Introduction
Thanks to Audrey from Brainwavz for providing a sample (and sorry for the delay!). This is my first review sample (and my first proper review) and I will be as honest as I possibly can, zero bias in this review I can assure you. Just felt this needed to be added to due the recent controversy surrounding review samples.
I've used the following gear for this evaluation:
Kogan Media Player
Sansa Clip Zip
Colorfly C3
Macbook Pro 2012
I slapped on some Ortofon tips which got a great seal for me and provided a much more resolving experience in comparison to Comply tips. I'd recommend silicone tips for these IEMs.
This IEM can be purchased from MP4Nation which often allows the use of coupons on purchases. There's a good chance you'll get a price better than the standard $99, so highly recommend you use MP4Nation.
Accessories
What's included:
Black tri-flange silicon tips
Black bi-flange silicon tips
Black narrow-bore tips (S, M, L)
Grey wide-bore tips (S, M, L)
Comply tips [Not pictures]
Metal 1/8" to 1/4" adapter
Carrying case
Nice amount of included tips/accessories. Probably what I'd consider to be the ideal amount of included accessories without going overboard (think GR07 MK2/BE). Seems to be of a good quality too, nice!
Build Quality
Straight off the bat: the shape struck me as uncomfortable. Surprisingly not when I placed them in my ears. Light as all hell too, surprisingly light that I didn't worry about strain relief issues due to bulkiness or pressure on the outer ear - just a pleasant listening experience. On first impressions they felt a little cheap and slightly tacky looking, yet after discovering they actually have metal housing it suddenly didn't feel all that cheap anymore. Then I noticed the beefy strain reliefs and a comically large Y-split… Yep, this ain't breaking anytime soon. Very solid. Those that like to chuck their stuff around will enjoy this IEM. The flat cable is annoyance - for future reference Brainwavz don't opt for style over substance, audiophiles dig an ergonomical well-made cable free from hassles. Flat cables are rigid Style is always secondary.
I'm going to squeeze isolation in here as it is kind of related to build quality - not the best, not the worst. Definitely on the weaker side though due to the angle/shape of the housing. Not really a design fault, just a by-product of Brainwavz choosing this particular shape. Not a biggie. You are going to isolate the annoying background noises of a train station or an urban area without concerns.
*I have to note I did experience slight driver flex in both earpieces, whether this presents a problem in the future is up to the gods…
Sound Quality
Going to be a little cliched here and divide into the distinct frequency categories (bass, mids, treble etc.) - even though I believe for a sound signature to be likeable all these frequencies must mesh together well.
My overall impression is one of warmth, energy, solidarity and clarity - it's a very confident IEM if that makes sense. Not reserved in the least.
Bass: Nice. Goes deep, low, a seductive bass that lulls you into a pleasant mood. Mmmm. It's not ferociously aggressive, it actually has nice impact yet some looseness. I'd say the bass is forward for sure (by how much I'm not sure, it's been a while since I've had a completely dead neutral earphone), so I'd recommend this IEM to someone who's migrating from your classic bass-boosted store-bought headphones to audiophiledom. Most newbies won't notice the looseness, but the discerning audiophile who's tried higher end gear would notice.
In some ways it's very natural sounding. At all the live music acts I've been to, there's a decay to bass - obscenely tight bass à la TWFK armatures (DBA-02, B2) are often viewed as unnatural to budding audiophiles, hence something like this might be a good place to start.
It does intrude on the mids a bit imo, as the mid-bass can obscure the overall impression of the music. This phenomenon is generally track-based - heavy bass tracks = bloat.
Mids: Yupppppp. Right here is the where the S5 excels. Creamy, upfront mids here. Vocals soar and hit all the right notes (with the occasional hint of sibilance). If you are experiencing heaps of sibilance, fix that seal brother! Back to the vocals - the singer is generally pretty forward, whispering his/her sweet melodies right into your ear. I feel like male vocals are slightly recessed in comparison to female vocals, not a big deal though.
Ok, they aren't perfect. There's a slight unnatural tonality. I can't describe it, it's just a little off at times. In comparison to the supremely natural mid-range of the ASG-2, it has a tendency to be peaky and spikey at times. No biggie we are comparing high-end to the low-end here, so in that context it is a fantastic midrange.
Treble: Experiencing issues here. For it's price range it sits squarely in the middle. Not the best extension, so you are missing out on that airiness that makes music so delicious.
All in all, it's a bit clunky. I wish Brainwavz improved on their treble tuning as they often have trouble here (FYI, I know how hard it is get the treble right when tuning your product).
I'd say the treble is relatively balanced, I did not find it excessively bright. However it is peaky at weird intervals - sometimes it's fine, sometimes it annihilates your eardrums. When it's not peaky, it's a perfectly fine IEM with no obvious flaws. Few seconds later… Whoop, there it is! Treble peaks. Oh well, it might not bother you as much as it bothers me. I think most people will be able to handle it. If you can handle the GR07, you might find this a pleasant listening experience.
Comply tips may be a fix but I can never get a good seal with them, they just keep falling out. Ask around though if you are curious.
Soundstage: I detect good width and good depth for it's price range. Generally, sounds will pan left and right very well creating a nice illusion of an intimate live venue. The depth of the sounds actually surprised me - S5 projected a great sense of depth at times without that unnatural cavernous feeling. I'd say Brainwavz struck a nice balance between too forward and too cavernous. Height of the soundstage is a little lacking, it doesn't reach stratospheric heights (like the ASG-2), it's rather compressed in this area. It's not a huge deal as it's clarity more than makes up for it, presenting a well-layered sound. I've been spoiled by some higher end IEM's that create an almost unblemished, unique sonic scape (ASG-2, SM3) and I have to say S5 lags behind a bit but it ain't no slouch. Well done.
Imaging: Instruments can be located fairly clearly. The width/depth of the soundstage definitely helps in this regard, spaciousness generally equates to better imaging from what I've found. There's some haze, some smeared instrumental placement but it's a very minor issue. Especially at this price point. No complaints!
Conclusion
This is a GREAT in-ear monitor for those taking up audio gear as a hobby. It will introduce you the capabilities of what audio gear can do and provide you with curiosity into what lies beyond this price point. It hits hard, it bursts with energy and has a sassy personality. All in all, recommended. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Audrey from Brainwavz for providing a sample (and sorry for the delay!). This is my first review sample (and my first proper review) and I will be as honest as I possibly can, zero bias in this review I can assure you. Just felt this needed to be added to due the recent controversy surrounding review samples.
I've used the following gear for this evaluation:
Kogan Media Player
Sansa Clip Zip
Colorfly C3
Macbook Pro 2012
I slapped on some Ortofon tips which got a great seal for me and provided a much more resolving experience in comparison to Comply tips. I'd recommend silicone tips for these IEMs.
This IEM can be purchased from MP4Nation which often allows the use of coupons on purchases. There's a good chance you'll get a price better than the standard $99, so highly recommend you use MP4Nation.
Accessories
What's included:
Black tri-flange silicon tips
Black bi-flange silicon tips
Black narrow-bore tips (S, M, L)
Grey wide-bore tips (S, M, L)
Comply tips [Not pictures]
Metal 1/8" to 1/4" adapter
Carrying case
Nice amount of included tips/accessories. Probably what I'd consider to be the ideal amount of included accessories without going overboard (think GR07 MK2/BE). Seems to be of a good quality too, nice!
Build Quality
Straight off the bat: the shape struck me as uncomfortable. Surprisingly not when I placed them in my ears. Light as all hell too, surprisingly light that I didn't worry about strain relief issues due to bulkiness or pressure on the outer ear - just a pleasant listening experience. On first impressions they felt a little cheap and slightly tacky looking, yet after discovering they actually have metal housing it suddenly didn't feel all that cheap anymore. Then I noticed the beefy strain reliefs and a comically large Y-split… Yep, this ain't breaking anytime soon. Very solid. Those that like to chuck their stuff around will enjoy this IEM. The flat cable is annoyance - for future reference Brainwavz don't opt for style over substance, audiophiles dig an ergonomical well-made cable free from hassles. Flat cables are rigid Style is always secondary.
I'm going to squeeze isolation in here as it is kind of related to build quality - not the best, not the worst. Definitely on the weaker side though due to the angle/shape of the housing. Not really a design fault, just a by-product of Brainwavz choosing this particular shape. Not a biggie. You are going to isolate the annoying background noises of a train station or an urban area without concerns.
*I have to note I did experience slight driver flex in both earpieces, whether this presents a problem in the future is up to the gods…
Sound Quality
Going to be a little cliched here and divide into the distinct frequency categories (bass, mids, treble etc.) - even though I believe for a sound signature to be likeable all these frequencies must mesh together well.
My overall impression is one of warmth, energy, solidarity and clarity - it's a very confident IEM if that makes sense. Not reserved in the least.
Bass: Nice. Goes deep, low, a seductive bass that lulls you into a pleasant mood. Mmmm. It's not ferociously aggressive, it actually has nice impact yet some looseness. I'd say the bass is forward for sure (by how much I'm not sure, it's been a while since I've had a completely dead neutral earphone), so I'd recommend this IEM to someone who's migrating from your classic bass-boosted store-bought headphones to audiophiledom. Most newbies won't notice the looseness, but the discerning audiophile who's tried higher end gear would notice.
In some ways it's very natural sounding. At all the live music acts I've been to, there's a decay to bass - obscenely tight bass à la TWFK armatures (DBA-02, B2) are often viewed as unnatural to budding audiophiles, hence something like this might be a good place to start.
It does intrude on the mids a bit imo, as the mid-bass can obscure the overall impression of the music. This phenomenon is generally track-based - heavy bass tracks = bloat.
Mids: Yupppppp. Right here is the where the S5 excels. Creamy, upfront mids here. Vocals soar and hit all the right notes (with the occasional hint of sibilance). If you are experiencing heaps of sibilance, fix that seal brother! Back to the vocals - the singer is generally pretty forward, whispering his/her sweet melodies right into your ear. I feel like male vocals are slightly recessed in comparison to female vocals, not a big deal though.
Ok, they aren't perfect. There's a slight unnatural tonality. I can't describe it, it's just a little off at times. In comparison to the supremely natural mid-range of the ASG-2, it has a tendency to be peaky and spikey at times. No biggie we are comparing high-end to the low-end here, so in that context it is a fantastic midrange.
Treble: Experiencing issues here. For it's price range it sits squarely in the middle. Not the best extension, so you are missing out on that airiness that makes music so delicious.
All in all, it's a bit clunky. I wish Brainwavz improved on their treble tuning as they often have trouble here (FYI, I know how hard it is get the treble right when tuning your product).
I'd say the treble is relatively balanced, I did not find it excessively bright. However it is peaky at weird intervals - sometimes it's fine, sometimes it annihilates your eardrums. When it's not peaky, it's a perfectly fine IEM with no obvious flaws. Few seconds later… Whoop, there it is! Treble peaks. Oh well, it might not bother you as much as it bothers me. I think most people will be able to handle it. If you can handle the GR07, you might find this a pleasant listening experience.
Comply tips may be a fix but I can never get a good seal with them, they just keep falling out. Ask around though if you are curious.
Soundstage: I detect good width and good depth for it's price range. Generally, sounds will pan left and right very well creating a nice illusion of an intimate live venue. The depth of the sounds actually surprised me - S5 projected a great sense of depth at times without that unnatural cavernous feeling. I'd say Brainwavz struck a nice balance between too forward and too cavernous. Height of the soundstage is a little lacking, it doesn't reach stratospheric heights (like the ASG-2), it's rather compressed in this area. It's not a huge deal as it's clarity more than makes up for it, presenting a well-layered sound. I've been spoiled by some higher end IEM's that create an almost unblemished, unique sonic scape (ASG-2, SM3) and I have to say S5 lags behind a bit but it ain't no slouch. Well done.
Imaging: Instruments can be located fairly clearly. The width/depth of the soundstage definitely helps in this regard, spaciousness generally equates to better imaging from what I've found. There's some haze, some smeared instrumental placement but it's a very minor issue. Especially at this price point. No complaints!
Conclusion
This is a GREAT in-ear monitor for those taking up audio gear as a hobby. It will introduce you the capabilities of what audio gear can do and provide you with curiosity into what lies beyond this price point. It hits hard, it bursts with energy and has a sassy personality. All in all, recommended. Highly recommended.
