Introduction:
Brainwavz has been a strong contender in the IEM market for a while, they don’t need any introduction. However, some of you may not be familiar with their “S”-type line: So far they come out with the S0 (which I had the pleasure of reviewing), the S1, and the S5. As you may have guessed, the higher the number, the better the product gets, and with it the price tag too. However, Brainwavz has stayed truthful to its intended market range, and even the S5 is extremely affordable compared to other company offerings.
So the S3 is a continuation of the already successful “S” product line, and with it Brainwavz has a few goals. The S3, as many head-fi’ers will be delighted to know, is intended for a more audiophile audience, with a wider soundstage, and more accurate sound production – keeping away from the “smooth and warm” sound so many IEM’s tend to fall into. At $80, an analytical-geared IEM is a bit of a stretch, but we’ll see how that works out later in the review.
It’s a bit hard to keep track of which model of which line has which type of sound signature – it would be awesome to see Brainwavz give more of a hint (in the name of a model) as to what type of IEM it is.
[This review is going to be somewhat shorter than usual, and I apologize for that. However, I’ll try to indicate the important things, and get to the point as efficiently as possible]
Packaging:
The packaging here is standard for the “S” line – which to say, it’s very good. The front cover has a flap that open to reveal the S3’s case, and a wealth of information. There’s plenty of information on the covers too, but on the inside cover… well, having that amount of detail before we even open the box is just amazing. Kudos to Brainwavz for that system, it’s working out fantastically.
On the back is a list of accessories, as well as specifications and compatibility. It notes on the back that there’s a 2 year warranty for the S3 – very good for an IEM, and that type of confidence foreshadows great workmanship of the headphone itself.
Build Quality, Design, & Accessories:
The build quality of the shell itself is simply fantastic. The housing is metal, and shiny too - so shiny it’s hard for me to take clear pictures ***. On one side of each shell, there is the Brainwavz logo, and on the other, an L/R marking. The markings are hard to see though, due to the fact that the shiny metal is reflective. As you can see in the pictures though, there is a red-colored stress relief connecting the housing to the cable, which is extremely solid and prevents any chance of tearing the cable near the housing.
The cable itself is flat, which prevents tangling, and has an inline remote. However, the cable is really stiff and springy (due to that it’s thick?), and I do find it harder to control than I would like. The cable ends with a straight jack, which is well-made too. Although I would like to see 90-degree angled jacks, as they are much easier to use, the build quality on the jack here is great, so no complaints here.
The inline remote/mic are placed pretty high up on the cable, which immediately makes it difficult to wear the S3 over-ear (will get to that soon). Other than that, the buttons feel solid, and a mic/remote is definitely convenient for everyday use.
The Y-split is built like a tank; I’m not kidding. Although it’s made of plastic (probably to reduce weight), it’s one of the best made Y-splits I’ve ever seen.
Moving on to accessories, the S3 comes with a nice assortment of tips, including bi/tri-flanged tips and Comply foam tips. In addition, it comes with a very nicely built hard case, and a shirt clip. A nice amount of accessories, and just the ones that are needed, in my opinion.
Microphonics:
There are above average microphonics here; when tapping the cable, it’s impossible to hear the music, and due to its springy nature, microphonics are more common than in most of my other headphones.
Fit & Comfort:
Here’s the section I really don’t want to write, yet I’m going to have to.
I can’t get the Brainwavz S3 to stay in my ears. I just can’t. I’ve tried all the tips, but the housing of the S3 is simply too large and heavy not to fall out when walking. Because of its size, comfort is an issue for me too, having most of the earphone leaning one way or another out of my ear for it to stay snug in my ear.
There’s not much else to say. I’ve tried wearing it over the ear, but because of the flat cable (and inline remote), that position is nearly impossible to get right, and even when I do, it doesn’t stay in my ear, going back to the first problem.
So overall? I hope the fit and comfort can be improved by the next product. Perhaps have a fin option to keep it snug in the ear, and reduce size and weight wherever possible to improve on the usability of the product. As it stands, I can’t use the S3 while moving in any way, which sort of defeats the purpose of an IEM. I can’t help but wonder how the other reviewers got by.
Sound:
This is a mixed bag as well. On the one hand, the S3 has some really detailed vocals, which may not be a sweet or upfront as vocal lovers would like them to be, but are still technically strong nonetheless. The sound is exceptionally clear, which is not something that’s found in every headphone. Highs sometime have a bit of an emphasis and can be quite bright, which is very fatiguing at times. Otherwise, I have no complaints.
At least no complaints on the stuff I can hear. Which singles out the part which I’m not hearing – the bass. My pair has a tremendous roll-off in the lower bass region. I’m not talking about a bit of a roll-off; the S3 has literally no sub-bass I can hear, and that’s coming from bass-light headphones like the KNS8400. Even the upper bass is very light, and makes it impossible to enjoy any genre that has a prominent bass role, such rock, techno/EDM, electronic music, jazz, metal, pop and basically everything except for classical music and pure vocals.
Conclusion:
The Brainwavz S3 does a lot of things right – the build quality and accessories, and in regard to sound quality, the vocals and clarity. However, fit and comfort are abysmal, due to the size and weight of the S3. In addition, the massive bass roll-off makes it hard to enjoy many genres, and downright impossible to enjoy any electronic music.
There’s also the issue of quality control – while people hear differently, the opinions on the S3 couldn’t have been further apart –some have a nice bass response, others have a bloated bass, and others still have no bass at all. Some have highs roll-offs, while mine had bright highs.
So if you’re looking to buy this headphone, proceed with caution – I cannot say which sound signature you will get. Do I recommend this headphone? Unfortunately, no.
Brainwavz has been a strong contender in the IEM market for a while, they don’t need any introduction. However, some of you may not be familiar with their “S”-type line: So far they come out with the S0 (which I had the pleasure of reviewing), the S1, and the S5. As you may have guessed, the higher the number, the better the product gets, and with it the price tag too. However, Brainwavz has stayed truthful to its intended market range, and even the S5 is extremely affordable compared to other company offerings.
So the S3 is a continuation of the already successful “S” product line, and with it Brainwavz has a few goals. The S3, as many head-fi’ers will be delighted to know, is intended for a more audiophile audience, with a wider soundstage, and more accurate sound production – keeping away from the “smooth and warm” sound so many IEM’s tend to fall into. At $80, an analytical-geared IEM is a bit of a stretch, but we’ll see how that works out later in the review.
It’s a bit hard to keep track of which model of which line has which type of sound signature – it would be awesome to see Brainwavz give more of a hint (in the name of a model) as to what type of IEM it is.
[This review is going to be somewhat shorter than usual, and I apologize for that. However, I’ll try to indicate the important things, and get to the point as efficiently as possible]
Packaging:
The packaging here is standard for the “S” line – which to say, it’s very good. The front cover has a flap that open to reveal the S3’s case, and a wealth of information. There’s plenty of information on the covers too, but on the inside cover… well, having that amount of detail before we even open the box is just amazing. Kudos to Brainwavz for that system, it’s working out fantastically.
On the back is a list of accessories, as well as specifications and compatibility. It notes on the back that there’s a 2 year warranty for the S3 – very good for an IEM, and that type of confidence foreshadows great workmanship of the headphone itself.
Build Quality, Design, & Accessories:
The build quality of the shell itself is simply fantastic. The housing is metal, and shiny too - so shiny it’s hard for me to take clear pictures ***. On one side of each shell, there is the Brainwavz logo, and on the other, an L/R marking. The markings are hard to see though, due to the fact that the shiny metal is reflective. As you can see in the pictures though, there is a red-colored stress relief connecting the housing to the cable, which is extremely solid and prevents any chance of tearing the cable near the housing.
The cable itself is flat, which prevents tangling, and has an inline remote. However, the cable is really stiff and springy (due to that it’s thick?), and I do find it harder to control than I would like. The cable ends with a straight jack, which is well-made too. Although I would like to see 90-degree angled jacks, as they are much easier to use, the build quality on the jack here is great, so no complaints here.
The inline remote/mic are placed pretty high up on the cable, which immediately makes it difficult to wear the S3 over-ear (will get to that soon). Other than that, the buttons feel solid, and a mic/remote is definitely convenient for everyday use.
The Y-split is built like a tank; I’m not kidding. Although it’s made of plastic (probably to reduce weight), it’s one of the best made Y-splits I’ve ever seen.
Moving on to accessories, the S3 comes with a nice assortment of tips, including bi/tri-flanged tips and Comply foam tips. In addition, it comes with a very nicely built hard case, and a shirt clip. A nice amount of accessories, and just the ones that are needed, in my opinion.
Microphonics:
There are above average microphonics here; when tapping the cable, it’s impossible to hear the music, and due to its springy nature, microphonics are more common than in most of my other headphones.
Fit & Comfort:
Here’s the section I really don’t want to write, yet I’m going to have to.
I can’t get the Brainwavz S3 to stay in my ears. I just can’t. I’ve tried all the tips, but the housing of the S3 is simply too large and heavy not to fall out when walking. Because of its size, comfort is an issue for me too, having most of the earphone leaning one way or another out of my ear for it to stay snug in my ear.
There’s not much else to say. I’ve tried wearing it over the ear, but because of the flat cable (and inline remote), that position is nearly impossible to get right, and even when I do, it doesn’t stay in my ear, going back to the first problem.
So overall? I hope the fit and comfort can be improved by the next product. Perhaps have a fin option to keep it snug in the ear, and reduce size and weight wherever possible to improve on the usability of the product. As it stands, I can’t use the S3 while moving in any way, which sort of defeats the purpose of an IEM. I can’t help but wonder how the other reviewers got by.
Sound:
This is a mixed bag as well. On the one hand, the S3 has some really detailed vocals, which may not be a sweet or upfront as vocal lovers would like them to be, but are still technically strong nonetheless. The sound is exceptionally clear, which is not something that’s found in every headphone. Highs sometime have a bit of an emphasis and can be quite bright, which is very fatiguing at times. Otherwise, I have no complaints.
At least no complaints on the stuff I can hear. Which singles out the part which I’m not hearing – the bass. My pair has a tremendous roll-off in the lower bass region. I’m not talking about a bit of a roll-off; the S3 has literally no sub-bass I can hear, and that’s coming from bass-light headphones like the KNS8400. Even the upper bass is very light, and makes it impossible to enjoy any genre that has a prominent bass role, such rock, techno/EDM, electronic music, jazz, metal, pop and basically everything except for classical music and pure vocals.
Conclusion:
The Brainwavz S3 does a lot of things right – the build quality and accessories, and in regard to sound quality, the vocals and clarity. However, fit and comfort are abysmal, due to the size and weight of the S3. In addition, the massive bass roll-off makes it hard to enjoy many genres, and downright impossible to enjoy any electronic music.
There’s also the issue of quality control – while people hear differently, the opinions on the S3 couldn’t have been further apart –some have a nice bass response, others have a bloated bass, and others still have no bass at all. Some have highs roll-offs, while mine had bright highs.
So if you’re looking to buy this headphone, proceed with caution – I cannot say which sound signature you will get. Do I recommend this headphone? Unfortunately, no.