Brainwavz HM100 Headphones & BLU-300 BT IEMs Review - Two Hands, Two Great
Brainwavz HM100 is a dynamic headphone, priced at 140 USD, while BLU-300 is priced at 40 USD. They will be compared with 1More Triple Driver, ESS 422H, and with AIWA ARC-1, all of which are pretty close in price to HM100. There aren't many BT IEMS in the 40 USD price range, so BLU-300 won't get comparisons this time around. Pairings with iBasso DX120, FiiO M6, and HIDIZS AP80 will be included as well. For HM-100, I included an EQ profile that should work well with all of the pairings that have an EQ built-in, and which should make their sound a bit better.
Introduction
Brainwavz is one of the most popular companies from USA, and they are actually one of my favorites after having reviewed their Alara headphones, which have proven to be a real gem, and since they often go on sale, and have a really good price / performance ratio, I kept a close eye on Brainwavz. HM100 is a headphone they have been planning for a long time, and since it is a wooden headphone, but priced so low, it makes everyone wonder if they should skip more expensive models like Meze 99 Classics, and get the cheaper, yet similarly good looking HM100. The company itself is stellar, quick response, reliable support, and overall a great one. You can get a headphone from them, but here's a quick tip: Those sell so quick, you have to keep a close eye on the stocks, they really have gained popularity lately, and no one returned to complain that Brainwavz isn't good enough as a company.
It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Brainwavz, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. I'd like to thank Brainwavz for providing the sample for this review. This review reflects my personal experience with Brainwavz HM100 and BLU-300. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Brainwavz HM100 and BLU-300 find their next music companion.
About me
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/about.html
Packaging
First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
When it comes to BLU-300, though, the package is fair for their price tag. You get the essentials, but nothing special, and the package itself is not that interesting either.
It is something to appreciate that besides the eartips of different sizes, they also throw in an USB cable, but other than that, the thing that suprises me the most about them can only be observed when wearing them.
What to look for when purchasing an Entry-Level Headphone / IEM
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/what-to-lookl.html
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
The BLU-300 is one of those around-the-neck Bluetooth earbuds that made it to people's hearts just like Sennheiser Momentum M2 IEBT.
The BLU-300 runs on BT 4.1. The neck design means that the IEM ends up being much lighter than most TWS designs, like the Master & Dynamic MW07, or the 1More Stylish TWS IEMs. It takes them 2 hours to charge, which is not exactly quick. The battery life measures 6-8 hours of usage, which is not exactly a lot, when there are TWS IEMs that provide more than that, on a single charge, not considering the battery life of the carrying case.
The back of BLU-300 is magnetic, and they connect to each other, making some kind of neckband, which is both pretty cute, and provides a longer life, if you'll be using them while doing more serious physical activity.
This is actually the big selling point of BLU-300, they are intended for physical activity, and you probably won't be using them while at home.
The Bluetooth connection is very stable, and for the 40 USD price point, you won't mind the fact they only have SBC codecs, and that aptX codecs are not present
I noticed some driver flex with BLU-300, and while that won't affect how long they last, it will have some effect on your comfort while wearing them, and sadly, especially when using them for sports and physical activities, where you move a lot, you will notice that driver flex.
Sound Quality
The thick, warm and satisfying sound of BLU-300 actually reminds me of the Westone WX Wireless IEMs, which, despite having a single BA configuration, had one of the thickest, most satisfying low ends I have heard at that date.
The same can be said by BLU-300, and the bass dominates the sound for them, so if you're looking for something that can really deliver a low end impact without feeling shy, this may be the one for you. On the other hand, the mids are thick, dark, and not the clearest out there. For workout music, and for dubstep, EDM and electronic in general, it works well, but if you're looking for an IEM that plays rock and metal well, there are better options, at this price range, like KZ AS10 and such, although those aren't Bluetooth.
You can hear the SBC codec and the quality loss over the BLU-300 not having aptX pretty clearly. This being said, it probably would not had had much better detail and resolution otherwise either, but with aptX and LDAC enabled IEMS, you get less reduction in the midrange detail, and you get a larger stage, considerably more dynamics, and more micro-details. Those are the things that Bluetooth usually erases, and with BLU-300, you get a pretty limited sound, dynamically, but that works okay for its price. In fact, if it was any more expensive, I probably would had complained, but for the 40 USD you're paying, this is a fair performance.
Portable Usage
Given the fact that both headphones are in a price range most people will be taking them outdoors, I think that you're best knowing that both are fairly average for portable usage.
HM100 is great because it has a great deal of passive noise isolation, it is fairly easy to drive, but it also gets really warm during normal wearing, and you won't have such a great time if you're wearing them in full blown summer.
A Bluetooth Receiver / DAC like FiiO BTR5 can totally drive HM-100, and you won't have to worry about HM 1000 not having enough dynamics or punch. This being said, BTR5 sounds best while on wired, so there'll still be a clip attached to the end of the cable, unless FiiO decides to make something like the BTA10 for HM100.
On the other hand, if you connect HM100 to a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+, Aune S6PRO, or iFi xCan, you will notice that they scale a lot with the source, so you may want to get them even if you have a pretty high-end setup already, tro have a wooden headphone as a backup.
BLU-300, on the other hand, managed to keep its connection strong at all times, but it has some driver flex, so if you'll be wearing them while out and about, especially while running, they may make a yoyo kind of movement with your ear and eardrum.
This is not desirable, and there are other, better options out there for sports, like the 1More Stylish TWS IEMs, or iBasso IT01S connected to a FiiO BTR3 or BTR5.
Of course, if you really want a TWS IEM, Master & Dynamic also makes their MW07, but they are considerably more expensive than BLU 300, and everything I can recommend that is better is also more expensive than the BLU300, so if you're on a budget, those are a great deal.
Value and Conclusion
When talking about Brainwavz products you can't miss the value, because every single one of their products is top value. This includes the Brainwavz Alara, which was one of those planars that took on the Sundara, but was on a different sonic direction. HM100 is also an incredible value, and there's been an invasion of wooden earcups headphones at this price point, but none with the accessory list and package of HM100.
The BLU-300 is priced very low by itself, and for just 40 USD you get a neckband earbud that's fun to use, you can take to gym and which should last a long time.
The package is great for HM100, but pretty basic for BLU-300. The comfort is great for both though, although I recall having some driver flex with BLU-300, which made them not exactly ideal for gym and sports usage. HM-100, on the other hand, was pretty solid, and although it scaled a lot with the source, was very easy to drive.
The sound was boomy, dark, but had some treble air and sparkle for HM100. BLU-300 was one of those really thick and warm sports earbuds that had a really ferocious bottom end. They lack air and treble extension though, and you're not likely to get too much out of them if you were looking for a more neutral performance.
On the other hand, at the end of this review, if you're looking for a really solid headphone, and if you don't mind it sounding a bit boomy, or if you have the patience to use some EQ, HM100 would make a great long-lasting companion for you, if you manage to find some still in store, and if you keep an eye close to the stocks and catch one while they are available.
As for BLU-300, if you need a really affordable sports around-the-neck BT IEM, and if you like a thick and bassy sound with a strong low-end impact, it should make a great running, jogging and even weight lifting companion.
Full Playlist used for this review
While we listened to considerably more songs than those named in this playlist, those are excellent for identifying certain aspects of the sound, like PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you're searching for new most, most of them being rather catchy.
Youtube Playlist
Tidal Playlist
https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/64555551-ec3c-4279-ae44-248fdfcf6c4b
Song List
Bats - Gamma Ray Burst: Second Date
Eskimo Callboy - Frances
Incubus - Summer Romance
Electric Six - Dager! High Voltage
Kishida Cult - High School Of The Dead
Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
Breaking Benjamin - I Will Not Bow
Thousand Foot Krutch - The Flame In All Of Us
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
Infected Mushroom - Song Pong
Attack Attack - Kissed A Girl
Doctor P - Bulletproof
Maximum The Hormone - Rock n Roll Chainsaw
Rob Zombie - Werewolf, Baby!
Escape The Fate - Gorgeous Nightmare
SOAD - Chop Suey
Ken Ashcorp - Absolute Territory
Machinae Supremacy - Need For Steve
Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop
Crow'sclaw - Loudness War
Eminem - Rap God
Stromae - Humain À L'eau
Sonata Arctica - My Selene
Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back
Metallica - Fuel
Veil Of Maya - Unbreakable
Masa Works - Golden Japang
REOL - Luvoratorrrrry
Dope - Addiction
Korn - Word Up!
Papa Roach - ... To be Loved
Fever The Ghost - Source
Fall Out Boy - Immortals
Green Day - Know The Enemy
Mindless Self Indulgence - London Bridge
A static Lullaby - Toxic
Royal Republic - Addictive
Astronautalis - The River, The Woods
We Came As Romans - My Love
Skillet - What I Believe
Man With A Mission - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Yasuda Rei - Mirror
Mojo Juju - Must Be Desire
Falling Up - Falling In Love
Manafest - Retro Love
Rodrigo Y Grabriela - Paris
Zomboy - Lights Out
Muse - Resistance
T.A.T.U & Rammstein - Mosaku
Grey Daze - Anything, Anything
Katy Perry - Who Am I Living For
Maroon 5 - Lucky Strike
Machinae Supremacy - Killer Instinct
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares
Sirenia - Lithium And A Lover
Saving Abel - Addicted
Hollywood Undead - Levitate
The Offspring - Special Delivery
Escape The Fate - Smooth
Samsara Blues Experiment - One With The Universe
Dope - Rebel Yell
Crazy Town - Butterfly
Silverstein - My Heroine
Memphis May Fire - Not Over Yet
I hope my review is helpful to you!
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Brainwavz HM100 is a dynamic headphone, priced at 140 USD, while BLU-300 is priced at 40 USD. They will be compared with 1More Triple Driver, ESS 422H, and with AIWA ARC-1, all of which are pretty close in price to HM100. There aren't many BT IEMS in the 40 USD price range, so BLU-300 won't get comparisons this time around. Pairings with iBasso DX120, FiiO M6, and HIDIZS AP80 will be included as well. For HM-100, I included an EQ profile that should work well with all of the pairings that have an EQ built-in, and which should make their sound a bit better.
Introduction
Brainwavz is one of the most popular companies from USA, and they are actually one of my favorites after having reviewed their Alara headphones, which have proven to be a real gem, and since they often go on sale, and have a really good price / performance ratio, I kept a close eye on Brainwavz. HM100 is a headphone they have been planning for a long time, and since it is a wooden headphone, but priced so low, it makes everyone wonder if they should skip more expensive models like Meze 99 Classics, and get the cheaper, yet similarly good looking HM100. The company itself is stellar, quick response, reliable support, and overall a great one. You can get a headphone from them, but here's a quick tip: Those sell so quick, you have to keep a close eye on the stocks, they really have gained popularity lately, and no one returned to complain that Brainwavz isn't good enough as a company.
It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Brainwavz, I am not receiving any incentive for this review or to sweeten things out. I'd like to thank Brainwavz for providing the sample for this review. This review reflects my personal experience with Brainwavz HM100 and BLU-300. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Brainwavz HM100 and BLU-300 find their next music companion.
About me
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/about.html
Packaging
First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:
When it comes to BLU-300, though, the package is fair for their price tag. You get the essentials, but nothing special, and the package itself is not that interesting either.
It is something to appreciate that besides the eartips of different sizes, they also throw in an USB cable, but other than that, the thing that suprises me the most about them can only be observed when wearing them.
What to look for when purchasing an Entry-Level Headphone / IEM
https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/p/what-to-lookl.html
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
The BLU-300 is one of those around-the-neck Bluetooth earbuds that made it to people's hearts just like Sennheiser Momentum M2 IEBT.
The BLU-300 runs on BT 4.1. The neck design means that the IEM ends up being much lighter than most TWS designs, like the Master & Dynamic MW07, or the 1More Stylish TWS IEMs. It takes them 2 hours to charge, which is not exactly quick. The battery life measures 6-8 hours of usage, which is not exactly a lot, when there are TWS IEMs that provide more than that, on a single charge, not considering the battery life of the carrying case.
The back of BLU-300 is magnetic, and they connect to each other, making some kind of neckband, which is both pretty cute, and provides a longer life, if you'll be using them while doing more serious physical activity.
This is actually the big selling point of BLU-300, they are intended for physical activity, and you probably won't be using them while at home.
The Bluetooth connection is very stable, and for the 40 USD price point, you won't mind the fact they only have SBC codecs, and that aptX codecs are not present
I noticed some driver flex with BLU-300, and while that won't affect how long they last, it will have some effect on your comfort while wearing them, and sadly, especially when using them for sports and physical activities, where you move a lot, you will notice that driver flex.
Sound Quality
The thick, warm and satisfying sound of BLU-300 actually reminds me of the Westone WX Wireless IEMs, which, despite having a single BA configuration, had one of the thickest, most satisfying low ends I have heard at that date.
The same can be said by BLU-300, and the bass dominates the sound for them, so if you're looking for something that can really deliver a low end impact without feeling shy, this may be the one for you. On the other hand, the mids are thick, dark, and not the clearest out there. For workout music, and for dubstep, EDM and electronic in general, it works well, but if you're looking for an IEM that plays rock and metal well, there are better options, at this price range, like KZ AS10 and such, although those aren't Bluetooth.
You can hear the SBC codec and the quality loss over the BLU-300 not having aptX pretty clearly. This being said, it probably would not had had much better detail and resolution otherwise either, but with aptX and LDAC enabled IEMS, you get less reduction in the midrange detail, and you get a larger stage, considerably more dynamics, and more micro-details. Those are the things that Bluetooth usually erases, and with BLU-300, you get a pretty limited sound, dynamically, but that works okay for its price. In fact, if it was any more expensive, I probably would had complained, but for the 40 USD you're paying, this is a fair performance.
Portable Usage
Given the fact that both headphones are in a price range most people will be taking them outdoors, I think that you're best knowing that both are fairly average for portable usage.
HM100 is great because it has a great deal of passive noise isolation, it is fairly easy to drive, but it also gets really warm during normal wearing, and you won't have such a great time if you're wearing them in full blown summer.
A Bluetooth Receiver / DAC like FiiO BTR5 can totally drive HM-100, and you won't have to worry about HM 1000 not having enough dynamics or punch. This being said, BTR5 sounds best while on wired, so there'll still be a clip attached to the end of the cable, unless FiiO decides to make something like the BTA10 for HM100.
On the other hand, if you connect HM100 to a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+, Aune S6PRO, or iFi xCan, you will notice that they scale a lot with the source, so you may want to get them even if you have a pretty high-end setup already, tro have a wooden headphone as a backup.
BLU-300, on the other hand, managed to keep its connection strong at all times, but it has some driver flex, so if you'll be wearing them while out and about, especially while running, they may make a yoyo kind of movement with your ear and eardrum.
This is not desirable, and there are other, better options out there for sports, like the 1More Stylish TWS IEMs, or iBasso IT01S connected to a FiiO BTR3 or BTR5.
Of course, if you really want a TWS IEM, Master & Dynamic also makes their MW07, but they are considerably more expensive than BLU 300, and everything I can recommend that is better is also more expensive than the BLU300, so if you're on a budget, those are a great deal.
Value and Conclusion
When talking about Brainwavz products you can't miss the value, because every single one of their products is top value. This includes the Brainwavz Alara, which was one of those planars that took on the Sundara, but was on a different sonic direction. HM100 is also an incredible value, and there's been an invasion of wooden earcups headphones at this price point, but none with the accessory list and package of HM100.
The BLU-300 is priced very low by itself, and for just 40 USD you get a neckband earbud that's fun to use, you can take to gym and which should last a long time.
The package is great for HM100, but pretty basic for BLU-300. The comfort is great for both though, although I recall having some driver flex with BLU-300, which made them not exactly ideal for gym and sports usage. HM-100, on the other hand, was pretty solid, and although it scaled a lot with the source, was very easy to drive.
The sound was boomy, dark, but had some treble air and sparkle for HM100. BLU-300 was one of those really thick and warm sports earbuds that had a really ferocious bottom end. They lack air and treble extension though, and you're not likely to get too much out of them if you were looking for a more neutral performance.
On the other hand, at the end of this review, if you're looking for a really solid headphone, and if you don't mind it sounding a bit boomy, or if you have the patience to use some EQ, HM100 would make a great long-lasting companion for you, if you manage to find some still in store, and if you keep an eye close to the stocks and catch one while they are available.
As for BLU-300, if you need a really affordable sports around-the-neck BT IEM, and if you like a thick and bassy sound with a strong low-end impact, it should make a great running, jogging and even weight lifting companion.
Full Playlist used for this review
While we listened to considerably more songs than those named in this playlist, those are excellent for identifying certain aspects of the sound, like PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you're searching for new most, most of them being rather catchy.
Youtube Playlist
Tidal Playlist
https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/64555551-ec3c-4279-ae44-248fdfcf6c4b
Song List
Bats - Gamma Ray Burst: Second Date
Eskimo Callboy - Frances
Incubus - Summer Romance
Electric Six - Dager! High Voltage
Kishida Cult - High School Of The Dead
Dimmu Borgir - Dimmu Borgir
Breaking Benjamin - I Will Not Bow
Thousand Foot Krutch - The Flame In All Of Us
Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc.
Infected Mushroom - Song Pong
Attack Attack - Kissed A Girl
Doctor P - Bulletproof
Maximum The Hormone - Rock n Roll Chainsaw
Rob Zombie - Werewolf, Baby!
Escape The Fate - Gorgeous Nightmare
SOAD - Chop Suey
Ken Ashcorp - Absolute Territory
Machinae Supremacy - Need For Steve
Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop
Crow'sclaw - Loudness War
Eminem - Rap God
Stromae - Humain À L'eau
Sonata Arctica - My Selene
Justin Timberlake - Sexy Back
Metallica - Fuel
Veil Of Maya - Unbreakable
Masa Works - Golden Japang
REOL - Luvoratorrrrry
Dope - Addiction
Korn - Word Up!
Papa Roach - ... To be Loved
Fever The Ghost - Source
Fall Out Boy - Immortals
Green Day - Know The Enemy
Mindless Self Indulgence - London Bridge
A static Lullaby - Toxic
Royal Republic - Addictive
Astronautalis - The River, The Woods
We Came As Romans - My Love
Skillet - What I Believe
Man With A Mission - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Yasuda Rei - Mirror
Mojo Juju - Must Be Desire
Falling Up - Falling In Love
Manafest - Retro Love
Rodrigo Y Grabriela - Paris
Zomboy - Lights Out
Muse - Resistance
T.A.T.U & Rammstein - Mosaku
Grey Daze - Anything, Anything
Katy Perry - Who Am I Living For
Maroon 5 - Lucky Strike
Machinae Supremacy - Killer Instinct
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares
Sirenia - Lithium And A Lover
Saving Abel - Addicted
Hollywood Undead - Levitate
The Offspring - Special Delivery
Escape The Fate - Smooth
Samsara Blues Experiment - One With The Universe
Dope - Rebel Yell
Crazy Town - Butterfly
Silverstein - My Heroine
Memphis May Fire - Not Over Yet
I hope my review is helpful to you!
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