Brainwavz B2 In Ear Monitor Headphones Review

After testing the Brainwavz B2 for several days I’ve come to one undeniable conclusion. This has got to be one of the best In Ear headphones I’ve ever used in this price range. While some of you squint or cower at seeing a price tag of Php6,950 on earphones let me say that you have no right of saying this thing isn’t worth a dime unless you’ve tried it yourself. The Brainwavz B2 delivers pristine clear, detailed, and unbelievable sound quality and if you’re into audio you might even scratch your head and ask yourself if this is really just worth Php6,950! On the other hand if you’re used to the default white iPod earphones then let me say that this will completely change the way you listen to your favorite songs. 🙂

On to the review!

Design and Packaging

The Brainwavz B2 comes in a normal black and red carton box. Inside you’ll find the earphones, three silicone ear tips, Comply foam tips, black hard carrying case, and an adaptor for stereo input. Remember to try the different tips until you find one that’s a perfect fit for your ear canal. Personally I use either the Comply Foam tips or the large silicone tip.

As most of you have probably noticed the wiring of the B2 looks funky. The black and white twisting combination isn’t what you usually see. While this may look flimsy it’s actually nifty. When using In Ear headphones the wiring tends to rub on your shirt or chest while you’re moving. The friction of the wire with the cloth actually makes an annoying sound that you’ll hear when you have the earphones on. With the B2 wiring you’ll hear less of that.

Sound Quality

Mids

The Brainwavz B2 delivers really detailed, relaxed, and lush mids. You’ll be able to hear notes that you don’t usually hear if you’re using lower-end earphones that usually churn out dry tones. The sound signature actually reminds me a lot of the forward aggressive character of the Marshall Majors. It’s not 100% perfect though as some sounds may get lost in the higher-end mids. This is something you won’t notice too much though unless you’re a hardcore audiophile.

Highs

This is one of the highlights of the Brainwavz B2 for me. The highs are just phenomenal. It has a bright, detailed, and clear character but not too overwhelming to the point that it becomes harsh or too aggressive.

Bass
The bass for me is just perfect. Note that my personal listening preference is not too bass heavy. I just want it thumping, deep, complete (low -mid bass), articulate, and warm. That’s what you get with the B2. It’s not the bass that will blow your brains out. It compliments the audio not overpowers it.

Soundstage

Some reviewers actually said that the soundstage wasn’t good. I disagree. It has a very well defined soundstage and the instrument separation just gives it the right balance and clean sound.

Noise Isolation

It would be a really bad idea to drive while using the B2. If the silicone tip is a perfect fit for your ear then you will be isolated from the rest of the world.

So what sounds good?

The B2 is perfect for me because it suits my musical preference. I listen mostly to jazz, acoustic, classical, instrumental, alternative, indie, and rock/metal tracks. Not bass heavy but these kinds of tracks shine when you have gear that will bring out the clarity and detail of the instruments and vocals. Some examples:

• Sting
• Jason Mraz
• Sungha Jung
• Maroon 5
• The Script
• Switchfoot
• Santana

Tracks from these artists/bands sound great on the B2.

If you’re into hip-hop, RNB, or more heavy bass impact songs this is still okay but don’t expect the bass to be as powerful as what you get with Beats products.

Verdict

Like what I said in our unboxing, the Brainwavz B2 In Ear Monitor Headphones took me completely by surprise with it’s sound quality and overall performance. I’ve bought a lot of headphones in the last few months within the same price range (around Php5,000-Php7,000) and right now the Brainwavz B2 is always in my bag because it’s easier to carry, bring out, and just use.

If we had a rating system here at Unbox I’d probably give it a 9/10 given the price and what you’re getting. Since we don’t have a rating system then I’ll just say that we strongly, highly, and definitively recommend the Brainwavz B2.

Php6,950 available now in Digital Hub or Digital Walker stores.