ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster Review

ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster Review
Introduction:
ORIVETI is an innovative brand founded in 2015 to provide high-fidelity audio products for daily use. The engineering and design team, experienced in the earphone industry, has released numerous popular products such as the Primacy, OH300, OH500, OH700VB hybrid IEMs, and other models like the O400 and O800/OV800 featuring a fully Balanced Armature Driver configuration.
The Lowmaster is part of the new “bleqk” series (Basic Line Exquisite Quality Kept), alongside the more affordable but quite impressive sound Dynabird, a single Dynamic Driver (DD) IEM that I have reviewed recently. The bleqk Lowmaster, on the other hand, has a hybrid driver design consisting of 2x Balanced Armature + 1x 10mm diameter exclusive Dynamic Driver unit. The Lowmaster features a stylish 3D printed shell equipped with a 2-Pin connector interface at the top.
Let’s take a deeper look at the design and sonic performance of the ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster.
Disclaimer:
I would like to thank the ORIVETI for providing me the Lowmaster Hybrid Driver In-Ear Monitor for review purposes. I am not affiliated with ORIVETI beyond this review and these words reflect my true and unaltered opinions about the product.
Price & Availability:
The ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster is currently available for $149.99 USD. More information’s can be found under the link below;
Package & Accessories:
The ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster came inside a box featuring the companies brand logo on the top. The box is wrapped in a black cardboard sleeve adorned with product-related branding.
Inside the box are the following contents/accessories;
- 1 pair x ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster In-Ear Monitors
- 1 x 4 Core Detachable Cable with 2-Pin connectors
- 1 x Zipper Case
- 3 pairs x Bullet Shape S, M, L Silicone Tips
- 4 pairs x Bowl Shape S, M, L, XL Silicone Tips (one pair is pre-installed)
Design & Build Quality:
The Lowmaster is a testament to ORIVETI’s exceptional design sensibilities. Its sleek and stylish 3D-printed shell, made from high-precision resin material, is both visually appealing and remarkably compact in size.
The faceplates feature an intricate teardrop shape with a glossy, dark finish. The surface shows a complex pattern of lines and curves, adding depth and texture to the design. An opening towards the bottom center with a fine woven metal mesh behind it, which may serve as a vent or is just a decorative element. The left earpiece features the bleqk branding, while the right earpiece has the ORIVETI logo. The overall effect is sophisticated and eye-catching, reflecting the premium quality of the IEM.
The Lowmaster employs a hybrid driver configuration consisting of a 10mm composite dynamic driver and two custom balanced armature drivers. The 3D-printed shell is designed to optimize the acoustic chamber and ensure precise driver interaction.
The inner surface of the monitors is equipped with a slightly angled sound nozzle with a metal mesh on the top to dampen sounds and prevent the insertion of foreign particles like dust and earwax into the internals, which could damage the drivers over time.
On top of each monitor shell is a 2-Pin female connector interface that is offering a pretty tight and secure connection.
The built quality and design of the monitors are excellent and fulfill my expectations from an IEM at this price level.
Detachable Cable:
The ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster is equipped with the same 4-core multi-strand wire cable that came with the Dynabird. This cable features a soft TPU outer insulation that effectively minimizes microphonic noise.
Its braided design, coupled with transparent heat-shrink ear guides near the 2-Pin connectors, ensures a comfortable over-ear fit.
The y-splitter and chin slider are also crafted from metal, enhancing durability.
The gold-plated 3.5mm Single Ended plug, housed in a straight-profiled metal housing, bears the “bleqk by ORIVETI” branding. The strain relief attached to the headphone plug housing further reinforces the cable’s durability.
Comfort & Isolation:
The ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster provides a remarkably comfortable wearing experience, thanks to its compact size, lightweight materials, and thoughtfully designed inner surface that perfectly fits my ears with a moderately sized ear concha. This makes the Lowmaster ideal for extended listening sessions. The included silicone ear tips offer above-average passive noise isolation, sufficient for use in relatively noisy environments like a bus or train.
Technical Specifications:
- Driver Configuration : Hybrid Driver Configuration
- Driver Type : 1x Dynamic Driver + 2 Balanced Armature Drivers
- Impedance : 16Ω
- Frequency Response : 5 – 20000Hz
- Sensitivity : 106dB ±3dB/mW, 1000Hz
- Distortion : 0.08%
- Plug : 3.5mm Gold Plated Stereo Plug
- Cable Length : about 120cm
Paring & Drivability:
The ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster is a user-friendly in-ear monitor that boasts a 16Ω impedance and a sensitivity of 106dB. This means it’s remarkably easy to drive, requiring minimal power from your audio source. As a result, the Lowmaster pairs seamlessly with a wide range of devices, from smartphones and tablets to portable USB DAC/AMP dongles. Its versatility and accessibility make it an ideal choice for those seeking high-quality audio without the need for cumbersome equipment.
Equipment’s used for this review:
- IEM’s : ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster, MEZE Audio Alba
- DAP&DAC’s : FiiO M23, Questyle CMA18P, ONIX Alpha XI1
Albums & tracks used for this review:
- Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Adele – My Little Love (Deezer HiFi)
- Sarah McLachlan – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Sertap Erener – Aşk (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Edith Piaf – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Diana Krall – So Wonderful (DSF)
- Aretha Franklin – I Say A Little Payer (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- George Michael – Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- David Bowie – Heroes (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Elton John – Rocket Man ((Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Barry White – Just The Way You Are (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Isaac Hayes – Walk On By (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Sting – Englishman in New York – (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Dave Gahan – Kingdom (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Radiohead – Live in Berlin “Album” (Deezer HiFi)
- Radiohead – Pyramid Song (Deezer HiFi)
- U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Muse – Hysteria (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Nobody Weird Like Me (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Michael Jackson – Billie Jean (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Bear McCreary’s – Valkyries (Deezer HiFi)
- Bro Safari, UFO! – Drama (Deezer HiFi)
- Armin Van Buuren – Vini Vici (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Daft Punk – Instant Crush (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Daft Punk – Doin’ it Right (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Lorde – Royals (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Massive Attack – Angel (Flac 24bit/48kHz)
- Toutant – Rebirth (Deezer HiFi)
- Gogo Penguin – Raven (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Gogo Penguin – Murmuration (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Portishead – It Could Be Sweet (Spotify)
- Max Richter – On the Nature of Daylight (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Charly Antolini – Duwadjuwandadu (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 5 (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Ferit Odman – Look, Stop & Listen (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Chopin – Nocturn No. 20 In C-Sharp Minor (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy (Spotify)
- Fazıl Say – Nazım Oratoryosu (Live) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Vivaldi – Le QuarttroStagioni “The Four Season” (Deezer HiFi)
- Miles Davis – So What (Deezer HiFi)
- Otto Liebert& Luna Negra – The River (Flac 24bit/192kHz)
- Lunatic Soul – The Passage (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Deftones – My Own Summer (Shove it) (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Metallica – Dyers Eve (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Metallica – Sad but True (Flac 24bit/96kHz)
- Opeth – Windowpane (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Megadeth – Sweating Bullets (Tidal Hi-Fi)
- Rush’s – Tom Sawyer (Flac 16bit/44.1kHz)
- Slayer – Angel of Death (Spotify)
- Liquid Tension Experiment 2 – Acid Rain (Spotify)
- Yosi Horikawa – Bubbles (Spotify)
The Sound:
The ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster is a 2BA + 1DD hybrid driver IEM that delivers a powerful and engaging sound signature. Its deep, textured subbass and impactful midbass make it a great choice for bass-heavy genres like hip-hop and rock. The midrange is balanced and detailed, offering a nuanced presentation of vocals and instruments. The treble extends well into higher frequencies, providing clarity and a touch of sparkle without excessive brightness.
Now let’s take a closer look at how the Lowmaster performs in the specific frequency ranges.
The ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster review has been written after a burn-in period of about 60 hours. I have used the stock Bullet Shape Silicon Ear Tips and the detachable cable included in the package and have paired the IEM with sources like the FiiO M23 (DAP) and Questyle CMA18P (Portable DAC/AMP) and ONIX Alpha XI1 (DAC/AMP dongle).
Bass:
The ORIVETI Lowmaster’s bass performance is a standout feature, as expected from its name. It delivers a substantial quantity of low frequencies, capable of producing deep, textured subbass that extends well into the lower registers. The bass is generally well-controlled, avoiding excessive bloat or muddiness. The subbass decay is particularly impressive, allowing for a clean and defined presentation.
The midbass is also prominent, providing a solid foundation for instruments like kick drums and bass guitars. It has a noticeable impact, making it suitable for genres like hip-hop, electronic, and rock.
As the name suggests, ORIVETI has given particular attention to the low-frequency region in the Lowmaster. Although it may not reach the levels of a true basshead, the quantity of bass is more than sufficient. But beyond the quantity, the 10mm composite dynamic driver used offers a level of quality (control, speed, and resolution) that is quite remarkable for this price range.
Midrange:
The Lowmaster’s midrange offers a balanced and detailed presentation. Vocals and instruments are clearly defined, allowing for a nuanced listening experience. The lower midrange is slightly emphasized, providing a sense of intimacy and prominence to vocals and instruments. The upper midrange is equally well-represented, delivering excellent clarity and detail for instruments like guitars and pianos. The midrange possesses a satisfying sense of body, ensuring that vocals and instruments sound full and rich.
The Lowmaster’s midrange characteristics has a significant impact on vocal performance. Male vocals often benefit from the slightly emphasized lower midrange, while female vocals do sound slightly brighter depending on the recording. Guitars, pianos, and other midrange instruments are presented with excellent detail and clarity, and the slightly forward midrange adds a sense of presence and warmth to these sounds.
Overall, the Lowmaster’s midrange offers a compelling balance of detail, intimacy, and body that contributes to an engaging and immersive listening experience.
Treble:
The ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster’s treble range offers a pretty balanced and detailed presentation. It extends well into the higher frequencies, providing exceptional clarity and definition for instruments like cymbals and violins. The treble control provides ample adjustment and prevents excessive brightness or sibilance. The treble contributes significantly to a sense of airiness and openness, enhancing the overall soundstage and creating a more immersive listening experience.
The treble tuning of the Lowmaster adds a touch of sparkle and detail to vocals, while avoiding sibilance, which could be otherwise particularly noticeable on recordings with prominent female vocals or sibilant consonants. High-frequency intensive instruments are presented with exceptional detail and clarity, benefiting from the Lowmaster’s extended treble range.
Overall, the Lowmaster’s treble offers a fairly balanced and detailed presentation. While the slight brightness is noticeable in certain circumstances, it generally contributes to a well-defined and open soundstage.
Soundstage & Imaging:
The soundstage of the ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster is reasonably wide, with instruments and vocals being positioned distinctly left and right. The soundstage has good depth, allowing for a sense of layering and separation between instruments. Imaging is generally good, with instruments being well-localized within the soundstage. The treble tuning of the Lowmaster contributes significantly to a sense of airiness and openness, enhancing the overall soundstage experience.
Comparison:
ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster versus MEZE Audio Alba:
The Meze Audio Alba presents a bass response with a slight emphasis, offering controlled and clear bass with a touch of warmth. This adds to the overall dynamics and energy of the music, making it suitable for a wider range of genres. In contrast, the ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster truly excels in the bass department, delivering deep, textured subbass with remarkable precision. The bass is substantial yet well-controlled, providing a solid foundation for kick drums and bass guitars without any hint of muddiness.
The Meze Audio Alba’s midrange is rich, fluid, and offers a great level of musicality and technicality. Vocals and instruments are presented with clarity and texture, allowing for a nuanced listening experience. Meanwhile, the ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster’s midrange offers a balanced and detailed presentation. Vocals and instruments are clearly defined, with a slightly emphasized lower midrange providing a sense of intimacy and prominence. Both IEMs deliver excellent clarity and detail in the midrange, making them closely matched in this aspect.
The Meze Audio Alba’s treble strikes a pleasant balance between detail and smoothness. It delivers precise cymbals and hi-hats, with a subtle emphasis in the lower treble register contributing to the overall clarity of vocals and definition of instruments. Conversely, the ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster’s treble extends well into the higher frequencies with exceptional clarity and definition, although the Alba has a slight edge in the treble performance, offering a bit more finesse and refinement.
The Meze Audio Alba offers a reasonably wide soundstage with good depth and instrument separation. Imaging is clear and precise, allowing for distinct placement of instruments within the soundstage. On the other hand, the ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster provides a similarly wide soundstage with good depth and layering. Imaging is generally good, with instruments being well-localized. However, the treble tuning of the Lowmaster contributes to a sense of airiness and openness, enhancing the overall soundstage experience.
Conclusion:
The ORIVETI bleqk Lowmaster exemplifies a harmonious blend of design and performance. As part of the new “bleqk” series, it showcases ORIVETI’s dedication to audio quality with its hybrid driver design, combining 2 Balanced Armature units and a 10mm dynamic driver. The stylish 3D-printed shell, compact and lightweight, not only looks sophisticated with its intricate teardrop shape and glossy finish but also provides a comfortable fit, making it ideal for extended listening sessions.
In terms of sound performance, the Lowmaster shines with its deep, textured subbass and impactful midbass, perfect for bass-heavy genres. The balanced and detailed midrange ensures vocals and instruments are presented with nuance, while the treble adds clarity and a touch of sparkle without being excessively bright. Overall, the Lowmaster offers a powerful and engaging listening experience that will appeal to both audiophiles and casual listeners alike.
Pros & Cons:
- + Deep, textured subbass and impactful midbass
- + Balanced and detailed midrange for nuanced vocals and instruments
- + Extended treble with clarity and sparkle without excessive brightness
- + Comfortable fit ideal for extended listening sessions
- + Stylish, compact, and lightweight 3D-printed shell
- + Good Stock Cable
- – A modular cable design with 3.5mm and 4.4mm Balanced adapter would be welcome
- – Not for those who prefer a reference type of tuning
Thank you for the Read!