Reviews by GadgetryTech
The Alba is a $160 IEM that includes a USB-C DAC, 4 pairs of tips, and a nice looking SPC cable. They are extremely comfortable, thanks to the shape and small shell. If you ever use IEMs in bed, or lay on your side, something this compact is excellent.
Sound overview:
This is a warmer sound profile, with no glaring peaks in the mid range. It's full sounding, and very rewarding for mixed genres. It has more upper treble extension than many other IEMs, resulting in a wider stage with some added sparkle. Because it's a single DD, I don't have the same timbre issues I experience with something like the SuperMix 4 from Simgot. The SuperMix 4 had somewhat of a metallic/dry presentation due to the tweeter arrangement, where the Alba is much more natural sounding.
When pushed to higher volume limits with bass-heavy tracks, the Alba struggles a little with micro details. This is something a hybrid IEM tends to excel at, as the Balanced Armatures handle higher frequencies separate from the Dynamic Drivers handling bass duties. On the Alba, everything comes from a single driver, which has it's own set of strengths and weaknesses.
Overall, I love the cohesive sound presentation of the Alba. They sound great with rock, string instruments, and vocals. For bass heads listening to a lot of EDM/rap, something like the Truthear Nova may be a better choice. The Nova has a cleaner bass presentation with a lot of extension, and great separation. It's sounds a little more dry/boring when it comes to rock though, and the shell size is significantly larger as well. I think the Alba is one of the best choices under $200, but it's important to understand where the strengths and weaknesses lie, and if that aligns with what you're looking for. I think if you factor in the warmer, safer sound profile with stellar comfort, it's an easy top pick at this price.
I specialize in video reviews, and here's the full review here: GadgetryTech YouTube Review
Sound overview:
This is a warmer sound profile, with no glaring peaks in the mid range. It's full sounding, and very rewarding for mixed genres. It has more upper treble extension than many other IEMs, resulting in a wider stage with some added sparkle. Because it's a single DD, I don't have the same timbre issues I experience with something like the SuperMix 4 from Simgot. The SuperMix 4 had somewhat of a metallic/dry presentation due to the tweeter arrangement, where the Alba is much more natural sounding.
When pushed to higher volume limits with bass-heavy tracks, the Alba struggles a little with micro details. This is something a hybrid IEM tends to excel at, as the Balanced Armatures handle higher frequencies separate from the Dynamic Drivers handling bass duties. On the Alba, everything comes from a single driver, which has it's own set of strengths and weaknesses.
Overall, I love the cohesive sound presentation of the Alba. They sound great with rock, string instruments, and vocals. For bass heads listening to a lot of EDM/rap, something like the Truthear Nova may be a better choice. The Nova has a cleaner bass presentation with a lot of extension, and great separation. It's sounds a little more dry/boring when it comes to rock though, and the shell size is significantly larger as well. I think the Alba is one of the best choices under $200, but it's important to understand where the strengths and weaknesses lie, and if that aligns with what you're looking for. I think if you factor in the warmer, safer sound profile with stellar comfort, it's an easy top pick at this price.
I specialize in video reviews, and here's the full review here: GadgetryTech YouTube Review
GadgetryTech
So I have the Delci as well! The Delci has more bass, and a different peak. The highs come in closer to 6-8k on the Delci, with less sparkle/air. The bass is boosted a bit much, which can get in the way of itself. If the track is busy with bass notes and many other cues going on, the Delci starts to get a little bit sloppy and I think it takes away too much of the mid details. For a "clean bass hit", such as a less complex EDM or hip hop song, the bass of the Delci is a lot of fun. Here are both measurements compared: https://gadgetrytech.squig.link/?share=Harman_2019v2_Target,Kefine_Delci,Meze_Alba
Thanks for the quality review.