UPDATE: Since writing my review, the B200 have dropped in price, to £95 and now have a removable cable – incredible!

I’ve known Brainwavz for their affordable earphones and headphones – when I saw the company was offering the £150 Brainwavz B200 earphones I was immediately intrigued. This is the most expensive item on the product list, and with dual balanced armature drivers found within it, I was curious to see if the earphones were good value for money or if they’d drown under its competitors.

The B200’s can be found for £150 on Amazon UK and $170 on Amazon USA at the time of writing, they are in fact cheaper – at £95 and $120 respectively. I’ll be reviewing them at their original price.

Its competitors include the Westone W20 at £215 ($300 in the US), the Dunu DN-2000J for £230 ($300 in the US), the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 at £85 ($70 in the US), the DUNU Titan 1 at £90 ($80 in the US) and finally the 1MORE Triple Driver at £100 ($95 in the US).

Pros: Fantastic sound quality, comfortable, value, lightweight design
Cons: Cable can get easily tangled, no soft carrying pouch, no removable cable or in-line mic

Packaging & Accessories: 8/10
Build Quality: 9/10
Design & Look: 10/10
Microphonics (higher ratings means lower cable noise): 10/10
Isolation: 8.5/10
Comfort: 10/10
Sound Quality: 9/10
Value: 10/10 – based on £150 price tag
My final Rating: 9.5/10

Review Date: September 2017
Review Price: £150

Here’s my video review of the earphones:

Let’s get into this written review!

Brainwavz B200 review: Packaging & accessories

In the box you’ll find the following:

• Earphones
• Hard case
• Six sets of silicone ear tips (S, M, L)
• Comply T-100 foam tips
• Shirt clip
• Velcro cable tie

The inclusion of the T-100’s is a welcome addition. I would have, however, liked to see a soft carrying pouch included – as this makes it easier to carry around. Nevertheless, the overall packaging and accessories are good.

Brainwavz B200 review: Build quality, comfort & isolation

The earphones are terminated by a slightly off-angle gold-plated 3.5mm plug. The cable itself is durable and has barely any microphonics (cable noise), as the B200’s are worn over-the-ear. Unfortunately, the cable does get tangled rather easily and due to the nature of braided cables, can be rather annoying to untangle.

The earphones have a left and right indicator found within the earphones, and a soft ear-hook that holds them firmly in-place. They are incredibly lightweight, which makes them really comfortable to wear for long listening sessions – at times you feel they’re not even in!

In terms of isolation, they do a reasonably good job, given their physical size, and this is bettered when used alongside the Comply T-100 foam tips.

I would have liked to have seen a removable cable and an in-line mic – as they’re going to be predominantly used on-the-go with a mobile phone.

On the downside, there’s no in-line mic or removable cable, which I might have expected to see at this price point.

Brainwavz B200 review: Sound quality

At first glance, I thought these were yet another dual balanced armature earphone on the market. But as soon as I got to hear them, even without any burn-in I was immediately impressed. The sound competes with the DUNU DN-2000J, arguably one of the best universal earphones for under £300.

The B200’s have a clear mid-range, an impressive low-end extension and an incredible soundstage.

Lows:

The lows extend well – there’s ample amount of sub-bass rumble and the mid-bass slam is incredibly tight, clean and precise. It’s surprising how well these two drivers work together to deliver a prominent, yet not overpowering bass response. Just as the best universal earphones I have heard – the Audeo Phonak PFE232’s ability to deliver incredible bass for a dual BA earphone.

Mids:

The mids are forward-sounding, with plenty of energy and accuracy. Unlike many of its competitors that have a pushed-back, recessed mid-range, the B200’s present it with such accuracy – which left me jaw-dropped.

Highs:

Its highs are arguably its weakest asset – despite having a good sparkle and shine, they are slightly rolled off at the top end, but take noting away from its prowess – they’re still amazing.

Soundstage:

The soundstage took me by surprise. The B200’s have an open, wide and deep soundstage, which leads to an incredible instrument separation and overall imaging quality. I can’t stress how well the B200’s accomplish this – beaten by only the DN-2000J’s that have slightly better depth and space.

Sound Quality Ratings
Lows: 8.5/10
Mids: 9.5/10
Highs: 9/10
Soundstage: 9/10

Brainwavz B200 review: Verdict & closing thoughts

I can’t quite believe how good the B200’s sound and given their price tag of £150 (or less when on sale) – these are quite simply the best earphones under £200. They’re not quite flawless, but they’re a stone throw away from being one of the best universal earphones out there.

If you’ve got a budget of £200 (or even £100 at the time of writing) – look no further than the Brainwavz B200 – you’ll love them, guaranteed.

Hope you enjoyed my review!
-TotallydubbedHD