Sound Impressions: Punchy Bass
So how’s the sound? OD200 has a light w-shaped sound with elevated bass, a sound that is well-balanced for a variety of tastes and genres that is suitable for most listeners. Oriveti products were well known for their bass performances, and the OD200 didn’t disappoint me. With a nice clear, deep ultra-low extension, OD200 provides a lush tone for the bass. With the stock silver nozzles, the bass quantity is slightly stronger than v-shaped.
The bass has wholesome thickness and dynamics, as well as good speed and control. The reverbs are tightly controlled but not to the point of making the low-range sound choppy. Applying the black nozzle gives extra thickness and thumps to the bass, making it suitable for bassheads who demand bass quantity.
Clean, Crisp Vocals
Vocals are slightly forwarded with a glimpse of a reference tuning. With a tad dry texture, OD200 has a texture-revealing timbre. This doesn’t mean the vocals are rough or uneven in texture, as the surface still feels refined enough and stable across the range. There’s more bite to the vocals to make them sound crisp and agile, which pairs well to counteract against the thick, smooth bass. Vocals also have thick enough body too. There are hints of a metallic feel on the upper mids but remains rather minimal.
In case dry textures aren’t your cup of coffee, the black filter will serve you well, as the black nozzle emphasizes warmth and smoothness for the lows and mids. However, the black nozzle will darken the vocals and make them less revealing, so each nozzles have its pros and cons. The OD200’s vocals are overall well controlled and don’t show noticeable dips or sibilance.
Refined Trebles & Wide Staging
Trebles are a nice topping that completes the sound of OD200. The trebles are lesser in quantity and intensity, playing a supportive role than being the main player of the music. The textures are crisp with decent resolution and clarity.
Compared to the low-mids, the trebles are relatively thinner in body and calmer in intensity. The details are great yet some may find the treble impact to be lacking due to its softer nature. As for the soundstage, the OD200 serves more than what’s expected for its price, creating a large, full, and spatial headroom.
Compared to Binary Acoustics Chopin (Review link)
Our previously reviewed Binary Acoustics Chopin is a fine example for comparing a single DD and a hybrid IEM. Chopin is a 2BA+1DD hybrid IEM. In contrast to the OD200, Chopin has a more vivid and stronger W-shaped sound. The vocals are noticeably more forward with a moist, silkier texture. The trebles are also stronger in quantity and closer to the ears, making the upper-end presence stay bold and clear at all times.
While Chopin’s mid-highs are superior in resolution, this also means the upper frequencies may be tiring for treble-shy users or longer listening. Meanwhile, OD200 takes a more traditional and natural approach, having the vocals more flat and organic in color, as well as having smoother and calmer trebles. The OD200 also has the advantage of having a natural phasing, hence the vocals and instruments sound more “correct” in positioning.
Compared to AFUL Magic One (Review link)
Speaking of a single driver, we should also try comparing it with the AFUL Magic One we also reviewed before. It uses a single BA driver with proprietary tuning and tech, which the performance has shaken up our bias towards single BA IEMs. Although Magic One is priced at $109 which is nearly half the price of Oriveti OD200, I found this to be a good comparison, as OD200 is a perfect upgrade for those who enjoyed Magic One. The OD200 sports a very similar sound signature and nuance to Magic One – but is superior in most aspects.
The first difference as well as the most significant difference is that OD200’s soundstage is more expansive and open-ended. The bass is also higher in resolution with a deeper, fuller response. The vocals show better transparency and air, therefore better revealing the texture details from the mid-range. Trebles are also crispier and clearer in tone, along with sounding airier. Overall, Magic One performs fantastic for the price, though for those who are seeking to push themselves even higher in performance (or if you need an upgrade from Magic One), the OD200 would be the perfect path for an upgrade.
Don’t let the specs fool you!
It’s easy for us to be intrigued by more drivers and more hybrids when we’re talking about getting the most out of IEM upgrades. However, more drivers don’t mean better performance. The natural sound of a well-made dynamic driver is always an enjoyable treat to the ears and the Oriveti OD200 falls into this criteria.
The OD200 gave some flexibility in sound signature through the switchable nozzle filters, where we can choose between a warm, smooth sound or a tighter, crispier sound. Either way, the OD200 manages to keep the sound rich and balanced, making it suitable for most people who are simply looking to get a quality in-ear monitor for under $200. Needlessly to say, this would also be an excellent choice for bassheads who are looking for a strong yet controlled bass response.