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HeadphoneZone

HeadphoneZone x Oriveti OD200 wired earphones review

Audiophile earphones at under Rs. 10,000

₹ 9,999

True wireless earphones are for the masses, while the audio enthusiast will still swear by the power of wires and fancy equipment to go with it. Indeed, there’s always a big market for audiophile kit, including wired earphones and IEMs, along with equipment such as DACs and high-resolution audio players which help create the ideal audiophile kit. Wireless earphones don’t quite push the boundaries when it comes to sound quality - for obvious reasons - and audiophiles will always pick the wired option for that reason.

These come in various price ranges, and audiophiles with a bit of experience might be tempted to bump up the budget for their second or third purchase. That’s where these new earphones come in - the HeadphoneZone x Oriveti OD200 is priced at Rs. 9,999 in India, and comes with the certification of HeadphoneZone, a major online headphones retailer which specialises in high-end, audiophile-friendly equipment. How good is this mid-range IEM, and is it worth the purchase? Find out in this review.

HeadphoneZone x Oriveti OD200 earphones review: Design and specifications

HeadphoneZone x Oriveti OD200

HeadphoneZone’s collaboration products come with the brand’s badge rather proudly stamped onto the product, and the Oriveti OD200 is no different. From the box with its detailed packaging to the earphones themselves, the HeadphoneZone logo is prominent. It’s a nice touch, signifying the brand’s influence in this segment.

At its core, this is the Oriveti OD200 in-ear headset. The earphones feature solid metal casings, moulded to fit snugly into the ears and sit comfortably in place. Of course, the weight of the earpieces means that you do need a bit of support, which comes in the form of the cables which loop over your ears for a bit of additional fit security.

The included 8-core OFC cable is quite nice from a design and durability perspective, and rather usefully has interchangeable plugs to give you a bit of flexibility for connections. Apart from the most common 3.5mm plug, you can also choose between 2.5mm and 4.4mm connector plugs, depending on the source device or DAC you plan to use the OD200 with. 

The included cable is an audiophile-specific one with no microphone. If you do want to change to your own aftermarket cable, the Oriveti OD200 has two-pin connectors on each earpiece. The sales package also includes a firm carry case, additional ear tips, an extra pair of ear tip filters, and a cleaning brush. 

Inside each casing is a 9.8mm beryllium-coated full-range dynamic driver, and the headset has a rated impedance of 16Ohms, sensitivity of 108dB, and frequency response range of 20-20,000Hz. It’s a straightforward set of specifications, but the actual development has gone into the tuning and making this headset loud.

HeadphoneZone x Oriveti OD200 earphones review: Performance

Headphonezone x Oriveti OD200

The HeadphoneZone x Oriveti OD200 is priced at Rs. 9,999 in India, making it a good option to consider as a second or third purchase in your audiophile journey. Assuming you started with an entry-level option like the Moondrop Chu II, the OD200 is a decent step up in terms of build quality, customisability, and sonic capabilities. 

I had the HeadphoneZone x Oriveti OD200 connected to the HeadphoneZone x ddHiFi Hi-Res DAC (another collaboration product from HPZ), which was connected via USB Type-C to a OnePlus 12 serving as the source device. Even with this fairly basic setup, the OD200 earphones were incredibly loud from the get go, delivering typical listening volumes at a bit under the 50 percent volume level from the smartphone.

While all of that additional volume capability is unlikely to be utilised, it does highlight just how easy the HeadphoneZone x Oriveti OD200 is to drive, with even a basic DAC-Amp managing to deliver enough power to push out sound loudly. The earphones themselves have so much room for more, and even incremental volume increases add to the richness and attack in the sound.

The overall sound is detailed, and the OD200 gets an authentically balanced sonic signature to go with the audiophile approach. Listening to Indiana by Magic City Hippies, the bass hits sounded calculated and tight, but never overpowering and too intense for the rest of the elements. 

The quirky vocals and synthesised instrumentals all had plenty of room to shine through, giving this track a far more detailed and all-serving interpretation than I’ve heard on even the best wireless earphones and headphones. Switching up to the more gentle and rhythmic All Yours by APRE, there was so much poise and composure in the track, particularly the vocals which were given plenty of space to showcase. Even when the lows came back, there was a sort of gentle aggression that felt incredibly refined.

Verdict

It might be hard to convince the uninitiated of the sense in buying a wired headset that costs Rs. 10,000, but that’s the essence of audiophile listening. Indeed, headsets like the HeadphoneZone x Oriveti OD200 make a compelling argument for why the best sound will always come from a wired headset. It’s a solid piece of equipment that looks good, feels good, and sounds very good for the price.

This is a niche product, but for anyone that values sound quality over convenience in the listening experience, this is a worthwhile pick. Consider it if you’re an audiophile with a budget of Rs. 10,000, given the ease of driving it and how good it sounds with even the most basic setups.

Stuff Says

The best wired earphones you can buy for less than Rs. 10,000 right now
Good stuff
Bad stuff
  1. Solid all-metal build

  1. Superb cable which is also replaceable

  1. Customisable plugs and filters in the box

  1. Very good sound quality for the price

  1. Nothing, really

Specifications
Driver: 9.8mm beryllium-coated dynamic driver
Impedance: 16Ohms
Frequency response range: 20-20000Hz
Connectivity: Wired with interchangeable plugs (2.5mm, 3.5mm, 4.4mm)