Will2
New Head-Fier
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- May 24, 2009
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Withdraw post ..... sorry ..... I think I've found where I can answer my question without having to bother you all.
IjokerI, do you think the Sanso Clip + is a worthy component for IEMs such as TF10, IE80, FXT90? Or would you recommend stepping to another device?
Also, do you think there is a discernable SQ difference between FLAC and MP3 (320 kbps)?
And thank you for sharing all the information that you do.
These are on your profile source section: iPod 5G/5.5G/4G Nano.
do you still have any of them to test with Miracle?
IjokerI, do you think the Sanso Clip + is a worthy component for IEMs such as TF10, IE80, FXT90? Or would you recommend stepping to another device?
Also, do you think there is a discernable SQ difference between FLAC and MP3 (320 kbps)?
And thank you for sharing all the information that you do.
Joker, have the JVC FXT90 as strong treble as the JVC FX700? I am wanting to buy it, but i have fear of it be as fatiguing as the FX700.
Joker, I 100% understand that you cant spend time with every ~$400 universal to come down the pike, but for all the fanfare around earphones like the W4 and SM3, I see very little on Head-Fi about Grado's GR10. I suspect that its a combination of the price and the fact that a single-driver, lime green (!) earphone just isn't what the kids are looking for at that price point. The reviews that I have read are positive, but the local distributor here in Oz is something of a rogue - he had previously told me he had a certain model in stock and I've waited months for delivery.
I very much enjoyed the GR10 when I had them as a loaner from another head-fi member. The problem may be price in that Grado usually are very strict on their price so it doesn't deviate from MSRP very often and that the e-Q5 offered very similar sound at a much lower cost. However if I was given the choice I'd pick the GR10 as they were just so comfortable and sounded pretty damn good. It is a shame that it isn't talked about more but it is a good earphone.
(3A63) Fischer Audio FA-977 Jazz
Reviewed Jan 2012
Details: Wooden IEM from Fischer Audio
Current Price: $55 from gd-audiobase.com (MSRP: $55)
Specs: Driver: Dynamic | Imp: 18Ω | Sens: 106 dB | Freq: 5-20k Hz | Cable: 4.1' I-plug
Nozzle Size: 5mm | Preferred tips: Generic bi-flanges, stock single-flanges
Wear Style: Straight down or over-the-ear
Accessories (2/5) - Single-flange silicone tips (3 sizes) and soft carrying pouch
Build Quality (3.5/5) – The large wooden housings of the FA-977 are trimmed in gold, as are the y-split and I-plug. The brown cable is plasticky and of average thickness, with no cable cinch and hard plastic strain reliefs. Mild driver flex is present
Isolation (3.5/5) – Large housings prevent deep insertion but isolation is easily above average
Microphonics (3.5/5) – Can be bothersome when worn cord-down but lower than with Fischer’s cloth cord. Low when worn cord-up
Comfort (3/5) – Straight-barrel housings are lightweight but surprisingly large. Sizeable diameter prevents deep insertion and may make them uncomfortable for those with smaller outer ears.
Sound (6.4/10) – Quite possibly the most unique of Fischer’s mid-tier models, the Jazz provides a forward yet spacious sound that works surprisingly well when taken as a total package. The bass has decent depth and good impact, lagging only a little behind the Sunrise i100 on both counts. It is punchy but not particularly tight or crisp – mediocre resolution leaves the low end somewhat muddy and ill-defined. Other than the mediocre control, the bass is pleasant – punchy, full, and smooth. Bass depth is average – the pricier Consonance model offers significantly more sub-bass in addition to better detail and texture.
The mids of the Jazz are smooth and prominent. Vocals are forward, balancing well with the impactful low end, and the tone is warm overall. Clarity and detail again suffer due to the mediocre resolution - all of the higher-end Fischer models I’ve tried are superior to the Jazz in this regard. The Ceramique especially sounds much cleaner and more refined, though it lacks some of the fullness of the Jazz. The similarly-priced Brainwavz M2 also offers up better clarity while the cheaper Sunrise i100 falls behind only a little.
The treble transition is smooth and the top end is laid back in comparison to the midrange. The Jazz does a good job of cutting out sibilance but sounds just a hair dark compared to the Ceramique. It also lacks energy with cymbals compared to the Consonance or even the Paradigm v.3. The presentation is wide and spacious despite the forward midrange. The earphones sound airy and open – more so than a Brainwavz M2, for example – but suffer from mediocre dynamics and average separation. The similarly-priced Paradigm v.3 has a smaller soundstage but easily surpasses the separation of the Jazz.
Value (7/10) – With dozens of wooden earphones on the market, Fischer Audio’s FA-977 Jazz stands out mostly with its sound signature, combining a fairly large soundstage with intimate, forward mids and hard-hitting but not overbearing bass response. Competitors with this type of sound signature are few and far between, making the Jazz a good buy for some, but those who are not looking for this particular signature may want to pay a bit more for a Paradigm v.3 or Consonance instead.
Pros: Unique mid-forward sound with good bass punch
Cons: Large housings; Clarity and detail not as impressive as with other Fischer IEMs
(3A64) Fischer Audio Paradigm v.3
Reviewed Jan 2012
Details: angled-nozzle earphone from FA
Current Price: $58 from gd-audiobase.com (MSRP: $58)
Specs: Driver: Dynamic | Imp: 18Ω | Sens: 106 dB | Freq: 6-25k Hz | Cable: 4.1' 45º-plug
Nozzle Size: 4.5mm | Preferred tips: Stock single-flanges
Wear Style: Straight down
Accessories (2/5) - Single-flange (2 sizes) and bi-flange silicone tips; soft carrying pouch
Build Quality (4/5) – The construction of the Paradigm v.3 is similar to that of the similarly-priced Consonance. The housings are plastic but seem to be put together well. The nozzle filters are metal and the strain reliefs are sturdy yet flexible all around. The nylon-sheathed cables are somewhat tangle-prone
Isolation (3/5) – Large, vented housings prevent deep insertion but isolation is still decent
Microphonics (2.5/5) – Quite bothersome when worn cord-down and cable-up wear is made difficult by the driver bulge and angled-nozzle housings
Comfort (4/5) – The housings are lightweight but large and fit more like the half-in-ear FA-788 model than slimmer angled-nozzle sets such as the JVC FX500 and Denon C710. Sizeable housing diameter also prevents deep insertion and may make them slightly uncomfortable for those with smaller outer ears
Sound (7.2/10) – The Fischer Audio Paradigm v.3 takes on a fairly well-balanced sound signature, contrasting sharply with the more v-shaped Consonance and the more mid-forward Jazz. The bass has decent depth and good punch – the Paradigm is not constantly bass-heavy as the Consonance tends to be but is more than capable of belting out low notes when necessary. Impact is generally similar to the Jazz and while the Paradigm does have similarly average detail levels, its superior dynamics and bass control result in a more realistic low end.
The midrange of the Paradigm v.3 is clearer and less forward than that of the Jazz but is by no means recessed or distant. The mids are crisp and well-defined, with the Paradigm being quicker and more resolving. With its lesser bass depth, slightly thinner note presentation, and minimal bloat, the Paradigm also lacks the warmth of the Jazz, sounding more neutral and closer to the similarly-priced Ceramique.
The treble is fairly detailed and has some sparkle. It is not as smooth as that of the Ceramique, instead boasting some unevenness reminiscent of the Consonance and Soundmagic’s E10. Top-end extension is average and the Paradigm sounds a touch dark next to the Ceramique. The presentation is fairly average as well – the soundstage is not as large as that of the Jazz even though the Paradigm tends to sound more laid-back on the whole and instrument separation is quite good. Layering, however, isn’t particularly impressive and the Paradigm can’t quite match the more versatile 3-D imaging of the Consonance.
Value (7.5/10) – The Paradigm v.3 is yet another impressive mid-range earphone from Fischer, combining a balanced sound signature with a comfortable form factor and well thought-out build. Those who require high isolation or tend to be active while wearing earphones may want to look for a deeper-fitting earphone that can be worn cord-up more easily but on the whole the Paradigm is a worthy all-rounder.
Pros: Comfortable and well-built; balanced and capable sound
Cons: Tough to wear over-the-ear; microphonics can be annoying
Joker, I 100% understand that you cant spend time with every ~$400 universal to come down the pike, but for all the fanfare around earphones like the W4 and SM3, I see very little on Head-Fi about Grado's GR10. I suspect that its a combination of the price and the fact that a single-driver, lime green (!) earphone just isn't what the kids are looking for at that price point. The reviews that I have read are positive, but the local distributor here in Oz is something of a rogue - he had previously told me he had a certain model in stock and I've waited months for delivery.
Thanks for this post...referred to it many time when deciding