Brainwavz BLU-200 Quick Review

Brainwavz BLU-200 Quick Review

Thanks to Brainwavz for the sample.

Brief:  Uhura’s earphones 2.0.

Price:  US$54.50 or £39.50

Specifications:  Transducers/Drivers: Dynamic, 9.2mm, Rated Impedance: 16ohms Closed Dynamic, Sensitivity: 96dB at 1mW, Frequency range: 20 ~ 20000Hz, Bluetooth 4.0 (CSRBC8645) with aptX, Operation max distance: 30ft (10m), Battery: 60mAh - 4hrs playtime, 100hrs standby, 2hrs for full charge (Micro USB charging), CVC echo and noise cancellation, Supports voice prompt for MMI: Power on / Paring / Connecting / Battery low / Power off, Supports HFP, HSP and A2DP, Supports pairing with two devices at the same time, 3 button remote, works with Apple iOS products, Android & Windows phones & PC

Accessories:  Earphone Hardcase, 3 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L), 1 set of Comply™ Foam Tips S-400, 1 pair of Ear Hooks, 1 Micro USB Charging Cable, Velcro Cable Tie, Instruction Manual, Warranty Card (24 month warranty)

Build Quality:  Nice, they feel comfortably put together and while some may find them “plasticky” to which I say, duh!  Actually I’m pretty sure the enclosures are aluminium painted black but still, they are very light.  You want something wireless to be nicely light

Isolation:  Not bad, they a are a step up on the 100’s and so I think these you could pretty much get away with anywhere.  Out and about or bus traveling.  Though Tube or flights you’d be pushing it but could do in a pinch.  For most people they would do a grand job of blocking out random gym noise.  As ever though, do remember that you must use your eyes and not ears to check for traffic or get yourself a donor card.

Comfort/Fit:  They are rather sizable but they were very light, plus I wore them over my ears and so were easily fine for wearing till the battery died.  More secure than you’d think too so I’d be fine bouncing about or jogging with.  There was a tiny bit of driver flex but nothing that was issue causing.

Aesthetics:  They look just like the 100 and well, they are fine.  Nothing special, eye catching but then they didn’t visually bother me either.  Meh, they look fine and looks don’t really matter anyway.

Sound:  They take the sound of the 100 and butch it up.  They may not be entirely my cup of tea but are a rhythmic thumper to get you through that last 10 minutes on the treadmill.  Big beefy bottom, not the world’s most taught but it wants to thump, big humpy thumpy oomf.  You know, subtle like a smack in the face and while my own sensibilities may want a little more sonic purity, it’s not for audiophile listening.  It’s for activity inducing vigour and there it shines.   Big raucous bass dragging you along for the ride.  The mids, well a little so so.  I love mids and these are moderately passable but again they aren’t for Nora, they are for “Now That’s What I Call Running.”  The highs are I think tuned with the likes of “Now That’s What I Call Running” content in mind.  It’s a bit of a light glazing to things, enough to let you know where things ought to be and fill in the spaces.  Though it’s never going to dominate it never has the hard, edged brutality that can so often appear in that musical style, with its mastering levels and the bit rates that it often appears at.  They are built and tuned with bouncy rhythmic, drag you round that last stretch, music.  It’s a great pairing if that’s what you want them for.

Value:  As ever, it’s a Brainwavz and they always offer great value for money.

Pro’s:  Bluetooth.  Cheap.  Personal trainer like encouragement.

Con’s:  Battery life is a handful of hours.  Acoustically a little too much for me.