Brainwavz Hex

Link to my review and measurement index thread where one can also find a full review overview, more information about myself as well as my general-ish audio and review manifesto: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/956208/

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I only give full stars. My ranking/scoring system does not necessarily follow the norm and is about as follows:

5 stars: The product is very good and received the "highly recommended" award from me.

4 stars: The product is very good and received the "recommended" award from me.

3 stars: The product is good/very good, but not outstanding/special enough to get any of my two awards. ["Thumbs Up"]

2 stars: The product is only about average or even somewhat below that and somewhat flawed/flawed in some areas. [neither "Thumbs Up" nor "Thumbs Down"

1 star: The product is bad/severely flawed to outright bad. ["Thumbs Down"]

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Brainwavz Hex


Source:

Review sample.


Miscellaneous:

Available in two different designs.

Rather sparse unboxing experience – compact cardboard packaging without many visual details, nonetheless clean.
Brainwavz’ well-known and fairly nice black and red zipped carrying case is included.
Six pairs of silicone tips in three different sizes plus some Comply Foam tips.
Cable clip and Velcro cable tie.

Very large shells.
The visual design neither attracts me nor puts me off – it’s okay. I really like the hexagonal faceplate design, though.
I like that the inner shells are solid black whereas the faceplates are translucent – however, both aren’t equally clear.
Build quality is rather decent, although subjectively not on the level of that of my Knowledge Zenith AS06 or AS10, and the shells feel sturdy.
What’s fairly unusual for multi-BA in-ears (although not exclusive to the Hex) is that there is a vent hole in each shell.

Really good fit and ergonomics.

Removable cable with MMCX connectors.
The cable consists of seemingly twisted conductors that were rubber-coated/-sleeved – therefore, it’s a fairly typical cable and also comparable to Brainwavz’ other in-ears’ cables, and while seemingly reliable and tough, unfortunately also quite springy and not really flexible.
A chin-slider is present but somewhat difficult to adjust.

Three Balanced Armature drivers per side.




Sound:

Largest included silicone ear tips.

Tonality:

Warm to dark, rather relaxed tonality.

The treble is generally and evenly on the somewhat darker side of neutral, although not muffled. The upper highs (cymbals), however, take a step into the inoffensive direction.
There is some of a broad rebound around 6 kHz, but not really above neutral. Still adds a bit of metallicness, though.
The upper treble (cymbals) is definitely on the relaxed side and reproduced inoffensively, close to the point of being a bit too muffled – more present upper highs and no 6 kHz lift would have been better.
Super treble extension past 10 kHz okay but not spectacular.
As a result, the treble timbre is ultimately not always fully natural due to the 6 kHz rebound and rather dark upper treble but definitely without any glaring flaws (doesn’t sound unnatural but lacks the “final touch” - ultimately it’s still clearly better than if the treble had any audible unevenness, were wonky or had unnaturally placed or overly strong peaks).

The lower mids are on the somewhat warmer side, but not by much.
The upper midrange is on the somewhat darker side.
The Hex have got generally inoffensive mids that show a tilt towards the darker side but are mostly correct in the lower and central midrange.

The fundamental range around 300 Hz is on the warmer side which adds a bit of pleasant warmth to the sound but can also lead to an impression of muffled lower mids. This elevation is however only around 5.5 dB compared to in-ears with a flat-neutral bass (e.g. my Etymotic ER-4S or the ER4SR), so it’s ultimately still rather close to being neutral to balanced/moderate in quantity.
The elevation’s climax is reached around 180 Hz, stays flat at that level down to around 80 Hz and rolls slightly off towards 20 Hz. The result is a warmth- and upper bass impact-driven bass instead of an “impelling” bass from the lowest registers.

Even though there are no glaring flaws in the Hex’ relaxed tuning, around the same price point and below, there are single- and multi-BA in-ears with a balanced to relaxed tuning that I would take over them, such as the Apple Dual-Driver In-Ears, Brainwavz B100, Rose Mini2, LYPERTEK BEVI 2, SoundMAGIC PL50, Sony XBA-C10 and Ultimate Ears UE600vi, or Knowledge Zenith AS06 or Pai Audio MR2 for multi-BA in-ears with a bassy, warm and v-shaped sound.

Frequency Response:


ER-4S-Compensation


ProPhile 8-Compensation

Resolution:

Central midrange resolution and speech intelligibility are decent to good, but outperformed by other models in this price range.
Lower midrange details are subjectively a bit behind.
The upper midrange sounds a bit veiled.

Treble details are actually rather decent too, but the separation is on the softer side, lacking the precision of other models and competitors.

As for the bass, its definition doesn’t really impress and it is also a bit too soft for Balanced Armature standards – it’s quite “dynamic driver-like” in its body and presentation.

While they are overall still okay for multi-BA in-ears in this price range, unfortunately the general detail level and resolution is ultimately definitely a good bit away from being impressive and the Hex are outperformed by other single- and multi-driver in-ears (such as the ones mentioned earlier above) in terms of resolution – generally, one would expect better from a multi-BA implementation, even at this comparatively competitive price point.

Soundstage:

Somewhat wider than “average” (may extend just a little further than the base between my ears). With some spatial depth as well, although the soundstage is generally definitely much more wide/oval than circular.

Imaging precision is okay to decent but not pinpoint precise (one can sense a bit of “spatial smear/blur” in the “empty space” between and around instruments).




Conclusion:

Okay but nothing special. No glaring flaws but one could expect a better technical performance from multi-BA in-ears even at this price point, since the Hex are outperformed by other comparably priced single- and multi-BA in-ears.

Brainwavz Hex ($99.50): 3D printing with a spell

Brainwavz website: https://www.brainwavzaudio.com/collections/earphones/products/hex-triple-balanced-armature-earphones

With a fellow reviewer out on sabbatical, he contacted Brainwavz and mentioned me as a source for reviewing. I am thankful that The Contraptionist showed faith in my abilities. Thank you, Thomas! I am also thankful that Brainwavz showed enough faith to send me a copy of the Hex. It is understood that the Hex may be returned at any time but is considered mine to keep after the review. All we want is an open and honest review and I would have it no other way. I have had a couple of other Brainwavz products on hand and appreciate their thoughtful look into their products as well as forward thinking.


Hex Specifications:

• Drivers: Triple Balanced Armature (3 Custom-Tuned Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers)
• Rated Impedance: 30 Ω
• Frequency Range: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 120 dB at 1 mW
• Cable: Detachable
• Cable Connector: MMCX
• Plug: 3.5 mm, Gold plated
• 3D Printed Housing
• Organic Housing Design

In the Box:

· MMCX 3.5mm Cable

· Earphone Hard Round (Neckband)

• Bluetooth MMCX Neckband Cable
• Earphone Hard case Long
• 6x Sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)
• Set of Comply™ Foam Tips T-100
• Shirt Clip
• Velcro Cable Tie
• Instruction Manual & Warranty Card (12-month warranty)

Gear used/compared:

All prices in USD, unless noted otherwise

Oriolus Finschi ($199)
LZ Audio A6 mini ($180/$80)
CCA C16 ($99)


Dethonray DTR1
Shanling M5s
Shanling M2x


Songs used:

Tidal Premium and SD card

Coldplay-All I Can think About Is You
Coldplay-A Message
Coldplay-White Shadows
Dona Onete-Sonos de Adolescente
Los Lonely Boys- Heaven (en Espanol)
twenty one pilots-Trees
twenty one pilots-Car Radio
twenty one pilots-Heathens
Damian Marley-Everybody Wants To Be Somebody
Damian Marley-So A Child May Follow
Damian Marley-The Struggle Discontinues
Ziggy Marley-Lighthouse
Ziggy Marely-See Dem Fake Leader
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado
The new twenty one pilots album, Trench
The new Mark Knopfler album, Down The Road Wherever
Big Head Todd & The Monsters-Beautiful World
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Lindsey Stirling



Initial:

In another review of late, I comment on how it used to be with Chinese manufacturers. There used to be a plethora of companies who produced many, MANY cheaper products without much care. As a result, quality control suffered as did one product to the next within the company. Plus, models of the same price point across company’s varied in sound quality as well. Often a $40 IEM from company X sounded better than the $200 IEM from company Y. Thus, was the early confuddlement across the spectrum. Many companies came and went, and just surviving those early years was a tribute to the company want. Brainwavz came and not only survived but thrived by innovating to the market desires. They also stayed true to the company mantra of providing inventive products at affordable prices. Eschewing the desire to go fully upscale into the above $500usd range, Brainwavz focused their portable energies into developing quality products, which were not only affordable but sounded good as well.

3D printing has been around for a while (heck some of my students have their own 3D printers…), and the tech is nothing new. But this is the first 3D printed IEM I have tried that I know of. As such, initial quality can be overlooked a bit since it is still somewhat new. I will talk more about that later. In conversation with Thomas, we deemed the clear variant to be the better choice.


Unboxing/Fit-n-Finish:

The Hex comes in a small rectangular white box, laden with the “ingredients” of the box. A nice LONG rectangular case is VERY much appreciated, with enough room to carry extra tips, the shirt clip and Velcro band. Also included was an advertising flyer for a monthly giveaway as well as a QR code to access the user manual. Replete with six (6!) sets of silicon tips as well as one set of Comply T100’s, the assortment was on the better side of the curve. Well played, Brainwavz.

Using MMCX cables or 2-pin is really a choice some fret over. I like both, and have mainly IEM’s, which use 2-pin but have a couple of higher-end, which use MMCX. It does not really bother me either way, and it really shouldn’t bother you. The attaching point for the MMCX is by nature tight and requires effort, lest they fall off (I’ve never had either type fall off…). A nicety of MMCX is that the cable can rotate freely, giving a slight advantage in fit possibly. The cable is rubberized silicon, with a very large bend for over-ear use. I found it too big, and I was unable to bend it too much for a better fit. More suppleness at this level would be appreciated. Once situated, it was fine.

One thing about siliconized cables is that they tend to hold their bends, which can create a snakey-type of cable hanging. I’m not a big fan of this but deal with it. Reinforcement on both ends is very good as I would hope using the silicon. No problems there. No microphonics either. While the cable is springy, it does not tangle so it stays out of the way, much like previous iterations from Brainwavz.



The 3D printing of the housings is pretty good, but when the coating is applied, that is when I had issues. The black coating does not completely cover the nozzle or the area close to the nozzle. Since the plastic nozzle is a separate piece, it could have happened when it was attached, but looks like the coating was applied post-attachment. I am not sure if this was an early production run or an issue with application, but once the tip is on, you cannot notice the discrepancy. The shell is shall we say, big? It is quite large with a small nozzle. Insertion into my ear was fine, but those with a longer canal may have issues getting the nozzle deep enough. Using the Comply T100, I could get adequate seal, but wish the included model came in large. The medium fit but did not quite give the seal I wanted. Switching to a pair I had laying around, the large T100 fit just fine, negating the seal problem.

There is no hiding that the shell is large, though. With the added “custom” knob mimicking a CIEM, the Hex stays in place, but never seats well in my average-sized ears. I had no problem moving about, which could lead to a loss of seal in some, but the Hex sits well out from my ear. Some do, some don’t. It isn’t a big deal, but it is just big. Overall the package is appealing, especially with the honeycomb like hex cover, giving a hint of what lies inside. That said, the housing could be smaller since there are only three BA’s.



Sound:

Upon receiving the Hex, I immediately gave a listen, then put it on my Shanling M3s for burn in purposes. This is standard for me, even when I do not mention it. I liked the initial sound, which gave a decent reach down low with good clarity in vocals. After roughly 75 hours, the unit is now being used for this evaluation.

I find the Hex to have a good “presence” about it. Nothing is overly intrusive, and nothing is taken for granted either. Good top end supports good vocals in the mids, with a good bass line laid down, even if it does not rumble like some would prefer. The Hex has a higher sensitivity of many I have had recently, and as such, discrepancies show in source and recording. That said, Tidal Premium through the Shanling M5s shows just fine, with good lows holding the foundation in place. The background between songs is less than completely black, but I put this down to Tidal as I have heard this from another IEM as well.

I find the mids & treble combine well to present a lively atmosphere of listening, but lack a bit of clarity. Coming through quite spritely on Good Advice from Big Head Blues Club (featuring BHT&TM), the tune does not hide behind less than stellar presentation. Not too much up top, but not underly sparkly either. I hate to call what I heard a sparkle up top, but rather competent and an addition to the overall schema. The Contraptionist called is “shimmer” and I would agree. Not aggressive or shouty, the treble fits my signature well. Some may wish for more, but with my hearing it comes across well.

As such, vocals also present themselves a bit more forward than some I have heard recently. Let Me Love You Baby from Big Head Blues Club is a good example. The vocals are front and center with all else supporting the voice. But when the solo comes on, the guitar takes center stage so there is a good presence in front of center. Combined with a bass, which is there but not overly obtrusive you get a good solid balance of sound. I mentioned the early iterations of many manufacturers made their hay by being shouty with overly intrusive treble and an almost false sense of bass. Some of those companies are now out of business and should be for their product(s) were abysmal. Brainwavz on the other hand presents a non-intrusive energetic signature, which balances all facets well. I am not put off with anything across the spectrum, save a little off the top. And that actually suits me just fine. So, considering the overall presentation, the Hex hits all the right buttons. At this price, that is a big plus. This to some is the hardest price in which to be successful, since many coming into our “hobby” consider this a huge step up from their Smartphone included earbuds. As such this purchase would not be taken lightly and thus must succeed.

Sound stage is wide and spacious. Good sound stage also lends to decent separation and layering. Instrument placement can be heard and is good, with good imaging as a result. I get a good sense of depth, with the mids again coming forward as needed. Hence the center point is slightly forward of center, which bodes well for vocal intensity.



Comparisons:

Brainwavz Hex ($99.50) vs Oriolus Finschi ($199):

Not really a fair comparison, but one made to show how some enter this point with aspirations to compete here. As mentioned in the last paragraph, this point could be an entry to many coming from their included “earbuds,” or soon a jumping point into the higher bracket. And here is where the Finschi comes in. My recommendation for below $200usd, I absolutely love its deep, rich sound signature. But, if someone were to come to me recommending something below, the Hex would be included as a natural step before, for it represents an excellent value at the price. The price difference is apparent, but if one can only spend X-dollars, then the Hex would be a wise consideration.


Brainwavz Hex ($99.50) vs LZ Audio A6 mini ($180/$80):

Not really a fair comparison with the price drop either but considered because Brainwavz again has aspirations for their wares. The mini has better clarity and separation overall, but the Hex has better reach of bass. Control of that bass is essentially a moot point. You either want the extra bass or better control. Hex or mini, enough said.


Brainwavz Hex ($99.50) vs CCA C16 ($99):

Probably the closest competitor would be the CCA representation from the KZ/CCA conglomerate. For a good bit of time, KZ and CCA were sending new units out like candy at a Halloween parade. Fast and furiously often. Caught in the driver war of the time the C16 spouts 8 BA’s per side (x2=16, hence, well you get it…). I like the CCA iterations more than the KZ even though they are essentially the same thing. Think Toyota/Lexus and you get the picture (you already knew this). The CCA models seem more upscale than the KZ equivalent, and as such the C16 represents the line well. With a bit of rumble, the C16 sounds good. Quite good. But the top end tuning is beyond my level of comfort. Where I can turn the Hex up volume-wise, I cannot with the C16. This might be due to the better clarity wrought from the added BA’s, but for lower level listening the C16 is very, very good to me.


That said, the Hex shows how the industry has scaled back on the driver war. Per history, 24 (YES, TWENTY-FOUR) drivers used to be the top. Now some sense has returned, and the three BA’s of the Hex represent the IEM well enough. Both have their benefits, both are worthy.



Sources:

Using either the Shanling M5s or M2x, the Hex performed admirably and without fuss. Running both Tidal and SD card music, the Hex simply came along for the ride. I saw little difference between sources, and those that I did were the result of the source, not the driver. Happily the Dethonray DTR1 also played well in the schoolyard. Giving more clarity to the Hex was not a bad thing in this instance.


Grande Finale:

Brainwavz continues to be forward thinking trying to stay ahead of the curve, but not lose sight of what got them to that point. Staying focused and grounded has given them the “slow, steady” growth model, which lends for success, long term. That is an admirable model but can often be forgotten in the portable audio industry, which is wrought with “new developments” every month or so. Brainwavz by no means sits on their laurels but takes the steadier approach it seems to me. And I applaud this. New developments come out but not at the cost of the existing. At least the older are kept around long enough for the newly developed models to take hold. For this, Brainwavz should be applauded. And they should be applauded for the Hex as well. It is good, with some faults but none worthy of non-consideration. And that is after all what the company wants. To be considered.

Thank you to @Brainwavz for the Hex sample, and I wish them continued good luck. I also thank The Contraptionist for the support as well. Rock on, bro.

Greetings,

Today we're checking out the new HEX from Brainwavz.

When I first saw this product announced, there were a few things that drew my attention. The first of course was the design. The hexagonal, honeycomb pattern adorning the face plate immediately grabbed my eye as it gave the 3D printed HEX a unique look, especially in their now familiar 'Stay Frosty' color scheme. Second was that it was coming in at 99 USD. Third was that this was being accomplished with triple Knowles armatures.

I know that more drivers does not necessarily equate to 'MOAR BETTER!!' but at this price point you're lucky to see a single Knowles driver being used. Sonion and other more budget oriented options tend to rule the roost. Such value is nothing new for Brainwavz given they did the same thing with the B400 which has quad Knowles armatures for under 200 USD. It's nice to see Brainwavz is still at it, but this time tackling an even more affordable segment.

Of course, none of this matters if the HEX sounds like crud. Does it? Or will it entrance you with the sweet songs of its balanced armature people? Let's find out.


What I Hear: The first time I tossed in the HEX for a listen I was reminded of one of my favorite earphones of all time, the Brainwavz B400. It had the same smooth, easygoing presentation that worked with everything I tossed its way. That said, where the B400 has a near neutral tune with slightly boosted bass to liven things up, the HEX runs a little closer to a more traditional u- or very light v-shaped signature.

I perceive the treble on the HEX to be slightly more prominent than on the B400 thanks to it's slightly recessed mids. Combined with more emphasized bass, the HEX gives off a fairly lively and energetic presentation. Treble extension is good, with roll off up top. Upper and lower treble balance is quite even giving chimes and cymbals a touch of shimmer without being anywhere near aggressive. I wish there was a little more lower treble since clarity and raw detail is merely average as noticed running through “No Amnesty” by Havok. This leads to attack being somewhat blunted. On the plus side, this results in a treble presentation that is very much non-fatiguing, unlike the majority of products in this price range. Brands tend to artificially enhance clarity by cranking the treble which also makes the product quite fatiguing.

The midrange on the HEX is a bit of a mixed bag, though the overall result is positive. Let's get the bad out of the way first. Clarity and detail is not the HEX's forte with vocals sounding clear but too smooth. Subtle details like the sliding of fingers across a guitar string are present but lacking texture. This is fine with everyday pop music and does a good job of hiding compression if listening to compress mixes, but if you feel like analyzing something, the HEX falls short. The good is that the mid-range otherwise sounds quite accurate with vocalists and instruments coming across weighty and timbre accurate. I really enjoyed revisiting my favorite albums like Supertramp's 'Crime of the Century' and Warlock's 'Triumph and Agony' because of how good Davies, Hodgson, and Doro's voices sounded.

Bass out of the big Knowles armature is solid at best. I enjoyed the presence it held across the overall signature keeping the HEX suitable for EDM tracks like Notion's absolute banger, “Hooked”. It's fairly quick, well textured, and has enough punch and slam to carry a track. Bassheads will be pretty disappointed if they for whatever reason settled on the HEX, a product better suited for those that like elevated but far from overwhelming bass. As is typical for armature based products, mid-bass takes the spotlight thanks to the driver's inability to hit really low notes. When tuned right, such as on the AS06, AS10, and BA10, the low-range armature found in Knowledge Zenith's still thwomps the majority of competitors when it comes to bass representation.

Soundstage is an area where Brainwavz's armature lineup tends to fare quite well in my experience, and the HEX is no exception. Maybe this is why the ear pieces are so large, but the HEX has a wide, deep stage that frequently tosses sounds just past the head. This is still an iem so you're not going to be getting the same experience you get from a headphone. Regardless, I found the HEX quite engaging, easily pulling me into a track. Imaging is good and in line with what I expect from the price point while separation and layering is above-average and more in line with what I experience from products beyond 200 USD. It would be even better too were it not for the somewhat underwhelming mid-range clarity noted easily.

Overall I really enjoy the HEX. It's not the last word in raw detail and analytic capability, but it makes up for this with a very clean, open presentation that works well across a variety of musical styles thanks to it's timbre accuracy and tuning balance.


Compared To A Peer:

FiiO FA1 (99 USD): The HEX comes across as having a more balanced tune thanks to treble, mids, and bass which share a move even presence. The FA1's upper mids are more forward and upper treble more prominent and sparkly giving it a leaner but more detailed presentation. The HEX's mids are more lush and natural though which combined with a wider, deeper sound stage results in a more realistic sounding product that has a richer, more organic timbre, even if it falls behind in clarity. Bass on neither is amazing, but the HEX digs deeper while maintaining the same level of control. In addition to having a larger sound stage, the HEX provides a more engaging experience thanks to better layering and separation qualities. While I appreciate the clarity of the FA1, the HEX's more well-rounded and natural sounding tune wins me over.

Both earphones are 3D printed with FiiO's offering being the more stylish and refined of the two. The build is simply cleaner and more uniform on the FA1 with only the inside of the nozzle giving away that it is 3D printed. The FA1's cable is also a step up. It shares a twisted design but without the HEX's stiff sheath over top. More effective strain relief is at the 90 degree angled jack while the y-split is similarly relieved on both.

Shozy & Neo CP (165.00 USD): While still a brighter experience overall, the resulting tune of the CP's preinstalled filters are more closely aligned with the HEX. The alternate filters dial down mid-bass leaving the presentation feeling slightly bass anemic, all the while perception of mid and treble presence increases. Since the stock filters are most alike the HEX, I'll use those for this comparison.

With the stock filters, the CP still has the edge over the HEX in overall clarity and detail in the mids and treble. Bass performance on the two is very similar which I suspect comes down to them probably using the same Knowles low range armature, though the HEX does come across more punchy and mid-bass rich. Mids on the HEX are thicker and more weighty with a more realistic timbre and better balance when it comes to male and female vocalists. The CP is slightly biased towards female vocals. Treble on the CP is brighter and more crisp, lacking the pudding-like smoothness of the HEX. Good for bringing out track nuances and replicating the shimmer of a cymbal or chime, but more tiring on the ears long term. When it comes to sound stage, the HEX feels more spacious and open but falls behind the CP when it comes to layering, separation, and imaging precision and accuracy. Given the price difference, I'm pleased the HEX compares so well. However, the CP earns it's keep with the extra clarity and detail it outputs, specifically through the midrange.

The CP has flawless hand-built acrylic housings. As with the FA1, overall quality is a step above the HEX thanks to the impressive fit and finish. It is also much smaller despite containing the same number of drivers (including a similarly large Knowles low-range armature), MMCX ports, and a metal nozzle with a tuning filter system. The cable is also a step up thanks to it's thick, braided cleath sheath showing off the copper within.


In The Ear: The HEX's shell are crafted using the same 3D printed process we've become accustomed to from a number of recent releases from Brainwavz. In addition to the 'Stay Frosty' sample shown in the review here, the HEX also comes in Black which looks pretty snazzy. Build quality is good and yet again an iterative step up from past products. The shells are polished smooth with a thick lacquer layered over top to fill in and gloss over any seams. The right ear piece has a few raised spots along the inside but they don't cause any discomfort and are hardly visible. The nozzles are fairly short and stubby which is good for durability (though I'd still be careful given these are 3D printed) but when combined with the gargantuan size of the HEX might make fitment an issue.

The HEX is light but remains a very large earphone, nipping at the heels of the Campfire Audio Solaris. I'm not sure why it needed to be so big since something like the Shozy & Neo CP uses an equivalent triple armature setup with crossover and MMCX cables, yet remains nearly 1/3 the size. And that's with a metal nozzle and filter system. Don't get me wrong, the HEX is quite comfortable thanks to its ergonomic, semi-custom style design which also give it outstanding isolation, its just going to be too big for many to wear in a way deemed natural.

The cable will be familiar to Brainwavz fans since it has been featured on numerous products in the past. It has multiple twisted strands coated by a tough, matte black sheath. While it tends to retain bends out of the box and is a bit springy, the materials used have shown me time and again that they are tough as nails. Plus, microphonics are pretty minimal, you've got a chin cinch if needed, strain relief is satisfactory, 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 curve naturally around the ear and work very, very well to hold the cable in place while exercising.


In The Box: The HEX's packaging is about as basic as it gets, likely in an effort to reduce both cost and waste. It is large enough to hold the case inside with little wiggle room. Brainwavz branding is printed on the front with some generic information that pertains to various models everywhere else. Model information is provided only through large stickers, meaning this same package can be used across a wide variety of products.

Inside you get the same generous accessory kit we've come to expect from Brainwavz which includes;

• HEX earphones
• MMCX cable
• Iconic black and red elongated hard case
• Red T100 Comply foam tips
• Two complete sets of single flange silicone tips in s/m/l
• Shirt clip
• Velcro cable tie

Overall a very basic unboxing experience held aloft by a fair helping of quality accessories.

Update: The HEX now includes the BLU-MMCX Bluetooth module which has the following specifications:

• Bluetooth Version: 5
• Operating Range : Up-to 10 meters
• Voice Prompt : Yes
• Play Time : ~6-8 hours
• Standby Time : ~250 hours
• Charge
• Time : ~2 hours
• Support : HFP | A2DP (Std Codecs, does not support aptX or aptX HD) | AVRCP | AVCTP | AVDTP | SPP | SMP | ATT | GAP | SDP

Since I do not have this module on hand for testing, I am unable to comment on its performance. A picture of the module, provided by Brainwavz, has been included below.


Final Thoughts: Brainwavz has released yet another quality armature-only earphone with the HEX and continues to strengthen this segment of their lineup. While the HEX's large shells will limit their audience, those they fit will find them exceptionally comfortable and that they isolate quite well. Brainwavz continues to improve the quality of their 3D printed earphones with each release but there is still room for improvement as evident when comparing to FiiO's FA1. In terms of sound tuning, Brainwavz has done an excellent job utilizing a triple Knowles setup. The resulting signature is clean and smooth with an open stage and non-fatiguing, versatile presentation.

While there are competitors in this price range that may offer better sound or a more refined build, most of those are from flavour of the month brands that offer little to no after-purchase support. For some that won't matter; they simply want the most bang for their buck when it comes to sound. For others, the 12 month warranty Brainwavz included with the HEX will provide peace of mind that few other brands can match.

Thanks for reading!

- B9

*If you enjoyed this review, visit The Contraptionist for more just like it.*

Disclaimer: Thank you to Brainwavz for reaching out to see if I would like to review the HEX, and for sending a sample for this review. The thoughts within are my own subjective opinions based on time spent using the HEX. At the time of writing it was retailing for 99.50 USD: https://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/hex-triple-balanced-armature-earphones

Specifications:

• Drivers: Triple Knowles balanced armatures
• Impedance: 30Ω
• Sensitivity: 120dB @ 1mW
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz

Devices used for testing: Shanling M0, Hifiman Megamini, LG G6, Asus FX53V laptop, TEAC HA-501 desktop amp

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)

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