Time for the HZ x Blackbird upgrade!

Headphone Zone, evolved from an idea in 2011, and over the years have been instrumental in helping customers rediscover their music. Growing from offers and curating a wide selected range of multi-brand headphones, earphones and personal audio gear, they’re a dedicated team today! Besides having an exclusive online store, a physical retail store in Bengaluru and a Headphone Experience Studio in Mumbai, founder Raghav Somani and team, have made available some of the most sought after in ear monitors (IEMs) for the target headphone audiophile. The rest has been all momentous and enriching!

Here’s the sleek Oriveti Blackbird IEMs, designed in China, a result of the latest collaboration between Headphone Zone and Oriveti (a IEM specialist), and as HZ puts it, this is an IEM specially designed for the Indian audiophile community for under Rs. 5000! Its all there, featuring a premium looking lightweight, gleamy acrylic shell construction built to feel comfortable, customisation of sound character and fit with six ear tips (bullet and bowl shaped), a detachable cable (0.78mm, upgradable 2 pin connector system). There’s a premium spacious carry case, to store them all, sturdy, coming out of a box factory! The 10mm dynamic drivers have been custom designed to handle the punchy low frequency , yet they deliver an overall balanced signature timbre and warm sound tonality. Ah, distortion levels are claimed at below 0.08%. Alongwith present are two balanced armature drivers, dedicated to rendering fatigue free and controlled highs coupled with sweet mids. Stylish, the IEM shell has been ergonomically crafted to form an optimal acoustic enclosure for better sound isolation. With appreciable build quality and lightweight, this pair of IEMs fit snug and comfy, indeed!

A customary breaking-in activity for any IEM pair is recommended at startup, and the Oriveti Blackbird pair pleases even there! Using a high-res player/source is important. Further, engaging an inexpensive in-line Hi- Res DAC with a 4.4mm balanced cable socket can do significant performance enrichment too. The signature sound is going please a lot of audience due to its natural and warm leaning profile and a pleasing slightly enhanced bass in EDM tracks. It’s not a neutral reference earphone, but the fact is it’s probably what you’d want if you are listening for prolonged hours of pleasure. Well tuned in such a way, that it proves very versatile across music genres. Perhaps, only wanting is a more detailed imaging and wider soundstage, if you are a fan of hardcore classical or jazz music. Appears closed in, at times.

If you listen to a lot of rock, hip hop, or even EDM, this is a very inviting option! The highs are smooth and non-sibilant, but certainly not laid back. This makes for a relaxed listen, however, there’s those laid-back mids, they somewhat, need to bring better depth especially to vocals in solo or acoustic tracks. Despite that, there is good timing and detail retrieval displayed with complicated percussion passages. Bass is overall very well behaved, with no bleed or distortion detected.

Taken care of it all, the offering is irresistible at its price… the Oriveti Blackbird impresses, and stands a worthy upgrade from the beginner IEMs, much what they are intended for! Customised by team HZ as a collaborative effort, the IEMs do stand out as a collectible, not to be thrown in the mix.

VERDICT

WE’RE IMPRESSED: Versatile performance, Stylish, nice ergonomics. Great to upgrade from basic IEMs for beginners.

WE’D IMPROVE: Nothing to complain, at this price point. ,

THE LAST WORD: VFM! Gets well recommended!