REVIEW | TDK BA200 | 'BACK TO BLACK' - Page 7

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItsMeHere 

A small update: I've been told that they're expected to hit the U.S retail outlets in Fall 2012.

Better than never, I guess.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItsMeHere 

As I thought, the MSRP will be 250$.

They'll need listening kiosks or something, or else people will look right past them and go straight for the Shures and Westones of the world.

So I listened to the BA100 again a few days ago, this time for longer than 10 seconds; while it's very nice, especially at the $49.99 at which it's sometimes sold on Newegg, there's no way it beats the BA200. The BA200 is more detailed, better textured in the bass, and rescues that (distinct) lack of treble energy in the BA100. I can't imagine why anyone would prefer the BA100 over the BA200, except for the price --- but as we've learned from the S&V review, some peoples' ears are just different.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syracuse 

I was looking at the review here to check what to tell in the store about these new monitors we've received. I was not expecting a company like TDK to make such a competent in-ear monitor. We sell them in Saturn stores in Belgium, we've got a contract with TDK and I myself constructed the display with the entire TDK line-up. I was really critical when I saw their top-monitors and was thinking how they compared to my Fischer DBA02 MKII. It seems to be worthy competition.

Well, I think the DBA-02 have the leg up on them when it comes to pure technical ability, but the BA200 undoubtedly possesses the more widely acceptable sound of the two. I find the BA200 on equal or better terms than the Shure SE425, and a bit better than the Westone 2. While triple drivers offer that fuller sound that some people are looking for, the BA200 strikes a very good balance between full sound and good clarity, which is why I believe that two drivers is good enough for 99% of people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erecent 

Hi there! Great work on the review :) Just curious to know how the BA200 will compare with the GR07? I understand that they are both very different IEMs.

Well, I find the GR07 a little more dry-sounding than the BA200. The BA200, while not exactly the most engaging earphone in the world, nonetheless possesses just enough midbass presence to allow it to be just a little more engaging that other monitor-like IEMs that I've heard. To me, against the BA200, the GR07 sounds just a little too disinterested in the music. Of course, the BA200 is the more intimate sounding earphone, while the GR07 is more spacious-sounding, but the BA200 makes up for it with a good three-dimensional soundstage.

Both earphones have their place in someone's collection, and both are relatively friendly to those who are unsure of what to buy for their first IEM, but I think the 'beginners' recommendation still goes to the GR07 because of its more prominent highs and dynamic driver characteristics. The BA200 is better for focusing on vocals and accurate imaging (this part puts the GR07 to shame).

Keep in mind that these thoughts are from memory only, as I have temporarily abandoned universals in pursuit of customs territory.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vocalist 

I'm curious. I've been looking at both the Shure 425 and the BA200. I listen to a lot of  classical (all - especially opera's/vocals) and rock/alternative,  jazz and some hip hop/R&B, rap.  Does one truly outshine the other for this music or would they both perform about the same?

Let me be up front and say that I haven't had a long-term experience with the SE425 like I've had with the BA200, so naturally I'm going to be biased toward the BA200. With that being said, however, in the short time (~10 min.) I did have with the SE425, I thought it was excellent and sounded much better out of the box than its predecessor the SE420.

Overall, I think the BA200 is a better option in that it is better at keeping center focus, which is important for vocals. It's also well tuned for a variety of genres, with good bass and good clarity. It's difficult to comment directly on the SQ as I don't remember the details all that well anymore, but the SE425 does have better build quality and the option for exchanging cables. This isn't to say the BA200 is poorly built; it's on par with the build quality of the Westones that I've seen, which is decent. The two are on equal terms with respect to comfort, with the BA200 having the slight edge in its ability to be inserted deeper.

The BA200 is also more affordable at MSRP, and at street prices (in the right countries). It's just a shame it's very difficult to find.