Brainwavz B200 review: The best sub-£100 earphones

Trying to choose a pair of headphones, let alone in-ears, can be a daunting task especially when they cost over £100. There are so many options out there, with manufacturers all claiming to offer the best, that it’s hard to know which one to pick. Brainwavz is a company that’s known among audiophiles for its affordable products, but the B200 earphones defy that low-cost reputation. At £150, it’s the company’s most expensive product – so how does it compare to the rest?

At the time of writing the review, the B200s were £150 – a bargain to say the least. Since they’ve dropped down to £90. Making them an incredibly good purchase. Better still, Brainwavz took my feedback and came out with the B200 V2 model, which come with a detachable cable and include two detachable cables in the box.

Simply put, these are the best sub-£150 earphones you can get.

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Brainwavz B200 review: What you need to know

Brainwavz B200s are in-ear headphones with dual-balanced armature drivers. They have a rich sound throughout the frequency range, they offer a streamlined, ultra-lightweight design – and they come with a complete set of accessories.

These truly are the complete package: quite simply, they’re the best earphones you’ll find under £150. 

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Brainwavz B200 review: Price and competition

The Brainwavz B200 now cost only £90 (around $90 in the US) – down from £150 and $170 respectively. They can also be found on Brainwavz’s website. While these earphones are our favourites, they’re not short of excellent competitors. Their closest rivals are the Westone W20 at around £215, which also feature dual balanced armature drivers.

Then there are the more expensive, but mind-blowingly good Dunu DN-2000J for around £230 – arguably one of the best universal earphones on the market.

There’s also a bunch of cheaper, but still impressive earphones, such as the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 at around £75, DUNU Titan 1 at around £90 and the 1MORE Triple Driver at around £100. I’ll go into more detail about how these compare to the B200 below.

Unlike most of its competitors, who offer only a 12-month warranty, Brainwavz offers a two-year warranty on the B200s.

Brainwavz B200 review: Build quality, design and accessories

In the stylish box, you’ll find a hard case, six sets of silicone ear tips (in small, medium and large sizes), a set of Comply T-100 foam tips, a shirt clip, and a velcro cable tie. The inclusion of the T-100 tips is welcome, as these offer a level of comfort and isolation beyond anything attainable with silicone tips.

The 1.3m Y-cord cable is durable, but does get tangled pretty easily. Since it’s worn over-the-ear, there’s no distracting cable noise, so you can fully enjoy music on your morning jog. The earphones weigh next to nothing, and thanks to their soft ear hooks, you’ll barely notice them once they’re in your ears.

On the downside, there’s no in-line mic or removable cable, which I might have expected to see at this price point. Since my original review of the B200 V1, Brainwavz created the B200 V2, which have a removable cable (MMCX connector) – a fantastic inclusion for new buyers.

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Brainwavz B200 review: Sound quality

The B200’s sound quality took me by surprise. Even though it might not extend into the sub-bass regions as well as the DUNU DN-2000J or Titan 1, the B200’s sounds nice and clean. The sub-bass is audibly present and provides ample amounts of rumble.

The mid-bass meanwhile is tight, clean and precise: nothing sounds muffled or uncontrolled. In Santana’s Put Your Lights On the bass can be clearly heard after each stroke of the guitar. It’s a much meatier sound than the Westone W20s, which sound lifeless in this department.

The mids and highs are seriously impressive. Unlike the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 and DUNU Titan 1, the B200’s mids are forward-sounding: they aren’t pushed back or recessed, which makes them far superior for songs with vocals.

The highs are slightly rolled off at the top end, but there’s still plenty of energy and sparkle to keep your toes tapping. By comparison, the 1MORE Triple Driver lacks top-end extension, although the Westone W20s reproduce highs very well.

By far the most impressive aspect of the B200s is their soundstage. It’s wonderfully wide and deep, and instrument separation is phenomenal, giving even the DUNU DN200J a run for their money. In Riva Starr’s I Was Drunk (Struboskop Remix), the positional cues, instruments, depth and width all shine through. The more full-bodied sound also contributes, making these sound better than the duller VSonic GR07s. 

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Brainwavz B200 review: Verdict

It’s a no-brainer. The Brainwavz B200 are the best sub-£150 (let alone the best sub-£100) earphones I’ve come across – and I say that having reviewed in excess of 100 different earphones. They remind me of the Audeo Phonak PFE232, now sadly discontinued, which were some of the best universal earphones I’ve ever heard.

I’d highly recommend the B200s to anyone, for all types of music. From rock to classical, the dual BA drivers work flawlessly together to create a stunning audio experience. For that reason, the Brainwavz B200 deservedly win Expert Reviews’ Best Buy award.