Brainwavz S3 Review
Thanks to Brainwavz for the sample.
First impressions: The box looks pretty
standard fare, flap on the front to let you peek inside and tell you how
fancy they are etc etc. You know something to look at in a shop but if
you’re reading this yeah you probably don’t care so much what it says
on the box. Inside we get the standard Brainwavz bundle. Case, lots of
silicon and rubber tips, pair of Comply’s the Velcro cable wrap thingy
and a shirt clip. Hmm flat cables, I love those not. Still it’s a
pretty good bundle them from them like always.
In the ears and given they are an S I’m
thinking they will be in between the S5 and S1 acoustically right?
First off they seem to be nothing like as thick as the 5 was, though
it’s been awhile since I’ve heard it. These are all rather cleaner
sounding that I’d really expected. Maybe it’s just me and these are
just much cleaner than what I was previously listening too. First
thoughts are these sound more like what I had hoped the S5 was going
to. Hmm these are cheaper thought right? Anyway to the burn in machine
with you.
Source: FiiO E7/E9 combo, Hisoundaudio Studio V 3rd Anv., HiFiMAN HM-650, 1G Ipod Shuffle, Nexus 5 and Graham Slee Solo Ultra Linear.
Lows: These are rather polite little
things. I had feared they may be bassy like the S5 but no, these are
dialled back resultantly are much more controlled, taut and refined.
I’m not entirely sure that will be the crowd pleaser of the masses but
for Head-Fi peeps, bang on stuff. I find myself wanting to go pull out
the GR07 but I’m hesitant to. These are a good bit cheaper and they
have no mic and controls. Damn it Brainwavz, can you make something
crap so its super quick and easy to review???? Hmmmm as I flick about
between the M3, GR07 and S3the S3 is the least mid-prominent and so it’s
probably the most dark, ever so slightly V shaped but with a Nike
swoosh slant. The bass is more prominent. Not still what I would
really describe as anything more than a hint elevated. It just doesn’t
dominate with any aggression yet I know it’s more abundant. That polite
quality it has it just isn’t convincing me of its elevation and
dominance even though I know it is. It’s a tiny bit slow compared to
those two but in comparison to the soft S5 this is much more how it
should be.
Quantitatively I know its elevated, a bit
but not that much yet it just doesn’t feel it, it more feels like the
mids have be pushed back rather than the lows pushed forward.
Mids: Pleasantly pleasant. Mid heads
won’t be a lover of this. While it’s got nuance and intonation it’s
just over shadowed by the more prominent M3 and the better and more
focused GR07. Personally it spanks the S5 and its reticence, here is a
bit shy but it’s got the skills to come out and show off every now and
then. I’d rather there was more of it but this is a V shaped, crowd
pleaser IEM. Mids are just that bit pushed into the distance, just a
little, but I like them centre stage. In very mid centric stuff they do
come up to front with the others but I want the mids there to
dominate. These are forever a hint shy.
Tonally they are bit dry and open, ever
so slightly but it’s a very pleasing sound if it is the opposite way its
M3 cousin goes. It’s nice, it’s not amazeballs it just a nice,
pleasant, pleasantly pleasant listen. Guitar twangs are nicely clean of
a hair ill defined. Ever so slightly mellow on the twangy edge.
Highs: Delicate for the most part. Its,
wait for it, pleasantly pleasant. I could sit back and relax with the
S3 and just forget what I’m listening to. Rosabella Gregory’s “Stars”
if softly melodic, it ebbs and flows over my eardrums, casually, gently,
warmly like a gently warmed autumnal evening. Sun shining’ low in the
sky eking out the last of its warmth for the year. Yellowing and
browning leaves scattered around your feet as you stroll through the
park. There isn’t anything scary, aggressive or hard about them.
They are nicely detailed for the price
but they are just so politely pleasant. Their presentation is very me.
Clean but no edge, no bight at all just that shimmer and politeness I
so love.
Soundstage: Not so big, the bass tends
to be a bit up front and the mids are way in the back. The treble is
somewhere in between. Pleasant to hear and reasonably full bodied but
nothing to make you go Wow!
Fit: Great. Nice standard shape that gave me no issues, up or down.
Comfort: Ditto re fit. Though I’d have been more happy with a round cable rather than flat.
Microphonics: Worn up, none that I
noticed. Down, well you do, I always wear collars and that mic, as with
most mic’s, sit at the right height to catch on said collars. The chin
slider helps as you would expect.
Amped/Unamped: Well it’s one of these,
they don’t “need” amping to be good but they are at their best with some
power behind them. Actually they also really liked some additional
impedance too from my little 75 Ohm adapter. No dramatic alterations
but things just clean up across the board and get that bit more
refined. Highs more delicate, bas more contoured. Etc etc. Of course
you lose the mic functions though so its not something I’d expect most
to do.
Phone Use: Well here I was a little
unhappy. They are iOS intended and at that they work fine. Calls, play
pause, skip and the volume controls. Over on my Nexus 5 though, no
volume controls, sad face. Oh well, not the end of the world most of it
worked fine and they don’t claim to be Android compatible.
Isolation: Pretty good, it’s towards the
upper end of a dynamic with Comply’s on. So as is typical I’d think
fine for out and about, on a bus type stuff. Not one I’d want for
flight or Tube commutes though, better than nothing but they are BA
territory. However my usual warning, it’s easily enough to get yourself
killed in traffic if you don’t use your eyes.
Cable: I am not a fan of flat cables. I
do get that they are not meant for the likes of me, who carefully winds
things and then puts them in their little case, but for those who just
throw them in their pockets. I get it, I get that they are less prone
to tangling. I still don’t like flat cables.
Build Quality: Lovely. Brainwavz have
been doing this for a while and they have got it pretty much down. May I
also say it’s nice to see the bare metal exposed. It not only looks
good but let’s buyers who have maybe never heard of Brainwavz see that
it’s metal. Not that there is anything wrong per say with plastic but
you get what I mean.
Accessories: They also have the bundle
pretty well nailed. Case, heap of tips (7 pairs) and a shirt clip.
It’s a good wee case too. Oh and the Velcro cable tie thingy.
Value: It’s a Brainwavz, true to form
like pretty much everything with their name stamped it on, it’s really
very good value. Aside from its flat cable which I never love, it’s a
toughly pleasing IEM. Its audio quality is most pleasing for the price
if not the most thrilling. Of course if you want more thrilling and
bombastic there is the S5 to look into.
Conclusion: Ahh Brainwavz. There are a
funny bunch you know, they aren’t like most earphone companies in that
most have a “house sound” one sound that is shared between their
products. Most claim they don’t but they do. Brainwavz however are
really just all over the place. There isn’t no straight line between
the S0, S1, S3 and S5 never mind the M range. As a reviewer it’s a pain
because you need to describe each one in its own separate from the
rest, you can say, the S3 its right in between the 5 and 1. If anything
the S3 I think is most like the M3 in style and presentation. Even
then they aren’t that close.
Looking around at other reviews and I can
see they are (unsurprisingly) universally positive, though some have
called it too laid back. It treble isn’t dazzling nor attention
grabbing in anyway, its bass isn’t either, granted its bass is the most
dominant area, it’s not aggressive. It’s a very polite sound.
So
buy one? Hmm I do very much enjoy its pleasantness, its most pleasing, I
like a little more mid forwardness to really capture my attention but I
could live with it. If I got a pair of these under the tree come
December I would be quite pleased, not wildly ecstatic but comfortably
pleased. It is a pleasing product with a pleasing acoustic nature.
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