Oriveti OH700VB

SOLID IN THE WARM​

ORIVETI OH700VB

SETUP. Exclusive 6BA (2 for high, 4 for mid) + 10mm Dynamic Driver
SEN & IMP. 112dB/mW | 12Ω
PRICE. 699€ en ORIVETI

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RATING S-
More time I spend with this headset, I can assure I´m willing to sell some stuff on my collection. I usually prefer warm tonalities, and this ORIVETI is a dream come true for those who loves thicker bass, warm mid-section. I like flat frequencies responses, with a bass that is separated from the mids but hits firmly, and this OH700VB has managed to do it. Just that, it already got me.

But nothing could be perfect, and the price is totally out of place, and does not allow me to recommend it. Other iems with similar configuration cost half as much. I wouldn't buy them over VARIATIONS, which cost almost 300 euros less. But, at least, they try something different. Without doubt, for lovers of warm tones, it's an alternative.

Also, the packaging and a cable that are not corresponding the price, or colors picked for the capsule are far from convincing me. If they had HISENIOR's customization service, I would definitely use it.

If you want something different, a expensive "kind of" tuning with a excellent sub-bass performance, try to get them on sale, because at regular price, they are too much expensive.

"No doubt, they are a trip, perhaps not the most natural . , not the most technical... but one of the most exciting I´ve had in 2024."

Orivetti OH700VB

• 10mm Dynamic Driver and 6 Balanced Armatures
• RRP: $699 (available HERE)

Introductions & Caveats

I love when a review comes along that I would consider to be ‘easy’ - that being, the subject of the review is simply easy to enjoy or indeed love, as such the words can flow with relative enthusiasm. The OH700VB is exactly that - hard to find much fault here, especially at $699. Orivetti are a brand I’ve seen mentioned over the last couple of years and always in a very positive light - it was only this year however that I finally took the plunge, jumping aboard the OD200 train - just in case you missed this one, it’s an excellent single DD selling for $199. Not long after I first tried the OD200, I read a lot of high praise for their flagship hybrid, the OH700VB, and was delighted to then have the opportunity to review this set - thank you to Marco at Orivetti. The OH700VB was provided to me free of charge in exchange for a review… as always, all words are my own based on my ears/music/sources… your journey may be very different, but I do my best to convey my experience in a way that can hopefully enlighten the reader as to the broad capabilities of any set.



A bit about me… (if you’ve read my previous reviews, you might just skip this - not much here has changed )

I worked in the consumer electronics industry for a large part of my career, and have been passionate about music and technology from as far back as I remember - even as a small child asking my Mum to put records on the turntable (Abba, Supertramp and Planxty if anyone is curious )

My music preferences are very varied - anything from classical to techno, indie rock to jazz and all in between. In my early teens I was a big fan of bands like The Cure and The Smiths (still am all these years later), and I was bitten by the dance music bug that arrived in the early 90s where I became hugely passionate about genres like techno, house, trance and IDM - I amassed a huge collection of records and CDs, DJing with the former at various parties and occasional pirate radio station slots - a hobby at the time that I never took further, but still own 1000s of records and my trusty Technics 1210 turntables are still going strong 30 years later, a testament to the Japanese engineering!

I am not a professional reviewer or anything remotely like it. I love music, and I love the methods by which we can listen to music - over the last few years, that has become an obsession with IEMs and related gear. I've bought and sold many, and held on to a select few - these have been anything from a $20 set like the Moondrop Chu, all the way up to kilobuck sets such as Aroma Jewel, the infamous 'Traillii' from Oriolus, UM Mentor, and a whole selection of my beloved single DDs. As part of this exploration, I like to share my thoughts on the various sets in my journey with the Head-Fi community, in the hope it might be useful to others. The massive caveat, is of course that 'your mileage may vary' - this is a highly subjective hobby.



About Orivetti (taken from their website)

ORIVETI is an 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.



Specifications

Driver: Exclusive 6BA driver (2 for high, 4 for mid) + 10mm Dynamic Driver (for low)
Impedance: 12 Ohm
Frequency Response: 20 - 20000Hz
Sensitivity: 112+-3dB/mW, 1000Hz
Distortion: <1%
Plug: Gold-plated 3.5mm Stereo / 2.5mm balanced / 4.4mm balanced Plug

Unboxing Photos













Design & Fit

These are an incredibly well designed IEM with what I would consider pretty much a perfect fit for my ears - that of course won’t be the case for everyone, but I’ve read many comments saying the same so I feel pretty confident Orivetti have designed these in a way that will suit most. There are no hard edges, or sharp corners - everything is smooth… the shape, finish and sound! I’ve been using Azla Crystals in large which provide excellent isolation. They are of course vented, and I’ve had no issues with pressure build, something I do regularly face problems with. They are a 2-pin format (which reminds me, MMCX seems to be further dropping away?) and while the sockets aren’t recessed, the supplied cable 2-pin plugs fit very securely. Oh and they are also very light so you barely feel them in your ears… plus taking them out in bed at night and putting on my bedside locker doesn’t disturb my wife, these are all ‘real world’ considerations in our hobby...







Cable

I love when I get an IEM and the stock cable can be wound up into a neat package, and doesn’t spring back out and sprawl in various directions as if it has an entire life of it’s own… a picture of course tells many words… The cable is light, supple, and has very low microphonics - I’m not aware of a cable as yet that has absolutely ‘no’ microphonics, and this is as good as it gets in that regard.



The modular system to switch between 3.5mm and 4.4mm is easy to use but doesn’t pop out by accident as has been the case with some others I've tried.





2-pin connectors with clearly marked 'right' and 'left' - probably an age/eyesight thing, but I often have to go hunting for a small red dot, or barely visible tiny L and R indicators!



The supplied case is well made and houses the IEM and cable with plenty of room to spare.



Listening Impressions

I've used a variety of DAPs with the OH700VB over the last few weeks, and find they are easy to drive and not fussy on the source. For the purpose of this review, my test tracks are via my LPGT Ti.

The overall tuning profile is smooth, engaging, immersive, captivating with a nice balance across the FR, starting out with deep, visceral sub-bass, impactful mid-bass, clear/articulate mids, and treble that while pushed a touch forward, isn’t harsh or in your face - it has a crisp execution that remains polite. They lean a lot more towards musical than technical, which of course may not suit everyone and again this really depends on what you are looking for… if you want more clarity, resolution, or more neutral tuning, this wouldn’t be the best choice. The bass switches are quite effective, obviously enhancing the low frequencies which in turn pull back on the overall sense of air, as such choosing to use or not will be highly dependent on the choice of music.





Bass

There is a sub-bass emphasis over mid, where it extends with a rumble that is still well controlled and never overwhelming or intrusive (possibly at times with the bass switches on if already bass heavy music), it has yet to disappoint me and I’ve had many, many hours of listening pleasure over the last number of weeks. While mid-bass steps back a bit, and I appreciate that is more common in a lot of IEMs, certainly no slouch either - you do get a good mid-bass kick when needed, and it’s obvious a DD at work here where you can almost feel the vibration of a solid kick drum impact. Timbre is nice, again you’ve got more of a smoothness and warmth so if looking for more ‘precision’ and clarity, this won’t be the best choice.

Mids

The theme continues with the mids whereby we’ve that smooth presentation, but still good clarity and detail. I’ve found both male and female vocals render well with good authenticity and in an appropriate central position. Upper mids don’t extend which is a bit of a double-edged sword in that from a positive perspective, there are no disturbing peaks for those who are sensitive to this region, but the trade-off in my opinion is where the likes of violin strings for example don’t quite hit the peaks I might expect. Overall though the mids are well done with plenty of emotive engagement and that overall ‘smooth’ and safe presentation, but can happily accommodate busier tracks with complex arrangements and portray in a more lively way.

Treble

There is a reasonable level of sparkle up top, but I would suggest maybe not a set that will fully satisfy those looking for more energy in this region. My ears are hitting half a century it must be noted, and I’m definitely less sensitive in this zone but nothing offensive in my experience over the last few weeks, and even with the treble being a touch subdued, there is still reasonable air and clarity that often aids in extending the impression of space on the stage.

Technical

These are absolutely not a set that focuses on the technical nuances that some may seek, the focus so much more on the overall musical experience. There is a still a large enough soundstage and while not a precise or microscopic level of attention to imaging or layering, you can still distinguish individual instruments and there relative position on stage, it just won’t be the focus or really grab your attention the way sets that are more competent in this area can do.



Test Tracks

DIIV - Horsehead (indie/shoegaze)

This is the opening track to the 2019 album ‘Deceiver’ from New York band DIIV. I first discovered DIIV from the excellent 2015 ‘Oshin’ which I really must revisit. Anyway, this is a pretty energetic track with almost chaotic climaxes of electric guitars, percussion, bass, and vocals - well handled here as nothing sounds too congested or harsh, however I’ve certainly heard better from a resolution perspective in pinpointing the various components. It sounds better with the bass switches turned on, providing more body even if slightly to the detriment of air.



DF Tram - A Thousand Knives (downtempo/dub/electronica)

An incredibly well produced album that has very clear influence from early ambient/dub masters, The Orb. This is a great track to really show off the bass prowess of OH700VB, where you really get to experience the deep sub rumble. It's not an overly complex track, everything is well rendered with plenty of air and space. There are a lot of samples that seem to pop up around the stage, sounding quite lifelike and giving an almost 3D sensation. Percussion is airy, intermittent vocals drift in and out of the centre and again nicely rendered. This is a fun track, from an excellent album and perfectly suited to this IEM… especially with the bass switches set to on.



Marconi Union - These European Cities (ambient/downtempo/guitar)

I discovered Marconi Union from the 2012 album ‘Distance’ and have been a fan ever since, buying all of their releases. This is the sort of music that really can sound good on any IEM but I would tend to prefer a set that allows more resolution and precision, that being something like Turii Ti which is my go-to for music like this. The OH700VB does a very nice job however, captivating and the mid bass impact which switches on is very apparent, a good solid pounding thud. The guitar sounding ethereal, but perhaps again lacking a bit of edge due to resolution



Steve Roach - A Circular Ceremony (ambient)

This track features on the classic ambient work ‘Dreamtime Return’ from 1988. It was remastered in 2018 for it’s 30th anniversary, and sounds absolutely wonderful - this is a great example of an album to get a sense for the original masters of ambient music. The smooth, warm profile of OH700VB works wonders on this track, and a reason why I often choose this set to chill in bed with ambient music before I sleep. Closing my eyes to this, I feel like I’m whisked away to a remote island, in a warm bliss of swirling sounds across a large landscape. I’ve chosen the off position for the bass boost here as I prefer it to open up to a more airy presentation.



GCOM - Ocean Dreams (electronica/downtempo/ambient)

This is a solo work from the legendary Tom Middleton of Global Communication fame and features on the 2019 album ‘E2-XO’. While not dance floor material, certainly more upbeat compared to the last couple of tracks, and an opportunity to test this set with the inclusion of drum programming along with more complex arrangements. It sounds ‘cinematic’ with lush synths, good speed and an overall immersive presentation that for me captures the mood of this track very well.



Ólafur Arnalds - 00:48/07:29 (modern classical)

This is where I crave more resolution, air and probably a preference for a dynamic driver delivering for the chosen instruments, especially strings and piano. It does still sound very pleasant, but I’m just missing some clarity, air and probably more ‘zing’ in the upper mids. While I can still enjoy this album, the OH700VB wouldn’t be my top choice to reach for. Bass switches best off here to again open it up.



Calibre - Badman (Drum & Bass)

A perfectly suited genre for this set in my experience, the combination of a smooth presentation, speed, and with not too much energy up top allows for drum programming to come off without any harshness. The vocals are central, and not pushed forward or back with good body to the tone. It again has that sense of being atmospheric and highly captivating.



Trentemøller - One Eye Open (indie/vocals/electronic)

Fantastic opening track to the absolutely stunning ‘Fixion’ from 2016. Very obvious influences here to the likes of The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees and others from that era in the 1980s - but fair to say a fresh take here. The female vocals are again nicely central, with good body and authentic sounding to my ears. A slowish paced track but with a reasonable amount of instruments but not sounding congested at any point, again very captivating and easy to just get lost in.



Gridlock - Song23 (IDM)

No idea how I got this far without trying some IDM, one of my favourite electronic genres and always fantastic to test the ability to handle detail and complexity. This is a classic from 2003 on the German Hymen label. OH700VB holds up well here, but I would probably like a touch more precision in the complexity, again I guess this is where some additional resolution would help. As per others though, it certainly wouldn’t stop me listening to this album, still a very enjoyable listen.



Conclusion

This is an easy recommendation when asked for a suggestion for a solid ‘fun’ and engaging all-rounder under $1,000, and probably even higher. I’ve had these now for about six weeks and even with other much more expensive sets within reach, I have found myself often grabbing these - as I said at the start, they are just so easy to love, with fantastic comfort, zero fatigue with many hours listening, a great stock cable, and all for $699 - they do fit that ‘generalist’ category for me where they play basically any genre at least very well, but will fall short for some where more resolution and detail is perhaps required.

The OH700VB is Oriveti's current hybrid flagship, which is equipped with a total of 7 drivers. One DD driver for the bass, 4 BA drivers for the mids and 2 BA drivers for the treble. Oriveti's aim was to develop a very neutral and detailed sound. The extent to which this has been achieved will be discussed below.



The workmanship of the OH700VB is really outstanding for the price of 699 USD. You can see that every single housing is made by hand and with attention to detail. I have never experienced such good workmanship and design in this price range. The shimmering purple plastic case with the integrated wooden faceplate looks fantastic. The golden nozzle fits in perfectly, as does the golden logo and label. There is an air hole in the housing which precisely regulates the internal air flow to produce a more detailed sound. A mini switch is integrated into the faceplates, allowing the user to choose between two sound settings. The good thing about the two switches is that they can be operated while wearing the IEMs in the ear without having to remove the IEMs. The lower position gives the OH700VB a slight bass shelf, while the upper position represents the "neutral" position.





An 8-core, hand-braided cable that is very flexible and soft is included in the scope of delivery. With the included adapters (3.5mm, 2.5mm and 4.4mm) it can be used with almost any source. I am pleased that more and more manufacturers are using the version with plugs instead of having to buy several cables. A round leather case and several pairs of different foam and silicone eartips are also included. All in all, a very well-rounded package for the price.

Now we come to the most important thing, namely the sound! I tested the OH700VB on my DX320 MAX Ti DAP. With an impedance of 12 ohms, the Oriveti is very easy to drive and I can barely get beyond gain level 1. However, the OH700VB is also very level-resistant and can handle a lot of power and can play very loudly without distorting at all. Its size and weight make it very comfortable to carry. I quickly found the optimum tips. The AZLA Clears fit like a glove. For me, it sounds best and almost perfect with the bass shelf switched on. The neutral tuning is a little too thin for me.



So how is it tuned? For me, the OH700VB, together with the FIBAE 7U and the Cadenza 12, are the most neutral IEMs I've heard so far. While a Cadenza 12 is tuned neutral/warm, the FIBAE 7U and OH700VB sound a little brighter. With the bass shelf, the OH700VB has about as much bass as a FIBAE 7U. Of the trio, the Cadenza 12 has slightly more bass.

This brings us to the OH700VB's most outstanding feature. The bass range is really successful and doesn't have to hide from much more expensive models, which is remarkable! There's enough punch, there's high quality, the bass really breathes and is very controlled. Nothing extends into other frequency ranges here. It goes down relatively far and has a small presence in the mid-bass range, which leads to a nicely springy bass whose impact you can feel. A DD driver is simply crisper in the bass than a BA driver. Although the FIBAE 7U is even more precise, it cannot deliver the punch of an Oriveti and Cadenza 12. The Cadenza 12 has a little more substance in the low bass range than the Oriveti. But it's great how well the Oriveti's bass works. You have to consider how much more expensive the FIBAE 7U and especially the Cadenza 12 are!

The OH700VB sounds very airy and transparent. The spatial imaging is not the widest, but it offers a very good depth graduation in which the voices are slightly foregrounded. This is because the mids are reproduced very neutrally without instruments or voices having a fuller character. Here, for example, a Trifecta that is not neutrally tuned sounds fuller, instruments seem gnarlier and sound elements have more physical impact.

The resolution is very good for the price range. Roughly on a par with the U4s, which is twice as expensive. The Oriveti does not achieve the instrument separation of a FIBAE 7U. With the IEM from Custom Art, I can concentrate on one instrument more easily, as all instruments are better separated from each other and are also easier to locate. With the OH700VB, the treble is reproduced without any peaks and there is no attenuation. However, the mic details are still not as easy to pick out as with a FIBAE 7U or Cadenza 12. It's something you don't miss when listening to the OH700VB alone, because its always involving and energetic playing style is so much fun that I don't even want the "acoustic magnifying glass" feature at that moment. And that wasn't Oriveti's intention at all. They wanted to create a neutral IEM, but one that would still be involving. And I think they've achieved that, even to the extent that bass lovers will also enjoy the bass switch!

In my opinion, the OH700VB is without competition in this price range! At least I haven't heard an IEM up to 800 USD that can hold a candle to the Oriveti. For this reason alone, I would say that the OH700VB is an absolute hit. For someone who doesn't want to or can't get into the TOTL IEM market, for a price of 699 USD you get a really top sound at a low price. I myself also asked myself in a direct comparison why the others are so much more expensive. It's the last few percent for which you have to put a lot of money on the table in the end. Even if the Oriveti cost 1299 USD, nobody would complain. My very clear recommendation to buy!