EDIT 2021-06-22: Lowered the score from 5/5 to 4.5/5 due to the Smabat M2S Pro: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/smabat-m2s-pro.25238/reviews#review-26126
Disclaimer: I bought this during the end of march sale on AliExpress with the regular sale price, no review discount/unit and is at my own expense.
Price: 130-150 usd (I paid 142 usd during the sale)
Specifications:
Impedance: 16Ω
Earphone sensitivity: 112dB/mW
Frequency range: 10-40000Hz
Plug Type: 3.5mm/2.5mm Balanced/4.4mm Balanced line plug
Cable Length: about 1.25m
10.Whether with cable: Yes
Earphone interface: MMCX connector
Cable material:8 Core OCC & Silver Foil Wire Mixed
Drive unit: 15mm Dynamic Drive Unit
Accessories:
Carry case
Multiple pairs of full foams and donut foams (black, red, blue)
Cable: A pretty good 4-core cable that measures at 0.29 ohms. It has a working chin-slider but divider/connectors are plastic, it does make the cable a bit lighter than average so it doesn’t interfere with the fit. No ear-hooks either on it.
Build: Entirely made out of metal and is well built without any sharp edges. Is still pretty light weight but a bit heavier than normal buds (that are made in plastic). Has a replaceable MMCX connector which is very rare to see in the bud world. L/R markings present on the body (and also color marked on the cable).
Fit: You can wear it both up and down, I use it while wearing it down and fit is very good, although it still loses to MX500 in fit but is still very good.
Comfort: Very good, no issues for me even during longer sessions.
Isolation: None, it is still an earbud.
Setup: Ibasso DX160 (low-gain, volume around 27), full foams, stock cable 4.4mm
Lows: Very bassy for a bud, mid-bass focused over sub-bass and does give it a warm tonality. Does extend pretty low and has some rumble. But it also has some mid-bass bleed/bloat due to it being slower, looser and with a lot more quantity than most buds. If you don’t like bass (and especially mid-bass) then this isn’t good for you.
Mid-bass: Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), fun due to the elevated mid-bass but isn’t as clean as most buds due to the speed/tightness not being that very good and also because of the sheer mid-bass quantity. The (02:55-03:01) section is hearable but not very clean.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), good texture and is pretty clean (tight and fast) while it is fun due to the elevated bass.
Sub-bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends very good for a bud and does actually rumble although not as much as I would like it. Punch quantity is pretty good as well but it could be tighter and faster while texture is good.
Will Sparks – Sick like that (03:08-03:22), speed and texture are good but could be tighter as well as have more quantity.
Mids: Vocals are very good when you factor in how much mid-bass it has but as expected the warmth from the bass do tend to make female vocals lack a bit of brightness and also sound a little bit recessed. While male vocals are extremely good in both quantity and quality.
Female-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), extremely good instrument tonality as well as very good vocal tonality. Vocal and instrument timbre are also very good and sounds very natural overall. Detail and clarity are good but there is some slight bleed from the mid-bass and vocals could be a bit more forward.
Yuki Hayashi – MightU (01:58-02:55), very good timbre but tonality for both vocals and instrument could be brighter and vocals do need to be more forward.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), non-fatiguing and very relaxing.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Crescent (02:07-02:26), not sharp but is slightly fatiguing.
Male-vocals: Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (00:57-01:17), Very good tonality and timbre.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), extremely good tonality and very good timbre.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars aren’t sharp at all.
Deuce – America (03:03-03:16), tonality and timbre are good but imaging isn’t pin-point accurate and is a bit chaotic.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), cello tonality, texture and timbre are very good while detail is good. Violin timbre and texture are very good while tonality do need to be brighter. Treble-extension is good but could be better.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), very good tonality and timbre. Clean and fun due to the mid-bass quantity.
Soundstage: Huge soundstage and is holographic due to it both having a wide and deep soundstage.
Tonality: Bass-boosted neutral with a tonality that leans towards warmth. A non-fatiguing and very relaxing tonality with good timbre as expected from buds so it is both fun and natural at the same time. Its versatility is pretty good due to this tonality and it can handle sub-bass heavy genres since it can actually rumble for a bud.
Details: macro and micro details are pretty good but bottlenecked by the amount of mid-bass/warmth.
Instrument Separation: Separation and imaging are decent but bottlenecked by the amount of mid-bass/warmth.
Songs that highlight the Earbud:
Good genres: Rock/metal, pop, OST
Bad genres: EDM, hip-hop, Trance
Comparisons:
Earbud: Yincrow X6, full foams, stock cable 3.5mm
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), similar extension but rumbles a lot more on the X6. Punch quantity is also a bit higher on the X6 but a bit tighter and faster on the RW-2000 as well as more textured on it. Tonality is more accurate on the X6 due to the sub-bass rumble.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a bit more quantity on the RW-2000 but also faster, tighter and more textured so it is similarly fun but cleaner on the RW-2000.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), similar quantity, speed and tightness but cleaner on the RW-2000 where the X6 is bloated.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Instrument tonality is a bit better on the RW-2000 since it is a bit too warm on the X6. But vocal tonality is very similar. Timbre is better overall on the RW-2000 and also cleaner and more detailed.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a bit more relaxing on the X6 due to it being warmer, otherwise very similar.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), instrument tonality and timbre are better on the RW-2000 but a bit better vocal tonality on the X6 due to it being warmer while RW-2000 has better vocal timbre. Details and clarity are better on the RW-2000.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), electric guitars are a tiny bit sharper on the RW-2000.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), cello tonality and texture are very similar but better timbre, detail and clarity on the RW-2000. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail and treble-extension are better on the RW-2000.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), tonality is a bit better on the X6 but a lot cleaner and detailed on the RW-2000.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), a lot bigger soundstage (width/depth) and is more holographic on the RW-2000. Detail, instrument separation, imaging and even timbre are in another league on the RW-2000.
Overall: The RW-2000 do have better quality across the range. But if you are looking for a “true upgrade” from the X6, the RW-2000 is not it. If you want more sub-bass the X6 is the better one for you, otherwise the RW-2000 is better.
Earbud: NiceHCK EBX21, full foams, stock cable 4.4mm
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends a lot lower on the RW-2000 and has actual rumble while it is pretty much non-existent on the EBX21. Punch quantity is also a lot higher on the RW-2000 and more textured, but it is faster and tighter on the EBX21. A lot more accurate tonality on the RW-2000.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), more quantity and texture on the RW-2000 while it is tighter and faster on the EBX21 (due to the quantity difference). More natural timbre and tonality is more accurate on the RW-2000.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), cleaner on the EBX21 due to the speed and tightness but a lot more quantity and texture on the RW-2000. Treble is also a bit sharp on the EBX21 compared to the RW-2000.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Vocal tonality is a bit better on the EBX21 but better timbre on the RW-2000, a bit more forward on the EBX21. Instrument tonality is a lot better on the RW-2000 while timbre is also better. Detail and clarity are a bit better on the EBX21, but that’s because it is brighter, with more treble and less bass compared to the RW-2000.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a lot more relaxing and non-fatiguing on the RW-2000.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Vocal and instrument tonality and timbre are a lot better on the RW-2000.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), a lot sharper electric guitars on the RW-2000.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre and texture are a lot better on the RW-2000 but cleaner and more detailed on the EBX21. Violin tonality and detail are a bit better on the EBX21 but timbre and texture are better on the RW-2000 while treble-extension is similar.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality and timbre on the RW-2000 but cleaner and more detailed on the EBX21.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), a bit wider on the EBX21 but deeper and is actually holographic on the RW-2000. Details, instrument separation and imaging are a bit better on the EBX21 while timbre is better on the RW-2000.
Overall: If you want a warmer, more fun and bassier bud, the RW-2000 is the one to get. If you want better female vocals however, the EBX21 is more suited for that but otherwise the RW-2000 sounds better to me in pretty much all aspects.
Earbud: Toneking Dendroaspis Viridis, full foams, stock cable 3.5mm
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends a lot lower and has actual rumble on the RW-2000 while it is none-existent on the Viridis. Punch quantity is also higher on the RW-2000 and more textured but it is faster and tighter on the Viridis. More accurate tonality on the RW-2000.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a lot more quantity and more textured on the RW-2000 but tighter and faster so it is cleaner on the Viridis. More natural timbre and accurate tonality on the RW-2000.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), a lot cleaner on the Viridis because of the tighter and faster bass but is also a lot more fatiguing due to the brighter tonality.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Instrument tonality and timbre are a lot better on the RW-2000 but better vocal tonality on the Viridis while timbre is better on the RW-2000. Detail and clarity are a bit better on the Viridis, but that’s because it is a lot brighter, with more treble and less bass compared to the RW-2000.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), a lot more fatiguing and is shouty on the Viridis compared to the RW-2000.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), Vocal and instrument tonality and timbre are a lot better on the RW-2000.
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), sharper electric guitars on the Viridis.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality, timbre and texture are a lot better on the RW-2000 but more detailed and cleaner on the Viridis. Violin tonality and detail are better on the Viridis but similar timbre and treble-extension.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), Tonality and timbre are better on the RW-2000 but cleaner and more detailed on the Viridis.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), similar width but deeper on the RW-2000 and is holographic on it. Detail, imaging and instrument separation are better on the Viridis but it is because it has a big edge with the tuning (a lot more treble and a lot less bass). Timbre is better on the RW-2000.
Overall: The RW-2000 is the more fun, relaxing and bassier iem and I recommend it over the Viridis. Unless you prioritize female vocals over everything else.
Earbud: Moondrop Chaconne, full foams, stock cable 4.4mm
(Taken from my Moondrop Chaconne review)
Bass: Djuro – Drop that bass (01:15-01:30), extends a bit lower on the RW-2000 and rumbles more. Punch quantity is a lot higher on it as well as more textured. Faster and tighter on the Chaconne though and is cleaner but more tonally accurate on the RW-2000.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Pretenders (01:18-01:47), a lot more mid-bass that also gives it more warmth on the RW-2000 but similarly textured while it is faster and tighter on the Chaconne. More tonally accurate on the RW-2000, although it is a bit bloated in comparison.
Metallica – fight fire with fire (01:11-01:52), more quantity on the RW-2000 with similar texture but faster and tighter on the Chaconne so it is quite a lot cleaner on it.
Mids: Hiroyuki Sawano – OldToday (01:25-01:52), Instrument tonality is better on the RW-2000 but it does have some slight bleed from the mid-bass while timbre is better on the Chaconne. Vocal tonality and timbre are better on the Chaconne and is a lot cleaner and detailed on it.
Evanescence – Bring me to life (01:18-01:35), more relaxing and non-fatiguing on the RW-2000.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Scapegoat (00:57-01:17), more accurate tonality with both vocals and instruments on the RW-2000 but a lot cleaner on the Chaconne and no bleed from the bass (slight bleed on the RW-2000).
Treble: Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day (03:24-03:42), less fatiguing and electric guitars aren’t sharp on the RW-2000.
Hiroyuki Sawano – Lose (string version) (01:22-01:59), Cello tonality and texture are better on the RW-2000 but better timbre, detail and clarity on the Chaconne. Violin tonality, timbre, texture, detail and treble extension are better on the Chaconne.
Hiroyuki Sawano &Z (02:18-02:57), better tonality on the RW-2000 but cleaner and more natural timbre on the Chaconne.
Technicalities: Shiro Sagisu – Hundred years war (02:24-02:57), bigger (not a lot though) soundstage (width/depth) and is a bit more holographic on the Chaconne. Details, instrument separation, imaging and timbre are better on the Chaconne.
Overall: Both are TOTL buds IMO, but the Chaconne is the better bud and I personally like it more (despite my personal preference in tuning leaning more towards the RW-2000) than the RW-2000 which does have some mid-bass bleed when going from the Chaconne to it. If you like a bassier (mid-bass), warmer, more relaxing and fun sound then you will prefer the RW-2000 to the Chaconne, otherwise the Chaconne is superior.
Conclusion: The RW-2000 is very different from other buds, since it does actually rumble with the sub-bass. It is a warm and relaxing bud with a lot of bass (mid-bass) but still has very good vocals and treble along with a huge soundstage with very good technicalities. Is it TOTL? Yes, I do grant it that title. But if you don’t like bass (mid-bass particularly) then this is not for you. Thanks for reading.
Reference/test songs:
