Fischer DBA-02 MKII - Impressions and review thread: CK10 threatened! - Page 6

What's different with MKII? That must be the most important thing

Quote:

Originally Posted by shigzeo 

I think it is easier if I answer below! What I mean about a 'better' SM3 is merely, it is a bit more sparkly, and though it isn't as warm, it is equally smooth across the spectrum, though tilted more towards high frequencies than the SM3. I love the SM3, but I feel it would bettered with less liquid smoothness and a bit more emphasis on the high range, like the DBA-02 MKII. Does that make sense? I'm not one of those who generally has difficulty adjusting from one earphone to another, but I understand what you mean. Sometimes, you get used to hearing things in one way, then to abruptly change course is hard.

Ah, okay, makes more sense. Yeah, I really only need to adjust my hearing after not hearing the DBA after several weeks. If I use it weekly, then there's no real adjustment period. Curious about the SM2v2, though. My experience with the SM3v2 has been superior to what people have had with the SM3v1.

Glad you're enjoying the DBA Mk II. I'm very wary of the square cable, but if it's acceptable, and the possible sonic tweaks are agreeable to me, I might just change out for the Mk II.

I don't know why but I tried the Comply T100 again with my DBAs(v1) and they sound 'perfect'!

I really think you should try the Complys (even with the v2). Do let us know the effect. TIA!

Shigz,

I had missed your thread before starting my own:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/595430/fischer-audio-dba-02-mk-ii

However, while I think the conversation should continue here, I'm going ahead with a review for the sake of letting people read an alternate perspective.  (I'll eventually complete and transport my assessment over to the Reviews section of Head-Fi.)

EDIT/UPDATE:

General impressions:  It seems that even those who believe in burn-in, but disbelieve that it happens with balanced armatures designs are wrong.  I take back what I have been saying about bass on the Fischers - I can now hear Eric Clapton's foot-tapping on stage in the Unplugged recording of "Layla" AND the accompanying drums AND the bass playing each individual note.  Where I thought the signature before to be hollow, wide and echo-ey (not that there was echo, but there was such emphasis on clarity and cues that lead to a wide soundstage presentation) - in a word, analytical - I now find the sound to be driven, intimate and well-weighed in the bass - in a word, musical.  The mk IIs excel brilliantly at the other two thirds, the treble and midrange.  They excel in other ways as well, such as timbre (quite realistic), soundstaging (spacious--not the concert hall sound it had started out with, but not the most in-your head feel either), and most definitely they excel at decay (truly amazing at sustaining a note).  They also seem easy to drive and compatible with different systems.

I've been entertained by a number of songs, artists, and styles with the mk IIs.  At first I was disappointed, but now that these little buggers have a few hours on them, when I turn to styles as acoustically rich as Eric Clapton's Unplugged or Amon Tobin's Isam or any of Radiohead's last few albums, I find a well-weighed presence being bounced at me with both the melody and the harmony (archaic ideas in music I know, but still part of the experience!) presented clearly.

This is all the first 10 hours or so that I've had them, and not all under ideal circumstances (lots of playing music from my phone on my commute, which is their primary purpose anyways).  They have changed radically, and it isn't me or my ears that have adjusted.  Whereas I had not fully heard all parts of Eric Clapton's songs before, I hear them now (although there is still some roll-off at the very bottom).  Where as there was an entire lower bassline missing in Burial's "Versus" or significant drive and body vacant in Alexander Rosson's really awesome drum and bass mixes, those songs now have the full range they are supposed to.

Fortunately for me, the bass has filled in to the point where I can be happy with my purchase and consent to keeping the mkIIs as my permanent sound-makers for commuting.  Unfortunately, the rise of the bass (quite robust, in the end, at least out of my phone's econo-jack) has coincided with the loss of some of the really fascinating soundstaging cues, long decay, and tactile imaging I had thought made the Fischers ethereal and enveloping.

Lastly - since Shigz was specifically concerned about it - I don't love the cable.  I have used much prettier, softer, and less memory-prone cables in my day.  I happen to like nylon cables for their luxurious presentation a lot.  This one is not luxurious or pretty in any particular way, and it has some memory to it that of course I don't like.  However, microphonics on this cable have been very low for me, and the flat design helps me untangle it faster than other rubber or vinyl cables I've experienced.  The cable splitter, as you can see in some of the pictures, is a nice midpoint between cute and sharp/modern-looking.  It looks like it's going to be a fairly long-lasting cable too, so in the end I approve of it for what it is.
 

Here we go.  So let's see pics of how deep everyone wears theirs in ear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScuderiaHeadFi 

Shigz,

 

I had missed your thread before starting my own:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/595430/fischer-audio-dba-02-mk-ii

 

However, while I think the conversation should continue here, I'm going ahead with a review for the sake of letting people read an alternate perspective.  (I'll eventually complete and transport my assessment over to the Reviews section of Head-Fi.)

 

General impressions:  When it's there, the bass is clean and musical, but not nearly deep enough to capture everything it needs - I'm not thinking of dubstep or hip hop, I'm thinking of Eric Clapton's foot-tapping on stage in the Unplugged recording of "Layla" and the accompanying drums.  The mk IIs robs this song of tremendous music, and I would call this an egregious omission.  Piano, without a clear inclusion of the lower sounds by the mkIIs, is also robbed of timbre and richness, sounding hallow and weak (piano should not sound hallow and definitely not weak!).  The mk IIs excel brilliantly at the other two thirds, the treble and midrange.  They excel in other ways as well, such as timbre (quite realistic, except for piano or male voices recorded to sound chesty and deep), soundstaging (spacious--not someone singing to you in a closet, not a massive auditorium, but more of a concert hall), and most definitely they excel at decay (truly amazing at sustaining a note).  They also seem easy to drive and compatible with different systems.

 

My question to you all who find no fault with the bass is, what music do you listen to?  I've been entertained by a number of songs, artists, and styles with the mk IIs.  But when I turn to styles as acoustically rich as Eric Clapton's Unplugged or Amon Tobin's Isam or any of Radiohead's last few albums, only to find an entire segment of the musical composition flat out missing, I get a little peeved.  I find the Fischer's great at some music, but not good enough at too much other music.

 

This is all the first 10 hours or so that I've had them, and not all under ideal circumstances (lots of playing music from my phone) but I've been able to compare other headsets under similar circumstances and not found this same music quite so naked or un-anchored as I do through the mkIIs.
 

Thank you!!!! This is what I was saying about the first version. Someone else hear these things the way I did. It seemed like som details in the sound (in my case I stated it was in the mids, but you say bass - which was really non-existent for me) was missing. And now you are hearing (or not hearing) in the new one what I didn't hear in the old version. I don't know why I had trouble articulating it and putting it into words, but you have done it for me. Thank you!! 
 

Found the answer :)

Well, I just received them today from Musica Acoustics. My first impressions (on a brand new headphone is pushing) are good. I do follow the comments on bass light but I'm not going to give final verdict here. I find them accurate with very nice detail to mid and high and after a bit of tweaking with the different silicon earbuds I improved the bass a little. If I have to compare them with my MMX 101 ie's they are more laidback, more gentle and musical. Although I only get a kick of my Beyerdynamics when playing electronics, I think I have a decent headphone now for more types of music.

@shigzeo... have you looked into getting the Brainwavz B2? They are virtually identical to the original DBA-02. So if you want to compare... there you go.

I'd really like to fully understand the differences in sound between MKI and MKII. The DBA-02 and B2 have been my daily-wears since I got them. Clean, open and brilliant. I certainly wouldn't want to loose much in the way of highs (although to be perfectly anylitical the B2 is just barely less 'bright' than the DBA-02). If the MKII is slightly reduced in the highs (like the B2) and provides a bit more 'fullness' in the lower octives, they might just be for me as well.

Being that I am a Comply (standard - P-series) wearer, microphonics don't effect me as much, so the square cable doesn't seem like it will be too much of an issue. But I had no problem with the original one.

Cheers.

I think the v1 has neutral midrange.

I'm thinking of sending them to you for comparo or I'll just get a pair myself?