Oriveti OV800 Review – Iteration

Pros –

Gorgeous stained wood faceplates, Tuning switches provide tasteful changes, Slightly improved bass depth

Cons –

Minimal change from O800, Don’t expect huge changes with different switch combinations, Somewhat awkward modular cable connector implementation, Price jump doesn’t feel well justified

Verdict –

Oriveti’s updated flagship remains beautifully designed, smooth and coherent whilst introducing greater versatility than before.

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Introduction –

Oriveti is one of the original ChiFi manufacturers, at least, when it comes to hybrid IEMs. Their original Primacy was lauded by critics for its strong build quality, compact design and smooth, coherent sound. I’ve been a fan of the company’s designs since the very beginning and have always admired how they’ve taken their time to truly improve on each generation of product. Unfortunately, the lengthy lulls between each product cycle means the company doesn’t always receive the attention they deserved. After the Primacy earphones, the OH-series represented a complete redesign from the ground up whilst retaining the core of their house sound. The O-series was the company’s first attempt at creating all-BA IEMs and the new OV800 is an extension of that. As its name would suggest, the OV800 is heavily based upon the O800 launched late last year, introducing a new aesthetic, upgraded accessories and tuning switches. However, it also comes at a substantial price increase with minimal refinements made to the base O800 design besides the aforementioned additions.

The new OV800 just launched at $999. Please see Oriveti’s webstore here for all the details and to secure a unit for yourself. Please also refer to my O800 review here as the two models share more similarities than differences.

Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Marco from Oriveti very much for his quick communication and for providing me with the O800 for the purpose of review. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the earphones free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.

Contents –

• Page 1: Intro, Unboxing, Design
• Page 2: Sound & Verdict

Specifications –

• Drivers: 8 Balanced Armatures, 3-way Crossover
• Impedance: 15 Ohms
• Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 40 kHz
• Sensitivity: 110 dB @ 1kHz
• Cable: Handmade Class 8 SPC with 2-pin Connector

Behind the Design –

Handmade Shells

Each OV800 is hand-made by Oriveti through a painstaking process similar to that of CIEMs. They are hand polished with only 2 units being made per day. This enables the company to achieve a higher level of finish in addition to tighter QC.

Custom Drivers

The OV800 features an extensive driver setup consisting of 2x BA woofers, 4x BA midrange drivers and 2x BA tweeters. The woofers are from Knowles while the mid and high BA drivers have been produced in-house to Oriveti’s desired specifications. This is very rarely seen even in high-end designs and, indeed, the OV800 does provide a unique and appealing sound.

Semi-Open Port

The OV800 features a pressure-relief port on the face plate that reduces wearing pressure for comfort in addition to providing the impression of a larger soundstage. Oriveti assure that this does not affect noise isolation.

Diffuser Wave Guide

Aero-grade aluminium nozzles with convex ends function as a wave guide to improve phase coherence between the drivers and optimise the frequency response. This contributes to a cleaner and more detailed sound with sharper imaging.

Unboxing –

Oriveti has made big upgrades to their packaging. The OV800 comes in a cube box like the O800, however, it now has gloss colour print with an eye-catching jade/marble texture. Inside are the earphones within a foam inlet and new SPC cable. Below, buyers will find the leather button-clasp carrying case and boxes containing the other accessories. Oriveti provide a generous selection including 5 pairs of silicone tips in 2 styles, 2 pairs of memory foam tips, 2 pairs of double flange tips, a cleaning tool, ¼” adaptor and airplane adaptor. In addition, 3 pairs of Azla’s Sednafit Xelastec tips are included in the bundle, these are a heat-activated TPE tip with a very grippy texture. They provide a brighter sound that pairs well with the dark, smooth Oriveti house sound.

Design –

At a glance, you’d be excused for seeing double as the OV800 very closely resembles the O800. This is not a bad thing, for that earphone was beautifully formed in emerald resin with bronze nozzles adding visual flare – the same comments extend to the identically shaped OV800. The key differentiator comes is the form of new stained-wood faceplates as opposed to the brushed plates on the original O800. The new faceplates share their predecessor’s depth while offering a more mesmerising texture and character. As before, vents are visible on the faceplates that offer pressure relief and the newly added bass/treble tuning switches are found recessed on the rears of the housing.

Similarly, the OV800 uses non-recessed 0.78mm 2-pin connectors with wide aftermarket support. The new cable shares SPC conductors in an 8W configuration, but now has a transparent jacket. It no longer has pre-moulded ear guides, but the actual wires are soft with minimal memory and microphonic noise transmission. It coils easily for storage and hardly tangles.

Oriveti also sent over their new upgrade cable which has a similar jacket and supple feel but more lustrous conductors below. This cable has an intriguing 2-layer y-split that upholds a consistent transparent aesthetic with the earphone shells. Like many others, Oriveti has assumed 4-pin modular connectors on this cable. The connectors are metal with a secure screw-down lock. Unfortunately, the way it has been executed produces an especially long connector and the threaded collar leaves a gap when secured. This makes it one of the less elegant modular cables I’ve tested but it remains perfectly functional.

Fit & Isolation –

If you’re familiar with any of Oriveti’s BA monitors, the OV800 provides an identical experience. The shape and design are similar to that of the O800 and, therefore, the same comments apply here. This is a larger IEM but nicely rounded with nothing but smooth angles and edges. In turn, it carries itself well in average to large sized ears with no hotspot formation for me. However, smaller eared listeners may still struggle due to the dimensions. The nozzles are well-angled, delivering a medium-deep fit depth and positioning the bulk of the housings neutrally and stably in the outer ear.

I was able to wear them for hours with no discomfort. Do note the presence of a faceplate vent, the company tells me this is intended to reduce wearing pressure similar to technologies like ADEL and apex. However, I didn’t find it to be quite as efficacious as these solutions, albeit, isolation is basically as good as a sealed monitor. Accordingly, expect some wearing pressure if slightly reduced from a deep-fitting fully-sealed IEM, but at the same time, excellent passive noise isolation suitable for noisy environments.

Next Page: Sound & Verdict