I got mine last week. I'm not new to FAD (Heaven IV & VI CC), but have never heard the FI-BA-SS. Haven't had a lot of listening time with them yet, since I've also recently acquired several of the (new & old) Audio Technica multi-BA models and the Sony XBA-H3.
First impressions, surprisingly not identical sounding to the FI-BA-SS. The former are slightly colder, airier and more transparent, the AKR02 have a bit more warmth and less treble presence, resulting in a slightly more mid-centric sound signature. Not a big difference, but quite easily noticeable when compared side by side.
Removable cable is nice, the upper part almost as thin as on the FI-BA-SS, the lower part significantly thicker and a tad rigid. Straight plug on the AKR02 vs. angled plug on the FI-BA-SS.
(Bowie record for decoration only and not included with the AKR02
Media Player: Laptop (F2k)
DAC: Dacport (Would prefer LX but not available, ODAC ain't bad too)
AMP: GS Solo PSU1
In-Ear Speakers: PF 9
Yay! Such spacious and engaging listening experience like a private orchestra hall. Currently playing FF7 AC: Divinity 2 by Taizo TAKEMOTO. That is one awesome music! Koji Tamaki's Japanese styled music is a perfect match with FAD's signature too!
I think FAD really works well with Japanese music (like my anecdote belief that the headphone company's origin and sound tuning is related to the songs produced in their own country, or so I think there's a correlation).
I've only had less than an hour with them, but so far I prefer the older FI-BA-SS. They're closer to what I perceive as transparent, but of course others might have a different view.
First impressions, surprisingly not identical sounding to the FI-BA-SS. The former are slightly colder, airier and more transparent, the AKR02 have a bit more warmth and less treble presence, resulting in a slightly more mid-centric sound signature. Not a big difference, but quite easily noticeable when compared side by side.
Okay, have the V are in my ears now. I see the V gives narrower tips and wider diameter tips. I'm using the wider large diameter stock tips. The V sounds a bit thicker, more refined, and more mids focused as DannyBai told me it would, but the bass is almost equal to my ears. The V may have a tad bit more bass, but not much. The horns are much yummier in the V. Both are detailed, but I think the TE-05 may win in details (I need to burn both in, and expect more changes in the TE-05). From memory, the FI-BA-SS was warmer and fuller in sound than the V, but there's an echo of the FI-BA-SS - to my ears - in the V, although they don't sound anything alike. Yes, I'm loving the V's signature, but I don't know which one I like best yet between the TE-05 and V. Both are fantastic. If the V's bass is deeper, I think more details are in the TE-05's bass (if that makes any sense).
First impressions, surprisingly not identical sounding to the FI-BA-SS. The former are slightly colder, airier and more transparent, the AKR02 have a bit more warmth and less treble presence, resulting in a slightly more mid-centric sound signature. Not a big difference, but quite easily noticeable when compared side by side.
Removable cable is nice, the upper part almost as thin as on the FI-BA-SS, the lower part significantly thicker and a tad rigid. Straight plug on the AKR02 vs. angled plug on the FI-BA-SS.
I've only had less than an hour with them, but so far I prefer the older FI-BA-SS. They're closer to what I perceive as transparent, but of course others might have a different view.
Hmm, sounds like a FAD I could live with? Is the 'bit more warmth' strictly due to the slightly less treble presence or has bass/lower mids been increased? If the only real difference is in the treble and a very small difference at that- just enough to take the edge off the SS could have at times, it's sounds about perfect to me.
Do you feel you are missing transparency when you are not directly a/b'ing them? And what about the 'rawness' of the SS; does the new model maintain that to some degree? The rawness is what made the SS special to me.
Hmm, sounds like a FAD I could live with? Is the 'bit more warmth' strictly due to the slightly less treble presence or has bass/lower mids been increased? If the only real difference is in the treble and a very small difference at that- just enough to take the edge off the SS could have at times, it's sounds about perfect to me.
Do you feel you are missing transparency when you are not directly a/b'ing them? And what about the 'rawness' of the SS; does the new model maintain that to some degree? The rawness is what made the SS special to me.
The warmth is due to slightly more upper bass/lower mids presence and vocals have a bit more body as a result, but it also masks the sub-bass more than on the SS. Upper mids/lower treble presence is about the same as on the SS, but the AKR02 seems to be more politely tuned above that, which takes part of the edge out of its signature vs. the SS, but also makes them sound slightly less airy and spacious.
All in all I'd say the difference is quite subtle and one could probably make the SS sound almost identical to the AKR02 by using narrow-bore tips (like Sony hybrids) to add warmth and a cloth filter to attenuate the highs.
As for transparency, well you know how individual HRTFs vary... So, yes, I personally perceive the AK-R02 as slightly colored towards warmth, but others may well hear them differently, particularly if they perceive the SS as rather lean and lacking body. Speaking of which, I believe this leanness is part of what gives the SS their raw edge and the AKR02 have somewhat less of it, but are still no radical departure from the SS's special sound signature.
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