Oriveti OD200: Sweet, Sonority and Luster One

"What is music for? It's to make you feel good"

~~Sebastian Bach, Ex-vocalist of Skid Row.

ORIVETI was one of the first audio brands that I've encountered in the midrange segment. It is actually an old brand and now they are somewhat reintroducing themselves again to the current audio community. Their Primacy series sets were the one of the few hybrid midrange sets that I've demoed before in a popular Hi-fi store here in my locality around late 2017.

ORIVETI was established around 2015 and they are a Hong Kong-based audio company that specialises on engineering and designing on both earphones and headphones as they have an extensive experience on producing these devices in a very meticulous approach.as I aforementioned about their popular product models, the Oriveti Primacy sets were the testament of their engineering and tuning prowess.

What I have here right now is their latest product model, The ORIVETI OD200. OD200 is a single dynamic driver IEM which has a notable feature as it has an interchangeable tuning nozzle system similar to BGVP DMG, SIMGOT EA500 and current HIDIZS’ sets. Regarding on its driver, ORIVETI implemented a 9.8mm Beryllium-coated dynamic driver which is known to have faster transient response, some improvements of its perceived sound/speaker stage, clear and articulate sound reproduction. Aside from a capable drivers, ORIVETI also implemented their self-developed acoustic pressure technology based on aerodynamics and airflow, The DAD (Dedicated Airflow Distribution) system. The DAD system is to optimised and regulate the air flow within its acoustic cavity, it has an acoustic tube that was interconnected between front to rear acoustic chambers as it regulate and dispersed well the air flow generated from high performance BE-coated dynamic driver to reduce listening fatigue and decreases the chances of distortion on its clear and articulate sound reproduction.

The driver along with its proprietary technology was encased in a CNC-milled aluminium alloy shell chassis with an ergonomically designed and modified UIEM-style form factor that assures its durability while giving a better fitting and comfortable wear to its user. It has a British Racing Green colour which I'm quite familiar as it was used on some sports cars’ colour scheme like Jaguar, Aston Martin and Lotus (it also happens that I'm also a fan of super cars too). As I mentioned a while ago, it has interchangeable nozzle tuning filters that are made of brass, and Oriveti adds a pair of nozzle tuning filters which have a silver-coloured finish. This set has a 0.78mm 2-pin connector for more stable connection and ease to do some cable swapping.

Its stock cable is quite excellent as it is a modular one and its overall quality is quite remarkable. It has 8-core OFC silver-plated copper wires which is somehow sturdy, well-braided and quite supple to touch and hold. Since it has some modular features that makes it more flexible to all types of audio jacks, ORIVETI is gracious enough to include 3 types of termination plugs; 3.5mm SE, 2.5mm balanced and 4.4mm balanced, and all of them are gold-plated to ensure better conductivity and resistance to corrosion.

When it comes for wearing and comfort, despite its all-metal construction, The ORIVETI OD200 is fairly balanced on its weight that I was able to wear it for a long listening session. It even offer some of the best noise isolation as it really seals well into my lugholes that I barely heard some external noises from the outside surroundings.

As for product packaging, The ORIVETI OD200 has a rather large square-shaped packaging box but inside, all contents are well-organised and most of its accessories are compartmentalised in a drawer. This is probably one of the most impressive unboxing experiences I've ever done on a product of such calibre.

Here are the following contents inside of its packaging box:

■ Pair of ORIVETI OD200 IEM transducers

■ Modular stock cable

■ Pair of interchangeable nozzle tuning filters (Silver)

■ Leather IEM case

■ 3.5mm SE,  4.4mm and 2.5mm balanced termination plugs

■ 3 pairs of silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ 3 pairs of memory foam ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ Cleaning tool kit

As for scaling and amplification, this set is definitely an easy to drive one that a decent power output from sources like smartphones, tablets and laptops are able to amplify it. But putting on better sources like LG devices, DAPs, USB dongles and desktop amplifiers, The OD200 will sound even more vivid and full-sounding that it encompasses across the sonic frequency spectrum.

In regards of its tonal qualities, since this set has a detachable nozzle system that its nozzles offers different types of tuning, here are some of the description for each nozzles:

Black-coloured nozzles - it has a mild U-shaped sound signature that has more emphasis on upper-mids up to the brilliance part of the treble region to give that almost neutral-ish-bright kind of sound. (The Dunu S&S somehow makes it more bright-neutral sounding)

Silver-coloured nozzles - This makes this set sounds more warmer U to V-shaped sound profile as it has more emphasis on between midbass to the midrange while attenuates the upper-mids and presence part of the treble region.

(Graph was provided by [USER=516219]@baskingshark[/USER] , credits to him)

LOWS/BASS:

The low frequencies are indeed prominent on this set in both nozzle tuning filters but they have different takes in terms of quantity.

Black Nozzle

It has a tight, thumpy and precise bass quantity while maintaining a decent clean and separation on its overall response. It gives me a rather satisfying bass feedback as it has an ample texture on its mid-bass and a noticeable presence on the sub-bass region.

I discerningly felt fairly some rumbling and reverberations coming from sub-bass focus instruments like synthesisers, drum machines and low tone bass guitar. Mid-bass is reasonably well-balanced on its note weight  that will affect the timbre and tone of some instruments and male vocals, particularly bass-baritone ones. Bass guitars have resonant and sustaining sound on every fretting or slapping of its strings, Bass kick drums sounds rather tight and thudding than broad sounding, then on bass-baritone vocals, they have less heftier and guttural sounding as it should be but at least they have some depth and "espresso-like" on their voices.

Silver Nozzles

This mode makes the OD200 more mid-bass focus as it really gives more texture and density on that particular part of the low frequency range. But there are some drawbacks as I noticed that there is some tad bass bleeding across some parts of lower midrange that gives less cleaner bass response but it adds some warmth to its overall sound.

On instruments, bass guitars sounds more earthy, rasping and have weight on them, bass kick drums have more sonorous and thunderous sound on every attack, and bass-baritone vocals sounds more prominent on this setting as it has more fuller, deeper and darker tone as they have dense and wool-like sound.

MIDRANGE:

Depending on tuning nozzles, it offers different  midrange presentations, but both of them share the same characteristic, well-textured with a tinge of translucency.

Black Nozzles

It appears that this mode gives more emphasis on most female vocals and some instruments like woodwinds and strings to have more brilliance and energy. When it comes to female vocals, contraltos have less lusher and husky sound but it still has that smokiness on their voices, mezzo-sopranos have velvety and fiery sound on them that leaves me euphonic and insouciant. Sopranos have metallic and shimmering on them which are quite favourable to lyric and coloratura types of soprano voices on how they reach their highest possible pitch with their florid vocal passage.

As for instruments, for strings ones like guitars, violins and harps, guitars have these crisp, bright and ceiling sound on every plucking on its strings while violins have metallic, bright and lively sound on every grip and motion on its bow strings, and then harps have their metallic, sharp and blurring sound on them. Then on woodwinds, piccolos have bright and clear sound on them while concert flutes have brilliant and rich sound. And then on clarinets have lively sound and saxophones have reedy sound.

Silver Nozzles

On this mode on how the midrange of this set is tuned, it makes it more warmer, more natural sounding and well-textured sound that will be favourable to male vocals and instruments, particularly percussives and brass while it somehow lessens the brilliance and zestfulness on some female vocals, strings and woodwinds. On how the male vocals sounds like, baritones have those smooth, warm and rich sound from as light and lyric baritones have a sweet and mild velvety sound, kavalier baritones have those steely and deep sound and Verdi and dramatic baritones have a bit darker tone and richer sound on them. Tenors have those brassy and dazzling sound on them as leggero tenors have their light and clear sound, lyric tenors have its gracefulness yet strong vocal characteristics, spinto tenors have a heftier and spicier sound, dramatic tenors have ringing sound and both dramatic and heldentenors have its powerful rich and emotive sound from them. Countertenors have a tender and smooth although it has bit more warmth on them and Contraltos seems to have a more tonally accurate on their timbre on this sound as they have a rich and husky that these vocal type should sound like.

As for instruments, on percussives, snare drums have hard and penetrating sound, tom-toms have warm and resonant sound, field drums have booming and sonorous sound and kettledrums have deep and booming sound on every strokes hitting on its vellum. When it comes to brass instruments, trumpets have dark, full and "heroic" sound on them, horns have warm, full and sonorous sound, and then on trombones have solid, hard and full sound that really complements withs strings and woodwinds. In some instruments like guitars and violin, they sound buttery, midrange-y and a tad mellow sounding in my liking.

On pianos, on the black nozzle, they sound warm and richer tone while on silver nozzle, it has an added brighter tone on them.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

Black Nozzles

It has more emphasis on the upper-mids and presence of the treble region to give that more bright and energetic sound. It has more crisper, more resolving with well-defined percussive and rhythm instruments attacks, and also more emphasis on female vocals. But there are some slight issues that I should address, female vocals have some tendencies to sound shrilly and a tad piercing due to that accented upper-mids, so treble-sensitive folk should take caution on this one. At least, it doesn't sound harsh and sibilance is kept under control.

Cymbals have a bright and glistening sound while hi-hats have a buzzing sound albeit a tad exaggerated. Glockenspiels sound brilliant and shimmering on either mallet type or keyboard variant, and then celestas have more glistening and golden sound on them. It has a good sparkle but its airy extension appears to be modest in my opinion.

Silver Nozzles

Compared to silver nozzles mode, this is a bit dampened due to perceptible attenuation on the upper-mids and presence treble but it gives more balanced and smoother treble response which will be more acceptable to treble-sensitives folk out there due to its less aggressive type of tuning. It has less shimmer, less crisper and less sharper definition of details.

On instruments, cymbals sound rather lustrous and undulating while hi-hats appear to have a more correct timbre on this nozzle as it has that shortened buzzing sound. Celestas have lustrous and mellow sound on them to give more colour and effect on the overall sound particularly on orchestra ensemble. Then on glockenspiels, they have more lustrous sound than having a bright timbre. On the brilliance part of the treble, it has a modest airy extension while its sparkle seems to be lessened on its overall tuning.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

Overall, It has an above-average size on its sound/speaker stage as it has a decently wide on its perceived lateral span, good height reach and fairly balanced depth from front to rear that it gives me a moderately spacious headroom within my aural sphere.

It projects a concave-like presentation on its stereo imaging as I was able to locate the location of instruments and vocals in a projected soundscape but not in a very pinpoint means. The instruments and vocals separation is somehow decent but the layering isn't that well-defined. It presents me as relatively arranged in just two layers of distinct tones of instruments like the placement of guitar and bass are in one layer instead of having its own tonal and frequency layer. But in contrary, this set don't sound congested nor muddled in the mix; it is capable to play some of the complex tracks like jazz or orchestra.

Coherency of the driver is quite excellent on how it delivers a faster transient speed while handling decay. That's indeed a good characteristic of beryllium-coated dynamic drivers.

Resolution capabilities of this one is pretty balanced, it has a solid macro-dynamics and  micro-detailing seems quite decent but its not the sharpest one to extract more nuances and subtleties of information from an audio track. The silver nozzle will somehow improve its sharpness due to more peak in the presence part of the treble.

PEER COMPARISONS:

Moondrop KATO (Demo)

● Like the OD200, it has a single DD and is also enclosed in a metal casing with a mirror-like finish. It also features a detachable nozzle and it has another  pair nozzle that gives slight changes on its tonality. The stock cable is not a modular one but it has some good qualities on it like thickness and flexibility.

● As for its tonality, its follows a VDSF target curve, which is somewhat a variant of Harman target curve in which I find it less natural and certainly not a neutral sounding that I really want. To my ears, almost all VDSF-tuned set that I've tested are lean U-shaped sounding that plays well on specific modern genres like current J-Pop, K-pop and some acoustics which focus on more digitally processed female vocals. It has more focus on the sub-bass while attenuating the mid-bass texture, a lean and linear midrange then more emphasis on the upper mids and presence treble to give that "clean" sounding, its doesnt have enough sparkle and treble air is rather limited, the brass nozzle have rather marginal change on its overall sound quality as it is added slight warmth on it but still it sounds lean to my ears.

● On technicalities, KATO isn't that impressive at all, it has an average to above average sound/speaker stage, rudimentary imaging, decent separation but its layering isn't that well-defined. Its resolution capabilities are way too smooth that it has less firm on macro dynamics and its micro-detailing appears to be blunted.

TANCHJIM OXYGEN (Demo)

● Probably, it is still the most premier single DD set in under US$300/£240 segment. It has single DD with a diaphragm made of graphene and it was encapsulated in a stainless steel shell chassis. It doesn't have detachable tuning nozzles but it has good quality cable.

●  As for sound signature, it has a mild u-shaped sound signature that has well-refined tonality. It has a balanced bass response as it has a good presence of its sub-bass rumble while having an ample texture mid-bass, it has a balanced note weight on its midrange as it has a sufficient warmth while having a smooth bright sound for vocals and instruments. It has proper sparkle and shimmer on its treble response.

● As for technicalities, both Oxygen and OD200 have similar performance. But sound/speaker stage size of Oxygen falls on average to above average which makes it a bit intimate but it has better layering definition than OD200.

BQEYZ AUTUMN

● BQEYZ's flagship single DD set, it uses a large dynamic driver and it has a unique magnetic tuning vent on as its main core feature. It was also enclosed in a solid metal shell and its a high quality stock cable but it isn't a modular one.

● With its unique magnetic tuning vent, Autumn offers three types of sound signatures, balanced-neutral, warm u-shaped and treble-focus u-shaped. This makes the Autumn more versatile sounding as it offers different types of sound profile. If I compared the treble-focus u-shaped mode of Autumn to the black nozzle mode of OD200, it has more presence of subbass while maintaining a good texture on its mid-bass, midrange of Autumn is a tad recessed compared to the OD200 but both have bright and energetic sound but on treble response, the Autumn has more sparkle and even more air on its brilliance region.

● On the technical side, The Autumn is way more superior compared to OD200, it has a very cavernous sound/speaker stage as it has very spacious span from left to right, impressive height ceiling and impressive depth. It projects 3D-like stereo imaging where I was able to locate the placement of instruments and singers in almost pinpoint manner. Layering aspect isn't the Autumn's strongest asset as they have eerily similar features to OD200 but separation is a bit better. On resolution capability, the Autumn has a better detail retrieval.

To sum up my review on this set, ORIVETI OD200 is the latest offering from Oriveti's new product line as they try to revitalise themselves in an even more competitive portable audio market that we have right now. They introduce some uncommon features like detachable nozzle, new proprietary technology on the airflow of its newly design acoustic chamber and a modular cable.

As I put my conclusion on my assessment of this product, ORIVETI OD200 is definitely a good set that an audio enthusiast should really try on how versatile this set was as it offers two distinctive tuning for both casual and fun listening or for immersive critical listening. Will OD200 be included in my recommended list for single DD? absolutely it is as it has a good build quality, working tuning nozzles, modular cable and a lot of inclusions and some refinement of its tonality to have clear and natural with acceptable technical performance for its price.

ORIVETI OD200 is now available at its official store, Check out the unaffiliated link that I have provided below.

LINK: https://www.oriveti.com/product-page/oriveti-od200-single-dynamic-driver-hifi-iem

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: ORIVETI OD200

IMPEDANCE: 16Ω

SENSITIVITY: 108dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M

PIN TYPE: ​0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm, 4.4mm, 2.5mm

DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER 

PROS:

● Solid all-metal alloy shell structure which is quite durable yet lightweight.

● Quiet ergonomic design of its shell as it gives a good fitting into my ears.

● High quality modular stock cable.

● Leather IEM case for storage that gives better protection on IEMs.

● Impressive unboxing product presentation

● Generous amount of inclusions 

● Detachable tuning nozzles that offers two kinds of sound profiles.

● Precise, rumbly and incisive bass response (black nozzles)

● Punchy and authoritative bass response (silver nozzles)

● Good for female vocals, strings and woodwind instruments (black nozzles)

● Warm and fairly depth midrange for male vocals and percussives (silver nozzles)

● Smooth and evened treble response (silver nozzles)

● Bright, crisp and energetic treble response (black nozzles)

● Most of its technical aspects are competent enough.

CONS:

● Instances of shrill, blaring and piercing sound on female vocals and some woodwind and brass instruments (black nozzle)

● Not the most well-defined layering and separation for single DD IEM in this price range.

● Less sharper definition on micro-detail retrieval capability.

● Treble air extension is rather inadequate in my liking.

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 *'*

The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**

Suzanne Vega – Luka **

Lauren Christy – Steep *

Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *

Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*

P.S.

I am not affiliated to ORIVETI 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 send my gratitude to MARCO for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate his generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.