ORIVETI BASIC - Whole Aluminium Body, High Fidelity, Cable Detachable, In-Ear Headphones (Matt Black)

Introduction
Oriveti started out in 2015 with the debut of Oriveti Primacy which is a hybrid iem with a 2 Balanced Armature and 1 Dynamic configuration. The Oriveti Primacy has been replaced by the Oriveti New Primacy. They also come up with the Oriveti Basic which I will be reviewing. I would like to thank Oriveti for this review unit and I will provide my impressions on it. As of now, you can purchase the Oriveti Basic on their official website - https://www.oriveti.com/product-page/hifi-dynamic-driver-iem-headphones or through Amazon. The Oriveti Basic will be available in 3 different colours – Matt Black, Jet Black and Mocha.



Specifications
Driver: Exclusive 10mm Dynamic Driver
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Frequency Response: 20 - 20000Hz
Sensitivity: 108+-3dB/mW, 1000Hz
Distortion: <1%
Plug: Gold-plated 3.5mm Stereo Plug
Cable: 1.2 m

Unboxing & Accessories
The Oriveti Basic comes in a matte black box. The model I will be reviewing is Jet Black in colour.



The package includes:
1 IEM
1 4 Core MMCX Cable
1 Soft Carrying Case
2 Pairs of Silicone Tips Each For Size S,M,L
2 Pairs of Double Flange Tips
1 Pair of Ear Guides
1 Carabiner
1 Instruction Manual

On top of the box, there are the Oriveti logo, the model name and a picture of the iem printed on it.

At the back of the box, there is a diagram depicting the components of the iem, description on what the package includes, specifications of the iem and cable, as well as QR codes to access the Oriveti official website and Oriveti facebook page.

At each side of the box, there is the Oriveti logo on it.
Top & Bottom Sides

Left & Right Sides

The box has 2 jet black circular seals on the box to show the colour of the iem and seal the box.


After lifting the lid of the box, you will see the iem presented nicely in a semi-hard foam.

The iem cable is wrapped nicely around it
.

Next, beneath the foam is an instruction manual. On the front, there is a big Oriveti Logo.


At the back of the instruction manual, there is a quick guide on the iem and the accessories.

After removing the instruction manual from the box, you will see the top of the soft carrying case sporting a black Oriveti Logo. In this picture, it appears white due to the lighting and you can clearly see the words. For the actual looks, please refer to the next picture under Front of Case.


The exterior of the case has a cloth feel. You can feel the Oriveti logo on the front.
Front of Case

Back of Case

The zipper is made out of soft rubber with a white Oriveti logo on both sides.
Front of Zipper

Back of Zipper

There is a cloth strap at the back of the case for the carabiner.



Case with Contents


Empty Case

Carabiner

Ear Guides

Silicon Tips
Top Row - Size S
Medium Row - Size M
Bottom Row - Size L

Double Flange Tips

IEM Build & Design
The Oriveti Basic that I am reviewing is jet black in colour.


The Basic has a glossy jet black surface with a white Oriveti logo on the left and right faceplates – symbol and word respectively. You can feel the logo print on the iem. Near the mmcx connectors, there are L and R markings to differentiate left and right. There is a vent situated at the edge opposite the nozzle. The nozzle is straight with a metal mesh to block earwax from entering the iem. The shell is very small and it is quite light. With Size M Silicone Tips, I am able to get a good seal.

Front of IEM

Back of IEM

Other Views of IEM

Front of Left Side

Back of Left Side

Front of Right Side

Back of Right Side

Cable Build & Design
The cable is a detachable 4 core cable with mmcx connectors. On the left MMCX connector, there are 3 dots on the outside to indicate that it is the left side while on the right MMCX connector, there is a R marking to indicate it is the right side. With this, it is quite easy to differentiate left and right just by feeling the connectors. Overall the cable is quite soft and supple.



There is no memory wire.
Moving on to the chin slider, it is matte black and rectangular in shape.


The y-splitter is a matte black heat shrink tube.


The jack is 3.5mm gold plated and the housing sports a white Oriveti logo. It has strain relief.


Sound Analysis
Lows
The Basic has a decent sub-bass extension with a slow rumble. There is quite an amount of quantity to it. Bass has a good presentation with a slight boom. The mid-bass has an average slam to it and bass note is presented slowly. The bass decay is average. I feel the bass nature is slow and hence it is not fatiguing. The texture of it is average too.
Mids
The Basic has a good quantity to its lower mids. It is neither thick nor thin. I feel it is neutral. For the upper mids, there is a slight forwardness in it. Clarity and details retrieval are average. The midrange has some body to it due to the lower mids. Overall, they sound quite smooth.
Highs
The treble extension is quite decent and has no sibilance and harshness. I feel Spinfit tips can help in accentuating the treble. The amount of air is average and there is no sparkle. The treble is smooth and there is a decent amount of body to it. The clarity is still there though.
Soundstage
The Basic has an above average soundstage in terms of width and depth. Due to its soundstage, the imaging is quite good and I find the instruments and vocals positioning are well defined.


Comparisons
I use the Ibasso DX200 to compare the iems.
Oriveti Basic vs TFZ Exclusive King
The Basic sub-bass quantity is quite similar to the King but the sub-bass extension of the King is better. The mid-bass of King has more slam than the Basic, giving a more dynamic performance and punch. However, I feel overall, Basic’s bass is more textured. Lower mids on the Basic has more body. Upper mids of the King is more forward. In the treble section, the King has more definition and airiness. Basic is warm and smooth. Soundstage on both are approximately the same with Basic having more depth while King has more width.

Oriveti Basic vs Fidue A65
The Basic has similar sub-bass extension and quantity as the A65. The mid-bass of A65 is more authoritative and has more punch. The bass of Basic is smooth and controlled while A65’s bass is lively and energetic. The Basic has a more textured bass than A65. Lower mids on the Basic has more body than the A65. Upper mids of A65 is more forward and crisp. The midrange on both is detailed. A65 has more sparkle and air. The treble on the Basic is smooth and detailed. Basic has a higher level of both depth and width in soundstage.

Oriveti Basic vs Final Audio Heaven 2
The Basic has more sub-bass extension and quantity than the Heaven 2. Mid-bass on both are around the same. For bass decay, Heaven 2 is slightly ahead. Basic has a more dynamic presentation than the Heaven 2. The bass note of Basic is expressed with more authority. The Basic has more lower mids than the Heaven 2. Upper mids on the Heaven 2 is more forward. Both have similar treble with Heaven 2 being extended at the top end. For the width of soundstage, Heaven 2 is slightly better while for the depth of soundstage, the Basic is ahead.

Conclusion
It is a pleasure to listen to the Oriveti Basic with its smooth and controlled sound. The bass is quite alluring to the overall listen and I like how soothing some tracks can be because of the Basic’s warm and smooth sound. With a soft storage case, detachable cable and aluminium shell, I feel the overall package is excellent especially at its price point. To conclude, the Basic is for anyone who want a warm and smooth sound.


For more reviews, visit https://audio123blog.wordpress.com/ .

Introduction

In this review, I will be providing my unbiased review and honest opinion about the Oriveti BASIC.


Woah wait, why would a company brand their earphones as basic? Is it too demeaning, putting off users who are looking for more high-end earphones? Hmm, maybe not. In fact, there are only two models from Oriveti, the New Primacy and Basic, thus branding this IEM as BASIC is just to distinguish it from its higher end brother, the New Primacy.

So the BASIC is a single dynamic driver IEM compared to the hybrid New Primacy and some may ask, would a Single Dynamic driver still be relevant in today’s increasing world of hybrid earphones? Maybe. Priced at $99 at the point of writing, the BASIC faces stiff competition from may other competitors but i believe they managed to rise above the earphones in their price range and I will be elaborating in this review





Packaging + Accessories

These came in the mail in a strong, sturdy black box, something you don't see often nowadays, and it reveals the sexy black shells in a beautiful matt black finish.


The other things that is packaged within are:

• Black braided MMCX cable
  
  
• A Carrying case
  
  
• Different sized eartips
  
  
• A pair of earhooks
  
  
• A carabiner

I felt the inclusion of the ear hooks were rather unnecessary as the soft cables would drape over my ear and just sit there comfortably during my entire commute with the help of the chin slider.



The black carrying case provided is circular in shape and is wrapped in a fine soft textured fabric that screams quality. Comparing to the much lauded Brainwavz semi-hard case, the rectangular case is a little harder and feel like they can take more impact, however the fabric on the Brainwavz is coarse and does not look as fine as the one that came with the basic. I feel that the round black is certainly a much needed accessory to protect this IEM as you won't want the matt finish on the basic to be scratched. Kudos to Oriveti!



Build Quality



With the earphone removed carefully from the box, the Oriveti Basic feels light and very solidly build, and the circular build with curves at all the right places mesmerised me at first sight. I particularly like the rounded edges as it means that it would be comfortable in my ear when i lie on it especially on long flights or on the bed.


The black and white colour scheme is also Oriveti’s signature style and they look stunning. The right side of the shell has the brand splashed across it while the left side has the simple logo that matches with the rounded shell. I also like the matt finish which look understated yet classy. However it can be difficult to distinguish from the left and right earpiece as the “L” and “R” lettering can be difficult to see but with these sort of over-ear design, finding the right side should be muscle memory.



Unlike the smooth one-piece design of the New Primacy, the basic has a plastic extension coming out from the shells leading to the MMCX connectors that fit very well with the cables, with a distinct click every time it's being pushed in. Really appreciating the quality build here. Through my time of usage, I have not experienced any bad connections or excessive play with the connection such as my Magaosi K3’s



Moving on to the MMCX cable, this cable is actually one of my favourite stock cables especially in this price range and I especially like that the basic has removable cables as this would improve the longevity of this IEM! The nice matt black finish again coats the very nicely braided cables as it joins at the Y junction with a black shrink wrap. I believe Oriveti changed to the black shrink wrap after receiving feedback from the community about the transparent and rather cheap looking shrink wrap. (Y). The cable becomes thicker, weaving differently and terminates to a matt black straight 3.5mm plug which is not too long and has a decent amount of strain relief. Printed across the plug is the branding and on the other side prints a model number of some sort.




Comfort + Isolation

First off, I would like to say that these are comfortable, they sits flush against your ear and makes you forget once they are on. The cables have no memory so they just go around the back of your ear and just sits there. Isolation wise, they have average isolation as the fit feels quite shallow for me, if anything, i feel that increasing the short nozzle length would give it a better seal. However, i feel that a shallower fit can also be more comfortable for me.




Sound opinion

So after giving it about 100 hours of burn-in, It is time to test it out and bring it on the road with me. When testing the BASIC, most of the time it was listened during my commute sessions with my Iphone 7 plus on Spotify Premium in extreme settings (320KBPs) or when I’m studying using my 2017 Macbook Pro 13”, also on Spotify premium in extreme settings


Sample of some of the music i listen to:

1. Palette - IU
2. Lust for life - Lana Del Rey (ft. The Weeknd)
3. Thunder - Imagine Dragons
4. 风 - Jay Chou
5. 你，好不好 - Eric Chou

When i heard this, It sounded warm and bassy, and that's just what I like. The highs are tamed and have no signs or even hints of sibilance when I listen to IU’s songs, whereby it can get a bit sharp on my Magaosi K3. The mids are also not very pronounced leaving it a spot whereby it sounds musical yet not shouty at all. While some feel that the bass is aplenty, It sounds like the bass can get a bit muddy at times while overriding the mids, and I think I would enjoy just a little more of that sub-bass extension. With this in mind, the bass is still enjoyable and I still can feel the thunder while listening to Imagine Dragons.

On the other hand, I feel that the instrumental separation and detail is not as fine as I would like, however coming from a single dynamic driver, It is forgivable. I would even say for a single dynamic driver, it is certainly commendable. Coming from the brainwavz b200 and magaosi K3, the soundstage on those are much wider compared to the basic and I must have been spoilt by them.



Conclusion

All in all, I feel that these pair of IEMs is a fusion of both form and function and would be a great addition to those who prefer the sound of dynamic drivers. Balanced Armature drivers can sound too analytical but these are fun, easy to listen to and ready to go with almost all music genres. At $99, it can be a tad expensive, especially with the hordes of chinese hybrids in the market at a low price point, but if you’re looking to upgrade your earphones and want a really good quality product, I believe you should give the basic a shot.





At this point, I would like to thank Oriveti for giving me the opportunity to review the BASIC.

INTRODUCTION

Its often you see a progression from new audio companies – starting with entry level, then slowly building their range, pushing boundaries, and eventually aiming for for their flagship. We've seen Fidue do it – starting with their A60 series, building to the A70 and A80 series, and culminating with their A91. We've seen Dunu do it with their DN-1k, move to the DN-2K and 2002, and now make inroads with the DK-3001 and (coming) DK-4001. And then there are the other companies – who start really strong, and then build a more affordable range (levering some of their higher value development), and hopefully fill out their entire range (including eventual flagships).

When Oriveti entered the market, it was straight into a USD 299 hybrid triple driver IEM – and it really was a great start – easily holding its own against comparable designs in a similar bracket. Recently they announced a new more budget friendly “Oriveti Basic” IEM at USD 99. When Michael contacted me late in 2016 to see if I'd be interested to take it for a test drive, I was very interested to see what they'd come up with. Could the basic compete with a pretty crowded sub $100 market? Read on for my thoughts.

ABOUT ORIVETI

There isn't a lot known about Oriveti. Last time I covered their Primacy triple hybrid, they were intent on keeping the company both low key and very much off the radar. Not much has really changed – except that now they have a website, a Facebook presence, but again very little is apparent about the company. I know they were founded in 2015, and I know that some of the principles involved have been in the audio industry for more than a decade. I also know from personal experience with the original Primacy that they know how to design, build and tune an IEM.

But perhaps easiest is to allow Oriveti to put it in their own words:
ORIVETI is a new and innovative brand providing HiFi quality audio products for daily use by the most discerning listeners.

Founded in 2015, we started from a position of strength with years of engineering and design experience within the earphone/headphone industry.

In this tough and competitive market we feel there is still room for knowledgeable brands with new ideas to emerge. Because we understand the importance of sound, fit, comfort and reliability, we believe ORIVETI is ready to excite and impress listeners across the world.

DISCLAIMER

The Oriveti Basic that I’m reviewing today was provided to me gratis as a review sample. I have made it clear to Oriveti that I still regard any product they send me as their sole property and available for return any time at their request. But I thank them for the ability to continue use of the Oriveti Basic for follow up comparisons. I do not make any financial gain from this review – it is has been written simply as my way of providing feedback both to the Head-Fi community and also Oriveti themselves.

I have now had the Oriveti Basic since late 2016. The retail price at time of review is USD 99, and can be purchased via their website.

PREAMBLE - 'ABOUT ME'. (or a base-line for interpreting my thoughts and bias)


For the purposes of this review - I used the Oriveti Basic straight from the headphone-out socket of most of my portables. I did not generally further amp them (I did test them with my E17K, A5 and IMS HVA), as IMO they do not benefit greatly from additional amplification (YMMV and it may depend on your source). In the time I have spent with the Oriveti Basic, I have noticed no change to the overall sonic presentation (break-in). Time spent now with the Basic would be easily 30+ hours.

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 ACCESSORIES
The Oriveti Basic arrived in an approximately” 152mm x 152mm x 63mm retail box and lid with a picture of the Basic on the front cover, and exploded diagram + specifications and package contents on the rear. I love it when companies go out of their way to show the inner workings of the product you’re considering buying, and it is really nice to see how much information Oriveti has given. The retail box is very similar to (but slightly smaller than) the original Primacy box. Once again my only suggestion with the outer print is that the light grey text on black background is not the always easiest to read, and something with a little more contrast (perhaps closer to white) may have been a little better.
Removing the lid reveals a felt lined foam cut-out with the Oriveti Basic safely nestled in the provided grooves. Removing the top layer reveals another layer underneath with the storage case, selection of tips, ear-hooks, small carabiner and a “quick-guide”. The selection of accessories is not quite as premium as the more expensive Primacy, but is still very generous for an IEM in the sub $100 bracket.

The tip selection includes 6 sets of silicone single flange tips and 2 sets of dual flange.

The storage case is a very generous 95mm in diameter and approx 35mm deep. It is circular, zipped, and has an inner pocket and inner band for tidy storage of both earphones and spare accessories. It is semi-rigid with a fine-mesh fabric exterior and provides pretty good protection as well as storage. Because of it's size, its more suited to jacket pocket than pants pocket – but the inclusion of the small caribiner means you can also clip it to jeans or a bag (a nice touch).

All in all, the accessory package seems well thought out for this price point, and the included accessories are pretty good quality.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
(From Oriveti's packaging / website)

Model	Oriveti Basic
Approx price	$99 USD
Type	Single Dynamic Driver
Driver	1 x 10mm DD
Freq Range	20Hz – 20kHz
Impedance	16Ω
Sensitivity	108 dB +/- 3dB/mW
Cable	1.2m, replaceable (MMCX)
Jack	3.5mm gold plated straight
Weight	15g with default cable
Casing material	Anodised aluminium alloy

FREQUENCY GRAPH

The graphs below are generated using the Vibro Veritas coupler and ARTA software. Ken Ball (ALO/Campfire) graciously provided me with measurement data which I have used to recalibrate my Veritas so that it mimics an IEC 711 measurement standard (Ken uses two separate BK ear simulators, we measured the same set of IEMs, and I built my calibration curve from shared data). I do not claim that this data is 100% accurate, but it is very consistent, and is as close as I can get to the IEC 711 standard on my budget.

The graphs are provided merely as a point of discussion, and later in the review I've included comparisons to other IEMs for similar reference.

Oriveti Basic frequency and channel matching	Oriveti Basic vs Oriveti Primacy

My sonic impressions of the Oriveti Basic – written well before I measured:

• Bass is elevated (both sub and mid-bass), has good extension, but is definitely emphasised compared to mid-range. There is clearly audible and prominent sub-bass rumble.
  
• Lower mid-range is reasonably linear, but quite recessed compared to mid and low bass. Male vocals are well represented and sound quite natural (unless there is a heavy bass back-beat).
  
• Upper mid-range is only very slightly emphasised, and it is more of a shallow bump than a peak. Female vocals have a hint of euphony, and the bump gives good overall mid-range cohesion.
  
• Lower treble extension is good – but there appears to be some early roll-off above about 7 kHz. Cymbal fundamentals are good – but the decay is slightly truncated (hardly noticeable in most tracks). The upper end is quite crisp overall – without ever slipping into a sense of brittleness or etching
  
• Overall a reasonably well balanced earphone but with a warm and bassy bottom end (which occasionally can overpower or mask the mid-range – depends on the recording)
  
• Channel matching is decent

BUILD

Internal side of the shell and vents	External side of shells

The Oriveti Basic, like its older sibling the Primacy is incredibly well built and finished, and a marvel in ergonomics. The Basic is relatively petite for an ergonomic design. The main body consists of a circular aluminium alloy with matte black finish approx 16mm in diameter. The alloy finish is incredibly well rounded with no hard edges and is well shaped for fit and comfort. On the right hand external side of the earpiece is the name Oriveti, and on the left hand the Oriveti logo. From the body there extends a hard rubber arm which houses the MMCX socket. There is a small R and L indicator on the inside of each earpiece arm but the print is quite hard to see. It doesn't matter though, as the shape always tells you which earpiece is which. The circular body is only about 7-8mm deep and 2 piece (although the seam is virtually unnoticeable).

Nozzles and sockets	Very smooth shell and nozzle has great lip

The beginning of the nozzle is actually a flare outward from the body, with the nozzle proper extending beyond that – which gives about 7mm total length. It extends outward perpendicularly, and this is perhaps one small area of improvement (slightly longer length and angled forward slightly would tend to give better fit). The end of the nozzle is 5mm in diameter, has a mesh encased tip, and a generous lip (thank you for this Oriveti – far too many are going lipless nowadays!). On the main body – just below the rise/flare of the nozzle is a small vent /port for the dynamic driver.

MMCX socket and male connector	(right) default cable fully connected, (left) CA Tinsel cable

At the top of the arm at the rear of each earpiece is a standard MMCX socket. The male MMCX connector on the cable fits very tightly and securely with a hard rubber encasing. On this are also L/R markings – but the nice almost “hidden” feature is that the left hand male MMCX connector housing has 3 raised dots (the right has none) so its easy to tell which is which.

The cable is the same as the one from the Primacy, and for this price range is one of the best I have seen. It has two pairs of spring twined cables below the Y split separating to single pairs above the Y split. The appearance below the Y actually looks like a braid, but in reality it is just the very tight almost spring loaded twining. This is brilliant design because it means that the pairs are unbroken from Jack to connector (the Y is just a simply bit of heat-shrink), so they would be very easy to convert to fully balanced. There is excellent strain relief at the housings and the jack. The Jack has the Oriveti branding on the outer casing, is straight, gold plated, and very case friendly. To complete the cable there is a piece of clear plastic tube for the cinch – and again this is one of the best implementations I’ve seen. It slides relatively easily, but holds without moving, and it feels solid (unlike some of the other options I’ve seen on some far more expensive earphones).

Y split and cinch	Case friendly jack

Overall I can’t fault the build quality nor the design. At this price range you would be hard put to find many IEMs with such a good combination of build, fit, comfort and cable quality.

FIT / COMFORT / ISOLATION

I'll start with the easy one (isolation), and we can then look at fit and comfort. Isolation is dependent on tip selection, and if you get a good seal, it is actually pretty good (about average for a vented dynamic IMO), but will not ultimately reach the high isolation of sealed BA IEMs. It is still reasonably good for a busy street, or some forms of public transport although it wouldn't be my personal choice for long haul flights or trains.

Shure Olive and Spinfits	Spiral Dots and Ostry tips

Fit and comfort is exemplary. As I said earlier, the rounded chassis, smooth finish, and small size make the Basic simply disappear when worn. Whilst they could be worn cable down, they are really designed to be worn over-ear. Ideally a couple more mm length on the nozzle wouldn't go astray, but that is nitpicking. The fit overall is relatively shallow.

Default tips	Trinity Kombi hybrids – my preference this time

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 seal overly well. This is often even more of an issue with shallow fitting IEMs. Because the Basic has a nice nozzle lip, I had no issues fitting any of my tips, and had great success with Ostry’s blue and black tuning tips, Sony Isolation tips (a tight fit but achievable), Spin-fits, and also Spiral Dots. I could have also used my favoured Shure Olives or Crystal foams – but I found the Sony Isolation tips gave me a fantastic seal, and they are very hard wearing.

Almiost every tip I tried fit the nozzle	Fit and comfort were excellent

The Oriveti Basics sit nicely flush with my outer ear, and are comfortable to lie down with. I've slept with them a few times now, and have had no discomfort on waking. We know the overall build is brilliant, as is the design, so how do they sound.

SOUND QUALITY

The following is what I hear from the Oriveti Basic. 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 my X3ii + E17K combo, no EQ, and Trinity Kombi tips (same design as Sony Isolation). I used this combo devices simply because paired they give me a very transparent window to the music with low impedance, and more than enough power. There was no EQ engaged.

I used my iPhone SE a lot daily	But for testing - my trusty FiiO X3ii + E17K

For the record – on most tracks, the volume level on the E17K (paired with X3ii) was around 15-16/60 (on low gain) which was giving me an average SPL around 65-75 dB. Tracks used were across a variety of genres – and can be viewed in this list http://www.head-fi.org/a/brookos-test-tracks.

Relativities

• Sub-bass – has extremely good extension and even at my low listening levels is not only audible, but also mildly dominant. There is clearly evident rumble, and bass guitars can be slightly too emphasised for my own personal taste. Overall there is a lot of warmth in the default signature – and the bass response peaks at about 50 Hz according to my measurements
  
• Mid-bass – elevated, but taking a gentle slope downward to the eventual lower mid-range. Because of the initial elevation, it does tend to slightly dominate the lower mid-range, and depending on the recording, there can be occasional masking (otherwise known as bass-bleed). I need to stress though, this is minor.
  
• Lower mid-range – relatively linear but recessed compared to sub and mid-bass. Vocals don't appear overly distant though, and this is pretty good for a bass emphasised earphone. Male vocals have a good amount of body.
  
• Upper mid-range – very slightly elevated compared to lower mid-range, and there is a very gentle rise from 1 kHz to the first peak at 2 kHz. The result is a quite cohesive transition form lower to upper mids, and very slight euphony for female vocals (although some of this can be lost with the bass warmth). There is another rise from 3-5 kHz and this brings some clarity and definition.
  
• Lower treble has a hump between 5-7 kHz (about the same size as the secondary upper mid-range hump). This does attempt to balance out the elevated bass, and I have no doubts some will absolutely love this tuning, however for me the bass still is the dominant frequency range coming through, and can tend (again) to dull some upper end detail. Above 7 kHz there is quite a bit of roll-off which gives a very smooth and non-aggressive upper signature.
  
• Upper treble – continues the overall roll-off of lower treble. Not a lot of noticeable extension.

Resolution / Detail / Clarity

• Clarity overall is a mixed bag. You can hear that the dynamic driver has potential, but a lot of minute detail is masked in the warmth from the bass. With Sultans of Swing, I can usually here drumstick clicks but these are muted. Under EQ it is a different story, but we'll get to that later.
  
• Cymbal hits have some clarity and overall presence (as long as its not in a bassy song), but they are subdued compared to what I am used to and the decay is slightly truncated (or perhaps again it is simply the masking).
  
• Those looking for highly detailed monitors won't get it with the Oriveti Basics. But then again, I don't think that is really their target audience.

Sound-stage, Imaging

• Directional queues are OK but the bassy nature does tend to diffuse things a little. Its by no means bad, everything is where it should be – just not crystal clear or cleanly defined. Presentation of stage is at the periphery of my head space with binaural tracks – so a decent although not spectacular sense of width and depth.
  
• Somewhat elliptically presented sound-stage – with slightly more L/R than front to back.
  
• With the applause section of “Dante's Prayer”, the Basic shows a good sense of imemrsion (the sound of the audience flowing around me), although again there is more width than depth. “Let it Rain” was my next track and it was pleasant to listen to (some semblance of 3D like experience - the way the track was miked). There was zero sibilance with Amanda's vocals – and it should be there because its in the recording – so again reinforcement of the warm, bassy, and forgiving nature of the Oriveti Basic.

Strengths

• Overall smoothness of the signature.
  
• Reasonable sense of stage and imaging
  
• Good cohesion with lower and upper register vocals
  
• Enough balance mixed with the overall warmth, and lovers of a darker, warmer tonality will enjoy the Basic.

Weaknesses

• Bass dominance tends to slightly mask other frequencies on bass heavy tracks
• Not overly detailed – so not ideal for lower volume listening (I had a tendency to turn them up and regret it later when my tinnitus played up)
• Definitely coloured (warm and dark) default sound

AMPLIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The Oriveti basic doesn’t need amplification for overall volume – and because its impedance isn't overly low, any source with an output impedance of less than 2 ohms should pair OK. Even introducing extra impedance did not seem to affect overall tonality. There was no noticeable hiss.

With my iPhone 5S around 25-30% volume is more than enough with most tracks, and the FiiOs are generally at around 28-30/120. I tried the Basic with the E17K, but also with my A5, and IMS Hybrid Valve and none of them seemed to be adding anything to my listening set-up other than some extra bulk. The IMS valve amp tends to add a little 2nd order harmonioc warmth, and was not a good pairing for my tastes. The E17K (however) was fantastic for a different purpose!

RESPONSE TO EQ?
With my testing, I could tell that the dynamic driver Oriveti were using was extremely capable – but for my tastes, I just needed some of that bass removed. The graph was telling me that the bass peak was centered around 50 Hz and is probably about 6-8dB too much for my tastes.

I knew that the E17K's bass controls would tend to give me the exact reductions, so I set it to -6 and proceeded to replay many of the test tracks I'd already tried previously. For my preferences, the change was immediate relief, and quiet captivation. The detail was back, but not etched. Bass was still there, but not prominent. This was a smooth signature I could listen to for hours (and indeed I did).

COMPARISON WITH OTHER IEMS

These comparisons were all done with the X3ii + E17K, (no EQ) – and volume matched using a calibrated SPL meter and fixed 1kHz test tone first. I could have used the X5iii but feared that a tonally smooth DAP paired with the warm Oriveti Basic could be simply a little too dark for my personal tastes. I wanted to compare against some reasonably well known IEMs in a similar price bracket – so I chose the Shozy Zero, Dunu Titan 1, Meze 12 Classics, TFZ Series 5, and Brainwavz M100. Hopefully this gives enough insight to anyone interested in this IEM. Here are my very subjective personal thoughts:

Oriveti Basic (~USD 99) vs Shozy Zero (~USD 60)
Looking first at build quality, and they are both finished pretty well, but ultimately the Oriveti Basic has better quality materials and a far better cable. I can't really comment on accessories as the Zero is a loaner and I didn't get much with it. The Zero is lightweight and easy to fit, and you hardly know you're wearing them – but even they are trumped by the ergonomics of the Basic. Both are dynamics and isolation is about the same.

Sonically the two are very similar. Both on the warm and bassy side. The zero has a little more upper mid-range and lower treble, but it needs it to balance the slightly heavier bass. The Basic has a little less bass warmth but not as much upper end. So for this match up it really comes down to preference of a slightly flatter (Basic) vs slightly more V shaped (Zero) signature – both undoubtedly on the warm side, and if the better overall build quality is worth another $30-40. Personally I'd shell out the extra – but YMMV.

Oriveti Basic (~USD 99) vs Meze 99 Classic (~USD 79)
These two are chalk and cheese – but I'm reviewing the Classic shortly – and its in a similar price bracket, so I thought it worthwhile. Like the Zero, the 12 Classic is a cartridge style with a wood body. Build quality is extremely good and because of their size, fit and comfort are very good. But again the Oriveti Basic has the benefit of better materials in the build, and its cable is much better for wearing IMO. Comfort goes again to the Basic (although both are good) and they are about even with isolation.

Sonically they are very different – but this time it is mainly about the bass difference. Both share a similar mid-range, with the Meze being a little more mid-forward, and a lot leaner and cleaner. The Basic is extremely bassy in direct comparison, and ultimately here its down you your personal preference. I like a less bassy and more balanced (even slightly mid-forward signature), so in a direct comparison here, I'd choose the 99 Classic. If I took EQ into account (and used the tone controls with the Basic), then it would likely be a different choice.

Oriveti Basic (~USD 99) vs TFZ Series 5 (~USD 80)
Once again, the superior build materials used with the Oriveti Basic trump the moulded plastic design of the TFZ5, but this time the fit and comfort are at a similar level (both have a very comfortable and ergonomic build). I still find the Basic's cable a lot better, and of course it has the added benefit of being replaceable. Accessories go the Oriveti. Isolation is similar.

Sonically the comparison is much akin to the Meze Classic vs Oriveti Basic. The TFZ Series 5 is V shaped, but lower in the mid and sub bass, and has a bigger upper mid-range peak, and more lower treble extension. The Basic is again warmer, darker and less mid-forward, and it again becomes a question of whether I'd be prepared to EQ. Without it, my personal preference would be for the TFZ S5. But with EQ, once again I'd probably lean toward the Basic.


Oriveti Basic (~USD 99) vs Brainwavz M100 (~USD 90)
This one surprised me because I simply didn't expect them to sound so similar, and the M100 was one of those earphones that quite a few reviewers panned – ironic when you look at the measurements and the similarity to the Oriveti Basic's frequency response. But I'm getting ahead of myself. For the first time we have an earphone with similar build material quality, but the Oriveti Basic still holds its own in terms of design and ergonomics. Accessories are similar (Brainwavz may even be ahead slightly). The M100 has better isolation, but comes at a cost of driver flex.

Sonically the two are quite similar overall – both bassy and warm, and the only difference is slightly in the way the mid-range and lower treble is presented. The M100 does not have as much extension as the Basic, but has a touch more mid-range presence. Neither's default signature is to my preference – but under the same EQ I find that the Oriveti Basic has that little extra bump in the lower treble I prefer. And if you factor in the overall fit – my preference would be for the Basic.

Oriveti Basic (~USD 99) vs Dunu Titan 1 (~USD 95)
Build materials are evenly matched, as are overall design and even fit. The Oriveti Basic slips slightly ahead on overall ergonomics and also on cable quality (including the fact that its replaceable). Isolation goes to the Basic – the Titan is quite open comparatively.

Sonically the two are chalk and cheese as a whole, but share a similar mid-range. The Titan 1 has very linear bass response (great extension though) and does not have the warmth or darkness of the Basic. Upper mid-range is quite similar, but without the bass warmth, the Titan 1 is a lot cleaner and clearer. But the Titan does have the quite pronounced peak at 7kHz, and people will either like or dislike it. It gives a lot of sharpness and an almost unnatural etch to the upper end. The funny thing is that I've gravitated toward more balanced earphones, I now find too much peak at times annoying – and I never used to. Could I be finally maturing at the ripe old age of 50? Without EQ, I'd probably go with the Titan 1 (but the warmer and darker Basic is appealing in its own way). If I EQ the excess bass out of the Oriveti Basic, it is a signature I could listen to for hours and would be my natural choice.

ORIVETI BASIC – SUMMARY

It always surprises me how little time it takes to get used to an earphone, and brain burn (getting used to a signature) is a very real phenomena. Anyone who knows my tastes will realise the Oriveti Basic simply isn't my ideal signature – but I have to give a grudging respect to Oriveti for what they've done with this earphone. Clearly its aimed at a different (younger) market – perhaps a little more bass oriented.

The Oriveti Basic is beautifully designed and crafted, and the finish, ergonomics and build quality at this price range are best in class. Couple this with a good accessory package, and you're already ½ way toward a winner.

Sonically the Basic is a warm earphone, but it has an excellent mid-range and lower treble – I simply find the excess bass can mask some of the beautiful mid-range (admittedly this is personal taste). If you like a warmer signature which still retains a cohesive mid-range and lower treble, I can think of few better earphones at this price point. And if you're prepared to EQ the bass back a little, the resultant signature is magic.

The RRP at just short of the USD 100 mark puts it in a very competitive price bracket, but the Basic more than holds its own. I really struggled to rate these because if I was marking to my own personal tastes, I'd be thinking around 3.5/5. But that wouldn't be a fair assessment of the overall package. For what they have delivered (for the price), I rank these at a solid 80% and the only deductions really is around the fact that the bass can mask some of that mid-range at times. Even 3-4 dB less sub and mid-bass would have made a world of difference.

I just want to close with thanking Michael for arranging the review sample, and apologise for taking so long with it.