Preamble
I’m finally dedicating a review on an IEM after a year long prolonged absence from Head Gear. I think the last time I did this was back during my mid-fi venture, but I’ve moved away from writing reviews as I found it too time consuming of an effort when I can be leaving small impressions on established forums instead. Speaking of which… Come join the Watercooler thread! (shameless promo) You’ll enjoy it if you like participating in thought-provoking discussions.
Now, I’ve been swimming in a pool of summit-fi gears for the past several months, which have raised my already high standards when it comes to appreciating audio gears. I didn’t think I was ready to retract back down to mid-fi until stumbling upon an iem I’ve never even heard of. This discovery I made was by complete accident when I was scavenging through a cabinet at my local audio store – and boom. What landed on my hand was a completely unknown brand I have never heard of, which made me hesitate from taking it back to my table as I honestly couldn’t be bothered. But as you’ve guessed it… being the obsessively curious person I am, I just had to take the chance, roll the dice, and pray for it to sound beyond mediocrity.
And then there I laid impressed
Ov800 is a flagship iem by a Chinese company named Oriveti. Coming in at $999, they perform competitively within its price bracket and appeal to those looking for a fast tempo with an energetic but refined signature. To put it simply – If you found the Monarch Mkii (currently the most popular choice in this price bracket) a little too polite, relaxed, or god forbid… “boring” for your engagement, Ov800 is
one option you could consider for a clarity-oriented experience.
It’s not your typical “neutral with bass-boost” variation you see crowded in the market, but a contemporary W-shaped tuning with a highlight mid-range that fits oh-so-well in today’s modern genres. It also boasts a remarkable build quality that puts some totl iems to shame – yes, you know what I'm talking about if you’ve witnessed bubbles of glue leaking out from shells.
A little bit about myself
I primarily listen to pop and edm/electronic genres with a little bit of classical music. I prefer vocal-centric tuning with a brighter signature as I love crystal clear voices. I am a bit sensitive in the 8khz region. At this time and moment, Jewel and Odin are my two favorite iems I enjoy listening to the most.
Hopefully, this may give a background to where my inherent bias lies. You can use this information to see whether my impression may line-up to your expectations.
Disclaimer
This is a review sample that I received from Oriveti, but it’s one that I specifically requested due to how much I enjoyed listening to them at my local audio shop. I wanted to take one home for an extended listening session and navigate where it stands in the already crowded market. So thank you Marco (Oriveti representative) for providing me this opportunity.
Specifications
Ov800:
- Drivers: 2 Bass BA, 4 Mid BA, 2 High BA
- Impedance: 15 Ohm
- Frequency Response: 10~40KHz
- Sensitivity: 110+-3dB/mW, 1000Hz
- Distortion: <1%
Stock Cable:
- Cable: New Handmade Class 8 wires Silver Plated Copper wire
- Connector: 0.78mm 2pin connector
- Plug: Gold-plated 3.5mm Stereo Plug
- Cable: 1.2 M
Inside the box
- Ov800
- Leather Carrying Case
- 8 Wire Silver Plated Copper Cable
- (S, M, L) Bowl-shape Eartips
- (S, M, L) Bullet-shape Eartips
- 2 x Foam Tips
- 2 x Double-flange Eartips
- (SS, S, SM) AZLA SednaEarfit Xelastec
- Flight adaptor
- Cleaning tool
- 3.5mm to 6.5mm connector
Build quality
Personally, I don’t care too much about appearance as I’m in for the music. But when multi-kilobucks iem (*cough* Jewel) can get away with such mediocre build and design, Oriveti deserves a round of applause for fleshing out a look that doesn’t remind me of another “off-the-shelf” iem.
Aesthetics are purely subjective, but I have to admit this is one of the best build quality I have come across in the industry. It is literally seamless with an ergonomic contour fit that rivals the universal fit of CA flagship Supermoon. If you’re like me and have a preference towards pseudo-custom-like fit, you’re in for a treat because Ov800 is really comfortable.
Ov800 uses a brass-colored steel as its stem and has a stopper that ensures a snug fit for whichever eartips you choose to wear. I hope this becomes an industry standard, because I cannot count the number of times my eartips fell out from my Odin after being done listening for the day.
Ov800 uses a green wooden faceplate with a resin finish, which matches perfectly with its gold-plated logo and signature. There really is nothing I can nitpick on when the whole design scheme is laid out thoughtfully from start to finish.
Eartips selection -
Bowl-shape (Stock silicone black) : Open and diffused presentation
Bullet-shape (White and black silicone) : More focused presentation with better bass texture. Vocals positioned more within the centerfield of your head.
Azla Sednaearfit Xelastec : Great isolation, giving the impression of a blacker background with better detail retrieval. Boosted bass that looms over vocals. Comparatively a darker presentation. It has a unique appeal that may be favorable to some.
Double flange : Great isolation just next to foam tips, giving a blacker background with more detail retrieval. Feels stuffy and gets fatiguing over time (more noticeable than foam tips). Boosted bass that looms over vocals.
Foam tips : Similar impression as double flange, but better isolation with the blackest background that reveals more details. Feels stuffy and gets fatiguing over time.
My two favorites are the Bowl-shape and Bullet-shape eartips. They are both quite excellent.
Switches
Ov800 has two switches that you can choose to flip up (on) or down (off). The default setting comes with both switches down, and this is also my preferred orientation.
Switch “1” - Controls from lower-mids to subbass
Switch “2” - Controls from upper-mids to treble
(off, off) - Balanced. Has the smoothest and most refined presentation.
(1, off) - Lift in the lower-mids and male vocals become more prominent and a substantial lift in bass. Cellos and bass take the center stage.
(off, 2) - Lift in the upper-mids and treble. Female vocals become more prominent and cymbal strikes are more apparent.
(1, 2) - Lift in bass and treble. Has the most energetic and dynamic presentation.
Feel free to choose whichever orientation you desire, as I did not hear any degradation in sound quality from playing with the switches.
Sound quality –
Source: Dx320 Amp13 → stock cable → Ov800 (both switches off) → Stock silicone black “Bowl-shaped” eartips
Ov800 takes a more unconventional approach in tuning their iem. I’ve seen many different variations of FR graphs measured by members of this community, but none of them seems accurate to my subjective hearing. Instead, the stock graph provided by Oriveti resonates most to my hearing, so you can take confidence in what you’re seeing because that awkward roller coaster from 1khz onward is indeed perceivable. Now before anybody melts down in disbelief (because I know this spells riot to the FR objectivist), it is done so exceptionally well to my subjective hearing that I can’t praise enough how Oriveti came up with this ingenious tuning.
There is a noticeable dip early in the pinna region, which quickly picks itself back up around 4khz. These valleys of ups and downs give off an impression of there being a “pocket” of air spaced right in between where female vocals are usually rendered. This creates a unique sensation of space in the mid-range that’s created purely through the virtue of tuning, rather than by the technical competence of its drivers – because, admittedly, it does not perform beyond its price-range.
There is a nice full body in the lower-mid range that provides a sense of weight and warmth, as opposed to the clean-cut leanness seen in iems like Odin. The
bass delivers a quick and agile speed as expected of BA drivers, but the texture is quite lacking as I’m comparing it back and forth from the Andromeda. The hefty added db in the bass do make up for its mediocre performance, but keep in mind – mediocre doesn’t mean bad; just at a performance that is neither impressive nor disappointing.
I’ve previously mentioned Ov800’s highlight is in the
midrange, and I stand by my statement as it renders vocals beautifully. It has a bit of a feathery light rendition of midrange that keeps itself from getting diffused as there is an appreciable amount of note weight anchoring down. It’s certainly not “meaty” like how some like to chew on, so do keep in mind if you categorize yourself as a thick syrupy mid-range lover. There is this refined quality I haven’t seen from its competitors, and it polishes all harsh ends from approaching shouty or sounding nasal. It has a tad relaxed vocal presentation, but keeps it clear and energetic that you won’t be drifting off in a lullaby.
I’m not particularly picky on the
treble as long as I don’t find it sibilant, and I’d like to gleefully announce that I hear no sibilance around the 8khz region, which is often where my sensitivity gets triggered. There is a satisfactory articulation in the percussion hits and cymbal strikes, but does fall behind the Andromeda for those looking for more note density and gain in this region. I could use more extension in the higher registers, which leads me to conclude that the treble acts more as a supporting foundation than a marvel of its own. With that being said, it does synergize well with the overall spectrum, as there is a healthy boost to stay relevant and not be drowned out by its upper-mid range.
Overall, there is a similar amount of presence from the lowest to the highest octave; and with a little audible dip in certain frequency regions, it is quite evident that Oriveti was aiming for a “W” shaped tuning philosophy.
Technicality
Soundstage is quite mediocre and doesn’t expand further out as you’d expect in this price range. Although I must say it scales down well and is very competitive on low-tiered sources like dongle dac, it stays relatively in-your-head once you start comparing it to its competitors on higher-tiered sources like the Dx320. Its imaging isn’t particularly impressive either. I can definitely use more separation and layering, but it is convincing enough once I take a little break and allow myself to adjust going from the Odin. I am being quite strict here, but it truly is “good enough” to not cause any distraction as none of the frequencies come across smothered nor appear as “one note.” I just can't tell you that this is an excelling technicality at its price-range and doesn’t disrupt the market in ways that Supermoon have had (although unfair as it retails at a more expensive $1500).
Ov800 key strength lies in its ability to resolve. It has a way of finessing every detail that comes across refined rather than edgy at the ends of each transient. It’s as if each note had been smoothed out, but not cleansed from the microdetails that we hone in and appreciate.
“Refined” is the key word here I’d like to emphasize, and will most likely be reiterated in my comparison review further down below.
Comparisons (I’ll be using a short note-style comparison for the sake of memory and convenience) –
– Using Dx320 Amp13 and Questyle M15 –
Andromeda 2020 ~$1099 :
Noticeable and audible hiss even before the music plays. Slightly faster transient attack, brighter and "grittier" sound with a more holographic presentation. Andromeda images and layers better, while Ov800 sounds smoother, more polished, and refined in comparison.
Ov800 does sound more closed-in, but has a blacker background and is easier to drift and fade out into the music.
(On M15 dongle) –
More sensitive and requires less volume. Borderline nasal upper-mids. Continues to maintain great technical proficiency and comes ahead of Ov800.
Ov800 retains its refined signature and is easier on the ear without any harsh or grating sounds. Its soundstage and imaging is more on par with Andromeda on this setup.
Softears Twilight ~$930 :
Softer transients and airier sound. Wider and more open soundstage, with larger instrumental layout (more room between instruments) although attributed to its form factor with its open vent. Does Not isolate well. A bit more gain in the pinna-region, but with a noticeable veil in comparison to Ov800. Smoother sound. You're in for its organic DD timbre. Less mid-bass lift but with better texture and rumble. Cymbal strikes are relaxed and put in the background, whereas it sounds more articulate on the Ov800.
Ov800 sounds crisper and more articulate. Less forward upper-mids in comparison but more revealing. Sounds more focused as opposed to Twilight's diffused presentation. Ov800 has a tighter and quicker decay in bass but with noticeably less texture. Ov800 resolves better with higher detail retrieval.
Twilight is a smoother listen overall.
A noticeable veil in the midrange, but a relaxing listen that you can fade into. Vocals sound more airy and float with each breath.
(On M15 dongle) –
Much more comparable soundstage between the two, with a slightly more width on Twilight, but better height on the Ov800. Both images to a similar degree, but slightly favors Twilight once again. Overall, much of my impression is similar to the dx320 but at a much closer technicality.
The midrange veil is still evident on the M15 dongle.
Westone Mach 70 ~$1399 :
More open and wider soundstage. Resolve better.
"Clear-sounding" tuning with a more polite pinna-gain. Treble rolls off in the higher registers. A smoother listen but with an articulate and powerful bass. Has noticeably better dynamics, but vocals come across subtle and less articulate in comparison to Ov800.
Ov800 sounds more detailed and enjoyable and incites more energy into everything it plays. Mach 70 has a more natural timbre, whereas BA timbre is evident on the Ov800.
(On M15 dongle) –
Scales down incredibly well. Retains most of its technical proficiency from the Dx320 pairing. Similar impression as the Dx320 and compares relatively in proportion to M15's scaled back technicality.
Fir Audio VxV ~$999 :
Wider soundstage with better imaging. Treble comes across sibilant and coarse in comparison (too much energy). Higher resolution with better dynamics. Can induce fatigue through elevated upper-mids. Sounds shouty and nasal around 4~5k. Very engaging but much more conducive to fatigue. More elevated treble. If you found odin fatiguing, VxV may not be it for you.
Better texture and oomph in bass.
All around a technically more proficient and resolving iem with better dynamics, soundstage, and imaging. However, it sounds more coarse and rough around the edges in comparison.
Ov800 sounds more polished, clean, and refined, but lacks the technical knack of VxV. Has a more pleasant tonality with sweeter vocals in comparison. Also has a blacker background to observe details better.
(On M15 dongle) –
Similar impression to dx320.
Continues to resolve better (but just marginally) on the VxV, but now with a more comparable soundstage. Nasal harshness is still evident. More textured and impactful bass with more prominent treble.
Ov800 sounds more refined and easier on the ears.
Overall, I'd honestly take the Ov800 over VxV for its refined quality. VxV comes across quite “rough” in comparison.
Kinera Nanna 2.0 Pro ~$949 :
Mid-centric tuning like the Ov800. Comes across darker, but vocals remain clear and present. Has a wider and more spherical soundstage with better separation and layering. Better bass impact and texture as attributed by its dynamic driver.
Ov800 sounds more polished and refined across the entire spectrum. Sweeter and clearer vocals with faster transient decay. Cleaner and more “refreshing” tuning.
(On M15 dongle) –
Ov800 pulls ahead in technicality and provides a more convincing presentation. Nanna 2.0 pro requires good amping to get the most of what it's capable of. For the porta-fi dongle user, it's much easier to recommend the Ov800.
Dorado 2020 ~$1099 :
High noise floor regardless of price-range. Midrange sounds veiled in comparison, but has captivating weight and dimension to it. Treble rolls off, but heavy rumbling bass. Elevated midbass that bleeds into the lower mids. Enveloping soundstage that is a tad wider and deeper than Ov800. Slower transients and approaches music with a heavy demeanor. Colored mids.
Sounds like V.
Generally sounds muffled in comparison. Vocals are placed in the background, but sounds veiled rather than just tamed.
(On M15 dongle) –
Enveloping soundstage as on the Dx320, but now with more comparable width.
Noticeable shout in the upper-mid (~5k) region. Still sounds muffled, but bass sounds fantastic and extends deep down into abyss. Ov800 has better imaging with noticeably clear and separated instruments.
Vision Ears EVE20 ~€1300 :
Wider and more spherical soundstage with a larger-than-life presentation. Has a spectacular imaging at its price-range. EVE20 resolves better, but is quite shouty and can induce fatigue for extended periods of listening time. There is a noticeable noise floor, as opposed to the darker background of the Ov800.
EVE20 has a fuller, more impactful bass that is better textured and extends further down low. It is a very forward and intense signature, so I can see it being an appeal and deterrent depending on what the user is looking for.
Ov800 sounds thinner and a bit compressed in comparison, but sounds more polished and refined from all harsh edges. Ov800 is a much easier listen for the ears.
(On M15 dongle) –
Performs well at minimal amplitude, but its technicality doesn't differ as striking as on the Dx320. Same impression as mentioned above but at a less striking difference.
Ov800 continues to pull ahead in refinement and polish the upper-ends in comparison to the intense and border-line hoarse EVE20. Ov800 is my preferred iem on the dongle dac.
Sources paired with Ov800 (in comparison to Dx320 Amp13) -
Sony Wm1zm2 (S.E. output) :
Blacker background, better dynamics, colder (as expected of SS amp), punchier, and more textured elevated bass. Has sharper transients and more forward upper-mids.
Dx320 (amp13, right output) has more emotive vocals with a sweeter and “liquidity” presentation. More tamed dynamics, but wider soundstage and deeper depth. Sounds a tad more holographic. Airier vocals with more dimensions.
Questyle M15 (S.E. output) :
Coldest sounding of the three. Less soundstage width and depth. Energetic signature with more prominent upper-mids.
Less refinement overall as expected of a dongle dac.
*Stock cable on left, Affinity 2 on right
Affinity 2 Cable
Marco decided to surprise me with an upgrade cable throughout my trial and sent me one without me having asked for it. It arrived in a box with the same leather case as the one provided in the Ov800 with a nifty option to choose and plug your own termination to your needs. This saves me from adding more bulky adaptors throughout the whole chain and the fact that the connectors are in right-angle is just an added bonus.
**IMPORTANT**
Make sure that the "red" and "blue" dots seen on the 2-pin connectors are both positioned at the top. There will be an audible channel imbalance if you do not follow correctly. I thought the driver units had broke the first time I experienced this, so please be aware!
Cable Specifications:
Material: 4x (Ultra Pure OCC Copper & Silver Plated Copper)
Conductor: 4 (Coaxial)
Audio Jack: 2.5mm , 3.5mm , 4.4mm
Connector: 2-pin (0.78mm)
Ear Guide Section: Metal Guided Wire, None
Length: 1.2 meters
Given the opportunity to demo this cable, I had to compare it with some popular aftermarket cables to see how it competes in the market.
Comparisons:
Source: Dx320 amp13 → ____ cable → Ov800
Affinity 2 ~$300 :
It keeps the same DNA of the stock cable with a focus on articulating higher frequencies. Expansion of soundstage in all directions (width, height, and depth) with a noticeable amount more space between each instrument with added layers beneath.
Paired with Ov800, it gives a more enveloping soundstage and sucks you within. Sounds more coherent as if each band flows better from one to another. I wish this came as the stock cable for the Ov800 because it sounds so good together, but I do understand the manufacturer’s standpoint of needing to control cost. Highly recommend this pair up.
Ares S ~$179 :
Affinity 2 extends higher up in the upper frequency with a wider and taller soundstage and better separation of instruments.
Ares S sounds fuller in the bass and lower-mids. It is slower and more syrupy compared to the faster, cleaner, and lean presentation of the Affinity 2.
Cadmus ~$199 :
Cadmus shares a lot of the same DNA as Affinity 2. Affinity 2 sounds a tad leaner, smoother, and more refined. Affinity 2 also has more air between instruments with a slightly wider and taller soundstage.
Affinity 2 sounds like a refined version of Cadmus. A little more relaxed with better rendering of vocals and higher frequencies.
Cadmus has a slightly darker background. Slightly better articulation of notes with more prominent weight. Similar bass texture.
Eros S ~$299 :
Eros S has more emphasized midrange with revealing vocals; fuller presentation with more textured bass; and better articulation of note weight with a tad slightly faster transients.
Affinity 2 has a wider and taller soundstage with a leaner presentation. It sounds more ethereal, smooth, and "floaty".
Finale -
I’ve had a very enjoyable time demoing the Ov800 for the past several weeks. It is not a technical beast by today’s standards, but I had to give it some slack as it was an older model that was built in consideration of the mid-fi market. Tuning and refinement is the name of the game here, because it truly is exquisite enough to want another updated variation of the Ov800. Just add an updated driver configuration that technically competes on par with today's summit-fi iem, and I wouldn't hesitate to get my hands on them.
Ov800 may not be a perfect contender to disrupt the market balance, but offers a unique and flavorful tuning that sets itself apart as an anomaly. It is a testimony of this brand’s competence, and one we should all be taking note of.
You bring up such an excellent point. This is why Im generally not a fan of ranking iems, but I had been able consistently enjoy the Ov800 even amongst the crowds of multi-thousand dollars totl.
It may not have the technical knack of the heavy hitters, but provides such an excellent value in how well it scales for a $1000 that I find myself very content with giving a high score.
Ultimately, this is my preferential bias rather than an objective evaluation of an iem, which I'm generally not a fan of.
I seek what is most musical to my ears and Ov800 captures this to a sufficient degree for my satisfaction