Brainwavz B2/DBA-02/ATH-CK10 clarity, but with more bass? - Page 3

 

Price and availability.  Plus people don't buy into the single armature experience at that price.  They can't understand till they hear it for themselves.
 

 

Subscribed. Extremely informative thread.

P.S. My personal recommendation would be the e-Q5, for the many reasons already mentioned, and the FX700, which I have in as I'm typing this, and I personally do feel they have the treble energy and overall detail you're after my friend. No, their mids aren't recessed, not to my ears. With certain tips, they may be more or less recessed, but not so much with their stock wide bore silicone tips. If anything, the mids are neutral at best. The bass is exceptional however, in every conceivable way, and the closest I've heard another in-ear approach the texture and transparency of the FX700 was with the Ortofon's, and even then, I'd have to say the FX700 reigns supreme, but the Ortofon's are a very, very close second. Merely my opinion of course.
Edited by i2ehan - 11/1/11 at 2:03pm

Haven't heard the A1 but this is also what makes the Grado GR10 stand above the E-q5 for me. It doesn't have that lower treble emphasis (that's mostly cured with hybrids) and reaches further in. GR07 and B2 are both also zippier. Haven't heard a CK10. I'm not a fan of the TF10 due to it's V shape but I found it's treble easier to live with than some others. Someone is sending me W4s for a listen. Maybe I need to send the Grados around so you can see what I'm getting at.

 

As for the OP, something like a W2 may get the job done if he's budgeting. Can't say for certain if it or the Grado has enough bottom for him but there's certainly more there then he's accustomed to. I know the Grado is a couple db down at 20hz.

Edited by goodvibes - 10/23/11 at 1:04am

I do . I still think single armature Phonaks as competent as any around $150 also.

 

The A1, ER4S and Phonak PFE are my favorite single BAs. The PFEs are really good for the money. 

I need to hear a 4s at some point. The 4p was a bit too hot for me. If the 4s is 4p fast with more of a hf5 type balance, I can see why you like it.

Another option could be the upcoming M4 by brainwavz? Though they said they are aiming to get it shipped by christmas though pre-orders should start next week. They are supposed to be little brothers of the b2, aimed for detailing but more bass.

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Good point. I don't really understand it myself but curiosity is a beast I have yet to slay haha. Was it determined that the A1's are in fact BA's then and not MA's? I saw that on a thread here but I'm not sure if it was conclusive or if I understand completely.
 

 

They are vented BAs. Both the driver and housing are vented, but the function "balanced air movement" mechanism hasn't been found. 

Not that much actually. If the B2/CK10 are a 4.5, the FADs are a 4. Despite the venting, the shape allows a nice deep insertion. 

Hey Inks, in terms of soundstage and transparency, which is better between  A1 and FXT 90? Would you think the sound signature of these two iems compliment each other ? Also which one do you think has better details ? Thanks in advance.
 

 

A1's should be arriving some time this week. Will have some CK10 comparisons by week's end hopefully.

Excellent! I'm contemplating the A1's myself, so I'm definitely looking forward to your comparisons my friend. 

The A1 has a more airy soundstage with greater width. The FXT90's soundstage is more intimate in comparison, but more filled out due to it's thicker note. The A1 is more transparent and puts details more in your face, the FXT90 doesn't miss any details of the A1 but IMO presents them in a more natural way. IMO IEMs need some a dip in the uppper regions to sound natural, having heard reference speakers, "flat"  or what sometimes people call"detailed" IEMs put this information too forward in and make things sound unnatural to the recording. Things after 5k shouldn't be peaked, specially stuff after 10k. Having said that, the FXT90 sounds a bit more natural than the A1 imo. Both are quite colored in relation to a flat response, but the A1's main weakness is it's lower treble and treble before the 10k mark, whereas the FXT90 weakness is a slightly loose midbass. I recommend foam tips with the FADs to tame those upper mids.  

 

Edited by Inks - 10/31/11 at 12:45pm