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Member of the Trade: Lachlanlikesathing
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SInce I've had some time with the A1's now, and it doesn't look like I'll have a real chance to write a full review, I can give some fuller impressions of the A1 here.
I would say that the A1 sounds about 75% like the DDM. That is, it has the same basic emphasis on its sound. Where the sound differs from the DDM is that instead of the DDM's dry politeness, the A1 sounds lusher and more wet - with more forward mids and a rounder tone to notes, like how the CK90Pro gives a roundness to electronic tones. There is no dip to be found in the treble so that female vocals end up sounding clear as opposed to diffuse, though treble roll off and detail are similar.
The A1's do not quite have as much bass extension or dynamic range as the DDM's - so while the A1 can have a huge impact with bass notes and substantially more than say, anything like the RE0, Etymotics or even the CK90Pro, it doesn't have the kind of delicacy and dynamics that make guitar plucking sound like it is happening right next to your ear as the DDM does. Overall timbre if you looked at how all instruments were produced though, is better than the DDM.
In terms of soundstaging and instrument seperation, the A1 does not have the at times eerie out of head sound stage that the DDM does (which may or may not be realistic.) It does however have better instrument separation within that soundstage, with a wonderful sense of placement in depth and stereo separation - I would say better than the DDM.
All round, I would say the A1 is a better sound, and while it doesn't have the sheer emotive power the DDM has on certain tracks, the A1 delivers everything with a really tasty sound. Yes, I would agree with shigzeo that the colourations and accents the A1 has are 'tasty', without being overdone.
I'm not surprised that the A1's are hard to find now - it seems any discussion at all on Head-Fi generates interest, and FAD as I understand is very small and inhouse production. While I have no idea what shaved aluminium is, I'm assuming its not too easy to produce. Now, if it was Apple aluminium, with the texture created by firing beads and water at the surface, that would be even more lovely...
EricP you might be interested to know, inspired by you I went ahead and bought "Kind Of Blue" at an album store which always seems to have it on sale. It's incredibly soothing, and I think I could get into Jazz heh. I can also see why you like the DDM's for this kind of music. Well I can say that the A1's sound just as nice, with actually a bit more clarity and tone to the bass, and with the brass instruments as standing out really clear (a big improvement over the DDM's) without being aggressive. The A1 is a bit more revealing of the background hiss of this recording as well. They are both great IEMs for this album though - a real relaxing kind of ambience.
As I've said, in all cases I find that brass instruments, violins, and electronic tones do best on the A1 in the same way that guitars and pianos are fantastic on the DDM.
Shigzeo, I listened to some of Broken Social Scene off youtube, and I love it. From your label of chaotic alternative, I was expecting a bit off the wall like Late of the Pier or something, but what I hear is like a more acoustic and melodic version of Boards of Canada with whispery indie vocals. I'm defintely adding this to the list of CD's I have to acquire. If you like this, I'm wondering if you like the other Canadian favourites, the Junior Boys, or the XX, or if you've checked out the new Sufjan Stevens album, Age of Adz. They aren't completely the same, but have a similar vibe. The A1's sound great for these as well =D
In terms of build, I've slowly gotten used to the thin cable, and I guess only time can tell its durability. The comfort and lightness makes it as comfortable to me as something like the easy to fit RE0, and isolation is a bit better than the DDM which makes it a much better option for out and about. Microphonics really are minimal.
If I had to describe the sound to someone who hadn't heard the DDMs, I would say the key words are: punchy, clean bass, sweet and smooth mids, and crystal treble - though not as airy as say something like the RE0 or the Ety. It's a tremendously easy to live with sound with no major shortcomings that will leave you wondering, "what if" all that often. If I could get an A1 with the DDM's absolute to 20hz bass extension with better dynamics, and outrageous treble extension, I would be ecstatic. For $300 dollars though I'm pretty sure I got what I paid for, except cable quality.
I'm actually wondering how these do compare to a similarly priced SM3 though.
I would say that the A1 sounds about 75% like the DDM. That is, it has the same basic emphasis on its sound. Where the sound differs from the DDM is that instead of the DDM's dry politeness, the A1 sounds lusher and more wet - with more forward mids and a rounder tone to notes, like how the CK90Pro gives a roundness to electronic tones. There is no dip to be found in the treble so that female vocals end up sounding clear as opposed to diffuse, though treble roll off and detail are similar.
The A1's do not quite have as much bass extension or dynamic range as the DDM's - so while the A1 can have a huge impact with bass notes and substantially more than say, anything like the RE0, Etymotics or even the CK90Pro, it doesn't have the kind of delicacy and dynamics that make guitar plucking sound like it is happening right next to your ear as the DDM does. Overall timbre if you looked at how all instruments were produced though, is better than the DDM.
In terms of soundstaging and instrument seperation, the A1 does not have the at times eerie out of head sound stage that the DDM does (which may or may not be realistic.) It does however have better instrument separation within that soundstage, with a wonderful sense of placement in depth and stereo separation - I would say better than the DDM.
All round, I would say the A1 is a better sound, and while it doesn't have the sheer emotive power the DDM has on certain tracks, the A1 delivers everything with a really tasty sound. Yes, I would agree with shigzeo that the colourations and accents the A1 has are 'tasty', without being overdone.
I'm not surprised that the A1's are hard to find now - it seems any discussion at all on Head-Fi generates interest, and FAD as I understand is very small and inhouse production. While I have no idea what shaved aluminium is, I'm assuming its not too easy to produce. Now, if it was Apple aluminium, with the texture created by firing beads and water at the surface, that would be even more lovely...
EricP you might be interested to know, inspired by you I went ahead and bought "Kind Of Blue" at an album store which always seems to have it on sale. It's incredibly soothing, and I think I could get into Jazz heh. I can also see why you like the DDM's for this kind of music. Well I can say that the A1's sound just as nice, with actually a bit more clarity and tone to the bass, and with the brass instruments as standing out really clear (a big improvement over the DDM's) without being aggressive. The A1 is a bit more revealing of the background hiss of this recording as well. They are both great IEMs for this album though - a real relaxing kind of ambience.
As I've said, in all cases I find that brass instruments, violins, and electronic tones do best on the A1 in the same way that guitars and pianos are fantastic on the DDM.
Shigzeo, I listened to some of Broken Social Scene off youtube, and I love it. From your label of chaotic alternative, I was expecting a bit off the wall like Late of the Pier or something, but what I hear is like a more acoustic and melodic version of Boards of Canada with whispery indie vocals. I'm defintely adding this to the list of CD's I have to acquire. If you like this, I'm wondering if you like the other Canadian favourites, the Junior Boys, or the XX, or if you've checked out the new Sufjan Stevens album, Age of Adz. They aren't completely the same, but have a similar vibe. The A1's sound great for these as well =D
In terms of build, I've slowly gotten used to the thin cable, and I guess only time can tell its durability. The comfort and lightness makes it as comfortable to me as something like the easy to fit RE0, and isolation is a bit better than the DDM which makes it a much better option for out and about. Microphonics really are minimal.
If I had to describe the sound to someone who hadn't heard the DDMs, I would say the key words are: punchy, clean bass, sweet and smooth mids, and crystal treble - though not as airy as say something like the RE0 or the Ety. It's a tremendously easy to live with sound with no major shortcomings that will leave you wondering, "what if" all that often. If I could get an A1 with the DDM's absolute to 20hz bass extension with better dynamics, and outrageous treble extension, I would be ecstatic. For $300 dollars though I'm pretty sure I got what I paid for, except cable quality.
I'm actually wondering how these do compare to a similarly priced SM3 though.
