6 models review: fa-999, Enigma, Paradigm V2, Eterna, Omega, Silver Bullet - From Russia with love

By Tai/ClieOS

– October, 17, 2009 Posted in: In Ear Matters | IEM + Earbuds | News + Reviews |

[Prelude]

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Just a few weeks ago, I have no knowledge what-so-ever regarding Fischer Audio. I would be crazy to even consider recommending any of their IEM models to you. After all, there are literally hundreds of small companies dumping ships-load of zero quality knock-off and generic Chinese made headphones into the market. It is often a very difficult job to sort through these 'offering' and find the handful of brands that actually do pay attention to detail and take the time to fine tuning the sound of their products. I am happy to report to you that Fischer Audio is just one of these companies that do things right. Before the review begin, I want to take the chance to thank Fisher Audio for sending me the IEM for review and especially Alex (company rep.) for the communication and his boss for finding me. If you guys are reading this: Please do consider selling your products internationally.

[Spec]:

There will be 6 models of IEM being reviewed here:

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The FA-999 is the latest entry of FA's "Premium" series, targeting budget orientated consumers who are interested in the bang-of-the-bucks deal.

The Omega is one of FA's "Signature" series. It is a step up of "Premium" series and targeting people who are seeking a better sound with a limited budget.

The Paradigm v.2, Enigma, Silver Bullet and Eterna are all in the "Fundamentals" series , which is more audiophile orientated.

FA-999:
Frequency range: 20-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 101 dB
Impedance: 16 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.1 M
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L) and manual

Omega:
Frequency range: 12-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 105 dB
Impedance: 32 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M with Oxygen-Free Copper cable
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L) and manual.

Paradigm V2:
Frequency range: 10-20000 Hz
Sensitivity: 104 dB
Impedance: 16 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L), soft pouch and manual.

Enigma:
Frequency range: 8-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 102 dB
Impedance: 18 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L), soft pouch and manual.

Silver Bullet:
Frequency range: 12-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 102 dB
Impedance: 18 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L), soft pouch and manual.

Eterna:
Frequency range: 8-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 110 dB
Impedance: 18 Om
Input power: 350 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M
Single flange eartips (S, L), Bi-flanges eartips, Silicone ear guides, soft pouch and manual.

*All come with 3.5mm L-shaped, gold plated mini plug.

[Packaging and Build Quality]:

Besides FA-999, which has a blister pack over the paper box, all the models are well packed in a hard paper box with transparent window access so you can get to see what you are going to buy. As you can tell from the pictures, the packaging are neither top notch nor shabby. It is what I'll describe as better-than-average.

For most of the models, you will get a decent soft pouch, though I do hope FA will include a hard case for the better models. I won't even mind paying a little bit extra since it really 'completes' the whole package. This is especially true to Eterna since its ear guides are rather big and a hard case can really be helpful. Being the lower end models FA-999 and Omega don't have any pouch, but Omega does have a Velcro strip on the cable to help managing cable when unused. While most of the models have very well built mini plug, the cable are less impressive. Beside Omega and Eterna (which have thicker yet flexible cable), the rest of the models use what seems to be the same type of black cable mostly found on Sony or Panasonic earbuds back in the 90's. While the cable isn't much to look at, they are still adequate for the job.

One thing that doesn't come with most of the models (except FA-999) is the shirt clip. However, since microphonics is generally pretty low on the plain looking black cable FA used, it really isn't a big problem at all. Out of all the models, Silver Bullet is the only one with full metal housing. The housing is gorgeous to look at and has some weight to it (feel like steel btw), but the included eartips are really too soft to get a good seal. Weird enough, I only found the eartips on the Silver Bullet package to be too soft. Those on other models are actually pretty good. Their isolation are all very decent. Basically they are Eterna > Enigma > Paradigm v.2 = Omega = Silver Bullet (w/ generic single flange) > FA-999. To give you a rough idea, the isolation on FA-999 is about -20dB, which is about average on my scale and enough for daily use.

Granted none of them is built like tank, I find the overall build quality is very solid for their asking price - except for Eterna, which has a better build quality than the rest of the group and comes with ear guides, as you can see on the pictures above.

[Sound Quality]:

As always, I put in roughly 40~50 hours of burn-in (each) before the audition. I do not find any major change on most of them except FA-999, which shows a noticeable better bass control after the process

FA-999

s one for the basshead. It sounds warm, smooth and very full with a pretty good bass response going down to the 20Hz. Treble rolls off early at 16kHz and the the air killing fullness makes it veil. Bass can be a bit boomy on bass heavy music. Overall, FA-999 is a decent deal for its asking price of $21.

OMEGA

sounds fairly balanced without any major flaw. Good treble and airiness though lacks very fine detail, Vocal is neither too close nor too far, bass is very solid and goes down deep with good slam and speed. Soundstage is better than average. Overall, Omega is definitely the best sub$30 IEM I have ever heard. The SE530 like design and the good fit also add more points to the listening experience. For an asking price of $22, it represents a big jump in SQ over FA-999.

PARADIGM V2

is the vocalist of the group. Slightly warm with very decent treble and bass response (which also goes down to 20Hz but much less in quantity compared to Omega), the strength of Paradigm v.2 lies in its clear vocal and mid range, yet remains fairly neutral without too much coloration. Soundstage is about average. Overall, the $31 Paradigm v.2 is a solid performer.

ENIGMA

sounds warm and full with a good treble and an excellent bass response. Vocal is slightly more laid back but not to a point of being recessed. Soundstage is very good but the warmness does reduce the airiness a bit. It plays well with all type of music genres but really excels in none. Overall, the $40 Enigma does well worth the price.

SILVER BULLET

is all about soundstage and airiness. Once you replace the stock eartips with any good quality single flange, you will find a slightly warm sound with good airy and well detailed treble, better than average bass that is a bit low in speed and impact and a recessed yet not totally out of place vocal. The sound signature resembles that of TF10 except Silver Bullet is even more laid back with bigger space. While not everyone will like the very airy and specious presentation, the overall performance is still commendable for a pair of $53 IEM.

ETERNA.

is a pair of very musical sounding IEM - it is not about accuracy of the sonic reproduction, but the 110% dedication to fun and music enjoyment. It has a slightly warm and an upfront presentation. Treble is there but not on the center stage. Midrange is full and vocal is sweet. Bass has a really good body, depth and decent speed though it still misses the deepest of sub-bass compared to that of real bass monster (i.e. Atrio). Airiness and soundstage are almost spot on for a pair of IEM, neither too far or near and yet still retains clear separation and layers. This is by far one of the best dynamic universal I have heard (placing it alongside with IE8 and just slightly ahead of RE0) and to best them all - it only costs $59. I dare to say I even prefer it over almost dull sounding SE530 and almost on par of TF10 (only because TF10 offers better accuracy with less coloration). To add more points to Eterna, it is almost as comfortable as UM2 and has a really good build quality. If I have to pick a weak point from Eterna, it is the lack of hard case since it is rather bulky with the ear guide in place. Highly recommended with a Sonic Diamond™ Award.

[Conclusion]:

It is kind of strange to just discover Fischer Audio even though they are in business for quite a few years now (not to mention they really have a good line-up of products). In our first email exchange, I remember Alex @ Fischer Audio introduced the companies' products as 'not quite good as Ultimate Ears but definitely better than Philips.' Well, I am quite happy to prove him wrong. They are in fact every bit as good as many of their larger competitors. At the end, the only remaining question is of course "where to find one?" Hopefully this review will give Fischer Audio a bit more incentive to venture out to the international market. For now, those who are in Russia and Scandinavia should really start looking around for stores that carries these lovely babies.

Read original version at In Ear Matters | IEM + Earbuds | News + Reviews |

【BARKS編集部レビュー】Fischer Audio Ceramique、直接脳内にグワングワン

– July 25, 2012 Posted in: Barks

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Read original version at Barks: global music explorer

Fischer Audio DBA-02 MK2 – For detail lovers…

By marcusd

– June 5, 2012Posted in: Gear Reviews, IEM & Earphones

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Earphones have increasingly been the focus of audiophile attention especially since the switch to balanced armature and the detailed control advantage over the more bass and sound stage orientated dynamic drivers. While dynamic is still the majority player in the earphone market particularly at the volume or mass consumption level due to the simplicity for the roll out, balanced armature is increasingly seen as the precision tool for audio reproduction for the more discerning listener. Once the domain of custom companies such as Unique Melody and JH Harvey, BA (balance armature) is now creeping into the mainstream with Westone, Sony and now Russian upstarts, Fischer Audio who have been making waves for great sounding headphones and earphones recently at pretty competitive prices.

Fischer Audio initially caught my eye with their recent roll out last year of the ’00′ series headphones number 001 – 3 and the very attractive wood editions that came along with the standard edition also. But it is in the earphone market that Fischer Audio have been making waves with good value and excellent performing earphones. The original DBA-02 (MK1) was very well received indeed and compared favorably with higher priced similar BA earphones from other more established manufacturers, in most particular, if memory serves right, the Westone UM3.

The package itself is very well presented and a suitable size for earphones without being overkill. The foam is a bit complicated on the inside but once you pry out the earphones and accessories you pretty much receive an excellent kit which builds on the success of the DBA-2 MK1 with a superior build quality, flat cables, a little touch of branding flair and some excellent ear clips to go along with a wide assortment of tips of which you got to be of the oddest ear size if one of them does not fit your ear comfortably. My ears settled on the flanges but your mileage may vary.

The earphones themselves are much more subdued in appearance than the older MK1 version with a plain black shell and flat cables. Some might find this a tad underwhelming but the build quality is excellent and they look very durable. The carry case is functional in the shape of the classic pill box with some nice branding touches but can be a tad tight when you have the earclips attached to the earphones and you simply want to pack them away in the case. There are some instances of microphonics with the cables but nothing that would distract me from the overall listening quality of the DBA-2 MK2 and even more so with the ear clips.

Comfort and Fit

With a wide range of tips including foamed foams, hybrids, silicone and flange types I am pretty sure you will get the right fit. I found the flange to be the surest fit and very comfortable whilst providing the best isolation. The driver units themselves are pretty light and unobtrusive with no stress points putting pressure on your ear like some large models. The earclip provides excellent support and fit very comfortably around the ear.

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Technical specs:
Impedance 43 Ohm
Cable Length 1.3 m
Sensitivity 108dB
Accessories Hard case, clip, earguides, 3 pairs (S/M/L) of foamed sony hybrid clones, 2 pairs of sony hybrid clones (M/L), 3 pairs of silicone tips (S/M/L)
Frequency Range 20 – 24000 Hz
Drivers Closed Dual balanced armature

Sound Quality

Just for testing info we primarily used the DBA-02 MK2′s out of a Cowon X7 and the FiiO E17/E9 combo and yes we cheated a touch now and then with the EQ bass options up to 4 on the E17 and BBE Headphones option on the Cowon X7. What can I say I like to tweak now and then!

Right off the dual balanced armature give a fantastic edge in detail and attack with a forceful mid-range that takes center stage as the DBA-2 MK2 main calling card. The 2004 King Arthur OST from the aforementioned movie shone with excellent clarity and pace with zero sibilance in the top end. The sound stage is very impressive with a nice wide open and airy presentation that allow most of my tracks to breathe. Instrument separation is good without being too detached or feeling artificially placed.

Tonality wise the DBA-2 MK2 err’s more to the neutral/bright and cold side than dark or warm. The center stage of the mids really dictate the tonality with them being slightly to the bright side of neutral but not in any way piercing or fatiguing. I would suggest for lovers of vocals they might not be the strongest but for those who love to squeeze lots of detail out of their tracks or those with complicated listening collections the DBA-2 MK2′s are going to be very hard to beat. Guitar virtuoso lovers in particular should enjoy the dexterity in the dual BA ability to convey complicated solo passages such as Stevie Vai’s “For the Love of God” (1990) which is crisp clear and very involving.

The upper mids and treble reproduction on the DBA-02 MK2 is wonderful for a mid-range earphone in my opinion. Very fast attack, very articulate and balanced without being boring. The treble to mid range is fantastically involving and as mentioned before really the star of the show for these phones. Eric Johnson’s seminal 1989′s “Ah Via Musicom” – a classic album of amazing guitar chops sounded majestic and as clean as the day it was recorded with a superb airy sound stage that really is perfect for this nimble and subtle album.

Bass is tight and punchy but doesn’t reach as deep as say a hybrid or a dynamic driver can achieve but then I didn’t expect that on a dual BA. Upping the EQ on your DAP will compensate but dont expect huge extension and retrieval from the lowest end of any any bass heavy tracks. This earphone is all about speed and articulation and not ‘phat beats’.

Note: Careful with the positioning of these earphones with the flanges though. On initial insertion I was about to ask where did the bass go but a subtle move down brought the bass back into play quick time.

Summary

The DBA-2 MK2 is an earphone for detail freaks. For those who love extracting layer upon layer of instrumental glory, for those who enjoy every drop of a pin in their recordings then you can;t put a foot wrong with these earphones. For those who err to the side of warm organic and husky and place lot of emphasis on soothing vocals then the DBA-02 MK2 might struggle to lead from the front and there are other earphones more suited to the challenge. Careful with your positioning of the tips to ensure you extract the maximum bass potential and sit back and enjoy fast articulate and accurate treble reproduction that is incredibly balanced.

Read original version at Headphonics: the science of sound

More reviews:

Review of the Fischer Audio DBA-02 mk II – The Kings of Mids

Unboxing, Pictures & Initial Impressions of the Fischer Audio DBA-02 mk II

Dual Drivers: Q-Jays, DBA-02, UE700, Westone 2, SF5Pro, and JH5Pro!

【BARKS編集部レビュー】フィッシャー・オーディオDBA-02 Mk2は、メンソールのような爽快感

– July 25, 2012 Posted in: Barks

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Read original version at Barks: global music explorer

Fischer Audio DBA-02 MKII in Review – Bittersweet

By Nathan

– December, 14, 2011 Posted in: Touch My Apps

Intro

Fischer Audio have updated their best-selling DBA-02. And what an update it is. The DBA-02 MKII is a delightful earphone replete with comfort and an accessory kit that is the envy of the earphone world. How about its sound, you ask? I’ll be singing praises soon enough. First, let’s yabber about WOWs.

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Package and Accessories

The first WOW for me came when I picked up the chunky DBA box. It’s cardboard, not plastic, but it’s not run-of-the-mill cardboard. In Star Wars terms, it’s a Corellian cruiser, not Princess Leia’s transport; or better yet, it’s an imperial Star Destroyer, but without the two weak testicles at the top. Depending on how bony your bum is, you can sit on box without crushing it. The importance here is twofold. First: it’s a great place to keep the myriad accessories. Second, when the audiophile gear buying urge gets you bad enough, you can even hide away an amp or two from your wife. Third (and most important): it is a breeze to open. I feel that I’ve not been tough enough on certain manufacturers. Some still insist on sealing their goods with hard, finger-cutting plastics that necessitate scissors, a medical degree, and the application of pressure and hurried calls to 911. Yes, I’ve actually bled after opening certain earphone boxes. Not with the DBA-02MKII. Inside the box, you get a wonderfully small (and therefore practical) zippered carrying case. (It is semi-hard, and will keep your DBA-02 MKII safe and snug with enough room left for a backup pair of ear pieces, and have room enough left over for an iPod shuffle or Nano.) Then, there are dozens of ear pieces for you to play with. There are three sets of hybrid pieces – though, I should admit that calling them hybrid is unjust to true hybrids as they are merely silicon flanges with a bit of foam on the inside. Nevertheless, they fit well and isolate well. Then, there are triple flanges, transparent flanges, and still more: there are loads to choose from, and each one is comfortable. Finally, there are two ear-guides and a shirt clip to keep the DBA-02 MKII put.

Let’s start with the shirt clip.

What it’s all about, I don’t know. Why do I say this? For starters, it’s a bugger to get on the cable. I really want to fasten cable after the y-split, but no can do. And even when I get the bugger into position before the y split, it does almost nothing to keep the cable next to my body nor touch noise down. And I’m no fool. I graduated from York University (the audience roars with laughter). With a degree in English literature (they gasp for air, hammering their sides). It was an honours degree. (Someone in the second row falls over from cardiac arrest.) I’ll preface the next section merely by saying: the shirt clip is the first strike against the DBA-02 MKII’s ergonomics. It isn’t the last.

Build quality and cable.

The DBA-02 MKII is well made. It’s housing is tough, comfortable, and compact. It won’t unnecessarily weigh down the cable, or easily snag on loose clothing. The plug is nicely relieved. It is either melted to the cable or stuck there with adhesive, reinforcing internal contacts. It is not, however, L-shaped, meaning it will be under more stress, particularly if you use it with a portable player. L-shaped plugs withstand drops and pressure much better. That said, my CK10, which I consider the best-made earphone in the world, has straight cable. It is still going strong after years of combined usage. All that is to say: the DBA-02 MKII is well made, certainly in its price range.

But the cable is rectangular, not round. Yay, so it doesn’t tangle as badly as some other designs. Yay, flat cables generally are stronger singular products than round or twisted cables. Yay. And, it’s in style. Hell, even Final Audio use flat cables on their excellent FI-BA-SB earphone. Yay Bob. Flat cables by nature stress their internal wires more because weight isn’t evenly distributed. Wires on the outside of cable tend to get stretched more than inside wires do. That leads to shorts. I’ve seen it with the a-Jays FOUR, and Monster Beats Tour.

That said, the DBA-02 MKII cable is better than those two. It is more snug, and better relieved than either. I expect it to last much longer, too, but I don’t think it belongs in a flagship product.

Fit

That said, the DBA-02 MKII cable is better than those two. It is more snug, and better relieved than either. I expect it to last much longer, too, but I don’t think it belongs in a flagship product.

Praises ahoy. At least as far as comfort goes. The tiny size of the DBA-02 MKII is a wonder-worker for both small and large ears alike. It is supremely comfortable. The DBA will fit into any ear, you’ve got my York University Honours degree on it… The ear pieces are excellent and come in so many sizes that at least one is bound to fit perfectly in your ears. Even so, I take advantage of the small sound tube to fitfitting SHURE Olive hybrid foams or Comply tips that I use on the Westone 4.

My opinion sours, however, as the cable fits into the equation. Square are buggers to use.

Let me illustrate. The logo on the DBA suggests it is meant to be worn with the cable over the ear. Great. Most good earphones are made to be worn in the same way because it keeps the earphones in the ear, relieving stress from the earphone and cable connection, and thus eliminating grand portions of touch noise. However, if you are to wear the cable over the ear, you necessarily need a cable cinch to keep the cables from flapping all over. The DBA lacks one. Big omission. The combination of ear guides and shirt clip are not enough. The ear guides do not work well if you have glasses, and even without, may not keep the earphones in your ears anyway. As stated earlier, the shirt clip requires a master’s degree to operate. In the end, I gave up wearing the cable over the ear. Even twirling the cable around itself didn’t work to keep the earphones in. Good news, though, wearing the DBA down is easy, and comfortable. Thread the cable through your shirt and Bob’s your uncle. He’s a loud one though, as that cable transfers a lot of touch noise to the ears no matter how careful you are.

Sound

Here’s where we get back to the WOWs. In 2010, I called Earsonics’ SM3 a Star Child. It still is. The DBA-02 MKII may well be another one. Its overall voice is similar, though more tipped to the treble and upper mids. In a similar vein, it is smooth, mostly flat, and detailed. Some people find the DBA-02 MKII to be extremely detailed. I don’t. Any more detailed and the DBA would fall flatly into the categorical demon, “analytical”. It isn’t though, and instead, allows for a smoothly detailed high range that is open well into the mid range. Lovely. One thing iPod and iPhone users will notice instantly is that they don’t need much volume to hit very loud listening levels. The DBA is quite sensitive even at its middling sensitivity rating of 108dB. If you are careful with your ears, old records need just a minor volume bump to a third on iPhone 4‘s volume slider. Volume war records of the last twenty years need much much less. Because of this, you may be able to pick out background noise even from very clean sources like Apple’s new iDevices and high end headphone amplifiers. Fischer balance this sensitivity with a relatively thick-skinned 43 ohms, which is great for most portable sources. It allows players with high output impedances to retain resolution even in passages where low can disappear.

And works it does.

As long as you are not a basshead, the DBA-02 MKII will bring a smile to your face. The signal certainly does reach low, but does so with prejudice. Marcus Schultz’ Mainstage won’t roar in the background as it does when powered by lower voiced earphones like the Victor FX500 or my personal favourite, the Radius, but its overall balance is better. Low notes are round, firm, and decay in perfect time. In my opinion, they trump my favourite CK10 by their more natural timbre.

With a good fit, I can listen to the DBA for hours with no fatigue. That isn’t to say that this earphone isn’t detailed. You will hear details like a Madeleine Peyroux’s tongue click against her palettes and though you won’t be able to sense the shape of the guitar player’s thumb, there are loads of moments that can only be described as pornographic. Fortunately, they are soft porn. If you expect Etymotic exactness, you needn’t look here. To some, this will be a blessing, to others, it will be a curse. Earlier, I compared the DBA to the Earsonics SM3. I promise you, it wasn’t ingenuous. Fischer’s flagship earphone is cooler sounding than the SM3, emphasising upper mids more than bass, but it is equally as smooth within a different metric. That is, bass and mids flow together perfectly, better than almost any earphone I’ve heard at any price.

(The biggest audio quality caveat with the DBA, however, is fit. In order for midrange detail and clarity to be milky and sweet, perfect fit is imperative. I found that pushing the stock ear tips in too far caused the midrange to be harsh, tinny; long term listening became uncomfortable. For my ears, the DBA sounds better with a shallow fit, or with Shure Olive ear pieces. Your mileage may vary.) Getting on, high frequencies: cymbals in particular, decay quickly, and shimmer just enough. High frequencies are less grating than those of direct competitors, again trumping my beloved CK10. I think the dime will fall to heads for some, and tails for others, as even this great balance will for some be too bright. Again, I fall into the category of worshippers of this sound.

You may or may not fall into that group. Remember, thought the low-mid frequency transition is extremely smooth, high mids to ultra high frequencies are aggressive. If you don’t like bright earphones, you probably won’t love the DBA-02 MKII. If you do, however, you will find lots to love. Lots. Fischer claim that the DBA-02 MKII reaches 24.000kHz. I don’t doubt that it can reach that high, but not without a LOT of fall off well before that mark. Obviously my ears aren’t sensitive to those levels, but they do a good job of categorising various earphones. To these ears, there appears to be less overall sound pressure in the extreme high frequencies than some of my other favourites.

And that is a good thing.

In summary, the DBA-02 MKII is a smooth sounding earphone aimed at midrange detail. Lows and highs are plentiful, but neither forefront. With good fit, you can enjoy wonderful vocals, strings, and percussion with the DBA-02 MKII. For trance listeners, there is good enough space and soundstage to keep you thumping in that imaginary universe, but not enough to cause you to get lost. Rockers, the wonderful transition between bass and mids is wonderful, with the promise of fast, pleasant cymbal decay. I cannot really recommend the DBA-02 MKII for hip hop lovers, however, as bass simply isn’t duffy enough. There is no driver wobble; too much kilter, really.

Out and about

With a long cable and great carrying case, the DBA-02 MKII should be the perfect walking/trekking/commuting earphone. But unless you can quiet the cable down, I guarantee you will be annoyed by its energy and touch noise. Still, the overall combination is good, and with the right tips, you can really push background noise out of your music. Again, Shure Olives are great for this.

Conclusion

What more can I say? Fischer have upgraded an instant classic. They have nearly perfected an already wonderful earphone. For listeners who love details but shy away from the sometimes screechy Etymotic ER4 and CK10, this is the earphone for you. It is smoother and more natural in its transitions from bass all the way to highs than the almighty SM3. Wow. But this level of natural perfection doesn’t come without its own set of caveats. Nope. You’ll have to put up with a rectangular cable that only a mother, or, judging by the sudden onslaught of such cables, hip music lovers who’ve never had anything better, could love. For me, it’s a bittersweet romance, and one good enough for a warm grab, though honestly, I’m dying for a kiss.

Read original version at Touch My Apps

More reviews:

Review of the Fischer Audio DBA-02 mk II – The Kings of Mids

Unboxing, Pictures & Initial Impressions of the Fischer Audio DBA-02 mk II

Dual Drivers: Q-Jays, DBA-02, UE700, Westone 2, SF5Pro, and JH5Pro!

REVIEW: DBA-02 MKII

By Thedevilgamer

– June 23, 2012 Posted in: It's a Headphones Thing: A Headphones Review Blog

In the last few years, “Fischer Audio” (On this review, I’ll refer to them also as FA), a Russian Headphones & Earphones company, had been a quite common name in the audio discussion boards. Since early 2010, their (then) flagship IEM, the DBA-02, had received lots of raving all over the internet, and had became one of the “bang for the buck” kings. As the time passed, people learned to value their sound very highly, though, later, some building-quality problems had started to appear. Fischer Audio had understood that they have to do something regarding to this issue; about a year and a half since their releasing, late 2011, the original DBA-02s were discontinued. A few months later, around February 2012, the replacement model, the DBA-02 MKII’s, were finally released. FA had fully changed their design and construction, in order to achieve a more durable and long-lasting building quality. In regards to the sound, the drivers from the original DBAs (TWFKs by Knowles) were kept, in order to make the MKIIs to sound as good as the original DBAs.

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The technical specifications of the Fischer Audio DBA-02 MKIIs are below:
Frequency response: 20-24000 Hz
Driver: Dual Balanced Armature
Sensitivity: 108 dB
Impedance: 43 Ohm
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.3 m

Packaging:

The DBA-02 MKIIs are packaged in a quite small cardboard box, built of an inner and outer box. The orange colored outer box has images and renders of the DBAs all over its surfaces, while the technical specifications are printed on its rare side.  The IEMs themselves are seated in a foam surface, placed in the inner box, while the included accessories are seated in the foam layer below.

Accessories:

 Lots of people were disappointed from the accessories which were included with the original DBAs, a thing which FA had took a note of and fixed with the MKIIs, by including a very generous and wide range of accessories with it. Starting from the ear-tips, FA includes a variety of 9 pairs of tips: 3 Pairs of standard single-flanged tips (Small/Medium/Large), a pair of Triple Flanged Tips (Large), 2 pairs of clear tips (Medium/Large) and 3 pairs of Sony-Hybrids clones with a foam stuffed inner core (Small/Medium/Large). Moving on, FA includes also a pair of plastic-silicone ear-guides and a triangle-shaped shirt clip. Finally, a black-red colored clamshell zippered case (which is a bit smaller than your regular clamshell case, and it fits easily into every pocket) is included either. I had found the included accessories to have a very good usability, and they make the using experience a lot better than without them. The rating is 9.5/10.

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Qualite design:

One of FA’s goals was to make the DBA-02 MKIIs more durable and well built; after all, no customer will be satisfied with an easily broken but good sounding IEM. Design-wise, nothing has been left from the original DBAs – the MKIIs are a completely new design. The black rubberized-plastic housings feel quite sturdy and strong, and seem to be a lot smaller than the original housings; they are only a bit bigger than the minuscule Hisound Golden Crystals and from the even-tinier ACS T15s. The connection between the drivers to the cable is protected by flexible-yet-tough strain-reliefs, which the left and right markings are printed on too. Moving on, the cable is quite-weird. It isn’t a regular round cable, it isn’t a twisted cable, and it isn’t a flat cable either; It’s rectangular shaped. At first, I thought that it was quite weird, but afterwards, as the time had passed, I had understood that it’s a more durable and thick than the standard flat cables, yet, it is as stylish and less prone to tangling as them. A black cylinder-shaped plastic piece, which has FA’s logo on it, is utilized as the Y-Split. The cable ends with a straight-plug, coated in a quite big and sturdy silicon and rubberized-plastic housing, which looks like it’ll do a good job and be durable enough even though it isn’t an L-shaped plug, while the gold-plated jack itself feels tough enough. My conclusion is that the MKIIs are very-well built, and after more than a month of using them, I feel that they are durable enough to be able to take some major abuse. The rating is 9/10.

Comfort & Fit:

As I already said, the DBA-02 MKIIs utilize tiny rubberized housings, which are very easy to fit both straight-down and over-the-ear, though, the fit is quite deeper when they’re being worn over-the-ear. There’s little to not pressure inside the ear-canals, even when worn over a few hours. All of the included tips were comfortable enough for me, though, I preferred to use TX100 Comply tips instead. The cable is a bit problematic while worn over-the-ear due to its stiff nature. Fortunately, the included ear-guides can easily fix this problem. Unfortunately, a chin-slider, which makes the over-the-ear wearing method securer, isn’t included; in my opinion, every IEM should include a one.  The rating is 9/10.

Isolation & Microphonics:

Due to their deep fit, the DBA-02 MKIIs isolate very well, as good as Earsonics’ range for example. Meanwhile, the cable is quite microphonic, but it is only noticeable when worn straight-down; when worn over-the-ear, the microphonics are negligible, not really noticeable. The rating is 4.5/5 for the isolation and3/5 for the microphonics.

Sound Quality:

The DBA’s sound-signature is cold, accurate, transparent and bright. As I already mentioned before, the DBAs utilize Knowles’ TWFK dual balanced armature drivers. Prior to this review, I had already reviewed a TWFK based IEM, the Korean EXS X20, which I expected the DBAs to share some sound characteristics with. The DBAs seems like a less bright and smoother version of the X20s.

Bass:

The MKIIs produce a very accurate, precise, neutral and well controlled bass. Clarity isn’t a problem at-all; in fact, the DBAs produce one of cleanest and clearest lower-ends that I’ve heard in their price-range. Its extension seems a bit better than the X20′s; it digs a bit deeper on the spectrum. It is very fast, and it has a nice texture, while its impact will be enough for analytical users, but some of the users might want to use an EQ in order to make it a bit more “fun” sounding, as it may overall sound a bit thin and weak.

Midrange:

 The mids are quite forward and aggressive, but they aren’t fatiguing. They’re very clear, clean and their detailing level is rather impressive. The produced mids are beautifully textured and quite sweet.

Treble:

As the bass, also the treble has a great extension; the drivers can hit very high notes. It is as detailed as the midrange, managing to reproduce micro-details even from the super-high ranges. There’s a bit of sibilance, though, nothing too interrupting. On the other hand, the aggressiveness of the treble may be a bit tiring for some of the users. Clarity is top-notch, better than most of the IEMs in the DBA’s price-range. Also, there’s enough sparkle to satisfy most if not all of the treble-heads.

Sound-stage:

 The sound-stage is a bit above average in height and depth, while it lacks a bit of wideness.  Instruments and vocals positioning is very satisfying, while the instruments separation is excellent for an under $200 IEM.

The rating for the “Sound Quality” section is 9.4/10. The rating is in ratio to the product’s price at the time of the review.

In conclusion:

 I think that Fischer Audio has a very strong competitor in the below $200 IEMs market. Their new flagship does everything in a very impressive way, while still remaining a great value-for-money IEM. Their sound-signature isn’t the ideal one for everybody, but users that search for a bright and neutral IEM would learn to appreciate its performance. The included accessories are very generous and useful, the building quality seems to be quite durable and reliable, the comfort & fit are great and the isolation level would be satisfying even in loud environments. The overall score is 9.5/10.

Pros

Generous accessories bundle, Durable, Comfortable, Good isolation, Bang for the buck value, Very precise and accurate sound, Crystal-clear.

Cons

Microphonic Cable, May lack bass for some, May be a bit boring for some, Lack of chin-slider.

Read original version at It's a Headphones Thing: A Headphones Review Blog

More review:

Review of the Fischer Audio DBA-02 mk II – The Kings of Mids

Unboxing, Pictures & Initial Impressions of the Fischer Audio DBA-02 mk II

Dual Drivers: Q-Jays, DBA-02, UE700, Westone 2, SF5Pro, and JH5Pro!

Double Down!! Genesis and Golden Wasp

By Kiler

– November, 21, 2011 Posted in: Head-Fi

Introduction

To start this, I would like to greet David from Frogbeats for making this review possible. A great customer service, so be sure to check out their site.

Fischer Audio is known for their great Audio Eterna IEM, which managed to deliver a “full” sound without compromising much the rest of the spectrum. Today I will review two models from Fischer Audio: the Fischer Audio golden wasps and the Fischer Audio Genesis. Will any of these following alternatives be up to their predecessor?

As I said in my former reviews, my primary musical choices are electronic music, dance, drum and bass and some dubstep. I wanted very much to give a listen to the eternity as they are said to have a lot of bass without compromising much the rest. I love bass and I have it as a guilty pleasure, so bass-heavy headphones are never a problem for whenever I want to hear something more relaxed.

Description

Genesis

A fun sounding IEM with a massive bass response. Ergonomic fit and a strong textile cable make these some great and enjoyable earphones.

Golden Wasp

No details have been missed to make this look like the name! A budget IEM from Fischer Audio that is punchy and fun sounding. It also looks absolutely brilliant! Bzzzz.

Technical Data

Genesis:
Impedance 18 Ohm
Cable Length 1.2 m
Sensitivity 104dB
Accessories: 7 Silicone Ear Tips (S/M/L), Storage Case, Warranty Card
Frequency Range 5 – 20000 Hz
Driver: 9mm dynamic driver

Golden Wasp:
Impedance 16 Ohm
Cable Length 1.2 m
Sensitivity 98 dB
Accessories: 3 Silicone Ear Tips (S/M/L), Storage Case, Warranty Card
Frequency Range 20 – 20000 Hz
Driver: 9mm dynamic driver

Packaging

Both packages display the same kind of approach when it comes to the design of the box. Both have a little window that allows to see the phones themselves and the carrying case. The window is stuck with some Velcro. Both packages have the same kind of design: one big vertical name display, along with the series name, the company logo and a picture of the IEM. On the side we also see the same kind of display when it comes to lettering: the name of the series, the name of the IEM and the company logo. On the back of the package we can find the specifications of both IEM. When the window is open, besides seeing the IEM, each side has a different print on each package. On the Genesis, we can see an image displaying the qualities of the IEM. On the Golden Wasp, we can see a definitively not naïve approach on the packaging, displaying a wasp and many “ZzZZZZzzZZZZZ”. Overall, both packages are very nicely concealed, displaying quality in their design.

Accessories

I’ll start by the accessories of the Audio Wasp, as they have less to say. As we open the box, we reveal a plastic tray, which contains the phones, the “carrying pouch” (which I’ve put in inverted commas because it really isn’t one, but more on that later) and 2 sets of tips along the ones already pre-installed. The carrying pouch isn’t really nothing, because I can’t really use it to storage the IEM, because it’s flat and the phones don’t fit in.

On the genesis packaging we can find 7 pairs of tips (5 pairs of which single flange, 1 pair of bi-flanges and 1 pair of tri-flanges), one carrying case and the phones themselves. The carrying case allows to storage the IEM along with 2 pairs of tips, cause you never know when you might want to change them. The case allows to wrap the cable around it, and the jack sits on the mid of the case between both casings.

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Build quality

On the Golden Wasp, the first thing I noticed is the plastic from which the housing is made of. It just doesn’t seem durable, being much like the plastic from really low end products, but of course we can’t expect any kind of perfect build quality for the cheap price of them. Going down, we can find very solid built stress reliefs on the housings, and a little lower we can find a sort of a braided cable, with a plastic feel to it. Nevertheless, it feels solid and a good cable that will take some abuse. On the Y-split, we can find a metal splitter with “wasp” printed on it. On the 90º angled jack we can find a very nicely conceived stress relief, alongside a gold plated plug.

On the Genesis, we can find chrome housings, along with some black plastic and the name Genesis printed on the housing. The cable is protected by cloth, which means it could handle some accidental pulls, while maintaining intact. Also this cable helps reducing the microphonics. On the back of the housing, we can find a “bass enhancing port”. On the y-splitter there’s a plastic slider, that allows to adjust the cable length. The splitter is made of plastic and has a nice stress relief. On the jack we can find an hockey stick shaped jack, also with a good stress relief, and a gold plated plug.

Overall I think that while the Genesis is well designed in what concerns to build quality, the Audio Wasp could have had a little bit more effort in the housings (at least they put a lot of effort in its stress reliefs). But of course, they’re different price range products, so it’s normal a little bit of differences.

Comfort/Isolation

On the comfort chapter, there isn’t much to be said about both. They are not the best performers in comfort due to their bulky size (specially the genesis), but they are not a problem either. Just make sure you got the right tips (for me on the genesis the included dual flange, and on the audio wasp, the large from SoundMAGIC), and you’re ready to go on a voyage with them. Unfortunately, neither of them is very comfortable while wearing over the ear (basically on the genesis you can’t), so you’ll probably end wearing them straight down. At least the genesis has an ergonomic fit for straight down use.

On isolation, neither of them provides a deep insertion, so the isolation you get from them is really average. But due to dual-flanges (in my case) and the ergonomic fit, the genesis wins in this chapter by a fair margin. The kind of sound signature of the genesis also helps in camouflaging the outside noise, but more on that later. With this being said we can resume that the Golden Wasps perform mediocrely on this chapter, and you should be looking somewhere else if looking for isolation. The Genesis perform very well in isolation and comfort, but you shouldn’t buy any of these if pure isolation and comfort is what you need. Also neither of them suffer much from microphonics, which is a relief as these are not the best to be worn over the ear (one of the ways to reduce microphonics).

Sound

Both of these are IEM which I think gain a lot from burning them in. The Audio Wasp sounded “meh” and with not much detail, I thought Fischer had made a mistake. The Genesis sounded bloated, with bass jumping all over the place, and not so detailed highs.

Burn-in

My burn-in consists in pink noise along with a playlist that is composed of the songs I usually hear on my daily basis. At first when you hear the Audio Wasp, you feel like “WTF? What is this? No musicality, no dinamics, no nothing”. The best word to describe them is “meh”. After burn-in they change dramatically. The bass gains punch, the mids become a little bit more forward, and the highs timidly appear. On the lower end you can feel that these pack a punch, but nothing overwhelming. They manage to reproduce bass-lines quite well, just with the little bit lack of detail with more complex bass-lines (or some dubstep parts). The bass doesn’t bleed in to the midrange, and it does a competent job.

My burn-in consists in pink noise along with a playlist that is composed of the songs I usually hear on my daily basis. At first when you hear the Audio Wasp, you feel like “WTF? What is this? No musicality, no dinamics, no nothing”. The best word to describe them is “meh”. After burn-in they change dramatically. The bass gains punch, the mids become a little bit more forward, and the highs timidly appear. On the lower end you can feel that these pack a punch, but nothing overwhelming. They manage to reproduce bass-lines quite well, just with the little bit lack of detail with more complex bass-lines (or some dubstep parts). The bass doesn’t bleed in to the midrange, and it does a competent job.

The mids are reproduced nicely, and are in the right place, where they should be. I think they are best suited to male voices rather than female, I feel that in certain songs, like the ones from Dido, where I think that the voice isn’t just the best, comparing to other IEM. The highs are where these phones lack. The cymbals feel dry, not crispy, and with a lack of detail. Also they have a recessed present in comparison to the forwardness of the mids and bass. Their soundstage is medium, the normal for an IEM, and the positional accuracy is fairly good as well. On an overall note, they feel right for the price, but they only compete within their price range, not like other budget IEM that managed to jump out of their price bracket.

Now to the pricier, but far more exciting (for me at least) genesis. When I first put these on, I tried the song from Flux Pavilion – “Bass Cannon”. My reaction was like “BASS,BASS,BASS, am I wearing full sized cans?”. The bass was completely overwhelming in comparison to other frequencies. So I let them burn… After settling down, I have put them on again. Now I felt that they were tamed. The bass is now controlled and doesn’t bleed in all directions. The mids now come forward and the highs are crisp. But it is still a sound signature dominated by the lower end. Luckily to me, I like it that way. The lower end, it’s not like it’s involved by a “blob” of bass. Instead the bass allows the overall sound to gain dynamic, to be felt. And also it’s not a boomy bass, where the bass has no definition. Here the bass has texture, and definition to it. It allows to involve the listener to an experience I though could be only achieved by headphones. I don’t know, as I don’t have listened to the Hippo VB, but from the reviews, I say it could be something like that.

As said before, the bass doesn’t bleed into mids, thus not altering it. The mids are nice and smooth sounding, with the voices blending into the “darkish” nature of the sound. Nothing really of much relevance, the voices sound like they should be, and with attention to detail. Of course these aren’t IEM focused on the mids, so you can’t appreciate them in all their greatness. But when they’re prompted to, they’re there, and this is always a plus, because this is where many bass-focused IEM fail. On the higher end of the spectrum, the highs don’t let anyone down. The cymbals feel crisp, and are present when needed. They aren’t of course that much forward, but they’re not as recessed as the ones from the Audio Wasp. They feel right, and without that plasticky feel that many bass-focused IEM have. Their soundstage is pretty good for a closed IEM and the positional accuracy is also fairly good aswell. Overall, they are my phones for when I feel that need to feel the bass. I should call them “my guilty pleasure IEM”. Of course, these aren’t for everyday listening (or are they?) if you feel fatigued from the bass, but if you need something that produces really good results from the bass department, here you have.

Conclusion

On what concerns to the Audio Wasp, I can’t really recommend them. I say, they’re still “meh” sounding, I mean they sound ok, natural with slight emphasis on bass, but I feel that is something that is lacking. And there is got to be something special with an IEM in this price range for it to be recommended, due to the abundance of exceptional price-to-performance products out there, like the ones from DUNU. So I’ll say, not really worth getting. On the other hand the genesis… These headphones, as much as I like them, should be only acquired in 2 cases: for a first IEM to the bass-head or on the second case as a fun IEM to have along with others. I love them, but I think you can’t have only them, because you will almost certainly get fatigued of them. I mean, they have quality bass, good mids and highs, but still, they’re not for everyday use. They’re like that old cigar, that you keep stored for the perfect time. It pretty much resumes them. I love them and I keep them near me for whenever that bass feeling comes along, but I couldn’t keep it as a main. That being said, it’s a wonderful IEM for bass delivering what it promises: hard thrilling bass, it feels your ears with filth, and makes you like it. It’s on the top of my list for listening music with hard hitting bass. Of course you wouldn’t be hearing something delicate with these will you?

Read original version at Head-Fi

Fischer Audio Eterna (with Comparisons)

By Hadi

– May 6, 2010 Posted in: Headfonia

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Fischer Audio Eterna is a dynamic driver in-ear-monitor marketed by Fischer Audio, a Russian headphones and earphones manufacturer, which has been pretty much under the radar outside Russia until just recently. I have been hearing good impressions and reviews about the Eterna, so I jumped on the opportunity when I was able to get one. The Eterna used to be Fischer Audio’s top of the line IEM, but they have since come up with newer IEM designs with more advanced drivers, which we hope to get our hands on soon. You can buy the Eterna itself for $60-$70 from the authorized dealers listed on Fischer Audio’s website.

The Eterna comes with pretty basic accessories: a pair of ear hook, basic pouch, and a set of eartips. The ear hook is very useful to reduce microphonics but a little cumbersome to use. It will be nice if a simple shirt clip is also included for times when I don’t want to use the ear hooks. The included cloth pouch is also very basic, and doesn’t seem to provide much protection for the Eterna. This is a pity, since the Eterna doesn’t seem like a product that can take abuse. During my 2 months ownership of the Eterna, I found that while the materials are very nice in general, there have been few issues with build quality. The metal grills covering the drivers are shoddily glued, and the left rubber enclosure where the cable connects to the earpieces had come off. I guess for $70, I can’t complain too much.

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The eartips included with the Eterna are 2 pairs of silicon single-flange eartips and a pair of double-flange eartips. I tend to get the best seal and best sound with the double-flange tips, but they aren’t very comfortable, since to get a good seal with them, the big nozzle of the Eterna needs to be inserted quite deeply. For a much better comfort, I am using the modded Shure Black Foam Sleeves, also known as Shure Olives, which results in a slightly warmer sound. A friend has also tried the Eterna with the comply tips that comes with the Triple.fi, and they fit well. Note that the Eterna has to be worn over-the-ear like Westone IEMs or Shure SE530. A bit cumbersome, but I prefer the Eterna’s comfort over IEMs like Triple.fi and Etymotic ER4.

Read original version at Headfonia

Fischer Audio Eterna: the basshead’s quality earphone

By Cholo Isungga

– Posted in: When in Manila

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When In Manila and you seek for an earphone to accompany you date to day with both sub-woofer like impactful and deep bass that does not sacrifice much of the highs and mids of your music, then the first earphone that I can recommend you is non other than theFischer Audio Eterna. Fischer Audio is an audio brand hailing from Russia and currently has a distributor in the Philippines under Bluefish gadgets. The Fischer Audio brand has been around some time and they began to be known because of the Fischer Audio Eterna‘s impactful and deep bass while keeping ample clarity and detail.

Build/Packaging:

The Fischer Audio Eterna comes in a simple carton box with 5 pairs of earphone tips and a set of ear hooks. The Fischer Audio Eterna are meant to be worn over the ear, so if the cable kind of annoys you, you can option to have the ear hooks on the cables to keep them in place. The Fischer Audio Eterna also comes with a pouch with “Eterna” designed on to them.

Pretty neat!

On the build of the Fischer Audio Eterna, it is made entirely of plastic and weighs average. They are quite big though, so people with small ears might have to adjust wearing them. They have big driver housings which makes me assume that they might have a larger than normal drivers to give that monstrous impactful and deep bass. With the Fischer Audio Eterna‘s cables, nothing special but they are built to last. The Y splitter at the middle of the cable is built like a high-end headphone’s because of how well restrained and built it is. Nearly impossible to break the cable from the middle split for sure. The 3.5mm jack is also well done since it the cable restrain is hard rubber and not just an easily bendable cable restrain, it is same with the cable restrains on the earphone housings as well, the cable restrains along the end of the earphone is of hard rubber.

Pretty neat!

Sound quality:

I had the chance to use the Fischer Audio Eterna with not just my iPhone, iPod and amps since I recently received the hisoundaudio RoCoo P which is an amazing portable player made specifically for hifi listening due to it’s clean and powerful A class internals. Plugging the Fischer Audio Eterna to the iPhone of course normally showed the very impactful and deep bass that it has. It is very punchy and goes down very deep! It does bleed into the midrange, but heck, this is just plain bass fun! Although running theFischer Audio Eterna on the iPhone and iPod somehow gave the mids a veil that sounded like there was a cloth covering the mids, there was still ample clarity. Having the Fischer Audio Eterna paired with the RoCoo P gave it much much more quality and bass resolve. It’s as if, veil and cloth covering the mids had lessened and the highs were more refined. The bass had more power and were extending more in a 3D way than just hitting from the back. The overall bass of the Fischer Audio Eterna is sheer raw power. It is very punchy and the sub-bass goes down really deep and does rumble, and yet retains quality and does not go too muddy or distorted sounding. So if you’re looking for an earphone that has powerful bass and yet has good clarity and presentation, the Fischer Audio Eterna certainly packs the needed punch.

Read original version at When in Manila

【BARKS編集部レビュー】Fischer Audio FA-002Wは、Sっ気たっぷりの高域美人

– July 25, 2012 Posted in: Barks

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Read original version at Barks: global music explorer