The colourful Brainwavz Jive earphones deliver a whole bunch of punch with their diverse, detailed sound, wide soundscape and lively reproduction that injects real fizz into any audio.
Build Quality
The Jive earphones come packed in a sturdy carry-case that give ample room for storage – it doesn’t feel like any part is being unnecessarily bent or twisted.
Each neat earbud is solidly constructed and no parts feel loose. The cable leads out with a reinforced rubber coating to make sure an accidental tug won’t damage the connection.
The buds themselves are small and compact, with no protrusions or detailing to keep them from being discreet.
Along the heavy-duty rubber-coated cable is a light plastic remote with mic, which again is reinforced at both sides. The model I reviewed was built for Android devices but the volume controls also worked with an Apple iPhone 5.
Where the cable splits, again there’s a thick, reinforced rubber casing, designed mindfully with two points of reinforcement and articulation.
At the jack end is a thick, angled coating to the connector, which avoids the inevitable damage of a ‘straight out’ cable.
They ship with a variety of earbud options in different sizes, including Comply memory foam options, but I’ve found my fit so swapped them from my M3s for the test. The bundled ones are all top quality, however, and the colour matches the earphones (Ink Blue model reviewed).
Overall, these feel solid, sturdy and ready to go.
Sound Checks
Out of the box, this pair is fully formed with its distinctive sound that genuinely revitalizes old favourites and gives vim to new sounds.
The bass is subtle but present, with the main focus falling on detail – and what detail. The sound space is large and within it comes crisp detail with masterful separation. With a pin-sharp high end, a detailed middle, and a solid, always present but never of obtrusive low register, these earphones scream energy and fun.
AC/DC’s Back in Black album was the first test and it’s never sounded so fresh – it was as if the Jive earphones had already found their calling. But that wasn’t all: all genres pop with this, and for those who previously gravitated to earphones that boast big bass on the box, the amount of colour and clarity these Jives offer will be a breath of fresh air that lets the music breath.
Even at extremes they shine. The heavy, grinding Morbid Dimensions album by Execration even won out. The hi-hat and rides ‘ting’ satisfyingly through the sludge, while the drone and grind is always present in the low end. The double bass drums underpin everything, giving a clear and crisp reading.
Pop shone, while dance and hip-hop had all the thump they needed, at the same time exposing the often lost mid-range details. Separation to an incredibly high quality but all comes together as a cohesive sound.
Even with YouTube quality audio through a computer, they still deliver the same crisp colouring, and remain spacious, with enough detail to avoid hiss or flat frequencies.
If it bleeds…
Time to be considerate – how much will they bother others? In a busy office, I played the aforementioned Execration at a satisfying volume that gave full presence and nobody around me looked annoyed. Upon taking the earbuds out, they happily played away without leaking into the atmosphere, earning the thumbs up for avoiding the annoying buzz of earphones.
How does it feel?
Light and unobtrusive. Generally these’ll be best used for static listening – if you’re running or moving about too much, the clip is the best option for keeping vibration sound from the relatively heavy cable breaking in through.
Street Test
Walking the length of Oxford Street on a busy lunch in the run-up to Christmas, a podcast at low-to-medium volume wasn’t troubled at all by the outside world. It allowed an awareness of the rest of the street but only it a suitably safe way, the single voice cut through thanks to the Jive earphones.
They were also free from the jiggle sounds of the cable that can happen on the go and lightweight to wear when walking around – I didn’t notice them in. While exercising could cause vibration noise along the cable, for general street use the wire is weighted suitably so as to not jiggle or contact with clothes.
Going Underground
The ultimate test for earphones – mass public transport at rush hour. The good news is, they beat the howl of the train through the tunnel and the rattle of the wheels echoing around the carriage. Even though these headphones aren’t big bass beasts, the smooth bass won through even with the background noise at its loudest. The Beatles’ Nowhere Man kept time with McCartney’s wandering bass pulsing over the train trundle, while the harmonic at the end of the guitar solo rang out with its familiar satisfying ping.
In the Underground tunnels, hip hop and dance music were both tested and gave the same spacious soundscape, accurate, separate attention to detail and punchy kick drum as it did overland. Similarily to overground, podcasts weren’t troubled by the Tube.
Which ear?
Determining left and right on a set of earphones is a vital part of the listening experience, and has to be done each time they’re used. As such, a quick and simple method is essential and the Jives come through. With ‘left’ and ‘right’ written on the back of each earbud, the front carries the ‘brainwavz’ logo, so it’s as simple as a quick glance down and soon becomes second nature. The font is small but stands out well against the subtle purple casing.
VERDICT
The Brainwavz Jive earphones give such a crisp rendition they are guaranteed to brighten and liven your music collection. Even as a secondary set to buy just to hear music a different way as a break these are invaluable – especially give them low price that is below the quality level on offer.
Another brilliant Brainwavz pair at a budget price. Currently $28, available for Android and iOS, from Brainwavz Audio.
FULL GALLERY
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