Thats a cool little earphone! Great review. Might have to check these out. I like the idea of good sounding sports earphones, which is why I still use and love my Sony AS800AP. It's not neutral, but it's much more capable than you would expect a waterproof earphone to be.
Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
B9Scrambler
HiFiChris
@B9Scrambler
There's also a similar OEM version of the Fostex, sold by Pioneer. Can't recall the exact name at the moment, but they look identical, only with the Pioneer re-branding.
By the way, after I saw them mentioned in a German community last year, I didn't search or read anything about these babies (as I didn't even know other people wrote very brief impressions), but now after finishing my review I digged deeper to see whether there were some other opinions, and wow, indeed, approximately 5 other people who bought them (some of them are also quite experienced) also rated them very high.
There's also a similar OEM version of the Fostex, sold by Pioneer. Can't recall the exact name at the moment, but they look identical, only with the Pioneer re-branding.
By the way, after I saw them mentioned in a German community last year, I didn't search or read anything about these babies (as I didn't even know other people wrote very brief impressions), but now after finishing my review I digged deeper to see whether there were some other opinions, and wow, indeed, approximately 5 other people who bought them (some of them are also quite experienced) also rated them very high.
yusufbeyazpinar
Ordered it
Thanks a lot for the great review Chris.
Thanks a lot for the great review Chris.
HiFiChris
@yusufbeyazpinar
Looking forward to your impressions!
Looking forward to your impressions!
yusufbeyazpinar
@HiFiChris
I'll write my impressions as soon as i get them. But, I'm pretty sure that i will like TE-02's, and that they will be my running iems, because i love neutral sounding iems with good instrument separation and soundstage.
I'll write my impressions as soon as i get them. But, I'm pretty sure that i will like TE-02's, and that they will be my running iems, because i love neutral sounding iems with good instrument separation and soundstage.
Hisoundfi
You write excellent reviews, keep up the great work buddy!
headdict
Awesome review! Would you mind adding a quick comparison vs. Havi B3 Pro I?
HiFiChris
@headdict
TE-02: more neutral, "relaxed" lower/lower middle treble, slightly faster bass impact, smaller soundstage, inferior instrument separation, more bass details, better midrange details, lower treble details, better treble naturalness
B3 Pro I (stock black single-flange tips with red lower): warmer ground-tone, more present lower/lower middle treble, slightly slower bass impact and slightly dull/blunt bass, larger soundstage, better instrument separation, lower bass details, lower midrange details, better treble details, lower treble naturalness
Neutrality: Fostex >.5 Havi
Soundstage expansion (width + Depth): Fostex <<< Havi
Instrument separation: Fostex << Havi
Bass speed: Fostex > Havi
Low frequency detail: Fostex >> Havi
Mid frequency detail: Fostex ≈> Havi
High frequency detail: Fostex < Havi
Cohesion: Fostex > Havi
Naturalness: Fostex > Havi
Overall details: Fostex ≈ Havi
At first listen the B3 sounds slightly more detailed, but that's because of its larger soundstage and better instrument separation. The B3 is a really good IEM, however its (especially upper) treble is slightly less natural sounding and the bass appears a bit blunt (but it is very fast as well).
Overall I'd say both are identically good, though B3's soundstage is clearly better.
TE-02: more neutral, "relaxed" lower/lower middle treble, slightly faster bass impact, smaller soundstage, inferior instrument separation, more bass details, better midrange details, lower treble details, better treble naturalness
B3 Pro I (stock black single-flange tips with red lower): warmer ground-tone, more present lower/lower middle treble, slightly slower bass impact and slightly dull/blunt bass, larger soundstage, better instrument separation, lower bass details, lower midrange details, better treble details, lower treble naturalness
Neutrality: Fostex >.5 Havi
Soundstage expansion (width + Depth): Fostex <<< Havi
Instrument separation: Fostex << Havi
Bass speed: Fostex > Havi
Low frequency detail: Fostex >> Havi
Mid frequency detail: Fostex ≈> Havi
High frequency detail: Fostex < Havi
Cohesion: Fostex > Havi
Naturalness: Fostex > Havi
Overall details: Fostex ≈ Havi
At first listen the B3 sounds slightly more detailed, but that's because of its larger soundstage and better instrument separation. The B3 is a really good IEM, however its (especially upper) treble is slightly less natural sounding and the bass appears a bit blunt (but it is very fast as well).
Overall I'd say both are identically good, though B3's soundstage is clearly better.
headdict
This was quick indeed. Many thanks! Factoring in the price difference and the Fostex's better noise isolation (I suppose?), this looks like a must-buy-without-hesitation.
ianeith
I use these to listen to Led Zep in the pool.
SerenaxD
Nice review! I pulled the trigger right after reading your review...
My preliminary thoughts are similar to yours - these are a no brainer purchase for those who need some "batterbuds" for exercise!
My preliminary thoughts are similar to yours - these are a no brainer purchase for those who need some "batterbuds" for exercise!
yusufbeyazpinar
@HiFiChris
Do you know anything about TE-02n? I received those instead of TE-02WP's.
They are also waterproof, but the specifications are completely different.
40 Ohms, 20-20.000HZ, 102dB sensitivity...
I can not decide if I should sell them without opening the box or try them...
Do you know anything about TE-02n? I received those instead of TE-02WP's.
They are also waterproof, but the specifications are completely different.
40 Ohms, 20-20.000HZ, 102dB sensitivity...
I can not decide if I should sell them without opening the box or try them...
HiFiChris
@yusufbeyazpinar
I have no idea to be honest. It could be that these are tuned differently, probably with more bass (as many assumptions will be "waterproof" -> "sports in-ears" -> "bassy").
If you ordered them directly from Amazon ("sold and fulfilled by Amazon"), you can open them without any risk and then send them back.
I have no idea to be honest. It could be that these are tuned differently, probably with more bass (as many assumptions will be "waterproof" -> "sports in-ears" -> "bassy").
If you ordered them directly from Amazon ("sold and fulfilled by Amazon"), you can open them without any risk and then send them back.
yusufbeyazpinar
@HiFiChris
I bought them from eBay, unfortunately Amazon was not shipping to Istanbul. And also shipping will cost as much as the iems itself. I suppose, it will be better to sell them without opening the box. Thanks a alot.
I bought them from eBay, unfortunately Amazon was not shipping to Istanbul. And also shipping will cost as much as the iems itself. I suppose, it will be better to sell them without opening the box. Thanks a alot.
james444
Great review, thanks! You really got me curious about these
@yusufbeyazpinar: I ordered both the TE-02WP and TE-02n, and should have them by end of the week. Then I can tell you how they compare.
@yusufbeyazpinar: I ordered both the TE-02WP and TE-02n, and should have them by end of the week. Then I can tell you how they compare.
james444
Got both the TE-02WP and TE-02n, and the latter are even tighter and less bassy than the former. Make the WP sound "fun" in comparison lol.
mohdkhamsya
Going for $11 on Amazon right now!
mgunin
Thanks for finding this bang-for-buck, Chris! Has anyone compared TE-02 to TE-05 by any chance?
s4tch
thanks for the review, Chris! i ordered these from amazon based on the review, they arrived like 2 weeks ago, and they already sounded nice and easy out of the box. i never found flat frequency response boring, so these are absolutely my kind of earphones. bass extension could be better, but i mostly listen to metal, and sub bass is not really represented in this type of music, so i'm totally fine with the sound tn02n provides. bass response is tighter than i expected from anything in this price range. good job, fostex!
