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TDK BA200 - Impressions and Appreciation Thread - Page 42

post #616 of 1001
1/9/13 at 2:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlySweep View Post

I like the BA200 more than the GR07 MKII.  Currently, I'd peg it as my favorite universal IEM under $500.  It's as close to possessing an HD600-like "seductive" midrange as I've heard in a universal IEM.  The RE262 previously held this title for me.. but I find the BA200's midrange even better.  The BA200s midrange separation and openness sounds more natural and lifelike, to my ears, than the GR07 MKII's midrange.  The GR07 has a slightly more textured, natural bass response that quite round and full.. but the BA200 comes very close to that.  The GR07's treble sound a bit uneven and harsh compared to the BA200's smoother, more linear treble.. even though it's laid back more than the GR07's treble.

What I like about the BA200's unique sound is the subtle, analog-inspired warmth combined with the slightly thin note weight.  Don't mistake the 'thin note weight' as "thin sounding".. no way.. the BA200 has excellent dynamics & soundstage proportion.  No "wall of sound"-type presentation here.  This blend gives way to an airy, HD600-inspired midrange that's very inviting (though the BA200's mids are a little warmer than the HD600's mids).  I haven't heard the SM3, but having read plenty of reviews about it, I sense it possesses a fairly high degree of note thickness that makes it unique (but, at times, not always ideal for some genres of music).

I like the smooth, laid back nature of the BA200's treble too.. plenty of detail.. but it's not in your face about it.  I facilitates long term listening quite well.  Run it through a clean, transparent portable amp (like the UHA-6S MKII) and you'll hear the treble detail, separation, and extension better.

Like you, I prefer the BA200 over the GR07, though I have the Bass Edition. The SM3 I feel is a different animal altogether. Mids are lush and full with just the right amount of body to avoid sounding nasal. But the BA200 does possess a lot of the SM3s strengths in mids, presentation and separation. The SM3 just does everything a little better. In fact a little too good.

In my mind If the perfect sound is pegged at 100, the BA200 comes close with a score of 90. While the SM3 overshoots at about 110. Both of them are about 10 pts away from being perfect. Higher scores doesnt necessarily mean better.

I still prefer the SM3 but the BA200 comes at a very close second, the GR07 just slightly behind the Ba200.

Again, everything I say is just according to my preference and how I hear them.
Edited by Annafrancesca - 1/9/13 at 2:32pm
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post #617 of 1001
1/9/13 at 3:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annafrancesca View Post


Like you, I prefer the BA200 over the GR07, though I have the Bass Edition. The SM3 I feel is a different animal altogether. Mids are lush and full with just the right amount of body to avoid sounding nasal. But the BA200 does possess a lot of the SM3s strengths in mids, presentation and separation. The SM3 just does everything a little better. In fact a little too good.
In my mind If the perfect sound is pegged at 100, the BA200 comes close with a score of 90. While the SM3 overshoots at about 110. Both of them are about 10 pts away from being perfect. Higher scores doesnt necessarily mean better.
I still prefer the SM3 but the BA200 comes at a very close second, the GR07 just slightly behind the Ba200.
Again, everything I say is just according to my preference and how I hear them.

 

Sure it does. wink_face.gif

 

The BA200 does have a lot of the same strengths as the SM3 but its just that the SM3 does them a bit better over all.  Like with the imaging, before I got the SM3 I thought the BA200 had the best imaging presentation but after hearing the SM3 I now know what really good imaging sounds like.  The separation on the SM3 which at first through me for a loop because I had never heard such good separation and they sounded a bit strange to me and I was actually thinking I might sale them but after a day or 2 more listening I was hooked and man I'm glad I didn't sale them, that would have been the bonehead move of the year.

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post #618 of 1001
1/9/13 at 6:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlySweep View Post

I like the BA200 more than the GR07 MKII.  Currently, I'd peg it as my favorite universal IEM under $500.  It's as close to possessing an HD600-like "seductive" midrange as I've heard in a universal IEM.  The RE262 previously held this title for me.. but I find the BA200's midrange even better.  The BA200s midrange separation and openness sounds more natural and lifelike, to my ears, than the GR07 MKII's midrange...

 

 

That's a lofty praise to even put the BA200 in the same sentence as the HD600.

 

I personally didn't find the BA200's mids to be nearly as seductive as the HD600's, heck even among full-size headphones, HD600 mids is quite special (I'm a fan). Though I agree the BA200 is a tremendous value for $135 dual-BA, I personally don't rate the mids nearly as high as the ASG's 1.2 ultra clear midrange and ER4's seamless and accurate midrange.

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post #619 of 1001
1/10/13 at 12:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Techno Kid View Post

Sure it does. wink_face.gif

The BA200 does have a lot of the same strengths as the SM3 but its just that the SM3 does them a bit better over all.  Like with the imaging, before I got the SM3 I thought the BA200 had the best imaging presentation but after hearing the SM3 I now know what really good imaging sounds like.  The separation on the SM3 which at first through me for a loop because I had never heard such good separation and they sounded a bit strange to me and I was actually thinking I might sale them but after a day or 2 more listening I was hooked and man I'm glad I didn't sale them, that would have been the bonehead move of the year.

Well, the SM3s are still my favorite, but the BA200 can put a spell on you and get you hooked and I am glad I didn't sell mine. smily_headphones1.gif
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post #620 of 1001
1/10/13 at 12:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annafrancesca View Post


Well, the SM3s are still my favorite, but the BA200 can put a spell on you and get you hooked and I am glad I didn't sell mine. smily_headphones1.gif

 

 

Rub it in why don't you. triportsad.gif

 

I'll get another pair someday but I think the IEM that I sold that I wish I didn't the most is the R-50 and that will be the first one I get then probably the e-Q5.  The BA200 just sounds to similar to the SM3 that I really don't need it.

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post #621 of 1001
1/10/13 at 1:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annafrancesca View Post


Well, the SM3s are still my favorite, but the BA200 can put a spell on you and get you hooked and I am glad I didn't sell mine. smily_headphones1.gif


Funny there's no IE800 appreciation thread, they're more balanced than the BA200s.

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post #622 of 1001
1/10/13 at 3:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Techno Kid View Post


Rub it in why don't you. triportsad.gif


Lol, didn't mean to make you feel bad. Just glad I had them when my SM3s broke. You're spot on saying they are similar. I miss the SM3s less because of my BA200. But hopefully my brother can work something out so I can get the V2s.
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post #623 of 1001
1/10/13 at 3:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by proton007 View Post


Funny there's no IE800 appreciation thread, they're more balanced than the BA200s.

Intrigued...But I have not heard of any local dealers that carry them in my country. Whenever I go to a shop, and ask if they have IE800s and they would bring out a box with a big fat Sennheiser logo with an even fatter price tag. smily_headphones1.gif
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post #624 of 1001
1/10/13 at 5:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annafrancesca View Post


Intrigued...But I have not heard of any local dealers that carry them in my country. Whenever I go to a shop, and ask if they have IE800s and they would bring out a box with a big fat Sennheiser logo with an even fatter price tag. smily_headphones1.gif

 

Funny thing is, I went looking for the BA200, but they were out of stock, and I ended up getting the IE800. Now I don't regret my decision.

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post #625 of 1001
1/10/13 at 5:50am

I came close to getting a pair of the TDK IE800's the other day but thought they'd sound a lot like the BA200 so I got a different dynamic driver IEM in the Turbine Copper that I've wanted to try now for quite sometime, I'll have those tomorrow.

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post #626 of 1001
1/10/13 at 7:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by proton007 View Post

 

Funny thing is, I went looking for the BA200, but they were out of stock, and I ended up getting the IE800. Now I don't regret my decision.

 

The IE800 doesn't sound like the BA200 to me at all, except that both have wonderful mids. Actually, I think the IE800 gives airier space around instruments more than the BA200. Both do have the wonderful smooth TDK mid-centric house sound, but each has its own character. Has anyone heard those ST 800 headphones though?


Edited by ericp10 - 1/10/13 at 8:31am
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post #627 of 1001
1/10/13 at 8:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ericp10 View Post

 

The IE800 doesn't like the BA200 to me at all, except that both have wonderful mids. Actually, I think the IE800 gives airier space around instruments more than the BA200. Both do have the wonderful smooth TDK mid-centric house sound, but each has its own character. Has anyone heard those ST 800 headphones though?

 

I guess, because I came back from the shop, and thanks to Clie, he recommended me the IE800 over these.

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post #628 of 1001
1/10/13 at 1:35pm
There is an IE800 thread, and I wish people would post in it more (hint hint Eric10).

I came very close to ordering the BA200, but went for the dual dynamic after Clieos' recommendations. He's not reviewed it yet, but puts in on the same level technically. Similar sig to re-262 (albeit less euphonic mids) with better extension at both ends? Yes please!

Anyway, Flysweep's descriptive experience of the BA200 is feeding the thought that I might just need both...
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post #629 of 1001
1/10/13 at 2:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nulliverse View Post

There is an IE800 thread, and I wish people would post in it more (hint hint Eric10).

I came very close to ordering the BA200, but went for the dual dynamic after Clieos' recommendations. He's not reviewed it yet, but puts in on the same level technically. Similar sig to re-262 (albeit less euphonic mids) with better extension at both ends? Yes please!

Anyway, Flysweep's descriptive experience of the BA200 is feeding the thought that I might just need both...

I've look for it and post there more. But now the TDK technology and sound has roped me in. I just bought one of the newer earphones that you can only get in Japan. It boasts a new technology called a "magnetic armature." It's suppose to be one of the most dynamic sounding armature drivers you will ever hear. I'll let you know if this is true. The Japanese reviews I've been able to translate all give it high marks!

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post #630 of 1001
1/10/13 at 2:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ericp10 View Post

I've look for it and post there more. But now the TDK technology and sound has roped me in. I just bought one of the newer earphones that you can only get in Japan. It boasts a new technology called a "magnetic armature." It's suppose to be one of the most dynamic sounding armature drivers you will ever hear. I'll let you know if this is true. The Japanese reviews I've been able to translate all give it high marks!

 

 

Whats the IEM called if you don't mind me asking?

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