Brainwavz B2/DBA-02/ATH-CK10 clarity, but with more bass? - Page 5

The A1's aren't very similar to the FX700, but of the BA's I've heard they are the most similar. I haven't heard the TF10's. They would probably be closer from what I've read, but I wouldn't ever try to fit those beasts into my small ears haha. The FX700 sounded like tower speakers strapped to my head. The A1's don't have that kind of soundstage or natural decay but have more refined treble to my ears. I sold my FX700's a while ago so I am going off memory. I haven't used the A1's on a plane, and I'm not sure how they would perform. They do well in other noisy environments like my house when someone is playing piano or watching tv. Much better IMO than the FX700.

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Originally Posted by xII DM IIx 

 

Coincidental considering I do have some fit and isolation issues. I'm looking for a BA that will deliver similar if not the same sound quality and signature as the FX700s so I can take them out and about.

 

We seem to be looking for a similar IEM, and I assume since you're considering customs that you haven't found what you're looking for in universals, correct?

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Originally Posted by gnarlsagan 

The A1's aren't very similar to the FX700, but of the BA's I've heard they are the most similar. I haven't heard the TF10's. They would probably be closer from what I've read, but I wouldn't ever try to fit those beasts into my small ears haha. The FX700 sounded like tower speakers strapped to my head. The A1's don't have that kind of soundstage or natural decay but have more refined treble to my ears. I sold my FX700's a while ago so I am going off memory. I haven't used the A1's on a plane, and I'm not sure how they would perform. They do well in other noisy environments like my house when someone is playing piano or watching tv. Much better IMO than the FX700.

Signature-wise I think the TF10 or W3 should be closer to the FX700 than the A1. But if you're looking for comparable timbre with more isolation, I'm not so sure about BAs. Maybe try the Atrios MG7, I haven't heard them, but there are some who like both the JVCs and Atrios. Or the IE80, though their advantage in isolation over the FX700 is only minor.

The MG7 still won't best the timbre and texture of the FX700, but they're pretty damn good in that regard. Mine arrive some time today, after which I'll try and find time to listen to them, and post back my impressions.

EDIT: According to USPS, the expected delivery date was Friday... still not here.  Hopefully Monday it is.

If you like the timbre of the FX700 over all else, nothing else has that.  The construction is too unique in the IEM world.  It's a wooden driver in a brass housing for petes sake.  =)

Originally Posted by Anaxilus 

If you like the timbre of the FX700 over all else, nothing else has that.  The construction is too unique in the IEM world.  It's a wooden driver in a brass housing for petes sake.  =)

All BAs pretty much have about the same timbre regardless of being MA or BAM IME. It's about the same among dynamics as well (a bit more variable), but tonal balance is the changing factor for both. A lot of BAs tend to have better tonal balance than dynamics (because they're less grainy), but more on the thinner side due to a lack of bass depth and lower region emphasis. Since they're generally more treble emphasized, the transients tend to be sped up a bit much and that causes poor tonality with certain instruments. There are BAs that get it right though and that's how you have good tonality in the EQ-7, A1, X10, etc. Timbre is different  and it's a factor that's a bit overrated imo because it's more of a complementary factor rather than a deciding factor in tone.  

Dynamics are just much slower and thus have a tone that coincide better with certain things. The FX700 is special in that the materials used are clearly heard in it's timbre. This puts in a different class even among dynamics, but I do think it doesn't have that great of  tonal balance due to it's colored frequency response. Also the timbre of the FX700 is not always a strength, matter of fact they make certain instruments sound different to their natural tone and sometimes simply worse. I think the FX700's timbre is what I'll call "specialized", also wish it had better balance. 

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Originally Posted by Inks 

The FX700 is special in that the materials used are clearly heard in it's timbre. This puts in a different class even among dynamics, but I do think it doesn't have that great of  tonal balance due to it's colored frequency response. Also the timbre of the FX700 is not always a strength, matter of fact they make certain instruments sound different to their natural tone and sometimes simply worse. I think the FX700's timbre is what I'll call "specialized", also wish it had better balance. 

100% right.  Quite specialized and about one of the last Top universals I'd use to focus on vocals.

Even piano was off, but that wasn't because of it's timbre (which helped). That was because of it's tonal balance, overtones were too overemphasized over fundamental notes and thus sounded artificially hot due to it's lower treble. 

*revised my previous post to make it clearer*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inks 

Even piano was off, but that wasn't because of it's timbre (which helped). That was because of it's tonal balance, overtones were too overemphasized over fundamental notes and thus sounded artificially hot due to it's lower treble. 

 

*revised my previous post to make it clearer*

Well, piano has one of the broadest ranges so it covers a lot of area.  So lack of 'neutral' balance hurts.  Once you get to the mids the FX700 begins to lose it's magic.

Yeah, Piano needs a good balance with compensation in the lower regions to sound best. Great bass extension and filtering in the treble (information past 5k shouldn't have a peak or be too forward with the possible exception of some 8-9k emphasis) and your're set. SE535 is the most realistic I've heard so far, EQ-7 was close as well but the lower treble peak threw it off. X10 is surprisingly great with this instrument as well. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anaxilus 

Well, piano has one of the broadest ranges so it covers a lot of area.  So lack of 'neutral' balance hurts.  Once you get to the mids the FX700 begins to lose it's magic.

Just goes to show you, as always, nothing's perfect. However, I've personally never found the FX700 lacking for any of my vocal tracks. It's just that, in a sense, the FX700's highs and lows sort of steal the show altogether, while the mids are just right, without being placed under the spotlight. 

I think he meant more in tone/timbre rather than balance in respect to the whole spectrum.  They do balance out a lot with very low volume levels. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inks 

I think he meant more in tone/timbre rather than balance in respect to the whole spectrum.  They do balance out a lot with very low volume levels. 

yup

Oh, my mistake.  Anaxillus, did you not like the vocals on the FX700, my friend? I find them quite natural, and not nearly as recessed as they're made to sound. In fact, majority of my collection consist of vocal trance, with which I've never found the FX700 lacking any midrange presence.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inks 

Timbre is different  and it's a factor that's a bit overrated imo because it's more of a complementary factor rather than a deciding factor in tone.  

I wouldn't even regard timbre as a factor by itself, imo it's rather the result of an interaction between factors like tonal balance, note weight, etc. The exact recipe for timbre (i.e. the exact nature of this interaction) is probably too complex to understand, but it's funny that most of us would recognize great timbre when they hear it. I also think the derivative nature of timbre makes it pretty controversial for the more analytical minds among us, because "it doesn't really get to the bottom of things".