wkkm007
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How about the senn IE800 vs tdk ba200 vs tdk IE800?
TDK BA200 Thread
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ericp10
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Quote:
I haven't heard the Senn in years, but I do know it has a wider soundstage than the both TDKs, and that the sound was too warmish and veiled to my ears. So it just wasn't for me, but it's a top tier earphone.
I haven't heard the Senn in years, but I do know it has a wider soundstage than the both TDKs, and that the sound was too warmish and veiled to my ears. So it just wasn't for me, but it's a top tier earphone.
james444
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Quote:
You're talking about the IE8 or IE80, Eric. The new Senn IE800 are completely different and among the least veiled IEMs you could think of.
You're talking about the IE8 or IE80, Eric. The new Senn IE800 are completely different and among the least veiled IEMs you could think of.
ericp10
Sits up all night comparing IEMs.
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Quote:
I'm talking about IE8 james. I never heard the IE80 then. I forgot it was updated. Thanks for the clarification.
But I've really been talking about the TDK IE800 (which you need to hear along with the JVC FXZ100).
I'm talking about IE8 james. I never heard the IE80 then. I forgot it was updated. Thanks for the clarification.
But I've really been talking about the TDK IE800 (which you need to hear along with the JVC FXZ100).
Greed
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Ah, sorry I thought you were referring to the Senns IE800, or maybe the IE80.. but thanks for clarifying guys.
Greed
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On another note, I know this has been discussed in this thread already, but I'm still on an adventure to find the best sounding and comfortable tips for these awesome IEM. Anyone have any updated suggestions on what tips are the best? And if they are sold separately please provide a link? Thanks
wkkm007
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I am using DIY comply form earplug make a hole become eartip.
vwinter
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As a more specific question, has anyone had any luck with any single flange tips that don't drastically alter the stock dual flange's sound?
The dual flanges aren't that comfortable after about 2 hours...
campj
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That cable is just too much for me. That and the Y junction... ridiculous.
soundstige
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Annafrancesca
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^^x2. Makes it sound good directly from opamp.
Emospence
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FlySweep
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I've had the BA200 for a few days now.. but having been so enamored with the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Limited/Anniversary Edition (that arrived a day before the BA200), I hadn't had a chance to give the BA200 its due time. Last night & today, I finally sat down with the BA200 (driven by the ODAC & Objective2/Leckerton UHA-6S MKII) and even in the short time I spent with them, I came away very impressed.
First off, Tom's review absolutely nails how I hear them. Terrific job by him in articulating the nuances of this phone. What certainly jumps out about the sound is the fantastic soundstage. I thought I was spoiled by the (full sized) DT 770 AE.. which despite, being a closed phone, sounds impressively spacious and open. Well, the BA200 continued to treat my ear in the same manner. It's got excellent depth, width, and height.. all proportioned well.. which leads to a very pleasant, engaging presentation. These certainly don't exhibit the closed in feel of most IEMs.. let alone BA-based IEMs that benefit from deep insertion (which, subsequently, causes soundstage width to suffer).
I appreciate the linearity of the bass frequencies.. it isn't completely neutral as far as gain.. but the BA200's bass is linear and only boosted ever so slightly to give a welcome touch of warmth, coloration, and personality. Personally, this is just the kind of bass I like from IEMs. The bass' overall tuning reminds me of the GR07 MKII's bass.. but it isn't quite as punchy and rounded in the way the GR07 MKII does its bass (which is pretty one-of-a-kind, to my ears). What's important to note is that the bass is wholly satisfying to these discerning ears.. it's got plenty of depth, texture, extension, and detail. It can seriously rumble when called upon, never sounds bloated or loose (unless the recording quality suffers from such imperfections).
I won't rehash what's been said about the (beauty of the) midrange.. cause it's already been noted numerous times as the 'showstealer.' After having heard many headphones & IEMs which feature excellent midrange tuning, I wasn't going to get my hopes up too high.. but the praise heaped upon the BA200's midrange is wholly deserved. It's simply superb. Thanks to the same linearity the bass frequencies enjoy, along with the multi-dimensional soundstage.. the midrange possesses a smoky, analog quality that's simultaneously vibrant and relaxing at the same time. It's smoothness never detracts from it impeccable detail. Tonally, it's slightly warm, dry, & a touch forward (due to the gently boosted lower midrange/dipped upper midrange).. but never fatiguing or aggressive sounding. It possesses an elegant blend of neutrality & coloration which should please analytical and 'musical' listeners, alike. Instrument separation, layering, and imaging sounds quite effortless as there's a natural sense of space around all voices & sounds. I'm reminded of the RE262's midrange in many ways.. but I actually might like the BA200's midrange more since it's (comparatively) less colored and features a more neutral, monitor-like quality (which I'm partial to). One other aspect of the BA200's midrange that jumped out at me was how natural it sounded.. not just in texture.. but in speed as well. Reverb & decay sound more natural (commonly what you hear from a HQ dynamic driver) than most all the BA based, universal IEMs I've heard. In fact, I'd say the BA200 trumps the W4 on this particular aspect. What's more.. the BA200's speed doesn't suffer.. so we're getting the best of both world.
The one aspect I was most worried about, when I first read the reviews of the BA200 anyways.. was the treble. Well, those concerns were put to rest quite quickly as I almost immediately knew the treble presence and tuning was just right for these phones when observing how the fit into the overall tuning. The treble is smooth, but quite detailed.. it possesses just the right hint of air to give the soundstage an open feel.. but the gentle roll off falls right in line with what I'd expect from a studio monitor. After listening for a couple of hours.. I grew to appreciate the treble's tuning even more as I was listening to some percussion heavy music (Hidden Orchestra's short, but breathtaking catalog). I was able to appreciate all the nuances of the upper frequencies of their music.. but I never felt the need to have to turn down the music or take a break due to fatigue. A true testament to how impeccably tuned these phones are for stage use.
I haven't even had a chance to see how it sounds out of my DAP/phone (Galaxy S3), but I can tell the BA200 scales well with a HQ DAC and portable amp (i.e. the ODAC & O2) compared to just my laptop's headphone out (which is surprising good, btw). Other odds & ends? The stock-double flanges work great for me.. comfortable while affording a deep fit (which I find imperative in order to get the proper fq & tonal balance with BA-based, universal IEMs). The hoopla about the cable is overblown, IMO.. yeah it's a flat cable.. but it's so light and flexible.. I like it. Also, the impedance adapter's size isn't an issue for me either. It's not big or heavy enough to be a hassle for me..but I haven't used this IEM out and about. As far as aesthetics.. I think this IEM is gorgeous.. the shells have a black opal like look to them.. very smooth, sleek, and classy.. a look that matches their exquisite sound, IMO.
So far, I'm very happy with this IEM. The performance it offer at ~$140 is insanely good, IMO. I can already say with confidence that I like it more than the famed Westone W4... probably because it sounds like a more linear, analog-tinged take on the Westone flagship. I hope more people get a chance to hear the BA200 as I would certainly consider it one of the best buys in portable audio.
First off, Tom's review absolutely nails how I hear them. Terrific job by him in articulating the nuances of this phone. What certainly jumps out about the sound is the fantastic soundstage. I thought I was spoiled by the (full sized) DT 770 AE.. which despite, being a closed phone, sounds impressively spacious and open. Well, the BA200 continued to treat my ear in the same manner. It's got excellent depth, width, and height.. all proportioned well.. which leads to a very pleasant, engaging presentation. These certainly don't exhibit the closed in feel of most IEMs.. let alone BA-based IEMs that benefit from deep insertion (which, subsequently, causes soundstage width to suffer).
I appreciate the linearity of the bass frequencies.. it isn't completely neutral as far as gain.. but the BA200's bass is linear and only boosted ever so slightly to give a welcome touch of warmth, coloration, and personality. Personally, this is just the kind of bass I like from IEMs. The bass' overall tuning reminds me of the GR07 MKII's bass.. but it isn't quite as punchy and rounded in the way the GR07 MKII does its bass (which is pretty one-of-a-kind, to my ears). What's important to note is that the bass is wholly satisfying to these discerning ears.. it's got plenty of depth, texture, extension, and detail. It can seriously rumble when called upon, never sounds bloated or loose (unless the recording quality suffers from such imperfections).
I won't rehash what's been said about the (beauty of the) midrange.. cause it's already been noted numerous times as the 'showstealer.' After having heard many headphones & IEMs which feature excellent midrange tuning, I wasn't going to get my hopes up too high.. but the praise heaped upon the BA200's midrange is wholly deserved. It's simply superb. Thanks to the same linearity the bass frequencies enjoy, along with the multi-dimensional soundstage.. the midrange possesses a smoky, analog quality that's simultaneously vibrant and relaxing at the same time. It's smoothness never detracts from it impeccable detail. Tonally, it's slightly warm, dry, & a touch forward (due to the gently boosted lower midrange/dipped upper midrange).. but never fatiguing or aggressive sounding. It possesses an elegant blend of neutrality & coloration which should please analytical and 'musical' listeners, alike. Instrument separation, layering, and imaging sounds quite effortless as there's a natural sense of space around all voices & sounds. I'm reminded of the RE262's midrange in many ways.. but I actually might like the BA200's midrange more since it's (comparatively) less colored and features a more neutral, monitor-like quality (which I'm partial to). One other aspect of the BA200's midrange that jumped out at me was how natural it sounded.. not just in texture.. but in speed as well. Reverb & decay sound more natural (commonly what you hear from a HQ dynamic driver) than most all the BA based, universal IEMs I've heard. In fact, I'd say the BA200 trumps the W4 on this particular aspect. What's more.. the BA200's speed doesn't suffer.. so we're getting the best of both world.
The one aspect I was most worried about, when I first read the reviews of the BA200 anyways.. was the treble. Well, those concerns were put to rest quite quickly as I almost immediately knew the treble presence and tuning was just right for these phones when observing how the fit into the overall tuning. The treble is smooth, but quite detailed.. it possesses just the right hint of air to give the soundstage an open feel.. but the gentle roll off falls right in line with what I'd expect from a studio monitor. After listening for a couple of hours.. I grew to appreciate the treble's tuning even more as I was listening to some percussion heavy music (Hidden Orchestra's short, but breathtaking catalog). I was able to appreciate all the nuances of the upper frequencies of their music.. but I never felt the need to have to turn down the music or take a break due to fatigue. A true testament to how impeccably tuned these phones are for stage use.
I haven't even had a chance to see how it sounds out of my DAP/phone (Galaxy S3), but I can tell the BA200 scales well with a HQ DAC and portable amp (i.e. the ODAC & O2) compared to just my laptop's headphone out (which is surprising good, btw). Other odds & ends? The stock-double flanges work great for me.. comfortable while affording a deep fit (which I find imperative in order to get the proper fq & tonal balance with BA-based, universal IEMs). The hoopla about the cable is overblown, IMO.. yeah it's a flat cable.. but it's so light and flexible.. I like it. Also, the impedance adapter's size isn't an issue for me either. It's not big or heavy enough to be a hassle for me..but I haven't used this IEM out and about. As far as aesthetics.. I think this IEM is gorgeous.. the shells have a black opal like look to them.. very smooth, sleek, and classy.. a look that matches their exquisite sound, IMO.
So far, I'm very happy with this IEM. The performance it offer at ~$140 is insanely good, IMO. I can already say with confidence that I like it more than the famed Westone W4... probably because it sounds like a more linear, analog-tinged take on the Westone flagship. I hope more people get a chance to hear the BA200 as I would certainly consider it one of the best buys in portable audio.
While waiting for my ordered single flange tips to arrive, I discovered that the Comply Ts-100 sounds best for me when they are not deeply inserted, but just deep enough to reach a seal. If I squeeze the Complys and insert them very deep into my ear canals, the soundstage suffers, the midrange becomes a bit muffled, and the treble is dampened, but with the more shallow insertion, the sound opens up nicely without becoming too bright for my taste on hot recordings (a problem I encountered with the stock biflanges). Maybe the angle of the nozzle wasn't optimal when inserted that deeply or perhaps the bore of the Comply was being impacted in a way that was blocking the nozzle, not entirely sure.
I'm really hoping either the EarPortz or Westone Star tips will emulate (or improve upon) the sound I'm getting now with the Complys while providing more durability and ease of insertion/removal. If they don't, I might just have to give the Phonak single flange tips a shot. As you can tell, I'm really trying to find the perfect tip for me as I'm really liking the sound and value of these.
I'm really hoping either the EarPortz or Westone Star tips will emulate (or improve upon) the sound I'm getting now with the Complys while providing more durability and ease of insertion/removal. If they don't, I might just have to give the Phonak single flange tips a shot. As you can tell, I'm really trying to find the perfect tip for me as I'm really liking the sound and value of these.
NewForce
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Hmm.. some of you highly recommended the EarPortz tips. I'm wondeing whether I can get them in Singapore. Anyone from Singapore any idea about this tips availability in SG?
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