Comparison of 4 different Bluetooth iem's: Brainwavz BLU-100, Don Scorpio sMushroom HD, Don Scorpio sMushroom, Samsung HS3000

[Baycode]

Bluetooth Technology

Battery Life (Specs, active/ standby)

Tested Battery Life (active/ standby)

Range (Specs)

Tested Range (Open Area, Approx value)

Tested Range (Closed Area, Approx value)

SQ Earphone

Sound Quality Notes (Earphone/Incoming Call)

SQ Mic

Sound Quality (Microphone/Call Transmit)

Features

Price

Value for Money

Brainvawz BLU-100

Bluetooth Profiles: HFP, HSP, A2DP   Support: aptX, BT4.0

4h/100h

4h/80h

10m

9 m

5 m

High  7 Mid   7 Bass   7 Clarity 7

Linear, detailed, needs good-tight-deep insertion fitting in order to get bass, overall very good SQ.

High  5.5 Mid   5.5 Bass   7 Clarity 7

Very good quality sound transmission. Better than HS3000. Only very slight background noise while not speaking

microUSB charge port,  Noise Cancellation (CVC echo/noise),  Dual Pairing, volume and other multiple controls, blocks too much outside noise (not very safe in traffic).

44.50 USD

7/10

DonScropio sMushroom HD

Support: aptX, BT4.1

N.A/60h

3h/24h

10m

10m

6-6,5 m

High  5 Mid   6 Bass   8 Clarity 5

Bassy sound, some midbass bloat, veiled,overall good sound (on par with HS3000)

High  6.5 Mid   5 Bass   5 Clarity 7

Slightly better call (mic) quality to BLU-100, good sounding mic with LG G3, less clear with iPhone6, you need to locate the mic close to mouth in order to transmit a good volume

microUSB charge port,  half sealed iem design (Safer to use in traffic)

49 USD

5/10

DonScropio sMushroom (Professional)

Support: aptX, BT4.0

N.A/60h

4h/40h

10m

10m

6-6,5 m

High  4 Mid   6 Bass   6 Clarity 3

Bassy sound, some midbass bloat, veiled sound like the HD version, overall just OK SQ, midrange is better than BLU-100, but high range is better on BLU-100.

High  6 Mid   6 Bass   6 Clarity 4

No hissing while not speaking. No cut out of voice when starting speaking. Good implementation of background noise elimination feature.

microUSB charge port,  Single button opreation, no direct volume buttons but single button can do yhe job, half sealed iem design (Safer to use in traffic)

24.90 USD

5/10

Samsung HS3000

Bluetooth profiles:  HFP, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP   Support: BT3.0

7h/170h

6.5h/150h

10m

15m

10 m

High  5 Mid   6 Bass   7 Clarity 5

Bassy sound, not perfect in any area, not behind the competition either, SQ is similar to the sMushroomHD, overall good SQ.

High  7 Mid   6 Bass   5 Clarity 5

Very good quality sound transmission. No background noise while not speaking but as you start speaking receiver detects a small cut-out (this is because of the poorly implemented background noise elimination future).

microUSB charge port, SoundAlive, active pairing, echo cancellation, 3.5mm port (you can plug any iem!!!), direct play/pause, volume, etc. control buttons

59.99 USD (Discontinued)

7/10

On the table, highest value is 10, min value is 1
 
 
For my individual reviews, please check their review pages in Head-Fi (links on the below):
 
Brainwavz BLU-100: http://www.head-fi.org/products/brainwavz-blu-100-bluetooth-iems/reviews/13427

 
 
Don Scorpio sMushroom HD: http://www.head-fi.org/products/don-scorpio-smushroom-hd-bluetooth-iem/reviews/13515

 
 
 
Don Scorpio sMushroom: http://www.head-fi.org/products/smushroom-bluetooth-earphone-black/reviews/13541

 
 
Samsung HS3000: Check the below post for more info.

 

[Baycode]

After spending good amount of time with these 4 BT iem's my daily BT iem became the BLU-100.
 
If Samsung included a better iem with their BT package, I believe -even its older age and being a discontinued model- it could deliver better sound quality than the other 3.
 
Luckily HS3000 has a 3.5mm stereo connector and if I connect one of my good quality iem's (such as CKR9, Titan1, etc.) Samsung HS3000 outperforms the other BT iem's !  And it has the best reception range with best battery life. My other biggest concern with the HS3000 is the ergonomics (or design). I really prefer the BT iem to hang behind my neck to my chest (when not in use). But I have to clip the HS3000 and the included Samsung iem's to my pocket (or somewhere on my T-Shirt) which makes the experience less pleasurable/less ergonomic.
 
 
Here are some pitcures of HS3000:
 

Nice implementation of led. Single led is orange while charging...
 
 

...and it turns in to blue when fully charged
 
 

Side view: power switch, volume up/down buttons, mode button. Note the **** clip on the back
 
 

Backward, play/pause, forward buttons on the other side
 
 

3.5mm stereo jack connector. You can plug any iem/earphone/hp here... Notice the small Microphone opening near tha plug
 
 

Included Samsung iems are making the whole package to sound average.
IMO, Samsung made a BIG mistake for including this low quality iem's with the BT device...
Also I didn't find clip design to be ergonomic/user friendly.
I really can't use this type of design BT iem for extended periods which is why I lean towards the BLU-100...

 

[B9Scrambler]

Awesome comparo Baycode! Love threads like this. Thanks 

 

[Baycode]

Thanks B9Scrambler !

 

[mikaveli06]

How is samsung quality with other iems??

 

[Baycode]

How is samsung quality with other iems??

I have already covered the answer to your question in the text. It sounds better than the others if you connect a good quality iem to it. With the stock Samsung iem its SQ is on the average...

 

[aseems]

BAYCODE - thanks for this amazing review - but it is over a year old - what is your advice now? what are you using? do you still recommend BLU 100?
 
 
Quote:

 

Bluetooth Technology

Battery Life (Specs, active/ standby)

Tested Battery Life (active/ standby)

Range (Specs)

Tested Range (Open Area, Approx value)

Tested Range (Closed Area, Approx value)

SQ Earphone

Sound Quality Notes (Earphone/Incoming Call)

SQ Mic

Sound Quality (Microphone/Call Transmit)

Features

Price

Value for Money

Brainvawz BLU-100

Bluetooth Profiles: HFP, HSP, A2DP   Support: aptX, BT4.0

4h/100h

4h/80h

10m

9 m

5 m

High  7 Mid   7 Bass   7 Clarity 7

Linear, detailed, needs good-tight-deep insertion fitting in order to get bass, overall very good SQ.

High  5.5 Mid   5.5 Bass   7 Clarity 7

Very good quality sound transmission. Better than HS3000. Only very slight background noise while not speaking

microUSB charge port,  Noise Cancellation (CVC echo/noise),  Dual Pairing, volume and other multiple controls, blocks too much outside noise (not very safe in traffic).

44.50 USD

7/10

DonScropio sMushroom HD

Support: aptX, BT4.1

N.A/60h

3h/24h

10m

10m

6-6,5 m

High  5 Mid   6 Bass   8 Clarity 5

Bassy sound, some midbass bloat, veiled,overall good sound (on par with HS3000)

High  6.5 Mid   5 Bass   5 Clarity 7

Slightly better call (mic) quality to BLU-100, good sounding mic with LG G3, less clear with iPhone6, you need to locate the mic close to mouth in order to transmit a good volume

microUSB charge port,  half sealed iem design (Safer to use in traffic)

49 USD

5/10

DonScropio sMushroom (Professional)

Support: aptX, BT4.0

N.A/60h

4h/40h

10m

10m

6-6,5 m

High  4 Mid   6 Bass   6 Clarity 3

Bassy sound, some midbass bloat, veiled sound like the HD version, overall just OK SQ, midrange is better than BLU-100, but high range is better on BLU-100.

High  6 Mid   6 Bass   6 Clarity 4

No hissing while not speaking. No cut out of voice when starting speaking. Good implementation of background noise elimination feature.

microUSB charge port,  Single button opreation, no direct volume buttons but single button can do yhe job, half sealed iem design (Safer to use in traffic)

24.90 USD

5/10

Samsung HS3000

Bluetooth profiles:  HFP, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP   Support: BT3.0

7h/170h

6.5h/150h

10m

15m

10 m

High  5 Mid   6 Bass   7 Clarity 5

Bassy sound, not perfect in any area, not behind the competition either, SQ is similar to the sMushroomHD, overall good SQ.

High  7 Mid   6 Bass   5 Clarity 5

Very good quality sound transmission. No background noise while not speaking but as you start speaking receiver detects a small cut-out (this is because of the poorly implemented background noise elimination future).

microUSB charge port, SoundAlive, active pairing, echo cancellation, 3.5mm port (you can plug any iem!!!), direct play/pause, volume, etc. control buttons

59.99 USD (Discontinued)

7/10

On the table, highest value is 10, min value is 1
 
 
For my individual reviews, please check their review pages in Head-Fi (links on the below):
 
Brainwavz BLU-100: http://www.head-fi.org/products/brainwavz-blu-100-bluetooth-iems/reviews/13427

 
 
Don Scorpio sMushroom HD: http://www.head-fi.org/products/don-scorpio-smushroom-hd-bluetooth-iem/reviews/13515

 
 
 
Don Scorpio sMushroom: http://www.head-fi.org/products/smushroom-bluetooth-earphone-black/reviews/13541

 
 
Samsung HS3000: Check the below post for more info.

 

[Baycode]

BAYCODE - thanks for this amazing review - but it is over a year old - what is your advice now? what are you using? do you still recommend BLU 100?

 
you're welcome.
 
I gave up using BT iems for a while...
 
I much prefer using cabled iems with remote and mic because of convenience and better sound quality. OK cables are problem with the design but I have my better sound quality and no need to think of charging the iems.
 
I love the Brainwavz XF200 iems for this purpose. They are my nr.1  iem for sports and on the go...
 
If there would be a BT iem with at least 10 days of battery life and as good sound quality as the XF200 then I might be in