I have both and use them with my e2c, DT770-80, MS2 and KSC75.
Insert "IMHO" before any of the following comments below.
vibe2 is more open sounding, soundstage is broader. Has more "airy" sound, and treble seems more pronounced. Enclosure is huge... much larger than the guts inside. Input jack is awkwardly located on the side by itself while the output jack, switch and vol knob are on the front panel.
PA2 has more bass and midrange impact. Soundstage is slightly smaller and more "tight" sounding. Enclosure is small, just large enough to house the electronics inside. Charger comes standard and trickle charges NIMHs overnight. Can not run on 1.5V alkalines, they push the circuit into clipping, use 1.2V AA cells and its fine.
The PA2 puts you on stage with the musicians. The vibe2 puts you a couple rows back of the stage so that youre hearing a balance of the stage PA, house pa, surrounded by a large audience.
Both have a very useable volume range, and can play equally silent. The PA2s noise floor comes about just a little earlier in the volume rotation, and both are mildly noisy when the vol is cranked. IMHO noise difference is not significant enough, and should not weigh heavily in your decision.
Both are energy-misers and run for several weeks on a charge. Not a significant enough difference again.
Which do I prefer?
Clearly the PA2 is more portable, and I like how all the controls and jacks are located on the front panel. I piggy back my PA2 with my Muvo and stuff them in a tiny camera bag. Cant quite do that with the vibe2.... at least not to the same degree of portability.
re-charging feature comes standard on the PA2... again it beats the vibe2
The PA2s sound signature is better as a portable too. Its bass heavy / forward midrange signature work very well in noisy environments to overcome ambient noise. Even with my isolating e2c and closed MDRV6.
vibe2 beats the PA2 in sound quality detail and image though. Very light and articulate with my MS2. Sounds much more expensive than it is.
Generally I like the PA2 more for metal and prog-rock, while the vibe2 is better for jazz.
Tight focused image of the PA2 is better for the KSC75. Which can sound sloppy and unrefined without an amp.
Open soundstage and treble sparkle of the vibe2 is better for the bass heavy DT770-80.
MS2... sounds damn good no matter what I plug it into.
Open soundstage and treble sparkle of the vibe2 work WONDERS on the e2c. IMHO you really havent heard an e2c till you hear it through a good, open sounding amp... which the vibe2 certainly is.
Garrett
