. The plastic housings place no strain on the cable or the ear hooks, which definitely helps with the lifespan of the cable. The XF200-like cable setup has minimal cable noise and thus allows the B200 to be quite suited to those with more active lifestyles.



Fit, Comfort, Isolation

The custom-moulded plastic housings of the B200 allows it to stay in the ears securely without making any pressure points on the ear. This, coupled with the moulded ear-hooks, makes the B200 by far one of the most comfortable earphones I've ever worn. Being a balanced armature IEM, the B200 also has inherently excellent isolation, which furthers its versatility for active use.



== Sound ==
Specs


Headphone Type: Closed-back in-ear monitor

Driver Type: 2x Balanced Armature (1 woofer, 1 tweeter configuration)

Frequency Response: 12 – 22,000 Hz

Sensitivity: 110 dB at 1 mW

Impedance: 30 Ω

Cable: 1.3m (~4 ft.) OFC cable

Connector: Angled 3.5mm (1/8") gold-plated connector

Accessories:

• Carrying case (Wide)
• 6x sets silicone eartips (S/M/L)
• 1x set Comply T-100 foam eartips
• Velcro cable tie
• Shirt clip
• Instruction manual & warranty card (24 months)

Equipment, Burn-in

The source devices used for this review are a fifth-generation iPod Touch and an iPad Air 2, as well as a Schiit Fulla hooked up to my PC. The test tracks I use for my assessments are of various genres ranging from classical to electronica, with the audio file formats varying from 256 Kbps AAC to 24-bit FLAC. Some of these test tracks will be linked to in the sound assessments to demonstrate certain points.

Prior to the assessment I listened to the Brainwavz BLU-Delta for at least 30 hours to get more accustomed to the sound – otherwise known as "brain burn-in" – to dispel any "changes" to the sound after a certain amount of time.



Sound Quality



Bass:

Balanced Armature IEMs have long been known to have a flatter, leaner bass response compared to dynamic driver IEMs, but the Brainwavz B200 is a unique exception. The B200 has an unusually noticeable bass punch and a surprisingly aggressive low-end extension, and which might catch some listeners off-guard if they are used to more "traditional"-sounding BA earphones (M2U - Magnolia; Rogue - Ultimatum; Knife Party - Sleaze).

Despite this, the B200 still has a lean response and at times does not appear in songs that normally require it (Savant - Kali 47). This unique flexibility allows it to maintain its inherently smooth midrange tonality without any of the warmth from the bass driver showing through (WRLD - Style, Everything; Haywyre - Do You Don't You). This, from my observations, could be attributed to a well-designed crossover between the two BA drivers, or simply excellent tuning from Brainwavz. Either way, I'm impressed.


Midrange:

Throughout my years of reviewing earphones, balanced armature earphones have always impressed me. One IEM in particular -- the Final (formerly Final Audio Design) Heaven II -- remains in my top 3 IEMs that I have ever heard. In my experience with balanced armatures, there is always a certain quality in its midrange texture and tone that is, to me, captivating if not outright hypnotic. The Brainwavz B200 is no different (Yiruma – Scene from My Window, Indigo).

Despite the bass giving the B200 appeal with electronic genres, it is still a balanced armature IEM. And as with all the BA IEMs I've reviewed, as far as midrange frequencies are concerned, the B200 surpasses my expectations. The way it renders vocals is much like that of the Heaven II -- simple and direct in its tone, but effective in its delivery and rendering of emotion (The Carpenters - Those Good Old Dreams; Coldplay – Shiver). With a midrange like this, the B200 is definitely worth a spot on my top 3 IEMs.


Treble:

The Brainwavz B200's treble stands out a bit less in terms of quantity, but does its job of perfectly rounding out the B200's sound signature. It has just the right amount of shine to give you all the details and overtones at the top-end of the frequency spectrum, but not too much that it produces listening fatigue (Sungha Jung – On Cloud Nine). The notable roll-off at the very high frequencies may disappoint those who want more treble extension, but I feel it's a perfect fit for an IEM that does so well with laid-back music.



Soundstage/Presentation:

The B200's soundstage is no DUNU Titan 1, but it's not bad either. Its dual balanced armature drivers do a respectable job of rendering the illusion of space in various songs. However, it does a particularly good job of presenting instruments in that said space (Eagles - Hotel California).


Eartips:

With the included Comply T100-tips, the B200’s sound becomes much more like one would expect from a balanced armature IEM – beautifully midrange-focused while retaining treble crispness. So for the most part it loses much of the bass punch from the silicone tips, but still has some of the sub-bass rumble in some songs.


Summary:

The Brainwavz B200 takes a very brave path with its unusually boosted low-end. However, by whatever sorcery Brainwavz has done in its tuning, the B200 exhibits impressive bass control while allowing its inherent balanced armatures to sing its own brilliant tune. It is a very well-rounded sound signature that very accurately represents the best that Brainwavz has to offer.



Other Media



The B200's versatility extends beyond music, with its smooth sound signature proving itself well with both games and movies. I personally found them to be a blast while playing games, with its great detail retrieval and positioning capabilities combining for an enjoyable gaming experience. However, while enjoyable, they still have its own shortcomings against headphones in this area, particularly in its rendering of space. But if you don't have much else, the B200 will do just fine.



Amp & EQ Response

Because of its low impedance and high sensitivity, the B200 is designed to work with low power sources such as phones or tablets. Because of this they performs well enough without an external amplifier. However, when powered by the Schiit Fulla, the B200's overall sound becomes more intense – the bass gains a more aggressive punch, the midrange gains a slight bit of space, and the treble extension and crispness is improved. With an equaliser filter one can also achieve a similar effect – the B200 is fairly responsive to EQ and can handle most tweaks within reason.



Value



The Brainwavz B200 retails for about $200 on Brainwavz' official website, which thereby makes it the most expensive Brainwavz earphone to date. Now, at this price, is it still a good buy versus, say, the similarly priced MEE Audio P1? I'll make a more direct comparison later, but right now I'm finding the B200 to be a slightly tougher sell than most of Brainwavz' offerings. This is mostly because of the non-removable cable design, which means your B200 has a definite lifespan – once the cable breaks, your $200 is as good as gone. However, I cannot find any fault with the B200 from other angles, so as long as you take care of it, they should last you quite a while. And from my experience, Brainwavz earphones have always been very reliable.



Comparison



Versus MEE Audio Pinnacle P1 ($200):

One of the main reasons I was particularly excited to write this review was because I wanted to see how the B200, Brainwavz' top of the line earphone, would match up against the MEE Audio P1, MEE's top of the line earphone. Knowing that they are both at the same price point, the matchup only becomes more significant in terms of figuring out which earphone to get. But let's not beat around the bush here – all things considered, the P1 is the shinier of the two gems. Simply put, the P1's overall package does so much more for the same price, from its use of premium materials, sophisticated package, and a sound that does so well with everything.

Of course, that does not mean the B200 is without its merits – some listeners may find the P1 to have too harsh of a treble response, for which the B200 would be a better fit. Others may find the P1 to be too heavy to run around in, making the B200's lightweight build more appealing. Others still might not have an amp and would rather have an IEM that does not need one. Ultimately, your choice of earphone will boil down to personal preferences, so always weigh out the pros and cons before you make your purchase.



== Conclusion ==



The Brainwavz B200 is the epitome of great-sounding, high-quality products that are the foundation of all Brainwavz products since their founding. No detail of the B200 was left without purpose. Every facet of its build, every curve in its design, and every nuance in its tuning was done deliberately -- in a way only a company with comprehensive knowledge of their market can. And all of it to make me and you say, "The Brainwavz B200 is the best Brainwavz earphone I've ever heard".

Scores:

Packaging, Accessories: 8.5/10

Design, Build, Microphonics: 8/10

Fit, Comfort, Isolation: 9.5/10

Bass: 10/10

Midrange: 9.5/10

Treble: 9/10

Presentation: 8.5/10

Gaming, Movies: 9/10

Amp & EQ Response: 9/10

Value: 8.5/10

Total: 9/10



About the Company

Brainwavz provides high-end earphones specifically designed for high-quality sound and tailor-made to provide the user with a solution that can be used across a wide range of audio genres and styles at affordable prices. Brainwavz believes in the idea that sound is a deeply personal experience, and strives to provide users with earphones that match their personal inclinations, to inspire with intensity. The Brainwavz name is known in many countries across the globe, and the company is continually committed to providing the best products at the best value.

http://www.brainwavzaudio.com



Changelog

Intro

Today we’re going to look at the new flagship Brainwavz B200 Dual Armature earphones. This pair is the new king of the Brainwavz BA series, with two other IEMs in the series, namely the B100 and B150. The B200 is also the highest priced at $277 SGD at the time of writing on their website. Some consider this a revival of the popular Brainwavz B2 dual BA IEM, however i have not heard it thus i can't make any comparison to it. Just how would this flagship fare? Let's find out below.

Basic Specifications (brainwavzaudio.com)

• Drivers : Dual Balanced Armature
  
  
• Rated Impedance : 30 Ω
  
  
• Frequency Range : 12 Hz ~ 22 kHz
  
  
• Sensitivity : 110 dB at 1 mW
  
  
• Cable : 1.3 m Y-Cord, Over the ear, OFC Copper
  
• Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold plated

Packaging & Contents

As usual, the earphones are packaged in a low-key, minimalist box, with just the model number in front.

Included in the packaging besides the earphones are

• A hard case
  
  
• 6 sets of silicon ear tips (S/M/L)
  
  
• 1 set of comply T-100 foam tips
  
  
• 1 shirt Clip
  
  
• Velcro cable tie
  
  
• Warranty and instruction manual

Gotta give love to the hard-case that Brainwavz provides, as i have mentioned before in my previous reviews, the rectangle-ish shaped hard-case provides more than enough protection for your newly purchased IEM and some extra tips for the road. For a $200 price tag to this flagship model, i was hoping for a more “premium” case like a aluminium hard case or a pelican case that gives more incentives to buyers. Not a deal-breaker as the case provided is good enough.

Construction

The earphones are sport an all-plastic construction with a glossy black finish with very minimal branding along the edges of the shell. The B200 follows the same shell design as the B100 and the B150, a nice small shell that fits the concha of the ear nicely and snugly. Due to the plastic construction, the weight is very light and they sit rather flush and i have no problems sleeping with them on.





The B200 is meant to be worn over the ear and is aided by pre-formed cables that are super light and does not have a memory effect. The cables on the B200 are non-removable which is really a pity given the price tag, whereby removable MMCX or 2 pin connectors would be great to have. However, this reduces a point a failure as the connection point of the cable and the shell is also reinforced by sturdy strain reliefs, giving extra durability to the product.



The twisted cables are encased in a soft touch rubber sheath similar to the M100 that is not too springy and feels nice to the touch. The cables are joined at a beefy Y-splitter that has good strain reliefs on both ends and is terminated by a angled 3.5mm plug.







I generally find the comfort level to be excellent, however it does not sit as flush as my Magaosi K3’s which i reviewed earlier. Don't get me wrong though, it is still very comfortable. I was hoping for removable cables, so users who use balanced cables can take advantage of the earphone more. The build is generally okay, but they do not scream premium or look premium given its premium price tag. However, compared to the popular Audio-Technica IM02 and the ATH-LS200IS, these B200 trumps it in terms of comfort. When shown to friends, they thought it was nice, but they don't look like $200 earphones to them. But this all changed when i got them to try it on.





Sound

I have used this IEM daily for almost a month mainly on my iphone 7 Plus and my Macbook Pro 13 inch on Spotify Extreme settings.

Song samples:

1. Console Myself - Rocoberry
   
   
2. Through the Night - IU
   
   
3. Alone - Alan Walker
   
   
4. The One - Kodaline
   
   
5. Skinny Love - Birdy

This is the most important part of all isn't it? Why would we spend $200 on this IEM?

Well, when you first put it on, I found the mids to be lush, just the right amount, not too forward, not shouty either, they were in the right place, putting a smile to my face. The had highs the right amount of detail, Not sparkly or bright but just enough for my taste, with zero sibilance in all of my songs which was really a joy to listen to.


Coming from a triple hybrid, i am spoilt by the dynamic bass driver pumping out nice deep bass that adds some oomph to my songs however, as the B200 is a dual BA IEM, i find this deep bass lacking. I would say they have a nice bass texture and but just a little more quantity and more sub bass extension would be good. However the B200 is advertised producing “balanced and accurate” sound signatures, thus those picking these up might like their song less bassy.

Overall in terms of sound, there is not one area this IEM is strong in, but it is very musical, with nice layering and soundstage, performing well with the acoustic or more vocal songs however when i listen to pop music or EDM, i would prefer something more bassy. Isolation is above average with this IEM, compared to the Magaosi K3’s which i find really welcoming.





Conclusion

With a $200 price tag, one might demand more from Brainwavz, i.e a nicer casing, removable cables, more premium construction. With bluetooth audio being more prevalent nowadays, it would be a good idea to incorporate bluetooth cables together with it, assuming that the cables are removable. This would appeal more to buyers who like to listen wirelessly as well as having the option to use it with the standard cable. On the other hand, the B200 is a very pleasant and detailed sounding IEM in the competitive dual BA market with the likes of Audio-Technica’s IM02, ATH-LS200IS and faces stiff competition from the growing hybrid market.



Gotta thank Brainwavz and Pandora for the review sample. This review has no monetary value and the above comments are purely unbiased comments from myself only.

REVIEW: Brainwavz B200





Website: LINK

Product: LINK


Specifications

Driver: Dual Balanced Armature
Impedance: 30Ω
Frequency: 12 Hz ~ 22 kHz
Sensitivity: 110 dB
Cable: 1.3 m Y-Cord, OFC Copper
Plug: 3.5 mm, Gold plated




Price: U$D 199 (MSRP)


Warranty: 24 months




Accessories

1. 6 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S,M,L)
2. 1 pair of Comply Foam Tips T-100 (red)
3. Case
4. Shirt clip
5. Velcro cable tie

Design


The B200 is the 3^rd model from the new Brainwavz Balanced Armature series. The B200 shares the same design of the B150, all plastic compact shells in an over-ear fit. For the B150 the build quality was just decent for the ~$100 price, however for the $200 priced B200 it’s much less impressive, considering the many competitors. The cable is standard, soft and well behaved, but thin and lacks a good strain relief at the housing part.

The small, lightweight and low profile of the B200 is very comfortable as an over-ear fit. The thin nozzle works well for even small ears, and despite the more shallow fit, isolation is very good as a sealed BA earphone.








The Dual BAlanced Sound


The overall sound signature is warm, smooth and full bodied. The B200 is probably using dual BA Knowles with a CI inside for the lows, thus the sound is very similar to many other IEMs with a similar BA driver configuration with a certain ‘stage monitor’ like tuning that resembles the Westone UM series with an extra warm boost from the lows. Yet, the B200 is musical and very enjoyable, and could be considered to be darker when compared to the lower priced B150 model. While not a really bass heavy IEM, the low-end is far from being neutral. It’s deep, impactful and very good in texture. Dynamics are surprisingly good for a BA, fast and accurate. In terms of bass quantity the B200 is just a touch short of the UM3x or LZ A4, but obviously far more than the old B2 flagship.

Midrange is fairly sweet, but not overly full or particularly forward. Well distanced showing good sense of space between the singer and the listener while still having enough sense of intimacy. The fuller midrange carries a more convincing texture in expense of less treble detail. There is a bit of highlight at the upper mid region that helps to prevent it from sounding too dark. The B200 may be missing the crispness of a TWFK-based set, but for a BA earphone the note weight is very impressive.

Treble is smooth but well extended, delicate and not missing in detail having just enough sparkle and energy. The B200 is by no means for treble or micro-detail fans, however, it is very comfortable and forgiving making the music more enjoyable. Imaging is good and the soundstage has enough depth to prevent the earphone from sounding intimate despite its warm tone and thicker midrange. Width, depth and height are all equally leveled giving a very coherent 3D effect.






B200 vs B150 (link)

The B150 already rated quite good in terms of SQ for a single BA driver unit, offering a well balanced sound with a slight mid-centered signature and some extra emphasis at the upper mids and lower treble for a better vocal presentation. While sub-bass is lacking (typical for a single BA at this price) the mid-bass is not missing, with a better than average stage. The B200, however, with a dual BA driver brings a much more balanced and fuller sound from lows to highs. The sub-bass is more realistic, closer to a good dynamic driver, and mid-bass while stronger is also more controlled and nicer layered. Treble is much smoother and forgiving, yet more extended and shows a bit more detail despite being more laid back in nature. Tonally, the B200 is darker and richer which is very noticed in the midrange region, with more weight in instruments and some better coherence and level between lower and upper voices. Technically, the B200 is better, though it’s more a matter of taste as both models are fairly different in their overall presentation.




Value

While I yet have to try the lower B100 model, the half priced B150 is easier to recommend over the B200 in terms of value for the money. The build quality is nothing outstanding on the B150, and for the B200 is actually disappointing. Comfort and isolation is still well worth. Nonetheless, as for sound quality alone the B200 is well worth its price tag, competing well with more expensive IEM sets, such as the classical UM3x, and giving a good fight to the Dunu DN1000/2000 and the newer LZ A4.

Big thanks to Brainwavz for the review sample of Brainwavz B200!
 
Brainwavz B200 is a new Dual Driver, Balanced Armature earphones from Brainwavz, the 3rd model of the Brainwavz Balance Armature series. Excellent ergonomic and pleasant sonic signature seems to be main goals of the design, and in my opinion, Brainwavz has achieved both with Brainwavz B200.
 

 
 
 
Brainwavz B200 webpage:
http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/collections/earphones/products/b200-dual-balanced-armature-earphones
 
Here is the discussion thread for Brainwavz B200:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/831015/brainwavz-b200-dual-armature-iem
 
And here is an informative YouTube video about B100 and B200 comparison by @nmatheis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cBbjbjSAaU
 
 
 

 
 
With 30 ohms impedance and 110 dB/mW sensitivity, B200 is smartphone friendly and also we don’t have to worry about hissing noise from some not so quiet sources / DAPs. I do prefer this level of sensitivity to avoid audible hissing noise. I often hear a hissing noise from my 1964 Ears V3 which has a high 119 dB/mW sensitivity and sometimes can be a bit annoying. My Samsung Galaxy S7 can drive B200 quite well, but volume setting most of the time very close to maximum. I do find that B200 benefits from more powerful sources like Chord Mojo and iFi micro iDSD. I especially like the matching of B200 with iFi micro iDSD and iFi micro iDSD Black-Label version that I reviewed a few weeks ago, those DACs really bring out the best of B200.
 

 
 
 
 
Pros:
Excellent ergonomic. Small, light, and very comfortable.
Good build quality and seems to be quite durable.
 
Cons:
Treble might be a bit too soft for some.
 
Suggestions for Improvements:
Better quality control on the bending direction of the ear hook.
Frequency extension for the bass and treble could be improved, especially the treble.
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Sound Quality
Brainwavz B200 is nicely tuned and leans towards smooth, warm, and pleasing sonic character. Tonality is rather midrange centric with pretty flat response around the midrange area. Overall it sounds pretty smooth without any annoying frequency peak or dip, and no obvious coloration besides the soft sounding treble. There is some roll-off around sub-bass and treble, but in a natural manner and overall tonality still can be considered quite natural. Obviously, B200 is not a bassy IEM, but bass level and quality are pretty good, especially considering that it is a dual BA drivers IEM. Bass is only slightly below the midrange, but coherency with midrange is excellent and the bass doesn’t sound anemic. I honestly have no issue with the bass level. Treble is smooth and soft, sufficient clarity and sparkle but not at the sparkling level of let say ATH-IM02 or Etymotic ER4XR. The rather soft treble might be suitable for those who are treble sensitive, but rather lacking for treble lovers. For me, the treble is a bit lacking as I usually prefer mildly V shape tonality. Therefore I prefer to pair B200 with a treble rich player or source like the iFi micro iDSD, to help to emphasize the treble a little bit. With foobar, I apply a shelf EQ to raise the treble starting +2 dB at 3.5kHz, ramping up to +6 dB at 7kHz onward.
 

 
 
As mentioned earlier, overall tonality is rather midrange centric, but in a good and musical way, and with good coherent tonality across the audio band. Midrange is clearly the strong character of B200. I don’t usually like midrange centric IEM, but B200 is exceptional as the midrange quality is quite special with very nice tonal density, good body, and midrange clarity. Vocal has good body and fullness to the sound. I’m quite sensitive to a muddy midrange, and usually not a great fan for warm sounding IEMs that sometimes sounds muddy. I’m glad to say that the nice full and dense sounding midrange of B200 has good clarity without any muddiness or fuzziness. The soft treble and dominant midrange might give the perception of warmness to the sound, but I prefer to call it mid-centric. Warm sound usually has a rather long decay around the midrange and bass, and I don’t hear that long decay characteristic on B200. There is a small degree of perceived warmness, so I think we can say that B200 is mildly warm.
 

 
 
As expected with midrange centric IEM, the presentation is more on the intimate style. Stereo imaging is around the average size, not congested but also not the wide and spacious type. I do wish the dynamic could be a little bit improved. Dynamic is a bit too polite for me, so sometimes it does feel a little lacking in excitement. Probably because I’m quite used with dynamic driver IEMs, the dual BA drivers of B200 don’t seem to move air as much as some of my dynamic driver IEMs. But actually for a dual BA, the dynamic is quite decent as I’ve heard other dual BA IEMs with less dynamic. Other than that, detail and clarity are pretty good, not emphasized but clearly not lacking. Coherency between the 2 BA drivers is excellent, they sound coherently like a single driver. In summary, smooth, polite and mildly warm sounding are probably the main characters of B200 sound signature. It is the type of IEM that will not easily cause ears fatigue even for a very long session.
 

 
 
 
 
Eartips & Frequency Response Graph
B200 comes with silicone ear tips (3 sizes) and medium size Comply T-100 foam ear tips. The B200 nozzle neck measured 3mm and the nozzle head is 4mm in diameter. The foam ear tips reduce the bass and giving the perception of slightly clearer midrange. I feel the bass is a bit lacking when using foam ear tips, although the mids is a little clearer. Tonality wise, I prefer to use the silicone ear tips in conjunction with a simple shelf equalizer to boost the treble by around 6dB. My impressions in this review are based on the silicone ear tips.
 
 
 
 
Before observing the measurement results, please take note of the following disclaimer:

1. Frequency response measurement in this review was not done using standard measurement instrument for in-ear monitors. Therefore measurement result should not be considered as an absolute result, and should not be compared to other measurement result using different measurement instrument. The measurement was done using MiniDSP UMIK-1 USB measurement microphone with a DIY acoustic coupler.
2. The program I use for measurement is the famous Room EQ Wizard, REW v5.16. I measured left and right channels a few times, take 2 most consistent measurements for each channel, apply 1/24 octave smoothing, and then average the result.
3. From my own observation, measurement result beyond 10 kHz doesn’t seem to be reliable, therefore can be ignored.

 
 
Below are all measurement showing left and right channel measurement with both Comply foam ear tips and silicone ear tips. We can see that left and right channels have good balance and consistency.
 

 
 
Averaged frequency response of both Comply foam ear tips (Red) and silicone ear tips (White) with 1/24 octave smoothing:

 
 
Averaged frequency response of both Comply foam ear tips (Red) and silicone ear tips (White) with Psychoacoustic smoothing (closer to human perceived hearing):

 
 
 
 
Comparisons
I don’t have other 2 BA drivers IEM with me to be compared with the B200, so I will compare it with my reference IEM for tonality, the DUNU DN-2000, just to observe the sonic differences between them. DN-2000 sounds flat to my ears and measured flat on my measurement equipment, therefore it has been my reference IEM for flat tonality. I also had an opportunity to compare the B200 with Etymotic ER4XR. Only a short comparison, but I will share it here as well.
 

 

DUNU-DN2000
DN-2000 sounds more transparent, more extended treble and bass, and the stereo imaging is more spacious and holographic. Overall the DN-2000 sounds more neutral in tonality. DN-2000 also has higher perceived detail and speed. The DN-2000 mid bass and midrange sound leaner than the B2000. The fuller and thicker mid bass and midrange of B200 might be preferable for vocal, but for classical and instrumental that benefit from wide frequency response, DN-2000 sounds superior.
 

 

Etymotic ER4XR
ER4-XR sounds more transparent and more resolving in detail, with more spacious perceived imaging. More extended and sparkling treble. I like the transparency, but bass is lacking for my preference. B200 has thicker and fuller mids. Vocal sounds fuller with more body. Smaller soundstage with a more intimate presentation. Fuller and more potent bass.
 
Both have actually quite different tonality, but both are enjoyable in their own way and don't have any audible annoying peaks and dips on their spectrum.
 

 
 
 
 
Build Quality and Comfort
Brainwavz has nailed down the design for excellent shape and size for their Bxxx series. B200 ergonomic, to me, is quite perfect to get a very good fit and comfort. 5 stars for the fit and comfort aspect. It is light and fits very nicely to my ears, and very comfortable even for many hours of use. The cable has a nice jacket that doesn’t feel sticky or rubbery. The thickness is just nice for the small and light drivers. 
 
B200 is designed for over the ear wearing style. The ear hook is flexible without memory wire. It uses heat shrink tube to shape the cable near the driver housing. I prefer this type of flexible ear hook compared to memory wire. I had small problem initially with the left channel ear hook, where it was not bent to the right direction. It should have been bent inward like the right channel, instead it was bent outward as shown in the picture below.
 

 

 
 
I fixed it using a heat gun to bend it to the right direction as shown in the picture. Probably high power hair dryer can be used to fix it as well. Hopefully Brainwavz could give more attention to the quality control to avoid this problem.
 

 
 
Overall build quality of B200 is great and seems to be able to withstand rough usage. It is the type of IEM that I can just crumple and throw into my bag without worry. And the excellent fit is also great for Sport as it won’t get easily fall off from the ear. The 45-degree headphone jack also has very good cable strain relief. Sometimes I could hear some mild cable microphonic from the cable when used while doing lots of physical activities, but I consider the microphonic as mild and ignorable. Although the design might not be very stylish, but practically it is a very good design with durable build quality.
 

 
 
 

The small size and great fit should be among the deciding factors when considering the B200. IMHO, It would be nice if Brainwavz has a version of B200 with microphone for smartphone use. B200 is not for bass heads or treble heads, or those who prefer V shape tonality. But for the treble-sensitive that love a sweet and intimate sounding midrange, Brainwavz B200 is must try. Although basically I’m not a great fan of mid-centric tonality, but I would say the B200 is quite special. It's pleasing and friendly sonic character together with the excellent fit and comfort make it a very nice all-rounder daily IEM. Kudos to Brainwavz!
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Specifications:
Drivers : Dual Balanced Armature
Rated Impedance : 30 Ω
Frequency Range : 12 Hz ~ 22 kHz
Sensitivity : 110 dB at 1 mW
Cable : 1.3 m Y-Cord, Over the ear, OFC Copper
Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold plated

Included Accessories:
Earphone Hard case
6 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)
1 set of Comply™ Foam Tips T-100
1 Shirt Clip
Velcro Cable Tie
Instruction Manual & Warranty Card (24 month warranty)
 
 
 
Equipment used in this review:
 
DAPs and DACs:
Cayin i5
Chord Mojo
iFi micro iDSD Black-Label
iFi micro iDSD
Onkyo DP-X1
Samsung Galaxy S7
 
IEMs:
DUNU DN-2000
Etymotic ER4XR
 
 
 
Some recordings used in this review: