ODA Amarantine A500 (Wood Edition) Review: True Ultimate Melody!

ODA Amarantine A500 (Wood Edition) Review

When I tried the ODA Amarantine A500 (Wood Edition) for the first time, I realized it didn’t match the sound tonality I like. But there’s more to these earphones. What could it be? To figure this out, I used this IEM for an extended period. After listening to many songs, I noticed that its midrange is really exceptional. I mean, there’s an addictive quality to the midrange. I felt intoxicated by the sound. Especially, the vocal presentation is outstanding, whether male or female.

Warmth in the low-frequency region is my personal favorite, but it’s almost absent in this IEM. However, its mid-bass is very textured and articulated. The absence of warmth in the sub-bass didn’t bother me at all, thanks to its outstanding midrange presentation. Additionally, instrument separation is very good, and the soundstage is quite spacious, providing a somewhat holographic feel. I’ve been listening to these earphones daily in my leisure time because they’re so addictive. With any R2R source, its melodic sound becomes even more beautiful, and the bass feels a little warmer. I shuffled the ear tips to achieve some extra warmth in the bass. I’ve tried many, and I’ll discuss them separately in this review.

UPDATE: After hearing a lot of the newly released albums like “The Mountain” from Gorillaz, “Honora” from Flea, “This Music May Contain Hope” by Raye, “East Meets West” by Anne-Sophie Mutter, “Birding” from Deary, “The Former Site Of” by The New Pornographers, etc., I realize that it’s the choice of my music library why I misjudge the sound of this IEM. Yes, it has a very good and warm ‘BASS’ presence! I donno why those albums from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s didn’t show quality bass (not all albums, though).

DISCLAIMER

[One Dot Audio] was kind enough to send me the Amarantine A500 (WE) to review. I am not affiliated with ODA, and of course, I was not asked for any copy-checking before publishing. All opinions shared in this ‘ODA Amarantine A500 (Wood Edition) review’ are my subjective thoughts.

One thing more: The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may vary because of personal preference and physical differences like the shape and depth of the ear canal.

For your personal purchase, check out One Dot Audio [ODA] for their fantastic products and promotions (non-affiliated link).

GEAR USED

●   DAP: Cowon Planue R2, Cayin N3 Ultra, Hiby RS2, Hiby R4, Snowsky Echo Mini, F.Audio M20.
●   DAC/AMP: xDuoo MT-604, Fosi Audio GR40, Hiby FD5, KAEI Design TAP2, ifi Hip DAC 2, xDuoo XD-05 Plus (with MUSES 8820 OP-Amp), Cayin RU6, Cayin RU7, iBasso DC04 Pro, Dunu DTC 480, Fosi Audio DS-1, Celest CD-10, Celest CD-20, Hiby FC05, Hiby FD03, Moondrop Dawn Pro.
●   Smart Device: Poco X3, Xiaomi MiPad 5.
●   Files: Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, local Hi-Res FLAC & DSD files.

AUDIO TESTING PREFERENCES

I desperately love the music from the 60s to the 90s era. Music was alive then. The genre I love most is ROCK ‘N ROLL. Though Jazz, Blues, Metal, Disco, and Pop are also my favorite genres. I have a collection of albums with high dynamic range recording. Most of the time, I test audio gear with those albums to understand the sonic capability of the specific gear. If you have a Tidal subscription, you may click here to get the playlist.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

The ODA Amarantine A500 (Wood Edition) is an all-BA IEM with 5 BA drivers. For lows and lower midrange, there is a dual BA stack, a single BA for pure midrange, and another dual BA stack for the high frequencies. It has an 8Ω impedance, 116 dB sensitivity, and a frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz. The stock cable is a 2-pin (0.78mm), 3.5mm/4.4mm (mine is 4.4mm), and the internal construction is 4-strand copper-plated silver, plus high-purity copper.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX

● ODA Amarantine (Wood Edition) IEMs
● Silver-plated copper cable (4.4mm)
● Cleaning tool
● Normal bore (S/M/L), Wide bore (S/M/L) silicon ear tips
● Original leather-made carrying case
● User Manual

UNBOXING EXPERIENCE

Typical ODA experience. As a flagship IEM, I’ve been expecting something different or special. But it was the same as the Helios D100. So, there’s nothing more to say about the Amarantine A500 (WE) unboxing.

BUILD & DESIGN

Now, here is the very special thing: first, the design. It blew my mind the very first time I put my hands on them. The design aesthetic is gorgeous, with cherry red, black, and navy blue mixed. Made entirely out of ‘rejuvenated wood,’ the textures appear artistic. The finishing is so cleverly done that you won’t notice the joint between the faceplate and the rest of the shell. ODA puts a lot of effort into aesthetics, as we saw in their D100 and also in the Amarantine A500 (WE) IEM. Though the mirror polish is a fingerprint magnet, to me, it’s not an issue.

Second, the built quality. Though it’s a wooden IEM, you won’t feel that it’s fragile by any means. They are very well-built IEMs that you can use as your daily driver, and yes, I’m using them almost daily nowadays. The stock cable is another thing to talk about. It’s made of a 4-strand cable made of copper-plated silver plus high-purity copper. They are reasonably tangle-free and have almost no audible microphonic. The carrying/storage case is made of original leather-made, and is the same as the D100, which looks really premium.

FIT & COMFORT

For the very first time, I tried the A500 (WE), and I thought it wouldn’t fit my ears, especially for the depth. But no, I was wrong. With the perfect ear tips on, they sit like a magnet to the ears. The air vent near the 2-pin connector and the mirror finish make it very comfortable even for longer listing. I fell asleep several times while listening to them, and when I woke up, I didn’t feel any pain in my ears. Though I wouldn’t suggest anyone use IEMs while sleeping! Just one last thing, keep in mind that you need to roll the tips to find the perfect fit. Due to its comparatively short nozzle, it’s a bit tricky.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS

As I mentioned at the very beginning, I had two different kinds of experience with these IEMs, and I really donno why. In some old recordings (not all!), it lacks the perfect warmth in the lower region, while almost all the newly recorded tracks show the opposite! I take the second one for granted. But in both cases, the midrange stays as sweet as possible for any IEMs I’ve tried so far. And the vocals, both male and female, are the sweetest thing here. Treble is so enjoyable for me, as there’s no harshness. It stays clean, airy, and extended. I must add that the whole sound presentation has that satisfying texture to give your ears a good orgasm 😉😉😉!

Here is the frequency graph :

Let’s dive deep…

SUB-BASS

Sub-bass in the Amarantine A500 (Wood Edition) is present when the track calls for it. Yes, this is it. Those tracks with smooth or faint sub-bass presentation will feel like they are totally absent here! But with the right track, the IEM shows its ability to deliver a very deep sub-bass with good body.

Especially the texture is so fantastic, and I think this is the most enjoyable characteristic of A500. It can go down very deep. But it’s not like ‘basshead’ level or anything like this sort. Rather, it has a very good quality over quantity. It never becomes fuzzy or blurry and stays in its own place. Though it’s not ‘clinical’ in nature, it’s also not the fastest fast.

While we all praise DD bass, a big hail to the ODA, as it’s really tough to tune this kind of sub-bass presentation with an all-BA set. They make it happen so nicely.

MID-BASS

First of all, I like the mid-bass presentation with good punch and weight. The Amarantine A500 (Wood Edition) shows the first one with ease! The punch is tight with good texture, and it will make you feel that the edges are a bit rough. But that’s OK for me, as I love texture. But in my opinion in has a bit less weight than I like it to be. A little bit of classic ‘BA’ mid-bass presentation, right?

It is realistic, not overly done, and the presentation is full-bodied. It never bleeds to the midrange as it has very good note definition. The kick drums and bass guitars come out snappy with good attack, and they never feel blunt or fuzzy, even in the quicker passages.

If you love good weight and physicality in the mid-bass, just like a good DD can provide, then you may be disappointed. Though it has a good quality, you may want more of it. And for those bright, clinical sound lovers may also miss your desired clean, thin, super speedy mid-bass. Sorry folks 🤐!

VOCALS

At the beginning of this review, I mentioned how good the vocal presentation is! This is the most addictive part of this IEM, in my personal opinion. Kind of a perfectly tailored, stylish suit for you that fits so well that everyone turns around to look at you in a party! I can easily write a novel about this, but don’t worry, I won’t. Aside from the poetic things, let me explain it.

MALE

I love meaty, a bit husky male vocals like Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour. Their vocals are so soothing with proper texture. This IEM can deliver those characteristics of male vocals with ease. It presents it with excellent body and texture, with a natural richness. And it never sounds thin or hollow.

The perfect warmth in the lower-midrange gives them the perfect weight and presence. The vocal quality is authoritative, but not boomy or overly cooked. In male vocals with deeper baritones, I clearly heard every nuance, but no harshness. The only drawback I noticed is, in some really dense or busy tracks, the male vocals are sometimes slightly overshadowed by the bass & treble. But overall, the presentation is pleasing.

FEMALE

It’s a blessing for my ears when I listen to the female vocals on the A500 (WE) IEM. The sound is so sweet and melodic. Personally, I can’t take the extra shine or brightness in female vocals that some brighter-tuned IEMs have. But with the Amarantine (WE), the experience is exciting with its delicately clear sound, which feels incredibly lifelike.

They are open, airy, and musically melodic, and have no sibilance, no harshness. Just pure, natural vocal reproduction. They tuned the upper midrange perfectly, and the result is smooth female vocals without any aggression. Which is a bit difficult for all-BA IEM tuning, but ODA did it perfectly. If you are a bright sound hunter, you may ask for more bite and air, while it’s not a big issue for most listeners.

INSTRUMENTS SEPARATION

Most of the all-BA IEMs I tried are always very good when it comes to instrument separation. Amarantine (WE) is not an exception here. I love to enjoy ‘jazz’ in my leisure time, and ‘blues’ too. With these IEMs, my ears had some serious charm. It provides enough space between different instruments to breathe in the whole arrangement. Not only that, it was easy for me to pick the placement of each thing playing.

There is no typical BA timber or metallic fuzz, which is very common in BA sets. The layers of instruments stay clean due to the breathing space it is capable of providing. While enjoying some orchestral tracks, which have some busy climaxes, I found that Amarantine (WE) falls a bit short here. The sense of distinct layers becomes less precise, and the separation starts to blur a bit. Though it’s not some sort of congestion nightmare, it’s also not the cleanest! Clinical listeners may want something more resolving.

TREBLE

Let me confess one thing: I’ve always been scared of all-BA IEMs’ treble, as they have more bite or sparkle than that of DD IEMs. I’m a very treble-sensitive person, and also, my ears always crave for quality treble with a good sense of air and extension, not the bright ‘bite!’ The Amarantine (WE) comes with that kind of treble presentation. Yes, it has that smooth, extended, and airy treble that I prefer. It has a ‘sparkle,’ and if I’m not wrong, that stays smooth and non-fatiguing.

There’s a nice airiness in the upper treble that gives cymbals and hi-hats a natural and enjoyable shimmer. And it is far from being metallic! I was able to hear the harmonics and decay of percussion clearly, as the detail retrieval in the treble is really very good. The perfect extension of the treble of this IEM will give you a good sense of openness. It’s really smooth all over, and not ‘energetic’ or ‘clinical’ anyway. Bright, energetic, critical listeners may have a heartbreak moment for that!

SOUNDSTAGE

I love to enjoy a good stage, even if it’s not ‘holographic.’ A well-presented stage can give you a clear image of a concert hall. I’m very fond of open-air concerts and like to feel that spacious, open stage. What I find is that the Amarentine A500 (WE) IEM’s stage is above average. It has it all, a good width, depth, and height. It is spacious enough to create a good sense of space, though it’s not the most expansive stage I’ve heard of till today.

You will hear sounds coming from all around, not just left-to-right panning, which will give you a 3-dimensional feel. But it’s not like a grand holographic stage. It’s more like they focused on accurate, stable imaging with precise instrument placement. If you love the massive soundstage of high-end open-back headphones or IEMs, you may feel it is really intimate. But seriously, I’m loving the soundstage of these earphones for its fantastic imaging and soothing breathing space between instruments.

TECHNICALITIES

Dynamics: The Amarantine A500 has excellent macro-dynamics, which is more than sufficient, in my opinion. The loud-to-soft transitions are comparatively good with vibrant punch and impact. The dynamic expression is presented with good decay and makes music feel alive. Now, the micro-dynamics, the subtle change in volume reflect the inflections, though it’s not a class-leading type.

Speed: I always expect fast and precise speed from a well-tuned BA IEM, and A500 didn’t fail here. From start to the end, notes remain clear without any smearing. It shows a natural decay, and the attack is quick which contributes to the overall clarity and separation. It may sound a tiny bit less organic than that of a good dynamic driver IEM. It’s a nit-pick, though.

Analytics (Detail Retrieval): Both macro and micro-details come out really clearly. I was able to hear the delicate decay of a piano note, or the subtle breath of a singer, clearly with this IEM. Even the smooth texture of the guitar string is also audible. Though it’s not analytical by any means, it stays musical all over. My humble complaint is that in the busiest passage, some of the finest micro-details get slightly lost. But for most of the time, it’s not a huge issue.

SOURCES

It’s a bit tricky to pick a ‘perfect’ source for this IEM. The ODA Amarantine A500 (Wood Edition) has an extremely low impedance of 8 ohms and a sensitivity of 116 dB, and it is one of the most sensitive IEMs I’ve used. If you count ‘loudness’ as easy drivability, then any source can achieve it! But with sensitive IEMs, you need to calculate your source’s lower impedance carefully to avoid any change in frequency response, distortion, and bass lag. Here, you need sources with very low output impedance, like 1ohm or less.

And then comes the tonality. For listeners like me, who love warm tonality, a warm-neutral source can help. On the other hand, if you prefer exaggerated, treble energy, pairing with bright sources is the way to go. Or if you like the A500 (WE) as is, then just pair it with your preferred natural sources.

I experienced the Amarantine (WE) with almost all the sources I have, and the result is fantastic for someone like me who always loves exploring new things. Love the pairing with the Fosi GR40 & iFi Hip DAC2 due to my endless search for a warm tonality. Moreover, my Cowon Planue R2 with the magical ‘Mach3Bass,’ the story is different! My Cayin N3 Ultra, RU6 (you will have the R2R magic), and RU7 also show a very good result. But sadly, my Hiby FD5 fails, as there is a disturbing sound I hear every 2-3 seconds, as if it skips the track. But when I stack the FD5 with xDuoo MT-604, the problem is gone!

But I didn’t prefer the tonality of xDuoo MT-604, or the xDuoo XD05 Plus, with this IEM. This is my very personal choice; your mileage may vary. But I must say that this Amarantine A500 (WE) matches very well with any source that can properly power this thing up. And that doesn’t mean you need to invest in an expensive desktop amp to drive this IEM, rather a dongle DAC like Cayin RU3 can easily bring the most out of it.

CABLE & TIP ROLLING

The stock cable is of good quality, and you don’t need to pay extra for aftermarket ones. My only complaint about this is that they should provide a cable with an interchangeable connector system. That being said, if most of your sources have a 4.4mm connector, choose the cable with a 4.4mm plug when you order. End of the story 😁!

Now, about ear tips. As I mentioned earlier, the nozzle is on the shorter side, which makes the fit a bit tricky. While I chose the ear tips, my priority was to make the lower end a bit warmer while keeping the rest of the frequencies untouched. So, Penon Liqueur (orange) is my favorite one in this regard. I tried Spinfit W1, Omni, Dunu Candy, Final E clear, Divunus Velvet (both narrow & wide bore), etc. But in terms of ‘fit & comfort’ and warmth in the lower end as a bonus, the Penon Liqueur (orange) is the clear winner.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The price, $502, is not cheap at all. But by paying this, what will you get? An awesome looking IEM that shows a fantastic wood craftsmanship and a musical yet detailed ‘W-shaped’ tuned set that is not the most technical, not the bassiest, not the airiest. But what it does, it does with an effortless grace. It’s that kind of IEM which will makes you want to listen to your entire music library.

It’s clearly not for bassheads, even not for treble heads, or those who crave for ultimate technical performance. But if you enjoy natural timber, vocal clarity, and a tight-knit, fatigue-free presentation, the ODA Armarantine A500 (Wood Edition) can be your perfect companion.

WHATEVER YOU’RE THINKIN’ OF BUYING—DAC, DAP, IEM, HEADPHONE, AMP, WHATEVER—JUST MAKE SURE YOU GIVE IT A DEMO RUN FIRST. TRY IT OUT, LISTEN TO IT WITH YOUR OWN TRACKS. SERIOUSLY, ONE QUICK AUDITION CAN SAVE YOU A BUNCH OF MONEY AND REGRET LATER ON.

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