Havi B3 Pro 1

---

---

INDEX(Clickable):

1. Specifications
2. Packaging and Accessories Build and Comfort
3. Sound
4. Comparisons
5. Conclusion
6. Some subjective drivel
7. Useful Links

---

 
 
Head-fi is rife with hype. There’s the “OMGthissupersmasheseverything!”kind and the “thissoundsignatureexecutionissuperbfortheprice” kind. Time, however, is the true test. Rarely does an IEM truly weather the hype storm; new-toy phase, influx of new products and yet, establish itself as one of the benchmarks in its price bracket.
Group IEMs according to their price range and you will notice a rough trend in the sound signatures. Budget IEMs tend to be variations of a U/V/L shaped signature while higher end IEMs are usually variations of a more neutral/balanced signature. But this pattern seems to be evolving lately with more capable /neutral balanced IEMs featuring in the budget segment.
I’ve spent around six months listening to the Havi B3 Pro 1 in order to properly grasp its signature and rid myself of any new-toy bias. And boy am I impressed with what 60$ can get you nowadays.
Disclaimer : I'd like to thank Havi for sending me a pair for review well over 6 months ago.
 
 
 
Packaging, Accessories, Build and Comfort
 
The packaging is a classy in a subdued way. I love the matte-finish, magnetic clasp and the sturdy feel. I currently use it to carry my DAP, 3 IEMs and extra tips when I travel. The semi-hard case is decent. Not as good as the Brainwavz/DUNU case, but not as mediocre as the Hifiman case. Havi has bundled a generous assortment of tips(9 pairs silicone and 1 pair foam), and ear guides that will definitely come in handy, as getting the right fit is very important (especially for the B3Pro1). The cleaning cloth is not really required unless you want the glass back of the IEMs looking shiny and pristine. The Velcro comes in handy during storage, but I do prefer the DUNU tag-system.
The polished face, angular strain relief, asymmetric pentagon shape do make for a very pretty looking IEM. It is designed to be worn over-ear, and isn’t very comfortable when switched.
The cable is thin but inspires confidence, and really works for over ear wear. The wires run parallel to each other beyond the Y split(separate L/R ground I think), all the way to the jack. I do not know the benefits of this. Perhaps it makes it easier to go balanced (re-termination). Microphonics is nearly non-existent due to over-ear wear and the earpieces are very very light.
The shape of the housing results in a shallow fit, which is a bit tricky(especially for me). The small silicon tips fit me well but took too much time to get right every time. I finally resorted to just using the foam tips just to get a “quicker” fit. I did find the Havi to be tip sensitive so my advice would be to relentlessly tip roll until you find the right balance of sound characteristics with the best fit.
 
 
Note on build : I have observed cracks near the strain relief. There is a screw that holds the front and rear halves together and the cracks emanate from this region. I have two pairs at hand and both exhibit these cracks. These cracks are only cosmetic so far. I will update this Note if it behind to affect the audio/comfort
 
Sound
 
Overall sound : Mildly coloured fairly neutral signature with good sense of space.
Primarily used my Geek Out 450. My LG G2 and Sansa clip were able to drive them to acceptable levels. For this review, I stuck to the GO450 as I felt it was a smidgen better at bass control and presentation.
 
I ran a frequency sweep after my review was completed, and annotated the review with my observations.
General FR observations: Sharp sub-bass roll off begins around 50Hz and I am able to hear the tone only until 27 Hz. There is a gradual rise into the mid bass that continues into the lower half of the midrange before a mild drop beyond 1K. This drop is short lived, bottoming out at 1.5K before rising again into a peak at ~4K. Drop again before rising again into a tiny peak at ~7.2K and a further peak at ~12K.
 
Soundstage : Let’s talk about this first. The soundstage is impressively wide for a conventionally closed IEM. Depth is above average (for IEMs). For every component of audio, for example - vocals, I felt like a part of it emanated from somewhere close to me and a part plays from further away. This defines the edges of the space clearly and my brain fills in the rest. This way the image is not stretched or exaggerated and sounds natural. There must some clever dual driver orientation/design to get such an effect from a fairly sealed IEM. More on soundstage and imaging in the Titan1 comparison.
 
Bass: The B3P1 has the out-of-nowhere type of Bass, but it doesn’t boom out-of-nowhere like the Titan 1 does. It is simply there to complement and complete the instruments, vocals and make them sound natural (although I feel a little more rumble is sometimes in order). The bass doesn’t grab your attention but makes sure you enjoy the music as a whole. It manages to convey a good amount of detail during fast sections and feels unrestricted due to airiness in the sound space. Sub-bass quantity is relatively lower than mid-bass, doesn’t really rumble and sounds damped. As a result, the lowest reaches of certain instruments such as the kick drum, bass guitar do not sound perfectly natural.  This (Sub-bass) is a potential area for improvement.
Response to EQ: My experiments with bumping the sub-bass did not go as well as I’d hoped. The tonal balance survived a slight 4dB bump at 40Hz, but would sound increasingly distorted, the more I pushed. I tried compensating the bump with a pre-amp cut but this did not help.
 
Midrange: Vocal intelligibility is excellent; detailing is not exaggerated and is well behaved. Compared to the RE400 I find the depth and weight a little lacking particularly in male vocals. Female vocals have a slight emphasis but only at certain notes (I suspect from the 4K peak). This lent an engaging feel to my music (especially for Jazz). Trumpets and violins, complemented by the Bass and treble, sound natural except for the lowest reaches (where a little more rumble would complete the picture).
 
Treble: Just like the bass, the highs ae there to complement and complete each component and lend an engaging feel to your music (probably via a well-placed peak or two that’s not too drastic). It steers clear of sibilance, and isn’t attention grabbing (unlike the Titan 1). Don’t take this to mean that it doesn’t extend well, or is laid back. It simply “does its part” in the grand scheme. Cymbals do not sound splashy. Some may prefer a little more presence but it is certainly not south of what I would consider “neutral”. And yet, they are quite forgiving, especially compared to the Titan 1 and RE272.
 
And that’s why I like the Havi. No part of the FR is trying to outperform the other. It’s a shared limelight, where they work together to deliver a package and not an individual performance.
 
Comparisons
 
RE400 : The Havi is more similar to the RE400 than not. They are both fairly neutral, both slightly warmish, both feel like they roll off in the subbass. However, the RE400 is more laid back in the lower treble, is more mid forward(relatively) and has flatter bass. Vocals have more presence on the RE400(particularly male vocals), are layered better and portray better depth to the vocals. The Havi have slightly more midbass and subbass weight (before the apparent roll-off) which helps with versatility, features a more spacious sonic space and soundstage making the RE400 sound relatively congested. The tiny RE400 makes for an easier/more-comfy fit and is easier to drive, but has iffy build quality. As a result, both the Havi and RE400 are non-ideal for use on-the-go.
 
DUNU Titan 1: This comparison, despite the signature differences, makes sense because both are capable of projecting a realistically spacious sonic space. The Titan, helped by its slight V shaped sig, is airier than the Havi with its relatively forward midrange. The size of the space however is similar and this is doubly impressive given the Havi is a closed IEM. The Titan 1 features heavier bass but due to its out-of-nowhere nature, it is not intrusive and yet, will grab a part of your attention (unlike the Havi). The detail levels through the midrange are similar, but the Titan has more presence in the upper midrange and, as a result, appears to sound more detailed (during casual listening). The Titan 1 extends further in the treble and sounds more detailed (though this time, it is not only due to more presence). The biggest difference is in the presentation: the Titan 1 is “attention grabbing yet capable”, while the Havi is “more relaxed yet capable”.
 
Conclusion:
 
The Havi B3Pro 1 is, in my opinion, worthy of its high status around the 60$ point for a fairly neutral sound signature. A star off since there is some room for improvement: smidgen more sub-bass for some natural rumble, depth to male vocals, ergonomics, source versatility, build improvements.
 
 
 
Some subjective drivel:
There’s this feeling when you really like something but it has niggles that makes you click your tongue and wonder “why?” with a wry expression. I love this not-so-little IEM. I love the sound signature. It reminds me of my beloved RE400 with some more bass presence, more sparkle and relatively uncongested. These are good enough reasons for me to pick the Havi over the RE400 3 out of 5 times. But it takes too long to get a good fit, I find myself wanting a bit more in the sub-bass at times, I don’t like running it off my phone/Sansa clip and the midrange isn’t as perfect as my RE400(this I can overlook).
I am often interrupted when I listen to music and, IEMs like the RE400, Titan 1 and more recently the q-jays are a breeze to pop-in-and-out. The best environment for the Havi is when I’m at my desk with my GO450 and when I don’t have to spend 30 seconds (every 20 minutes) refitting the IEM. As a result I may end up using the Havi lesser and lesser. And yet, I’ve put in over 150 hours because I really like the sound. It is definitely a keeper and for now has replaced my RE400(which has begun showing signs of wear). I think the hype is justified. This sound quality (well executed neutral sig) with unique sound characteristics (stage), at this price point(~60$) is a fantastic deal.
 
Useful Links:
Havi B3 Pro 1 Thread 1
Havi B3 Pro 1 Thread 2
Penonaudio, LMUE, Amazon
Head-fi reviews
 

When I was contacted by Baybars (or @baycode) about the possibility of being sent a review unit of the Havi B3 Pro 1s, I was completely ignorant of their existence. Possibly due to the manufacturer’s position (both geographically and in terms of product line-up) Havi had totally evaded my attention. Intrigued by these oriental mysteries I eagerly accepted the offer. My initial sample was sent to me curteousy of Havi. The views and opinions expressed in this review in no way originate from, or are affiliated with Havi or any other commercial body, they are my honest opinions from time spent with the product.
 
Opening the unusually luxurious packaging of the Pro 1s, I was immediately impressed by the how the wonderfully presented in-ears looked! In pictures they looked like typically plastic low-cost enclosures, clunky and ugly, but after removing them from their packaging they didn’t look at all out of place next to my shiny and intricately decorated Ostry KC06As, in fact I preferred the Havis’ minimalist and understated look. Havi had spared no expense with the tip selection either, presenting a rather surprising range given their price-point. Okay, maybe sparing no expense is a little hyperbolic; there was a large selection of tips, some of them of very good quality, the selection included foam tips for a more comfortable seal, and Sennheiser’s double flanges in three sizes – but considering their cost that’s pretty good going. Also included were two ear guides for over-ear usage, but they were tough and plasticy, they fit awfully around my ear, fortunately the cable weighed a sufficient amount to keep them in place, and malleable enough I had no need for a guide. The Pro 1s also come with a nice bag, a VERY handy protective case, and a microfiber cloth for the gorilla glass glaze (and a shirt clip for if you’re a massive nerd )
 
Packaging: Utilitarian but pretty and sturdy 7/10
 
Included Accessories: Large selection, everything that one could really need 9/10
 
Looks: Minimalist, understated, but in person really quite striking 8/10
 
 
After trying all of the tips it was evident that they fit pretty tediously into the ear, even after I had found the godsend medium double flanges it was a finicky affair (probably due to the large enclosures). These same large enclosures can make them uncomfortable at times too, they’re not painful but in my usage I’ve never forgotten that I’m wearing them, which a real shame considering they did a fantastic job with the rest of the build. Speaking of nailing build quality, their cable solution is brilliant and other producers need to take note, the L-shaped connector keeps the jack from straining much or getting caught coming in and out of pockets, the soft rubber insulation wasn’t particularly nice to the touch but it wasn’t obtrusive and unlike almost every other in-ear or earphone I’ve tried in the price range I didn’t experience a single problem with the insulation. The slider that couples the left and right earphones together was supple and hardy. I’m sure it might seem nonsensical to spend so much time on build quality but they’re delightfully well made, thoughtful is the word I’d use. It takes a lot to make a product that really doesn’t get in the way, these guys kept up with a lot of heavy usage, I even had to go abroad to and run around London for a while, dashing in and out of tubes and buses they never missed a beat, shoved in pockets and thrown in bags. Their endurance is definitely a selling point, kudos Havi!
 
Fit and comfort: Kind of finicky and a little odd, forgivable but not good 6/10
 
Build Quality and Endurance: Brilliantly well thought out, yet made for real-life usage 8/10
 
 
Biting my teeth into the meat of the affair we arrive at how they sound, how they’ve treated my ears and how you can hope that they treat yours. What makes this case so curious is the polarising nature of the Pro 1s. It’s no longer a rare occurrence, some no-name brand popping up and producing a product capable of taking on competitors many times it’s price, we’ve seen this happen over and over again with the likes of KZ and Ostry, even Oneplus have been capable of doing it with the Icons, but it’s not often that these products polarize people quite like the Pro 1s do. I’ve seen lovers love them, and haters absolutely despise them, with nothing in the middle. I had resolved after reading their reviews across internet to appreciate these in-ears for what they did right and openly acknowledge what they do wrong in order to find a middle-ground. Here are my findings:
 
The first thing to go through my mind, as I put them in my phone and my phone on shuffle was wow, these are shrill.. Starting to use the Pro 1s sounds like salt liquorice tastes, slightly too sharp. I’d guess that this imbalance lay somewhere around 10Khz, and it gave a biting edge to the snare drums and the like. I can gladly report that in both pairs of Pro 1s I’ve owned the issue disappeared after a little break in/letting myself acclimatise to the sound, and it soon falls out of focus (So never fear new Pro 1 owners!).
 
The tonality of the earphones can be accurately described as thin. People complaining that the Pro 1s are bass-less are categorically wrong, they have a brilliantly textured and fantastically potent bottom end (The bass layering and texture in Frou Frou’s Let go is amazingly clear, I’ve never heard better in anything sub $150), but (in my opinion) unfortunately, the bass sits somewhat meakly behind the forward upper mids and top end. They’re bright, and they’re very upfront about it. While it’s not correct to say that the bass simply isn’t there, I do feel that there’s a significant problem in their dual-drive design. While one driver covers the bottom end, and another the top, there’s insufficient coverage of upper bass/lower mids, which is where I think they meet – male vocalists are completely stripped of any growl, and you can say goodbye to deep timbre, it’s just not there. That’s not to say that their tuning is a failure, I felt it as just an unfortunate mistake on behalf of Havi’s design. Otherwise the clarity they’re capable of outputting is insane, you can pick up inflections of Lana Del Ray’s Ultraviolence that hide from all but the most revealing hardware, and their toppy nature keeps them well up to whack with rock and pop drumming like the Ting Ting’s Be the One, where they exhibited sparkle and positioning that shamed their competitors the KC06As. In the end I did find myself missing those lower mid/upper bass notes, they aren’t just on the back foot, they’re on the other end of town, and that gets fatiguing after enough time with them. Some tracks just don’t sound very good on them, they can be a little clinical, going from sunlight bright to your average visit to the dentist. After a certain amount of time listening to them, especially when listening loudly you might want to take a break.
 
They should be praised immediately after talk of their tonality, for their frankly outrageous soundstage, they sound like headphones! They have a brilliant illusion of sound coming from outside your ear, not inside it! The effect can elevate itself to holographic at times, elevated by their artificially (though not unpleasantly so) clear and precise nature; Blank Banshee’s signature travelling synths can be tracked as they travel around your head, and while the lack of crossover leaves nothing sounding particularly in front of you, it’s not unusual to find tracks where you can pick out the location of each instrument individually. Let’s be clear, they’re not a pair of speakers, but no IEMs are, and these Pro 1s have a beautifully talented soundstage, beating out some full-sized headphones comfortably. This plays into well into their tonality, allowing them to do exceptionally well with rock and roll, if you’re a fan of anything drum and guitar heavy I doubt you would be disappointed with their performance. This soundstage, it should be noted, can really reduce the typical IEM fatigue I and many others I know suffer from, they don’t suffer from the terrible in-head sound source effect typical of so many cheap IEMs.
 
They’re technically outstanding in-ears, but I can see how people wouldn’t like them, sometimes they don’t feel artful or passionate. They hold a copious amount of detail, as well as wonderfully straight upper-mids and sparkly, well-judged treble. The bass they do have is textured and fast, detailed and controlled, but unfortunately reserved. Their biggest problem, and what I perceive as being the cause of a lot of their hatred is their often shocking lack of lower-mid grunt. To some people they sound irreconcilably flat, if you think that a lack of power at the pelvis is going to be a problem for you, probably steer clear of these. Still, with soundstage like theirs, along with such clarity and detail, it’s difficult not to praise the technical achievement Havi have made in producing the Pro 1s
 
Flat and clinical are the last descriptive words any hifi enthusiast should want to hear about a potential purchase, but I would hasten against allowing that to be any deciding factor for you, due to factors outside of my control these Pro 1s ended up being my only source of music for 3 weeks, and I found them to be surprisingly versatile. I’ve clocked around 250 hours listening time on them and they still surprise me from time to time with their ability to recreate music in an enjoyable manner, regardless of their unfortunate disposition to sound linear and boring. They aren’t nearly as clinical as V6s are, they aren’t as bright as prestige line Grados either, if you can get over a lack of bassy passion they’re very capable of bringing you your musical bliss. And all of this description is takes not regard of their price, factor in their $50 dollar price tag and you’re talking about a hell of a deal. I’m sure you can find more musical in-ears for those 50 bucks, but I’m certain you can’t find any more technically capable. If you’re a big fan of unregimented flatness (like many people are) these will blow your socks off, if you’re not – give them a go, they might just do so anyway.
 
Sound quality and value: A tuning revision could bring this score up easily 7.5/10
 
How should I wrap up my take on the Pro 1s? Did I like them? Could I recommend them? Would I buy my own pair?
 
 
I did buy my own pair. After my first pair had broken, after a disagreement with a car, and I immediately ordered a second pair in, but having said that, I’m also eagerly awaiting the arrival of my KZ ATEs in the mail, I’m need a change. Are they brilliant? Absolutely, but I’m just not content enough with their strict correctness, and their lack of passion can become chafing. They’re not comfy enough for me to keep them on those grounds either – but I don’t regret at all buying my second pair, they’re still brilliant and when I’ve gotten tired of other mischievous sub $100 dollar IEMs I get the feeling I’ll be glad for their technical brilliance returning to reassure my ears.
 
I can recommend these easily to the kind of people who love neutrality, especially to those in the head-fi community who come seeking what they see as a “Reference” sound.
 
Havi B3 Pro 1s: 8/10 – after everything, still something special.
 
And a special thanks to Baybars, who has been an absolute gentleman and a pleasure to get along with.
 
 
A note on amping: I’ve used these extensively on an O2/ODAC, FiiO Q1, and straight out of an OPO’s headphone out. They don’t get as loud as they might otherwise do coming out of a phone, but if you’ve a phone with relatively good Amp/DAC circuitry I wouldn’t worry too much about amping, they certainly benefit from more power but not as much as people would lead you to believe.

At the time of the review, the Havi B3 PRO1 was was on sale on Penon Audio’s website. Here is a link to their listing of the product:
 
http://penonaudio.com/HAVI-B3-PRO%20?search=Havi
 
Introduction
Ahhhhhhhhhh, where do we even start?
 
Early on in my adventures into this hobby (around 2013) I was a Head-Fi rookie trying to find the next great pair of cheap in-ears when I stumbled across the Chinese/Asian budget thread. Lots of great gear was discovered and discussed there, and many friends were made. From that thread my searches branched off into the Deals thread, the Discovery thread and then into other threads that featured individual popular models. Since then one thing has remained consistent. The Havi B3 PRO1 (not to be mistaken with the Havi B3 PRO2) was and still is very relevant and popular with the Head-Fi community. While many flavors of the month come and go, the Havi stays relevant.
 
The B3 PRO1 was one of my first Head-Fi recommended purchases (right after the Piston 2.0) but DEFINITELY not my last. I remember getting my pair of B3 PRO1 in the mail from Penon Audio, plugging it in and being wowed by how natural they sounded. If I remember correctly my response to others on the threads was that I just heard a waterfall at the end of a Daft Punk track and it sounded so real, I had to run to the toilet to relieve myself.
 
To be completely honest I haven’t listened to the Havi very much for the last year simply because I was either listening to review samples or gear I’ve purchased out of curiosity. When my good friend Baybars was asking if anyone wanted to hear the “new” B3 PRO1 I had to experience them for myself. Attach the words “Havi” and “new” and you don’t have to ask me twice.
 
There’s something special about the Havi. It’s not booming bass, timbre rich midrange or super extended treble. It’s not the perfect frequency response curve that will make you say “that has to sound good.” In fact, looking at a graph you would almost think there’s no way this earphone can sound good at all. Don’t be fooled, hearing is believing! Just about everyone who’s heard the Havi ends up liking them. For many listeners on the threads I visit their favorite earphone to this day is the Havi simply because they haven’t heard something that gives the same type of sonic presentation. Let’s cover them with a comprehensive review.
 
Disclaimer
I was given an opportunity to review the Havi B3 PRO1 in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I am in no way affiliated with Havi. I would like to take this time to personally thank Havi for sending the review sample, and also my friend Baybars for the recommendation. He is the original Havi fanboy, an excellent photographer and reviewer, and all around great guy. Hey Baybars, thanks for rekindling my love for the B3 PRO1 buddy!
 
My Background
I AM NOT a numbers and graphs audiophile or sound engineer. Personal audio enthusiast? Absolutely! Headphone junkie? Possibly…
 
There’s something about quality DAPs, DACs, Amplifiers and Earphones that intrigues me, especially if they can be had for low prices. I will buy the $5 to $500 earphone that looks promising, in hopes that I will discover that one new gem that can compete with the big names in this industry. If you look at my Head-Fi profile you will see that I have purchased MANY different headphones and earphones, ranging from from dirt cheap to higher end products. For me, this hobby is more about getting great price to performance ratio from a product, and have a variety of different gears with varying builds and sound to mix and match. With personal audio gear, we tend to pay a lot of money for minor upgrades. One thing I’ve learned over the last few years is that just because a headphone has a higher price tag, it doesn’t mean that it has superior build and sound quality.
 
I’m always looking for great audio at a great price. I’m after headphones and IEMs that give me the “WOW” factor. I can appreciate different builds and sound signatures as long as they are ergonomic, and the sound is pleasing to the ear. It is my pleasure to share my experiences with audio products and make recommendations based gear I have owned and used.
 
REVIEW
 
The original Havi B3 PRO1 came in a small plastic case just big enough to hold the earphone and simple accessories. Havi stepped it up this time, packing them in a larger black box with red and silver accents. There is a nice picture of the earphones on the front. The back of the box displays features about the B3 PRO1 that sets itself apart from the rest of earphone market.
 
  
The right side of the box has a picture of a 1990s grunge dude strumming a guitar (nothing special). The left side of the box features specifications and accessories in Chinese and English.
 

Inside the box was another more premium box that opened via a magnetic flap on the front.
 

Opening this box I was greeted with a foam cutout with the famed Havi housings and a couple pairs of red/gray silicone tips. Removing the top foam revealed the remaining accessories package.
 
Specifications and Accesories
Specification

1. Frequency response：10-20KHz
   
2. THD:<0.1%（Ikhz/100db SPL）
   
3. Impedance：32ohms
   
4. Sensitivity：115dB/mW
   
   

Package

1. HAVI-B3 Pro1 In-ear Earphones
   
2. 3 types of silicone eartips (S/M/L)
   
3. 3 pairs of Black Dual Flange Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)
   
4. Flannel Carrying bag
   
5. Carrying case
   
6. High quality handkerchief
   
7. One pair of foam cushions
   
8. 3 pairs of White Silicone Eartips (S/M/L)
   
   

 

Havi stepped it up in terms of accessories in this package. The most notable and appreciated upgrades in terms of accessories were the improved tip selection and the higher quality clamshell case.
 
Housings

First things first, there is no noticeable change in terms of build between the old and new model. If something isn’t broke, don’t try to fix it, right?
 

The inside of the Havi housing is constructed of plastic that is fairly lightweight but feels very sturdy. The fact that I have a two year old pair that looks just as good as the new pair should be a testament to how well they hold up if handled with a reasonable amount of care. The outside of the housing is constructed of gorilla glass (the same material used for cell phone screens) and has the simple and sleek Havi logo displayed underneath.
 
The nozzle of the Havi is angled nicely and is pretty standard in terms of length and width. I have no problems tip rolling with them.
 
Cable, Y-Split, Cable Jack, Strain Reliefs

The Havi cable is uniquely done. It is made of four separate cables that are attached in a ribbon fashion and runs this way from the jack to the Y-Split. There is purpose in having four separate cables leading to the Y-split. Havi splits grounds for each channel, eliminating crosstalk and improving coherency. One negative note, when unwinding the cable the ribbon-like cable gets twisted into a kink occasionally. It isn’t a permanent thing but you will catch yourself removing these kinks when unwinding the cable from time to time.
 
The Y-Split is made of a very durable black plastic piece and leads into two single cables that run to each channel. There is a chin slider above the Y-split that works well and comes in handy with the over the ear fit. The cable jack is a well done ninety degree gold plated jack with a red and black plastic jacket.
 
Strain reliefs at the housing, jack and Y-split are well done and built to withstand the test of time.
 
Functionality
The Havi is a plug and play device. There are no microphones or remotes to get in the way of the B3 PRO1’s awesome audio presentation. Plug in, play music, be amazed, repeat.
 
Ergonomics, Fit and Microphonics, Isolation
The housings are shaped to fit the inside of the ear similar to a custom in-ear monitor. While I feel the form isn’t bad, I don’t think Havi nailed it with the shape and ergonomics. Still, I get a really good fit that is comfortable and easy to wear with the right tip. Speaking of tips, I find the Havi to be a VERY tip dependent earphone. While they stepped it up in terms of tip selection, the best tips I’ve found for my ears are Sony silicone tips. JVC Spiral dots and the included Sennheiser-like dual flange tips come in a close second. Your mileage may vary, just know that in order for you to get the heralded fidelity this earphone can provide, you need to find a tip that gives you an impeccable seal.
 
The B3 PRO1 is designed to be worn over the ear. Because of this there are virtually no microphonics to mention.
 
Isolation is better than the average universal in-ear monitor. Still, I get a small amount of noise leaking in while listening to them.
 
Sound Review
I did my demo with my usual gear. I used an LG-G3 with the latest firmware for portable and smartphone use, and either my Shanling H3 or Sony Walkman F806/Cayin C5 amplifier for a high fidelity portable use. For desktop use I used my Toshiba Satellite Laptop in combination with a HIFIMEDIY Sabre ES9023 USB DAC/Bravo Audio Ocean Tube amplifier with a Mullard 12AU7 tube for higher impedance, and a Fiio E18 USB DAC & Amplifier in both high and low gain. Both were run at 24 bit, 96000 Hz. I also tested them with other DAPs and amplifiers as well. I used Google Music downloaded in its highest download quality (320 KBPS) and I also streamed FLAC via Tidal streaming service. I also used purchased and downloaded tracks in MP3, FLAC, WAV and DSD. I make sure that any gear I test has sufficient playtime before writing a review.
 
I used my usual same songs for testing gear:
“Limit to your love” by James Blake (bass speed, punch, response)
“Doin’ it Right” by Daft Punk (sub bass)
“Get lucky” by Daft Punk (bass to midrange transition resolution, male vocals)
“Madness” by Muse (soundstage, separation)
“Some nights” by Fun (soundstage and male vocals)
“The soundmaker” by Rodrigo y Gabriela (texture and imaging)
“Bassically” by Tei Shi (bass to midrange resolution, female vocals)
“Skinny Love” performed by Birdie (female vocals, acoustic playback)
“One” by Ed Sheeran (male vocals, acoustic playback)
“Outlands” from the Tron Legacy Soundtrack (symphonic presentation, imaging)
“Sultans of swing” by Dire Straits (detail, separation, balance)
“And Justic for All” by Metallica (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
“Ten thousand fists” by Disturbed (driver distortion, treble response, rock playback)
 
Note: Other tracks were used, but the listed songs were primarily used to assess and break down the gear’s response.
 
Source Selection

At first I thought the new Havi was easier to drive than the original, but it turns out it was merely new toy syndrome. Comparing the two responses on my Vibro Veritas (a very fun tool to use to help you understand what you’re hearing), I got similar slopes with a few variances, which could be because the age and use of my old model, or due to variances in production runs. Also noted is the need for the Havi to be driven by a source slightly more powerful than the average cell phone.
 
Something I really enjoyed was my combination LG G3 streaming Google Music via Bluetooth into my APTX bluetooth Shanling H3, then low gain into my B3 PRO1. That combination was out of this world good, and got the approval of everyone who listened to them.
 
I personally feel that despite being listed as 32 Ohms, the power demands of the Havi exceeds that. A warm sounding source with amplification beyond a cell phone will be ideal for Havi
 
Sound Signature
Spectacular, stunning, stellar, stylish, standing out from the rest… Havi….
 
It’s like someone at Havi said “let's do the opposite of what everyone else is doing and make one of the best sounding in-ear phones around in the process.”
 
Most of us are used to a V-Signature tuning, where manufacturers boost bass and treble frequencies, leaving the midrange in the background. Havi has done the opposite, elevating middle frequencies with an added dip around 1k while still maintaining a nice level of extension and resolution on both ends. The result is a center stage midrange with great 3D imaging and separation. The dual dynamic drivers handle music in perfect unison. Havi is the soundstage king of earphones from what I’ve heard. Nothing I’ve heard beats the spacial imaging of the Havi B3 PRO1. It seems as though the Havi midrange is taking center stage and projecting outward into a limitless amount of space. I’m sure there’s many who have heard them and will agree with this.
 
Bass
First things first the Bass IS NOT FORWARD. It is tight responsive bass with a very slow rolloff into sub bass ranges. The way it rolls off in comparison to a forward lower midrange makes it seem very natural and organic. Bass heads won’t like it, nor should they. I would go as far as say its neutral to my ears.
 
Midbass is the one of the most well tuned and responsive ones I’ve heard. Even with the somewhat linear bass tunings, I still enjoy the B3 PRO1 with bass heavy genres. The high resolution and response the Havi kicks out makes anything thing I listen to enjoyable.
 
Midrange
Midrange is warm tilted, ultra high resolution, superb separation, and ready to take on any music you throw at them. There is a dip around 1k that makes all vocals seem more spacious and slightly holographic to my ears. The midrange lift carries to the 4k mark then drops off before things get sibilant. Dare I say perfect midrange? If not it’s close!
 
Treble
Treble appears to drop off early but it’s not the case. Havi has a crisp feel without being sibilant at all, even at loud volumes it maintains a smooth presence. Just like the bass frequencies the B3 PRO1 treble seems to slowly roll off into eternity. The treble has a very fast attack, great separation, and an ability to seem incredibly spacious.
 
Soundstage and Imaging
Here is where we could go on forever about them…
 
Havi nailed it with soundstage and imaging. Usually I can sum it up with two sentences for this criteria, however this might be the one part I want you to know about the B3 PRO1 sound.
 
Midrange is without a doubt center stage, but in a good way. It has a level of clarity and separation that is very unique. from that very forward midrange they roll off a bit on each end while maintaining a level of resolution throughout the entire frequency range other in-ear monitors can’t come close to. Because of the phenomenal clarity it doesn’t seem to have any limits in terms of space. It’s almost uncanny how big the stage is to my ears.
 
Imaging is somewhat holographic. While I feel the space is maximized I don’t know if I would say there is perfectly accurate imaging. Despite this it is excellent, and far better than the average in-ear monitor.

 
Comparisons
 
Audio Technics ATH-IM50 ($50 to $75 USD on many sites)
The IM50 is a dual driver earphone that was and still is popular with the Head-Fi community, and a direct competitor to the B3PRO1. Their somewhat consumer friendly tuning is a hit with many who listen to modern genres of music.
 
Comparing the two, IM50 is definitely a more aggressive tuning that will appeal to those who like modern genres of music. The IM50 has the advantage in terms of bass forwardness and overall balance. Havi has the advantage in terms of resolution, separations, and soundstage. To my ears the B3 PRO1 is a less fatiguing and slightly more enjoyable listening experience. Your mileage may vary.
 
In terms of accessories, Havi has taken it to the next level with the upgraded accessories package. Advantage Havi.

 
TTPOD T1E ($30 to $60 USD on many sites)
The T1E is one of my favorite earphones of all time. They are a budget friendly, well made and well tuned dual bio-cellulose driver earphone. The T1E has a fast, bouncy and extended bass response that never seems to bottom out, timbre rich and buttery midrange and slightly better than average treble that is decent enough to not ruin the T1E presentation.
 
T1E gets the advantage in terms of bass response and enjoyment factor. Havi wins in the mIdrange, treble, and overall resolution categories. In terms of listenability, I find both of them equally enjoyable, and which one I use is dependent on what mood I’m in and what music I want to listen to.
 
Again, Havi’s improved accessories package gives them an advantage over the T1E. The new B3 package provides a similar amount of quality tips and also offer a superior clamshell case as compared to the velvet drawstring pouch of the T1E.
Conclusion
When I started this review I planned on giving it four and a half stars, but by the time I finished doing the sound analysis and comparisons I have to bump the Havi up to five stars. While I think there are things about the design that aren’t perfect (minus one star), I realize that on a scale from one to five, I consider the sound quality of them to be a six. Simply put, the B3 PRO1 has sound quality that rivals things that cost ten times more than their asking price.   
 

Thanks for reading and happy listening!