Oriveti OD100 Review

Oriveti OD100 – Sound Impressions

Let me get this out of the way: the Oriveti OD100 has made a remarkable impression on me. It’s the first budget IEM in over two years to truly capture my interest, thanks to its well-tuned signature and excellent tonal balance. The OD100 delivers a clear, neutral-warm presentation with an elevated bass response. What’s even more impressive is its excellent tonality. The OD100’s ability to convey instrument weight and timbre with accuracy is a rare find within its price category, setting a new standard for what one can expect from budget-friendly earphones. 

The bass of the OD100 impresses with its dynamic impact, swift decay, and substantial presence, meticulously avoiding any muddiness in the transition from bass to mids. Bass quantity is just right for an all-rounder IEM, and this versatile tuning allows for enjoyment across various genres. Even for my on-the-go EDM preferences, where a dynamic and engaging bass is crucial, the OD100 delivers satisfying impact, texture, and responsiveness. Although slightly rolled off in the sub-bass, this minor detail scarcely detracts from its overall low-end performance.

The midrange is clean, articulate, and fairly balanced, with an energetic upper midrange that steers clear from the sibilance. The male vocals benefit from the weight coming from the mid-bass, and the OD100 successfully conveys their authoritative stance to the listener. As for the female vocals, they’re clear with a realistic rendition, and thanks to the fine-tuned upper midrange, you don’t hear sibilance or unwanted sharpness. The stringed instruments sound excellent with the OD100; their timbre feels surprisingly great. Overall, the OD100 can do a lot of things right. The detail retrieval is excellent for the price, and if you desire more, you will have to spend at least three or four times more to get it.

Treble tuning mirrors the approach to the upper midrange: clear and refined without harshness. The fundamentals of the treble are quite good; however, if you’re comparing it to a multi-driver monitor that costs 20 times its price, the extension/shimmer may feel limited, especially in the high treble region/top octave. As with sub extension, this is expected from a single driver and does NOT hurt the overall performance of the OD100 at this price, in my opinion. 

Technical Capability

The OD100 is a strong contender here also, with a medium-sized soundstage with good imaging and layering. The balanced midrange and energetic lower treble help a lot here, resulting in a relatively airy presentation, especially in this price bracket. The imaging is accurate with a good source, allowing listeners to easily pinpoint instruments within the soundstage. It is also fairly easy to drive and can be used with any source you might have, including smartphones.

Comparison

vs. Hidizs MS2 ($89 USD)

The MS2 opts for a warm, musical, and engaging sound signature, characterized by a slightly boosted bass and a smooth treble that contributes to its versatility across various genres. Its light V-shaped tuning is balanced, ensuring that no frequency range overwhelms another, even in complex musical passages. This balance, combined with its impressive detail retrieval and imaging capabilities, establishes the MS2 as a solid all-rounder.

Conversely, the OD100 impresses with a neutral-warm presentation, marked by an elevated bass response that feels more natural compared to the MS2. Its accurate rendition of instrument weight and timbre sets it apart, offering a natural and realistic reproduction rarely found at this price. The OD100’s bass is slightly better with more punch and better texture.

Both IEMs offer a good midrange performance; however, the OD100 stands out for its clear, articulate presentation and the realistic rendition of vocals and stringed instruments, all without sibilance. The upper midrange extension on the OD100 is better, also, instruments feel more defined within the stage with the OD100 despite MS2 having a slightly larger soundstage. The mids of the MS2 are more recessed than OD100’s, and that results in a more V-shaped, fun, consumer-oriented sound.

From a technical standpoint, the MS2 boasts a wide soundstage and good separation, enhanced by its airy presentation and slightly recessed midrange. The OD100, while having a medium-sized soundstage, excels in imaging and layering, offering a relatively more airy presentation compared to the MS2, despite having more forward mids. 

The OD100 prioritizes tonal accuracy, perfect for midrange-driven genres and natural music, while the MS2 provides an energetic and fun sound well-suited for bass-heavy music or those who don’t care about accuracy and just want to have a fun listening experience. Ultimately, the ideal choice depends on whether you seek a more natural and competent sound or a fun and engaging V-shape signature. I prefer the OD100; it feels right to my ears, and it is a great all-rounder that ticks my boxes in its price range.

Last Words

My experience with the OD100 suggests Oriveti has challenged the norm, offering an exceptional budget IEM that defies the expected limitations set by the industry, and I am quite happy to review it. I recommend it to any audiophile who wants a perfect compact IEM that they can throw around. Also, it is a wonderful ”Hello Audiophile World” IEM to gift to anyone whom you’d want to lure into this eccentric hobby. OD100 is now an HFN recommended IEM!

Pros

+ Excellent Price-to-Performance Ratio

+ Excellent Tonality

+ Easy to Enjoy Signature

+ Great Build Quality, Light & Compact Form

Cons

– None at this price

Page 1: Oriveti, OD100, Packaging & Accessories, Build Design & Fit

Page 2: Sound Impressions, Technical Capability, Comparison, Last Words