Oriveti O400

[F700]

Can anyone recommend me a reasonably priced DAC/amp that would chime well with the sensitive nature of the O400? Something iPhone compatible.

L&P W2 for example. It’s a dongle, but a nice sounding one.

 

[CK Moustache]

Can anyone recommend me a reasonably priced DAC/amp that would chime well with the sensitive nature of the O400? Something iPhone compatible.

Purely based on objective measured technical performance, Apple's own DAC dongle would be a great option (one shouldn't be fooled by the comparatively ridiculously low pricing). If you need more features, perhaps something like the aforementioned one or Lotoo & PAW S2 seem to offer good performance as well, although I have no personal expereience with either. If you can get your hands on a FiiO AM1 module, it would work well with your Q5 MkII as well, although this combination is objectively somewhat behind the Apple DAC dongle in some areas (as is the Chord Electronics Mojo - that I by the way sold in favour of buying the cheap Apple (USB-C) DAC dongle as well as TempoTec SONATA HD PRO that serve me better because of being objectively superior in several areas that are important to me despite not having the feature set of the Mojo; simply for convenience, I still use the FiiO Q5 (first generation) with AM1 module most of the time, though, as it is more than "good enough" most of the time and offers a nicely implemented analogue-like digital volume control implementation).

 

[F700]

Purely based on objective measured technical performance, Apple's own DAC dongle would be a great option (one shouldn't be fooled by the comparatively ridiculously low pricing). If you need more features, perhaps something like the aforementioned one or Lotoo & PAW S2 seem to offer good performance as well, although I have no personal expereience with either. If you can get your hands on a FiiO AM1 module, it would work well with your Q5 MkII as well, although this combination is objectively somewhat behind the Apple DAC dongle in some areas (as is the Chord Electronics Mojo - that I by the way sold in favour of buying the cheap Apple (USB-C) DAC dongle as well as TempoTec SONATA HD PRO that serve me better because of being objectively superior in several areas that are important to me despite not having the feature set of the Mojo; simply for convenience, I still use the FiiO Q5 (first generation) with AM1 module most of the time, though, as it is more than "good enough" most of the time and offers a nicely implemented analogue-like digital volume control implementation).

Q5 1st Gen is a very good sounding device

 

[ian91]

The tour package landed a few days ago. Initial impressions from an evening of listening are that they are both impressive in their own ways. @F700 is not off the mark - the O400 is quite the treasure at the price. Without a doubt it has the best BA bass I've heard and it's tuned to be versatile across genres. The OV800 is great but there are diminishing returns (as with all IEMs). I'll share more detailed impressions soon!

 

[F700]

The tour package landed a few days ago. Initial impressions from an evening of listening are that they are both impressive in their own ways. @F700 is not off the mark - the O400 is quite the treasure at the price. Without a doubt it has the best BA bass I've heard and it's tuned to be versatile across genres. The OV800 is great but there are diminishing returns (as with all IEMs). I'll share more detailed impressions soon!

Thanks for your feedback @ian91 cannot wait to read more of your impressions

I am looking forward to reading the ones from @Scuba Devils and @armstrj2. No stress guys, but Oriveti surely would like to read your short impressions about the O400.

Thanks a lot in advance

 

[armstrj2]

I had the chance to try two Oriveti IEMs as part of the ongoing EU tour. Thanks to Oriveti and @F700 for facilitating & organising.

The O400 and OV800 are very similar in design and shape with the major difference being that there are tuning switches on the latter to allow you to adjust bass and treble response. Both sets come in similar packaging and with similar accessories.

Here are my impressions of both sets:

O400

• The shell has a high quality, semi-transparent finish which allows glimpses of the drivers within
• Above-average build quality at its price point
• For my ears, they are very easy to get a comfortable fit that stays in place with no adjustments needed. Very light.
• Clean, non-fatiguing sound that is suitable for many genres
• Smooth treble, no spikes or sibilance
• Vocals are set back in the mix. Not an intimate presentation
• Fast, linear bass with some hints of sub-bass with the right tracks

OV800

• Similar high quality fit and finish
• A noticeable step up in sound quality and resolution when switching from the O400.
• Detailed sound that is more suited to critical listening
• Very linear sound with no parts of the frequency range stepping out of line
• Unmistakable BA timbre
• Considering the all BA configuration these are not sensitive at all and I actually found they came alive with more powerful sources.
• The Treble switch added a little air but I found the sound was a little artificial as a result but it will come down to personal taste.
• The bass switch allows a small increase in bass response which was a welcome addition for me having mainly dynamic driver based IEMs in my collection
• Good left to right width in the soundstage with the sense of the music being presented in front of you.

Overall if you are a fan of BA timbre the O400 is a good entry point set with the OV800 being a natural progression if you want to step up the levels of detail and clarity. Thanks again to Oriveti for giving us the opportunity to try these sets. Not enough manufacturers run EU tours so they deserve recognition for that.

 

[ian91]

I've had enough time with both now to give an enduring opinion on both. First of all, thanks to @F700 and Oriveti for making this tour happen - I appreciate these are not easy to organise. In the UK I very rarely get to hear IEMs before buying so this was a welcome opportunity.


Oriveti O400

Tonality – subbass emphasis, neutral midrange with a well extended treble; W-shape

Bottom line:

A very adept and versatile tuning with good technicalities and a solid timbral accuracy for a BA. Excellent build quality and ultra-comfortable. Almost nothing to grumble at for the price.

The details:

• First impressions are usually most telling for me. I was immediately impressed by the body and note weight to this all-BA set. Instruments are very organic with a natural attack and decay of bass strings and other instruments. The second thing to grab me was the stunning bass. Its well aerated, impactful, nuanced and doesn’t overly warm the midrange.
• The midrange is close to my favourite Etymotic pinna gain and upper midrange never, ever offends and really encourages you to boost the volume to enjoy the bass (be careful).
• The treble extends well and there’s plenty of detail to be enjoyed.
• Technicalities-wise, the soundstage is intimate with reasonable depth but feels quite narrow laterally. Instrument separation is quite small but imaging is good. It doesn’t feel congested and manages complex tracks really well.

After a good few days listening I say with confidence that this is the most compelling all-BA below $500 that I’ve listened to and suits pretty much all genres. I can’t imagine anyone feeling short-changed at the current retail price – superb value for money.

Oriveti OV800

Tonality – midbass emphasis, neutral midrange, well extended treble; W-shape

Bottom line:

If you want a slightly warmer but clearly more detailed and spacious listen than the O400 this is it. The midrange and treble sound very similar to my ear and the tuning philosophy is consistent. My favourite switch position is 00 (bass switch off, treble switch off). The O800 reference. For me it doesn’t need one iota changing in its tune (some will disagree due to some subbass roll off) and the switches are somewhat redundant in my case.

The details:

• First impressions moving from the O400 was of greater instrument separation and with a more spacious soundstage. Vocals are further back and generally the bigger picture of any composition is much easier to appreciate. The O400 is the party in an underground club and the OV800 is the suit and tie event where you’re at the centre of the auditorium.
• Bass is competitive with the O400 but takes a different approach with greater midbass emphasis and more subbass roll off. A flick of the bass switch can compensate for this but you lose some detail and coherency in the tune.
• The midrange is given plenty of room to breathe and has excellent depth with vocals and instruments that have more presence and detail than the O400. Due to a slighter brighter upper midrange than the O400 it emphasises some BA-timbre but it’s something I’m happy to accept.
• The treble air is formidable and it complements the space and imaging that the OV800 really leans into in its presentation.
• Soundstage is wide, very deep and instrument separation and layering is excellent.

I have had moments with the OV800 that engaged me deep to my core. It seems very hard for some IEMs to present the bigger picture and engage at the same time - something that lies within a well-executed and positioned midrange. They assault you with the midrange at the expense of the listening perspective and the X-factor that you can derive from the music being greater than a sum of its parts. This is not the case here, the OV800 has achieved a perfect balance of midrange forwardness and positioning. Classical and choral music sounds spectacular for this reason. I was listening to Vox Clamantis, a Gregorian chant / choral group on their album Ieremias and even shed a tear (I rarely get emotional!). The space and air of OV800 brings the old church ruins and the echoing voices within to life. You can even appreciate water run-off falling off the walls and hitting the floor beyond the singers.

Final Word

Both the O400 and the OV800 are excellent IEMs, there’s no doubt. The O400 offers great value for money and is highly competitive. The OV800 for over double the cost is a harder sell but I do believe it justifies itself with its level of refinement, its ability to immerse and having executed such a fantastic midrange. Personally the OV800 (or the O800 without the switches, provided it sounds the same) is the one for me. In fact, I’m saving with the intention to purchase one as we speak!

 

[F700]

I've had enough time with both now to give an enduring opinion on both. First of all, thanks to @F700 and Oriveti for making this tour happen - I appreciate these are not easy to organise. In the UK I very rarely get to hear IEMs before buying so this was a welcome opportunity.


Oriveti O400

Tonality – subbass emphasis, neutral midrange with a well extended treble; W-shape

Bottom line:

A very adept and versatile tuning with good technicalities and a solid timbral accuracy for a BA. Excellent build quality and ultra-comfortable. Almost nothing to grumble at for the price.

The details:

• First impressions are usually most telling for me. I was immediately impressed by the body and note weight to this all-BA set. Instruments are very organic with a natural attack and decay of bass strings and other instruments. The second thing to grab me was the stunning bass. Its well aerated, impactful, nuanced and doesn’t overly warm the midrange.
• The midrange is close to my favourite Etymotic pinna gain and upper midrange never, ever offends and really encourages you to boost the volume to enjoy the bass (be careful).
• The treble extends well and there’s plenty of detail to be enjoyed.
• Technicalities-wise, the soundstage is intimate with reasonable depth but feels quite narrow laterally. Instrument separation is quite small but imaging is good. It doesn’t feel congested and manages complex tracks really well.

After a good few days listening I say with confidence that this is the most compelling all-BA below $500 that I’ve listened to and suits pretty much all genres. I can’t imagine anyone feeling short-changed at the current retail price – superb value for money.

Oriveti OV800

Tonality – midbass emphasis, neutral midrange, well extended treble; W-shape

Bottom line:

If you want a slightly warmer but clearly more detailed and spacious listen than the O400 this is it. The midrange and treble sound very similar to my ear and the tuning philosophy is consistent. My favourite switch position is 00 (bass switch off, treble switch off). The O800 reference. For me it doesn’t need one iota changing in its tune (some will disagree due to some subbass roll off) and the switches are somewhat redundant in my case.

The details:

• First impressions moving from the O400 was of greater instrument separation and with a more spacious soundstage. Vocals are further back and generally the bigger picture of any composition is much easier to appreciate. The O400 is the party in an underground disco and the OV800 is the suit and tie event where you’re at the centre of the auditorium.
• Bass is competitive with the O400 but takes a different approach with greater midbass emphasis and more subbass roll off. A flick of the bass switch can compensate for this but you lose some detail and coherency in the tune.
• The midrange is given plenty of room to breathe and has excellent depth with vocals and instruments that have more presence and detail than the O400. Due to a slighter brighter upper midrange than the O400 it emphasises some BA-timbre but it’s something I’m happy to accept.
• The treble air is formidable and it complements the space and imaging that the OV800 really leans into in its presentation.
• Soundstage is wide, very deep and instrument separation and layering is excellent.

I have had moments with the OV800 that engaged me deep to my core. It seems very hard for some IEMs to present the bigger picture and engage at the same time - something that lies within a well-executed and positioned midrange. They assault you with the midrange at the expense of the listening perspective and the X-factor that you can derive from the music being greater than a sum of its parts. This is not the case here, the OV800 has achieved a perfect balance of midrange forwardness and positioning. Classical and choral music sounds spectacular for this reason.

I was listening to Vox Clamantis, a Gregorian chant / choral group on their album Ieremias and even shed a tear (I rarely get emotional!). The space and air of OV800 brings the old church ruins and the echoing voices within to life. You can even appreciate water run-off falling off the walls and hitting the floor beyond the singers.

Final Word

Both the O400 and the OV800 are excellent IEMs, there’s no doubt. The O400 offers great value for money and is highly competitive. The OV800 for over double the cost is a harder sell but I do believe it justifies itself with its level of refinement, its ability to immerse and having executed such a fantastic midrange. Personally the OV800 (or the O800 without the switches, provided it sounds the same) is the one for me. In fact, I’m saving with the intention to purchase one as we speak!

Fantastic write-up and insightful impressions of yours. Thanks for that. The O400 are my way to go in the USD 500.- segment.

 

[ops V]

 

[F700]

My love for the O400 continues… a tour de force from Oriveti. The O400 with the LPGT is a TOTL combo. DD bass level here, and even better than most DD I have heard so far. A very underrated and overlooked set unfortunately…

Some pictures of the O400’s organs

 

[Fat Larry]

I see you have the Timeless in your signature. How do they compare?

 

[F700]

I see you have the Timeless in your signature. How do they compare?

I had an extended music listening session tonight with the O400, the ISN EST50, the Final A3000 and the 7HZ Timeless. 4 different infrastructures, but 4 very enjoyable sets in their own kind.

O400 vs. Timeless aka an improbable but interesting comparison

The main difference lies in the mids reproduction. The O400 have full mids and shine with vocals, female and male ones. You get this « creamy, meaty, lush, analog » feeling, which I crave a lot. Still, they are not particularly fast and the Timeless do better with a recessed and snappier approach, especially with Rock and some Electronics. These two sets are quite the opposite in terms of mids signature. My heart and soul definitely belong to the O400 in that register.

Soundstage and separation go to the Timeless. More intimate, narrower presentation for the O400, yet the sound envelops you with more body to it. I like both approaches here, because it’s properly implemented.

The treble is more extended and there is a tad more air in the Timeless. Both IEMs are smooth in the top end, yet with all the details you need at this price point. The upper mids section is hotter in the Timeless, but it can be tamed easily with tips rolling and some copper cable.

Finally the bass. The O400 have a deep and impactful sub-bass and a fantastic transition into the mids. Impressive for a full-BA infrastructure. The Timeless hit hard and deep too, with another texture, it’s a bit less controlled and refined than the O400’s bass, though. The wider soundstage of the 7HZ adds some nice reverb effects, if the track calls for it.

Overall and from a pure enjoyment perspective, I prefer the O400. They are better allrounders than the Timeless.

Please take into account that I spent lot of time playing with tips, cables and some fine-tuning EQs (not much), in order to get the best results out of these two IEMs.

 

[bmnathe]

has anyone compared these directly to the OH500? I have only seen "from memory" comparisons...