AIAIAI TMA-1

[dfkt]

Very well put, Toughnut. Very well.
 
Comparing the TMA-1 to the twice as expensive T50p makes me smile... or cry.

 

[The Larch]

This is good news as mine have just landed here in the U.S.

 

[tds101]

I must have these, as the SQ is something I must experience. I hate you all, my wallet cries,..................Thanks for being such a great bunch of educators!!!!

 

[dfkt]

 

[9VARZ]

Hey guys! First post here, although I've been lurking around for some time already.
 
I noticed no one has talked about the SQ properly yet. How are these as an upgrade from a HD555? In particular, the mids, highs and soundstage?
 
I know most have already discussed the bass in quantity, but how is the quality like? In particular, how deep does it go and is it punchy and tight or is it going to develop into another FOTM pair of cans?
 
Thanks all!

 

[Kernmac]

Love the minimalistic look of these fons, and it seems to translate to functional design.  The flexible nylon/rubberised finished skin, looks almost indestructable. Size seems good for a portable/transportable and pad change supplied should provide varied sound.  Having a 3.5 mm conector at both ends means that cable changing will be a snap, even compatible with off the shelf electrical store options.
 
Reviews would suggest that sound quality is reasonable, at least comparable to similar priced headphones from more established companies, Sennheiser, AKG and ATH portable options.  I think I will pick a pair of these up and check out their sound performance and form factor for myself.

 

[The Larch]

Nice first impressions.

 

[9VARZ]

Quote:

Nice first impressions.

Do post your impressions on the sounds as well!

 

[Philimon]

Quote:

Love the minimalistic look of these fons, and it seems to translate to functional design.  The flexible nylon/rubberised finished skin, looks almost indestructable. Size seems good for a portable/transportable and pad change supplied should provide varied sound.  Having a 3.5 mm conector at both ends means that cable changing will be a snap, even compatible with off the shelf electrical store options.
 
Reviews would suggest that sound quality is reasonable, at least comparable to similar priced headphones from more established companies, Sennheiser, AKG and ATH portable options.  I think I will pick a pair of these up and check out their sound performance and form factor for myself.

Looking forward to your impressions of these headphones.
 
I also really dig the looks. The style remind me a bit of the FA004 (which I own and appreciate their "retro" look too), except more durable, expensive, better, etc.:
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/508308/given-away-fischer-audio-fa-004

 

[dfkt]

Made another cable for on the go, shorter and lighter than the one I made for at home. Absolutely no imbalanced feeling or tugging. It's from a Cowon stock earbud - used the cable's molded Y-splitter as strain relief for the Neutrik plug, easy as pie:

 

[toughnut]

Does the cable affects the sound quality?
 
I tried a cheap cable (those bundled with LCD monitor) with nickel plated plug, the sound totally collapsed. Narrow soundstage, in-your-face mid, boomy bass and metallic high. Urrghh.
 
Currently waiting for canare starquad cable to arrive.

 

[dfkt]

No, it sounds exactly the same as the professional quality cable I made before. The stock one sounds the same as well, despite having an electrical resistance of 2.2 Ohm, while the professional and the Cowon cable both have a resistance of 0.1 Ohm.

 

[thaddeussmith]

Quote:

Does the cable affects the sound quality?
 
I tried a cheap cable (those bundled with LCD monitor) with nickel plated plug, the sound totally collapsed. Narrow soundstage, in-your-face mid, boomy bass and metallic high. Urrghh.
 
Currently waiting for canare starquad cable to arrive.

I used canare mini star quad for my recable and could not really discern any difference from the stock cable.

 

[Kernmac]

[size=medium]AIAIAI-TMA-1 Pre-Review[/size]
 
[size=medium]BackGround:[/size]
[size=medium]The AIAIAI (eye, eye, eye) TMA-1 based on promo info and background process development (involving DJs) was obviously produced for the DJ target market.  Many DJ headphones are large circum-aural designs with high visibility branding present.[/size]
[size=medium]The TMA-1 is a supra-aural headphone, with no obvious branding presence whatsoever (subtle branding is on the inside of the headband).  The obvious market competitor is therefore the Sennheiser HD25 (SP, 1-11).  I don’t know how big the DJ market is, however the Sen HD25 has a significant portable/transportable following outside DJing and I suspect AIAIAI would like to grab a slice of that market as well.[/size]
 
[size=medium]The portable potential of the TMA-1 is what attracted me to try them, and as I am not a DJ, my review will focus on the function of them as a portable, MP3 on the move type headphone (around the house mostly) and lying in bed late at night using just an MP3, not my stationary rig.[/size]
 
[size=medium]For my needs, a portable (transportable/flexible) headphone must have certain characteristics to perform well, in no such order:[/size]
[size=medium]Sound-I don’t expect them to have comparable sound qualities as much more expensive non-portable headphones, I don’t expect massive soundstage (isolation and leakage are more important in this type of headphone) however they must still sound great otherwise everything else is pointless.[/size]
 
[size=medium]Comfort-not head crushing or ear mauling, but they must be secure (and be able to be worn when off the ears)[/size]

[size=medium]Durability/rugged construction[/size]

[size=medium]Good Isolation and minimal leakage[/size]
 
[size=medium]Efficient-must be able to be driven by just an MP3 player[/size]
 
 
[size=medium]IEMs are the obvious answer, however although I can wear IEMs (had Koss Plug, CX300 and E2C), they just don’t do it for me.  I have previously had Sen HD228, PX100, PX200 and Bose-On Ear and they all had their strengths and weaknesses, however the only one I have kept is the PX100 and it obviously struggles in the isolation/leakage aspects, and is also only basic in sound quality, albeit as good as or better than the others mentioned, despite it being the cheapest.[/size]
 
[size=medium]I also had the brilliant sounding ESW9, however despite superior sound quality to the others mentioned, they aren’t significant performers in the isolation/leakage department and are probably a little delicate in their construction to meet all my needs and can’t be worm around the neck comfortably when off the ears either.[/size]
 
[size=medium]So on to the AIAIAI  TMA-1.  I have ordered them and they should be here in about a week.[/size]
 
  

 

[The Larch]

Have I got the premium audio cable for you, check out the size of this bad boy.

 
Quote:

Does the cable affects the sound quality?
 
I tried a cheap cable (those bundled with LCD monitor) with nickel plated plug, the sound totally collapsed. Narrow soundstage, in-your-face mid, boomy bass and metallic high. Urrghh.
 
Currently waiting for canare starquad cable to arrive.