FAD's prices are another matter altogether and while some may hate them, I have no problem. I think FAD differentiate themselves a lot like certain car manufacturers do. The entire earphone business is built on exact price/performance issue. Users are bottom feeders in that they always look for best for a certain dollar. While that is hard to answer, of course, finding what you want is as esoteric a research as anything, often expunging brand loyalty.
When I go to the bike shop, the shop manager is the same way. He says: "your next bike will be a Trek." I don't want a Trek. If I had to get an all-carbon made-in-taiwan-just-like-the-rest-of-them bicycle, I'd get a Taiwanese brand like Giant. I chose a very special Canadian manufacturer, Marinoni, who specialise in custom steel. It is overall about 500$ more expensive than a similar Giant or 400$ more than a Trek. But it's hand made and what I really want.
So the whole (for that price, it should be...) price/performance story about FAD earphones I laugh at. They want their image, not a cut-and-dried puzzle fit niche to determine their products. That said, their cables are poor, though the SB model isn't bad.
The A1 and SB models are in line with other competitor's prices, but still come out at the 'expensive' end for single balanced armatures. The extra money, if all you want is the best penny-pinching performance, would probably be better spent on a Sennheiser MX500. I really enjoy what FAD do and this time, other than the cable, I feel they got the formula right.
James, I may come out of retirement!
