BRAINWAVZ HM5 Studio Monitor Headphones - Free FedEx Next Day Delivery To Select Destinations

Customer Reviews

Great HeadphonesReview by Ernesto

Overall

I love these things. I have them paired to an Asus sound card for the pc, and with an Fiio E6 for on the go and both setups sound great. I have been recommending them to people because of the bang for the buck that they provide. Thanks Brainwavz! (Posted on 3/25/13)

GreatReview by Alan

Overall

Other than the fact that it makes my ears warm after long use, the sound quality of these are amazing and I am definitely happy with it. (Posted on 3/6/13)

Good acessories, Great quality, Awesome priceReview by Bruno

Overall

After reading some articles and buzz about this headphone, I decided to brought them, and I do not regreat. The box is very simple and suffered A LOT in it's way, because they didn't put some more bubble plastic to protect. What saved the phone is the strong and good carrying case inside. Also, the phone comes with good acessories like in the description. The detachable cables are good and very firm, adding some value if you need to replace.

The phone itself have very good build and audio quality, neutral sound, but like some stated before, it have some accent in high frequencies. Another thing to add is the weird cavernous sound that you'll notice in the begining because of it's soundstage and you'll also notice that mono sounds will be far away from you and the stereo will sound very close. The bass don't have that "omph", and depending of your use, maybe you need to custom equalize to your taste. Speaking of it, it's very easy to drive, you can use it without amps, althrough the use is recommended.

Before the heavy use, I stretched the phone with some books for ~50h and at the same time, burned-in with pink noise at medium volume. Even doing that, the clamping force is very strong, and only with time it'll get more softier. The audio quality with the burn-in improved some.

After 2 months of use, I say that the sound have some potential to become even better. I'm not saying that this is "THE" Phone, but if you're low on budget, want to have some spare phones or are just a collector, this headphone is great for it's value. For myself, it's more because I bought for just $94 =)

For the conclusion:
-You can use the AT-M50 pads on it without mods, if you prefer.
-If you're a gamer or need to communicate with somebody, use the Zalman ZM-MIC1. It's simple, good and can clip-on the cable for just 8-10 bucks. If you want something more sophisticate, search for ModMic.
-Trivia: This headphone is a.k.a. Fischer FA003, Yoga Cd-880 or Lindy Premium Hi-Fi
-Buy it and taste it =P (Posted on 3/6/13)

Great sound for such priceReview by DaVic

Overall

The headphones are great overall.

Sound signature is warm. Frequencies are balanced with a small accent on highs. sound isolation is very good. Instruments recognition is good.

Great accessories pack. Especially hard case.

Removable cable is very convenient. And it can really give a longer life to the headphones.

The headband is a bit too tough initially. But everyday use makes it softer and more comfortable to wear.

Sound extremely depends on haedphones position on head. It's quiet a problem to find right one. (Posted on 2/6/13)

Amazing quality for an amazing priceReview by Fred

Overall

I recently bought a pair of these and let me just say, I a stunned by the sound. They have a very neutral sound that allows for some very good clarity. The bass it very nice, it is not boosted or rolled off but rather, how it was intended to sound. I decided to get these over the Audio Technica M50s because of the HM5s versatility rather than overly pronounced bass I noticed sometimes when using a friend's M50s.

The only con I can think of is the fact that they are not very portable because of their size so I mainly use them at home or when on very long car or train rides where I am not moving much. I would definitely suggest this product to anyone looking for a cheap pair of headphones. (Posted on 1/22/13)

Best bang of the bucks in five years!!Review by Mike

Overall

Got mine today. Takes two days directly from Hongkong. Yes, the waiting is hard for me. A little back story. I was planning getting myself a pair HD 598 from Sennheiser as my Christmas gift. However, the cost of HD 598 just doesn’t cut it. After extensive online study, I found out this nonexpansive headphone (compare to HD 598) has the potential to outperform many $300 grade headphones(I told myself that). Since this headphone is a replication of the famous FA-003. Moreover, my friend Waiting told me that HM5 is having a pre-order sale right now. I am so glad I pull the trigger at that moment.

Enough of the chit-chat, let’s take a quick look on the package. All I can say is amazing, the protector/carry box is a mini hard shell box. The color and build quality of the box itself is top notch. Better than my 270 dollar Revo sunglass protect box. I meant come on it even comes with a shoulder strap. The box itself can well worth 40 dollar. I bet I can take this box to the mall and sell it for 50 without much effort. The accessories include the shoulder strap, 1/4" adapter, extra set earpads, airplane adapter, 1.3m detachable cable, 3.0m detachable cable, Instruction manual, and Warranty card. ALL copper plated connectors!! I have not seen they do that on Monster Turbine and klipsch X10. That basically says it all. You are getting something that’s way more than $100 can give you in today’s real world. However, at this point I was thinking if it sound like poopoo maybe I can still give it to my brother or something and it would still looks like an awesome piece of headwear for Christmas gift.

Needless to say, I run to my desktop and plug this bad boy to my Fiio E7 and start checking it out. And oh my holy cow, I finally understand why some people love these and some people hate it. As for me, I am on the love side. If you listen to metal rock or punk, you have a high chance you gonna love this pair of cans. I don’t have the professional testing knowledge or instruments to do a wave compare or display. I do have oscilloscope in school’s lab and other instruments for doing the test. However, since I am a slacker and I will just review it from the feeling of my human ear. For me the most significant stand out on HM5 are the “acoustical space” and “naturalness”. Pair HM5 with fiio E7 and start playing Hinder “Lips of An Angel” and though I was in front of the stage. I can listen to any instrument effortlessly. Personally, I play guitar so normally this would be the first instrument I listen to. Trust me with HM5 is so easy to listen to certain instrument without even focusing. The space between each instrument is just enormous in a good way for me. About the “naturalness” is actually pretty funny. So I was listen to some music with HM5 on the first day I received it. I was thrilled with the headset that day and played with it till 2 O’clock something in the morning. No big deal, I start to look for websites that offer headset test file. I found the website “http://www.audiocheck.net/soundtests_headphones.php” and start listening to the provided tracks. Boy oh boy, I play through each track till “Binaural Test” and I almost crap my pants, since it was 2 something in the middle of the night and someone is knocking on my door pretty hard. I took off the headphone and went to see who is behind the door. As soon as I took off the headphone I just realize the ambient noise in my room and outside my apartment are quite loud(desktop computer fan noise and bugs singing outside the window). I was still thinking that if someone knocked the door it would be hard for me to heard it so clearly. Apparently there is only one possibility, I put on HM5 again and play the track again. Yes, I have to take the headset off and make sure there is no one knocking on my door again!! I was sweat at the moment. This is ridiculously incredible.

Because the positioning is so well defined, I also used it for my gaming sessions. Payday the heist, the accurateness is pin point, I can reload my gun with proper distance from my enemy and catch them at the corner every time. Overall, HM5 is way better than I expected. For 100 dollar I can get this awesome headphone which worth every penny. What I hate about it is that I should have bought it sooner! (Posted on 1/21/13)

High value for the moneyReview by Sabot

Overall

This headphones are not going to disappoint you. Detailed sound, wide soundstage and clarity for the right price. A bang for the buck (Posted on 1/17/13)

Incredibly Neutral Headphones!Review by djlaz7

Overall

Good: Incredibly neutral, clear and balanced mids/highs, and smooth but not overpowering bass.

Cons: Case is HUGE, so in other words, not very portable

Overall, these are a very neutral headphone, which is very detailed, has a good soundstage, all at a GREAT price!

Highly recommended! (Posted on 1/15/13)

Good cans, but the free stand's packaging needs improvementReview by Jayendran

Overall

Purchased the Brainwavz HM5 headphones. Shipping was in two phases - Hong Kong to Singapore, Singapore to India

The first phase was fast! Within India, it took a long time to reach me. Even after the delivery at my office address, the shipping company (Quantium Solutions/Ezyparcels) were clueless and were saying they are yet to ship it from another city!

While the headphone itself is good, and comes with an excellent carry case, the bundled free stand was not packed well (very little padding) and was broken in two pieces (base and stem) when I received the shipment. Not good! Is saving a little padding at the expense of reputation good?

I don't even mind the shipping delay in the second phase. But poor packaging leading to broken products cannot stand for any excuse. Otherwise, I'm happy with this purchase and would not hesitate to recommend the store to others.

To summarize like others have, great value for money. Grab it while it lasts! (Posted on 1/5/13)

Easily worth $300Review by Insayne

Overall

There are more than enough detailed reviews for this product, so i'll get straight to the point:

The HM5 has the sound signature of the Sennheiser HD 650. (that's a $400 headphone)

Need i say more?

At this price you simply cannot find a flaw with this product.
(Posted on 12/26/12)

très bon casque!Review by juju

Overall

Pour 108euros frais de ports et le stand gratuit, c'est imbattable!
Très beau son, il me fait penser a un casque ouvert et il très immersif!
Bravo Brainwavz meme si c'est un casque rebrandé, la qualité reste la meme. (Posted on 12/15/12)

One of the best closed cans I have heard.Review by Colin

Overall

I have been on the search for a good pair of closed cans and the reviews these have gotten and the $99 sale at the time made these a must buy.

The good
Detailed mids and highs, clean bass. Extra cables and pads as well as the padded carrying case make these $140 headphone better equipped than most big name manufacturers out there. The build quality is surprisingly good, they look big and beefy but don't feel that way and often times that will make a headphone feel cheap or delicate I can say that isn't the case with these.

The Bad
The bass as I mentioned is clear but not as impactful as I would like, however after some burn in I do seem to notice improvements. They can be plugged right into an ipod or phone but I would strongly suggest an amp or you wont be doing these much justice. Also these are not very portable even though it comes with a portable friendly cord.

Overall
I would recommend these to anyone looking for a pair of closed circumaural cans and either have or are willing to invest in an amp. Knowing what I know I would pay the full price for them if I had to. (Posted on 11/16/12)

great phones for really great price!Review by Georg

Overall

I was hesitating to buy this phones after using my bayerdynamics DT880PRO250Ohm, but at last i decided to spent money for paire of phones to listen my lossless collecting by driving ccar or making airbrushing in my workshop. I was really surprised - quality of build, complectation, and at last SOUND - all was amasing! very neuitral and very honestly sound. after little "warming" sound was changed to be additionally clear not seeing of closed construction.
noise isolation is quiet well too.
Thi headphones cost every cent spent to it! (Posted on 10/25/12)

Hi-End quality for extremely little price. They're really "Monitor" HPsReview by Anton

Overall

Pros: natural, detailed sound, solid look and build quality, nice materials, comfortable for all-aound-the-day use(deep earpads), little weight, useful accessories, easy for demounting, not much demanding to the sound source, great noise-isolating, replacement earpads and cables
Cons: I tried to find them, really. But it was not successful.
All can I say is WOW. Soundscape is surprisingly great for closed type. In fact, you will got "closed" isolation and "open" soundscape. Design and build quality are solid (my friend thought these monitors cost more than 300$). Sound is neutral, closed to reality. If you want bass-heavy headdphones, HM5's anyway good for this after EQ-tweaking or using analog amplifier with "Bass"-preset, lows are deep and good-deatailed. I listen various genres, from metal to orchestral music, hip-hop, dubstep, acoustic music, and HM5's cope with all genres for 5, no mud, no distortion.
Excellent job, Brainwavz! Highly reccomended! (Posted on 10/21/12)

Simply exceptionalReview by Francisco

Overall

You just fall in love with these headphones from the moment you see that case they come in. At that moment if you had any doubts before buying these headphones, you realise that they arent going to disappoint you.
As said, presentation is great. And then you start using them and this neutral thing is awsome. Ive never had neutral headphones before, but after these ones, neutral headphones is all Im going to have. They sound incredible in every genre Ive tried them ... classic rock, 80s, 90s, indie, tecno.
About price, the relation price-quality is superb. And regarding to waiting time, it took 3 weeks for arrival (Im in Argentina). (Posted on 8/7/12)

Great warm headphoneReview by Vitus

Overall

Good bass and neutral sound,
good c/p value headphone! (Posted on 8/1/12)

Great pair of headphonesReview by S

Overall

I've never owned a good pair of headphones before, so I relied mostly on others recommendation for a good pair of closed headphones for PC gaming and music. I am really impressed with the HM5; it has delivered every time. I'm no audiophile, but listening to music is a joy with it.

Pros:
+ Solid build quality
+ Very comfortable, an extra pair of ear pads is provided too
+ (My personal preference) Detachable cables

Cons:
- The clamping is a little too much in the beginning, but eases after a few days of usage (Posted on 7/23/12)

Natural sound monitorsReview by Karthik

Overall

First impressions:
As they mentioned in the site simple yet stylish on design front.
The cable is not coiled that's good for me. Didn't get the ATH-M50's just because of that. all cables and packaging of MP4NATION looks good kudos for that :).

Build Quality:
WOW!!! Brainwavz did a good job, they compete with 250$ one's in this segment. and the cables are color coded and good. we get the airplane adapter too.

Sound Quality:
pretty natural sound. lows are very good and mids are good too. still to test with highs, the bass is not very boomy but its there in ample amount. sound somewhat like HD600.

Verdict:
they are worth more than what you spend :) (Posted on 7/16/12)

no brainerReview by Steve

Overall

I really love these headphones. They are an absolute stellar value. The ear cups are big and deep so they fit over your ears. That's a must for me. The pads are thick and comfortable. There's a little more clamp force than I would like but it's not too hard to stretch the headphones out a little.
The sound is spot on. Nothing is over or under emphasized. I know many people want thundering bass as if a subwoofer is strapped to your head, but bloated bass does not make a good headphone. The HM5 have plenty of bass, they just only reproduce it when the song calls for it and it doesn't interfere with the mids or highs. As it shouldn't. The mids are a little warm and velvety. Female vocals sound wonderful. The highs are not harsh, but they aren't completely devoid of detail either. For the price of these you get a comfortable full sized headphone that's close to neutral. You get a case, two cords, two sets of ear pieces. (Posted on 6/23/12)

Warm Neutral MonitorsReview by Justin

Overall

I know what you are thinking. How can they be warm and neutral? Well, if you were listening to them (like I am right now) you would understand.

Pros: Neutral, Warm, Comfortable, Accurate, Light
Cons: Pleather Pads, Large Size

Back to the sound. Warmth vs. Neutral Sound. Some people might get warm and dark mixed. These are not dark, they are straight forward and clear. The warmth comes from their overall signature sound. It gives you all of the music, like it should be heard, with out any being the slightest bit too bright in the highs.

Mids are placed right in the middle, where they should be. Not forward, not recessed.

Lows are perfect. Great punch and overall balance. With some eq tweaking, they can even become nicely bass heavy. Though for me. I find a Flat EQ with a slight decrees in bass is best for my ears.

My only issues with these headphones come with long term comfort. The pleather pads while soft, can make your ears warm after even a little amount of time. Also, the clamping on the headband can be tight to your head. This is an easy fix, just stretch them over some books or a ball overnight, this will re leave some of the pressure. Also just wearing them normally will eventually cut down on the clamping force.

These are large cans, that said, they are surprising light. Also the headband (when stretched correctly) provides a comfortable fit for hours.

These are true "Monitor" headphones. Great build quality and overall sound. These make excellent reference cans.

I would highly recommend the HM5.

..

(Posted on 6/7/12)

High-end audio at an exceptional priceReview by bottomcoughs

Overall

I'm a sucker for value-for-money products and the HM5 easily stands out as one of my best purchases ever. I've tried countless "bang-for-buck" headphones in the past around the $100 range but nothing made me happier than these cans.

Firstly, the build quality is fantastic for the price. It's mostly plastic but of the "soft-touch rubber" variant, giving it a robust feel. There are no creaking noises at all which is a huge plus for me. The clamp is a bit tight at the beginning, but will loosen after a while.

The included accessories are generous and I love the interchangeable cables and extra ear pards. I don't have a lot of use for the carry bag but nevertheless, it's a nice touch.

And lastly, the sound. All I can say is WOW. It is very nuetral sounding and there is good clarity among the mid and highs. The lows extend well enough but is controlled and not boomy. Ocassionally, I would pair it with my old Fiio E5 with bass boost on to get that extra oomph. The overall signature would suit someone looking for balanced sound. As for die-hard bassheads, you might want to look elsewhere. (Posted on 6/3/12)

Neutral studio-grade headphonesReview by kingpage

Overall

First impression of HM5s: Oh man... this is everything I look for in a pair of headphones.

Solid build, nice deep earpads, really deep! I love it when they don't touch my ears. The isolation is fabulous, coming from CAL, so is the soundstage. Out of the box, I listened to Hotel California (one of my favourites); I don't think I'd heard the song that good before.

I was so much more impressed with the HM5s than my (cheap and modded) bookself speakers I got around the same time. I didn't find anything particularly wrong with the HM5s. One word: smooth. Of course, I need more than one song to judge HM5s' SQ, and some burn-in too. I think I will skip my usual burn-in procedure; yes, they are THAT good.

I can see how they compete well with headphones twice or three times the price. I was so worry that I wouldn't be as impressed with these as with the CAL!, however, that can't be further from the truth. If anything, I am more impressed with these than CAL! when I first got them.

Before someone (anyone) says I'm hyping these 'phones. Maybe I am, maybe not. Take my opinion with a grain of salt if you like.

After burn-in: After 4-5 months of regular use (music and movies), they still sound as great as I first got them. The only downside is it's not too transportable due to its huge size (but light for that size), and maybe the a bit a clamping (as I haven't intentionally stretched my HM5s like many others have to). If you prefer balanced, clear, non-sibilant, airy headphones, you can't miss the HM5s.

(Posted on 5/30/12)