It may seem ridiculous that I am reviewing relatively expensive headphones just after posting that last entry, but I can't help it.
Fischer Audio is a relative newcomer to the headphone audiophile scene. That in itself is uncommon, since most new headphone companies just ignore the audiophile market, rebrand random junk, and paint cute stars and HARD-RAWKIN skulls on them. While new, Fischer Audio has quickly risen to the top by providing incredible sound quality at extremely low prices. Some of their products have been hailed as the best headphones money can buy at their price ranges. As a budget-conscious audio hobbyist, I can only agree.
I purchased my first Fischer product, the Fischer Audio Eterna, early last year. I was truly impressed by the instrument separation, the warmth and tightness of the mids, the thundering bass, and the overall "fun" sound delivery. I did not expect that from an in-ear monitor (IEM, from now on). The best part, though, was the price. It retailed for SGD 85 at the time, around P3,600! While it may not seem cheap, the price is extremely low in comparison to some other headphones with comparable sound quality. It's been said that the Eterna comes in second after the top-of-the-line Sennheiser IE8, which sell for USD 400 (THAT'S CLOSE TO TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS). With the Eterna, Fischer Audio easily gained my trust.
With the release of the DBA-02, Fischer Audio was in good position to take more of my money, as well. The reviews were all positive (I seriously could not find one negative review, but I didn't try too hard), and it was priced well at SGD200, so I took the plunge.
Besides, I was having severe Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) attacks at the time. My options were:
1) Electronic drum kit
2.) Android tablet
3.) Nexus One
4.) DBA-02
All of these options were hilariously stupid. I had to choose the cheapest stupid option, because I knew it would cure my GAS regardless.
A few weeks later, the DBA-02 arrived in a silly little cardboard box. You think they'd be able to pack it better considering it costs so much.
Is that a clever pun I see in the corner? Nah. It's probably just Engrish.
The accessories are quite comprehensive, however. It comes with five pairs of tips, a pair of cable guides for the ears, and a tiny pouch. Honestly, I would have preferred the Eterna's pouch, but there's little I can do about that.
The test setup for the DBA-02 is in the following photo.
For those who want to know, that's a JDLabs Surgeon's Amp with
a silver 3.5mm cable and an Encore ENMAB.
Also pictured: nerdy mousepad.
And here's the star of the show:
I use different tips for each ear because my right ear canal is smaller than my left.
It looks OK, I guess. It's definitely more on the geek side of things, but at least it's something you can wear in public. Unlike these. (WARNING: LAME LEVEL HAS BEEN FOUND TO MELT BRAINS.)
I took the DBA-02 for a test run on a few tracks of different genres using VLC and varying bitrates. I never went below 256kbps for any of these. I will try to avoid using silly adjectives, such as "musical" or "liquid".
Death - Crystal Mountain
The drums sound incredible! Very well defined, and clearly separated from each other, as well as the other instruments. The bass is just big enough to be heard, but not loud enough to drown everything else.
Foo Fighters - Everlong
I love this song. It rapes me in Rock Band. Anyway, whoa. The distorted guitar chord that comes in at 0:10 isn't one continuous, consistent sound after all. I can hear all the pitch changes in the distortion @_@
Behemoth - Ov Fire and the Void
This is by FAR the most complex song in this list, and I was wondering how the DBA-02 would handle it. Being TR00LY BR00TAL KVLT DEATH METAL, many headphones just dissolve the song into an unintelligible mess, but I've found that the DBA-02 presents it very well. The DBA-02 simply excels at instrument separation, and I could easily tell the instruments apart even at the song's worst wall-of-sound moments.
The Sundays - When I'm Thinking About You
OK holy crap. Vocals are much more interesting to listen to when the headphones can reveal the intricacies of a voice. It's a very, very different experience.
Dio - Don't Talk To Strangers
From the first second onwards, this song shines with the DBA-02. The intro guitars sound crisp and detailed. I can hear the strings vibrating. Even the echo behind the vocals is distinguishable. The bass guitar is actually audible!
JUDGMENT
Pros:
- Clean, neutral sound
- Extreme detail
- Tight, controlled bass. I REALLY hate boomy fart bass, and I'm glad the DBA-02 doesn't have it.
- Great sound positioning, especially for an IEM
- Effective noise canceling
- Lots of accessories
- Excellent price!
Cons:
- CRAPPY CABLE. It literally failed within two weeks. The right ear IEM stopped playing anything. I'm lucky I can solder. Oh, and the cable looks a little weird.
- WTF packaging. A cardboard box? Really?
- No bumps to indicate left / right IEM. I know, it's a nitpick, but it's quite hard to read the L/R signs below the clear plastic case. Besides, those bumps are useful in the dark.
If you have SGD 200 to spend on anything, you should consider this. It WILL show you sounds that your current headphones hide from your favorite songs. Come to think of it, it's a great price for something that will most likely make your listening time a lot better. Just make sure you know someone who can solder. :S
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