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[Review] Fischer Audio DBA 02 - Page 4

post #46 of 73
6/19/10 at 8:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by iemmustiane View Post

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


Better? I think the DBAs are better all-around IEMs than either the ER4P or the Coppers, and I owned both and sold both. The ER4Ps are great IEMs, but need bass EQ or amping in my view. The Coppers are a good choice too, but I just found the DBAs preferable with a range of sources.

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post #47 of 73
6/19/10 at 8:44pm

I didn't realize the DBA-02 could use the UM56 tips...I was looking to get the DBA02 reshelled, but that might be a better option....though the UM56 is double the cost of a remold... 

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post #48 of 73
6/19/10 at 9:02pm

The UM56s will go on the DBA tubes, but you need to put them on carefully, as the stalks on the DBA are a little thicker, not much, than the SM3s/Shure/Westones. But they will work. I use the Ety triples most of the time on the DBAs and they sound fine, since I use my UM56s on the SM3s almost exclusively now. My UM56s were $115 including impressions (audiologist was a Westone authorized dealer, so she charged a single price and ordered the UM56s for me direct). Reshelling, if it works well, is great. I had bad luck with my reshelled TF10s, but it was my fault, so I resold them. Long story.


Edited by slaters70 - 6/19/10 at 9:04pm
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post #49 of 73
6/19/10 at 9:18pm

Ah got it...$115 is a good price, I've seen other stores quote $140 or so without impressions. You wouldn't happen to live in FL, would you? Because I might ask where you went to get them done...

 

I think this is a better option than full-customs, just because they don't have to mess with the housing/positioning of the drivers. I'm wary of the possibility of changing the sound, damaging the phones...This could just create a better seal, so possibly more detail, bass response...

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post #50 of 73
6/19/10 at 9:33pm

Just ordered mine!, cant wait for 'em to arrive

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post #51 of 73
6/20/10 at 11:23am

Nope, not in Fla. I was as surprised as you at the price, because she quoted me $130 on the phone and then charged me $115. Best thing is, someone lost the first pair when they came in, and so she ordered a second pair. I picked up the second pair, and when I got home, she had called and said the original pair were stuck under some papers and I could have them too ... for one price! Lucky me. Only problem is, the left earpiece is a little less snug on one pair, so it's basically worthless. Oh well. That's why I use them exclusively on the SM3s. Otherwise, the second pair would be on my DBAs.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by usf09 View Post

Ah got it...$115 is a good price, I've seen other stores quote $140 or so without impressions. You wouldn't happen to live in FL, would you? Because I might ask where you went to get them done...

 

I think this is a better option than full-customs, just because they don't have to mess with the housing/positioning of the drivers. I'm wary of the possibility of changing the sound, damaging the phones...This could just create a better seal, so possibly more detail, bass response...

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post #52 of 73
6/20/10 at 4:05pm

Ah...unlucky...you could always try to order just one for 1/2 the price, but it's doubtful Westone will let you do that (may be worth a shot anyways)

 

I'll have to look into them more...

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post #53 of 73
6/20/10 at 4:23pm
Thread Starter 

I've always wondered what custom tips would do for me. I've never really had bad fits with any phones outside of ones that have horrible ergonomics (read: TF10). Maybe I'll never find out since I'm not so sure custom tips are worth the low to mid $100 range to go along with $40-50 impressions.

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post #54 of 73
6/20/10 at 6:18pm

Yes, it's a tough call. I am glad I have them for the SM3s, but I got them initially for the UM3X. So they just happened to fit the SM3s. I was using them with the er6i, and they (the phones) sounded great with custom tips. Funniest thing is, I paid $35 for the er6i used (sold them) and $115 for the sleeves. Doh! However, I plan on trying them on the Ety MC5s, which will be here Tuesday.

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post #55 of 73
7/1/10 at 7:27am

rawrster, i had the opportunity to see priscilla ahn a few times. think she sounds good recorded? not exaggerating, she was about 100 times better live. Absolutely enchanting. got a couple pictures taken with her too :)
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by rawrster View Post

 

Song Comparison
Here will be a short note on a couple songs. I'll only mention the things in the song that I find important or something special about them. I have compared most of these songs before in my previous review so it may give you a better idea on how capable these phones are if you read that section of my last review since the majority here are probably more familiar with some of those phones than these. Here's the link. http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/amateur-review-audio-technica-ck10-ck90pro-ck100-monster-turbine-pro-gold-miles-davis-ortofon-e-q7-484031/

Also please know that not all of these are in FLAC. I do them in FLAC but I used different bitrates just to see how they would do and also at the time of my previous review I couldn't find all the FLAC files in my library for some reason.

Aerosmith – Dream On (256kbps mp3)
The instrument separation is amazing here. The detail is great as you can hear lots of little things going on. You got your speed and your detail here. Bass is well controlled with good definition and speed. Imaging is pretty precise here. The electric lets you know that it is here and the best part is that the drum cymbals are done wonderfully sounds very natural and lifelike.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Hey (FLAC)
Bass is nicely done here with good speed, definition and quite the highly quality here. Vocals are fairly smooth here. The electric lets everyone know it is there but doesn't cause a scence at the party until the solo closer to the end. There's lots of little details going on here that these phones present wonderfully. These phones seem to have the ability to not mess up when cymbals crash which is something not all phones are able to do.

Sarah McLachlan – Building a Mystery (FLAC)
You start out with your acoustic and it is nicely detailed being able to tell the nuances of the strums. Vocals come out smooth and it's quite easy to tell between the different female vocals here. Separation and imagine are excellent. The breaths of air the vocalists take are easily heard. Drums are done wonderfully. The electric is done nicely with good authority but nothing crazy. Lastly your bass is high quality but nothing thunderous. There's good definition, tightness, speed and well definition.

Markus Schulz – I Am (320kbps mp3)
Now this is what I've been looking forward to..how do the DBA 02 do in trance? You want speed? You got it. Does it handle complexity of trance and all of its changes? Definitely. What about imaging? Precision. Bass is tight, fast and perfect for trance. You get this nice relaxation feeling here and all your worries go away. I can't really ask for much more here.

Priscilla Ahn – Red Cape (320kbps)
I don't think she's too well known but slowly becoming one of my favorite female vocalists. The acoustic guitars is nicely detailed here and you can hear all the strums and plucks. Drums are done nicely sounding very natural. Vocals are smooth and just effortless. Separation is excellent here. It just seems right here.

Reba McEntire – Eight Crazy Hours (FLAC)
Acoustic is done nice with lots of detail esp micro details. Your bass is typical for this phone. Lots of detail, tight, well defined but not your thunderous impact but more towards neutrality. The piano here is done wonderfully and almost sounds as if it was right there. Drums are done nicely with cymbals sounding very natural and definitely not hot. Separation is once again excellent. This is wonderfully done.

Norah Jones – I Wouldn't Need You (FLAC)
Acoustic guitar is done wonderfully here. Bass has great definition and speed but not too hard a slam. Vocals are nice with you being able to hear the little breaths the vocalist take. You can hear the little details in the music here. Piano is nice and sounds natural. Cymbals are nice with the cymbals clashing together sounding natural which imo is a difficult thing to do. Overall an excellent job as these phones are quite capable.
 

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post #56 of 73
7/1/10 at 7:41am
Thread Starter 

^

ohh..thats great! I do have to catch her live one of these days. Maybe if she ever comes to new york :)

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post #57 of 73
7/26/10 at 9:12am

Great reviews and discussions. My curiosity has been piqued!

 

Where are good sources for a DBA purchase?

 

shane

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post #58 of 73
7/26/10 at 10:37am
Thread Starter 

I enjoyed my clip+ and uDAC with these. They aren't very expensive so I imagine with more expensive dap and dac they would fare even better. The bitrate and quality of your files is just as important if not more important when using these. They made some of my not so good quality songs sound very bad with my clip+.

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post #59 of 73
7/28/10 at 7:12am

i thought the udac was not portable. How did you use it with your clip+?

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post #60 of 73
7/28/10 at 7:20am
Thread Starter 

I never said I used them together. Those are just the sources I used for this review. The uDAC is for computer use only so can't be used with the clip+ as a portable amp since that is not one of the functions of the uDAC.

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