Introduction
Rose is a Chinese company that specializes in in-ear monitors and earbuds. They started out with products such as the Mini 2, Cappuccino and Masya . Recently, Rose has released a new version of the BR5 with the BR5 MKII. I would like to thank Rose and Penon Audio for the review unit of BR5 MKII. At the moment, you can purchase the Rose BR5 MKII from https://penonaudio.com/rose-br5-mkii.html .
Specifications
The BR5 MKII comes in a black package which sports the brand logo in gold. It has a protective cover with the image of the iem and model name. After opening the package, there are the BR5 MKII, headphone adapter, box of tips and hard case which contains the cable.
IEM Build & Design
The BR5 MKII is made of acrylic and there is a smooth surface. For both the faceplates, there is a nice blue wood grain finish with the Rose brand name in silver color. The shells are transparent and the internal parts can be seen clearly. The nozzle is straight with metal mesh. The BR5 MKII utilizes MMCX connectors. The BR5 MKII has an ergonomic design and I am able to fit it in my ears comfortably. There is a good construction.
Cable Build & Design
The cable is 4 core braided. For each MMCX connector, there is a translucent and red ring on the left and right respectively. The connectors have a silver housing with grip. There is a memory wire area and the cable is enclosed in a transparent heat-shrink tube which is very flexible. The chin slider and y-splitter are translucent clear. Lastly, the jack is 3.5mm gold plated straight with strain relief and it has a silver housing. On the housing of the jack, there is the brand name printed.
Sound Analysis
Lows
The BR5 MKII is able to extend its sub-bass well and it has a moderate quantity. The sub-bass reproduction operates on an agile approach and there is a good consistent punch. The bass decay has speed and the pace accentuates the overall sound. Bass texture on the BR5 MKII is moderately smooth. Each bass note on the BR5 MKII is articulated with precision and there is tightness. The mid-bass has a moderate amount of body and there is a quick slam. The technical aspect is shown well and the bass has great definition.
Mids
The BR5 MKII has an exciting midrange and it has great transparency. The midrange has a high level of details retrieval and it is rendered in a very clean manner. It does not present in a thick and lush manner but there is still sufficient body to tackle the vocals section. The lower mids has moderate quantity and male vocals are expressed in a fair manner without any dry feeling. The upper mids is boosted and the forwardness helps female vocals to shine. The intimacy level is good and there is energy which gives engagement.
Highs
The treble has a good extension and it shows excellent details retrieval. There is no sibilance and harshness. It has good crisp and slight sparkle to inject excitement into the overall sound. There is a moderate brightness. The amount of air rendered is great and it results in an airy feeling at the top end. There is energy present and it is fun to listen to. The treble is articulated precisely with a moderate amount of body.
Soundstage
The BR5 MKII has moderate naturalness and there is a nice expansion. There is good width magnitude and the depth is not very closed in with sufficient space rendered. The feeling is quite spacious. Positioning of vocals and instruments is good.
Comparisons
Rose BR5 MKII vs Dunu DK-3001
The DK-3001 has more sub-bass quantity than the BR5 MKII and it is able to create an impactful slam. There is greater extension and the sub-bass reproduction on the DK-3001 is fuller. The bass texture on the DK-3001 is rendered smoothly and the bass decay on the BR5 MKII has more pace with agility. The BR5 MKII is able to provide a speedy bass performance with a good definition. The mid-bass on the DK-3001 has more body and the slam is delivered with a weighted feeling. The punch is greater. Each bass note on the BR5 MKII is articulated with a clinical hit. The lower mids on the DK-3001 has more body than the BR5 MKII and it sounds fuller. Male vocals are better expressed. The upper mids on the BR5 MKII has more forwardness and it helps to boost female vocals in reaching a higher intimacy level. The midrange on the BR5 MKII is rendered more cleanly. The treble on both has similar extension. There is no sibilance and harshness. The BR5 MKII is slightly more aggressive and it is able to provide better details retrieval. With the extra bite, it creates an exciting treble presentation. The treble on the DK-3001 has additional body. The amount of air rendered on the BR5 MKII is greater. Lastly, in terms of soundstage, there is a natural expansion for both. The width magnitude for the DK-3001 is slightly greater while the depth on the BR5 MKII offers more space.
Rose BR5 MKII vs Fidue A85
The A85 has more sub-bass quantity than the BR5 MKII but it extends less. There is a fuller sub-bass reproduction on the A85. The rumble on the BR5 MKII has more pace and it improves the engagement level. The bass texture on the A85 is rendered with additional smoothness. Bass decay on the BR5 MKII has greater speed than the A85. The mid-bass quantity on the A85 is slightly more and it improves the slam. Each bass note on the BR5 is articulated with extra definition and there is a clean hit. The lower mids on the A85 has more body and there is additional lushness. It is able to tackle male vocals effectively. The upper mids on the BR5 MKII has more forwardness with a higher level of definition. Female vocals are presented with a good control while still maintaining the intimacy level. Moving on, in the treble department, the BR5 MKII is able to render a greater amount of air. There is no sibilance and harshness. The extension on the BR5 MKII is greater. The BR5 MKII demonstrates more technicality. Lastly, in terms of soundstage, the A85 expands in a more natural manner. The width magnitude is greater on the BR5 MKII while the depth of the A85 is more closed in.
Rose BR5 MKII vs FLC8D (Gold Filter)
The BR5 MKII has less sub-bass quantity than the FLC8D and the FLC8D is able to extend more than the BR5 MKII. The FLC8D excels in its sub-bass reproduction and it can provide a higher engagement level. Rumble on the FLC8D is presented in a more natural manner. The mid-bass on the BR5 MKII has slightly more body than the FLC8D and it is able to deliver a weighted slam. The FLC8D has greater bass decay and the agility increases the overall pace. Bass texture on the BR5 MKII is rendered more smoothly. The midrange on the BR5 MKII has a higher level of transparency and it is rendered in a clean manner. The lower mids on the BR5 MKII has more body and male vocals are presented with additional thickness. The upper mids on the BR5 MKII is slightly more forward and this boosts female vocals presentation which results in a higher intimacy level. Next, for the treble section, BR5 MKII has more extension and it is able to present the treble with additional smoothness. The amount of air rendered is greater on the BR5 MKII. For the soundstage, the BR5 MKII expands more naturally with greater width magnitude. The FLC8D has better depth.
Conclusion
The BR5 MKII is a detailed sounding iem that is capable of producing speedy bass reproduction, forward midrange and crisp treble. It commands an excellent level of details retrieval and does female vocals justice with liveliness. The treble articulation is precise with sparkle to inject excitement into the overall sound. In addition, it has an ergonomic design and comes with great visual appeal. The Rose BR5 MKII is a sweet iem to listen to.
For more reviews, visit https://audio123blog.wordpress.com/ .
Rose is a Chinese company that specializes in in-ear monitors and earbuds. They started out with products such as the Mini 2, Cappuccino and Masya . Recently, Rose has released a new version of the BR5 with the BR5 MKII. I would like to thank Rose and Penon Audio for the review unit of BR5 MKII. At the moment, you can purchase the Rose BR5 MKII from https://penonaudio.com/rose-br5-mkii.html .
Specifications
- Impedance: 15Ω
- Driver Configuration: 5 Balanced Armature
- Frequency Response: 15hz-28khz
- Sensitivity: 115db SPL 1mw
The BR5 MKII comes in a black package which sports the brand logo in gold. It has a protective cover with the image of the iem and model name. After opening the package, there are the BR5 MKII, headphone adapter, box of tips and hard case which contains the cable.
IEM Build & Design
The BR5 MKII is made of acrylic and there is a smooth surface. For both the faceplates, there is a nice blue wood grain finish with the Rose brand name in silver color. The shells are transparent and the internal parts can be seen clearly. The nozzle is straight with metal mesh. The BR5 MKII utilizes MMCX connectors. The BR5 MKII has an ergonomic design and I am able to fit it in my ears comfortably. There is a good construction.
Cable Build & Design
The cable is 4 core braided. For each MMCX connector, there is a translucent and red ring on the left and right respectively. The connectors have a silver housing with grip. There is a memory wire area and the cable is enclosed in a transparent heat-shrink tube which is very flexible. The chin slider and y-splitter are translucent clear. Lastly, the jack is 3.5mm gold plated straight with strain relief and it has a silver housing. On the housing of the jack, there is the brand name printed.
Sound Analysis
Lows
The BR5 MKII is able to extend its sub-bass well and it has a moderate quantity. The sub-bass reproduction operates on an agile approach and there is a good consistent punch. The bass decay has speed and the pace accentuates the overall sound. Bass texture on the BR5 MKII is moderately smooth. Each bass note on the BR5 MKII is articulated with precision and there is tightness. The mid-bass has a moderate amount of body and there is a quick slam. The technical aspect is shown well and the bass has great definition.
Mids
The BR5 MKII has an exciting midrange and it has great transparency. The midrange has a high level of details retrieval and it is rendered in a very clean manner. It does not present in a thick and lush manner but there is still sufficient body to tackle the vocals section. The lower mids has moderate quantity and male vocals are expressed in a fair manner without any dry feeling. The upper mids is boosted and the forwardness helps female vocals to shine. The intimacy level is good and there is energy which gives engagement.
Highs
The treble has a good extension and it shows excellent details retrieval. There is no sibilance and harshness. It has good crisp and slight sparkle to inject excitement into the overall sound. There is a moderate brightness. The amount of air rendered is great and it results in an airy feeling at the top end. There is energy present and it is fun to listen to. The treble is articulated precisely with a moderate amount of body.
Soundstage
The BR5 MKII has moderate naturalness and there is a nice expansion. There is good width magnitude and the depth is not very closed in with sufficient space rendered. The feeling is quite spacious. Positioning of vocals and instruments is good.
Comparisons
Rose BR5 MKII vs Dunu DK-3001
The DK-3001 has more sub-bass quantity than the BR5 MKII and it is able to create an impactful slam. There is greater extension and the sub-bass reproduction on the DK-3001 is fuller. The bass texture on the DK-3001 is rendered smoothly and the bass decay on the BR5 MKII has more pace with agility. The BR5 MKII is able to provide a speedy bass performance with a good definition. The mid-bass on the DK-3001 has more body and the slam is delivered with a weighted feeling. The punch is greater. Each bass note on the BR5 MKII is articulated with a clinical hit. The lower mids on the DK-3001 has more body than the BR5 MKII and it sounds fuller. Male vocals are better expressed. The upper mids on the BR5 MKII has more forwardness and it helps to boost female vocals in reaching a higher intimacy level. The midrange on the BR5 MKII is rendered more cleanly. The treble on both has similar extension. There is no sibilance and harshness. The BR5 MKII is slightly more aggressive and it is able to provide better details retrieval. With the extra bite, it creates an exciting treble presentation. The treble on the DK-3001 has additional body. The amount of air rendered on the BR5 MKII is greater. Lastly, in terms of soundstage, there is a natural expansion for both. The width magnitude for the DK-3001 is slightly greater while the depth on the BR5 MKII offers more space.
Rose BR5 MKII vs Fidue A85
The A85 has more sub-bass quantity than the BR5 MKII but it extends less. There is a fuller sub-bass reproduction on the A85. The rumble on the BR5 MKII has more pace and it improves the engagement level. The bass texture on the A85 is rendered with additional smoothness. Bass decay on the BR5 MKII has greater speed than the A85. The mid-bass quantity on the A85 is slightly more and it improves the slam. Each bass note on the BR5 is articulated with extra definition and there is a clean hit. The lower mids on the A85 has more body and there is additional lushness. It is able to tackle male vocals effectively. The upper mids on the BR5 MKII has more forwardness with a higher level of definition. Female vocals are presented with a good control while still maintaining the intimacy level. Moving on, in the treble department, the BR5 MKII is able to render a greater amount of air. There is no sibilance and harshness. The extension on the BR5 MKII is greater. The BR5 MKII demonstrates more technicality. Lastly, in terms of soundstage, the A85 expands in a more natural manner. The width magnitude is greater on the BR5 MKII while the depth of the A85 is more closed in.
Rose BR5 MKII vs FLC8D (Gold Filter)
The BR5 MKII has less sub-bass quantity than the FLC8D and the FLC8D is able to extend more than the BR5 MKII. The FLC8D excels in its sub-bass reproduction and it can provide a higher engagement level. Rumble on the FLC8D is presented in a more natural manner. The mid-bass on the BR5 MKII has slightly more body than the FLC8D and it is able to deliver a weighted slam. The FLC8D has greater bass decay and the agility increases the overall pace. Bass texture on the BR5 MKII is rendered more smoothly. The midrange on the BR5 MKII has a higher level of transparency and it is rendered in a clean manner. The lower mids on the BR5 MKII has more body and male vocals are presented with additional thickness. The upper mids on the BR5 MKII is slightly more forward and this boosts female vocals presentation which results in a higher intimacy level. Next, for the treble section, BR5 MKII has more extension and it is able to present the treble with additional smoothness. The amount of air rendered is greater on the BR5 MKII. For the soundstage, the BR5 MKII expands more naturally with greater width magnitude. The FLC8D has better depth.
Conclusion
The BR5 MKII is a detailed sounding iem that is capable of producing speedy bass reproduction, forward midrange and crisp treble. It commands an excellent level of details retrieval and does female vocals justice with liveliness. The treble articulation is precise with sparkle to inject excitement into the overall sound. In addition, it has an ergonomic design and comes with great visual appeal. The Rose BR5 MKII is a sweet iem to listen to.
For more reviews, visit https://audio123blog.wordpress.com/ .