Oriveti Lowmaster - Where's the Bass?

 2.5⭐️

+ Fun, energetic V-shaped tuning

+ Bass quality and texture

+ Understated design is really attractive

+ Fit and comfort

+ Emphasis on the mids/treble (positive for those that like that)

- Not nearly enough bass to warrant its namesake

- Harsh and near-sibilant at times so treble sensitive folks need not apply

- Accessories and unboxing a bit underwhelming for the price

- Price to performance

thaslaya's star rating system:

☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!

☆☆☆☆ - Recommended

☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me

☆☆ - Can't see the appeal

☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer: 

This product was provided to me by Oriveti in exchange for my impartial and honest review. I receive no compensation and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Product link for those interested:

https://www.oriveti.com/product-page/oriveti-bleqk-lowmaster-2ba-1dd-hybrid-hifi-iem

Gear used: 

●LG v30+

●Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra

●Samsung dongle

●Hiby FC4

●Kiwi Ears Allegro 

●Letshuoer DT03 

●Dunu DTC480

●BLON V1

Source:

●Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.

Introduction: 

Oriveti is an audio company founded back in 2015. Many of their IEMs have garnered high praise from the community, especially their flagship hybrid OH700VB. That one is not cheap, coming in at $699. Though not to worry, as Oriveti has a more budget-friendly line of products under the "bleqk" sub-brand, which stands for "basic line exquisite quality kept." The first IEM released in this sub-brand was the Dynabird, with the second being the newer Lowmaster. The Lowmaster is a hybrid IEM featuring a single 10mm dynamic and two custom balanced armature drivers. It is currently available on Oriveti's site for $149.99. Let's break down what the Lowmaster has to offer and see how it stacks up in today's crowded market.

Build, fit, ergonomics:

The unboxing is a relatively simple affair. The Lowmaster comes packaged in a small black box, and there's not much to unpack here. The IEMs and cable are already secured in the zipper case, along with a small box for the tips. Within this price bracket, it feels a little disappointing, but the bleqk product line is supposed to be Oriveti's more budget-conscious line after all. The shell is made of 3D printed black resin and has a simple, smoky design on its faceplate featuring an "O" for Oriveti on the right shell and the sub-brand name "bleqk" on the left. It is small, lightweight, and has a semi-custom shape that fits my ears very well. The faceplate also contains a prominent vent that helps alleviate any pressure buildup. The nozzle does have a lip to help tips stay secure and measures 6.4 mm at its widest part. Despite being a bit short and having a shallower insertion depth, it's actually one of the more comfortable shells I've come across and is easy to wear for extended periods. The shell utilizes a flat 2-pin connection which makes cable swapping a breeze. The stock cable is a bit of a disappointment at this price point. It's serviceable, of course, but it feels somewhat stiff, rubbery, and cheap, tangles easily and is only available with a 3.5 mm termination. While the tip selection is good, I'm not personally a fan of the included tips as they are short and make for too shallow of a fit for my ear. There are seven pairs in total, with two different bore diameters, but after some extensive tip-rolling, I settled on a third-party one. I am unsure of the manufacturer, but this tip is taller and has a narrow bore, which made for a better fit and helped to rein in the treble a bit. The compact, branded zipper case is very nice. It provides very good protection, and the fabric material feels premium in hand. Overall, accessories are a little underwhelming, but the design, shape, and fit of the shells are quite good. 

Sound impressions:

I'd describe the tuning of the Lowmaster as V-shaped, but it leans bright with a bit more emphasis on the treble. The two BA drivers are utilized specifically for the treble, leaving the single DD to handle the bass and mids. The Lowmaster is easy enough to drive without needing amplification and can easily reach loud volume levels. The detail retrieval is good, but it's not best in class or even better than the cheaper Simgot EA500LM. However, it does strike a good balance between being musical and analytical. The notes are well separated and uncongested with clear transients, but the note weight is a bit on the thin side, especially for my taste. The soundstage has a decent amount of width and adequate depth, but if it were a bit better, it might be a standout for the price. The timbre of vocals and instruments does sound natural, but it's not the most organic. The imaging is a strong suit of the Lowmaster, having good accuracy that creates a nice three-dimensional space. The dynamics are one of the Lowmaster's strongest technical features. With some IEMs, the tuning can start to falter once the volume is dialed back, losing some bass presence and relying on higher volume levels to do some of the heavy lifting of the dynamic range. But that's not the case with the Lowmaster. It does a superb job of retaining its dynamic range even at lower volumes, and its tuning is consistent regardless of the volume. It's actually quite impressive, and as someone who mostly listens at loud levels, it makes lower-volume listening more palatable.

●Lows - The bass is equal parts satisfying and frustrating. The quality is quite good, and when it hits, it sounds excellent, but the quantity is just too low and understated to be called Lowmaster. To my ear, it is more sub-bass focused with a decent enough extension but lacking a bit of that satisfying rumble. The mid-bass also lacks some weight, and the impact and slam are fairly polite. The speed is somewhat quick, and double bass kicks sound clear and concise. However, the decay is too fast for me, and the reverberation feels like it's cut off abruptly, which can sound somewhat unnatural. To be fair, the overall quality of the bass is great. The resolution, separation, and texture are very nice, and there is no bass bleed into the midrange. It's very capable and might be some of the best-performing bass at this price range, but with a name like Lowmaster, I expect the bass to be BIG, so I'm left wanting here.

●Mids - The midrange is one of the aspects of the tuning that I do enjoy quite a bit. It's clean and mostly balanced, but the upper midrange is slightly more prominent than the lower half. There is a level of warmth here that leads to a natural vocal presentation. Unfortunately, it gets easily overshadowed by the pesky peaky treble. Instruments in the lower midrange, such as cellos and some brass instruments, are underrepresented and can get drowned out by the more prominent upper midrange. This also leads to male vocalists sounding slightly recessed in the mix and therefore not having as much presence as their female counterparts. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword since I generally enjoy a more forward vocal presentation, but some female artists are overemphasized and can become shouty at higher volumes. Despite the male vocals being a bit too recessed for my preferences, I do enjoy the Lowmaster more with male artists because they less frequently approach that harshness/sibilant threshold.

●Highs - For being named Lowmaster, this set has a surprising amount of treble presence, detail, and clarity. There's good extension too, with a lot of sparkle and air. It often approaches the line but rarely does it ever cross over into what I would call true sibilance. That being said, to my ears, it mostly sounds too harsh and bright. Cymbals can be overly splashy and sometimes dominate the track. Claps, snares, and some "s" and "sh" sounds can be grating, but it's very track dependent. I'd describe the treble as sharp, clear, and precise, like a scalpel—but I don't want one of those anywhere near my ear, literally or metaphorically. Overall, there's a bit too much energy for my preferences, and this set can be fatiguing even over short periods of use. I admit I'm sensitive to treble, so I'll give Oriveti the benefit of the doubt and say that some users won't hear it the way I do and might actually prefer this tuning style.

Comparisons:

Credit to Tone Deaf Monk for all the graphs. 

●TRN Conch (~$40) - For this comparison, I used the Conch's Reference (red) nozzle. Looking at the graph, it's easy to see that these two have quite similar tunings. The Conch has perhaps just a hair thinner note weight, and there's better separation on the Lowmaster, especially with elements like guitar strumming. The soundstage is about the same. The timbre of the Conch is a bit more metallic and unnatural. For me, the Lowmaster is essentially the Conch but a bit more refined with slightly better technicalities across the board. The Lowmaster's bass is also cleaner with a bit more sub-bass rumble, and its mids are a little smoother. The treble can be a bit more peaky and harsh with things like snares and cymbals on the Conch, but it also provides a bit more air. Overall, the tunings are quite similar, but the Lowmaster has superior technicalities and sounds more refined. However, the Conch is better accessorized, offers multiple tunings, and its performance is close enough to the Lowmaster that I feel the price increase is not justified.

My pick: Conch

●KZ ZS10 Pro 2 (~$30) - The graphs of these two don't appear to have much in common after 1 kHz, but to my ear, they sound more alike than different. The KZ is more energetic and has a more pronounced V-shaped tuning. The soundstage is wider and deeper on the Lowmaster, and it has better separation, leading to a little less congestion. The timbre is a little more natural on the Lowmaster, but the detail retrieval is about the same on both. The KZ has a slightly larger sub-bass shelf and a more impactful mid-bass thump that adds a touch of warmth. Overall, the bass is cleaner on the Lowmaster but more impactful on the KZ. The Lowmaster has a slightly thicker note weight and a little less upper-mids emphasis, so vocals aren't as in-your-face but still forward in the mix. The KZ still has more harshness with the "s" and "sh" sounds, though, and is more prone to sibilance. The Lowmaster has more emphasis on things like snares, cymbals, and claps, with more air and sparkle. It's no surprise that the Lowmaster is technically the "better" IEM between the two, but it's quite remarkable that the ZS10 Pro 2 competes so well at less than a quarter of the cost. Neither one is my preferred tuning, but I would recommend the cheaper option here. The KZ's accessories are bare-bones, but the switches offer more room for customization, and unless you simply love the design, form factor, and build quality of the Lowmaster, I believe KZ is the way to go.

My pick: ZS10 Pro 2

●Celest Wyvern Abyss (~$25) - Looking at the graph, you will notice that what is listed is actually the Wyvern Qing. Unfortunately, since TDM is the only one to have graphed the Lowmaster, I have to cheat a bit here and use the Qing for comparison instead of the Abyss, but those two graph almost identical based on other databases, so I feel comfortable using the Qing here for illustration purposes. The Lowmaster and Abyss actually have similar form factors, but the shell of the Abyss is larger with a better fit, and I personally like the aesthetics more. The Lowmaster sounds a bit more V-shaped, while the Abyss has a touch more warmth. The Lowmaster overall sounds a bit cleaner and more technically capable, with a wider soundstage, but the Wyvern is more musical and smoother to my ears. The Lowmaster has a bigger sub-bass rumble and a deeper extension. There is less upper-mids emphasis with the Lowmaster, and vocals are a little less forward. The treble of the Abyss is more rolled off, which I actually prefer. It's true that the Lowmaster has far more air and sparkle, but the Abyss trades that for zero harshness while still having a good enough treble presence for my taste. While the Lowmaster again has better technical prowess, I prefer the Abyss for its smoother treble, similar shell shape with a better fit, more vocal emphasis, and the price is much easier to swallow.

My pick: Wyvern Abyss

●Simgot EW200 (~$40) - These two graphs are arguably the closest of all the comparisons I performed. Both IEMs have very similar curves with the first real deviation at around 1.5 kHz. The soundstage of the Lowmaster is a bit wider, and it also has a slightly more natural timbre, better separation, and a bit more detail retrieval. It's not a night-and-day difference, but it is noticeable. Although considering the price difference, the gap should be more obvious. The resin shell of the Lowmaster is more comfortable and lighter when compared to the metal EW200. The note weight of the EW200 isn't quite as thick as I would prefer, but the Lowmaster is still a bit thinner. The Lowmaster has a little more bass rumble, and the bass quality is slightly better as it sounds a bit more refined. The midranges are fairly comparable, and I can't really pick up any distinct differences there. The treble of the Lowmaster is better extended, with more air and sparkle. The EW200 sounds slightly smoother and less irritating, but I still get a slight harshness with "s" and "sh" sounds on both sets. Overall, the Lowmaster does sound like a more refined EW200, but the latter is much cheaper, and I prefer its approach to the upper mids and treble regions, though comfort goes to the Lowmaster for its shell shape and lighter weight. Unless using a metal shell is a deal-breaker, I'd say go with the EW200. Price does play a big factor here, but also the little bit of refinement you get from the Lowmaster isn't worth the extra $100.

My pick: EW200

●Simgot EW300 (~$70) - This comparison was made using the EW300's silver nozzle with the included foam inserts. Unfortunately, there isn't a specific graph for this one since I have the standard version, and the only one on TDM's squig is the DSP. However, the standard EW300 is essentially a better, more refined EW200, and they graph very closely on other squigs, so I believe this is still a fair comparison. The note weight, soundstage, imaging, timbre, and detail retrieval are all about the same on both sets, and I am unable to discern any significant differences. The EW300 has better sub-bass rumble and overall quantity, but the bass texture and separation are slightly cleaner on the Lowmaster. The Lowmaster still leans a bit brighter and has more treble extension and air but is also more fatiguing, with elements like cymbals, hi-hats, snares, and claps being a little more pronounced in the mix. The EW300 comes the closest to the Lowmaster among the comparisons I performed. In the other comparisons, the tunings are close, but I could definitely hear a distinct advantage in technical factors in the Lowmaster's favor, although the margins of victory were not wide. The EW300 does almost everything the Lowmaster can do, with a few minor tuning differences that make it much better for me and, at less than half the price, a better value. The EW300's shell is pretty much identical to that of the EW200, so again the Lowmaster wins in terms of comfort for me. I feel that the EW300 is Simgot's attempt at a slightly smoother and further refined EW200, so it's an easy recommendation over the Lowmaster, and that's not to mention the additional tuning nozzle that adds variety.

My pick: EW300

In conclusion:

To summarize the comparison section, I would argue that all of these IEMs have a generally similar tuning profile. While they are all relatively V-shaped, I would not describe any of them as bass-heavy or a "low master," if you will. So I'm not really sure how Oriveti came up with the name for this one. For me, the name evokes a deep, visceral, rumbly bass response with great extension. Unfortunately, that's not at all what I'm getting from this set. In fact, the treble is often much more prominent and can become quite fatiguing at higher volume levels. This is one of those sets that does sound better at a lower volume, but I like to crank my music fairly loud, and I can't do that here without some self-inflicted punishment. I was able to pick up on some flashes of excellence at times, especially with the bass quality, but ultimately, I believe the Lowmaster is overpriced for what it offers. In my opinion, the technicalities and tuning are more akin to something in the $80 range. The Lowmaster did beat all the comparisons in overall bass quality and texture, but by and large, the margin of victory was small. I don't feel that the small gains justify the higher price (diminishing returns). A bigger bass shelf would have helped to make the Lowmaster's low-end more of a standout feature, and I would have enjoyed it much more had Oriveti really leaned into the IEM's name and made this one a bassy boi. It would have also helped to balance out the brightness in the treble and make for a more enjoyable tuning. Ultimately, I can't get past the peaky treble energy, harshness, and fatigue. This is not a set for those who want a laid-back, relaxing tuning style. The treble's energy demands attention, compelling listeners to actively engage with their music. That's not what I usually gravitate toward, but if that sounds like something you might enjoy, you might be better off getting one of the comparison sets for a much lower price. As it stands, the budget tier holds too many similarly tuned sets that offer a better price-to-performance ratio. If the Lowmaster were half the price, it would be a better value and could compete in the <$100 price bracket. To wrap up my review, this IEM is an odd one for me, as it's quite a bit brighter than its namesake led me to believe. However, it might very well be a treblehead's dream as long as they aren't averse to a bit of a bass bump as well. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it at its current MSRP of $150. For that price, you could go out and buy a Conch, ZS10 Pro 2, Abyss, and the EW200 or, better yet, just get the EW300 with plenty of cash left over.