Ok, so It's been just over three weeks since I received my BA2s .  First things first...I'm no audiophile by any manner of means!  I mean, I thought that Apples new shaped ear-pods, the new ones, were the best sounding earphones ever!  So that gives you an indication of were I'm at on audiophile levelness. Zero! 
 
I got a pair of triple driver iem from a UK based company at the start of the year, no names, not my style, but I can assure you, they are cack! My 25 quid Apple ones blew them away!  That's how bad they are.
 
So, I spoke to David Cotton about them, he knows where they are from, and he suggested I have a look at Cosmic Ears.  I was a bit dubious seeing as I'd had an expensive mistake with the triple ones, but I decided to anyway.  So glad I did!
 
First off, can I just say, for me anyway, Phil has been fantastic in this process, very helpful and knowledgeable in what might suit my needs. Wish he was my boss! 
 
I went for the pre fit service seeing as I have child like ears, small, this was good because it identified that the canal part on the right side needed shortening for a better fit. This was done. I found that the right could be doing with being a bit thicker for a better seal, but rather than send them back, which would break my heart, I put a couple of layers of clear nail varnish which seems to have done the trick. 
 
So, my BA2s arrived.  I was doing my listening on a Galaxy S3 which for me was fine until a friend suggested I try a Sansa clip player with Rockbox installed.....WOW!!  This is were the BA2s came alive for me.  The BA2s respond very well to a bit of EQ and loads of bass.  I listen to mostly EDM and I'm a bass head so being able to tweak them to my preferred sound signature is spot on for me. The response from them is excellent! 
 
I'm finding now that with the BA2s I'm hearing my music in a whole different light now, hearing things that I've never heard before like the crackle of a sample taken from a bit of vinyl on some of the dance tracks I listen to.  Fantastic! 
 
My faith in ciem has been restored thanks to Cosmic Ears and more so Phil!
 
So, I now have my eye on a set of the HY2s but I'll wait till Cosmic is up and running with everything in place, new cables, drivers...
 
To some up, I LOVE THEM!!  I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Cosmic to anyone who's in the market for a set of ciems for the price and the customer service I don't think they can be beat. 

I think I can use Clip+ Rockbox + BA2 combination for doing sport. Running and all could be very good with that. Also relatively cheap combo for that purpose so no worries.
 
Glad you liked it Garry 

Am I the only one not getting a hold of Phil?

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amberozl said:

I think I can use Clip+ Rockbox + BA2 combination for doing sport. Running and all could be very good with that. Also relatively cheap combo for that purpose so no worries.
 
Glad you liked it Garry 

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Love them! I got the clip zip.  Works a treat! 

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garry1bowie said:

Love them! I got the clip zip.  Works a treat! 

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Rockbox it dude 

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amberozl said:

Rockbox it dude 

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Done it!  What a difference that makes!  Awesome.

Hey guys,
 
Has anyone received the BA-3 yet? I'd love to see a comparison between the BA-3 and HY-3, perhaps with the TF10 too...
 
also how much is it costing people to rehouse the TF10s with CE?
 
Thanks,
 
Tom.

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rg-tom said:

Hey guys,
 
Has anyone received the BA-3 yet? I'd love to see a comparison between the BA-3 and HY-3, perhaps with the TF10 too...
 
also how much is it costing people to rehouse the TF10s with CE?
 
Thanks,
 
Tom.

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I am not sure you can do re-shelling with CE. I know Unique Melody does it if you are desp. looking for it.

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rg-tom said:

Hey guys,
 
Has anyone received the BA-3 yet? I'd love to see a comparison between the BA-3 and HY-3, perhaps with the TF10 too...
 
also how much is it costing people to rehouse the TF10s with CE?
 
Thanks,
 
Tom.

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They don't do reshells normally, but they might make an exception for you, since they offered to do a reshell for me.

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escs said:

 
They don't do reshells normally, but they might make an exception for you, since they offered to do a reshell for me.

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They reshell TF10's on request, and ONLY TF10's, they won't reshell anything else.
 
I can also offer a comparison of the HY3 versus the TF10 as I have both the HY3 (standard, not the extra bass one) and a reshelled TF10 from them. 
 
The reshelled TF10 accentuates the TF10's 'V' shaped sound signature even further, so if you like the prominent bass and sparkly treble, with recessed mids of the standard TF10, you can expect the CE reshelled version to be the same sound, but just more of it.
 
The HY3 deliver a superior sound, right across the range than the reshelled TF10, but are balanced, smooth and relatively neutral compared to the TF10, and with a slightly rolled off treble at the top end. They have superior separation and soundstage too, and all in all outclass the TF10's by quite a substantial amount.
 
That said, they sound absolutely nothing like the TF10's. Because of the dynamic driver in the HY3 it has better extension than the TF10 for bass, and is able to dig deeper. One of my criticisms of the TF10 has always been that while it provides adequate bass quantity and quality, it was designed at a time that there was not so much demand for the sub-bass that can be part of todays modern music, and it's BA bass driver is simply not capable of digging down for the bass extension that the HY3 dynamic driver can. Tonally, they are completely different animals, but  the HY3's balanced and smooth nature is extremely amenable to EQ and you can tailor the sound to suit.That is not something that can be said for the TF10.
 
If I tell you that I spend most of my listening time with the HY3 in my ears and only using the reshelled TF10's for classic rock listening, where I think its sound is particularly suited, then that probably tells you something too. I do not have, and so far have not heard, a more balanced and capable IEM than the HY3 - it's a solid buy as long as you are not expecting it to sound like the TF10 

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amberozl said:

Rockbox it dude 

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Doesn't make any difference to me :/

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amberozl said:

It depends on what you are after for. You don't like Ety sound, maybe HY3 could be a good choice for you.

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Can anyone provide a more detailed comparison? Specifically in terms of bass extension. Does the BA2 have any rolloff in the lowest frequencies? I know the mids are very similar between the two. The basshead in me is saying HY3 for possibly better bass extension, but the audiophile in me is saying BA2 for slightly better highs and less money. Aahhhhh!
 
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certel said:

Great work on the review project86!!
That one will certainly help a lot of people choosing the right ciem. Hat off!

And as you are one of few (or maybe the only one) who have listened to the BA4 i would like to ask you if you also have ever listened to the Apple Dual Driver IEM, not the ones that comes bundled with ipods and iphones (they suck!), i mean their $100 IEM. I've asked Phil about a comparison between the two and he says that he acctually really like the Apple dual driver and that the BA4 is pretty similar but better in ever aspect. But when i read your comments on the BA4 im starting to wonder if BA4 is really what i want..
I do really like the apple dual driver iem but think they are missing the punchy bass i want when listening to for example dub step or heavy electronic music.. I don't want alot more bass, just a tad. I'm no bass head!
If you havent heard the Apple dual driver, have you ever heard the Shure 535? Those are the only two iems that i have ever really liked. I have to admit that i haven't heard that many iems, but pretty much any other iem i've tried have sounded to muffled or just to damn bad..
For example i didn't like the Shure 215 at all, they were way to muffled for my taste. I need more detail in the upper frequencies.

So based on what i've said here, do you think i would like the BA4 or shall i rather go for the BA2 or maybe HY3 (not XB)?

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If you like the Apple ADDIEM then you will like the BA4. I had the Apples once and they have that cold Ety type sound. But if you want a tad more bass BA2 or HY3 sound like good options. BA3 would probably be too much bass for you. Shure 535 is completely different - warm and mid-centric.
 
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guldkrull said:

Am I the only one not getting a hold of Phil?

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I just got a reponse today. He's been away on business so I'm assuming he just returned.

blueangel2323 said:

Can anyone provide a more detailed comparison? Specifically in terms of bass extension. Does the BA2 have any rolloff in the lowest frequencies? I know the mids are very similar between the two. The basshead in me is saying HY3 for possibly better bass extension, but the audiophile in me is saying BA2 for slightly better highs and less money. Aahhhhh!

If you like the Apple ADDIEM then you will like the BA4. I had the Apples once and they have that cold Ety type sound. But if you want a tad more bass BA2 or HY3 sound like good options. BA3 would probably be too much bass for you. Shure 535 is completely different - warm and mid-centric.

I just got a reponse today. He's been away on business so I'm assuming he just returned.

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He finally answered, still at least 2 weeks left untill he gets the monitors...

Changing subject entierly, which model do you guys think's the most mid-centric? I love the sennheiser HD650 and if any model got such a signature that would be the one I'll get. Don't really like cold and sibilant signatures...

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guldkrull said:

Changing subject entierly, which model do you guys think's the most mid-centric? I love the sennheiser HD650 and if any model got such a signature that would be the one I'll get. Don't really like cold and sibilant signatures...

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The BA2 is not unlike an HD650, generally speaking. It's got good bass but lacking somewhat in sub bass extension. It's got a smooth top end that is very free of fatigue. It's very much focused on rhythm and drive as opposed to sonic minutiae. The BA2 can't go as loud as the HD650 though - not that BA2 is limited in dynamics, but at some point the little twin driver runs out of steam. But you shouldn't be listening at such levels anyway. 

project86 said:

The BA2 is not unlike an HD650, generally speaking. It's got good bass but lacking somewhat in sub bass extension. It's got a smooth top end that is very free of fatigue. It's very much focused on rhythm and drive as opposed to sonic minutiae. The BA2 can't go as loud as the HD650 though - not that BA2 is limited in dynamics, but at some point the little twin driver runs out of steam. But you shouldn't be listening at such levels anyway. 

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Thanks for the input! If I would like deeper bass how would something like the HY3 or BA3 suit my desire for good non-recessed mids?