Fischer Audio – hört sich nach bester deutscher Wertarbeit an, oder? Ist es aber nicht. Also, zumindest keine deutsche, sondern (Überraschung!) russische Wertarbeit.

Die in St. Petersburg angesiedelte Firma Fischer Audio baut seit 2006 Kopfhörer, Headsets, Accessoires und In-Ear-Hörer, die den Vergleich mit der Weltspitze nicht scheuen müssen, und zwar weder in Bezug auf Verarbeitungsqualität noch auf den Klang. Wir fühlen den Topmodellen aus der Master Series, den DBA-02 MK2 und den TBA-04, auf den Zahn.

Balanced Armature?

Beide In-Ear-Hörer zeichnen sich durch elaborierte Technik in Form von Mehrwegesystemen aus. Im DBA-02 Mk2 arbeiten zwei Schallwandler, einer für den Bassbereich, einer für den Mittelhochton. Im Topmodell TBA-04 sind es sogar derer drei: Bass, Mitten und Hochton kommen in den Genuss gänzlich frequenzgetrennter Treiber und Beschaltung. Ein weiteres Highlight: Fischer Audio verwendet in beiden Modellen sogenannte Balanced- Armature-Treiber. Das Balanced-Armature-Schallwandler-Design (wörtlich: ausgewogener Anker) soll in erster Linie den elektrischen Wirkungsgrad durch den Wegfall der Belastung auf die Membran erhöhen, wie es charakteristisch für die meisten anderen andere Antriebsarten ist. Das Balanced- Armature-Prinzip besteht aus einem Permanentmagneten und einem genau in dessen Magnetfeld zentrierten, beweglich gelagerten Anker mit Spulenwicklungen. Im Zentrum des Magnetfelds gibt es keine resultierende Kraft auf den Anker, daher der Begriff „ausgewogen“. Wenn nun Strom durch die Spule des Ankers fließt, magnetisiert der Anker, so dass er leicht in die eine oder andere Richtung bewegt wird. Die Membran am Anker befestigt und erzeugt durch die Bewegung Schallwellen. BA-Treiber werden aufgrund ihrer geringen Größe und niedrigen Impedanz normalerweise in Ohrkanalhörern (In-Ear-Ohrhörern) und Hörgeräten verwendet. Nachteil: BA-Treiber spielen normalerweise nicht ganz so breitbandig.

Auch erfordern sie eine höhere Abdichtung nach außen als andere Treiberarten, um ihr volles Potenzial liefern zu können. High-End-Modelle wie die beiden Fischer-Audio-In- Ears können mehrere BA-Treiber verwenden, um das Klangspektrum besser darstellen zu können. Mithilfe von passiven Frequenzweichen werden diese zu einem Gesamt-Klangbild kombiniert.

From Russia with love

Die beiden Fischer-Audio-In-Ears sind in Anbetracht der verwendeten Technologie durchaus als noch günstig zu bezeichnen. 149 Euro ruft der deutsche Vertrieb Headsound Audio für das mittlere Modell aus der Master Series der St. Petersburger auf. Für den dritten Frequenzkanal, das aufwendigere Keramikgehäuse und die minimal bessere Ausstattung des Topmodells werden weitere 100 Euro fällig. Beide In-Ears sind sehr gut ausgestattet. 8 (DBA-02) beziehungsweise 9 Paar (TBA-04) verschiedener Ohrpassstücke liegen bei, ein Clip zum Befestigen des Kabels am Revers, je zwei Ohrbügel für festen Halt ohne Zug am Kabel, und eine stabile Transportbox finden sich in den äußerlich fast identischen Verpackungen. Im Gegensatz zum 130 cm langen Flachbandkabel des DBA-02 verwenden die TBA-04 ein 120 cm langes, verdrilltes Kabel. Letzteres ist leicht und bietet durch die Verdrillung bereits etwas Elastizität, und es gibt eine Art Puffer als weitere Zugentlastung im Kabel. Des Weiteren positiv hervorzuheben ist, dass linker und rechter Kanal bei beiden Modellen eindeutig und leicht erkennbar gekennzeichnet sind – im täglichen Umgang ist das eine echte Hilfe.

Dass weder DBA-02 noch TBA-04 über eine Headsetfunktion verfügen, ist angesichts des highfidelen Anspruchs verschmerzbar, führt aber zu Abzügen in der B-Note – schließlich wollen auch audiophile Businessmenschen gerne mal telefonieren, ohne die Ohrhörer herausnehmen zu müssen …

Sitz und Sound

Die breite Auswahl an Ohrpassstücken sollte jedem Besitzer perfekten Sitz der Ohrhörer im Gehörgang ermöglichen – nicht nur unterschiedliche Größen sind im Angebot, sondern auch Aufsätze in unterschiedlichen Formen sowie mit und ohne Schaumstofffüllung zur besseren Schallisolierung – vorbildlich! Als besonders angenehm empfinde ich die im Einsatz kaum spürbaren Ohrbügel, da sie ein fast schwereloses Tragegefühl der nicht gerade kleinen Buds ermöglichen. Die Schallkanäle beider Ohrhörer sind so abgewinkelt, dass sie optimal in den Gehörgang passen. Die TBA-04 sitzen hier für meinen Geschmack noch einen Tick sicherer und weniger spürbar im Ohr, beide Modelle fühlen sich jedoch recht sicher an. Nutzt man die beigelegten Ohrbügel nicht, empfiehlt es sich, dennoch die Kabel über die Ohren nach hinten zu führen, da die spezielle Formgebung beider Modelle das Kabel nach oben aus den Gehäusen herausführt. Die ersten Töne mit dem kleineren Schwesterchen, den DBA-02 Mk2, verblüffen: Selten habe ich eine derart hohe Auflösung und luftige Raumdarstellung mit einem In-Ear gehört. Percussion und der Hall von Stimmen und Instrumenten scheinen eindeutig von außerhalb meines Kopfes zu kommen, hier gibt es keine Spur von Im-Kopf-Lokalisation. Tonal bewegen sich die mittleren Master-Series-In-Ears definitiv auf der brillanten, schlanken Seite.

Der Bass ist zwar da und reicht auch tief hinab, doch fehlt es ihm gerade mit elektrischer Musik oder Heavy Metal an Druck, Fülle und Konsequenz. Mit Jazz und kleineren Besetzungen fällt das weniger auf, zumal die DBA-02 Mk2 Umgebungsgeräusche recht gut dämmen und so die Konzentration auf die Musik möglich machen. Am entgegengesetzten Ende der Frequenzskala dagegen üben sich die DBA-02 Mk2 nicht in Zurückhaltung. Mit stupender Attacke und Geschwindigkeit sowie beeindruckender Auflösung holt der Balanced- Armature-Treiber alles aus der Aufnahme, was drauf ist. Im Zusammenspiel mit dem betont schlanken Bass ergibt sich ein insgesamt eher helles, funkelnd-prickelndes Klangbild. Das ist ein Statement und eine Abstimmung mit Charakter statt absoluter Neutralität – prinzipiell ist das ja nichts Schlechtes (auch wenn die Sibilanten dem einen oder anderen Hörer zu scharf betont sein dürften), aber man muss darauf stehen und bei Elektro und Rock auch damit leben können. Einfacher macht das der geradezu als „erdendes Element“ fungierende Mitteltonbereich. Er ist das Sahnestück bei den Fischers, auch, so viel vorweg, beim TBA-04: Unglaublich offen, transparent, räumlich in der Darstellung – allein das Wort geschmeidig mag mir nicht so recht in den Sinn kommen, dazu sind (vielleicht ein Tribut an die insgesamt analytische Abstimmung der DBA-02) auch nach ca.

24 Stunden Einspielzeit noch zu viele Ecken und Kanten hörbar. Was uns zu den TBA-04 bringt. Denn die machen alles das, was die DBA-02 Mk2 so gut können, noch einen Tick besser, und lassen den kleinen Unstimmigkeiten des Schwestermodells gar nicht erst eine Chance. Ein wärmerer, vollerer Bass, im Vergleich leicht zurückgenommene Höhen ohne Betonung des S-Lautebereichs, und ein noch offenerer, stimmigerer und, ja, geschmeidigerer Mitteltonbereich zeigen, dass der dritte Kanal des Topmodells nicht nur mehr kostet, sondern auch tatsächlich ein Plus an Klangqualität bringt. Die Bassdrum auf Yellos „Fat Cry“ hat mehr Wucht und Druck, und so runden die TBA-04 das im Hochton noch natürlicher anmutende Klangbild um die fantastisch differenzierten Mitten herum kongenial ab. Ein Familienklang ist bei Fischers unbestreitbar vorhanden – auch wenn die TBA-04 eher in Richtung Neutralität tendieren als die DBA-02 Mk2, zeigen beide Modelle einen offenen, transparenten und schlackefreien Klang, der audiophile Hörer ziemlich anmachen, für Einsteiger und Technojünger aber eine Herausforderung sein dürfte.

Fazit

Die Empfehlung geht trotz des Aufpreises an den TBA- 04, der universeller, neutraler und angenehmer klingt und so die vorhandenen Talente des DBA-02 Mk2 vollends kultiviert.


Earphones have increasingly been the focus of audiophile attention especially since the switch to balanced armature and the detailed control advantage over the more bass and sound stage orientated dynamic drivers. While dynamic is still the majority player in the earphone market particularly at the volume or mass consumption level due to the simplicity for the roll out, balanced armature is increasingly seen as the precision tool for audio reproduction for the more discerning listener. Once the domain of custom companies such as Unique Melody and JH Harvey, BA (balance armature) is now creeping into the mainstream with Westone, Sony and now Russian upstarts, Fischer Audio who have been making waves for great sounding headphones and earphones recently at pretty competitive prices.

Fischer Audio initially caught my eye with their recent roll out last year of the ’00’ series headphones number 001 – 3 and the very attractive wood editions that came along with the standard edition also. But it is in the earphone market that Fischer Audio have been making waves with good value and excellent performing earphones. The original DBA-02 (MK1) was very well received indeed and compared favorably with higher priced similar BA earphones from other more established manufacturers, in most particular, if memory serves right, the Westone UM3.

The package itself is very well presented and a suitable size for earphones without being overkill. The foam is a bit complicated on the inside but once you pry out the earphones and accessories you pretty much receive an excellent kit which builds on the success of the DBA-2 MK1 with a superior build quality, flat cables, a little touch of branding flair and some excellent ear clips to go along with a wide assortment of tips of which you got to be of the oddest ear size if one of them does not fit your ear comfortably. My ears settled on the flanges but your mileage may vary.

The earphones themselves are much more subdued in appearance than the older MK1 version with a plain black shell and flat cables. Some might find this a tad underwhelming but the build quality is excellent and they look very durable. The carry case is functional in the shape of the classic pill box with some nice branding touches but can be a tad tight when you have the earclips attached to the earphones and you simply want to pack them away in the case. There are some instances of microphonics with the cables but nothing that would distract me from the overall listening quality of the DBA-2 MK2 and even more so with the ear clips.

Comfort and Fit

With a wide range of tips including foamed foams, hybrids, silicone and flange types I am pretty sure you will get the right fit. I found the flange to be the surest fit and very comfortable whilst providing the best isolation. The driver units themselves are pretty light and unobtrusive with no stress points putting pressure on your ear like some large models. The earclip provides excellent support and fit very comfortably around the ear.

Technical specs:

Impedance 43 Ohm
Cable Length 1.3 m
Sensitivity 108dB
Accessories Hard case, clip, earguides, 3 pairs (S/M/L) of foamed sony hybrid clones, 2 pairs of sony hybrid clones (M/L), 3 pairs of silicone tips (S/M/L)
Frequency Range 20 – 24000 Hz
Drivers Closed Dual balanced armature

Sound Quality

Just for testing info we primarily used the DBA-02 MK2’s out of a Cowon X7 and the FiiO E17/E9 combo and yes we cheated a touch now and then with the EQ bass options up to 4 on the E17 and BBE Headphones option on the Cowon X7. What can I say I like to tweak now and then!

Right off the dual balanced armature give a fantastic edge in detail and attack with a forceful mid-range that takes center stage as the DBA-2 MK2 main calling card. The 2004 King Arthur OST from the aforementioned movie shone with excellent clarity and pace with zero sibilance in the top end. The sound stage is very impressive with a nice wide open and airy presentation that allow most of my tracks to breathe. Instrument separation is good without being too detached or feeling artificially placed.

Tonality wise the DBA-2 MK2 err’s more to the neutral/bright and cold side than dark or warm. The center stage of the mids really dictate the tonality with them being slightly to the bright side of neutral but not in any way piercing or fatiguing. I would suggest for lovers of vocals they might not be the strongest but for those who love to squeeze lots of detail out of their tracks or those with complicated listening collections the DBA-2 MK2’s are going to be very hard to beat. Guitar virtuoso lovers in particular should enjoy the dexterity in the dual BA ability to convey complicated solo passages such as Stevie Vai’s “For the Love of God” (1990) which is crisp clear and very involving.

The upper mids and treble reproduction on the DBA-02 MK2 is wonderful for a mid-range earphone in my opinion. Very fast attack, very articulate and balanced without being boring. The treble to mid range is fantastically involving and as mentioned before really the star of the show for these phones. Eric Johnson’s seminal 1989’s “Ah Via Musicom” – a classic album of amazing guitar chops sounded majestic and as clean as the day it was recorded with a superb airy sound stage that really is perfect for this nimble and subtle album.

Bass is tight and punchy but doesn’t reach as deep as say a hybrid or a dynamic driver can achieve but then I didn’t expect that on a dual BA. Upping the EQ on your DAP will compensate but dont expect huge extension and retrieval from the lowest end of any any bass heavy tracks. This earphone is all about speed and articulation and not ‘phat beats’.

Note: Careful with the positioning of these earphones with the flanges though. On initial insertion I was about to ask where did the bass go but a subtle move down brought the bass back into play quick time.

Summary

The DBA-2 MK2 is an earphone for detail freaks. For those who love extracting layer upon layer of instrumental glory, for those who enjoy every drop of a pin in their recordings then you can;t put a foot wrong with these earphones. For those who err to the side of warm organic and husky and place lot of emphasis on soothing vocals then the DBA-02 MK2 might struggle to lead from the front and there are other earphones more suited to the challenge. Careful with your positioning of the tips to ensure you extract the maximum bass potential and sit back and enjoy fast articulate and accurate treble reproduction that is incredibly balanced.


Fischer Audio have updated their best-selling DBA-02. And what an update it is. The DBA-02 MKII is a delightful earphone replete with comfort and an accessory kit that is the envy of the earphone world. How about its sound, you ask? I’ll be singing praises soon enough.

First, let’s yabber about WOWs.

Package and accessories
The first WOW for me came when I picked up the chunky DBA box. It’s cardboard, not plastic, but it’s not run-of-the-mill cardboard. In Star Wars terms, it’s a Corellian cruiser, not Princess Leia’s transport; or better yet, it’s an imperial Star Destroyer, but without the two weak testicles at the top. Depending on how bony your bum is, you can sit on box without crushing it. The importance here is twofold. First: it’s a great place to keep the myriad accessories. Second, when the audiophile gear buying urge gets you bad enough, you can even hide away an amp or two from your wife. Third (and most important): it is a breeze to open. I feel that I’ve not been tough enough on certain manufacturers. Some still insist on sealing their goods with hard, finger-cutting plastics that necessitate scissors, a medical degree, and the application of pressure and hurried calls to 911. Yes, I’ve actually bled after opening certain earphone boxes. Not with the DBA-02MKII.

Inside the box, you get a wonderfully small (and therefore practical) zippered carrying case. (It is semi-hard, and will keep your DBA-02 MKII safe and snug with enough room left for a backup pair of ear pieces, and have room enough left over for an iPod shuffle or Nano.) Then, there are dozens of ear pieces for you to play with. There are three sets of hybrid pieces – though, I should admit that calling them hybrid is unjust to true hybrids as they are merely silicon flanges with a bit of foam on the inside. Nevertheless, they fit well and isolate well. Then, there are triple flanges, transparent flanges, and still more: there are loads to choose from, and each one is comfortable. Finally, there are two ear-guides and a shirt clip to keep the DBA-02 MKII put.

Let’s start with the shirt clip.

What it’s all about, I don’t know. Why do I say this? For starters, it’s a bugger to get on the cable. I really want to fasten cable after the y-split, but no can do. And even when I get the bugger into position before the y split, it does almost nothing to keep the cable next to my body nor touch noise down. And I’m no fool. I graduated from York University (the audience roars with laughter). With a degree in English literature (they gasp for air, hammering their sides).

It was an honours degree. (Someone in the second row falls over from cardiac arrest.)

I’ll preface the next section merely by saying: the shirt clip is the first strike against the DBA-02 MKII’s ergonomics. It isn’t the last.

Build quality and cable
The DBA-02 MKII is well made. It’s housing is tough, comfortable, and compact. It won’t unnecessarily weigh down the cable, or easily snag on loose clothing. The plug is nicely relieved. It is either melted to the cable or stuck there with adhesive, reinforcing internal contacts. It is not, however, L-shaped, meaning it will be under more stress, particularly if you use it with a portable player. L-shaped plugs withstand drops and pressure much better. That said, my CK10, which I consider the best-made earphone in the world, has straight cable. It is still going strong after years of combined usage. All that is to say: the DBA-02 MKII is well made, certainly in its price range.

But the cable is rectangular, not round.

Yay, so it doesn’t tangle as badly as some other designs. Yay, flat cables generally are stronger singular products than round or twisted cables. Yay. And, it’s in style. Hell, even Final Audio use flat cables on their excellent FI-BA-SB earphone. Yay Bob. Flat cables by nature stress their internal wires more because weight isn’t evenly distributed. Wires on the outside of cable tend to get stretched more than inside wires do. That leads to shorts. I’ve seen it with the a-Jays FOUR, and Monster Beats Tour.

That said, the DBA-02 MKII cable is better than those two. It is more snug, and better relieved than either. I expect it to last much longer, too, but I don’t think it belongs in a flagship product.

Fit
Praises ahoy. At least as far as comfort goes. The tiny size of the DBA-02 MKII is a wonder-worker for both small and large ears alike. It is supremely comfortable. The DBA will fit into any ear, you’ve got my York University Honours degree on it…

The ear pieces are excellent and come in so many sizes that at least one is bound to fit perfectly in your ears. Even so, I take advantage of the small sound tube to fitfitting SHURE Olive hybrid foams or Comply tips that I use on theWestone 4.

My opinion sours, however, as the cable fits into the equation. Square are buggers to use.

Let me illustrate. The logo on the DBA suggests it is meant to be worn with the cable over the ear. Great. Most good earphones are made to be worn in the same way because it keeps the earphones in the ear, relieving stress from the earphone and cable connection, and thus eliminating grand portions of touch noise. However, if you are to wear the cable over the ear, you necessarily need a cable cinch to keep the cables from flapping all over. The DBA lacks one. Big omission. The combination of ear guides and shirt clip are not enough. The ear guides do not work well if you have glasses, and even without, may not keep the earphones in your ears anyway. As stated earlier, the shirt clip requires a master’s degree to operate.

In the end, I gave up wearing the cable over the ear. Even twirling the cable around itself didn’t work to keep the earphones in. Good news, though, wearing the DBA down is easy, and comfortable. Thread the cable through your shirt and Bob’s your uncle. He’s a loud one though, as that cable transfers a lot of touch noise to the ears no matter how careful you are.

Sound
Here’s where we get back to the WOWs. In 2010, I called Earsonics’ SM3 a Star Child. It still is. The DBA-02 MKII may well be another one. Its overall voice is similar, though more tipped to the treble and upper mids. In a similar vein, it is smooth, mostly flat, and detailed. Some people find the DBA-02 MKII to be extremely detailed. I don’t. Any more detailed and the DBA would fall flatly into the categorical demon, “analytical”. It isn’t though, and instead, allows for a smoothly detailed high range that is open well into the mid range. Lovely.

One thing iPod and iPhone users will notice instantly is that they don’t need much volume to hit very loud listening levels. The DBA is quite sensitive even at its middling sensitivity rating of 108dB. If you are careful with your ears, old records need just a minor volume bump to a third on iPhone 4‘s volume slider. Volume war records of the last twenty years need much much less. Because of this, you may be able to pick out background noise even from very clean sources like Apple’s new iDevices and high end headphone amplifiers. Fischer balance this sensitivity with a relatively thick-skinned 43 ohms, which is great for most portable sources. It allows players with high output impedances to retain resolution even in passages where low can disappear.

And works it does.

As long as you are not a basshead, the DBA-02 MKII will bring a smile to your face. The signal certainly does reach low, but does so with prejudice. Marcus Schultz’ Mainstage won’t roar in the background as it does when powered by lower voiced earphones like the Victor FX500 or my personal favourite, theRadius, but its overall balance is better. Low notes are round, firm, and decay in perfect time. In my opinion, they trump my favourite CK10 by their more natural timbre.

With a good fit, I can listen to the DBA for hours with no fatigue. That isn’t to say that this earphone isn’t detailed. You will hear details like a Madeleine Peyroux’s tongue click against her palettes and though you won’t be able to sense the shape of the guitar player’s thumb, there are loads of moments that can only be described as pornographic. Fortunately, they are soft porn. If you expect Etymotic exactness, you needn’t look here.

To some, this will be a blessing, to others, it will be a curse. Earlier, I compared the DBA to the Earsonics SM3. I promise you, it wasn’t ingenuous. Fischer’s flagship earphone is cooler sounding than the SM3, emphasising upper mids more than bass, but it is equally as smooth within a different metric. That is, bass and mids flow together perfectly, better than almost any earphone I’ve heard at any price.

(The biggest audio quality caveat with the DBA, however, is fit. In order for midrange detail and clarity to be milky and sweet, perfect fit is imperative. I found that pushing the stock ear tips in too far caused the midrange to be harsh, tinny; long term listening became uncomfortable. For my ears, the DBA sounds better with a shallow fit, or with Shure Olive ear pieces. Your mileage may vary.)

Getting on, high frequencies: cymbals in particular, decay quickly, and shimmer just enough. High frequencies are less grating than those of direct competitors, again trumping my beloved CK10. I think the dime will fall to heads for some, and tails for others, as even this great balance will for some be too bright. Again, I fall into the category of worshippers of this sound.

You may or may not fall into that group. Remember, thought the low-mid frequency transition is extremely smooth, high mids to ultra high frequencies are aggressive. If you don’t like bright earphones, you probably won’t love the DBA-02 MKII. If you do, however, you will find lots to love. Lots.

Fischer claim that the DBA-02 MKII reaches 24.000kHz. I don’t doubt that it can reach that high, but not without a LOT of fall off well before that mark. Obviously my ears aren’t sensitive to those levels, but they do a good job of categorising various earphones. To these ears, there appears to be less overall sound pressure in the extreme high frequencies than some of my other favourites.

And that is a good thing.

In summary, the DBA-02 MKII is a smooth sounding earphone aimed at midrange detail. Lows and highs are plentiful, but neither forefront. With good fit, you can enjoy wonderful vocals, strings, and percussion with the DBA-02 MKII. For trance listeners, there is good enough space and soundstage to keep you thumping in that imaginary universe, but not enough to cause you to get lost. Rockers, the wonderful transition between bass and mids is wonderful, with the promise of fast, pleasant cymbal decay. I cannot really recommend the DBA-02 MKII for hip hop lovers, however, as bass simply isn’t duffy enough. There is no driver wobble; too much kilter, really.

Out and about
With a long cable and great carrying case, the DBA-02 MKII should be the perfect walking/trekking/commuting earphone. But unless you can quiet the cable down, I guarantee you will be annoyed by its energy and touch noise. Still, the overall combination is good, and with the right tips, you can really push background noise out of your music. Again, Shure Olives are great for this.

Conclusion
What more can I say? Fischer have upgraded an instant classic. They have nearly perfected an already wonderful earphone. For listeners who love details but shy away from the sometimes screechy Etymotic ER4 and CK10, this is the earphone for you. It is smoother and more natural in its transitions from bass all the way to highs than the almighty SM3. Wow. But this level of natural perfection doesn’t come without its own set of caveats. Nope. You’ll have to put up with a rectangular cable that only a mother, or, judging by the sudden onslaught of such cables, hip music lovers who’ve never had anything better, could love. For me, it’s a bittersweet romance, and one good enough for a warm grab, though honestly, I’m dying for a kiss.