[Review] Fischer Audio DBA 02 - Page 3

Well, I have the DBA now as a loaner from a head-fi friend. Need to listen to them more extensively, but from my brief encounter they are some real nice BAs. Decent amount of bass, but these are definitely more friend to those listeners who focus on the highs. The highs are pretty nice. The mids are decent too - especially nice vocals.

I know I know, one of the main questions is how do they rank compared to the SM3. To be honest, they're nowhere near the SM3 quality in sound signature. Again, it would be like comparing apples and oranges. But they the IEMs could compete with the e-Q7 in some areas. The highs are definitely better than the e-Q7. The vocals aren't as warm as the e-Q7's vocals, which is a plus. I think the bass is a bit more quantity, but not necessarily quality if compared to the e-Q7. Drums sound more natural, however, on the e-Q7. Overall from really brief brief listening, the DBA isn't a bad armature earphone at all.

That's all for now. More later on, like next week probably. Thanks again to my head-fi friend for loaning them to me for comparison.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericp10 

Well, I have the DBA now as a loaner from a head-fi friend. Need to listen to them more extensively, but from my brief encounter they are some real nice BAs. Decent amount of bass, but these are definitely more friend to those listeners who focus on the highs. The highs are pretty nice. The mids are decent too - especially nice vocals.

 

I know I know, one of the main questions is how do they rank compared to the SM3. To be honest, they're nowhere near the SM3 quality in sound signature. Again, it would be like comparing apples and oranges. But they the IEMs could compete with the e-Q7 in some areas. The highs are definitely better than the e-Q7. The vocals aren't as warm as the e-Q7's vocals, which is a plus. I think the bass is a bit more quantity, but not necessarily quality if compared to the e-Q7. Drums sound more natural, however, on the e-Q7. Overall from really brief brief listening, the DBA isn't a bad armature earphone at all.

 

That's all for now. More later on, like next week probably. Thanks again to my head-fi friend for loaning them to me for comparison.

The main question is, how do they compare to the DDM?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by koonhua90 

 

The main question is, how do they compare to the DDM?
 

Good question @ koonhua...Really hard to answer - not just because of my limited time with them either. SM3, for example, transcends whether it's a BA or dynamic driver. It's just a hell of a great sound IEM. To me, in some ways the FX700 transcends whether it's BA or a dynamic driver too, although it's no denying that the all wood dynamic driver gives it the unique timbre. In making those statements I'm not trying to compare the SM3 and FX700 at all.

Now, back to your question. The DDM has its own unique sound - as I keep stating - that I have not heard in any other dynamic driver. It's gets close to the Monster Pros; it gets close to the FX700; and it gets close to the IE8, but it's uniquely its own sound to me. The DBA has not unique sound to me. It doesn't sound like none other BA I've heard before in general (of course taking the SM3 out of that equation). Yet, it's a good sounding IEM. 

So, what are you looking for? If you want more treble and highs impact, it's better than the DDM from a quick listen. If you want more bass impact, DDM all the way. Mids are little bit more tricky. DBA does vocals nicely, but so does the DDM, but it has a different sound sig I can't really put into words. Hmmmm? Smoother might be the right words.

Haven't really tested acoustic guitar and strings, but the DDM are some of the best to me in reproducing those sounds. Did test the DBA on a Led Zep song. It sounded decent with electric guitars but didn't blow me away. So sound sig-wise for me the DDM is better. But I could see how one wouldn't agree, especially one focused on highs. The DDM's treble is there, but it's not a highs-focused IEM. While I think the DBA is relatively balanced, it does focus on highs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawrster 

Nice first impressions :) Although it isn't terribly difficult to have better highs than the e-Q7 as there is a pretty noticeable rolloff with them but nothing major. I really think these are a great buy at the low cost of $159 (I think that was the price) when they are back in stock (that's the bad thing about these..high demand low supply).

Right @ rawrster. I guess my only point is that IEMs in general seem to focus on one area (or two) more than the other. Some highs focused (the CK10 for example); some are bass focused (IE8 for example). Some try to get two right (TF10 was very good on bass and treble, but the mids sucked!!). Some try to get all but rarely succeed (Cooper tried this; SM3 definitely succeeds). So it has to be based on your personal favorite sound sig. I think the DBA has more quantity bass than the e-Q7, but not more quality bass. The DBA's first impressions for me were, "this is a nice earphone with good sound coming out to be so small." But the DBA didn't make me go "DAMN" like I did upon hearing the SM3 or FX700 (and portions of the DDM). I still need more time with the DBA to be totally fair to it.

Agree that the DBAs are not the SM3s, but there is something about their performance that makes me want to stick them in my ears anyway. So I split time (65-35 SM3/DBA ratio) between the DBAs and the SM3s ... not a bad problem to have. The SM3s really overwhelmed the DBAs when using custom tips (in my view). Before that, it was somewhat closer. I would not say the DBAs are "nowhere near" the SM3s, but that's my preferences speaking. The DBAs are very musical is the only way I can say it. Who would think that BAs could be "fun" IEMs. Am anxious to hear how the Ety MC5s compare, just out of curiosity. I know they cost a lot less, but still, should be interesting (I mean to the DBAs, not the SM3s).
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericp10 

Well, I have the DBA now as a loaner from a head-fi friend. Need to listen to them more extensively, but from my brief encounter they are some real nice BAs. Decent amount of bass, but these are definitely more friend to those listeners who focus on the highs. The highs are pretty nice. The mids are decent too - especially nice vocals.

 

I know I know, one of the main questions is how do they rank compared to the SM3. To be honest, they're nowhere near the SM3 quality in sound signature. Again, it would be like comparing apples and oranges. But they the IEMs could compete with the e-Q7 in some areas. The highs are definitely better than the e-Q7. The vocals aren't as warm as the e-Q7's vocals, which is a plus. I think the bass is a bit more quantity, but not necessarily quality if compared to the e-Q7. Drums sound more natural, however, on the e-Q7. Overall from really brief brief listening, the DBA isn't a bad armature earphone at all.

 

That's all for now. More later on, like next week probably. Thanks again to my head-fi friend for loaning them to me for comparison.

I found the CK10s very nice too, but could not get a comfy fit, which is the main reason I sold them. I think I actually favor the DBAs more, but from memory.

Understand. I don't miss mine as much, but of course the SM3s more than made up for them leaving. Sooner or later, you need to sell off a top tier or two and get the Earsonics. They are that good.

I tried remolding a pair of TF10s (hard acrylic), but the impressions were a bit off (I had to press on them a little to get the best SQ) and just gave up and sold the remolded Trips to someone who remolded them again. Hope you have better luck, cause the impression thing is such a hassle. Luckily, I have a pair of UM56s to use with the SM3s, faux customs I guess you could call them. And the UM56s work with the DBAs too, which is nice.

Don't get me wrong @ rawrster.. The DBA is nice!!

Would the DBA 02's be better than the er4s's or the monster turbine coppers?