Brainwavz Omega In Ear Monitors

Thank-you to Pandora of Brainwavz for supplying the Omega for review.
 
 
    Brainwavz has been around for a while now and this isn't my first encounter with one of their products.  In 2011 I purchased my first Brainwavz IEM, the M1.  At the time I was impressed with the M1's balanced sound and reasonable price.  It was sampled and appreciated by a musician friend of mine and became a reluctant gift.  A year later I snagged the R1; this was my first encounter with a dual dynamic driver and despite it not being universally popular I very much enjoyed the bass heavy sound.  It became my gym IEM and for over 8 months it survived very rough treatment including but not limited to cables caught on weights/bars and a slurry of liquid ear wax (yeah, I know 'yuck').  It's been a few years since I've heard a Brainwavz product; not from any lack on their part but simply because there's a cornucopia of options out there and I've been liberal about exploring them.
 
    That brings us to the Omega.  At $15 it's Brainwavz cheapest earphone on offer.  Two years ago that would have bought you a plastic housing and a tinny/flat sound.  Happily things have changed.
 
Build Quality & Aesthetics:  The Omega is a traditional barrel shaped design but like most of Brainwavz IEMs it's a little quirky in a good way.  You get solid steel housings each possessing a nicely finished mesh grill.  The housings are connected to the cables by a plastic strain relief that aids in easy insertion and removal without needing to pull on and stress the cables.  The aforementioned cord is of above average quality for the price.  It's not overly microphonic or sticky and doesn't have much memory (it doesn't want to kink).  The cabling between the housings and the robust Y split are a little thin but still reasonable for the price, if there's a weak point to the build quality this is it.  Below the Y split (which possesses a functional cable cinch) the cable is thicker and appears durable.  The TRRS jack is angled (between straight and ninety degrees), it's gold plated and small enough to work with most phone cases.  It's obvious that Brainwavz believes this IEM will be used with phones because it includes a small plastic three button remote (nice clicky buttons).  I didn't used the Omega with a phone so for me the remote (on the right side) functioned as the L/R indicator.  The strain reliefs on the housings are also engraved with tiny 'R' and 'L' indicators but they're difficult to see.
 
   The Omega is offered in three different versions.  There's the traditional black and white but along with those is the third option, blue and red, or to be more accurate crimson and violet.  That's the model I received and it adds an appealing touch of personality.
 
Accessories: For $15 what's included with the Omega strikes me as generous.  You get three sets of moderate quality silicone ear tips in small, medium and large.  A set of Comply S-400 tips (usually an IEM has to be pricier to include these).  One shirt clip (it can aid in controlling cable noise).  A velcro cable tie (which I promptly ignored).  A small instruction manual and a card presenting you with a two year warranty.  You don't get Brainwavz's superb IEM case, for that you'd have to buy a more expensive model.
 
Fit & Comfort:  The Omega's housings are tiny.  Those with smaller ears (such as myself) can rejoice; this IEM fits quickly, comfortable and easily.  Straight out of the box (with the medium tips) I got an above average fit and seal.  Later I did some tip rolling and had an even better experience using some foreign tips from my collection.  If you're new to in ears I wouldn't be concerned, I think the vast majority of people will get on great with the included options.
 
Isolation: Average to slightly better than average.  Choose the Comply foams and  you'll get a little more noise blockage.
 
Sound Quality:  The Omegas present the listener with a traditional mid-bass heavy consumer friendly sound.  The bass is a little emphasized (though not dramatically so) while the mids are slightly recessed, the treble is present but not bright or forward.  Brainwavz' take on this popular approach is a good one.  The bass isn't tubby or too slow and it's only the tiniest bit intrusive into the midrange.
 
   Before I continue the reader should know that the majority of my listening was done out of an MSI gaming computer coupled with the HRT Microstreamer, a USB based solution to the DAC/AMP question I find very satisfying.  The music I listened to was almost entirely electronic in a variety of sub genres including tropical house, vocal trance, industrial, EBM, EDM, chillout etc...  I also challenged the Omega's dynamics by using it to watch several lossless audio films (horror and action) as well as a few TV shows (which lets me know just how naturally an IEM will perform with the human voice).
 
   The most common issue I have with budget earphones (and some that are more expensive) is a lack of refinement.  What might sound good for a few minutes can, over hours of use, grow tiring or grating.  When  I start to feel fatigued or irritated it makes me want the IEMs causing it out of my ears.  A good example are some of the Omega's competitors from KZ.  The KZ-ATE can be initially impressive, as can the KZ-ED9.  The problems are realized later; the ATE lacks bass control and the ED9's treble has spikes that (for me) are a little too harsh.  The Omega competes well.  Initially the Omega didn't 'wow' me like the ATE did.  Then I compared each of them during an hour and a half movie (switching every 20 minutes).  The Omega has a more natural presentation with voices and other familiar sounds; it doesn't tire the ear.
 
   Something else you couldn't get two plus years ago for $15 was an out of the head sound stage.  Though it's not dramatically wide or deep, the Omega does have an (slightly) out of the head sound.  You won't get a holographic sense of instrument placement but it's present enough to imbue the Omega with a little more dimensionality than you'd normally guess a budget IEM would present.
 
Conclusion:  For $15 the Brainwavz Omega offers the prospective buyer a better than average build quality, a charmingly quirky but practical aesthetic and  an easily listenable, above average (for it's price) quality of sound.  It's both cheap and comfortable.  For those with a limited budget or as a gift for your phone loving friends who are still using the headsets included with their phones, it's a solid choice. 

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Intro:-
 
 We all know about Brainwavz, it’s one of those brands that believe in bang for bucks more than anything else. Let it be headphones or earphones or even Bluetooth headsets, they have them priced cheaper than possible. Quality BT devices with plenty of accessories are not a thing to be considered cheap but Brainwavz prices them really cheap.
 
 I have reviewed many of Brainwavz devices, amps, pads, BT earphones, this time I have the Brainwavz Omega, priced just $15 makes it Brainwavz’s cheapest earphone till date. Has a 3 button remote which works with apple and android devices flawlessly. It’s their first futuristic looking earphone (to my eyes at least), comes in 3 colors, black, white, blue with red. I have the one in blue with red.
 
 I assume it’s one of their one off earphones they make like Delta and jive, one of their kind and has its own distinctive design, it’s a nice looking earphone too, housing a 6mm dynamic driver, first from Brainwavz, in a machined high quality metal housing.
 
 Basically it’s a entry level earphone/headset targeted towards the youth and will face tough completion from earphones like ES-18s, Piston 3, Signature acoustics BE-09, KZ earphones and many more.
 Before I move on I would like to thank Pandora and Brainwavz for this review unit.
 
  
 
  
 
Accessories and miscellaneous:-
 
 Now being the cheapest Brainwavz offering Omega don’t ship with a carry case anymore but comply tips are intact. It ships with 4 pair of tips, 3 pairs of silicon and one pair of medium sized comply S-400 tips. There is a cable clip, a Velcro tie and a warranty card.
 
 This tiny earphone has awesome build quality. Earpieces are short, small and the body is of metal, still light weight, stress relievers are made of hard plastic, there are no visible vents on its body. Ergonomics has never been a problem with straight barrel designs. Omega is comfortable and doesn’t have any irritation even when worn over ear.
 
 The cable is just like any other one-off models from Brainwavz, exactly the same type we can find on Jive or delta, 60 degree jack, 3.5mm obviously, Brainwavz style Y splitter and cable slider. The cable is strong and not much bouncy.
 
 Microphonics is there and slightly bothering when worn cable down, not as much as Delta or S0 though, use the cable clip to keep microphonics down. And when worn over ear, microphonics is not a thing to worry about.
 
 Isolation is average at best with silicon tips, slightly better with comply tips.
 
 
 
Remote and mic:-
 
 It has a 3 button remote to control music and pick or end calls. My Redmi has feature to assign volume buttons to skip tracks or control volume. When it’s set to control volume, middle button does everything else. Picks calls, ends calls, plays and stops music when not in call, skips ahead with a double tap and goes back with 3 clicks. Works fine with all android phones.
 
 When volume buttons are assigned to skip tracks back and forth, you can’t control volume from your remote.
 
 Mic’s voice quality is acceptable but sounds slightly hollowed to the person on the other end. Clarity is okay too.
 
 
 
Sound quality:-
 
  Now it reads high fidelity audio, crisp clean sound on the box, but forgot to mention its bass prowess, is it a bassy earphone? Definitely. Omega has an inoffensive signature, dark still warm and easy on ears.
 
 I have burned these in for more than 50hrs and using stock medium sized tips. This earphone doesn’t need an amplifier to sound at its best and can be easily driven by all of these modern day smart phones.
 
  Here are some of the tracks that I used,
  James blunt – 1973(my favorite track),
  Adele - set fire to the rain,
  Paul lindford and Chris vrenna – most wanted mash up.
  Plan-B – playing with fire.
 Jessie J- sweet talker,
The Avener – Castle in the snow (feat. Kadebostany)
 Tinie Tempah- wonderman feat Ellie Goulding,
 George Barnett- super hero in a ball and Down on me (this guy knows what he is doing).
 Breaking Benjamin- Who wants to live forever (Queens Cover, new mix).
 Lupe Fiasco- Adoration of the magi Feat. Crystal Torres
 John Newman and Calvin Harris – blame.
Imagine dragons – Roots and Amsterdam.
 
 
 
Bass:-
 
 As I said, Omega is bassy, not super bassy but still bassy. It doesn’t overwhelm anything though. It moves plenty of air and has good amount of slam too. It doesn’t hold back when summoned, it goes boom!! Now it’s not slow but it doesn’t show awesome pace too, decay is just as good as it should be and better than other bassy earphones, I would have liked a bit better decay though. It’s full bodied and feels rich, good quality bass I must say. Has plenty of sub bass and mid bass presence. Extension too is really good for its price.
 
 Omega can sound loose and wooly at some times but noting serous and nothing that one will not enjoy unless one doesn’t like bass. It has enough bass to keep a bass head seated. Have enough details too. One thing that I liked is it doesn’t lag or stutter or drop frames, keeps up nicely with the pace of the track. Doesn’t have good control but its not bad.
 
 Yes it bleeds slightly, nothing serious. You just can’t ask for much at this price. And to me this bass is better than S0.
 
Mids:-
 
 Yes sir, I love mids!! Got some problems with that? Even when Omega is bassy it doesn’t lack mid range presence. For me, omega is V shaped. This V is not as big as FX-40 or CKX-9 though, it’s a smaller dip. Omega is not as detailed as something like jive but jive is targeted at different consumers and then Omega sounds more organic and more natural. Adele sounds really good!! Sam Smith too sounds really nice. Vocal notes are not deep but have nice clarity and have good thickness to them.
 
 Omega falls short when it comes to instrument clarity and precision, still it sounds full and cohesive with nice texture. When compared to similarly priced Piston 3, Omega loses hands down. It just doesn’t have that type of precision or accuracy to it.
 
 For an earphone this small, Omega doesn’t feel small when it comes to sound stage. Its not big like Titan-5 or even VSD-5 but its better than SHE3580/90. Doesn’t have much depth, has good width and height.
 
 Now this is not the best midrange one can get at this price point but it should be a sacrifice one has to be willing to pay for a bassy earphone.
 
Highs:-
 
 Thank god it’s just a budget earphone. It does lack any kind of spark and lacks much top end extension. Its not terrible though, there is some presence with guitars and cymbals, nothing exciting to be exact. Instruments are there but they lack bite and transparency. It’s a bassy and the cheapest offering from Brainwavz, keep that in mind.
 
 This type of sound signature does helps with longer sessions and makes it comfortable for long listening sessions.
 
 Good thing is separation, placing and layering is not all messed up, in fact it’s acceptable.
 
  Let’s face it, these highs are not up to the scratch.
 
Conclusion:-
 
 If you are in the market for an inexpensive, good looking still with acceptable sounding earphone for your bass loving friend, kids or even for yourself, Omega will make a nice introduction to this mad world of earphone and an with its MIC unit it has more than one uses too.
 
 Omega is not an earphone that will win you over with its details or for its packaging. But it looks really nice and will attract the crowd with its simple and sweet design. SQ is what you will pay for, it has plenty of bass, stage is not bad too and it’s got rhythm and beats!! You are not getting much for $15, are you?
 
  For this price, Omega doesn’t need any improvement, its fine the way it is.
 
 Thanks for reading guys!! Cheers.
 Have a nice day, enjoy.

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  Some more images.
 
 
 

 

Greetings Head-fi,
 
Today we are going to be looking at the Omega, a shiny new earphone from the brilliant minds over at Brainwavz.
 
Those who have seen my posts around here may know that I have an unhealthy obsession with micro dynamic drivers (DD). They often share qualities with balanced armature drivers, such as excellent detail and speed, but offer up the realistic bass dynamic drivers seem to specialize in. When I saw that Brainwavz was releasing their own 6mm micro DD, I knew I had to check it out.
 

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Disclaimer:
 
The Omega was provided by Brainwavz in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. There is no monetary gain for me. I just get to listen to a cool new iem and share my thoughts with the community. Win win!
 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
The Omega will run you only $15, and at this price I found the accessories provided pretty generous. The package is a pretty standard plastic box with some clean imagery. On the front you have a picture of the Omega, and on the sides and back some statistics and information. Inside you find the Omega, neatly wrapped with a velcro strap, an instruction sheet, and your spare eartips nicely tucked away in a plastic tray.
 
The silicone eartips, size s/m/l, are the same as those provided with many other Chinese earphones, such as what I receive with purchases from Knowledge Zenith (KZ) or Remax. Decent in quality and fairly comfortable, though a bit stiff. Brainwavz was generous enough to also provide a pair of high quality Comply S-400 foam eartips.
 
Microphone and Controls:
 
It's always nice to see a manufacturer include an inline mic with full controls at this price. While call quality was fine, not bad but not amazing either, it's the versatility that impressed me most.
 
Most inline mic+control setups work with either Android or iPhone, offering only limited functionality in the one it doesn't specialize in. Not the Omega! This setup does it all, offering full use of the three button remote on both mobile platforms. It worked flawlessly controlling my HTC One M8, and could be used to start/stop music, end calls, and skip/scan through tracks. While I didn't get to test call functionality on my iPod Touch, I was able to do everything I could on Android with the added functionality of volume control. Sweet.
 
I also wanted to note that the two raised dots on the centre button make blind-use of the control unit a breeze. Simple, but really effective.
 

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Build Quality and Comfort:
 
The Omega is a tiny little thing, no doubt. The 6mm driver definitely had a hand in achieving that. I found them very easy to wear, either cable up or down, equally comfortable in either orientation. When wearing them cable down, microphonics (cable noise) was present, but it was pleasantly minor. Intrusive driver flex was present in the left driver on the other hand. It made critical listening in quiet environments less relaxing than it otherwise should have been.
 
Build quality in general I found to be pretty good. The steel housings are nicely constructed and have a cool industrial feel to them. Strain relief at the y-split and 45 degree angle jack is present and effective. It would have been nice to see more generous strain relief at the housings given the cable above the y-split is pretty thin, but that's really my only area of concern for durability.
 
Sound Quality:
 
So far the Omega is doing an admirable job of giving you a good product for your money. That said, their primary purpose is to play music and sound, so how well do they do this? Good enough, I say.
 
I found the Omega to be a 'good at everything, fail at nothing' type of earphone. They aren't spectacular in any way, but there are no glaring flaws either. At this price point, this style of tuning is extremely smart, in my opinion. Why? Well, you can play pretty much any genre of music and they'll handle it admirably. Since they offer up a v-shaped signature there are some genres they will undoubtedly handle a little better, but for the most part you can toss anything at them and they'll play it without sounding like they're too far out of their comfort zone.
 
Bass on the Omega is strong and punchy, but it can occasionally sound a little flabby. For the most part it's quick and accurate. It is also nicely textured. Mids are pulled back slightly, but very clean and clear. I was pretty impressed with how the Omega displayed vocals, and they always sounded pleasant and were never overshadowed by other frequencies. Treble presentation is where I was least pleased with the Omega. It is too splashy and uncontrolled for my liking, and as a result I found imaging a little inaccurate. Still perfectly acceptable for the cost, but there are other iems in the price range, and less, that do a better job with treble.
 
I found tossing on some wide bore tips helped clean up the overall sound and made the Omega slightly more balanced. Something to keep in mind if you find them a little too bassy with the stock tips.
 

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Some Brief Comparisons:
 
vs. Piston 3.0
 
I found the Pistons to be more balanced and smoother sounding. They also had a larger soundstage and better positioning. The lack of treble peaks and slightly lesser detail of the Pistons made them slightly less engaging, but also easier to listen to for longer periods.
 
vs. Panasonic RP-TCM125
 
The TCM125 places even greater emphasis on the low end than the Omegas. Despite this, their bass still seemed snappier and more accurate. Where the Omegas took a clear step forward was in the treble which was much more detailed and prominent, though not as smooth, making the TCM125 sound somewhat woolly. Mids were surprisingly similar with upper mids on the TCM125 being slightly more forward.
 
vs. KZ HDS1
 
The HDS1 were notably more balanced with the Omega sounding exaggerated in the bass and treble. The HDS1 sound slightly more concentrated than the Omega but this works with their more impressive layering and separation. Again, the Omegas sounded a little rough around the edges with the HDS1 providing a smoother more refined sound, though I preferred the texture and umph the Omega provided in the lower frequencies. Sub-bass extension on the Omega was much more engaging, as the HDS1 focuses more on mid-bass.
 
Overall Thoughts:
 
Brainwavz did a great job with the Omega. They're not the best sounding earphone in class, but they are enjoyable to listen to and are quite versatile across a wide variety of music. You get a solid accessories package, good build quality, and a very useful inline mic and control setup for your money.
 
Thank you Brainwavz for giving me the opportunity to review the Omega. I think you've got a winner on your hands.
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
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Equipment:
 
HTC One M8
Topping NX1
Plantronics Rig Amp
 
Some Test Albums:
 
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
King Crimson - Red
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
The Crystal Method - The Crystal Method (2014)
BT - This Binary Universe
High Contrast - The Agony and the Ecstasy
Asian Dub Foundation - Tank
Felt - A Tribute to Christina Ricci
Jethro Tull - Aqualung

 
Many thanks to Brainwavz for the review sample of Brainwavz Omega!

Brainwavz Omega is budget IEM from Brainwavz, similarly priced to Brainwavz Jive. Unfortunately I don't have Brainwavz Jive to be compared with, but I will compare it with other IEMs in the similar price category.
 
Product webpage:
http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/omega-iem-noise-isolating-earphones-with-microphone-remote
 
Quite often people ask my recommendation for budget IEM. And I'm glad I've seen sound quality improvement in the last few years on budget IEMs, and the number of options seems to be growing. Many budget IEMs I have and have tried, often have similar flaws, which is lacking in clarity that makes vocal sounds dull and muffled, and sometime they sound overly bassy and fatiguing. I'm glad to say that Brainwavz Omega doesn't have those flaws. Omega has pretty good overall clarity, with clear sounding vocal. It also has decent bass, good level with good sub-bass extension, and not the overblown fatiguing type of bass. Is Omega a giant killer? It is not, but it certainly offers a lot for the money. In summary, Brainwavz Omega is among the best budget IEMs around the $15 bracket, and now it is in the list of my recommended budget IEMs.
 

 
 
 
Pros:
Fun tonality and good clarity.
Small earphone housing for easy fit and better comfort.
 
Cons:
Poor microphone quality.
 
Suggestions for Improvements:
Microphone quality.
 
 

Brainwavz Omega features 6 mm single micro dynamic driver, equipped with microphone and remote for communication. I'm a fan of dynamic micro driver that usually categories as dynamic driver with size 6 mm or less. Currently I have around 15 micro driver IEMs in my collection. Micro driver allows small simple housing that fits easily into most people ear canal. Not only for fitting purpose, from what I've observed so far, small and minimum housing like the Omega housing has minimal IEM housing resonant, less sound reflection inside the housing, for less distortion from the IEM housing, resulting better clarity and perceive level of detail. Some better design like JVC micro driver IEMs placed the driver right at the front part of the nozzle, avoiding possible sound reflections in the nozzle cavity. The disadvantage of placing the micro driver at the front part of the nozzle is the size of the nozzle become larger than the common 4.5 - 5.5 mm nozzle size, and sometime causing fitting issue for smaller ear canal. Brainwavz Omega placed the micro driver inside the housing behind the nozzle for better universal fitting and compatibility with generic eartips. The nozzle size is 4.5 mm. So far I don't hear any obvious housing or nozzle distortion. The small housing and short nozzle seems to be well designed to keep housing distortion at minimum. The small and simple cylinder housing allows both straight down and over the ears wearing style.
 
I like the slightly thick 2.5 mm cable. It feels durable and doesn't coil. The 3.5 mm TRRS jack is angled, probably around 60 degrees, feels sturdy and durable as well. Overall build quality is good, and I have nothing to complain. The only improvement I would like to see is only on the quality of the microphone that lacks clarity and sounds a little muffled, but still usable. The remote works well on my Android phone, Samsung Galaxy S4. Volume, play, stop, skip track all function well. I didn't test it with iPhone, but it should be compatible with iPhone as well. The middle play / stop button works for skipping track, press twice for next track, and press thrice to go to previous track.
 

 
 
 
 
Sound Quality
 
Having heard quite a number of IEMs in this price range, in my opinion Brainwavz Omega has pretty good tonality without any annoying coloration and emphasize or de-emphasized on any frequency region. It has fun, mild V shape tonality, with slightly more emphasize on the bass region than the treble region. So it is a little bassy with the stock silicone eartips, but not too much. Bass is decent with satisfying level, not anemic and not overly bassy. A bit loose, but IMHO still pretty good for the price. Although Omega tonality is rather bassy, but bass level is not yet basshead level of bass. When it is preferable to reduce the bass level, use the provided Comply S-400 foam eartips. The foam eartips also smoothen the treble a little bit. Omega has good low sub-bass extension and reaches very low. 20 Hz tone can be heard clearly at normal listening level, and it pass 'Earfonia Risset Drum 20-60Hz' test track without any obvious distortion. Don't expect a very fast, tight, and well textured bass quality like from higher quality IEMs many times of the Omega's price, but for an IEM at this price category, Omega's bass is certainly pretty good. Midrange and treble has good clarity, good enough for me to enjoy classical recordings that usually sound dull on many budget IEMs. For those who are used to warm sounding IEMs, Omega might probably sounds a little bright. But for some who are used with more analytical sounding IEMs, Omega is certainly not bright at all. It has some mild treble emphasize to help to boost the perceived clarity. Treble could sound a bit grainy sometime, but not sibilant. Detail and dynamic are surprisingly pretty good as well, music sounds quite lively.
 
In summary, sound quality is good, and it is a pretty good all-rounder IEM. Value wise, Omega is very good. Good tonality with decent level of clarity and perceived detail for such an affordable price tag. Some comparisons below might help to get a better picture of the Omega's sound signature.
 
I’ve been experimenting on IEM frequency response measurement lately, and I found it to be very complicated. I don't have standard measurement equipment. I use USB measurement microphone, MiniDSP UMIK-1 and a DIY acoustic coupler that I made from heat shrink tubing. I use Room EQ Wizard (REW) program to do the measurement. So far I observed the following:
 

• The length and volume of the acoustic coupler affects the upper treble response. Longer acoustic coupler will create unnecessary treble peaks above 10 kHz.
• Room temperature affects the bass response. Similar measurement done in 25 degree Celsius and 31 degree Celsius room temperature consistently showing around 6 dB differences in bass response. Bass response is higher in lower room temperature.
• Level of loudness during measurement affects the smoothness of the overall frequency response. Generally measurement done in louder volume showing smoother frequency response.
• The equipment that I use doesn't seem to be accurate for the upper treble region, therefore only useful for up to around 9 kHz. Measurement from 9 kHz onward can be ignored.

 
From what I've observed so far, I suggest to always read IEM frequency response measurement result in the context of the measurement environment, as they are mostly useful only as comparison to other IEMs that are measured in the same measurement environment. So please take note that all the frequency response measurement shown here is not a standard measurement, therefore cannot be used for comparison with other measurement. This measurement is only to show comparison of estimated frequency response of the IEMs that were measured in the same environment using the same equipment.
 
MiniDSP UMIK-1 & Dayton Audio UMM-6 measurement microphones with the DIY acoustic coupler:

 

 
Unfortunately my Dayton UMM-6 spoilt when I tried to fix mic capsule isolation, so now I only have the UMIK-1 for measurement.
 
As of now, DUNU DN-2000 is my baseline or reference for flat tonality. DN-2000 tonality is pretty close to what I perceived as flat tonality, only lacking slightly on the level of upper treble region. For the measurement, I usually take at least 3 measurements per channel, then average the 3 measurement. I applied Psychoacoustic Smoothing for the reason that the measurement is only useful for rough estimation of the frequency response. Loudness reference is 100 dB at 500 Hz. 100 dB seems louder than normal listening volume, but it is due to the length of the canal of the acoustic couple that I use is much shorter than average length of human ear canal, therefore the IEM is placed much closer to the microphone, resulting higher reading of loudness. All measurement was done at 25 degree Celsius room temperature. As I mentioned earlier, bass response will be lower when room temperature is higher.
 
Frequency response of Brainwavz Omega Left (blue) and Right (red) drivers:

 
 
Average frequency response of Brainwavz Omega (purple) in comparison to DUNU DN-2000 (yellow):

 
 
 
 
Comparisons
 
For this comparison sometime I used larger bore eartips, and sometime the stock silicone eartips. I don’t hear any significant differences between them, so both are recommended. I used Superlux HA3D headphone amplifier that has 3 outputs, to be able to compare 3 IEMs at the same time, for quicker and more accurate impressions.
 

 
Xiaomi Piston IF Commemorative Edition (similar to Piston 2.0)
Piston IF Commemorative Edition, which is said to have similar sound and design with the well-known Piston 2.0, sounds a tad more refined with a more linear tonality. Both have mildly V shape tonality. Though not the same, Brainwavz Omega has some similarity to Piston IF sound signature. Omega has slightly thicker lower mids and slightly stronger and boomier bass. Vocal sounds slightly fuller and smoother on Omega, but clearer and more detailed on Piston. Treble level is pretty close, with the Piston sounds just a tad brighter but smoother. I think Xiaomi Piston is marginally better than the Omega with slightly better detail and clarity. But the Omega would be a good choice to those who prefer fuller midrange and slightly more bass. 
 
Frequency response comparison between Brainwavz Omega (purple) and Xiaomi Piston IF Edition (green):

 
Design wise, I prefer the smaller cylinder housing of Omega that generally fits easier in the ear canal. The smaller housing allows deeper insertion to the ear canal. The Piston cable has short Y split part that is too short for over the ears wearing style. While the Omega has proper length of cable from the split point up to the drivers, that is suitable for both straight down and over the ears wearing style. Besides that, the Piston's stock eartips simply don't work for me. The stock eartips are too soft and slippery; I couldn't get proper fit and good sound isolation using the Piston's stock eartips. I have to use other eartips for the Piston to get better fitting. While the Omega's stock eartips are good and comfortable, and it also comes with Comply foam eartips. Another concern when getting the Xiaomi Piston 2 is the fake model of Xiaomi Piston 2 is like everywhere on the online market. I bought one of the fake Piston 2 that looks quite similar, and the sound quality is simply terrible. So I only buy Xiaomi product direct from their website in Singapore.
 
 
Xiaomi Hybrid
Xiaomi Hybrid to me is a bit disappointing. IMHO both Xiaomi Piston IF Edition and Brainwavz Omega sound better than the new Xiaomi Hybrid. Xiaomi Hybrid main flaw is the muffled midrange. Vocal sounds muffled and not natural. There is something wrong on Xiaomi Hybrid tonality at around midrange area. Coherency between the dynamic driver and the BA driver is also rather poor, both drivers don't blend nicely. The treble from the BA driver is actually pretty good, but unfortunately doesn't blend well with the lower frequency.  There is some moderate emphasize around the bass and lower midrange, and then an obvious dip around the upper mid to treble area that makes vocal sounds muffled, and then continue with a pretty good treble quality. The dip around the upper mid, to me, is unforgivable. Therefore tonality wise, I prefer Brainwavz Omega than the Xiaomi Hybrid.
 
 
Remax RM-565i
Remax RM-565i has lots of similarity with Brainwavz Omega. Overall housing design looks quite similar but not exactly the same. Remax RM-565i housing is a little longer than the Omega's housing. Remax RM-565i seems to use micro dynamic driver as well, and they both have 16 ohms nominal impedance. Sound wise they share a lot of similarities, but not exactly the same. Omega sounds a tad clearer than the Remax RM-565i, just a tad. Beside the level of clarity both have quite a similar sound tonality. Both are also more or less in the $15 price category. Remax RM-565i has flat cable, while the Omega has regular round cable. The quite obvious different is the quality of the microphone, which sounds much better on the Remax RM-565i. Remax RM-565i microphone sounds clearer, while the Omega's microphone sounds a little muffled. But Remax RM-565i remote doesn't have the volume buttons, only the play / stop button. As for the sound quality of the earphone, I slightly prefer the Omega for the slightly better dynamic and clarity. But the differences are pretty small. They are quite similar but not the same. Value wise both offer excellent value and highly recommended in my book.
 

 

 

 
Frequency response comparison between Brainwavz Omega (purple) and Remax RM-565i (teal):

 
 
Remax RM-610D
Remax RM-610D sounds slightly warmer than Omega, and slightly lacks the sub bass and upper treble extension. Omega has wider frequency response than RM-610D. The Omega also has better dynamic, perceived clarity and detail. I still consider RM-610D a good sounding budget IEM, and probably a better choice for some people who prefer simple straight down wearing style and shallow insertion into the ear canal, but to me the Omega sounds better and livelier. RM-610D has flat cable with remote that has volume buttons, and designed only for straight down wearing style, so expect some microphonics. RM-610D microphone quality is pretty close to Omega microphone, a little muffled and not as clear as RM-565i microphone, but perfectly usable for communication.
 
 
 

 
Brainwavz S0
I happen to have Brainwavz S0, S3, and S5 as well, but I'm not going to compare all of them as they are in different price category. I will only compare the Omega to S0, for Brainwavz users to have better idea of the Omega sound signature. The Omega being a lot cheaper than S0, surprisingly comes pretty close to S0 in sound quality comparison. S0 sounds smoother and slightly warmer, while Omega sounds a little more V shape in comparison to S0. Omega has slightly stronger bass and more sparkly treble. S0 sounds nicer on vocal with smoother and fuller midrange, while Omega sounds livelier on instrumental and orchestral work, thanks to the mildly V shape tonality. 
 
 
Rock Zircon
Rock Zircon is one my favourite budget IEM, and sound quality wise it is quite comparable to Brainwavz Omega. Rock Zircon has fun and lively sound signature. Zircon tonality is slightly more V shape than Omega, slightly stronger bass and slightly more pronounced treble. Omega tonality might be perceived as more linear than Zircon, and overall sounds a little more refined. Zircon is a very good budget IEM with excellent build quality. The Zirconium crystal housing of Zircon is definitely looks and feels better than the modest Omega metal housing. But if I have to choose the sound quality between the two, I still marginally prefer the Omega for being a little more linear in tonality.
 
 
 

 
KZ ATE
From my collection KZ IEMs, KZ ATE and ED9 are among my favourite budget IEMs. KZ ATE sounds a little smoother, with some emphasize on upper midrange. Vocal sounds more forward on ATE. Omega has stronger bass and better low bass extension than ATE, and slightly wider perceived frequency range. ATE sounds nice, but the mild emphasize on the upper midrange makes it sounds a little colored. ATE midrange and treble sound smoother, and sound nicer on vocal. While Omega sounds livelier on instrumental and electronic music. But ATE housing shape and design might not fit everyone. The Omega small housing is much easier to wear. Both are excellent budget IEMs.
 
 
KZ ED9
For this comparison I use the gold nozzle / sound filter on ED9. KZ ED9 so far has been my favorite KZ IEM and I like it better than ATE, ED10, Micro Ring, & ZS1. In comparison to Omega, ED9 sounds smoother and slightly more spacious in stereo imaging. Tonality wise ED9 sounds quite linear, probably slightly more linear than Omega. The smooth and linear tonality of ED9 is really nice on vocal. Vocal sounds nicer on ED9 than Omega. Bass level is about the same, slightly stronger on the Omega. When it comes to pounding bass, Omega bass sounds a little faster and tighter with better punch. ED9 bass is a little slower and less tight. Midrange and treble sound smoother and nicer on ED9. Overall ED9 sounds nicer on most vocal and jazz tracks, and the smooth presentation of ED9 sounds more enjoyable. While Omega wins on the more energetic tracks with punchier and stronger bass. Both really offer a lot for the money.
 
Frequency response comparison between Brainwavz Omega (purple) and KZ ED9 (orange):

 
 
 
 
From the entire budget IEMs in comparison, my favourites are the Brainwavz Omega, Remax RM-565i, Xiaomi Piston IF Edition, and KZ ED9. They are some of the best budget IEMs I've ever tried. Once again thanks to Brainwavz for offering such a good quality budget IEM!
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Specifications:
Drivers: Dynamic, 6 mm
Rated Impedance: 16 Ω
Frequency Range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 98 dB at 1 mW
Rated Input Power: 3 mW
Cable: 1.2 m Y-Cord, Copper
Plug: 3.5 mm, Gold plated
 
Included Accessories:
3 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)
1 set of Comply™ Foam Tips S-400
1 Shirt Clip
Velcro Cable Tie
Instruction Manual & Warranty Card (24 month warranty)
 
 
 
Equipment Used In This Review:
Earphones / IEMs:
Brainwavz S0
DUNU DN-2000
KZ ATE
KZ ED9
Remax RM-565i
Remax RM-610D
Rock Zircon
Xiaomi Piston IF Commemorative Edition
Xiaomi Hybrid
 
DACs, DAPs & Headphone Amplifiers:
Centrance DACport Slim
Fiio X3ii
ifi micro iDSD
Superlux HA3D
 
Other Equipment:
MiniDSP UMIK-1 measurement microphone
 
Software:
Room EQ Wizard (REW)
 
 
Some recordings used in this review:

At the time of the review, the Brainwavz Omega was was on sale on Amazon’s website. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018DOWITA?keywords=brainwavz%20omega&qid=1454640661&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
 
Introduction
Brainwavz is at it again. They consistently come out with model after model of budget in-ear monitors. Just when I’m done reviewing a product, I get an email talking about their new product. The thing is, there’s always something new and different with just about every model they roll out. One thing is for sure, the folks at Brainwavz are always tweaking and tinkering with their designs.
 
When I heard that Brainwavz was producing a micro dynamic driver earphone I bit at the chance to cover it. There have been several recent releases of micro dynamic earphones that I have enjoyed. Does the Omega perform at a level worthy of making it your next purchase? Let’s find out!
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the Omega in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Brainwavz. I would like to take this time to personally thank Pandora for the opportunity.
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and have a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are ergonomic, and the sound is pleasing to the ear. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW

The Omega comes in a small plastic box. The front of the package features a picture of the earphones along with a display of the name and microphone/remote.
 

The back of the package lists the package’s contents and a brief description of the product.
 
     
 
The left side of the box has specifications. The right side of the box explains functionality and the warranty.
 
Specifications and Accessories
 
Specifications:
Drivers: Dynamic, 6 mm
Rated Impedance: 16 Ω
Frequency Range: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 98 dB at 1 mW
Rated Input Power: 3 mW
Cable: 1.2 m Y-Cord, Copper
Plug: 3.5 mm, Gold plated
 
Included Accessories:

3 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)
1 set of Comply Foam Tips S-400
1 Shirt Clip
Velcro Cable Tie
Instruction Manual & Warranty Card (24 month warranty)

 
Housings

Omega has a small metal tubular housing. They are a pretty standard design with a polished metal finish. The nozzle is standard design of average width and length. The most notable thing about them is the all metal design, with the only plastic being the part where the cable connects to the housing.

NOTE: The Omega comes in three different colored cables. Refer to the site for variances. All of them are the same price.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

Brainwavz broke away from their customary flat cable and went with a rounded version with the Omega. I am very happy about this, as I DO NOT care for flat style cables. I find them to be a hinderance to getting a consistent fit and they usually have quite a bit of microphonics. The Omega cable is a pretty standard cable that follows along the lines of many budget models. it has a black rubber jacketing with a small amount of spring and memory. The part of the cable leading from the Y-split to the housing is fairly frail and thin. The Y-split is made of a rubbery plastic material and is very nice. A chin slider is installed and works well. The cable jack is a sixty degree 3.5 mm gold plated plug with a rubbery plastic jacketing.
 
Functionality

Omega comes with a three button microphone and remote that works for both Iphone and android. Buttons were tested for both devices and worked. When talking to friends and family their voices came through well on my LG-G3. They reported my voice at two or three on a scale from one to five.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
The Omega can be worn cable up or down. Both variations are comfortable thanks to the simple and small shape of the housings. Wearing them cable down, microphonics could be controlled with the chin slider although still slightly evident. Wearing them over the ear microphonics were eliminated. Isolation is average. You will hear your surroundings but not when music is playing.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or Sony Walkman F806/Cayin C5 amplifier for a high fidelity portable use. For desktop use I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a HIFIMEDIY Sabre ES9023 USB DAC/Bravo Audio Ocean Tube amplifier with a Mullard 12AU7 tube for higher impedance, and a Fiio E18 USB DAC & Amplifier in both high and low gain. Both were run at 24 bit, 96000 Hz. I also tested them with other DAPs and amplifiers as well. I used Google Music downloaded in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justice for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection
At 16 Ohms, the Omega is designed to be used with a cell phone. I saw no added benefit from amplification. They Omega signature is relatively forgiving with poor quality recordings and doesn’t upscale very well.
 
Sound Signature
The Omega is a V-signature earphone with spikes at upper midrange and lower treble frequencies. their signature is somewhat oriented for the average consumer to make the most of their modern music genres.
 
Bass
Bass on the Omega is forward, bouncy and somewhat slow in decay. The forward bass casts a bit of a shadow over the entire Omega sound, making the remaining frequencies seem slightly congested, especially during complex passages. The thump they provide will be adequate for those looking for a bass forward budget friendly earphone. Those looking for a tight and linear bass won’t find what they are looking for with the Omega.
 
Sub bass is there in spades and will satisfy your primordial need of boom. Midbass tapers from the sub bass presence but is still forward in nature. There is some mid bass bleed that impacts overall clarity.
 
Midrange
Omega has a slightly recessed midrange that is formidable for a budget model. Lower midrange clarity is impacted by midbass tones and tapers off. Midrange response takes back seat to the Omega bass and treble . There is an upper midrange lift around 3k that gives them a sense of energy to their sound.
 
Treble
Treble spikes at sibilant ranges (around 6-7k) making them somewhat harsh, especially at loud volumes. This spike incorporates a metallic sound at upper registers. Although it can be harsh at louder volumes, listening to them at lower volumes was a more enjoyable listening experience.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
The V-signature gives the Omega the sense of them having a larger than average soundstage. Imaging is in the head and doesn’t create much for a sense of instrument placement.
 
Comparisons
 
Sony MH1C ($30 to $50 USD on many sites)
I picked the MH1C because it is a similarly designed micro dynamic driver IEM. The MH1C had its heyday on Head-Fi, gaining recognition from many as a great sounding budget earphone. It’s downfall was a terribly designed flat cable that was a J-coord design.
 
Comparing the sound, Omega is definitely more V-shaped and crisp up top. The MH1C seems more responsive and smooth throughout, especially at upper mid and treble regions.
 
Omega gets the edge for ergonomics having a MUCH better cable. Accessories goes to the MH1C.

 
KZ ANV (discontinued)
The KZ ANV was popular earphone with the KZ thread community a year or two ago. They have a build that resembled the CKW1000. I picked this earphone for comparison because they have some similarities in sound.
 
Both earphones have similar treble responses that can be harsh and sibilant, especially at louder volumes. The Omega has a more authoritative bass response and subdued midrange. The ANV has a more forward midrange, leaner bass and sounds overall more balanced.
 
Build quality goes to the ANV by a hair. Their cable and betal housing are more solid. Accessories goes to the OMEGA for providing foam tips. Omega also gets an advantage for having a universal microphone and remote.

 
Conclusion
Brainwavz has delivered another product to its diverse lineup. The Omega is a great fitting IEM with solid ergonomics and functionality. They make a great replacement for someone who listens to modern genres of music and is looking to replace the earphones that came with their smartphones. The V-signature will add some excitement to your tunes, and the mic and remote will come in handy, not only for calls but also for music playback.
 
When an earphone is selling for less than twenty dollars, it’s hard to be critical and fault them. Their tuning will satisfy most consumers, especially for the price
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!

 

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Preamble:

Just some time after I thought “hmm, nothing heard from Brainwavz lately”, Pandora reached out to me/us reviewers to introduce me/us to their latest in-ear which is called “Omega” (http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/omega-iem-noise-isolating-earphones-with-microphone-remote). She asked whether I was interested in writing a review and I agreed, as the very low price and the technical specifications (the Omega uses a small dynamic 6 mm driver) seemed very interesting to me.
As there are some noteworthy products in this low price range that perform better than one would expect, just like most IEMs from Knowledge Zenith that usually cost around $10 but often perform like $30 or max. $50 in-ears, I am also going to briefly compare the Omega to other models.


Technical Specifications:

price: $15
Drivers: 6 mm, dynamic
Impedance: 166 Ohms
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 98 dB @ 1 mW
Rated Input Power: 3 mW
Colours: white, black, red/blue


Delivery Content:

The plastic box is quite similar to the one the Brainwavz Jive arrived in and is kept rather simple. As usual, on the outside is a picture of the in-ears, a general description, the technical specifications and some information about the delivery content.
Breaking the seal, one can find the in-ears, a cable clip, three pairs of silicone tips, one pair of Comply S400 tips, a warranty card as well as a Velcro cable tie inside.

Not bad for the price, though I would personally prefer a carrying pouch over the Comply tips.
 

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Looks, Feels, Build Quality:

The in-ears’ small bodies are made of machined metal and look as well as feel very well made, just like the metal mesh grille that protects the sound bore from dust and cerumen. I also cannot deny that it visually strongly reminds me of the Sony MH1c in-ears (which I have neither owned nor heard).
The side markers are a little difficult to see, but that’s not tragic as the remote-control (which is identical to the one on the Jive) with three buttons for Apple devices is located on the right side. Strain relief is good, however could be slightly better above the y-split.
What I like is that a chin-slider is present as well.
The cable is the same as the one used on the Brainwavz Jive.
 

---

---

Comfort, Isolation:

As the bodies are extremely small, fit should be decent even for people with very small ears.
The in-ears can be worn both with the cables straight down as well as over the ears, whereby the latter entirely eliminates microphonics (the chin-slider also helps with that) and improves fit.

Isolation is quite good and better than mediocre, however below other closed IEMs like the extremely isolating UE200.


Sound:

My main source device for the evaluation was the iBasso DX80 which played mainly my CD-rips in FLAC format.
For listening, I used the largest included silicone tips; the in-ears were burnt in before critical listening took place (just in case).

Tonality:

Briefly summarised, I would describe the sound as being v-shaped with lows that were tuned after the Harman target curve in the midbass and sub-bass.

The lows’ emphasis starts extending down from 500 Hz and reaches its zenith in the mid- and sub-bass with about + 12 dB compared to a flat (some would say “boring”) in-ear like the Etymotic ER-4S. To my surprise, upper bass is less present (only about 7 dB) and there is no unnecessary bloom in the fundamental tone. As an effect of both things, unlike with most other in-ears, the lows don’t overshadow the mids and also don’t appear mighty or overdone – the bass is only present in the very low frequencies. Sure, the sound is bass-focussed and –emphasised, but it isn’t overwhelming or any bass-bloated.
The mids are a bit in the background and tonally very correct, however with a slightly dark (not to be confused with “warm” which they aren’t) character which is due to the slightly pushed-back upper mids, nonetheless midrange balance is right.
The lower highs (“presence area”) together with the middle treble are a bit in the background, but already start increasing again from 3 kHz on, without any harsh spikes or dips. At 6 and 8 kHz, an even emphasis that is about 6 dB more present than the ground-line is formed in my ears. Above 10 kHz, extension is even and good, however less present than at 8 kHz.

Here is a frequency response plot of the Omega, together with other in-ears that I will compare it to further below:


 

Please note that it wasn’t recorded with professional equipment but with my Vibro Veritas coupler that was pseudo-calibrated to more or less match a real IEC 711 coupler’s response with applied diffuse-field target, hence the results shouldn’t be regarded as absolute values but rather as a rough comparison. Especially at 3, 6 and 9 kHz, there are sometimes greater deviations from professional plots, maybe I have to adjust the calibration/compensation file sometime – but for a general, rough comparison between various in-ears, the results are sufficient.

What can be nicely seen is that the bass extends very evenly and without hump.  The zenith isn’t reached at 100 Hz in the upper bass but further down in the mid-bass, which reminds me of a tuning based on the Harman target curve in the lows, and indeed, the bass doesn’t appear overdone and keeps away from overshadowing the mids, without any unnecessary fundamental tone bloom, although the lows are strong and audible north of neutral, but the low starting emphasis helps for avoiding the typical bloom many in-ears suffer.
In the treble, I hear the Omega different than on the plot: what I am hearing is a very evenly extending treble emphasis without peaks or distracting harshness, although level is clearly above zero (though not as much as on the graph and much more even plus more level above 10 kHz).

The tuning is consumer-oriented but very well-made – the lows are clearly present but don’t appear too dominant because of the low starting emphasis; in addition it fits coherently in and doesn’t appear disconnected. This v-shape that focusses more on the mid- and sub-bas and the upper treble is well-suited for low listening levels, too.

Resolution:

Detail retrieval is better than what you would except for $15 and beats most of the cheap in-ears that one can find in large electronic stores, but not as good as other excellent budget IEMs like the Knowledge Zenith in-ears or the UE200.
Noteworthy, the prominent bass doesn’t affect dynamics, as these are surprisingly good and the in-ears don’t really sound strained either.
The Omega can’t keep up with much more expensive models, but does a commendably well job for its price.
The lows are rather quick than loose/spongy (for the price), though definition and speed could still be a bit better – the KZ HDS1 and UE200 are better in this regard, also having less audible distortion. Nonetheless, the lows are faster and more precise than the Penon IEM’s.

Soundstage:

In my ears, soundstage is of about average expansion, however with more depth than width and has decent instrument separation for the little price.

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Vs. other In-Ears:

Penon IEMs:
($10) The Penon IEMs sound much bassier, have a lot more fundamental tone bloom, are darker and coloured sounding, with distinctly warm mids. The Omega in-ears offer a much more natural tuning, the better resolution and superior control, with more arid and defined lows.

Logitech UE200:
(€29.97) The UE sounds more balanced (flatter), with more realistic mids and treble. Detail retrieval, control and bass speed are areas where the UE wins, however not by a large amount. Solely in terms of control, the UE is about half a class better.

KZ HDS1:
(< $10) The KZ sounds warmer in the fundamental tone, is however more balanced, with similarly correct mids. In terms of control, bass speed and resolution, the HDS1 is about half a class better.


Conclusion:
 
For just $15, the Brainwavz Omega does a decent job. The bodies appear sturdy and valuable, included are Comply tips and the right side has a fully functional remote for Apple devices.
The tonal tuning is a well-made v-shape with strong, however not overdone lows that don’t bleed into the mids. Detail retrieval is good for the price and the Omega offers better sound and tuning than many in-ears that cheap. Solely the better models from KZ and the UE200 offer a qualitative upgrade in terms of detail retrieval, bass speed and control, but they are not much better (I am speaking of less than half a class).

75% or 3.75 out of 5 possible stars.

INTRODUCTION:
  Brainwavz was nice enough to send me their latest in ear, the low budget Omega. It retails for $15, comes in multiple colors, and has Apple/Android compatible 3 button remote/mic. I have used them for a while, put some hours of use on them, and tested them with multiple sources and tips. My pair are the red/blue color combo.
 
WHERE CAN YOU FIND THEM:
   You can find the Omega on the Brainwavz site or on Amazon. http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/omega-iem-noise-isolating-earphones-with-microphone-remote
 
SPECS AND ACCESSORIES:
 

Specifications:

1. Drivers: 6mm Dynamic
2. Rated Impedance: 16 Ω
3. Frequency Range: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
4. Sensitivity: 98 dB at 1 mW
5. Rated Input Power: 3 mW
6. Cable: 1.2 m Y-Cord, Copper
7. Plug: 3.5 mm, Gold plated

 

Included Accessories:

1. 3 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)
2. 1 set of Comply™ Foam Tips S-400
3. 1 Shirt Clip
4. Velcro Cable Tie
5. Instruction Manual & Warranty Card (24 month warranty)

 
WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE:
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  You'll notice the more plum red color of the Y and plug is a bit different from the more brick red color of the remote. It would be great if the plug and Y were brick red as well as I think it is a stronger color that goes better against the blue and would, of course, match the remote perfectly. The Red/Blue is a blue cable with red trim and not red and blue housings for right and left which has been popular as of late.
 
 
BUILD AND DESIGN:
   The Omega has solid build quality and some nice ergonomic touches to the design. The new color scheme aside, the Omega sports a very similar cable as the older Delta model which is a round style cable which is not as robust or weighty as the S-series flat cables. Fairly thick and sturdy on the lower section, it is a bit on the thin side above the Y. The lower section inspires some confidence on the durability while after the split makes you pause for a second. The housings are steel cylinders and pretty much bulletproof. Since they house a 6mm micro driver they are small enough to fit most everyone without any issue. The plug is a forty-five degree angle with room to easily get the fingers around it and an indent for fingers and thumb to get a good grip. The wide Y join and housing strain reliefs also are good for the fingers to feel and grip. The reliefs of the housings have small raised letters indicating R/L but they are the same plum red so they do not stand out well at all. Not great for symmetrical housings but the mic/remote comes to the rescue. It is on the right side so you can easily identify using the remote instead. The remote itself is fairly sturdy plastic with nice reliefs and buttons that click solidly. Very nice overall build for the $15 price tag.
 
FIT AND ISOLATION:
   I find the Omega to be one of the better fitting Brainwavz phones I have had. A gentle push in with the thumb and they slide right in. They are quite comfortable for me. Even more so with softer tips than the stock silicone tips. Softer tips also help prevent driver flex which can be present if you push them in too firmly. A bit of practice and flex is no longer a concern, or shouldn't be.
 
   Isolation is average as is microphonics. Isolation is pretty good but not great. Microphonics are there but not very bad at all. Neither area wins an award nor is any kind of deal breaker Both can be adjusted plus or minus depending on tip choice if you have other types to try.
 
  The omega can be worn over the ear or down. The only real change is the mic/remote becomes higher and if resting or even bumping against the face noises may be an issue when on a call. But it is easy enough to just flip that side when making/taking a call to use the remote without that potential issue.
 
SOUND QUALITY:
  Sound quality on the Omega is quite solid for the $15 price tag. I find them quite fun and engaging. They promise a crisp clean sound. The issue I have is with the stock silicone tips. I hear them taking the crispness and cleanliness down a notch compared to other tips. They are firm and not the widest bore size and they make the Omega sound warmer and smoothed over with a bit less air than others I have in my kit. Not quite as sharp or dynamic as they are capable of being. With the stock tips they are a bassy sound than slopes downward slowly going towards the treble end. Smooth up top with decent detail and dynamics. Not the fastest but not sluggish or smeared. At their best with the right tips they have some more balance with a bit of a crisper high end and they are a bit more dynamic and lively. Detail is a little more impressive with better tips or at least easing off the seal with the stock tips.
 
Extension is solid in this price range. You won't find it lacking and the ends behave evenly as far as reach and roll off. The stage size is average overall and pretty even in being average in most dimensions. We also have separation in the same average range. The Omega does sound quite cohesive with good balance and even spacing in most all directions. They just won't sound big like phones with large sound stages.
 
It may be due to the new steel housings but I am quite fond of the tone of the Omega. Vocals and cymbals sound a little less artificial and more real than in some of the previous Brainwavz offerings. Not a huge difference but noticeable esp. in the treble. Even a bit better than the pricier S3 model when using the same tips on both.
 
Overall an easy listen, that is nicely balanced in frequencies as well as in size and spacing with some warmth, free of excessive humps in the bass or peaks in the treble, has a bit more realistic voices and cymbals, and enough detail and clarity to not make you think you are missing much. Just better, IME, to use the include Comply S400 tips, upgrade the silicone tips, or ease off the seal to get the best sound quality out of them. Very nice for $15! 
 
REMOTE AND MIC:
   I tested out on an Amazon fire tablet and iPhone and the controls works as they should and the mic worked well in average conditions.
 
VALUE:
   I think the Omega present a good value. Solid enjoyable sound,  good fit and comfort, headset capability, a decent accessory kit, and a two year warranty
 for $15 is a good buy! Even better value if they had tips that brought out more of a crisper clearer sound than a bassier smoothed over sound.
 
CONCLUSION:
   Once I got some softer wider bore tips on the Omega and they had more lively, cleaner sound, and more freed up dynamics, I really started to enjoy the SQ of the Omega. Really like the housings and ergonomics from the start. I scored them 3.5 stars but with better tips keeping more SQ potential and a bit thicker cables above the Y they would have gotten four stars. Still I find them quite likable and probably the most enjoyable and fun listen of all the low budget Brainwavz I have heard. I think quite a few will enjoy them! Thanks for reading!
  

 
 
 
SPECS:
http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/omega-iem-noise-isolating-earphones-with-microphone-remote
 
Driver Type                   6mm Dynamic
Plug Type                     3.5mm
Cord Length                 1.2m Y
Frequency Response   20 Hz – 20 kHz
Impedance                   16 Ohms
Sensitivity                     98 dB / mW @ 1kHz
 
WHERE TO BUY / COST:
http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/omega-iem-noise-isolating-earphones-with-microphone-remote
$15.00 new
 
OVERVIEW
With over 7 years of IEM experience Brainwavz has developed a ton of IEMs. From one of my favorites, the M1, to the very affordable Omega they are reaching out to the headphone market and listening to their customers. The Omega is a low-cost addition to their affordable lineup. “A crisp and clean sound, sharp high definition audio, and a slim, sleek design” are the goals for the Omega. Let’s see how it stands up.
 
AESTHETICS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brainwavz packed a ton of functionality into the Omega. It has a mic and volume control, very comfortable and narrow driver nozzles, three sizes of tips including a set of Comply foam tips, a shirt clip, and a cable cinch. These are all great features that make the Omega useful for calls, conferences, general listening, and even exercise. The jack plug is angled at 45 degrees and slim enough to fit easily around my phone and iPod cases. They provide three color options including white, black, and a red/blue blend.
 
Aesthetically they are very clean-looking and the steel driver housings feel well-made for how light they are. I would like to see some reinforcement around where the cable connects to each earpiece as the cable, split from the Y-connector, is extremely thin and without relief these will surely pull apart after a few snags. The biggest need I see in IEM community is durability and if Brainwavz adds some serious strain relief here I see these lasting a lot longer.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Each earpiece is labeled with the appropriate letter for left and right. As with almost all other IEMs from Brainwavz the cable is microphonic, but the shirt clip takes care of that easily enough. The tips are comfortable and because the nozzles are small in diameter they irritate my ear much less than larger bodied IEMs like the M1. These can be listened to for hour with no ear fatigue. Overall I really like the looks and feel of the Omega with the exception of a lack of strain relief at the cable/earpiece interface.
 
ACOUSTICS
Most IEMs from Brainwavz tend to be bassy having a very clear midrange and slightly rolled off treble. The Omega takes these attributes with perhaps a touch too much bass for critical listening. I test all my equipment both amped and umamped in order to see how headphones perform in a variety of situations.
 
Unamped: Having a sensitivity of 98dB/mW makes this IEM very easy to drive. Out of my iPod touch I stayed around 50% volume and with some classical that increased to 60% so there will be plenty of headphone if you plan on listening to the Omega unamped. During portable listening expect fun bass, a clear midrange, and an up-front sound signature. Due to the lack of treble detail the soundstage is very closed and not overly resolving so I do not recommend the Omega for portable critical listening. On some tracks the Omega is a blast to listen to. Take Magic Sound Fabric’s Photonic Phonic track. It is very full sounding with a captivating midrange and bass rhythm. I suggest not listening to extra bassy music as the emphasis here will be too much to enjoy the rest of the music. If you really dig bass then you will enjoy the low end on the Omega with just about anything.
 
Amped: Some IEMs scale well with amping while others appear not to change much. The Omega does change for the better using a good amp. The bass tightens up, the separation and thus resolution increases with the slightly extended treble, and the overall amped presentation is more neutral although be it bassy. Listening to Peter Murphy’s Time Has Nothing To Do With It reveals the much needed treble extension. The metallic sound of the chimes is completely drowned out by the midrange and bass. There could still be much more treble in the Omega which keeps it from becoming an audiophile-grade IEM, but at $15 I really did not expect it to be.
 
It should be noted that because the impedance of the Omega is just 16 Ohms some amps will not drive them correctly and will sound flat and bothersome. If you have a variable gain amp be sure to keep it on the lowest setting to better match the low impedance of this IEM. Poorly controlling the Omega will result in it sounded bad.
 
Even though I amped the Omega it still struggled in the soundstage department. Due to the slight increase in treble clarity the soundstage does increase amped, but because the overall emphasis on the midrange and bass outweighs the treble the soundstage still struggles to deliver anything more than an overly simple image. Listening to Sara K.’s Oh Well from Chesky Records 10 Best should sound open and full with the drums echoing and distant, but with the narrow field generated by the Omega this is just not the case. The track still sounds nice, but there should be much more detail and space to enjoy.
 
In both situations I noticed the Omega having some harshness around the 1 kHz area which made certain tracks sound sibilant. Others would sound tinny, but not so much so to be apparent during general listening. I hoped the Omega would be the $15 IEM that crushed all other general-fit IEMs, but it remains well-placed in its price point.
 
I did test the mic on the Omega as most microphones on IEMs are not ideal for remote communication. They sound distant, attenuate the voice so make it makes it almost inaudible, and they are usually an afterthought when it comes to getting the product to the market. The Omega has a clear-sounding mic and it remains well above average especially considering the price point. It can sound a bit distant, but because the clarity is top notch, conversations can be had without having to turn up the volume ludicrously loud. This mic is not as clear as the Telos Acoustics' Fujisan which remains my personal favorite for remote conversations.
 
CONCLUSION
Regardless of cost the Omega is a good-sounding bassy IEM. Its features are well thought out and both portable and amped listening will be enjoyable. Unamped I found it to be a bit too bassy for my taste. Amped it is much more tame and listenable. With extra strain relief around the cable/earpiece junction these would be easily recommended, but as it stands I can say these are better than most $15 IEMs on the market, but I do suspect that a few snags will pull the cables out of the earpieces. If you are extra hard on IEMs I would look elsewhere, but if you tend to take care of your gear then these are a great bassy option that can be used for calls and general listening.