Brainwavz

Brainwavz Omega

Specs.
Single dynamic driver 6 mm
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 98 dB/mW
Microphone and call/audio controls for Android and iOS
Price: $15
Colours: Black, White or Red/Blue



Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good, all metal housing and very sturdy feeling overall. The 120 cm long cable has a microphone and call/playback handling pod on the right and it terminates in a 45 degree jack. The included accessories are, three pairs of silicone sleeves, a set of Comply foam sleeves, a cable tie and a shirt clip. No case this time, but then you can't really expect it for the price.



Comfort and fit.
The Omegas are light, very small and exceptionally comfortable. They can be worn both with the cable running over the ear as well as straight down. There are some microphonic noises, but they can pretty much be eliminated with the clip and by wearing the cable over your ears.



Sound quality.
As with all dynamic speakers the Omegas need to settle or burn in, to sound their best.
After they have settled they offer a surprisingly neutral, yet very powerful sound signature with great detail retrieval. The bass is very good, tight, full of power and reaches deep down, the mids are rich, detailed and very smooth, the highs are tamed down but still clear and well balanced with the overall sound. The soundstage is quite big and well layered.

My test tracks sound very good, fun and engaging, to be honest I really didn't expect this from a $15 IEM. If you are looking to spend next to nothing on a pair of musical and dynamic IEMs, then you should check out the Brainwavz Omega.

The call quality and microphone is very good, the handling of calls and playback works as it should.



To sum up.
The good: detailed and powerful sound, great comfort, build quality, price and sound per pound.
The bad: at this price point nothing stands out as bad.

Verdict: I didn't think it was possible to get this good sound quality and premium like build for $15. Highly recommended.

Brainwavz R1

Specs.
Dual dynamic drivers, 6.8 mm tweeter and 9 mm woofer
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 22 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 95 dB/mW
Price: $37.50 or $42.50 with mic
Colours: black and red

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good, and with nice design to boot. The housing is made of plastic and the 120 cm long cable, with its 90 degree jack has a nice feeling to it. The included accessories are; four pairs of silicone sleeves (s, m, l and dual flanges), one set of foam sleeves, a inflight adapter, a 3.5 to 6.3 mm adapter and finally a very nice hard case for storing the R1s. Excellent accessory pack, especially considering their price.



Comfort and fit.
The R1s are light but quite large, to the extent that they may not fit comfortably in small ears. Comfort to my ears, after getting used to the size and shape, is very good and the isolation is very good for a dynamic IEM. They are to be worn with the cable running over the ear and that means that the microphonic noise is well under control, or more like totally eliminated.



Sound quality.
The R1s are dual dynamic earphones, meaning that there are two dynamic drivers in each earpiece, and as all dynamic speakers the R1s need to settle or burn in, to sound their best.

Once settled they offer a very musical and powerful, yet surprisingly neutral sound wrapped in a very large soundstage. The bass is very tight and full of energy, the mids are detailed and smooth, and the highs are crisp and detailed without being sibilant. The soundstage is one of the biggest and most 3D I have heard in an IEM, and also very accurate in imaging and instrument separation.

The sound the R1s produce is very enjoyable, it’s like having your very own and personal concert every time you put them on to listen to your favourite music. They really reveal new dimensions of the songs, my test tracks sounded spacious and very “out of your head”, in a good way, musical enjoyment at its best.
Technically speaking they are not as advanced as the top IEMs, but for pure enjoyment and musicality, they are definitely top notch!

The strongest point of the R1s is the astonishing sound and the unbelievable value, at $37.50 they have become one of my very favourite IEMs of all time, and that is remarkable!



To sum up.
The good: astonishing musicality and very enjoyable sound, large and detailed soundstage, sound per pound.
The bad: fit and comfort due to the size can be a problem for some

Verdict: If you are going to buy earphones for Christmas, these are the ones to get. For the price, nothing beats them. Highly recommended!

Brainwavz R3

Specs.
Dual dynamic drivers, 10 mm tweeter and 10 mm woofer
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 KHz
Impedance: 32 Ohm
Sensitivity: 95 dB/mW
Price: $99.50



Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is excellent, and with a very nice and ingenious design. The housing is all metal and feels like you could run them over without scratching them. The 130 cm long cable, with its 45 degree jack is very sturdy, I have seen jump start leads thinner than this cable. There is a so called memory wire on the section that runs over the ears, which helps the earphones stay tightly put.
The included accessories are; eight pairs of silicone sleeves (two sets of single flanged S, M and L, dual flanges and triple flanges), one set of foam sleeves, a inflight adapter, a 3.5 to 6.3 mm adapter and finally the very nice Brainwavz hard case. Excellent accessory pack.



Comfort and fit.
The R3s are light but quite large and the design may be troublesome for small ears. Comfort to my ears is very good and the isolation is remarkable for a dynamic IEM. A bit of nitpicking though, the memory wire could be shorter for even better comfort. They are to be worn with the cable running over the ear, and this means that there are next to no microphonic noises.

Sound quality.
The R3s are dual dynamic earphones with a unique design. The two 10mm drivers fire against each other and into an acoustic chamber, from which the sound is then lead through the sound tube and into the ear.



There is no dramatic change during burn in, the R3s offer a very musical and quite neutral sound that is layered in a huge 3D soundstage. The bass is very tight and natural sounding, the mids are detailed and smooth and slightly upfront, and the highs are crisp and detailed without being sibilant. The soundstage is the biggest and most 3D I have heard in an IEM.

This is what I had to say about the R1s.
“The sound the R1s produce is very enjoyable, it’s like having your very own and personal concert every time you put them on to listen to your favourite music. They really reveal new dimensions of the songs, my test tracks sounded spacious and very “out of your head”, in a good way, musical enjoyment at its best.
Technically speaking they are not as advanced as the top IEMs, but for pure enjoyment and musicality, they are definitely top notch!”
Turn this up to 11, then you have what the R3s are like.

The way the R3s deliver acoustic music and folk-rock is nothing short of stunning, of course they handle other music well too, and they can also act as a home cinema surround system on the go when watching movies on your portable device.

The strongest point of the R3s is the musicality and the great soundstaging. Once again Brainwavz have managed to pull off a remarkable earphone, and another personal favourite of mine.



To sum up.
The good: a very musical and highly enjoyable sound with a huge soundstage, great design and feel.
The bad: the memory wire could be shorter.

Verdict: Excellent and different build and design and a sound to match, and that soundstage. Highly recommended!

Brainwavz S0

Specs.
Dynamic driver, 9 mm
Frequency range: 18 Hz – 18 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
Price: $49.50



Build quality and accessories.
Aesthetically the S0 is identical to the previously reviewed S1 and S5, except for being black/red. This is what I said about the S1 and S5:
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of metal and the 130 cm long flat cable, with its straight jack has a nice feeling to it, and as an added bonus it is very tangle resistant. The included accessories are; eight pairs of silicone sleeves (single flange s, m, l, dual flange and triple flange), one set of foam sleeves, a shirt clip, a nice strap for the cable and the very nice Brainwavz hard case.
Excellent accessory kit.



Comfort and fit.
Again, the S0 is identical with the S1 and S5 for comfort and fit. The S0s are about average when it comes to size and weight. Comfort is excellent thanks to the rounded design and wide array of sleeves included. The isolation is very good for a dynamic IEM. They are to be worn with the cable over the ear, but can also be worn straight down, and here is another trait of the flat cable, there are no microphoninc noises, at all.

Sound quality.
The sound of the S0 is the most neutral and mids focused of the trio.
As with all dynamic speakers the S0 need to settle or burn in, to sound their best.
The bass is well controlled and more about quality than quantity, the mids are smooth and detailed, the highs are natural and a little in the background yet still clearly audible. The soundstage is big with very good imaging and instrument separation.

My test tracks sound beautiful, natural with good bass and a really catchy presentation. Fun, dynamic and detailed are the words that pop to mind when listening to the S0.

Again Brainwavz have succeeded to make an earphone that goes straight into my favourite list, well done!



To sum up.
The good: great neutral sound, very nice looking, excellent sound per pound, excellent build quality.
The bad: not easily available to purchase.

Verdict: Once again Brainwavz have produced an IEM that goes straight in as one of my personal favourites. Highly recommended!

Brainwavz S1

Specs.
Dynamic driver, 10 mm
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 24 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 93 dB/mW
Price: $59.50
Colours: dark grey with dark purple accenting

Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of metal and the 130 cm long flat cable, with its 45 degree jack has a nice feeling to it, and as an added bonus it is very tangle resistant. The included accessories are; eight pairs of silicone sleeves (single flange s, m, l, dual flange and triple flange), one set of foam sleeves, in-flight adapter and the very nice Brainwavz hard case.
Excellent accessory kit, especially considering their price.



Comfort and fit.
The S1s are about average when it comes to size and weight. Comfort is excellent thanks to the rounded design and wide array of sleeves included. The isolation is very good for a dynamic IEM. They are to be worn with the cable over the ear, but can also be worn straight down, and here is another trait of the flat cable, there are no microphoninc noises, at all.



Sound quality.
As with all dynamic speakers the S1s need to settle or burn in, to sound their best.

Once settled they offer a warm sound in a slightly U shaped sound signature. The bass is punchy and deep, the mids are smooth, warm and a little in the background, the highs are crisp and upfront without being sibilant. The soundstage is big with very good imaging and instrument separation.

My test tracks sound beautiful, very musical and overall lush. Even if the S1s have a warm sound, they still offer surprisingly good detail across the spectrum. The warm and powerful bass does not colour the sound too much, but the S1s are not made for critical listening and analysing sinus tones, but for pure enjoyment of good music.

As I have already said earlier, Brainwavz are really becoming a big player in the world of IEMs, first the B2, R1 and M5, and now the S1. All exceptionally good, at a really great price.



To sum up.
The good: beautiful sound, beautiful aesthetics, excellent sound per pound, great build quality.
The bad: not easily available to purchase.

Verdict: One of my personal favourites. Highly recommended!

Brainwavz S3

Specs.
Dynamic driver, 8 mm
Frequency range: 16 Hz – 22 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 96 dB/mW
Microphone and call/music controls
Price: $79.50



Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is in true Brainwavz manner very good. The housing is made of metal and the 130 cm long flat cable, with its straight jack has a nice feeling to it, and as an added bonus it is very tangle resistant. There is a microphone and call/music control on the left side of the Y cable.
The included accessories are; eight pairs of silicone sleeves (two sets of single flange s, m, l, dual flange and triple flange), one set of foam sleeves, a shirt clip, a cable tie and the very nice Brainwavz hard case.
As always with Brainwavz, the accessory kit is excellent.

Comfort and fit.
The S3s are about average when it comes to size and weight. Comfort is excellent thanks to the rounded design and wide array of sleeves included. The isolation is very good for a dynamic IEM. They can be worn with the cable straight down as well as over the ear. The flat cable is totally free from microphoninc noises, especially when secured with the shirt clip.



Sound quality.
As with most dynamic speakers the S3s sound their best after having been burned in for a while.
The bass is punchy and goes pretty deep, but the more important bit is that there is no bleeding over to the rest of the sound spectrum. The mids are smooth and natural, the highs are crisp and clear. The soundstage is very expansive with very good imaging and instrument separation.

The S3s have a very nice detail retrieval and thanks to the natural sound they suit all sorts of music. My test tracks sound beautiful and very life like, no artificial bass thump or screechy highs, just a very nice, clean and musical sound. They are one of my personal favourites, again, there is a certain something to them that makes me reach for the S3s instead of the pricier IEMs every so often.

Once again Brainwavz have given us a great performing IEM/headset at a very reasonable price.



To sum up.
The good: very good sounding, very nice looking, excellent sound per pound, excellent build quality.
The bad: not easily available to purchase.

Verdict: A very nice sounding headset, at a very nice price. Highly recommended.

Brainwavz S5

Specs.
Dynamic driver, 10 mm
Frequency range: 18 Hz – 24 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 110 dB/mW
Price: $99.50

Build quality and accessories.
Aesthetically the S5 is identical to the previously reviewed S1, except for being all black and having a straight jack. This is what I said about the S1:
Build quality is very good. The housing is made of metal and the 130 cm long flat cable, with its straight jack has a nice feeling to it, and as an added bonus it is very tangle resistant. The included accessories are; eight pairs of silicone sleeves (single flange s, m, l, dual flange and triple flange), one set of foam sleeves, 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter and the very nice Brainwavz hard case.
Excellent accessory kit.



Comfort and fit.
Again, the S5 and S1 are identical for comfort and fit. The S5s are about average when it comes to size and weight. Comfort is excellent thanks to the rounded design and wide array of sleeves included. The isolation is very good for a dynamic IEM. They are to be worn with the cable over the ear, but can also be worn straight down, and here is another trait of the flat cable, there are no microphoninc noises, at all.



Sound quality.
The sound of the S5 is very much like the S1, but more polished and refined.
As with all dynamic speakers the S5s need to settle or burn in, to sound their best.
The bass is punchy and deep, without colouring the rest of the sound, the mids are smooth, warm and just a little in the background, the highs are crisp and slightly upfront without being sibilant. The soundstage is big with very good imaging and instrument separation.

My test tracks sound beautiful, very musical and overall lush. Even if the S5s have a warm sound, they still offer good detail across the spectrum, they are a real jack of all trades in the meaning that they suit all sorts of music, and seem to have no real weaknesses in sound or overall use.
They are one of my personal favourites, I find myself going for the S5s instead of many of my pricier IEMs.

As I have said many times before, Brainwavz are really becoming a big player in the world of IEMs with their exceptionally great sound at a really great price.



To sum up.
The good: very good sounding, very nice looking, excellent sound per pound, excellent build quality.
The bad: not easily available to purchase.

Verdict: Once again Brainwavz have produced an IEM that goes straight in as one of my personal favourites. Highly recommended!

Brainwavz Xfit XF-200 Sports Headset

Specs.
Dynamic driver, 9 mm
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 95 dB/mW
Microphone and call/audio controls for Android and iOS
Price: $25.00



Build quality and accessories.
Build quality is, as we are used to from Brainwavz, very good. The housing is made of plastic and the 140 cm long cable terminates in a 45 degree jack, there is a microphone and call/music handling unit on the right hand side of the cable.
The included accessories are; seven pairs of silicone sleeves (s, m, l and bi-flange), one set of Comply foam sleeves, a shirt clip, a cable tie, and the very nice Brainwavz hard case.
Excellent accessory pack.



Comfort and fit.
The XF-200s are about average size but still very light. Comfort is excellent thanks to the ergonomic design and wide array of sleeves included, and most importantly they really stay put in your ears. The isolation is very good for a dynamic IEM. They are to be worn with the cable over your ear, there is even a soft built in ear-hook on the cable. Secure them with the clip and cable tie and they will not only stay in securely, but all microphonic noise is eliminated as well.



Sound quality.
As with all dynamic speakers the XF-200 need to settle or burn in, to sound their best.
Brainwavz describes the sound of the XF-200 as crisp clear and bold, I can go along with that. As their model name would suggest, they are made for sport/gym use, and what better way to get you going at the gym than a hard hitting bass line?

As said, the low end is big and powerful, the mids are a little in the background but still perfectly audible and well detailed, the highs are more up front and sparkling, without getting shrill or piercing. The soundstage is quite intimate with a nice separation and layering.

My test tracks sound very powerful and bassy, but then that is the intention with the XF-200, to drown out surrounding noises with a big bass that also helps you perform to your limits while working out.

The call and audio handling works as it should and the microphone gives a clear call quality.



To sum up.
The good: big and powerful sound, headset functionality, great build quality.
The bad: not easily available to purchase, not for the neutralists.

Verdict: Looking for a headset that helps you wring out that last bit in the gym with the help of a thumping bassline? I give you the Brainwavz Xfit XF-200. Highly recommended!