*Info*
Eli Audio = Earbud Lovers Indonesia www.facebook.com/EliAudioIndonesia
The pure love for Earbuds in Indonesia is palpable. Of this joy, formed Eli Audio and their Sabia Earbud. There have been a few versions of this earbud and I will be reviewing the Sabia V3 (Version 3).
-All photography in this review was taken by me-
**Disclaimer - I was provided this Sabia V3 for the purpose of this review.**
*Specifications*
- Driver: 14.8mm
- Impedance: 32Ω
- Frequency range: 18hz - 22Khz
- Sensitivity： 118db SP/L
*Content*
- Earbud Case
- Sabia V3 Earbud
- Three Pairs of Foam Covers (2 Normal and 1 Donut)
- Elibuds Sticker
- Photos of Girls Wearing the Sabia V3 Earbuds
The case is rather nice for for a budget earbud. It is of good size, build and has the ELi logo nicely included on the top.
The three pairs of foam covers is welcomed, with the inclusion of one donut pair.
The Elibuds sticker has already been attached to my little netbook, I like how it looks there.
As you can see, there is a little photo included of a cute girl wearing the them, so you must know they are good earbuds. Plus (not shown) there is also one more photo of a girl wearing them on the back of the package as well.
*Build/Design*
Like many other earbuds, the Sabia V3 uses the standard, but effective MX500 housing. The cord is simple, black and budget minded. I did find the cable to be a bit springy, which does not effect its use while wearing them, but did make it a little harder to lay them out like I wanted for the photography (Photographer Problems). The Sabia V3 terminates at a 3.5mm, with a sturdy amount of strain relief.
*Price*
To purchase, the best way to reach ELi Audio is to message them on their Facebook page. The official storefront is not operational at the time of this review.
Price for a Sabia V3 is $10USD, plus around $4-$6 for shipping. So the whole transaction will cost under $20 and for that you are getting a great value.
*Sound*
- Testing was done with my ORB Jade Casa DSD & Amp -
Lows - Most of the power is located in the mid-bass, with only a touch in the subs. There is an to the lows that are not over-powering, but very much present. When listening to "deadmau5 - 4wave", there is a constant stream of bass kicks, that come through smooth and never venture on tiresome. Though when playing "Foals - My Number (Parachute Youth Remix)" I find myself wishing there was a wee bit more sub-bass. Overall, the lows are controlled and at no time bleed to the mids.
Mids - When listening to "Kiesza - What Is Love" (https://youtu.be/Y-01dsXDqGE) I am hit with the ease that her vocals come through. Relaxed, musical and haunting. The Sabia V3 does a wonderful job in keeping mids disciplined, yet fun. There is an every so slight drop in the middle frequencies that in turn will lead to the Sabia V3 never be called forward.
Highs - When entering into the upper region, it is quickly noticed that these are neither sibilant or harsh. The treble rolls off a little early, which IMO, is always a blessing. Peaky highs can lead to an earbud become tiresome quickly, but not with the Sabia V3. These earbuds are strapped in and ready for an epic play session. During an extended listen, the Sabia does provide a great deal of detail for a budget prices earbud. While not for analytical testing, the Sabia gives you everything you need for day to day use.
Soundstage - The width and instrument separation is just above average for in this price range. The first time I actually used this was surprisingly with my daughters Wii U. I was impressed with the immersive sound the Sabia V3 was able to provide. I'm not much of a gamer these days, but with these earbuds, I found myself playing longer just enjoying the experience.
Driving - Pretty much any source will be able to drive the Sabia V3 and drive it well. These earbuds were designed to go from a cellphone, to a high end setup and everything in between.
*Sources*
Walnut V2 - Here I was able to pull out the mids more than with any other device. The Walnut V2 helps the Sabia V3 to focus more on the mids by bringing the lows and highs tighter in. The setup provided a great deal of enjoyment and I also used it to burn-in the Sabia V3 as well.
xDuoo X3 (Rockbox) - The reason I am using my xDuoo X3 for this review is that my X10 has not arrived yet. The X3 provided the most honest playback with the Sabia of any other portable source I used. I found the sound signature to come back at me very close to the ORB Jade system I use as my base for all my testing. The Sabia did come through ever so cold, though only a breeze. Here I was able to play my FLAC files again and see how the V3 did on the go. I found this is the best setup for a thorough search for details. While there is still enjoyment to be had when using Sabia V3 and xDuoo X3 together, I concluded that I spent more time picking apart the songs instead of really listening to them.
FiiO M3 - I use this DAP a lot. The M3 is small and I use it either when I am laying in bed getting close to falling asleep, or when I am cleaning around the house. So it only made sense that these two would spend quite a bit of time together. The Sabia V3 and FiiO M3 were able to provide a slight bump in the sub-bass, even with the EQ set to flat. I also found when using this budget duo, that I was rewarded with a highly fun sound. This is not a serious paring, but they sure did play nice together and will continue to do so for a long time.
*Comparisons*
Vs. VE Monk Plus - Build wise, these two are similar, only detouring at the 3.5mm plug. The Sabia V3 goes with the right angle termination, while the Monk Plus goes for a straight end approach. Sound signature of these two earbuds are unique, but do share some traits. One quick difference I noticed is when I jumped back and forth between the Monk Plus and Sabia V3 was I had to quickly had to adjust the sound. The Sabia V3 is easier to drive than the Monk Plus. Their impedance ratings of 32Ω to 64Ω would be a hint as to why. Once I got the levels equal, is when I was able to pick apart their signatures. Neither the Sabia V3 or Monk Plus have an overwhelming amount of bass. When listening to them in quick succession there is a bit more low end to the Sabia V3. When moving up to the mids, the Monk Plus had a more forward path. Vocals were not coming through with as much power with the Sabia V3. The highs are actually quite similar when these earbuds go head to head. The Sabia V3 and Monk Plus both seem to roll off very near the same point, it might not be exact, but it is darn close. This helps both these budget earbuds be great choices for lengthy usage.
Vs. Qian 25 - Right off the bat it is easy to see and feel that the Sabia V3 has a more robust build than the Qian 25. This includes the V3 having a thicker cable and more substantial strain relief at the shared right angle 3.5mm plug than the 25. When it comes to playback, the lows can be felt a tad more with the Sabia V3, with the Qian 25 coming in with lighter bass. Mids, are thicker and more dominant with the Qian 25 over the Sabia V3. It feels as if a little of the vocals get lost with the V3 with its wider soundstage over the 25. Highs are a dead even, as with the Monk Plus. All three of these budget buds seem to grab as much detail from the upper frequencies before rolling off smoothly. Driving the Qian 25 was just as easy as the Sabia V3, both played nicely with every source I throw at them.
*Conclusion*
The Sabia V3 Earbud has a lot going for it; A solid build, fun soundstage and sound quality that to rival other earbuds in its price range. I also found these to be of great use while gaming as it provides a much more immersive experience. When testing budget earbuds, it really is almost silly to nitpick about tuning. If I were to help mold the next gen V4, I would push for a bit more presence in the lows, particularity in the sub-bass. I'd also be willing to give up a little of the nice soundstage if there could be a further focus on the mids. For the highs, I would leave them just as they are, the roll off is just about perfect for my personal tastes as I never feel I am missing any detail that is too important.
Overall I am a BIG fan of the Eli Audio - Sabia V3 and I look forward to seeing what this great earbud maker comes up next, my ears are tingling with anticipation.
**You can see more of my photography and follow me at:**
www.facebook.com/JustinMinerPhotography/
www.instagram.com/justinminerphotography/
twitter.com/BloodyPenguin
I've also started a Facebook Group for earbud fans:
Earbuds Anonymous: www.facebook.com/groups/EarbudsAnonymous/
--
Eli Audio = Earbud Lovers Indonesia www.facebook.com/EliAudioIndonesia
The pure love for Earbuds in Indonesia is palpable. Of this joy, formed Eli Audio and their Sabia Earbud. There have been a few versions of this earbud and I will be reviewing the Sabia V3 (Version 3).
-All photography in this review was taken by me-
**Disclaimer - I was provided this Sabia V3 for the purpose of this review.**
*Specifications*
- Driver: 14.8mm
- Impedance: 32Ω
- Frequency range: 18hz - 22Khz
- Sensitivity： 118db SP/L
*Content*
- Earbud Case
- Sabia V3 Earbud
- Three Pairs of Foam Covers (2 Normal and 1 Donut)
- Elibuds Sticker
- Photos of Girls Wearing the Sabia V3 Earbuds
The case is rather nice for for a budget earbud. It is of good size, build and has the ELi logo nicely included on the top.
The three pairs of foam covers is welcomed, with the inclusion of one donut pair.
The Elibuds sticker has already been attached to my little netbook, I like how it looks there.
As you can see, there is a little photo included of a cute girl wearing the them, so you must know they are good earbuds. Plus (not shown) there is also one more photo of a girl wearing them on the back of the package as well.
*Build/Design*
Like many other earbuds, the Sabia V3 uses the standard, but effective MX500 housing. The cord is simple, black and budget minded. I did find the cable to be a bit springy, which does not effect its use while wearing them, but did make it a little harder to lay them out like I wanted for the photography (Photographer Problems). The Sabia V3 terminates at a 3.5mm, with a sturdy amount of strain relief.
*Price*
To purchase, the best way to reach ELi Audio is to message them on their Facebook page. The official storefront is not operational at the time of this review.
Price for a Sabia V3 is $10USD, plus around $4-$6 for shipping. So the whole transaction will cost under $20 and for that you are getting a great value.
*Sound*
- Testing was done with my ORB Jade Casa DSD & Amp -
Lows - Most of the power is located in the mid-bass, with only a touch in the subs. There is an to the lows that are not over-powering, but very much present. When listening to "deadmau5 - 4wave", there is a constant stream of bass kicks, that come through smooth and never venture on tiresome. Though when playing "Foals - My Number (Parachute Youth Remix)" I find myself wishing there was a wee bit more sub-bass. Overall, the lows are controlled and at no time bleed to the mids.
Mids - When listening to "Kiesza - What Is Love" (https://youtu.be/Y-01dsXDqGE) I am hit with the ease that her vocals come through. Relaxed, musical and haunting. The Sabia V3 does a wonderful job in keeping mids disciplined, yet fun. There is an every so slight drop in the middle frequencies that in turn will lead to the Sabia V3 never be called forward.
Highs - When entering into the upper region, it is quickly noticed that these are neither sibilant or harsh. The treble rolls off a little early, which IMO, is always a blessing. Peaky highs can lead to an earbud become tiresome quickly, but not with the Sabia V3. These earbuds are strapped in and ready for an epic play session. During an extended listen, the Sabia does provide a great deal of detail for a budget prices earbud. While not for analytical testing, the Sabia gives you everything you need for day to day use.
Soundstage - The width and instrument separation is just above average for in this price range. The first time I actually used this was surprisingly with my daughters Wii U. I was impressed with the immersive sound the Sabia V3 was able to provide. I'm not much of a gamer these days, but with these earbuds, I found myself playing longer just enjoying the experience.
Driving - Pretty much any source will be able to drive the Sabia V3 and drive it well. These earbuds were designed to go from a cellphone, to a high end setup and everything in between.
*Sources*
Walnut V2 - Here I was able to pull out the mids more than with any other device. The Walnut V2 helps the Sabia V3 to focus more on the mids by bringing the lows and highs tighter in. The setup provided a great deal of enjoyment and I also used it to burn-in the Sabia V3 as well.
xDuoo X3 (Rockbox) - The reason I am using my xDuoo X3 for this review is that my X10 has not arrived yet. The X3 provided the most honest playback with the Sabia of any other portable source I used. I found the sound signature to come back at me very close to the ORB Jade system I use as my base for all my testing. The Sabia did come through ever so cold, though only a breeze. Here I was able to play my FLAC files again and see how the V3 did on the go. I found this is the best setup for a thorough search for details. While there is still enjoyment to be had when using Sabia V3 and xDuoo X3 together, I concluded that I spent more time picking apart the songs instead of really listening to them.
FiiO M3 - I use this DAP a lot. The M3 is small and I use it either when I am laying in bed getting close to falling asleep, or when I am cleaning around the house. So it only made sense that these two would spend quite a bit of time together. The Sabia V3 and FiiO M3 were able to provide a slight bump in the sub-bass, even with the EQ set to flat. I also found when using this budget duo, that I was rewarded with a highly fun sound. This is not a serious paring, but they sure did play nice together and will continue to do so for a long time.
*Comparisons*
Vs. VE Monk Plus - Build wise, these two are similar, only detouring at the 3.5mm plug. The Sabia V3 goes with the right angle termination, while the Monk Plus goes for a straight end approach. Sound signature of these two earbuds are unique, but do share some traits. One quick difference I noticed is when I jumped back and forth between the Monk Plus and Sabia V3 was I had to quickly had to adjust the sound. The Sabia V3 is easier to drive than the Monk Plus. Their impedance ratings of 32Ω to 64Ω would be a hint as to why. Once I got the levels equal, is when I was able to pick apart their signatures. Neither the Sabia V3 or Monk Plus have an overwhelming amount of bass. When listening to them in quick succession there is a bit more low end to the Sabia V3. When moving up to the mids, the Monk Plus had a more forward path. Vocals were not coming through with as much power with the Sabia V3. The highs are actually quite similar when these earbuds go head to head. The Sabia V3 and Monk Plus both seem to roll off very near the same point, it might not be exact, but it is darn close. This helps both these budget earbuds be great choices for lengthy usage.
Vs. Qian 25 - Right off the bat it is easy to see and feel that the Sabia V3 has a more robust build than the Qian 25. This includes the V3 having a thicker cable and more substantial strain relief at the shared right angle 3.5mm plug than the 25. When it comes to playback, the lows can be felt a tad more with the Sabia V3, with the Qian 25 coming in with lighter bass. Mids, are thicker and more dominant with the Qian 25 over the Sabia V3. It feels as if a little of the vocals get lost with the V3 with its wider soundstage over the 25. Highs are a dead even, as with the Monk Plus. All three of these budget buds seem to grab as much detail from the upper frequencies before rolling off smoothly. Driving the Qian 25 was just as easy as the Sabia V3, both played nicely with every source I throw at them.
*Conclusion*
The Sabia V3 Earbud has a lot going for it; A solid build, fun soundstage and sound quality that to rival other earbuds in its price range. I also found these to be of great use while gaming as it provides a much more immersive experience. When testing budget earbuds, it really is almost silly to nitpick about tuning. If I were to help mold the next gen V4, I would push for a bit more presence in the lows, particularity in the sub-bass. I'd also be willing to give up a little of the nice soundstage if there could be a further focus on the mids. For the highs, I would leave them just as they are, the roll off is just about perfect for my personal tastes as I never feel I am missing any detail that is too important.
Overall I am a BIG fan of the Eli Audio - Sabia V3 and I look forward to seeing what this great earbud maker comes up next, my ears are tingling with anticipation.
**You can see more of my photography and follow me at:**
www.facebook.com/JustinMinerPhotography/
www.instagram.com/justinminerphotography/
twitter.com/BloodyPenguin
I've also started a Facebook Group for earbud fans:
Earbuds Anonymous: www.facebook.com/groups/EarbudsAnonymous/
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@Hifisnubben - Thank you for the heads up, that is good information to know.