TL;DR: The Brainwavz B200 exceeds expectations with its flagship IEM status, providing an excellent all-around package that embodies the very best of Brainwavz.

(Update 1/05/2018: Sometime in 2017 the B200 ahs been updated with removable cables and halved in price. This review, now since this B200 is now discontinued, is now obsolete, but sound impressions should still be accurate.)

Brainwavz has long been known for being a manufacturer that consistently releases great-sounding, high-quality earphones at price tags that won't break the bank. This combination has been the core of every Brainwavz release since the very beginning. But what if they decide to take all of that experience and channel it into a set of truly extraordinary earphones? That, my friends, is what I'll be covering here today: the Brainwavz B200.

The B200 is the highest-end model of Brainwavz' brand new balanced-armature B series of earphones, and is priced at a cool $200 � by far the most expensive Brainwavz earphone to date. But does that mean they're the best Brainwavz earphone? Let's find out.

(Disclaimer: the product in review was received free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. Please take the following with a grain of salt and always try before you buy.)

The Brainwavz B200 is packaged in a compact box draped in Brainwavz' classic black and red colour scheme. Details on the box are minimal at best, which gives off a more serious first impression. Interestingly, the packaging is identical to that of the Brainwavz BLU-Delta I reviewed prior, which may be a move by Brainwavz to reduce packaging costs by using the same box for their products. I have yet to confirm this with Brainwavz themselves, so for now this remains my own theory.

Inside is Brainwavz' wide earphone case, containing the B200, five additional pairs of eartips, a shirt clip, and a manual and warranty card. Typical Brainwavz stuff.

At first glance, I had a hard time figuring out what I was looking at. The B200, for a $200 IEM, seemed quite unassuming with its simple, all-black looks. Its construction didn't do much to impress, either, using plastic housings and a non-removable cable setup derived from the XF200 - thirty-dollar IEMs, mind you. However, over the past two weeks I have taken them on a trip out of town, and they held up wonderfully.

From further inspection, I found the B200's build to be focused on being lightweight. The plastic housings place no strain on the cable or the ear hooks, which definitely helps with the lifespan of the cable. The XF200-like cable setup has minimal cable noise and thus allows the B200 to be quite suited to those with more active lifestyles.

The custom-moulded plastic housings of the B200 allows it to stay in the ears securely without making any pressure points on the ear. This, coupled with the moulded ear-hooks, makes the B200 by far one of the most comfortable earphones I've ever worn. Being a balanced armature IEM, the B200 also has inherently excellent isolation, which furthers its versatility for active use.

The source devices used for this review are a fifth-generation iPod Touch and an iPad Air 2, as well as a Schiit Fulla hooked up to my PC. The test tracks I use for my assessments are of various genres ranging from classical to electronica, with the audio file formats varying from 256 Kbps AAC to 24-bit FLAC. Some of these test tracks will be linked to in the sound assessments to demonstrate certain points.

Prior to the assessment I listened to the Brainwavz BLU-Delta for at least 30 hours to get more accustomed to the sound � otherwise known as "brain burn-in" � to dispel any "changes" to the sound after a certain amount of time.

Bass:

Balanced Armature IEMs have long been known to have a flatter, leaner bass response compared to dynamic driver IEMs, but the Brainwavz B200 is a unique exception. The B200 has an unusually noticeable bass punch and a surprisingly aggressive low-end extension, and which might catch some listeners off-guard if they are used to more "traditional"-sounding BA earphones (M2U - Magnolia; Rogue - Ultimatum; Knife Party - Sleaze).

Despite this, the B200 still has a lean response and at times does not appear in songs that normally require it (Savant - Kali 47). This unique flexibility allows it to maintain its inherently smooth midrange tonality without any of the warmth from the bass driver showing through (WRLD - Style, Everything; Haywyre - Do You Don't You). This, from my observations, could be attributed to a well-designed crossover between the two BA drivers, or simply excellent tuning from Brainwavz. Either way, I'm impressed.

Midrange:

Throughout my years of reviewing earphones, balanced armature earphones have always impressed me. One IEM in particular -- the Final (formerly Final Audio Design) Heaven II -- remains in my top 3 IEMs that I have ever heard. In my experience with balanced armatures, there is always a certain quality in its midrange texture and tone that is, to me, captivating if not outright hypnotic. The Brainwavz B200 is no different (Yiruma � Scene from My Window, Indigo).

Despite the bass giving the B200 appeal with electronic genres, it is still a balanced armature IEM. And as with all the BA IEMs I've reviewed, as far as midrange frequencies are concerned, the B200 surpasses my expectations. The way it renders vocals is much like that of the Heaven II -- simple and direct in its tone, but effective in its delivery and rendering of emotion (The Carpenters - Those Good Old Dreams; Coldplay � Shiver). With a midrange like this, the B200 is definitely worth a spot on my top 3 IEMs.

Treble:

The Brainwavz B200's treble stands out a bit less in terms of quantity, but does its job of perfectly rounding out the B200's sound signature. It has just the right amount of shine to give you all the details and overtones at the top-end of the frequency spectrum, but not too much that it produces listening fatigue (Sungha Jung � On Cloud Nine). The notable roll-off at the very high frequencies may disappoint those who want more treble extension, but I feel it's a perfect fit for an IEM that does so well with laid-back music.

Soundstage/Presentation:

The B200's soundstage is no DUNU Titan 1, but it's not bad either. Its dual balanced armature drivers do a respectable job of rendering the illusion of space in various songs. However, it does a particularly good job of presenting instruments in that said space (Eagles - Hotel California).

Eartips:

With the included Comply T100-tips, the B200�s sound becomes much more like one would expect from a balanced armature IEM � beautifully midrange-focused while retaining treble crispness. So for the most part it loses much of the bass punch from the silicone tips, but still has some of the sub-bass rumble in some songs.

Summary:

The Brainwavz B200 takes a very brave path with its unusually boosted low-end. However, by whatever sorcery Brainwavz has done in its tuning, the B200 exhibits impressive bass control while allowing its inherent balanced armatures to sing its own brilliant tune. It is a very well-rounded sound signature that very accurately represents the best that Brainwavz has to offer.

The B200's versatility extends beyond music, with its smooth sound signature proving itself well with both games and movies. I personally found them to be a blast while playing games, with its great detail retrieval and positioning capabilities combining for an enjoyable gaming experience. However, while enjoyable, they still have its own shortcomings against headphones in this area, particularly in its rendering of space. But if you don't have much else, the B200 will do just fine.

Because of its low impedance and high sensitivity, the B200 is designed to work with low power sources such as phones or tablets. Because of this they performs well enough without an external amplifier. However, when powered by the Schiit Fulla, the B200's overall sound becomes more intense � the bass gains a more aggressive punch, the midrange gains a slight bit of space, and the treble extension and crispness is improved. With an equaliser filter one can also achieve a similar effect � the B200 is fairly responsive to EQ and can handle most tweaks within reason.

Versus MEE Audio Pinnacle P1 ($200):

One of the main reasons I was particularly excited to write this review was because I wanted to see how the B200, Brainwavz' top of the line earphone, would match up against the MEE Audio P1, MEE's top of the line earphone. Knowing that they are both at the same price point, the matchup only becomes more significant in terms of figuring out which earphone to get. But let's not beat around the bush here � all things considered, the P1 is the shinier of the two gems. Simply put, the P1's overall package does so much more for the same price, from its use of premium materials, sophisticated package, and a sound that does so well with everything.

Of course, that does not mean the B200 is without its merits � some listeners may find the P1 to have too harsh of a treble response, for which the B200 would be a better fit. Others may find the P1 to be too heavy to run around in, making the B200's lightweight build more appealing. Others still might not have an amp and would rather have an IEM that does not need one. Ultimately, your choice of earphone will boil down to personal preferences, so always weigh out the pros and cons before you make your purchase.

The Brainwavz B200 is the epitome of great-sounding, high-quality products that are the foundation of all Brainwavz products since their founding. No detail of the B200 was left without purpose. Every facet of its build, every curve in its design, and every nuance in its tuning was done deliberately -- in a way only a company with comprehensive knowledge of their market can. And all of it to make me and you say, "The Brainwavz B200 is the best Brainwavz earphone I've ever heard".

Brainwavz provides high-end earphones specifically designed for high-quality sound and tailor-made to provide the user with a solution that can be used across a wide range of audio genres and styles at affordable prices. Brainwavz believes in the idea that sound is a deeply personal experience, and strives to provide users with earphones that match their personal inclinations, to inspire with intensity. The Brainwavz name is known in many countries across the globe, and the company is continually committed to providing the best products at the best value.

Over the past years we�ve covered both of Brainwavz� prime Bluetooth earphones � the BLU-100 and the BLU-200. Knowing this, Brainwavz gave me the opportunity to have a listen at yet another wireless offering, albeit this time, the product in question is a bit different. This, my readers, is the Brainwavz BLU-Delta � essentially the Brainwavz Delta turned into a Bluetooth-capable, battery-powered cyborg of an earphone. How will it fare in its new market? Let�s find out.

(Disclaimer: the product in review was received free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. Please take the following with a grain of salt and always try before you buy.)

The Brainwavz BLU-Delta arrives in a rather large box � unusual for a BLU series IEM, but not so for Brainwavz� wired offerings. Inside you�ll get the earphones, a USB charging cable, a manual, and three extra eartips (one of which is a Comply T-400), packaged neatly in Brainwavz� wide earphone case. All in all it�s pretty standard coming from Brainwavz, and still quite excellent.

From here there are a couple things I found noteworthy � first, the formal mention of a BLU series. Of course, right now it does not hold much meaning, but time will tell whether Brainwavz will release more earphones using a similar formula. Second, there is the brand-new manual, which is very well-written and detailed with regards to how the BLU-Delta works � a very admirable move from Brainwavz.

The BLU-Delta, as confirmed by Brainwavz, retains the housings and cable from its wired counterpart, which explains why a single housing was used for all of the BLU-Delta�s electrical bits. However, with the Bluetooth circuit, the amplifier, the battery, the remote, and the microphone all in one place, the housing ends up rather bulky. This in itself is not a bad thing, but its position on the right side of the earphone means there is a constant weighing down on your right side, unlike that of the BLU-100 and 200 which was more evenly balanced. That, or maybe a larger neckband-type housing would be a better alternative.

Of course, this is not a major concern. What is more worrying is the build. With the Delta being a dainty $30 IEM, its build was not exactly what I would call �heavy duty�. Of course, that doesn�t mean they�re absolutely flimsy � with its new life as a Bluetooth earphone, you will be less likely to damage the cable as they will simply hang around your neck throughout its battery life. And with its slim design and the assistance of the shirt clip, it makes next to no cable noise, even while on the move.

The Brainwavz BLU-Delta�s compact earphone housings allow for an easy fit with most ears � another of the many benefits carried over from the wired version. Comfort and isolation are about average at best with the stock silicone eartips, but improve exponentially with the included Comply foam eartips. Either way they remain very securely in the ears, and as such perform very well during active, er, activities.

The first thing I noticed about the BLU-Delta�s spec sheet was its battery life. An 8 to 10 hour play time on a single charge? I know, I couldn�t believe it the first time either. It was almost too good to be true. But as it turned out, it is. The BLU-Delta sends out a low battery warning at around 5 hours in and powers down. But even though you can still turn it back on beyond this point, they will only run for about 30 minutes before shutting off for good. I know, I couldn�t believe it the first time either. Maybe lowering the audio volume would make it last longer, but I doubt listening to music at 20% volume would be very fun.

The BLU-Delta shows up as �BWAVZ BLU� on a device when you pair it up. On my 5^th generation iPod Touch and iPad Air 2, the pairing process was buttery-smooth. General connectivity is quite good, and maintains good signal towards the advertised range of 10 metres, but only in a purely open-air setting. The signal range drops sharply in more �real-world� applications, cutting out even if so much as a hand hovers over the source. Of course, your experience will vary depending on your source device and the amount of EMI (electromagnetic interference) in the area.

The source devices used for this review are a fifth-generation iPod Touch and an iPad Air 2. The test tracks I use for my assessments are of various genres ranging from classical to electronica, with the audio file formats varying from 256 Kbps AAC to 24-bit FLAC. Some of these test tracks will be linked to in the sound assessments to demonstrate certain points.

Prior to the assessment I listened to the Brainwavz BLU-Delta for at least 30 hours to get more accustomed to the sound � otherwise known as "brain burn-in" � to dispel any "changes" to the sound after a certain amount of time.

Bass:

The BLU-Delta's bass, despite being a generally bass-forward IEM, does not immediately greet you at the figurative door at first listen; instead, it sits back and does its thing until you take notice. And once you do, you'll notice just how unexpectedly good it sounds. With a fast, aggressive punch and deep extension, it works especially well for bass-heavy genres or metal (Haywyre � Dichotomy, Impulse; Rob Scallon � Gas Mask Catalogue). However, the bass is very well-controlled and usually only displays its aggressiveness when the track calls for it (Savant � Kali 47), and in more bass-light genres, only manifests as a noticeable heft and warmth in its tonality.

Midrange:

The midrange, on the other hand, is what meets you up front once you play the first song through the BLU-Delta. It plays often up front and in your face in electronic genres, which may come off to some as sounding a bit too aggressive (Conro � City Lights). However, what really took my attention was their clarity that shone through in just about every genre � whether the track calls for vocals, pianos, guitars, synthesisers, or any combination of those, the BLU-Delta maintains a clean, clear, and slightly warm tone that I found is absolutely beautiful (The Weeknd � I Feel It Coming; Govi - Bumblebeat).

Treble:

The BLU-Delta's treble is sharp and snappy, helping to give the overall sound signature the clarity it has. However, I do find it to be a bit harsh throughout most of my music library, which often forces me to turn down the volume quite a bit to be tolerable (Anna Yvette & Laura Brehm � Summer Never Ends). However, it is not as big of a deal as was the case with the MEE M6 Pro, especially considering this can be fixed by fitting the BLU-Delta with the included Comply eartips.

Soundstage/Presentation:

The soundstage of the BLU-Delta is in my opinion the only real weak point of this IEM. Its soundstage is noticeably cramped and congested, with most of the music packed towards the front and with little extension towards the sides (Francisco Cerda � �Round Gunpoint). Despite this, the overall sound is not affected and though it can be improved, it's not bad as it is.

Genre Proficiency:

Despite a bass-oriented sound signature, the BLU-Delta has surprising versatility with various genres. Though its aggressive low end presentation makes it more suited for electronic genres, its clarity through the upper frequencies allows it to perform acceptably with other types of music.

Summary:

The Brainwavz BLU-Delta, having borrowed from its wired counterpart, shares most of its sonic characteristics, most of which are quite excellent. With a lively sound signature and up-front presentation, the BLU-Delta powers through various genres with comparative ease. Its congested soundstage may be a weak point, but is not that big of a deal. If one finds the treble a bit harsh, fitting them with the included Comply eartips will dull the sharp edges and round out the whole sound signature to what I feel is quite excellent.

The BLU-Delta does quite admirably beyond the music player, with its sound signature serving it well for games and movies alike. Beyond that there's not much I can add to my opinion beyond what has already been said in this review, but should one intend to use them for gaming or movies on the go, do take note of the audio lag as is inherent with Bluetooth technology.

The BLU-Delta does quite admirably beyond the music player, with its sound signature serving it well for games and movies alike. Beyond that there's not much I can add to my opinion beyond what has already been said in this review, but should one intend to use them for gaming or movies on the go, do take note of the audio lag as is inherent with Bluetooth technology.

The BLU-Delta retails for about $50 on their own website as well as authorised retailers, which places its price point right between the BLU-100 and BLU-200. Even though the sound bits of the BLU-Delta are sourced from a $30 wired IEM, it still remains a bargain at this price considering you get excellent sound with the convenience of Bluetooth tech.

Versus Brainwavz BLU-100 (~$50):

The BLU-100 was Brainwavz' first try at a Bluetooth IEM, and even now remains one of the Bluetooth IEMs I think very highly of. In this admittedly close matchup, the BLU-100 scores points for its more streamlined and durable design, but in the end I feel the BLU-Delta only barely out over the BLU-100 with it's clearer, more engaging sound quality. Regardless of how the comparison will sway you, the BLU-100 is still very much worth recommending.

Versus Brainwavz BLU-200 (~$55):

The BLU-200 is the more expensive brother to the BLU-100, and I have to say I found it and the BLU-Delta quite similar in their sound, and thus are also a bit of a close matchup. Points are given to the BLU-200 because of its design, but unlike the earlier comparison, I feel the BLU-Delta beats its opponent with a more significant margin. It could only be my pair, but the BLU-200's soundstage and presentation is a bit too off-putting that it becomes disorienting to listen to after some time. The BLU-Delta simply sounds better and is more comfortable to listen to over longer periods.

The Brainwavz BLU-Delta is, in my opinion, one of the cleverest ideas Brainwavz has ever come up with for a new earphone. By building a Bluetooth earphone on the foundation of an existing wired set, you get all the wireless functionality with none of the flaws of a �pure-blooded� Bluetooth set (i.e. a Bluetooth IEM made from scratch). Brainwavz' decision to use their absolutely excellent Delta IEMs only adds icing to the cake. If Brainwavz continues down this path with more wired IEM-based Bluetooth earphones, I feel Brainwavz will have many more winners down the line.

As always, my deepest thanks goes out to Pandora and the Brainwavz team for yet another opportunity to listen to another one of their steps to being, in my opinion, one of the most well-rounded earphone manufacturers out there.

Before I begin, I would like to sincerely thank Pandora at Brainwavz for providing a review sample of the Brainwavz BLU-200 in exchange for my honest opinion. I am neither affiliated with Brainwavz or any of its staff, nor was I paid to write this review. All opinions and photos shown in this review are my own unless otherwise specified. Finally, please take the opinions expressed here with a grain of salt. Thanks!

I�ve always disliked Bluetooth IEMs. It�s a dislike that is almost pathological in nature and has stuck with me long before I even entered the audiophile world. The main reason why I would avoid Bluetooth IEMs in general was the fact that having them around would mean having to deal with another battery to keep track of during the day, and unless they're actually capable of lasting the whole day, one would still have to revert to a wired backup pair if the wireless ones die out. And, well, they die out not even halfway through the day � which, for a guy whose music is pumped into the ears a third of the day every day, sucks. That, and they didn�t really sound that good. At least, not until recently.

Earphones like the Brainwavz BLU-100 changed my perspective and general opinion of Bluetooth earphones, and now that I have Brainwavz� new follow-up to that entry, it's time to cut the cord once more to hear this new installment to Brainwavz� collection.

The Brainwavz BLU-200 arrives in a minuscule box containing the hard case that contains the whole assembly � the earphones, two sets of silicone eartips, a pair of Comply foam eartips, a pair of sport hooks, a charging cable, and Brainwavz� standard 2-year manufacturer�s warranty. The package is about identical to that found in the BLU-100, so not much else is worth pointing out. Moving on.

Brainwavz took some feedback from the reviews of the BLU-100 concerning the fit and altered the design of its successor in response. Their housings are sleeker and more streamlined, with a more smoothly tapered shape as it enters the ear. How this improves the fit we will cover in the next section. The rest of the design remains unchanged, and carries most of the good and bad we have seen from its predecessor.

Build quality is also pretty good and remains unchanged from the BLU-100. Unless will be taking lots of hard impacts, they should otherwise hold up very well. As for the cable noise, The BLU-200 now includes a slider to adjust how much of the cable dangles and flies around behind your neck. There wasn�t any slider in the BLU-100 I reviewed last year, and that became a bit of a nuisance at times, so having this now is a welcome addition.

However, I noted some slight driver flex when using them, which may cause slight discomfort. Using the included Comply foam eartips does, however, resolve the issue.

Does this spec sheet look familiar? Well, it should � I copied most of it over from the BLU-100 spec sheet. And by looking at its predecessor, Brainwavz seems to have done the same in terms of internal BT tech. Then again, as they say, �if it ain�t broke, don�t fix it.�

Pairing the BLU-200 is about as easy as it gets � or as easy as your phone makes it. In real-world use, I�ve experienced very few hiccups while out and about, which leads me to believe the BT tech in the BLU-200 is�.well, just as good as the last one. It does have this new feature when you can pair the device with two sources at the same time. Personally I fail to see what situations this feature can be used for, but right now, I find it as little more than a gimmick.

Also, you cannot pair it to two sources and have the BLU-200 play two different songs from the two sources, which is a bummer. Then again, who said gimmicks needed to be useful?

The BLU-200 was reviewed using a 5^th-generation iPod Touch and an iPad Air 2, and the EQ Software used is TuneShell. As always, my test tracks are available here, although I will link specific songs in the assessment for a more direct point of reference.

The BLU-200 was listened to for about 50 hours prior to making the final assessments in this review. No changes have been noted.

Bass:

To start off, let's first listen in on the lower frequencies. The bass of the BLU-200 seems most likely geared to make a big first impression. It's big, chunky, and noticeable � good for catching the listener's attention, but not much else. It has good punch and maintains its composure during heavy bass lines. However, its unimpressive sub-bass extension does not help it much to impress the more bass-inclined listeners (Haywyre � Dichotomy; Daft Punk � Doin' It Right). It also struggles with articulation, making speedy drum passages sound muddy and wanting in detail (Megadeth � Holy Wars...The Punishment Due).

Midrange:

The midrange of the BLU-200 definitely comes across as sounding noticeably "shouty," in that it sounds accentuated in the upper midrange. This leads to the upper octaves sounding rather obnoxious and in-your-face (Anna Yvette, Laura Brehm � Summer Never Ends). Male vocals do not seem to have this problem, most likely due to the lower vocal range, but the level of midrange accentuation varies on a song-to-song basis (compare The Weeknd � A Lonely Night with above song). Unusually, they sound much more pleasing with guitars and other acoustic instruments (Sungha Jung � Coming Home; Francisco Cerda � 'Round Gunpoint), with a more natural presentation with little of the aforementioned "shouty" tonality. From a more technical standpoint, the BLU-200 struggles with conveying nuances in the music, especially in tracks where emotional expression comprises much of the appeal (Yiruma � Kiss the Rain). This doesn't do the BLU-200 much help, especially when its tonality seems more fitting for acoustic tracks.

Treble:

The treble of the BLU-200 resembles its bass quality in many ways, most prominently that it does not do much to impress the listener. Its detail and prominence is decent at best, and lacks extension in the higher frequency ranges. Overall it does the job, but one should not expect too much from it.

Soundstage/Presentation:

While listening to the BLU-200 before writing this review, its soundstage has been something of an oddity to me. I found my pair to somehow have a skewed soundstage, with sounds coming more from the left side that from the right. From testing with a tone generator, it did not turn out to be a channel imbalance, but this may be something else entirely. I even thought it to be simply my ears, but from testing other earphones, my hearing balance was fine. Nonetheless, I found nothing very noteworthy in the soundstage. Size is mediocre at best � far from spacious, but not too congested.

Genre Proficiency:

From what I found, the BLU-200 sounds quite good with music that does not use too much of the upper midrange, where the BLU-200's emphasis turns tunes to torture. For this reason, I found them to sound better with acoustic rather than electronic tracks � unusual, considering its predecessor was less picky with genre choice.

Summary:

I'll be honest � I did not expect the BLU-200 to sound so...off-putting. Its sharp upper midrange claws at my eardrums with a large chunk of my music library, while its skewed soundstage keeps me uneasy and on my figurative toes. I find it difficult to not take them off partway through a song.

Games:

Lately I have been playing a lot of rhythm games, particularly on my iPad. These rhythm games involve tapping things on a screen in time to the music, so in order to play well, one needs minimal audio latency to play. Wired headphones and earphones do the job easily, but Bluetooth earphones definitely have a hard time keeping up. The lag between seeing the notes to be played in the game and hearing the music, even if that lag is a tenth of a second, is far too great to be able to play a music game without having some trouble. In fact, one can liken playing rhythm games with Bluetooth earphones to playing darts after fifteen twirls � in other words, it's a nuisance. Of course, that doesn�t mean this is the case with all games � other games seem to sound quite fine with the BLU-200, although while gaming with Bluetooth earphones, one will need to be more mindful of their battery meters � both of the earphones and of their source devices.

Movies:

For movies, a low audio latency also is required of wireless earphones for the audio and video to remain in sync. After all, nobody likes to watch a movie where your senses receive the events in the movie one after the other in a jumbled mess. For this purpose, the BLU-200 does its job well. The audio lag is still slightly noticeable, but unlike rhythm games, they do not retract too much from the overall experience. Sonically they still aren't completely impressive, but they're definitely good enough.

When I have an issue with an earphone, oftentimes they can be fixed with a bit of tweaking with an EQ. But for this special case, I will make an exception. Yes, the BLU-200 responds to EQ � fairly well, in fact. The only problem with this particular case is that the BLU-200's problem � more specifically, its skewed soundstage � cannot simply be fixed with an EQ alone. For this I cannot give a definite score.

The BLU-200 retails for a price of $55 as of thiswriting, which is $5 dollars more expensive than the BLU-100 before it. At this price you will be receiving a pretty solid Bluetooth IEM with all the features you need, along with one of Brainwavz' trademark accessory sets. Technically it's just about as good as its predecessor.

Versus Sport-Fi X7 (~$100):

The MEE X7, like the BLU-200, a Bluetooth IEM. However, their similarities end there; the X7 is in a league of its own with its higher price, better fit, better build, and better sound. From looking at the big picture, they simply knock the BLU-200 out of the park. However, the BLU-200 does manage to hold its own against the X7, pointing out their clearer midrange, laid-back bass, and most of all, much better Bluetooth circuitry which results in very little connectivity problems, if any.

Versus Brainwavz BLU-100 ($50):

Now, let us look at the father-and-son matchup � the BLU-200 up against its predecessor. Instead of starting out long-winded as I normally do, I'll just cut to the chase � I like the BLU-100 better. Yes, I like the old one better than the new one. The BLU-100 just does what it needs to without overdoing anything. The BLU-200, as an example, has an upper midrange that does more to annoy than to amaze. The BLU-100, in contrast, does neither, but it does not end up badly. It just performs, and that's makes the BLU-100 that much more appealing than its successor � it doesn't try too hard to impress.

The Brainwavz BLU-200 is a bit of an oddity in my opinion. Its an IEM that tries its best to sound good, but in doing so, it trips over itself and ends up sounding worse than it should. The harsh upper midrange, though painful to listen to, is negligible. At least, in the face of its unusually skewed soundstage.

But does that mean it's a bad IEM? No. In fact it's factually quite decent � it still manages to retain some of the characteristics of its predecessor and still sound good in some cases. However, it does not manage to inherit the do-everything quality that I liked so much from the BLU-100. It is because of that that I would be more likely to recommend the old IEM than the new.

I�d probably suggest keeping the BLU-100 around for sale, but since they�ve already done that, there�s none I can suggest improving beyond what I�ve already mentioned in the review.