OoopusX Op.22 Review: Budget Earphones With Big-League Sound

Verdict: Reference-Flavoured Sound on a Budget

Budget audiophile earphones like the OoopusX Op.22 are in-ear monitors that aim for hi-fi, reference-style sound while keeping cost low, pairing hybrid drivers with careful tuning and features such as dual sound profiles so listeners can choose between more neutral or more bass-focused playback without obvious sacrifices in clarity or detail. From the first listen, the Op.22 makes its intentions clear: this is an affordable hi-fi sound option, not a throwaway accessory. Its two tunings—one near-neutral with a touch of bite in the upper mids, one unapologetically bass-boosted—give newcomers to the hobby a way to experiment with different sonic characters without buying multiple sets. It is not perfect and does have some upper-mid harshness, but for people curious about high-fidelity listening on a tight budget, the trade-offs feel more than acceptable.

Design, Build and Everyday Comfort

The Op.22 looks and feels far more serious than its budget positioning suggests. Each earpiece uses a resin shell with a CNC-machined metallic faceplate, giving it a tidy, understated aesthetic and a reassuring sense of solidity in hand. This combination echoes the kind of sleek, non-RGB, grown-up design seen on higher-end headsets that avoid flashy gamer styling in favour of a clean look. In use, the low weight of around 4.5g per ear keeps fatigue at bay over longer listening sessions, especially compared with heavier over-ear gear that can become tiring and grating on the head when worn for hours. You still get the usual compromises of wired IEMs—no wireless convenience or active noise cancellation—but the shell shape and materials feel well judged for daily commuting, home listening and work setups where isolation and comfort matter more than flashy extras.

Dual Sound Profiles and Measured Performance

The Op.22’s biggest swing at expensive rivals is its dual sound profile system. In the default mode, the tuning aims for a neutral balance, with a sub-bass focus and modest thump higher up, plus a deliberate lift in the upper midrange that brings extra edge to guitars and pushes vocals forward. Flip to the second profile and you move into "basshead" territory, with around 7dB of added low-end energy layered onto that neutral base. This makes EDM and hip hop feel bombastic and fun, though the bass boost can smear detail and make some funk or acoustic tracks sound crowded and stuffy. Importantly, this is not guesswork: tone sweeps highlight clear pain points around 3.3kHz and 4.2kHz, which line up with moments where certain tracks feel a bit sharp or shouty. Treble, by contrast, is smooth and forgiving, keeping even very bright recordings from turning sibilant while still holding on to fine detail.

How It Stacks Up Against Premium ANC Headsets

Premium headsets like the Maxwell 2 ANC make a strong case for spending more, with top-tier sound that impresses across gaming and music, near-flawless wireless performance over USB-C, and active noise cancelling that can block out clicking keyboards and household noise to keep you focused. You also get an app that lets you fine-tune the sound profile in depth if you wish, although the default tuning is already praised as excellent out of the box. However, that high-end kit is heavy on the head and can feel uncomfortable over long gaming sessions, with limited headband adjustability adding to the strain. The reviewer concludes that it does its job extremely well, but would only recommend buying it if you have plenty of spare cash. Against this backdrop, the Op.22’s appeal is clear: while it cannot offer wireless, ANC or the same scale of soundstage, its dual sound profile earphones approach high-fidelity performance without the premium-level hit to your budget.

Real-World Use: Sources, Genres and Who It’s For

In testing, the Op.22 was driven from transparent DAC/amps including the Luxsin X8, Chord Mojo 2 and Fosi DS2, as well as a modern laptop, with Spotify lossless streams and CDs providing the music signal. That setup confirms the earphones can keep up with clean, detailed sources without obvious bottlenecks, which matters for budget audiophile earphones trying to deliver sub-$40 earphones quality that does not feel compromised. The lower mids sound natural and "normal", helping instruments retain lifelike tone instead of the exaggerated colour often found in cheaper sets. The second sound profile adds weight and softens some of the upper-mid edge, making it more forgiving and fun when you want a bass-first experience. According to the review, “this is an excellent, affordable IEM for people starting out in the audiophile hobby, and for that it gets a strong recommendation,” with the dual tuning particularly useful for anyone curious about how different sound signatures affect their favourite tracks.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the OoopusX Op.22 if you want budget audiophile earphones that let you explore both neutral and bass-heavy sound profiles without obvious quality drops.
• Skip the OoopusX Op.22 if you are sensitive to upper-mid energy around 3–4kHz and prefer an entirely relaxed, mid-focused presentation.
• Buy the OoopusX Op.22 if you are starting out in the audiophile hobby and want an affordable hi-fi sound option that has been strongly recommended for newcomers.
• Skip the OoopusX Op.22 if you value wireless connectivity, active noise cancelling and ultra-comfortable long-session wear above all else, in which case a premium ANC headset fits better despite its cost and weight.
• Buy the OoopusX Op.22 if you mostly listen on transparent DAC/amps or modern laptops and want dual sound profile earphones that can reveal differences in sources and genres.