T-PEOS H-200 - new triple hybrid IEM - Impressions thread

[H20Fidelity]

Possibly try changing the cable on your H-200 to (red) and recheck the soundstage. My review was done mostly with the black mic cable because my red cable arrived partly faulty, which at the time and others have mentioned I felt the mic cable sounded a little richer around the mid range but the stage was suffering in width. As you can see in my review I questioned the soundstage, however since changing to the red cable my thoughts seem to be changing slightly on that subject, and I'm noticing more width.

I'll have an upgrade custom 7N OCC Silver Plated Cable with Viablue plug coming soon.

I'll write up an impression on any changes I detect.

 

[Carlsan]

Quote:

COMPARISON: T-PEOS H-200 VS SONY XBA-3ip

 
 
I wonder if your review would have been different with the XBA-30's. The 30's have better mids then the the XBA-3's, and that metallic sound in the highs is gone. The XBA-30's retain all the strengths of the 3's, excellent bass extension, detail and sound-stage, but improve on it as I just noted.
 
Granted, I haven't pulled out my XBA-30's in a while, and, as another happy H-200 owner, enjoy them a lot.
 
I'm terrible at comparison's but if I get a chance I'll throw in my .02$, when I get a chance.
 
This is a bit like comparing apples and oranges, as the XBA-30's were about $160 or so from Amazon Japan, with another $20 or so in Tenso shipping fees.
 
The H-200 is a $250 earphone, that some of us picked up at the early pricing offer of $200. 
If cost is an indicator, which it often it is not, then the H-200 should sound better.

 

[waynes world]

Quote:

Granted, I haven't pulled out my XBA-30's in a while, and, as another happy H-200 owner, enjoy them a lot.
 
I'm terrible at comparison's but if I get a chance I'll throw in my .02$, when I get a chance.

When you get the chance, that comparison would be interesting!

 

[d marc0]

Quote:

It was a nice write up. But I do not like how much he likes his H-200's - I won't be getting that PM after all!

 

 
Sorry Wayne! 'guess not even all the possible mods in the world can help the XBA3s win over the H200s ey?! 

 
 

 
 
I wonder if your review would have been different with the XBA-30's. The 30's have better mids then the the XBA-3's, and that metallic sound in the highs is gone. The XBA-30's retain all the strengths of the 3's, excellent bass extension, detail and sound-stage, but improve on it as I just noted.
 

 
It may be possible that the XBA 30's are better than my modded XBA 3. If only I had one to compare against my modded XBA 3... but based on Rin's analysis on the XBA 30 vs 3, the filter is the main factor on improving the sound and I think I've achieved that with my current mod. I've never heard my XBA 3s this good since I started modding the filters. This is my 5th filter mod configuration already.
 
 
 

Possibly try changing the cable on your H-200 to (red) and recheck the soundstage. My review was done mostly with the black mic cable because my red cable arrived partly faulty, which at the time and others have mentioned I felt the mic cable sounded a little richer around the mid range but the stage was suffering in width. As you can see in my review I questioned the soundstage, however since changing to the red cable my thoughts seem to be changing slightly on that subject, and I'm noticing more width.

I'll have an upgrade custom 7N OCC Silver Plated Cable with Viablue plug coming soon.

I'll write up an impression on any changes I detect.

 
I've never tried the red cable yet; can you believe it?! I'll try them tomorrow and will post back if the soundstage does improve. I look forward to your cable upgrade impressions as well...

 

[Gintaras]

i am curious to hear more detailed comparison between the two and i am curious to hear what qualities you consider put XBA30 ahead of H200? sorry for impolite question :-D
 
in Europe XBA3 are 170 euros new, which will be 220$ anyway. i also see XBA3 have no detachable cable. but do not be discouraged, this is just me who does not like most sony products, not only their iems

 

[FlySweep]

I owned the XBA-30 (a few months before the H-200).  I'm going off memory here so take it all with a pinch of salt.. but the 30 seemed noticeably more colored in comparison the more neutral-leaning H-200.  The XBA-30 midbass is noticeably more boosted and it's treble was less refined in relation to those some areas on the H-200.  While I enjoyed the XBA-30, the H-200's sound simply sounds more 'mature' and 'professional' to my ears.
 
The XBA-30 might have featured a more voluminous soundstage (namely, a bit wider), but I found the H-200 to image more accurately.. and the H-200 probably has better soundstage depth.  Height is a toss up between the two.  Something both the XBA-30 and H-200 have going for them is cohesiveness... but again, the H-200 sounds more refined and clean to my ears.
 
The big drawback about the XBA-30 is the ridiculously low impedance (8 ohms!).  It needs a DAP with a very low output impedance in order to preserve its intended freq. curve.  Again, it's been awhile since I had the 30, so I'm afraid I can't get too much more specific.

 

[quartertone]

The H-200's stage feels big to me, maybe because the 3D aspect is more significant than individual parameters like width. Hard to measure these things absolutely anyway.

 

[d marc0]

Quote:

I owned the XBA-30 (a few months before the H-200).  I'm going off memory here so take it all with a pinch of salt.. but the 30 seemed noticeably more colored in comparison the more neutral-leaning H-200.  The XBA-30 midbass is noticeably more boosted and it's treble was less refined in relation to those some areas on the H-200.  While I enjoyed the XBA-30, the H-200's sound simply sounds more 'mature' and 'professional' to my ears.
 
The XBA-30 might have featured a more voluminous soundstage (namely, a bit wider), but I found the H-200 to image more accurately.. and the H-200 probably has better soundstage depth.  Height is a toss up between the two.  Something both the XBA-30 and H-200 have going for them is cohesiveness... but again, the H-200 sounds more refined and clean to my ears.
 
The big drawback about the XBA-30 is the ridiculously low impedance (8 ohms!).  It needs a DAP with a very low output impedance in order to preserve its intended freq. curve.  Again, it's been awhile since I had the 30, so I'm afraid I can't get too much more specific.

 
 
Quote:

i am curious to hear more detailed comparison between the two and i am curious to hear what qualities you consider put XBA30 ahead of H200? sorry for impolite question :-D
 
in Europe XBA3 are 170 euros new, which will be 220$ anyway. i also see XBA3 have no detachable cable. but do not be discouraged, this is just me who does not like most sony products, not only their iems

 
Sorry for making the wrong impression guys... my post was a response to Carlsan's question. I meant the XBA 30 may be better than my modded XBA 3. NOT XBA-30 > H-200 

 
And even if the XBA 30 is better than my modded XBA 3, I still don't think it'll be good enough to best the H-200 in the categories I've pointed out in my comparison.
 
I've edited my post to make it more clearer.

 

[ericp10]

The H-200 has opened up beautifully! I love the CKS1000, but spend most of my time listening to the H-200 (when my customs aren't in my ears). The clarity, details, transparency, and richness of bass are stunning. And for those who like bass but claim there is never enough treble, somehow these earphones were tuned to give just the right balance of treble, mids, and bass. Now before someone asks me which one sounds better - the CKS1000 or H-200 - I have to say I can't answer that question because the sound signatures aren't similar at all (instruments, for example, in the CKS1000 sit a bit further back than the H-200, or should say the sound stage). Both are technically brilliant. What I can tell you, however, is that I spend more time listening to the H-200. It's just an easier and smoother listen to the ears. It's like a rich high-end stereo system in your ears.

 

[Oof Oink]

ericp10, have you experienced any driver flex?

 

[Carlsan]

Quote:

 
 
I wonder if your review would have been different with the XBA-30's. The 30's have better mids then the the XBA-3's, and that metallic sound in the highs is gone. The XBA-30's retain all the strengths of the 3's, excellent bass extension, detail and sound-stage, but improve on it as I just noted.
 
Granted, I haven't pulled out my XBA-30's in a while, and, as another happy H-200 owner, enjoy them a lot.
 
I'm terrible at comparison's but if I get a chance I'll throw in my .02$, when I get a chance.
...

 
And my impressions from listening to some indie/electronic type groups this morning, specifically Gliss and Shlohmo, either 320 mp3's or flac played through work pc into Audinst HUD-MX2 vis USB, then finishing off with music from Princess Chelsiea (LOL!!)
 
Verdict: H200's by a  small thump in the bass department. They both sound wonderful with the music that I threw at them, especially when I messed around with the ear tips and used Sony hybrid green tips on both. Sounstage was better on the XPA-30's but the bass, thank you nice big dynamic driver, just makes it sound like it handles the deep end better.  HB-200 bass had nice extension and slower decay which made it sound more natural to my ears. Not that I couldn't live with the XBA-30's mind you, as the rest of the sprectrum sounded quite good.
 
On that note, here is the Princess herself:
 

 

[waynes world]

^ Good impressions Eric! Thanks.

 

[ericp10]

Quote:

^ Good impressions Eric! Thanks.

 
This would be like a mixture of some of the best elements from the CKS1000 and the FXD70, waynes world. I'm quite sure you will dig these (no doubt), especially if you can find them at $200 or around that price. Shoots above $250 in sound quality, but shoots way above $200!!!

 

[zerolight]

Tried the red cable. Surprised. They are louder with the red cable. There's more bass and low mids to my ears too. For me, the black cable sounds richer and more balanced overall but I can see some people preferring the red. Cosmetically I think the braded black cable looks very classy whereas the red - I don't think I'd want to wear that listening at my desk at work. As weighty as the mic is, it's essential for me as I use these with my phone. So fortunate I prefer the black!

 

[zerolight]

Possibly try changing the cable on your H-200 to (red) and recheck the soundstage. My review was done mostly with the black mic cable because my red cable arrived partly faulty, which at the time and others have mentioned I felt the mic cable sounded a little richer around the mid range but the stage was suffering in width. As you can see in my review I questioned the soundstage, however since changing to the red cable my thoughts seem to be changing slightly on that subject, and I'm noticing more width.

I'll have an upgrade custom 7N OCC Silver Plated Cable with Viablue plug coming soon.

I'll write up an impression on any changes I detect.

Curious where you would order such a cable and what type of connectors fit the h200 buds. Thanks.