Greetings,
Today we're checking out the
new HEX from Brainwavz.
When I first saw this
product annouced, there were a few things that drew my attention. The
first of course was the design. The hexagonal, honeycomb pattern
adorning the faceplate immediately grabbed my eye as it gave the 3D
printed HEX a unique look, especially in their now familiar 'Stay
Frosty' color scheme. Second was that it was coming in at 99 USD.
Third was that this was being accomplished with triple Knowles
armatures.
I know that more drivers
does not necessarily equate to 'MOAR BETTER!!' but at this price
point you're lucky to see a single Knowles driver being used. Sonion
and other more budget oriented options tend to rule the roost. Such
value is nothing new for Brainwavz given they did the same thing with
the B400 which has quad Knowles armatures for under 200 USD. It's
nice to see Brainwavz is still at it, but this time tackling an even
more affordable segment.
Of course, none of this
matters if the HEX sounds like crud. Does it? Or will it entrance you
with the sweet songs of its balanced armature people? Let's find out.
What I Hear: The
first time I tossed in the HEX for a listen I was reminded of one of
my favorite earphones of all time, the Brainwavz B400. It had the
same smooth, easygoing presentation that worked with everything I
tossed its way. That said, where the B400 has a near neutral tune
with slightly boosted bass to liven things up, the HEX runs a little
closer to a more traditional u- or very light v-shaped signature.
I
perceive the treble on the HEX to be slightly more prominent than on
the B400 thanks to it's slightly recessed mids. Combined with more
emphasized bass, the HEX gives off a fairly lively and energetic
presentation. Treble extension is good, with roll off up top. Upper
and lower treble balance is quite even giving chimes and cymbals a
touch of shimmer without being anywhere near aggressive. I wish there
was a little more lower treble since clarity and raw detail is merely
average as noticed running through “No Amnesty” by Havok. This
leads to attack being somewhat blunted. On the plus side, this
results in a treble presentation that is very much non-fatiguing,
unlike the majority of products in this price range. Brands tend to
artificially enhance clarity by cranking the treble which also makes
the product quite fatiguing.
The
midrange on the HEX is a bit of a mixed bag, though the overall
result is positive. Let's get the bad out of the way first. Clarity
and detail is not the HEX's forte with vocals sounding clear but too
smooth. Subtle details like the sliding of fingers across a guitar
string are present but lacking texture. This is fine with everyday
pop music and does a good job of hiding compression if listening to
compress mixes, but if you feel like analyzing something, the HEX
falls short. The good is that the mid-range otherwise sounds quite
accurate with vocalists and instruments coming across weighty and
timbre accurate. I really enjoyed revisiting my favorite albums like
Supertramp's 'Crime of the Century' and Warlock's 'Triumph and Agony'
because of how good Davies, Hodgson, and Doro's voices sounded.
Bass
out of the big Knowles armature is solid at best. I enjoyed the
presence it held across the overall signature keeping the HEX
suitable for EDM tracks like Notion's absolute banger, “Hooked”.
It's fairly quick, well textured, and has enough punch and slam to
carry a track. Bassheads will be pretty disappointed if they for
whatever reason settled on the HEX, a product better suited for those
that like elevated but far from overwhelming bass. As is typical for
armature based products, mid-bass takes the spotlight thanks to the
driver's inability to hit really low notes. When tuned right, such as
on the AS06, AS10, and BA10, the low-range armature found in
Knowledge Zenith's still thwomps the majority of competitors when it
comes to bass representation.
Soundstage
is an area where Brainwavz's armature lineup tends to fare quite well
in my experience, and the HEX is no exception. Maybe this is why the
ear pieces are so large, but the HEX has a wide, deep stage that
frequently tosses sounds just past the head. This is still an iem so
you're not going to be getting the same experience you get from a
headphone. Regardless, I found the HEX quite engaging, easily pulling
me into a track. Imaging is good and in line with what I expect from
the price point while separation and layering is above-average and
more in line with what I experience from products beyond 200 USD. It
would be even better too were it not for the somewhat underwhelming
mid-range clarity noted easily.
Overall
I really enjoy the HEX. It's not the last word in raw detail and
analytic capability, but it makes up for this with a very clean, open
presentation that works well across a variety of musical styles
thanks to it's timbre accuracy and tuning balance.
Compared To A Peer:
FiiO
FA1 (99 USD): The HEX comes
across as having a more balanced tune thanks to treble, mids, and
bass which share a move even presence. The FA1's upper mids are more
forward and upper treble more prominent and sparkly giving it a
leaner but more detailed presentation. The HEX's mids are more lush
and natural though which combined with a wider, deeper sound stage
results in a more realistic sounding product that has a richer, more
organic timbre, even if it falls behind in clarity. Bass on neither
is amazing, but the HEX digs deeper while maintaining the same level
of control. In addition to having a larger sound stage, the HEX
provides a more engaging experience thanks to better layering and
separation qualities. While I appreciate the clarity of the FA1, the
HEX's more well-rounded and natural sounding tune wins me over.
Both earphones are 3D printed with FiiO's offering being the more
stylish and refined of the two. The build is simply cleaner and more
uniform on the FA1 with only the inside of the nozzle giving away
that it is 3D printed. The FA1's cable is also a step up. It shares a
twisted design but without the HEX's stiff sheath over top. More
effective strain relief is at the 90 degree angled jack while the
y-split is similarly relieved on both.
Shozy
& Neo CP (165.00 USD): While
still a brighter experience overall, the resulting tune of the CP's
preinstalled filters are more closely aligned with the HEX. The
alternate filters dial down mid-bass leaving the presentation feeling
slightly bass anemic, all the while perception of mid and treble
presence increases. Since the stock filters are most alike the HEX,
I'll use those for this comparison.
With
the stock filters, the CP still has the edge over the HEX in overall
clarity and detail in the mids and treble. Bass performance on the
two is very similar which I suspect comes down to them probably using
the same Knowles low range armature, though the HEX does come across
more punchy and mid-bass rich. Mids on the HEX are thicker and more
weighty with a more realistic timbre and better balance when it comes
to male and female vocalists. The CP is slightly biased towards
female vocals. Treble on the CP is brighter and more crisp, lacking
the pudding-like smoothness of the HEX. Good for bringing out track
nuances and replicating the shimmer of a cymbal or chime, but more
tiring on the ears long term. When it comes to sound stage, the HEX
feels more spacious and open but falls behind the CP when it comes to
layering, separation, and imaging precision and accuracy. Given the
price difference, I'm pleased the HEX compares so well. However, the
CP earns it's keep with the extra clarity and detail it outputs,
specifically through the midrange.
The CP has flawless hand-built acrylic housings. As with the FA1,
overall quality is a step above the HEX thanks to the impressive fit
and finish. It is also much smaller despite containing the same
number of drivers (including a similarly large Knowles low-range
armature), MMCX ports, and a metal nozzle with a tuning filter
system. The cable is also a step up thanks to it's thick, braided
cleath sheath showing off the copper within.
In The Ear: The
HEX's shell are crafted using the same 3D printed process we've
become accustomed to from a number of recent releases from Brainwavz.
In addition to the 'Stay Frosty' sample shown in the review here, the
HEX also comes in Black which looks pretty snazzy. Build quality is
good and yet again an iterative step up from past products. The
shells are polished smooth with a thick laquer layered over top to
fill in and gloss over any seams. The right ear piece has a few
raised spots along the inside but they don't cause any discomfort and
are hardly visible. The nozzles are fairly short and stubby which is
good for durability (though I'd still be careful given these are 3D
printed) but when combined with the gargantuan size of the HEX might
make fitment an issue.
The HEX
is light but remains a very large earphone, nipping at the heels of
the Campfire Audio Solaris. I'm not sure why it needed to be so big
since something like the Shozy & Neo CP uses an equivalent triple
armature setup with crossover and MMCX cables, yet remains nearly 1/3
the size. And that's with a metal nozzle and filter system. Don't get
me wrong, the HEX is quite comfortable thanks to its ergonomic,
semi-custom style design which also give it outstanding isolation,
its just going to be too big for many to wear in a way deemed
natural.
The cable will be familiar to Brainwavz
fans since it has been featured on numerous products in the past. It
has multiple twisted strands coated by a tough, matte black sheath.
While it tends to retain bends out of the box and is a bit springy,
the materials used have shown me time and again that they are tough
as nails. Plus, microphonics are pretty minimal, you've got a chin
cinch if needed, strain relief is satisfactory, and you get the same
style of angled ear guides that were first introduced with the B100
and B150. I love the shape of these guides as they curve naturally
around the ear and work very, very well to hold the cable in place
while exercising.
In The Box: The
HEX's packaging is about as basic as it gets, likely in an effort to
reduce both cost and waste. It is large enough to hold the case
inside with little wiggle room. Brainwavz branding is printed on the
front with some generic information that pertains to various models
everywhere else. Model information is provided only through large
stickers, meaning this same package can be used across a wide variety
of products.
Inside
you get the same generous accessory kit we've come to expect from
Brainwavz which includes;
- Iconic
black and red elongated hard case
- Red
T100 Comply foam tips
- Two
complete sets of single flange silicone tips in s/m/l
- Shirt
clip
- HEX
earphones
- MMVX
cable
Overall
a very basic unboxing experience held aloft by a fair helping of
quality accessories.
Final Thoughts: Brainwavz
has released yet another quality armature-only earphone with the HEX
and continues to strengthen this segment of their lineup. While the
HEX's large shells will limit their audience, those they fit will
find them exceptionally comfortable and that they isolate quite well.
Brainwavz continues to improve the quality of their 3D printed
earphones with each release but there is still room for improvement
as evident when comparing to FiiO's FA1. In terms of sound tuning,
Brainwavz has done an excellent job utilizing a triple Knowles setup.
The resulting signature is clean and smooth with an open stage and
non-fatiguing, versatile presentation.
While
there are competitors in this price range that may offer better sound
or a more refined build, most of those are from flavour of the month
brands that offer little to no after-purchase support. For some that
won't matter; they simply want the most bang for their buck when it
comes to sound. For others, the 12 month warranty Brainwavz offers
with the HEX will provide peace of mind that few other brands that
match.
Thanks
for reading!
Specifications:
- Drivers:
Triple Knowles balanced armatures
- Impedance:
30Ω
- Sensitivity: 120dB @ 1mW
- Frequency Response: 20Hz –
20kHz
Devices used for testing:
Shanling M0, Hifiman Megamini,
LG G6, Asus FX53V laptop, TEAC HA-501 desktop amp
Some Test Tunes: Aesop Rock –
The Impossible Kid (Album)
Hail Mary Mallon – Are You Going to
Eat That? (Album)
King Crimson – Lark’s Tongues in
Aspic (Album)
King Crimson – Starless and Bible
Black (Track)
Supertramp – Crime of
the Century (Album)
Infected Mushroom – Legend of the
Black Shawarma (Album)
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach (Album)
Massive Attack – Mezzanine (Album)
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors (Album)
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels
(Album)
The Prodigy – The Day is My Enemy
(Album)
Tobacco – F****d Up Friends (Album)
Felt – Felt 2 (A Tribute to Lisa
Bonet) (Album)
Michael Jackson – Thriller (Album)
The Crystal Method – Grace (feat.
LeAnn Rimes) (Track)
Jidenna – Long Live the Chief (Track)
Skrillex – Ragga Bomb (Track)
Big Grams – Run for Your Life (Track)
Funkadelic – Maggot Brain (Track)
Aesop
Rock – Fishtales (Track)
