time to chime in:
I’ve been listening the DBA-02 for the last week, and must say I’m truly ecstatic about their performance!! Quite transparent, fast, very, very detailed, but presenting a little emphasis on upper mid-range. On the first days I had issues with fit with stock tips, which I believe contributed with the harsh sound perceived on a few recordings. Switched to Klipsch’s smallest double-flange tips and things improved a bit.
Regarding bass performance, coming from Klipsch X10 and Denon 700s, I was afraid DBA’s bass would not be sufficient, but to my surprise I do not miss a thing. Bass is tight, fast, and controlled. if the recording has it, it will show up! X10 bass feels bloated in comparison, and Denon’s, well, like an uncontrolled beast!! Just terrible.
Imaging and instrument separation are terrific! They remind me the legendary Quad electrostatic speakers on these regards!! Really beautiful.
No matter what music genre I throw at them, they sound beautiful, and fun to listen to.
Have tried Porcupine Tree’s albums , and until now didn't realized how much is going on their music. Dreg´s El Cielo sounds just perfect. But special mention has to go to Premiata Forneria Marconi’s Per un amico!! One of my all-time-favorite progressive rock albums. This is a 1972 production with demanding dynamics, and a mixture of instruments (guitar, piccolo, violin, flute, moog synthesizer, mellotron, piano, drums, etc.), where every voice and instrument is rendered with uncanny detail and precision!! Best reproduction ever for a masterpiece!!
In order to check on accuracy (timbre?), I played a C4trio album, composed of 3 “cuatros”, a Latin American 4-string small guitar, instrument I have heard live a hundred times!! Well, DBAs performs perfectly here!!
Then I tried several Sixun albums (terrific French jazz-fusion group) and again, I would listen to this group endlessly with the DBAs.
Yesterday I went back to the X10…. Like watching a movie with optics out of focus!!! Dark and veiled. Funny thing is I regarded the X10 as excellent IEMs. As the saying goes “you don´t miss what you don´t know”.
Out of curiosity, I did a frequency swept with a sine wave generator software, listening to DBA-02 at the analog output of my laptop, and I measured a peak of approximately 4 db @ 6,400 Hz referenced to 1000 Hz level. I guess this explains harsh sound on some recordings. With Rockbox I configured an equalizer setting with a a peak of – 4 db @ 6,400 Hz to level things out. Applying this setting I get an even smoother sound but losing a little sparkle!!
I have been listening the DBAs from HP output of my 5.5 gen Rocboxed Ipod, and the harsh sound I hear now and then, is diminished when listening via the laptop analog output. I have the feeling that going LOD plus amp would improve things even more!
To sum it up, after listening the DBAs I wonder how much to I’d have to pay in order to get a significant SQ improvement! For me, they provide quite an emotional and fun connection to music. And they are really addictive!! Thanks to this forum for allowing me to discover such a wonderful transducer , and such a bargain ¡!
