INTRODUCTION
Brainwavz is a well-established manufacturer of headphones in the value for money category – offering many different options (especially for IEMs) that suit almost anyone’s sonic preferences. I’ve previously had both good and bad experiences with their headphones / IEMs – I previously reviewed and owned their B2 IEMs and HM5 headphones, and both were stellar performers. I also sampled their R1, R3, S5, S0, M1 and R3 V2 IEMs – and whilst some have been (IMO) solid performers, others haven’t been quite as well aligned with my preferences.
I’ve had regular contact in the past with Audrey from Brainwavz (sorry to see you leaving Brainwavz Audrey – but wish you luck for your future), and more recently from Pandora. I have to admit, I really wasn’t sure what to do when Pandora approached me to review the Jive. I’ve had a lot of reviews queued, and a sub $30 earphone wasn’t high on my list. But this was a stark reminder that price sometimes plays very little part when it comes to quality. The Jive arrived a little over a week ago – and I’m pleased to say I have been very pleasantly surprised, and very happy to use these all week.
I’ve easily spent 20+ hours with these already, simply because they’ve been so pleasurable to listen to. I’ve also spent a little time with different sources, and tip rolling to get a good idea of what these little dynamos can do.
I’ve listed price at USD $28.00 (current MP4Nation price at time of writing) – however this is not what I paid for them (they are a review sample).
DISCLAIMER
I was provided the Brainwavz Jive as a review sample. I am in no way affiliated with Brainwavz - and this review is my subjective opinion of the Brainwavz S5. I would like to thank Pandora and Prithvi for making this opportunity available.
PREAMBLE - 'ABOUT ME'. (or a base-line for interpreting my thoughts and bias)
I'm a 48 year old music lover. I don't say audiophile – I just love my music. Over the last couple of years, I have slowly changed from cheaper listening set-ups to my current set-up. I vary my listening from portables (Fiio X5ii, X3ii, LP5 and iPhone 5S) to my desk-top's set-up (PC > USB > iFi iDSD). I also use a portable set-up at work – either X5ii/X3ii > HP, or PC > E17K > HP. My main full sized headphones at the time of writing are the Beyer T1, Sennheiser HD600, and AKG K553. Most of my portable listening is done with IEMs - and at the moment it has mainly been with the Dunu DN-2000J, Trinity Delta, and Dunu Titan. A full list of the gear I have owned (past and present is listed in my Head-Fi profile).
I have very eclectic music tastes listening to a variety from classical/opera and jazz, to grunge and general rock. I listen to a lot of blues, jazz, folk music, classic rock, indie and alternative rock. I am particularly fond of female vocals. I generally tend toward cans that are relatively neutral/balanced, but I do have a fondness for clarity, and suspect I might have slight ‘treble-head’ preferences. I am not treble sensitive (at all), and in the past have really enjoyed headphones like the K701, SR325i, and of course the T1 and DT880.
I have extensively tested myself (abx) and I find aac256 or higher to be completely transparent. I do use exclusively redbook 16/44.1 if space is not an issue. All of my music is legally purchased (mostly CD – the rest FLAC purchased on-line).
I tend to be sceptical about audiophile ‘claims’, don’t generally believe in burn-in, have never heard a difference with different cables, and would rather test myself blind on perceived differences. I am not a ‘golden eared listener’. I suffer from mild tinnitus, and at 48, my hearing is less than perfect.
Over the time I’ve had them – I’ve used the Brainwavz Jive from a variety of sources, but for this review, I’ve mainly used it with my iPhone 5S (both with and without the Aegis dac/amp), and also the Fiio X1 (trying to match a budget set-up). In the time I have spent with the Jive, I have noticed no change in the overall sonic presentation – but I have noticed my own impression of them change (brain burn in).
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 Brainwavz Jive arrived in a plastic retail box. The style and print is quite simple but attractive, but it is definitely a little on the flimsy side (mine arrived a little bent and the worse for wear from the courier journey). On the rear of the box is a list of the accessories and also specifications.
Inside the retail box is a new Brainwavz case – still in the traditional red and black, but this time longer and narrower than the traditional Brainwavz case. The case is really sturdy though, and very good quality – supplying both protection and functionality. It consistently amazes me that even with their more budget offerings, Brainwavz never skimps on the carry case.
The accessory package is a little more sparse than most typical Brainwavz offerings though, and more befitting the Jive’s budget status. This time you 3 pairs of silicone ear tips (S, M, L) and one pair off genuine Comply S400 foam tips. You also get a combined instruction manual and warranty card, a shirt clip, and a Brainwavz sticker.
Lastly is a nifty little velcro cable tie. I’ve mentioned before that this is a nice little innovation – but to be honest I find it a little long and a little bulky – unlike DUNU’s on cable ties. I have used them before for my full sized headphones though, and they are quite handy.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
(From Brainwavz)
FREQUENCY GRAPH
The graph below is generated by a new measuring system I’m trialling – using the Vibro Veritas and ARTA software. I don’t have the calibration 100% correct yet – but the graphs I am getting are relatively close to Innerfidelity’s raw data (on other earphones), and I think are “close enough” to get a reasonable idea of the frequency response for the Brainwavz Jive. Over the coming months I’ll be adjusting a pre-set compensation curve so that I can get the graphs more consistent with Tyll’s curves.
What I’m hearing though:
BUILD QUALITY
Like the S5 and S0, when you first look at the shells of the Jive, you’re likely to conclude (especially at the price level they’re targeting), that the body is hard moulded plastic. Up close – it even looks like purple shiny plastic – but according to Brainwavz it is actually a metal alloy. The build quality on the Jive shell appears to be very good – smooth, nicely shaped (almost like a cross between the S0 and M1). It is 2 pieces, but with the pair I have, the join is hardly noticeable.
The body is slightly conical, 21 mm from rear to nozzle tip, and approx. 11-12mm in diameter at its widest point. The nozzle is approximately 5mm long with a generous lip and has a mesh protector in place. It is 5mm in diameter and the Comply S400 tips are a perfect fit. Left and right markings are very clear ion the earpieces – but you can always tell which is which, as the 3 button control is on the left side of the cable. There is no visible venting in the Jive body.
There is generous strain relief from the housing exit, and also at the Y split and jack. The cable is a 1.3m copper cable in an outer rubbery sheath. It is quite thin between earpiece and Y split, but much more sturdy between y-split and plug. It is reasonably pliable, and has very low microphonics.
The pair I have has a 3 button iPhone control and mic – allowing volume changing, and also play/pause (one push), next track (two pushes), and previous track (three pushes). The buttons worked perfectly on my iPhone, and the track controls worked OK with my X1 (with one fault – I could pause, but not restart, using the buttons). I did test the Jive with taking a call (with a client actually), and it was very clear at both ends. There was the usual hollow sound on my end due to the isolation and slight bone conduction.
The Y-split is brilliant, and actually has a slider / cinch which works perfectly – even with the i-controls. Other companies should look at this design as it is possible, and is very well implemented.
The jack is an angled about 45 degrees, seems to be very solid, and I have no issues fitting it to my iPhone – even with the case intact.
For $28 this a really well built IEM !
FIT / COMFORT / ISOLATION
I have one ear canal slightly different to the other one (my right is very slightly smaller) - so I tend to find that usually single silicon flanges don't fit overly well. I initially tried the large silicone tips included, and I couldn’t get a proper seal. I next tried a number of tips including Spinfits, Ostry blacks/blues, Spiral Dots, and my Trusty Sony Isolation tips. When I did achieve a really good seal, I did notice some very slight driver flex (lack of venting ), and I did get some issues with vacuum pressure with my Sony tips – pressure changing with jaw movement. So I then switched to the Complys, and ….. perfection (for me). Really good comfort, good isolation / seal, and no more pressure issues.
All the tips I tried stayed intact with the Jive during insertion and removal, so the design of the nozzle definitely gets thumbs up from me. Isolation with the Comply tips is very good, and I’d be tempted to use them on public transport.
Because of their diminutive size, they are very comfortable, and I’ve had no issues sleeping with the intact (they do not protrude past my outer ear).
SOUND QUALITY
The following is what I hear from the Brainwavz Jive. YMMV – and probably will – as my tastes are likely different to yours (read the preamble I gave earlier for a baseline). Most of the testing at this point (unless otherwise stated) was done with both my Fiio X1 and iPhone 5S as source.
Tracks used were across a variety of genres – and can be viewed in this list http://www.head-fi.org/a/brookos-test-tracks.
Thoughts on General Signature
As I outlined above, the Brainwavz Jive has a gentle U or V shaped signature with some emphasis in the bass (particularly the lower bass), a peak around 3kHz, and a smaller one around 6kHz. The result is some really good deep bass when it’s present in the music, but the Jive doesn’t become overly warm for lighter music. I really like this. It has a nice balance through the mid-range and is particularly impressive with my female vocalists. The peak at 6kHz brings vividness and detail while avoiding (for me anyway) sibilance or glare.
I was wondering earlier in the week what the Jive remind me of – and it came to me over the weekend. These sound very similar to the Altone 200 – just with a little less of the V emphasis, and not so much impact in the bass.
Overall Detail / Clarity
I started with Steely Dan’s “Gaucho” and Dire Strait’s “Sultans of Swing”, and immediately I was impressed with the ease with which detail is presented. The Jive covers all the detail with surprising clarity – but higher end detail from cymbals is not glary or etched. What I love is that I can hear the brush and delay with the cymbals – it’s not simply cut-off. They sound like a cymbal is supposed to sound.
The Brainwavz Jive is a pleasure to listen to with both tracks. The bass guitar is apparent with both tracks – but it isn’t overpowering. There is nice crisp edge to lead guitar, and vocals are both focussed and nicely coherent in the mix. Micro details with the snare and even the click of drum stick on drum stick come through really well.
Sound-stage & Imaging
Next up was Amber Rubarth’s binaural recording “Tundra”. I always use this because it’s a pretty simple way to get comparative data on sound-stage.
It’s usually difficult to get a reasonable stage size from an inner ear monitor. The stage is often quite small / close – with an average impression of space. The Brainwavz Jive, because of its bright clear tuning, does seem to convey a reasonable width for an IEM – but it’s never going to be described as overly spacious. The presentation is very clear though, and imaging is really clean and consistent (and accurate). With this track, presentation is just on the boundary of my head-stage which is a feat in itself.
I also used Loreena McKennitt’s “Dante’s Prayer” and the Jive was very good with this track – delivering an intimate performance, but really good contrast between the beauty of McKennitt’s vocals and the melancholy (but gorgeous) accompaniment of the cello. In this track, the applause at the end is so well presented that with some headphones (HD600) I can actually close my eyes and imagine myself in the crowd. With the Jive, I wasn’t quite inside the crowd, but I could place it around me – so more strengths here on width than depth – but impressive all the same.
Last was Amanda Marshall’s “Let It Rain” – and this track is a good one because it has a naturally holographic feel about it, and can convey an amazing sense of space with the right headphones. That holographic quality shone through with the Jive (it really is very good with female vocals!), but again more a sense of width than depth.
Bass Quantity and Quality
Muddy Waters is a track I use to evaluate bass quality. This blues rock track is quite dark and brooding anyway, and usually exposes any muddiness or bass bleed. The Jive was brilliant with this track – really nice impact in the lower bass, and I was surprised how quick, and how little decay it shows for a dynamic driver. I remember someone saying that it was tuned like a BA – and the bass speed seems to reflect that. There is absolutely no bass bleed in this track, and its overall presentation has good presentation of both the low bass, and also conveys the timbre and gravel of Mark’s voice with aplomb.
I wanted to see how low the bass would go – so switched to Lorde’s “Royals” – and the Jive delivered right from the opening notes. When the bass guitar kicked in, it felt like the low bass was actually moving air – very impressive. Again there is no excessive bloom from the bass guitar or kick drum. And once again, despite the quantity of bass presented, Ella’s vocals remained crystal clear.
Female Vocals
A lot of my music revolves around female vocals – jazz, pop, rock, electronic, or even opera. I’m an unabashed fan. For me personally, the sign of a good IEM (for my personal tastes) is how successfully it conveys emotion and timbre with my female vocalists.
I already knew from earlier testing that the Jive was a winner with female vocals. But my litmus test is usually Agnes Obel. For some reason IEM’s that are slightly “off” seem to play this track with a hollow or slightly strident tone. The Jive is perfect – and I do mean perfect. Agnes’ vocals are sweet and slightly euphonic, whilst the accompanying cello is beautifully deep and almost mournful (wonderful timbre). I have to keep checking whether this is still the Jive have in my ears – as the sonics for a sub $30 earphone are really quite something.
And so it continued with every one of my other female vocalists – Hannah Reid (London Grammar), Christina Perri , Gabriella Cilmi, Florence and the Machine, Feist, Norah Jones – it didn’t matter what I played. The Jive portrayed my female artists incredibly well – dynamic bass, sweet vocals, powerful when it needed to be, and never strident.
Male Vocals
At the other end of the scale sits a lot of my rock tracks – from acoustic to classic rock, and even a little of the heavier stuff.
The Jive continued to perform well with very good bass impact, clear vocals, and nicely balanced guitars and other instruments. To be fair male vocals aren’t quite as deep tonally as I’m used to with other IEMs, and if there was a slight weakness in the tonality this would perhaps be it. Once you adjust to it though, the music remains dynamic, clear and very enjoyable. 3 Doors Down, Green Day, Breaking Benjamin, Seether all were portrayed well and once again the vocal clarity was really good – if maybe a little on the thin side.. The Jive also had no issues with Diary of Jane (Breaking Benjamin), which can overwhelm some drivers, so really good effort.
My test for male vocals though is always Pearl Jam. The Jive had great contrast, amazing clarity, and again the one critique I’d have is that Vedders voice just didn’t quite have the depth and timbre. Enjoyable – but not perfect.
Other Genres
I tested the Jive with all of my main listening tracks, and there was no real weakness (for my preferences) anywhere. Rather than going through this in detail, I’ll simply say that presentation for Alt Rock (especially Porcupine Tree) was outstanding, and also wonderful with Jazz and Blues. Side note here – Portico Quartet’s “Steepless” with Cornelia was simply stunning.
Electronic music was also really good – with the added low bass providing plenty of slam – Little Dragon and Lindsay Stirling both “sang” on the Jive. Rap was tested with Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”– crystal clear, and the bass was again visceral with its impact. Again – just a little thin with Marshall’s vocals though. Still enjoyable none-the-less.
Pop and Indie were also very good. Adele can sometimes show a little bit of sibilance with earphones that are too hot in the 6-9 kHz range, and the Jive exhibited no signs of it. For Indie, I listened to Band of Horses and Wildlight – and the Jive was very good with both artists – especially Wildlight. The combination of deep bass in the back bat, and Ayla’s sultry tones – magic!
With Classical and Opera there was a enough sense of space, dynamics, timbre and tone to be enjoyable. Standouts for me were Netrebko and Garanca with the Flower Duet, and Zoe Keating’s cello (Escape Artist) was similarly captivating..
AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
The Jive is very easily powered straight out of virtually any portable device, and I didn’t experience any issues with any of the DAPs I tested (iPhone 5S, or any of the Fiios). With the X1, I was usually sitting around 30-35/100 on low gain (plenty of headroom), and on the iPhone between 30 and 40%. I did test the X1 with the Fiio E11K and E17K, and I couldn’t say either added anything sonically once volume matched.
COMPARISONS
I thought perhaps the best I could do here was pit the Jive up against some of the IEMs I have at my disposal, and give my impressions on performance.
When testing, I always volume matched first at 2 kHz using an SPL meter and test tones. Where I’ve shown a graph – it was always produced with the same tips, same volume etc.
Jive $28 vs M1 $44.50
The Jive is leaner and brighter. The M1 is fuller and a little warmer through the mid-range and mid bass. The Jive has little more down really low though. Both have a nice balance and are very clear. The M1 came in a nicer box with more accessories, but its cable (while sturdier) also has annoying memory. The Jive has the i-controls. Both are very good earphones for the money, and this one is really case of preference. If you prefer leaner and brighter, the Jive is amazing value – but if you like a little more depth and warmth – the M1 is hard to go past.
Jive $28 vs Hyperion $45
This one is similar to the Jive vs M1. Again the Jive is leaner and brighter, while the Hyperion is fuller and warmer – but with quite a little peak up top. Both are very clear, and have good overall balance. The Hyperion is definitely superior in build, accessories, and its cable is one of the best on the market. Both are again exceptional value – and like the M1 (above) come down to preference.
Jive $28 vs S0 $49.50
The S0 is again warmer and darker – while the Jive is thinner and brighter. This time, the Jive is actually better with micro detail presentation, and the S0 can be slightly too bassy. After a bit of time with the S0, the Jive sounds very lean, but conversely, after getting used to the Jive – the S0 sounds quite bloated and overly warm. The S0 has the better accessory package and overall build, but I actually prefer the Jive’s overall fit.
Jive $28 vs S5 $99.50
The S5 has quite a warm and bloomy bottom end, but the heat up top is quiet noticeable and these definitely seem a bit more V shaped. Comparatively the Jive this time seems a bit more balanced and natural sounding – although still on the bright side bright. Once again the S5 has the better overall build, but I prefer the Jive’s fit (not really a fan of the S5 cable). If I had my choice, I’d like the Jive signature in the S5 shell, with a Trinity cable J
Jive $28 vs Altone200 $135-185
I know this is not a fair comparison - $28 vs $150 ish – but they sound so alike, I wanted to compare with them. Tonally they are extremely similar with the Altone having a slightly more robust (boomy) lower end, and a slightly more vivid upper end. Both have very similar tonal balance though – the Altone is just a little more resolving and is maybe a little fuller in body. The Altone of course kills it on overall build quality – but even though I love the Altone’s signature, I’m scratching my head with how close the Jive gets on overall sonic performance. And the Jive’s bass is actually cleaner.
The Brainwavz Jive comes in budget packaging, with a sparse but acceptable accessory package (the case is once again really good), but with pretty good build for a $28 IEM. There is some very good innovation with the cable slider (first time I’ve seen a cinch combined with a mic and control buttons which really works!).
Overall the build quality looks really good – with maybe a single question mark about the thinness of cabling between the y-split and earphones.
They are lightweight, very comfortable, and easy to fit.
Sonically they are incredibly clear, and although a little thin in the male vocal range, have good sub-bass impact, and nice cohesion throughout. They are a little on the bright side of neutral – so if you are treble sensitive, or like a fuller richer tonality, they may not be for you.
I find them very good (for my own personal tastes), and at the ridiculously low price of $28, I would have no hesitation in recommending them to family, friends, and complete strangers.
Solid 3.5 stars for me – solely based on what they bring to the table for the cost they are offered at. I really like these. But fair warning to anyone who is used to a warmer fuller richer tonality – you may well find the Jive just a little cool and thin.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO BRAINWAVZ
Thanks once again Pandora and Prithvi – I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Jive.
Brainwavz is a well-established manufacturer of headphones in the value for money category – offering many different options (especially for IEMs) that suit almost anyone’s sonic preferences. I’ve previously had both good and bad experiences with their headphones / IEMs – I previously reviewed and owned their B2 IEMs and HM5 headphones, and both were stellar performers. I also sampled their R1, R3, S5, S0, M1 and R3 V2 IEMs – and whilst some have been (IMO) solid performers, others haven’t been quite as well aligned with my preferences.
I’ve had regular contact in the past with Audrey from Brainwavz (sorry to see you leaving Brainwavz Audrey – but wish you luck for your future), and more recently from Pandora. I have to admit, I really wasn’t sure what to do when Pandora approached me to review the Jive. I’ve had a lot of reviews queued, and a sub $30 earphone wasn’t high on my list. But this was a stark reminder that price sometimes plays very little part when it comes to quality. The Jive arrived a little over a week ago – and I’m pleased to say I have been very pleasantly surprised, and very happy to use these all week.
I’ve easily spent 20+ hours with these already, simply because they’ve been so pleasurable to listen to. I’ve also spent a little time with different sources, and tip rolling to get a good idea of what these little dynamos can do.
I’ve listed price at USD $28.00 (current MP4Nation price at time of writing) – however this is not what I paid for them (they are a review sample).
DISCLAIMER
I was provided the Brainwavz Jive as a review sample. I am in no way affiliated with Brainwavz - and this review is my subjective opinion of the Brainwavz S5. I would like to thank Pandora and Prithvi for making this opportunity available.
PREAMBLE - 'ABOUT ME'. (or a base-line for interpreting my thoughts and bias)
I'm a 48 year old music lover. I don't say audiophile – I just love my music. Over the last couple of years, I have slowly changed from cheaper listening set-ups to my current set-up. I vary my listening from portables (Fiio X5ii, X3ii, LP5 and iPhone 5S) to my desk-top's set-up (PC > USB > iFi iDSD). I also use a portable set-up at work – either X5ii/X3ii > HP, or PC > E17K > HP. My main full sized headphones at the time of writing are the Beyer T1, Sennheiser HD600, and AKG K553. Most of my portable listening is done with IEMs - and at the moment it has mainly been with the Dunu DN-2000J, Trinity Delta, and Dunu Titan. A full list of the gear I have owned (past and present is listed in my Head-Fi profile).
I have very eclectic music tastes listening to a variety from classical/opera and jazz, to grunge and general rock. I listen to a lot of blues, jazz, folk music, classic rock, indie and alternative rock. I am particularly fond of female vocals. I generally tend toward cans that are relatively neutral/balanced, but I do have a fondness for clarity, and suspect I might have slight ‘treble-head’ preferences. I am not treble sensitive (at all), and in the past have really enjoyed headphones like the K701, SR325i, and of course the T1 and DT880.
I have extensively tested myself (abx) and I find aac256 or higher to be completely transparent. I do use exclusively redbook 16/44.1 if space is not an issue. All of my music is legally purchased (mostly CD – the rest FLAC purchased on-line).
I tend to be sceptical about audiophile ‘claims’, don’t generally believe in burn-in, have never heard a difference with different cables, and would rather test myself blind on perceived differences. I am not a ‘golden eared listener’. I suffer from mild tinnitus, and at 48, my hearing is less than perfect.
Over the time I’ve had them – I’ve used the Brainwavz Jive from a variety of sources, but for this review, I’ve mainly used it with my iPhone 5S (both with and without the Aegis dac/amp), and also the Fiio X1 (trying to match a budget set-up). In the time I have spent with the Jive, I have noticed no change in the overall sonic presentation – but I have noticed my own impression of them change (brain burn in).
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 REVIEW
PACKAGING AND ACCESSORIESThe Brainwavz Jive arrived in a plastic retail box. The style and print is quite simple but attractive, but it is definitely a little on the flimsy side (mine arrived a little bent and the worse for wear from the courier journey). On the rear of the box is a list of the accessories and also specifications.
[size=inherit][/size] | ||
Front of the retail packaging | Rear of the retail packaging | Old case (L) vs new case (R) |
Inside the retail box is a new Brainwavz case – still in the traditional red and black, but this time longer and narrower than the traditional Brainwavz case. The case is really sturdy though, and very good quality – supplying both protection and functionality. It consistently amazes me that even with their more budget offerings, Brainwavz never skimps on the carry case.
The accessory package is a little more sparse than most typical Brainwavz offerings though, and more befitting the Jive’s budget status. This time you 3 pairs of silicone ear tips (S, M, L) and one pair off genuine Comply S400 foam tips. You also get a combined instruction manual and warranty card, a shirt clip, and a Brainwavz sticker.
Lastly is a nifty little velcro cable tie. I’ve mentioned before that this is a nice little innovation – but to be honest I find it a little long and a little bulky – unlike DUNU’s on cable ties. I have used them before for my full sized headphones though, and they are quite handy.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
(From Brainwavz)
Model | Brainwavz Jive |
Drivers | Single dynamic, 9mm |
Shell | All metal |
Rated Impedance | 16 ohms |
Frequency Range | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
Sensitivity | 98 dB @ 1mW |
Cable | 1.3m, with mic + 3 button control |
Plug | 3.5 mm gold plated, 45 degree angle |
Weight | 14g (with comply tips fitted) |
Fitting | Straight down or over ear |
FREQUENCY GRAPH
The graph below is generated by a new measuring system I’m trialling – using the Vibro Veritas and ARTA software. I don’t have the calibration 100% correct yet – but the graphs I am getting are relatively close to Innerfidelity’s raw data (on other earphones), and I think are “close enough” to get a reasonable idea of the frequency response for the Brainwavz Jive. Over the coming months I’ll be adjusting a pre-set compensation curve so that I can get the graphs more consistent with Tyll’s curves.
What I’m hearing though:
- Nicely balanced bass with decent extension, a little elevated compared to the mid-range, but not what I would call excessive.
- Very cohesive and quick mid-range with good transition between upper and lower mid-range. Very clean and clear vocals. Probably a little more emphasis on upper mid-range and on the slightly brighter side of neutral.
- Reasonably extended but clear upper end which falls short of sibilance, but has enough detail to satisfy those who like the slightly brighter side of things.
BUILD QUALITY
Like the S5 and S0, when you first look at the shells of the Jive, you’re likely to conclude (especially at the price level they’re targeting), that the body is hard moulded plastic. Up close – it even looks like purple shiny plastic – but according to Brainwavz it is actually a metal alloy. The build quality on the Jive shell appears to be very good – smooth, nicely shaped (almost like a cross between the S0 and M1). It is 2 pieces, but with the pair I have, the join is hardly noticeable.
[size=inherit][/size] | ||
Coiled Jive with velcro tie | The Jive earpieces | Side view - very good strain relief |
The body is slightly conical, 21 mm from rear to nozzle tip, and approx. 11-12mm in diameter at its widest point. The nozzle is approximately 5mm long with a generous lip and has a mesh protector in place. It is 5mm in diameter and the Comply S400 tips are a perfect fit. Left and right markings are very clear ion the earpieces – but you can always tell which is which, as the 3 button control is on the left side of the cable. There is no visible venting in the Jive body.
There is generous strain relief from the housing exit, and also at the Y split and jack. The cable is a 1.3m copper cable in an outer rubbery sheath. It is quite thin between earpiece and Y split, but much more sturdy between y-split and plug. It is reasonably pliable, and has very low microphonics.
[size=inherit][/size] | ||
Front view | Meshed nozzle | Top (or bottom) view - depending how you wear them |
The pair I have has a 3 button iPhone control and mic – allowing volume changing, and also play/pause (one push), next track (two pushes), and previous track (three pushes). The buttons worked perfectly on my iPhone, and the track controls worked OK with my X1 (with one fault – I could pause, but not restart, using the buttons). I did test the Jive with taking a call (with a client actually), and it was very clear at both ends. There was the usual hollow sound on my end due to the isolation and slight bone conduction.
The Y-split is brilliant, and actually has a slider / cinch which works perfectly – even with the i-controls. Other companies should look at this design as it is possible, and is very well implemented.
The jack is an angled about 45 degrees, seems to be very solid, and I have no issues fitting it to my iPhone – even with the case intact.
For $28 this a really well built IEM !
FIT / COMFORT / ISOLATION
I have one ear canal slightly different to the other one (my right is very slightly smaller) - so I tend to find that usually single silicon flanges don't fit overly well. I initially tried the large silicone tips included, and I couldn’t get a proper seal. I next tried a number of tips including Spinfits, Ostry blacks/blues, Spiral Dots, and my Trusty Sony Isolation tips. When I did achieve a really good seal, I did notice some very slight driver flex (lack of venting ), and I did get some issues with vacuum pressure with my Sony tips – pressure changing with jaw movement. So I then switched to the Complys, and ….. perfection (for me). Really good comfort, good isolation / seal, and no more pressure issues.
[size=inherit][/size] | ||
Spiral dot (L) and Ostry black (R) | Spinfit (L) and Sony Isolation (R) | My preference - the included Comply S400 |
All the tips I tried stayed intact with the Jive during insertion and removal, so the design of the nozzle definitely gets thumbs up from me. Isolation with the Comply tips is very good, and I’d be tempted to use them on public transport.
Because of their diminutive size, they are very comfortable, and I’ve had no issues sleeping with the intact (they do not protrude past my outer ear).
SOUND QUALITY
The following is what I hear from the Brainwavz Jive. YMMV – and probably will – as my tastes are likely different to yours (read the preamble I gave earlier for a baseline). Most of the testing at this point (unless otherwise stated) was done with both my Fiio X1 and iPhone 5S as source.
Tracks used were across a variety of genres – and can be viewed in this list http://www.head-fi.org/a/brookos-test-tracks.
Thoughts on General Signature
As I outlined above, the Brainwavz Jive has a gentle U or V shaped signature with some emphasis in the bass (particularly the lower bass), a peak around 3kHz, and a smaller one around 6kHz. The result is some really good deep bass when it’s present in the music, but the Jive doesn’t become overly warm for lighter music. I really like this. It has a nice balance through the mid-range and is particularly impressive with my female vocalists. The peak at 6kHz brings vividness and detail while avoiding (for me anyway) sibilance or glare.
I was wondering earlier in the week what the Jive remind me of – and it came to me over the weekend. These sound very similar to the Altone 200 – just with a little less of the V emphasis, and not so much impact in the bass.
Overall Detail / Clarity
I started with Steely Dan’s “Gaucho” and Dire Strait’s “Sultans of Swing”, and immediately I was impressed with the ease with which detail is presented. The Jive covers all the detail with surprising clarity – but higher end detail from cymbals is not glary or etched. What I love is that I can hear the brush and delay with the cymbals – it’s not simply cut-off. They sound like a cymbal is supposed to sound.
The Brainwavz Jive is a pleasure to listen to with both tracks. The bass guitar is apparent with both tracks – but it isn’t overpowering. There is nice crisp edge to lead guitar, and vocals are both focussed and nicely coherent in the mix. Micro details with the snare and even the click of drum stick on drum stick come through really well.
Sound-stage & Imaging
Next up was Amber Rubarth’s binaural recording “Tundra”. I always use this because it’s a pretty simple way to get comparative data on sound-stage.
It’s usually difficult to get a reasonable stage size from an inner ear monitor. The stage is often quite small / close – with an average impression of space. The Brainwavz Jive, because of its bright clear tuning, does seem to convey a reasonable width for an IEM – but it’s never going to be described as overly spacious. The presentation is very clear though, and imaging is really clean and consistent (and accurate). With this track, presentation is just on the boundary of my head-stage which is a feat in itself.
I also used Loreena McKennitt’s “Dante’s Prayer” and the Jive was very good with this track – delivering an intimate performance, but really good contrast between the beauty of McKennitt’s vocals and the melancholy (but gorgeous) accompaniment of the cello. In this track, the applause at the end is so well presented that with some headphones (HD600) I can actually close my eyes and imagine myself in the crowd. With the Jive, I wasn’t quite inside the crowd, but I could place it around me – so more strengths here on width than depth – but impressive all the same.
Last was Amanda Marshall’s “Let It Rain” – and this track is a good one because it has a naturally holographic feel about it, and can convey an amazing sense of space with the right headphones. That holographic quality shone through with the Jive (it really is very good with female vocals!), but again more a sense of width than depth.
Bass Quantity and Quality
Muddy Waters is a track I use to evaluate bass quality. This blues rock track is quite dark and brooding anyway, and usually exposes any muddiness or bass bleed. The Jive was brilliant with this track – really nice impact in the lower bass, and I was surprised how quick, and how little decay it shows for a dynamic driver. I remember someone saying that it was tuned like a BA – and the bass speed seems to reflect that. There is absolutely no bass bleed in this track, and its overall presentation has good presentation of both the low bass, and also conveys the timbre and gravel of Mark’s voice with aplomb.
I wanted to see how low the bass would go – so switched to Lorde’s “Royals” – and the Jive delivered right from the opening notes. When the bass guitar kicked in, it felt like the low bass was actually moving air – very impressive. Again there is no excessive bloom from the bass guitar or kick drum. And once again, despite the quantity of bass presented, Ella’s vocals remained crystal clear.
Female Vocals
A lot of my music revolves around female vocals – jazz, pop, rock, electronic, or even opera. I’m an unabashed fan. For me personally, the sign of a good IEM (for my personal tastes) is how successfully it conveys emotion and timbre with my female vocalists.
I already knew from earlier testing that the Jive was a winner with female vocals. But my litmus test is usually Agnes Obel. For some reason IEM’s that are slightly “off” seem to play this track with a hollow or slightly strident tone. The Jive is perfect – and I do mean perfect. Agnes’ vocals are sweet and slightly euphonic, whilst the accompanying cello is beautifully deep and almost mournful (wonderful timbre). I have to keep checking whether this is still the Jive have in my ears – as the sonics for a sub $30 earphone are really quite something.
And so it continued with every one of my other female vocalists – Hannah Reid (London Grammar), Christina Perri , Gabriella Cilmi, Florence and the Machine, Feist, Norah Jones – it didn’t matter what I played. The Jive portrayed my female artists incredibly well – dynamic bass, sweet vocals, powerful when it needed to be, and never strident.
Male Vocals
At the other end of the scale sits a lot of my rock tracks – from acoustic to classic rock, and even a little of the heavier stuff.
The Jive continued to perform well with very good bass impact, clear vocals, and nicely balanced guitars and other instruments. To be fair male vocals aren’t quite as deep tonally as I’m used to with other IEMs, and if there was a slight weakness in the tonality this would perhaps be it. Once you adjust to it though, the music remains dynamic, clear and very enjoyable. 3 Doors Down, Green Day, Breaking Benjamin, Seether all were portrayed well and once again the vocal clarity was really good – if maybe a little on the thin side.. The Jive also had no issues with Diary of Jane (Breaking Benjamin), which can overwhelm some drivers, so really good effort.
My test for male vocals though is always Pearl Jam. The Jive had great contrast, amazing clarity, and again the one critique I’d have is that Vedders voice just didn’t quite have the depth and timbre. Enjoyable – but not perfect.
Other Genres
I tested the Jive with all of my main listening tracks, and there was no real weakness (for my preferences) anywhere. Rather than going through this in detail, I’ll simply say that presentation for Alt Rock (especially Porcupine Tree) was outstanding, and also wonderful with Jazz and Blues. Side note here – Portico Quartet’s “Steepless” with Cornelia was simply stunning.
Electronic music was also really good – with the added low bass providing plenty of slam – Little Dragon and Lindsay Stirling both “sang” on the Jive. Rap was tested with Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”– crystal clear, and the bass was again visceral with its impact. Again – just a little thin with Marshall’s vocals though. Still enjoyable none-the-less.
Pop and Indie were also very good. Adele can sometimes show a little bit of sibilance with earphones that are too hot in the 6-9 kHz range, and the Jive exhibited no signs of it. For Indie, I listened to Band of Horses and Wildlight – and the Jive was very good with both artists – especially Wildlight. The combination of deep bass in the back bat, and Ayla’s sultry tones – magic!
With Classical and Opera there was a enough sense of space, dynamics, timbre and tone to be enjoyable. Standouts for me were Netrebko and Garanca with the Flower Duet, and Zoe Keating’s cello (Escape Artist) was similarly captivating..
AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
The Jive is very easily powered straight out of virtually any portable device, and I didn’t experience any issues with any of the DAPs I tested (iPhone 5S, or any of the Fiios). With the X1, I was usually sitting around 30-35/100 on low gain (plenty of headroom), and on the iPhone between 30 and 40%. I did test the X1 with the Fiio E11K and E17K, and I couldn’t say either added anything sonically once volume matched.
COMPARISONS
I thought perhaps the best I could do here was pit the Jive up against some of the IEMs I have at my disposal, and give my impressions on performance.
When testing, I always volume matched first at 2 kHz using an SPL meter and test tones. Where I’ve shown a graph – it was always produced with the same tips, same volume etc.
Jive $28 vs M1 $44.50
The Jive is leaner and brighter. The M1 is fuller and a little warmer through the mid-range and mid bass. The Jive has little more down really low though. Both have a nice balance and are very clear. The M1 came in a nicer box with more accessories, but its cable (while sturdier) also has annoying memory. The Jive has the i-controls. Both are very good earphones for the money, and this one is really case of preference. If you prefer leaner and brighter, the Jive is amazing value – but if you like a little more depth and warmth – the M1 is hard to go past.
Jive $28 vs Hyperion $45
This one is similar to the Jive vs M1. Again the Jive is leaner and brighter, while the Hyperion is fuller and warmer – but with quite a little peak up top. Both are very clear, and have good overall balance. The Hyperion is definitely superior in build, accessories, and its cable is one of the best on the market. Both are again exceptional value – and like the M1 (above) come down to preference.
Jive $28 vs S0 $49.50
The S0 is again warmer and darker – while the Jive is thinner and brighter. This time, the Jive is actually better with micro detail presentation, and the S0 can be slightly too bassy. After a bit of time with the S0, the Jive sounds very lean, but conversely, after getting used to the Jive – the S0 sounds quite bloated and overly warm. The S0 has the better accessory package and overall build, but I actually prefer the Jive’s overall fit.
Jive $28 vs S5 $99.50
The S5 has quite a warm and bloomy bottom end, but the heat up top is quiet noticeable and these definitely seem a bit more V shaped. Comparatively the Jive this time seems a bit more balanced and natural sounding – although still on the bright side bright. Once again the S5 has the better overall build, but I prefer the Jive’s fit (not really a fan of the S5 cable). If I had my choice, I’d like the Jive signature in the S5 shell, with a Trinity cable J
Jive $28 vs Altone200 $135-185
I know this is not a fair comparison - $28 vs $150 ish – but they sound so alike, I wanted to compare with them. Tonally they are extremely similar with the Altone having a slightly more robust (boomy) lower end, and a slightly more vivid upper end. Both have very similar tonal balance though – the Altone is just a little more resolving and is maybe a little fuller in body. The Altone of course kills it on overall build quality – but even though I love the Altone’s signature, I’m scratching my head with how close the Jive gets on overall sonic performance. And the Jive’s bass is actually cleaner.
BRAINWAVZ JIVE - SUMMARY
When Pandora approached me about reviewing the Jive, I have to admit my initial thoughts were – do I really want to spend a week researching a sub $30 IEM? It has been a timely reminder for me that price does not always indicate how good (or bad) audio gear is.The Brainwavz Jive comes in budget packaging, with a sparse but acceptable accessory package (the case is once again really good), but with pretty good build for a $28 IEM. There is some very good innovation with the cable slider (first time I’ve seen a cinch combined with a mic and control buttons which really works!).
Overall the build quality looks really good – with maybe a single question mark about the thinness of cabling between the y-split and earphones.
They are lightweight, very comfortable, and easy to fit.
Sonically they are incredibly clear, and although a little thin in the male vocal range, have good sub-bass impact, and nice cohesion throughout. They are a little on the bright side of neutral – so if you are treble sensitive, or like a fuller richer tonality, they may not be for you.
I find them very good (for my own personal tastes), and at the ridiculously low price of $28, I would have no hesitation in recommending them to family, friends, and complete strangers.
Solid 3.5 stars for me – solely based on what they bring to the table for the cost they are offered at. I really like these. But fair warning to anyone who is used to a warmer fuller richer tonality – you may well find the Jive just a little cool and thin.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO BRAINWAVZ
- A bit concerned about the cable between Y-split and ear pieces – but I don’t know if this is a weak point or just my paranoia.
- Maybe next time, a pinhole vent if you are using a dynamic driver?
Thanks once again Pandora and Prithvi – I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Jive.