Thank you Brainwavz Audio for letting us give our honest take towards the KOEL. Given that the review unit is from Brainwavz Audio and is free of charge, it doesn’t affect the honesty and integrity of this review.
The Company
Brainwavz provides high-end earphones specifically designed for high-quality sound and tailor-made to provide the user with a solution that can be used across a wide range of audio genres and styles at affordable prices. Brainwavz believes in the idea that sound is a deeply personal experience, and strives to provide users with earphones that match their personal inclinations, to inspire with intensity. The Brainwavz name is known in many countries across the globe, and the company is continually committed to providing the best products at the best value. This is what they stated in their website but hey, Brainwavz has been in the industry for years and they already build a good reputation in terms of build and sound quality in fact the B400 was a hit!
The Brainwavz Audio KOEL
The KOEL is a single BA entry level IEM from Brainwavz, I think it is their take to rival the exponential growth of Chi-fi IEMs under 5000 Pho (100 USD). It is 3D printed with resin as the main material, the build quality seems to be alike with the Brainwavz B400 which I really liked. I wholeheartedly agree that they tuned the KOEL to be natural and to attain almost no coloration, timbre is kinda nice and it may sound bland for some. It is priced at 2500 Php (50 USD) and I honestly believe that it is pretty competitive, it just that majority of consumers in this price segment wants warm or V shaped sound signature. It comes with 2 colors, first is “stay frosty” which is the transparent one and second which is the one I’ve got, the “cosmic black”.
Technical Specification:
Packaging is very minimal, if you don’t check their site you will not expect a high quality carrying case inside. Everything resides in the carrying case, IEM, cable, 1 pair of comply foam tips, 6 pairs of silicone tips, Velcro, shirt clip and paper works. I can honestly say that the packaging looks good despite being contained in a small box. There’s sufficient ear tips, and a commendable carrying case that majority of chi-fi doesn’t have.
Fit and Comfort
The fit of KOEL varies with the user, personally I did able to get perfect fit with almost any tips that I use, but for smaller ears I don’t think it will fit nicely with them especially that the nozzle is kinda short. With proper fit, there’s almost no sound leak especially when listening with average volume, isolation is commendable too. It is generally lightweight thus, listening for several hours won’t give any discomfort (at least for me).
Sound
I love IEMs and earbuds with midcentric to flat sound signature as I really love listening to vocals rather than instruments. My genre ranges from heavy rock, alternative rock, pop rock, acoustic, pop, jazz and folk. Majority of my test tracks are in 16 bit – 44 khz and 24 bit – 48 khz FLAC file and here is the list of my commom test tracks.
Sub bass feels roll off for me, 100 Hz below doesn’t have enough presence. It is recessed and lacks quantity too, making rumbles and riffs subtle and light, luckily it has good texture and resolves enough details. For the mid bass, it feels smooth and soft for me, it is slightly more forward and has enough attack and decay speed. The bass lacks presence, impact and rumbles but I can fairly say that it is smooth and easy to listen if you’re not looking for impactful and deep bass.
Midrange
The star of the show here is the midrange, starting with lower midrange it is velvety with slightly forward positioning, male vocals and piano sounded good, no hints of dryness nor hollowness here. I can say that it is not that resolving but in exchange it is clean and smooth which is commendable. Upper midrange shares the same positioning as the lower midrange which is pretty forward, it is sweet and intimate making Norah Jones sing flawlessly, it is still smooth and still not the most resolving pair in its price bracket but listening to my favorite pop, folk and jazz tracks feels very engaging.
Treble
Just like the bass, there’s a roll off here as well, it is recessed too giving slight boost with depth as it compromise for the midrange being too forward compared to bass and treble. It is very smooth and has good amount of air despite being a single BA IEM, but sparkle takes a toll here, cymbals doesn’t sound energetic. Good thing it isn’t aggressive, no signs of peaks here but this wouldn’t suffice folks who loves treble.
Sound Stage and Resolution
Sound stage is on the intimate side here, I believe this is due to the midrange being a bit too forward, depth is decent while width and height is a bit cramped for my liking. Imaging and layering is above decent for the price, I’m surprised that even it has an intimate staging, it can be this coherent and accurate since base on my experience when there’s not much headroom and width, imaging and layering becomes sub par as well but that’s not the case here.
Sound Signature and Synergy
The KOEL offers an intimate and mid-centric sound signature, it has a forward midrange and recessed bass and treble. It is perfect for some but I believe that there’s a little population of folks who loves mid-centric tuning. I would love pairing it with bright/analytical sources since for me the bass of KOEL is forgivable but I really want more sparkle up top.
Hiby R3
Hiby R3 is a warmish source, pairing it with KOEL There’s some slight elevation on the bass but it still less forward than the mid range. Treble still sounded dark for me, it lacks extension and sparkle but it is airy enough and has more than decent attack and decay speed. Midrange sounds very good, it sounds full and has natural timbre on it. Sound stage isn’t special as mentioned above but it is decent enough with this set, I find the projected space to be small in general but it sounds natural and accurate enough for me.
Smartphone (Huawei Mate 10)
Extension on the bass was unchanged, quantity is further reduced while positioning remained the same as well. Midrange became slightly leaner but less resolving, it is still smooth but there’s a bit decrease in terms of lushness. Treble became a bit forward, extension didn’t improve for me but there’s some improvement in terms of sparkle. Sound stage isn’t impressive here, same goes to resolution.
Comparison
BLON BL03
I can’t compare them fair and square because the use different driver and the offer different sound signature, it is really rare to have an IEM tuned like the KOEL. Starting with bass, it is pretty obvious that the BL03 will take the win simply because it sounded more neutral, has better depth and impact. Midrange sounded sweeter and more natural in the KOEL, it may be inferior in terms of resolution but it has better timbre and fullness. Treble goes to BL03, it has more air, sparkle and extension as I find the KOEL to be much smoother which is kinda odd for a single BA IEM to have a dark-ish treble. Sound stage goes to the BL03 in terms of size but for accuracy of imaging and layering they are pretty close, the BL03 is a notch better too in terms of resolution since it extends fairly well on both ends.
The KOEL isn’t bad at all but if you want a better all rounder at slightly cheaper price tag then you should go with BL03 but if you want a new flavour, a mid centric IEM then the KOEL is a no brainer, it also have a 1 year warranty versus the BL03 with no warranty.
KZ ZS10 Pro
I can’t compare them fair and square because the use different driver and the offer different sound signature, it is really rare to have an IEM tuned like the KOEL. Starting with bass, the ZS10 Pro has better depth, impact and positioning but I prefer the smoothness of KOEL’s bass, still the win goes to ZS10 Pro. Midrange easily goes to KOEL due to its sweet and velvety presentation compared to the dry and recessed midrange of the ZS10 Pro. I’ll give the treble a tie, while they both doesn’t have the sparkle that I’m looking for but the ZS10 Pro slightly edged out the KOEL in terms of extension while the KOEL in terms of attack and decay speed as well as smoothness. Sound stage is better in ZS10 Pro in terms of Size while they are close in terms of imaging and layering. Resolution seems to be on par as well.
Conclusion
While the KOEL might not please everyone due to its forward midrange and average sound stage, it will be a nice gear for someone who wants something fresh as mid-centric IEMs are not that common in this hobby. Bass lacks extension and impact but it offers smooth and speedy attack and decay. Midrange has a commendable timbre, velvety presentation and intimate positioning. Treble lacks sparkle and extension but it is pretty agile and offers a smooth listening without treble spikes. Sound stage is average in terms of size but in terms of layering and imaging it can compete with similarly priced Chi-fi IEMs, resolution is average as well as it leans with smoother tuning. For the price I wouldn’t say that it is a steal like the BL03 but still it is a nice buy, a unique mid-centric tuning with nice carrying case and 12 months of warranty.
The Company
Brainwavz provides high-end earphones specifically designed for high-quality sound and tailor-made to provide the user with a solution that can be used across a wide range of audio genres and styles at affordable prices. Brainwavz believes in the idea that sound is a deeply personal experience, and strives to provide users with earphones that match their personal inclinations, to inspire with intensity. The Brainwavz name is known in many countries across the globe, and the company is continually committed to providing the best products at the best value. This is what they stated in their website but hey, Brainwavz has been in the industry for years and they already build a good reputation in terms of build and sound quality in fact the B400 was a hit!
The Brainwavz Audio KOEL
The KOEL is a single BA entry level IEM from Brainwavz, I think it is their take to rival the exponential growth of Chi-fi IEMs under 5000 Pho (100 USD). It is 3D printed with resin as the main material, the build quality seems to be alike with the Brainwavz B400 which I really liked. I wholeheartedly agree that they tuned the KOEL to be natural and to attain almost no coloration, timbre is kinda nice and it may sound bland for some. It is priced at 2500 Php (50 USD) and I honestly believe that it is pretty competitive, it just that majority of consumers in this price segment wants warm or V shaped sound signature. It comes with 2 colors, first is “stay frosty” which is the transparent one and second which is the one I’ve got, the “cosmic black”.
Technical Specification:
- Drivers : Single Balanced Armature
- Rated Impedance : 30Ω
- Frequency Range : 16 Hz ~ 22 kHz
- Sensitivity : 105 dB at 1 mW
- Cable : Detachable
- Cable Connector : MMCX
- Plug : 3.5 mm, Gold plated
Packaging is very minimal, if you don’t check their site you will not expect a high quality carrying case inside. Everything resides in the carrying case, IEM, cable, 1 pair of comply foam tips, 6 pairs of silicone tips, Velcro, shirt clip and paper works. I can honestly say that the packaging looks good despite being contained in a small box. There’s sufficient ear tips, and a commendable carrying case that majority of chi-fi doesn’t have.
Fit and Comfort
The fit of KOEL varies with the user, personally I did able to get perfect fit with almost any tips that I use, but for smaller ears I don’t think it will fit nicely with them especially that the nozzle is kinda short. With proper fit, there’s almost no sound leak especially when listening with average volume, isolation is commendable too. It is generally lightweight thus, listening for several hours won’t give any discomfort (at least for me).
Sound
I love IEMs and earbuds with midcentric to flat sound signature as I really love listening to vocals rather than instruments. My genre ranges from heavy rock, alternative rock, pop rock, acoustic, pop, jazz and folk. Majority of my test tracks are in 16 bit – 44 khz and 24 bit – 48 khz FLAC file and here is the list of my commom test tracks.
- Reese Lansangan – For the Fickle (background, female vocals and upper mids)
- Foo Fighters – Bridge Burning (Imaging, Layering, Coherence, Sub bass and Mid bass, Mids, Treble)
- KATIE – Remember (Mid Bass, Mids)
- Ed Sheeran – Dive (Mid bass, Lower Mids)
- Norah Jones – Don’t Know Why (Upper Mids and Instruments)
- Paramore – Hard Times (Imaging, Layering, Coherence, Sub bass and Mid bass, Mids, Treble)
- Led Zepplin – Rock and Roll (Imaging Layering, Bass, Instruments, Lower mids, Treble)
- Passenger – Coins in a Fountain (Mid bass, Layering, Imaging, Instruments, Lower mids, Treble)
- Aimer – Torches (Background, Upper mids)
- Ariana Grande – Raindrops (Background, Upper mids)
Sub bass feels roll off for me, 100 Hz below doesn’t have enough presence. It is recessed and lacks quantity too, making rumbles and riffs subtle and light, luckily it has good texture and resolves enough details. For the mid bass, it feels smooth and soft for me, it is slightly more forward and has enough attack and decay speed. The bass lacks presence, impact and rumbles but I can fairly say that it is smooth and easy to listen if you’re not looking for impactful and deep bass.
Midrange
The star of the show here is the midrange, starting with lower midrange it is velvety with slightly forward positioning, male vocals and piano sounded good, no hints of dryness nor hollowness here. I can say that it is not that resolving but in exchange it is clean and smooth which is commendable. Upper midrange shares the same positioning as the lower midrange which is pretty forward, it is sweet and intimate making Norah Jones sing flawlessly, it is still smooth and still not the most resolving pair in its price bracket but listening to my favorite pop, folk and jazz tracks feels very engaging.
Treble
Just like the bass, there’s a roll off here as well, it is recessed too giving slight boost with depth as it compromise for the midrange being too forward compared to bass and treble. It is very smooth and has good amount of air despite being a single BA IEM, but sparkle takes a toll here, cymbals doesn’t sound energetic. Good thing it isn’t aggressive, no signs of peaks here but this wouldn’t suffice folks who loves treble.
Sound Stage and Resolution
Sound stage is on the intimate side here, I believe this is due to the midrange being a bit too forward, depth is decent while width and height is a bit cramped for my liking. Imaging and layering is above decent for the price, I’m surprised that even it has an intimate staging, it can be this coherent and accurate since base on my experience when there’s not much headroom and width, imaging and layering becomes sub par as well but that’s not the case here.
Sound Signature and Synergy
The KOEL offers an intimate and mid-centric sound signature, it has a forward midrange and recessed bass and treble. It is perfect for some but I believe that there’s a little population of folks who loves mid-centric tuning. I would love pairing it with bright/analytical sources since for me the bass of KOEL is forgivable but I really want more sparkle up top.
Hiby R3
Hiby R3 is a warmish source, pairing it with KOEL There’s some slight elevation on the bass but it still less forward than the mid range. Treble still sounded dark for me, it lacks extension and sparkle but it is airy enough and has more than decent attack and decay speed. Midrange sounds very good, it sounds full and has natural timbre on it. Sound stage isn’t special as mentioned above but it is decent enough with this set, I find the projected space to be small in general but it sounds natural and accurate enough for me.
Smartphone (Huawei Mate 10)
Extension on the bass was unchanged, quantity is further reduced while positioning remained the same as well. Midrange became slightly leaner but less resolving, it is still smooth but there’s a bit decrease in terms of lushness. Treble became a bit forward, extension didn’t improve for me but there’s some improvement in terms of sparkle. Sound stage isn’t impressive here, same goes to resolution.
Comparison
BLON BL03
I can’t compare them fair and square because the use different driver and the offer different sound signature, it is really rare to have an IEM tuned like the KOEL. Starting with bass, it is pretty obvious that the BL03 will take the win simply because it sounded more neutral, has better depth and impact. Midrange sounded sweeter and more natural in the KOEL, it may be inferior in terms of resolution but it has better timbre and fullness. Treble goes to BL03, it has more air, sparkle and extension as I find the KOEL to be much smoother which is kinda odd for a single BA IEM to have a dark-ish treble. Sound stage goes to the BL03 in terms of size but for accuracy of imaging and layering they are pretty close, the BL03 is a notch better too in terms of resolution since it extends fairly well on both ends.
The KOEL isn’t bad at all but if you want a better all rounder at slightly cheaper price tag then you should go with BL03 but if you want a new flavour, a mid centric IEM then the KOEL is a no brainer, it also have a 1 year warranty versus the BL03 with no warranty.
KZ ZS10 Pro
I can’t compare them fair and square because the use different driver and the offer different sound signature, it is really rare to have an IEM tuned like the KOEL. Starting with bass, the ZS10 Pro has better depth, impact and positioning but I prefer the smoothness of KOEL’s bass, still the win goes to ZS10 Pro. Midrange easily goes to KOEL due to its sweet and velvety presentation compared to the dry and recessed midrange of the ZS10 Pro. I’ll give the treble a tie, while they both doesn’t have the sparkle that I’m looking for but the ZS10 Pro slightly edged out the KOEL in terms of extension while the KOEL in terms of attack and decay speed as well as smoothness. Sound stage is better in ZS10 Pro in terms of Size while they are close in terms of imaging and layering. Resolution seems to be on par as well.
Conclusion
While the KOEL might not please everyone due to its forward midrange and average sound stage, it will be a nice gear for someone who wants something fresh as mid-centric IEMs are not that common in this hobby. Bass lacks extension and impact but it offers smooth and speedy attack and decay. Midrange has a commendable timbre, velvety presentation and intimate positioning. Treble lacks sparkle and extension but it is pretty agile and offers a smooth listening without treble spikes. Sound stage is average in terms of size but in terms of layering and imaging it can compete with similarly priced Chi-fi IEMs, resolution is average as well as it leans with smoother tuning. For the price I wouldn’t say that it is a steal like the BL03 but still it is a nice buy, a unique mid-centric tuning with nice carrying case and 12 months of warranty.