Link to my review and measurement index thread where one can also find a full review overview, more information about myself as well as my general-ish audio and review manifesto: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/956208/
ORIVETI AFFINITY II
Source:
Review sample.
Miscellaneous:
Nice unboxing experience.
Comes with a very nice real leather storage case (same as the one the OV800 come with).
Also comes with interchangeable quick-change connectors (3.5 mm TRS, 2.5 mm TRRS, Pentaconn), which should be nice for those who frequently use source devices with different types of outputs (not me); unfortunately no 6.3 mm TRS connector available.
0.78 mm 2-pin connectors.
Silver cable looks and feels nice (braided and twisted connectors) although it’s perhaps just a tad stiffer than I’d like at this price point. I personally prefer the aesthetics of copper, though, so the old first-generation AFFINITY is more to my visual preferences.
The metal 2-pin connectors look and feel excellent. Side- and polarity markers exist.
The y-splitter (made of metal) with its clear plastic surrounding looks somewhat cheap for the price – I definitely prefer the first generation’s design in this area while the silver-black theme of the second is visually more pleasant.
The chin-slider moves neither too easily nor stiffly but is on the firmer side wherefore it shouldn’t move accidentally, which is good.
Unfortunately, while the interchangeable plugs seem a good idea in the first place, they are quite long and therefore create some unnecessary lever action that may wear the source device’s socket over time. Perhaps straight instead of angled connectors would have been shorter, but as they are I definitely find the connectors somewhat too long for primarily portable use.
In addition, while the thread locking is a good idea as it securely locks the connector piece to the cable, the collar doesn’t screw onto the threads completely but leaves a small gap, which, while it doesn’t compromise functionality, is somewhat of a visual no-go at this price point.
On the plus side, build quality and haptics of the plugs are good.
Sound:
I’m not a “cable person” (outside of aesthetics, haptics and potential sound differences with multi-BA in-ears due to different impedance compared to the original cable), so I haven’t performed any tests in this direction.
Conclusion:
Nice aesthetics aside, I think that there are somewhat too many small and bigger issues with the AFFINITY II especially at its price point. As it is, the first generation was the overall better complete package despite offering less features.
ORIVETI AFFINITY II
Source:
Review sample.
Miscellaneous:
Nice unboxing experience.
Comes with a very nice real leather storage case (same as the one the OV800 come with).
Also comes with interchangeable quick-change connectors (3.5 mm TRS, 2.5 mm TRRS, Pentaconn), which should be nice for those who frequently use source devices with different types of outputs (not me); unfortunately no 6.3 mm TRS connector available.
0.78 mm 2-pin connectors.
Silver cable looks and feels nice (braided and twisted connectors) although it’s perhaps just a tad stiffer than I’d like at this price point. I personally prefer the aesthetics of copper, though, so the old first-generation AFFINITY is more to my visual preferences.
The metal 2-pin connectors look and feel excellent. Side- and polarity markers exist.
The y-splitter (made of metal) with its clear plastic surrounding looks somewhat cheap for the price – I definitely prefer the first generation’s design in this area while the silver-black theme of the second is visually more pleasant.
The chin-slider moves neither too easily nor stiffly but is on the firmer side wherefore it shouldn’t move accidentally, which is good.
Unfortunately, while the interchangeable plugs seem a good idea in the first place, they are quite long and therefore create some unnecessary lever action that may wear the source device’s socket over time. Perhaps straight instead of angled connectors would have been shorter, but as they are I definitely find the connectors somewhat too long for primarily portable use.
In addition, while the thread locking is a good idea as it securely locks the connector piece to the cable, the collar doesn’t screw onto the threads completely but leaves a small gap, which, while it doesn’t compromise functionality, is somewhat of a visual no-go at this price point.
On the plus side, build quality and haptics of the plugs are good.
Sound:
I’m not a “cable person” (outside of aesthetics, haptics and potential sound differences with multi-BA in-ears due to different impedance compared to the original cable), so I haven’t performed any tests in this direction.
Conclusion:
Nice aesthetics aside, I think that there are somewhat too many small and bigger issues with the AFFINITY II especially at its price point. As it is, the first generation was the overall better complete package despite offering less features.
