Obravo ERIB2a UK Tour

[glassmonkey]

I've now driven the ERIB2A out of the Cyberdrive Feather DAC/Amp (next to no power), and using the iFi iCAN SE (4 watts) and the Airist Audio Heron 5 (5W). It really sings with extra juice. The soundstage becomes like an open full size headphone. I think it has a bit more expansive stage than my HD600 (panty-hose mod, opens up stage). It is a really impressive headphone. It takes a lot of power for the bass to fully show up, though. The Heron 5 gets that bass to show up with no EQ. The iCAN SE needs a touch of bass boost from the switch on the DAC (one dot). These also responded really well to the 3D switch on the iCAN SE. I'll be taking these to work next week and shipping them off to the next. I think I've got through Thursday on these, but I don't know if the post office is open on Good Friday, so I might have to keep them for a few days longer. Apologies to the next in line.
 
These are pretty special IEMs, but they also might be pretty polarizing, as they are IEMs that crave the power of a desktop amp, which is a contradiction in terms. You can drive them on less, and they'll sound good, but bass light and over-crisp. I also think that the price needs to come down on these a bit. And like @mark2410, I think that the case is a pile of stupid. IEM tip stands? Foam insert? Enough room for 5 headphones? What were they thinking?

 

[Takeanidea]

Hi I tend to look at it this way - put these in a smartphone and take them out for a run and they'll be the clearest sound you've ever run with. Put them in a DAP and EQ them and the sound gets better. Put them through a DAP hooked up with the MoJo they get better still. Put them through the Airist Audio Heron 5 and you'd think you were listening to a top class full size headphone.
That sounds lke a winner for an IEM to me.

 

[PhilW]

I've now driven the ERIB2A out of the Cyberdrive Feather DAC/Amp (next to no power), and using the iFi iCAN SE (4 watts) and the Airist Audio Heron 5 (5W). It really sings with extra juice. The soundstage becomes like an open full size headphone. I think it has a bit more expansive stage than my HD600 (panty-hose mod, opens up stage). It is a really impressive headphone. It takes a lot of power for the bass to fully show up, though. The Heron 5 gets that bass to show up with no EQ. The iCAN SE needs a touch of bass boost from the switch on the DAC (one dot). These also responded really well to the 3D switch on the iCAN SE. I'll be taking these to work next week and shipping them off to the next. I think I've got through Thursday on these, but I don't know if the post office is open on Good Friday, so I might have to keep them for a few days longer. Apologies to the next in line.

These are pretty special IEMs, but they also might be pretty polarizing, as they are IEMs that crave the power of a desktop amp, which is a contradiction in terms. You can drive them on less, and they'll sound good, but bass light and over-crisp. I also think that the price needs to come down on these a bit. And like @mark2410
, I think that the case is a pile of stupid. IEM tip stands? Foam insert? Enough room for 5 headphones? What were they thinking?

I certainly agree with the polarizing. It will show up those with and without the power to cope.

Price wise put these up against a £599 IE800 and I think you have annihilation.

In relation to bass these only go down to 20 and their TOTL down to 15Hz.

Powered these earphones are currently beating elements of my encore and prefer them in many ways to the LCD headphones.

You're point thought was spot on. An earphone that is like listening to a full size headphone and that's incredible.

 

[Takeanidea]

50 word impressions taster of the ERIB - 2a WHO is the mysterious tour donor? Thanks to EuJin for organising. Stunning in the mids and highs prone to thin and fast in the lower regions which improves with power. No microphonics , comfortable to wear , a sound stage to beat even most full size headphones. Pricey - but... we are headfiers!

Much more detail can be found below :


http://www.head-fi.org/products/obravo-erib-2a/reviews/15498

 

[James Reference]

saw this iem before, a bit interesting 

 

[Takeanidea]

I have , after much digging around in my pockets , decided to spend on the ERIB 2as. Am I (and @glassmonkey) the only ones to see the light? These IEMs are offering a presentation I have not heard in any other IEM ever. Either I've been hiding under a rock for the past few years or these are in a league of their own. The bass is not for everyone , but c'mon the clarity of these things is astonishing 

 

[glassmonkey]

  I have , after much digging around in my pockets , decided to spend on the ERIB 2as. Am I (and @glassmonkey) the only ones to see the light? These IEMs are offering a presentation I have not heard in any other IEM ever. Either I've been hiding under a rock for the past few years or these are in a league of their own. The bass is not for everyone , but c'mon the clarity of these things is astonishing 

I just realized that I hadn't linked to my review over here. I loved these headphones, and the more I listened to them, the more I loved them. I'm honestly considering selling my recent purchase, the Airist Audio Heron 5, to get these. The way I see it, if I can get a really good full-size soundstage, with this kind of performance in a portable that my DX50 pairs beautifully with, what do I need the beefy amp for? I'm not going to be owning an HE6 or HD800 anytime soon. Check out the review.

 

[FortisFlyer75]

I still have to yet to listen to them and review them so will let you guys know if I "also see the light"!? 
 
I initially tried them when I picked them up today from my parents and noticed tips could be very important to getting a good sound from these with the seal as I noticed they sounded not so good with the clear silicone tips then swapped to the comply foam tips and made a difference so will see as I have to finish my Meze review of first so do not want to mess around with trying different tips in my ears which could aggravate them until  I have the Meze done and dusted.

 

[PhilW]

I still have to yet to listen to them and review them so will let you guys know if I "also see the light"!? 

I initially tried them when I picked them up today from my parents and noticed tips could be very important to getting a good sound from these with the seal as I noticed they sounded not so good with the clear silicone tips then swapped to the comply foam tips and made a difference so will see as I have to finish my Meze review of first so do not want to mess around with trying different tips in my ears which could aggravate them until  I have the Meze done and dusted.

Yeah they should ditch the silicone tips tbh.

 

[stormyuklondon1]

Im not part of the tour, but as an owner of the Erib-2a's I have to say once properly powered, IMHO They're astonishing. Ive just got a Pioneer XPD-100r, Im currently enjoying dark side of the moon. wow. just..wow. this is an album I'm intimately familiar with and have on every format bar 8 track ( 5 different issues on vinyl, the wife still can't get her head around that one..!), via my ip6+ the o'bravos exhibit a  lack of bass, glassy treble, no body until you get into the red bars, then unpleasantly bright.. but on the xpd-100r they really sing. 
unfortunately Im not articulate enough to write up a witty and insightful review, but those receiving these on the tour, to paraphrase dads army, they do like it up 'em, Mr Mannering!

 

[Takeanidea]

Mine are at a Post Office awaiting collection- thanks to Phil and a faultless delivery . I've got enough alternatives to keep me happy while I wait for these but am really looking forward to them . Although I feel less financially rich I feel emotionally a millionaire now

 

[ejong7]

Edited the third post for review navigation purposes.
 
 

Mine are at a Post Office awaiting collection- thanks to Phil and a faultless delivery . I've got enough alternatives to keep me happy while I wait for these but am really looking forward to them . Although I feel less financially rich I feel emotionally a millionaire now

 
Seems like both you and @glassmonkey are somewhat poorer financially due in part of my antics. I deeply apologize for you wallet LOL.

 

[PhilW]

Mine are at a Post Office awaiting collection- thanks to Phil and a faultless delivery . I've got enough alternatives to keep me happy while I wait for these but am really looking forward to them . Although I feel less financially rich I feel emotionally a millionaire now

Glad they arrived that quick. Glad this tour is getting them in people's ears. It's great people are getting to hear how special they are. I no longer really listen to the ERIB2 as have my ears permanently sealed with the EAMT3w. Mwahahaha sorry!!

 

[ejong7]

My boy @glassmonkey's review is up on the front page. Nice.

 

[glassmonkey]

Yay! I made it!