Brainwavz BLU-300 Review

Highly-regarded for their range of accessory earpads and headphone storage options, Brainwavz Audio has been turning heads with two successful earphones – the BLU-100 and BLU-200.  Today, however, I’m testing their newest earphone – the BLU-300.  Retailing for an enticing $39.50, this neckband-style wireless earphone boasts a handful of helpful features.  But just how good can it be?

Brainwavz BLU-300 Review

The Brainwavz BLU-300 comes with a minimal amount of accessories in a plain, unpretentious cardboard box.  In addition to the earphones and a charging cable, you will also find three pairs of eartips and a product manual.

Featuring a lightweight neckband-style design, this earphone wears comfortably for long periods of time.  On the right arm of the neckband, there are playback and volume controls, as well as a micro-USB charging port.

The earpieces themselves utilize an angled, ergonomic fit that sits securely in my ears – even when engaged in strenuous activities like running out of our review office to grab a coffee, or riding a swivel chair down a flight of stairs when my boss has left for the day.

On top of this, the earphones are sweat- and water-resistant, so they will hold up to some seasonal strife.

Battery life measures at a decent 6-8 hours for continuous use, while standby time stretches out to 250 hours – and all of this from a 2-hour charge time.

Specifications

Frequency Range:  20-20,000 Hz
Nominal Impedance:  16 ohms
Sound Pressure Level (SPL):  102 dB

As you can see from these specs, the Brainwavz BLU-300 offers a fairly standard frequency range and a low nominal impedance perfect for use with phones or tablets.  Sound pressure measures a fairly standard 102 dB, and you should have no problem achieving excellent volume with this earphone.

Low End

Accurate if a little subdued, this low end delivers good fidelity.  Control also seems fairly on-point, as there is little bleed in this part of the frequency range.  This results in a clear, concise sound punctuated by a strong and emotive bass.

Midrange

In the midrange, the BLU-300 delivers a full, articulate, and contrasting sound.  Surprisingly free of compression or distortion, these mids handle tricky vocals and instrumentation with ease, supplying an intoxicating and impressive listening experience.

High End

Here the BLU-300 shows off good detail with excellent fidelity.  Slightly rolled off in the highest high frequencies, the sound here offers a relaxed smoothness that meshes well with the lows and highs.  Indeed, the overall resultant sound is at once a little warm but still deep and well-defined, and it’s hard not to love the sound profile formed by these highs.

Soundstage

Despite being a $39.50 wireless earphone, the BLU-300 harbors a modicum of depth and hints of spacing and placement.  While not as stage-y as a pair of over-ear headphones or an open-back headphone, this earphone still adds a smattering of dimension and realism to almost any track I throw at it.

Recommendations

If you’re a fan of neckband-style wireless earphones, the BLU-300 is hard not to recommend.  Sure, there are better, higher-quality options out there (models from Sennheiser and RHA come to mind), but this is a great entry-level model for the casual listener or exercising audiophile sans budget.

For those hankering for more bass, the impressive JBL Endurance Sprint at just $50 may offer a similar level of detail.  This model also has similar battery life and sweat resistance, but with slightly more low end emphasis, too.

Final Analysis

With a low price of just $39.50, the Brainwavz BLU-300 offers a competent sound in a durable and comfortable package.  From a pure audio standpoint, this earphone offers some head-turning performance, but as a sports earphone, the BLU-300 takes the cake.

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