SEE AUDIO BRAVERY ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION: Impeccable Master Crafted Set
"If ain't broken, don't fix it", that proverb is somehow connected to the product that I will do a review on right now. I'm talking about the See Audio Bravery Limited Edition and its supposedly stark contrast with its regular version.
I've done a review on previous See Audio Bravery before and it is still one of the defining moments to me as an IEM reviewer on how an all-BA set has an almost DD-like bass quality with good tonality and noteworthy technical aspect.
I'm actually a fan of See Audio products since I've tested the See Audio Yume and it is still one of my favourite IEMs in my current location for vocal-centric listening sessions. See Audio Bravery, the regular one has different approach as it was tuned differently with better inclusions inside of its packaging box.
If you want to check my reviews on other See Audio products, just click them below.
See Audio Bravery Limited Edition is more of a celebratory product as See Audio Bravery managed to win an award on a prestigious award-giving body in Japan for audiovisual technology excellence, VGP last summer. Due to Bravery's success and received a lot of positive feedback and acknowledgment from audio community, See Audio decided to release a variant of Bravery and it will be in limited production for only 500 pcs.
So what's the difference between the regular and the limited edition of See Audio Bravery? The first one you will noticed was the change of its housing shell, both of them still uses a medical-grade, high quality resin and the difference was the regular Bravery shell's proportion is more bulky and larger while the limited edition's newer design shell is leaner and it fit comfortably to all ear sizes as it was developed to have a better ergonomics on wearing it. Regular Bravery choice of colour is a marbled black as it was actually voted by audio community to let them choose their choice of colour and design while the Limited Edition has a gorgeous ruby red colourway to signify its status as a limited edition.
As for its transducer set-up, it is still identical to regular version as it uses the same quantity of premium all-balanced armature (BA) drivers like Knowles and Sonion. Two (2) dedicated Knowles BAs for bass, single full range tweeter BA for midrange and another tweeter BA to handle treble frequency. And also noted, that both of them have vent holes, as some All-BA sets don't benefit from it at all.
Like its regular version sister, See Audio Limited Edition uses a 2-pin connector which is my preferred connector and I'm still happy that See Audio still implemented it and they all know that a 2-pin connector is a superior and proven detachable system for ease of doing cable swapping and more durable.
About its packaging, See Audio Bravery Limited Edition contents is still similar to previous See Audio products when it comes to inclusion of accessories and we know that See Audio is known to be generous to put more accesories on their products.
Here are the following contents inside of See Audio Bravery packaging box:
a pair of See Audio Bravery Limited Edition IEMs
3 pairs of premium Azla Xelastic Eartips of different standard sizes.
3 pairs of memory foam eartips of different standard sizes.
a high quality 7N litz single crystal copper, coated with polyester fabric modular stock cable provided by Hakugei.(2.5mm balanced, 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced)
a black circular, aluminium IEM case.
a black envelope contains of some product documentation like instruction manual, stickers, postal cards, contact card and extra pairs of nozzle filters.
The Bravery Limited Edition is very versatile when it comes to driveability as it amplifies well on decent source but if it is powered via a source with good output from high quality DAC/amp will truly shine this one as it has more dynamics, volume and showing more essence of its detail quality.
As for its tonality, like my previous review on the regular Bravery, See Bravery Limited retains its "warmish-neutral" sound but there are some perceptible observations while I listen to them longer and compare it with my preceding assessment on last year's Bravery regular. From slight deviation on its sonic spectrum to distinctive improvement of technical facet between the variations of Bravery which has its different equations on how it will deliver its respective tuning, I will just leave it to the people who have tested and owned both of the Braveries on which tuning they preferred to.
Here are some of my observations regarding of its sound characteristics from its overall sound spectrum.
LOWS/BASS:
As my first impression on the regular Bravery, it has a very dynamic sounding bass with impact and articulation. Bravery Limited Edition retains some of its qualities but it is more tighter, accurate with good haptics.
Sub bass is definitely present in overall sound spectrum as it has a suffice depth reach as I hear some occurences of grumble whenever I play synthpop tracks with electric drums and synthesizers that gives the distinct reverb effect. Mid bass is even more authoritative as it has more texture that it gives well-bodied sound on bass instruments and low voice type. Bass kicks have a more resonant and pounding sound, while a more darker and somber reverberation gives a growl on bass guitar in a very detail manner whether it is slapping, fretless and other plucking techniques. And a lastly more guttural and rich voice of bass baritone vocals.
Due to its tighter bass, it really separates and doesn't bleed to other frequency range that I can boldly declare that it has a very clean and segmented bass.
MIDRANGE:
The midrange is fairly neutral and natural with a sufficient amount of lucidity and just a tad of warmth to add some enough texture on the note weight to sound more balanced and some emphasis need to make a clearer and more dynamic sound.
Vocals quality of both of male and female are beautifully presented and well-rendered. Male vocals of different voice types are exhibited naturally with their resounding gravelly, powerful and authoritative from all of its vocal range registry either of its limits of their pitch range or just their general comfortable vocal pitch range or tessitura. Female vocals are presented in a captivating, pleasant and luscious with sufficient energy to sound more open and spacious that a soprano vocal range will be justifiably demonstrated within its pitch limit.
As for instruments, it has an organic, more accurate timbre and clarity that percussive like snare and tom drums have those penetrating, sonorous and shuffling sound, a crisp and enough sparkle on guitars, a warmer and lush tune of a piano and a lustrous and vibrant sound of a violin.
I convincingly pronounce that the mids of See Audio Bravery Limited Edition is well-done and mature enough that I can even compare it to other mid-fi level IEMs that I've tested when it comes to the quality of midrange.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
Perhaps that this is a very balanced treble registry. It has very smooth transition coming from the midrange. Assuredly, It has noticeable slight peaks on upper mids and presence treble but I didn't encounter any sibilance nor instances of strident and gritty that it will ruin the overall audio frequency spectrum and gives a clean fidelity and clarity
Brilliance treble range is properly rendered on this set that it has a good amount of air as it extends well within its perceive range that it gives a shimmer and glistening on cymbals strikes and a more articulate, chicky sound on hi-hats. It has indeed a well-defined harmonics that if you pay attention on some tone quality, you'll find it in a detailed and present manner.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
Its overall soundstage is well-proportionate on its perceived spatial sound field. It has an above average to adequate spacious width, a reasonable and immersive depth as I aware its discerning interval from front to rear and a sufficient height ceiling.
Imaging is a noteworthy that as I can pinpoint on locating the placement of vocalist(s) and instruments in a very accurate manner, separation has a good gap and spacing of each respective elements to be heard inside in a virtual room and a contrast of frequency profiles and character are in order and well-arranged homogeneous tone.
Coherency of its drivers are commendable that they sound very cohesive with faster transient without any signs of distortion and "out of phase" sound.
Resolution capability wise is also impressive that it has good detail retrieval and also solidify its macro dynamics ability to have a firmer and stable in general sound quality.
PEER COMPARISONS:
See Audio Bravery Regular
As I previously mentioned, the difference between the Limited Edition variant and the regular one was the shell size. Regular version has a more chunky built shells and a bit more hefty but it is still comfortable to wear while the Limited Edition variant was scaled down into a standard medium-size of its newly-design UIEM shell that fits well to all ear sizes and better ergonomics and intuitive shell housing for comfort.
Bass quality on Bravery regular is more punchy compare to a more tighter and precise on Limited Edition that gives a more cleaner bass response. The midrange of Limited Edition is a noticeable improvement over regular as it has more detail, more open sounding and even clearer on high vocal pitch range like mezzo and soprano. Limited edition is a bit smoother on its treble quality as it has cleaner and even more airy.
Technicality wise, See Audio Bravery regular has an average to above average soundstage width but the Limited edition is more wider and feels spacious that it has a sense of enough headroom that it has some improvements on separation and layering capability, imaging is very similar as Bravery regular is capable on that aspect. Resolution capability is a bit an improvement on Limited Edition as it has a better detail retrieval. An occasional BA timbre on Bravery regular is lessened on the Limited Edition variant which has less metallic and a more natural tonal colour.
AUDIOSENSE DT600
Both are comparable when it comes to shell sizes, aesthetics, fitting and comfort. They have similar set-up with some implementation of premium BA drivers. Audiosense DT600 has all Knowles BAs inside while Bravery LE has a combination of Knowles and Sonion BAs on its interior. The connectors are quite different between these two. Audiosense is some sort of loyalist to MMCX connector while See Audio is using a 2-pin connector which I really favours but don't get wrong, Audiosense's MMCX are of high quality. Inclusions of accesories is a toss-up on these two. I prefer the pelican-like case of Audiosense DT600 while the more premium ear tips and modular cable of Bravery LE are even better. DT600 has included a lot of ear tips of different kinds.
As for tuning, they are both "neutral" but their tuning on neutrality has different paths. DT600 is more of a "balanced-neutral" with bass boost and a leaner and neutral midrange to treble frequency that makes the Bravery LE more of a slight U-shape to compare with it. Both have good quality bass that it really mimics the dynamic and deeper bass on a dynamic driver. Bravery LE is tad airier in treble on a slim margin.
For technical aspects, DT600 has a wider soundstage and height reach while depth is more immersive on Bravery LE. Imaging and layering are similar but separation is more noticeable on DT600. Both have impressive resolution capability on its price range.
DUNU SA6
It is more expensive than Bravery LE with a bass switch system and it has more BA drivers on its internal. Both implemented Sonion and Knowles BA drivers which is good. The housing shells of SA6 is larger and yet offers the same comfort level on wearing them.
On tonality, SA6 is more mature and even more well-defined tuning. It has reference-neutral sounding; its midrange is really superb and unmatched. It is currently the best mid centric IEM, instruments and vocal focus that I've tested in the midranger level though I still prefer the bass quality of Bravery LE as it has that quantitative edge on being more thumping and solid sounding. Dunu SA6 has even more treble air compared to Bravery LE.
They have very similar soundstage proportions but separation, imaging and layering is even better on SA6. Resolution capability is superior on SA6 as it has more detail retrieval and has a very translucent and clarity definition. To think that Bravery LE managed to simulate the capablities of Dunu SA6 for at least 70%.
To end my conclusion on my assessment of See Audio Bravery Red. Is it really an improvement over its Regular version? For me at first impression was that I was very sceptical about it until I personally had it and tested it for a long listening session and compared it to my previous data on Bravery regular. It does really have some improvements on overall tonality and technicalities probably due to newer shell design which is more ergonomically logical.
To whom will I recommend See Audio Bravery Limited Edition prefer to? Certainly, I will propose this set to an even methodical and experienced listener who wants a more mature and thriving tonality with a good technical aspect.
See Audio Bravery Limited Edition is on limited release that you will be having a hard time purchasing it as it is already out of stock as of typing down this article and its value cost around $300.00/ £248.50.
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: SEE AUDIO BRAVERY LIMITED EDITION
IMPEDANCE: 18Ω
SENSITIVITY: 110dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78mm)
PLUG TYPE: MODULAR (3.5mm,2.5mm and 4.4mm)
DRIVER UNIT(S): 4 BALANCED ARMATURES (KNOWLES & SONION
PROS:
• Beautifully crafted resin shells.
• High quality modular cable for flexibility on connection to all known headphone jack in most portable audio device from 2.5mm to 4.4mm
• Inclusion of accessories are of high quality standard and quite a generous to have them in a packaging box.
• Tactile and clean bass, still has that DD-like bass quality.
• Well-texture and detailed Mids.
• Sumptuous and pleasant vocals.
• Sufficient airy treble extension.
• Good technical aspect from soundstage to timbre quality.
• Smooth treble with no hint of sibilance nor harshness.
• Organic sounding for an all-BA set.
CONS:
• Definitely not for bass heads who want more deep and boomy lows.
• Occasional of a hint on being metallic and tinny on some few tracks but not bad.(BA timbre)
• Azla Xelastic Ear tips aren’t for everyone’s ear.
Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)
Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
Lucretia my Reflection – The Sisters of Mercy **
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
P.S.
I am not affiliated to SEE AUDIO nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.
Once again, I would like to thank Steve Tong and Kent Alfonso for providing this review unit, I truly appreciate their generosity towards me and other reviewers.
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