When FA-011 was first launched in 2011, the Fischer Audio headphones became hugely acclaimed worldwide. This headphones was special to Fischer Audio for various reasons. First, it was the first headphones under the brand to successfully venture internationally. Secondly, it was the first model to be produced entirely in Russia where stringent controls on quality were enforced in every factor, especially the sound quality. Finally, the FA-011 was also revolutionary in the portable audio industry at that time. A frequency correction filter was used for the first time to allow our engineers to achieve high performance at a relatively low price. As such, Fischer Audio’s best-selling FA-011 was touted as one of the best valued headphones then.

3 years following the launch, we proudly released the Fischer Audio FA-011 Limited Edition Japan headphones. This model represented the essence of various comments from the public and professionals, as well as hugely improved choice of materials. The result is a beautifully crafted exotic wood headphones that would leave most audio connoisseurs in awe. However this model was born out of special demands in Japan, thus it was limited territorially.

In 2016, in conjunction with the 10th year since the founding of Fischer Audio, the FA-011 series will reached yet another landmark with the launch of the FA-011 10th Anniversary Edition headphones. This limited production model is all about honoring our Russian roots. All internal wiring are constructed exclusively with rare vintage litz cables made more than 40 years ago in the old USSR. These scarce supply of audio cables was specially designed for military demands. As such, only a limited quantity of this commemorative model will be produced. Every headphones will also be specially tagged with its own unique serial number and extended warranty.

FA-011 10th Anniversary Edition headphones are completely handcrafted by skilled craftsmen in Russia, from rare and valuable woods and finished traditionally with natural oils and beeswax (Cera Alba). In addition, the headphones comes with a replaceable cable made of high purity oxygen-free copper, Swiss-made mini-XLR connectors, and headband made of natural skin. Despite the various upgrades, Fischer Audio kept the sound signature of the FA-011 that has mesmerized audiences all over.

To ensure consistent and perfect quality in each piece, a specific craftsman is assigned to specially oversee the entire production from start to finish. Every single unit of FA-011 10th Anniversary Edition headphones would also have to undergo a thorough testing of no less than 72 hours before it can be certified to be in your hands.

With the FA-011 10th Anniversary Edition, we like to mark our decade in the audio industry not just with a masterpiece of audio perfection, but a reflection of the dedication of Fischer Audio and the soul of our heritage.

  • Limited production worldwide
  • All internal wiring are constructed exclusively with rare vintage USSR military-grade litz cables
  • Ear cups are handcrafted from rare and valuable woods and finished naturally with oil and bee wax
  • Detachable cable made of high purity oxygen-free copper
  • High quality Swiss-made mini-XLR connectors
  • Headband made of natural skin
  • Extended warranty and unique serial number

FA-011 – headphones reviews

(German version)

Neben den Traditionsherstellern aus Deutschland und Österreich kommen die Kopfhörer auf dem deutschen Markt größtenteils aus dem fernen Osten. Die Firma Headsound aus Berlin importiert mit den Kopfhörern von Fischer Audio zur Abwechslung russische Produkte.

Der Fischer FA-011 ist ein Kopfhörer für Liebhaber. Den meist perfekt maschinell gefertigten Fernost-Produkten setzt er russische Handarbeit entgegen. Das Ergebnis ist nicht immer perfekt, hat aber auf jeden Fall Charakter. Die Schalen der Ohrkapseln bestehen aus Holz, was bei unserem schwarzen Testmuster leider nicht so zur Geltung kommt. Die Gelenke und der Kopfbügel sind in erster Linie stabil, den Mechanismus mit dem sich automatisch anpassenden Kopfband kennt man von anderen Herstellern als zuverlässige Konstruktion. Insgesamt ist der FA-011 so richtig gute alte Schule. Was die Passform betrifft, ist daran nichts auszusetzen. Der FA-011 ist nicht der leichteste, doch das breite Kopfband und die weichen Ohrpolster lassen so schnell keine Ermüdungserscheinungen aufkommen. Auch der Klang hat einen nostalgischen Touch. So haben Kopfhörer vor dem aktuell vorherrschenden, durch Beats by Dr. Dre geprägten, Kopfhörer-Sound geklungen: solide und unaufgeregt. Der Bass des offenen Systems drängt sich nicht in den Vordergrund, die Mitten klingen entspannt und der Hochton wird nie aggressiv. Insgesamt ein schlüssiges, eingängiges Klangbild.

Fazit

Der Fischer FA-011 ist auf jeden Fall originell und punktet mit seinem nostalgischen Charme. Sicher kein Kopfhörer für jeden, doch er wird auf jeden Fall seine Liebhaber finden.


Review headphones – FA-003Ti

(German version)

Die seltsamen Buchstaben der Überschrift sind übrigens kyrillische Buchstaben und das Ganze soll „Spitzentechnologie“ auf Russisch heißen. Warum? Nun, weil es hier um die Spitzenmodelle der russischen Firma Fischer Audio geht.

Ich muss gestehen: Tief im Westen der Republik aufgewachsen und sozialisiert, ist mein Russlandbild noch immer von der antirussischen Propaganda der Zeit des kalten Krieges geprägt. Und dazu gehört, dass Russland technologisches Entwicklungsland ist. Egal, ob die UdSSR mit dem Sputnik den ersten künstlichen Satelliten in eine Erdumlaufbahn geschossen hatte oder der Russe Juri Gagarin der erste Mensch im Weltraum war – immer wurde uns der Eindruck vermittelt, in Russland ginge man mit der Keule auf Bärenjagd in den Wald, während Neil Armstrong den Mond betrat. Angst vor russischer Militärtechnik durfte man damals trotzdem haben. Angesichts der Tatsache, dass Roskosmos den Taxiservice zur internationalen Raumstation ISS aufrecht erhält, weil die NASA ihre altersschwachen Spaceshuttles einmotten musste habe ich aufkommende Vorbehalte gegen russische Kopfhörer flugs beiseitegeschoben und mich auf den Fischer Audio FA-003Ti gestürzt. Spätestens als mein Blick auf das gar nicht verschämt auf die Packung gedruckte „Made in PRC“ fällt, ist mir klar, dass auch die russische Wirtschaft absolut up to date ist. Ob nun dahintersteckt, dass die russische Firma Fischer Audio in China fertigen lässt oder ob nicht umgekehrt Chinesen die russische Marke aufgekauft haben, kann ich nicht sagen.

Früher wurden Hintergründe aus Gründen der politischen Propaganda verschleiert, heute ist das Marketingstrategie.

Ausstattung

Auf jeden Fall kommt der Fischer Audio FA-003Ti als ziemliches Komplettpaket. In der Verpackung, die gleichzeitig die Transporttasche ist, liegt ein drei Meter langes, austauschbares Kabel mit 3,5-mm-Stereoklinge und aufgeschraubtem 6,3-mm-Adapter. Dazu gibt es ein Paar veloursbezogene Ohrpolster, die man gegen die montierten (Kunst-)Lederposter tauschen kann. In den tadellos gefertigten Gehäusen stecken 43-mm-Treiber mit titanbedampften Membranen. 64 Ohm Impedanz empfehlen den Kopfhörer für den stationären Einsatz und nicht gerade für den Anschluss ans Smartphone. Trotzdem lässt der Wirkungsgrad von 101 dB auch an einen Einsatz an einem kräftigeren mobilen Player oder Kopfhörerverstärker denken. Die Verarbeitung ist absolut einwandfrei.

Passform

Der recht große Kopfhörer bietet den Ohren viel Platz, auch der Verstellbereich des Kopfbügels ist wirklich üppig bemessen. Damit der geschlossene Kopfhörer am Kopf gut dichtet, ist der Anpressdruck etwas größer, was die weichen Polster bequem auffangen. Insgesamt sitzt der Fischer Audio FA-003Ti recht bequem und wird auch bei längeren Hörsessions nicht unangenehm.

Klang

Frisch aus der Verpackung angeschlossen drängen sich die oberen Mitten ziemlich in den Vordergrund und der Kopfhörer klingt recht „spitz“. In Anbetracht der Tatsache, dass mein Testexemplar fabrikneu ankam und auf dem Weg zu mir einige Klimazonen durchreist haben dürfte, gönne ich ihm erst einmal eine 24-stündige Einspielzeit. Und siehe da – danach gibt sich der Fischer Audio FA-003Ti wie verwandelt. Grundsätzlich spielt er sehr neutral ohne die aktuell moderne Bassbetonung. Selbst ohne dick aufzutragen reicht er hörbar tief in den Frequenzkeller hinunter. Die Mitten spielen schön offen, dynamisch und fein aufgelöst – so machen zum Beispiel Stimmen richtig Spaß. Auch die Höhen sind fein aufgelöst, nehmen sich vielleicht eine Nuance zurück, enthalten einem aber in keinster Weise Informationen vor. Wie die meisten geschlossenen Konstruktionen bildet der Fischer Audio FA-003Ti eher kompakt ab – um das Ganze besser gegenüber der eher luftigen Abbildung vieler offener Konstruktionen abzugrenzen könne man auch gut „erdig“ sagen. Ich gebe zu, dass ich es wissen wollte und habe gründlich verglichen. Mit dem Fazit, dass der Fischer Audio FA-003Ti absolut auf Augenhöhe mit deutlich teureren Mitbewerbern etablierter Hersteller spielt. Wettbewerbsmodelle der 300-Euro-Klasse musste ich schon aufbieten, um klanglich in Gefilde vorzudringen, in denen sich der FA-003Ti bewegt.

Dieses Ding ist wirklich Spitzentechnologie – egal, wo er herkommt.

Fazit

Es heißt ja, dass Russen gerne fluchen. Dann mal los: Der Fischer Audio FA-003Ti ist ein verdammt sauber gemachter und verflixt gut klingender Kopfhörer zu einem unverschämt günstigen Preis.


Review FA-005 Hi-Grade Monitoring DJ Headphones

Fischer Audio; Headphones Leader brand from Russia send the new headphones model to mobileasia.net  with FA-005 headphones closed-ear design that will close your world to the world of entertainment & music.

Fischer Audio is a brand new in the recently launched into the market in early Q4 in our own past. By brand from Russia has been recognized on the international level before the US invasion of Thailand. Which their products range from headphones In-Ear typical chase to the level Ears tens of thousands of baht to ownership by the Fischer Audio FA-005 is a headphone of the Master Series of brands and out. Designed for use in a professional DJ, you can use it at 5,790 baht.


 

Fischer Audio FA-005 Technical Specifications.

Drivers 50 mm.

Frequency Range 10-20,000 Hz

Sensitivity 96 db

Impedance 24 Ohm

Maximum power input 3000 Mw

Cable length 1.0 m / 3.0 m.

Jack 3.5 mm.


 

The Headphone is available with 3 colors (brown – yellow, white – red and black – gray) to the device makes use of plastic. Combined with leather and velvet lining PU Fit to wear.

Earpad is available in two models can switch the favorite.

Headphones each axis can rotate up to 90 degrees.

You can adjust the firmness of work. With a metal structure

Left ear A 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Headphone jacks are both straight. Plug into the device and for other large volume. The two lines are long, 1 m and 3 m, respectively.

Design to be folded easily.

The headset is a large, 50mm drivers with a frequency response of 10-20,000 Hz.

Fischer Audio FA-005 Package: FA-005 Headset / 2 Cables / User Guides / Ear Cup / Headset Bag.

On Test

The ability to use it. We start by testing the wearer’s FA-005 is comfortable to wear and the material of each part to soften. And adjust the fit is very good. This section is going through If a longer It feels a little squeeze head

13

Sound as well as the FA-005 for several days, I have kept quiet about the noise around 90%, depending on the volume of users to listen to each. And I say good. The traveler Hearing the noise around “some” to make safety. Be careful, there is more to it.

4

The FA-005’s sound to sound more resonant. The noise is the sound isolation is quite good. Sound coming out loud and tight bass tone to the degree. Pronunciation high possibility Preet foods. There are several dimensions to listen to the fun. The Music Party style or genre electronica Electronics lot. To feel that it’s more fun to listen to music with headphones generally clear to the driver of a large 50 mm. The sensitivity level of 96 db. There is nothing to drive out.

Accessories with which we can connect to other audio devices. It is optional for the user who wants to try it. Good sound is coming from many of the elements that will be. Audio recording, headphones, and of course, the device comes with a sound that bad that our test is the test we can not do much of anything.

However, as the headset in general use Fischer Audio FA-005 headphones are worth the price. Music has many forms in much better quality than one version. In particular, I like the music, electronics industries. It’s not hard to cheer The machine can be a huge barrier to carry some. But the design is attractive and colorful package that came in full size. I believe many people would love to not be exact.

Anyone who would like to experience the real test of Fischer Audio FA-005 can be found at stores like Mankong Gadget / B-Trend / LOFT and leading department stores.


Headphones Review FA-011 Hi-Grade Monitoring

Steve Guttenberg/CNET

It seems like most of the world’s best headphones come from the US, Germany, and Japan, but after listening to the Fischer FA-011 I’m tempted to add Russia to the list. It’s hand-assembled there with a mix of Russian-and foreign-made parts. There’s a lot less plastic in the FA-011 than I usually see in affordably priced headphones like this one.

It’s a full-size, on-ear design, with a self-adjusting headband that ensures a super comfortable fit, the real beech wood ear cups look sharp, but the 40mm driver, and 160 Ohm impedance don’t hint at the greatness of the FA-011’s sound. The headband isn’t hinged, and the ear cups don’t fold flat, but the headphone comes with a sturdy, heavily padded carry case.

The coiled cable isn’t user-replaceable, and the headphone’s sensitivity is moderate, so even with myiPod Classic‘s volume turned up all the way the FA-011 didn’t get very loud. It was loud enough for me, but if you crave volume, you’ll need a separate headphone amp.

Bass, mids, and highs are smooth, distortion low, and the soundstage is wide open. Listening to Antonio Sanchez’ explosive drum solos on the “Birdman” soundtrack, the FA-011’s bass punch and low-end power blew me away. Dynamics were visceral, and the cymbal crashes’ sizzle were soft. I’m reviewing the latest version of the FA-011, older models had a much brighter sound than this sample.

My Audio Technica ATH-M50x headphone sounds brighter than the FA-011, so even ragged MP3s go down easy. When I stopped comparing and just listened for pleasure the sound wasn’t lacking in detail. One thing is certain: the M50x plays a lot louder at the same volume setting on my iPod, it’s a lot easier to drive than the FA-011.

My NAD Viso HP50 headphones also sounded more immediate, brighter, and played louder than the FA-011, but it sounded more open and spacious than the Viso HP50 and M50x.

Plugging the FA-011 into my Schiit Lyr 2 amplifier (review to come) tapped more of the headphone’s true potential. Dynamic oomph improved and bass definition firmed up, and overall clarity benefited from the change from portable to home amp.

So while I enjoyed the FA-011’s comfort, potent bass, and sweet, easygoing sound, I can’t recommend it to those who will use it with a phone and like high volume and crisp detail.


The Russians Are Coming

Fischer Audio FA-002W Master Series High Edition Headphones

Fischer Audio is a relatively new European headphone manufacturer whose performance aspirations are high, but whose products are not yet well known in the U.S. Judging by the sample of the firm’s flagship Master-Series FA-002W High Edition headphone ($395) reviewed here, however, Fischer is a name that headphone enthusiasts will want to get to know, and for all the right reasons. But first, some background is in order.

The Fischer Audio web site (www.fischeraudio.com) says only that the firm “was born when the expertise of four professionals decided to join forces.” As best we can tell, at least one of those professionals was German, as the official name of the firm is—in traditional German style—Fischer Audio, GmbH. However, it is also apparent that the firm has roots (and, it would seem, manufacturing headquarters) in Russia, since our review sample ‘phones shipped from an office in St. Petersburg in the Russian Federation. Accordingly, documentation for the FA-002W headphones came printed in Russian (complete with the obligator Cyrillic alphabet) and in English.

As you might expect, you can see both German and Russian influences in the FA-002W ‘phones, which offer both a clear, precise sound and a certain fineness of fit and finish that reminded me of upper-tier designs from German firms such as Beyerdynamic and Sennheiser, yet also exude wonderfully Russian qualities of soulfulness and strength. Indeed, the overall vibe of the Fischers reminded me of some of the rugged yet elegant and sophisticated Russian submariner’s wristwatches I’ve admired in the past. When you first lift the FA-002W’s from their padded travel case, then, you can’t help but feel that you’re holding headphones of substance whose beauty runs more than skin deep (there is nothing flimsy or cheaply-built in this product).

The FA-002W is a closed-back headphone whose ear cups are precisely machined from exotic hardwoods (several options are available) and that offers high sensitivity (105dB) and presents–in the special High Edition model–a medium-to-high impedance load (200 Ohms). Fischer also offers a lower impedance version of the FA-002W plus an open-back version called the FA-002, but for now we will focus on the closed-back High Edition model. As you’ll see in a moment, the FA-002W High Edition makes an impressive entry in this keenly contested market segment.

FEATURES

• Closed-back design: The FA-002W is a closed-back design featuring precisely machined hardwood ear cups. According to Fischer 23 different wood options are possible, many of which will be offered in the USA, including Rosewood, Zebrawood, Snakewood, Bubinga, Karelian Birch, Paduk, and more. Our samples came in a lovely dark red hardwood called Amaranth.

• Headband/Frame: The adjustable headband of the FA-002W features what appears to be a beefy spring-steel top strap that fastens via robust mounting brackets to articulated, molded thermoplastic ear cup “arms,” which are finished in gloss metallic gray. The only potential drawback I could see was these arms allow the ear cups to swivel vertically, but not from side-to-side. As mentioned above, the headphone looks and feels sturdy and very well built, as if meant to stand up to years of use.

• Leather Padding in All the Right Places: The top strap of the FA-002W features a nicely made leather pad whose inner surface features a fabric liner that gently caresses the top of your head. The ear cups, in turn, feature soft, thick, leather-covered ear pads that are extremely comfortable to wear and that achieve a much better than usual degree of isolation from external noises. The only price to pay for this sense of isolation, however, is that clamping pressures with this headphone are higher than many others in its class—though not to a degree that I personally found at all uncomfortable. So, let’s simply say the fit is “snug.” Our review samples came with an alternative set of fabric-covered ear pads, recognizing that some prefer the feel of fabric to leather.

• Signal cables/connectors: Fischer provides a detachable, 3.5-meter “Y-shaped signal cable. The cable features a gold-plated 3.5mm plug and a threaded ¼-inch phone plug adapter, also gold-plated.

• Case: The FA-002W comes with a heavily padded, canvas-covered travel case. How sturdy is it? Let’s just put it this way: The Fischer headphones shipped in this case, with no outer box whatsoever, within a thin, plastic Russian Federation postal pouch, and made it all the way from St. Petersburg, Russia to Austin, TX without the slightest hint of damage.

• Warranty: Never let it be said that the Russians and/or Germans lack a sense of humor. On the Fischer Warranty card, the company includes a brief list of types of product failure not covered by the warranty, including these:

“…circumstances out of the control of Fischer Audio, including, with out limitation, fires, storms, earthquakes, floods, stupidity or maniacal stubbornness. Failure caused by the acts of God, fall of asteroid, Martian attacks, hungry piranhas and/or swallowing by Ravenous Bugblatter Beasts of Traal, is covered by Fischer Audio if such accident has been proven.”

Hey, you can’t make this stuff up.

SONIC CHARACTER

One of the things I learned early on is that the “characteristic sound” of the FA-002W tends to be somewhat more amplifier-dependent than is the case with some other headphones in its price class. On paper, nothing would suggest that the Fischers are difficult to drive, though their impedance rating of the High Edition model is higher than some, but in practice they worked significantly better with some amplifiers than others, meaning it will be worth your while to spend time finding a good match. Two specific amplifier recommendations would be the Burson Audio HA-160 and HiFiMAN EF-5, both of which gave great results with the Fischer headphones.

Heard at their best, the FA-002W’s turn out to be one of the most impressive offerings in the sub-$700 price class. Here’s why. For starters, the Fischers give you everything you would expect from a fine closed-back design, such as very effective noise isolation and taut, deep, well-controlled bass. At the same time, however, the Fischer’s somehow manage to produce the sort of vibrant, transparent, and dynamically free-flowing sound that many listeners associate with today’s better open-back designs. If you’ve bought in to the myth that closed-back ‘phones invariably sound a bit compressed and overly tightly constrained, the Fischers will quickly make you change your mind, in part because their sound is remarkably open and fine-grained—especially so in light of their less-than-stratospheric price.

Highlights include terrific purity of timbres and some of the finest resolution we’ve heard from any dynamic driver-based (as opposed to planar magnetic driver-equipped) headphone in this class. These qualities are further underscored, as you might expect, by the very quiet listening backgrounds these closed-back ‘phones provide. Frequency response is very smooth, though I think some listeners might perceive the FA-002W’s overall tonal balance to be tipped just slightly to the warmer (or “darker”) end of the audio spectrum. This perception is influenced by the fact that—if you choose your amplifier carefully—the Fischer’s’ bass will be quite deeply extended and powerful, though never loose sounding or under-damped. Similarly, the headphones’ highs are, or at least can be with the right amplifier, pleasantly extended yet almost eerily smooth. Listeners who equate faint traces of treble edginess with “accurate highs” may mistake the Fischer’s’ smoothness for treble rolloff, which I think is not the case.

One point I would like to emphasize is that the FA-002W’s midrange presentation is remarkably energetic, dynamically expressive, and alive. I believe this is partly attributable to the headphone’s midrange transient speed, which is excellent, but also attributable to the apparent ease with which the headphone delivers “energy on demand” when high-powered transient sounds come along. Two good examples might be the almost volcanic eruptions of sound that occur, say, when a snare drum is struck forcefully or an electric guitar is plucked vigorously. Under such circumstances, the Fischers speak with real authority and punch, making some competitors sound almost “choked” by comparison. Some might feel, in fact, that the Fischer’s’ transient response can be—especially in the midrange—a little overwrought at times (though I find this problem arises only when using amplifiers that are inadequate to drive the FA-002W in the first place). Even so, the power and force with which midrange transients ramp up in energy can be a little unnerving at first—though I personally feel this is also a quality that helps make the Fischers consistently expressive and enjoyable over the long haul.

Put all of these qualities together and you have what we regard as one of the most compelling mid-priced headphones we have heard in a long time.

MUSICAL EXAMPLES

We could probably cite dozens of examples to illustrate the sonic qualities we sketched above, but in hopes of being concise we’ll limit ourselves to just two.

To hear both the subtlety and sheer power of the FA-002W on display at the same time, play “Tin Pan Alley” from Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Couldn’t Stand The Weather [Sony Legacy]. On this track Vaughan’s famous backing band Double Trouble provides percussion work that is at once subtle and delicate, yet high in impact, plus rock-solid low-frequency bass guitar support. But most of all, you’ll hear the full range of both Stevie Ray Vaughan’s voice and his famous Fender Stratocaster guitar, which has perhaps never been captured more powerfully or eloquently than on this track.

Listen carefully to the way the Fischer’s handle the sound of the drum kit, and you’ll be floored by how distinctively they present (and effortlessly they differentiate) the voices of each individual drum and cymbal. Where some headphones leave you somewhat in the dark as to how players are managing the dynamics of their instruments, the FA-002W’s show you exactly what is going on. On the bass guitar, the Fischers reveal both the instrument’s sheer depth and weight, while also showing you bassist Tommy Shannon’s deft touch and timing on the fingerboard, which means the right supporting notes always appear at precisely the right moments and with just the right level of emphasis (or de-emphasis, as the situation warrants).

But it is Stevie Ray’s Stratocaster that steals the show, in part because the Fischers are able to show how the instrument can—in the master blues man’s hands—speak with soft, almost subliminal runs of notes and trills at one moment, and then turn on a dime to fairly explode with fierce outbursts of sound in the next moment. In it’s ability to capture stark dynamic contrasts like these, the FA-002W High Edition reminds more than a little of the sound of today’s superb planar magnetic headphones, which are real champs in this area. Sure, most headphones manage to get louder when electric guitars are cranked up, but they don’t always capture the explosive rise in energy and acoustic power as immediately or as effectively as the Fischers do. Given the veritable guitarist’s “master class” that Stevie Ray Vaughan put on in this track, its almost inevitable to fall under the Fischer’s’ spell, so that even if you plan to listen to “Tin Pan Alley” for just a few minutes, you may wind up listening to it from end to end, simply because the sound is addictive and compelling.

Next, let me reference another audiophile favorite that showcases many of the FA-002W’s strengths: namely, the jazz standard “Bye Bye Blackbird” from Patricia Barber’s Nightclub[Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, SACD]. This is a track that, admittedly, tends to sound very good on most headphones, but what the Fischer’s made be realize all over again is how very intimate and realistic the MFSL/SACD version of this record really is. Literally everything about this recording is not merely good (or even very good), but downright great—as the FA-002W helps you realize. If you listen carefully, which the Fischers certainly invite you to do, you’ll hear distinct variations in touch as Barber’s fingers work across the piano keyboard, subtle variations in finger pressure, attack, and release as Marc Johnson works his magic over the fingerboard of his acoustic bass, and the sure, deft, precise and yet expressive feel that percussionist Adam Nussbaum supplies as he crafts the rhythms that drive the song forward. My point, here, is that you don’t just hear instruments at play, per se, but rather hear the ultra-subtle sonic cues that let you know these performers are listening intently to one another and responding accordingly—together creating a group sound that is greater than the sum of its parts. It takes a very fine headphone to let you hear this kind of group expression, craftsmanship and communication, and it is one of the things separates truly fine headphones from merely good ones.

Most of all, though, listen to the way the Fischers capture the intricacies of phrasing, articulation, enunciation, and tone that Barber brings to her vocal lines in this song. Like many writers, I suppose, I’ve sometimes used the words “smoky” or “sultry” to describe Barber’s voice, but the Fischer’s invite you to make finer distinctions than that—revealing delicate shades of tonality that show why, where, and how Barber shapes her vocals to convey those qualities of “smokiness” or “sultriness.” All of this is perhaps a roundabout way of saying that the Fischer ‘phones have sufficient resolving power and finesse to take you deep within the innermost recesses of recordings to see what really makes the music tick.

CONCLUSION

Consider this headphone if: you want a mid-priced, high performance, closed-back headphone that combines the best sonic elements of both closed-back and open-back designs. Consider this headphone if you like the idea of a headphone that is for the most part accurate, yet never sterile-sounding or overly tightly constrained. This headphone offers extremely good resolution and fine-grained sound for the money, and is—or with the right amp can be—extremely dynamically expressive. In short, one of the best mid-priced high-end ‘phones we’ve heard in a long time.

Look further if: you want a relatively light headphone; the FA-002W is comfortable, but a little too hefty for some tastes. Also look further if you aren’t prepared to match this headphone with an amp that can do it justice (the FA-002W tends to sound a bit thin, edgy and somewhat midrange-forward when driven by inadequate amps). Finally, look elsewhere if you prefer to stick with familiar and time-tested brands; Fischer is a comparatively “new kid on the block,” though one we think you’ll want to know better.

Ratings (relative to comparably priced headphones)

Tonal Balance: 9.5 (somewhat amplifier dependent)
Clarity: 9.5
Dynamics: 10
Comfort/Fit: 10
Sensitivity: 9.5 (but even so, the FA-002W is amplifier sensitive)
Noise Isolation: 9.5
Value: 9.5-10 (though only time will tell if Fischer products deliver the kind of unit-to-unit consistency and quality that are expected in this class)

BOTTOM LINE

The Fischer FA-002W is a wonderful debut product, and one that has immediately become one of our favorite dynamic driver-equipped designs in this price class.

We hadn’t received the FA-002W at the time we prepared Playback’s recent Editors’ Choice listings for headphones, but if we had it would certainly have won a place on our “Headphones Priced Between $250-$699” list. They’re that good.

SPECS & PRICING

Fischer Audio Master Series FA-002W Headphone
Frequency Response: 11Hz – 27kHz
Drivers: Details not specified
Sensitivity: 105dB (no reference power level specified)
Impedance: 200 Ohms
Weight: Not specified.
Warranty: One year, parts and labor.

 


The Fischer Audio FA-011s have an existing following of fans. They’re known for their price / performance ratio and their bass performance in particular. So what happens when they create a limited edition version of the famed FA-011?

Specifications

  • Style: Open
  • Frequency response:  18 – 22,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity: 98 dB
  • Impedance: 160 ohm
  • Cable length: 2.5m
  • Connector: 3.5mm

DPP_0009c

Upgrades over the standard FA-011

  • Exotic timber cups
  • Upgraded, shielded cable
  • New logo badge
  • Velour pads (more on this later)
  • APE-03 frequency filter

Overview

The LEs grabbed my attention at a Head-Fi meet here in Melbourne. Having listened to HE-500s, HE-6s, and my own HD650s during the day, I was really impressed with the LEs when I tried them. I’m not suggesting they’re better than the planar magnetics from HiFiMan and I’m not comparing them here, but in the company of outstanding gear the LEs shone for what they offer. The LEs are priced at around $480 so they’re nearly twice the price of the stock FA-011s, but they’re a upgraded in a lot of ways.

DPP_0001cWithout taking anything away from the outstanding FA-011s, the LEs are a brilliant upgrade. The wood used for the cups is beautiful, exotic and comes in 5 different varieties. The cable is much higher quality, and the APE-03 frequency filter refines the aggressive FA-011 sound to make it more balanced without sacrificing any of the dynamics and energy the 011s are known for. With just a brief listen I was impressed at how close in overall sound quality these came to the HD650s which cost about $70 more and are recognised as a benchmark headphone across the industry. The LEs aren’t better than the HD650s – they’re different. I’ll explain in more detail later, but the short version is that I turn to the HD650s for some things and the LEs for others – splitting them is a matter of preference and music style, not performance. I’d peg the LE as a more aggressive and dynamic equal of the HD650.

Truly Limited

Only 40 LEs were produced worldwide – 10 per timber for 4 timbers. Noisy Motel scored 12 of the 40 for Australia. There may be more being wrangled down here to Australia (via the Noisy Motel), but it will some of the original 40 units so these are a truly exclusive headphone!

Design & Comfort

The design and comfort of the LEs is almost identical to the stock FA-011s. They’re well put together (albeit with some slight variations as a result of being hand-made) and the materials all feel excellent. The design uses a sprung headband suspended below 2 rubber-clad metal bands which also house the cable from the left ear cup to the right. The cups are hinged for rotation inwards / outwards, but not any rotation. The design doesn’t really need anything more though as comfort is very good as is (possibly with different earpads) . DPP_0004cThe LEs come with a new / different velour earpad which also has a fine acoustic mesh across the centre of the driver. Unfortunately, the LE pads are a bit thinner than the stock pads and become quite uncomfortable after a 1-2 hour listening session. This is because they don’t hold the cups far enough from my ears and leave the inside of the cup pressing against the outer edges of my ear. Thankfully, Billy from Noisy Motel was able to provide some replacement earpads from the stock FA-011s which instantly solved the problem and are very easy to fit with no tools or impact on headphones.

DPP_0006cI have to say that I LOVE the upgraded cable on the LEs. It’s thick and heavy so it doesn’t tangle or get caught under my office chair wheels. It makes the LEs less portable, but they’re an open headphone so chances are you won’t walk around with them playing anyway (except at home and then it doesn’t matter). I don’t know if the core materials are any better than the stock 011s, but it looks good and feels good (and the headphones sound great so the cable can’t be too bad) so I’m happy!

Sound

DPP_0007cIt’s really hard to sum up the sound of the FA-011 LEs. They’re aggressive and “in-your-face”, but manage to do this without ever getting obnoxious, sibilant or fatiguing. The bass from the LEs is outstanding in terms of both texture, presence and extension. The bass goes low, is quick and tight, and has plenty of body. The top end is resolving and detailed, but not blistering. The mids are realistic, smooth and natural – not enhanced or emphasised at all to my ears. The LEs are a little confusing in that they separate sounds really well. There is no doubt where each instrument and performer is within the soundstage, but the soundstage is quite small. It extends roughly to the outside edge of each earpiece and doesn’t have a lot of height or depth. That said, it rarely feels crowded. One of my favourite test tracks is “Good Excuse” by John Butler Trio particularly because the recording allows some nice vertical (top / bottom) layers in the sound as well as the normal horizontal (left / right) layers. The LEs don’t really exhibit any vertical layering the way say the Unique Melody Miracles do, but Good Excuse is still a really enjoyable track to listen to on the LEs. Perhaps the most impressive attribute of the LEs is their ability to handle everything I’ve tried them with. They have the bass impact to rumble and thump when required, but also the detail and resolution for the subtleties and texture of more refined acoustic and classical tracks. If I had to criticize the LEs in any way, it’d be a slight glassy-ness or edge on some acoustic guitar tracks. The edge doesn’t sound natural because it’s not exactly how a guitar really sounds. It doesn’t sound bad or artificial (like some Ultrasones have that artificial metallic twang to the upper registers), but it just sounds like the sound has been altered ever-so-slightly from its natural sound.

HD650 vs FA-011 LE Comparison

HD650 outer packagingI bought the LEs after listening to my HD650s all day. That, and the fact that they’re in the same price ballpark make it an obvious comparison so here are some thoughts based on some track-specific comparisons. I’m focussing on what stood out to me during each track rather than a blow-by-blow description of each headphone’s sound. Please refer to my HD650 review if you’d like more information about the specifics of the HD650.

Stuffy – Arne Domnerus from Jazz at the Pawnshop (192kHz / 24-bit)

This is a great recording in a jazz club so there’s plenty of ambience and space in the recording. There are also plenty of natural textures and resonance in the sound so it’s easy to hear how naturally the headphones portray all the instruments and the space around them.

  • HD650s – more space and ambience let’s you hear the jazz club surrounds, but the sound is a little muted in comparison to the LEs.
  • FA-011 LEs – cleaner highs and details – cymbals have texture and presence and the piano is more “present” in the sound mix, but at the expense of some ambience.

Switching between the 2 headphones I preferred the sound signature of the LEs. I’ve never before been a supporter of the Sennheiser “veil” description, but I can kind of understand it now. I don’t think the HD650s are bad by any stretch (they’re a wonderful headphone) – their laid back presentation is a large part of their charm and the space and ambience they create in the soundstage is brilliant, but there are times that I crave the clarity and definition of a can like the LEs.

Sinking Stone – Alison Krauss & Union Station from Paper Airplane (96kHz / 24-bit)

This track is light on bass and high on acoustic sounds in the upper mid-range which is possibly the weak point for the LEs.

  • LEs – as expected, the LEs sound a little glassy and fragile with this track, but shows better textures in the vocals. In particular, the male backing vocal is more noticeable and clear, but isn’t enhanced or pushed forward, just well-placed and separated from the other sounds.
  • HD650s – creamier mids and slightly more enjoyable overall even though the backing vocal isn’t quite as well separated. For tracks like this I would always reach for the HD650s.

The summary is pretty clear here. The HD650 excels with the acoustic instruments (guitars, etc.) and vocals while the LE is a bit glassy despite being wonderfully detailed.

Within – Daft Punk from Random Access Memories (44.1kHz / 16-bit)

This track has a nice range of different sounds including piano (always tough to recreate authentically), drums and other percussion, deep bass, and electronic vocals.

  • HD650s – once again the HD650s create more space and on this track also separate the vocals really well so they’re prominent and clear.
  • LEs – the snare is alive and the bass has presence and impact. The chimes have sparkle and clarity that the HD650s can’t match.

The LEs won this battle on the strength of their bass and treble performance. This track covers the whole range so completely that the HD650s sound a little bland in comparison to the LEs’ outstanding extension in the bass. The space and ambience of the HD650s don’t have enough impact in a track like this to offset the frequency range performance.

Good Excuse – John Butler Trio from Grand National (44.1kHz / 16-bit)

  • LEs – layering and textures are excellent. Excellent separation of percussion, piano, and other instruments
  • HD650s – I can’t believe I’m using this word, but they sound a bit veiled (in comparison only). The HD650s are smooth and present more space, but lack some impact down low. The details merge together a bit compared to the LEs, but I think a lot of that is due to the fact that much of the detail in this track comes from acoustic guitars and percussion.

The LEs performed surprisingly well on this track given the heavy use of acoustic guitars and other instruments that dwell in the upper mid-range that can be the LEs weak point. I think the full-range sound in this track off-sets the potentially glassy upper registers of the FA-011 LE.

It’s really important to note here that the HD650 improves significantly on Crack!

What I mean by that is that these tests were conducted driving both headphones from the Audio-gd NFB-5.2. My normal amplifier for the HD650s is the Bottlehead Crack and it has a magic synergy with the HD650s. When I tested the HD650s on this same track but using the Crack, the results were quite different. I would probably still choose the LEs for their bass response and detail, but the separation of instruments and textures became much better with the HD650 / Crack combination.

Violin Concerto in G Major – Marianne Thorsen / Trondheim Solistene from HD Tracks (96kHz / 24-bit)

I thought it was important to test these 2 on some really well recorded classical music. An orchestral or chamber group presents a lot of similar information all at once (i.e. multiple similar instruments versus guitar, drums, bass, etc. which are all different). This makes it a different sound experience. Oh, and because a lot of people like to listen to classical so I thought they’s like the comparison.

  • LEs – the sound is more natural, clean and resolving, but like standing on the conductor’s podium where there’s not a lot of space between me and all the musicians
  • HD650s – much better sense of space, but not as intimate – I feel removed and placed back in the audience somewhere

This was a great test to finish on because it sums up these 2 headphones perfectly. The LEs once again presented more detail, texture and clarity – a more dynamic overall experience, but I felt like I was listening to a good set of headphones – I couldn’t get completely lost in the music. The HD650s once again excelled with the space and ambiance they presented. I felt like I was in the audience listening to the performance which was great, but I felt like I was a couple of rows too far back and that the sound was being muffled slightly by the people and seats in front of me.

Conclusions

This has been a slightly frustrating review because it’s shown me that the ultimate headphone in the $400-ish price range is actually a combination of the HD650 and FA-011 LE. The HD650 outperforms the LE in terms of soundstage size and ambiance while the FA-011 LE outperforms the HD650 in terms of detail, clarity and overall frequency balance (including its awesome bass response!)

So what does that mean for this review and for my headphone collection?

DPP_0002cIt means I will happily keep both headphones in my collection. The HD650s have earned an unassailable place in audiophile lore for good reason. They’re not a perfect headphone from a technical perspective, but they are wonderfully easy to listen to and create an amazing ambiance in the music.

The FA-011 LEs, the star of this show, are an incredibly enjoyable headphone. They perform at every part of the frequency range, they provide superb bass impact, texture and speed, and great detail and clarity. Perhaps most amazing is their ability to do all this without causing any fatigue. Yes, they’re in-you-face and aggressive, but in the most likable way somehow. I haven’t enjoyed bright, analytical headphones for a while now because of some treble sensitivity, but the LEs manage to deliver all their detail and clarity without any fatigue or discomfort.

I think there are some great headphones around this price point (HD6X0, HE-400, DT880, etc.) and the LEs definitely deserve a seat at that table. They are enjoyable, dynamic and revealing, but never inducing of fatigue or discomfort. The provided pads are best changed for stock pads if possible for more physical comfort, but it’s a simple switch.

I would recommend these to people wanting an open headphone which doesn’t sacrifice on bass or overall tonal balance (i.e. they’re not bass monsters, just brilliantly balanced across all frequencies). I wouldn’t recommend them to people seeking large soundstages, but I know some prefer the intimacy of a tighter stage. Remember the LEs don’t lack separation and layering of sounds, just overall space in the soundstage. They are everything the stock FA-011s are known for only better in every way!


Intro

When I saw these I thought what the hell? Fischer Audio I have always respected and loved, mainly because of the DBA-02, which was my first truly great IEM. Everything else of theirs looked good, they had great reviews and apparently most of their other stuff sounded great and it was all aimed at the head-fi community, if they were full headphones they were classy even if plastic and if not, they would be wood. So then I saw a thread introducing these I thought, are these bright plastic monstrosities really a product of my beloved Fischer Audio. Well it turned out so. Well from there design it was clear what they aimed at doing and that was to compete with the beats by dre and Skullcandy range of products with the bright colours and I was hoping that they may do this by giving a balanced more reference sound. The price was also competitive at around £45 so a lot cheaper than the beats line and also a lot of Skullcandy products. So could they replicate the Fischer sound I love into a more teenager and fashionable (for young people) design.

Being a previous owner of both the beats solo HD and the pro’s I actually was interested. So here is what I though of these.

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Set-up

The set-up I have used is a bit different to normal, as I have started using a new portable rig, which is the Hippo CriCri amplifier connected through a LOD to an iPod Nano 3G with Apple Lossless and MP3 on it.

I also used my old set-ups of my iPhone 4, Cowon J3 (with FLAC) and my iMac with my Objective 2 amplifier.

IMG_1579.jpg

Build Quality/Design

To most of you all you have to do is look at the pictures and you have already either moved on from the review or said euugh. That’s the effect it had on me but then maybe 12 year olds will be pumping their fists and the, stand out colours, plastic and tacky look and of course the weird logos which say ‘wicked queen’ which I see as them trying to appeal to girls. The cups also rotate inwards so that they can fold.

IMG_1577.JPG

The cable has a straight ‘I’ plug jack, which has a good housing to it with a nice strain relief, this is terminated with a gold plated plug. The cable is nicely thick as it makes it strong but also is not to think to be annoying. It enters nicely into the headphone were there is a strain relief. The housing are a weak and cheap feeling plastic, not like what you get with beats but what you get with the Skullcandies. We have pleather headband, which is nice, and it is on a metal axis so you can adjust the size of them and that moves really smoothly. The overall build seems all right but far from indestructible and when I straighten the headband out to see flexibility I get some unconvincing creaks.

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Accessories

You will not be receiving anything more than the headphones in the huge colorful box not even a case. I found this strange, as because they are clearly aiming at younger people, surely they want to open up and find loads of goodies like you do with the beats line and most Skullcandies.

Comfort/Fit

Now these have pleather pads on the cups and a pleather headband, which is soft and does not apply too much pressure. These also do not have to big a clamping force although granted it is more than the Sennheiser HD580 but coming from the beats pro it is great and these should not fatigue for a good while. The one niggle is that your ear does sit inside the cup but is squashed a tiny but also rests on the driver due to a really shallow fit inside the cup and I would like a bit more room.

Isolation

Even with the best seal you can get with these you do not get the best isolation which is rather disappointing for a over the headphone and especially one that is closed. It is not a patch on the beats pro but still handily is better than an open headphone like my HD580 or semi-open like my Superlux HD681. If you crank the volume up enough most quiet noises should disappear but shouting easily gets inside.

Microphonics (Cable Noise)

There handily is no cable noise on these.

Burn-In

By what I am about to write I do not want to cause any upsets or arguments as this topic can be seen as a sour subject. These have had roughly 100 hours now of use and burn in combined. As burn in is not scientifically proven this all could be mental and happening in my head but in the case that it does happen I recommend burning them in as in my personal experience I have noted improvements which have a massive impact on my enjoyment factor, so dint make any irrational decisions after listening to them out the box.

Soundstage and instrument separation

The soundstage is surprisingly open and fairly wide and involving consuming and enveloping you in the sound. In fact these are much more open in soundstage than any of the beats or any close headphone i have ever heard, i keep having to check that these are not open backed. The presentation is actually also very nice while the passage is slow and the instruments are separated from one another and they really do use the width of the soundstage and the two channels of the headphones to affect which is nice to be seen done.

As you can guess from the first paragraph these have poor instrument separation and while everything is slow its is really nice but as soon as it speeds up everything compresses uncontrollably and everything sort of swirls around the vocals.

Bass

So moving onto bass and do they have a bass emphasis like me and you probably expected but hope not for and we…. DO have a mid-bass emphasis. The mid-bass is dull, poorly textures and spiked with a fairly large quantity. It is however not the boomiest bass in the world and why it can be at times it hits hard and controlled most of the time. In all honesty it is not far of the level of mid-bass you get with the beats pro but it is just not fast enough to engage you although bass heads will be impressed by the huge impact that these have.

Now the sub-bass is rather impressive and these get really low and can deliver some rumble which is pleasant and not what I expected and the sub-bass is not over shadowed or out performed by the mid-bass.

Midrange

Aah the mids and now I can confirm your guesses, recessed (slightly), veiled and warm. I will start by saying they are not recessed enough that sometimes you may not hear vocals or anything like that but it is the veil that really causes suffering. While the DBA-02 have the most transparent mids I have ever come across and the details are just mind blowing. Well take the polar opposite of that, details are really not the Wicked Queens thing in the mids especially and that is mainly due to the entire veil. The tone of these is warm and it does make strings pleasant and drums nice enough, in fact the drums are close to great and remind me of the realism you get with the Vsonic GR07 drums but both male and female vocals are both to flat and soft and they and the rest of the headphone are just boring. The mids are however very smooth and although the flat vocals do sound okay and not nasally or pitchy. To be honest the mids could have been a lot worse and most IEMs I have been getting with this sort of signature have just tragic mids were you can not hear the vocals and you can ALWAYS here them with these which is great.

Treble

The highs as expected finish of the signature and are quite badly rolled of and there is a complete lack of sparkle because of that. They are also equally not detailed and although the presence is not and it is behind the bass and the headphonessound dark, in fact I am so reminiscent of memories of my beats pro when I listen to them. They highs are however really smooth and only rarely sibilant (I do not know how as they do not seem to have any sort of peak). Again as I said they are not too recessed and guitar solos do still get through and symbol crashes can be still heard. There is also a rather weird short decay on the trebles.

Overall

If I still had my beats pro then these would happily go pound to pound with them and I paid £330 for them and these are only £45, in fact thinking about it they may even be better than the beats pro as these have slightly more free and forward mids (yes veiled but comparing with the beats is something else. Their sound however is always really full which is good thing and never feels empty. For £45 it is actually a fairly nice headphone, especially when comparing it to similar priced IEMs like the Brainwavs M2 and I would have this over them all day long. I am not going to recommend it your every go head-fier unless you actually liked the beats pro as you may be surprised by these but to maybe a young beats/Skullcandy fan checking this site out. I really do think however if Fischer Audios marketing can get these out their and let the beats fans know about these and make them cool by celebs wearing these then they may make the way into the mainstream market.

So as a quick summary i have heard every headphone in the Beats line and these handily trash them in pretty much ever sonic aspect and they are also very fun to listen too, just not hi-fi enough for me and most likely you but then their price is only £45.

This can be purchased from Top Dog Headphones in the UK.


I would like to thank Fischer Audio for supplying me with this review sample, I will write as honest a review possible.

All opinions expressed are my own, others may not agree.

These received over 50 hours of burn, no real difference was noticed,

Gear Used:

IPod Classic 160gb (rockboxed) – Fischer Audio Wicked Queen

IPod Classic 160gb (rockboxed) – Fiio L3 – JDS Labs C421 (AD8620) – Fischer Audio Wicked Queen

Specs:

Frequency response: 20 – 20,000 Hz

Sensitivity: 101dB

Impedance: 40Ω

Max power input: 100mW

Price: $60

Fischer Audio Wicked Queen

Packaging, Accessories and Build quality:

Packaging is very bright and stands out, I have these in green, and the packaging is bright green too. It has a cardboard body with a plastic inlay showing the headphones, very simple and it looks nice, but getting them out is another story, I basically had to destroy the plastic inner box to get to the headphones. Maybe an easier to open box would be better.

Accessories, what accessories? Nothing is included with these headphones, which is a shame, maybe at least a fabric carry pouch or something. Nothing is included, only the headphones and a users guide.

Build quality, well what can I say, these are more geared towards teenage girls I think, as they are called wicked queen. The headphones are basically all plastic, and cheap plastic at that, the adjustable arms are metal reinforced at least. These don’t feel like they will break that quickly, but the plastic really doesn’t inspire much confidence. The plates on the side that say wicked queen are metal, and the cable is 3M long and is of good thickness, and strain relief is fine on both jack and entry to the cups. The length is a bit longso not great for portable use as the box says portable headphones.

Comfort and Isolation:

Comfort is fairly good, the pads are a bit stiff and shallow, but may soften up after more use, the headband pad is also a bit too stiff, so you can feel the pressure on the top of your head. But these are light, so they are still comfortable for general use, but not for long listening sessions. The pads are spacious but a little shallow and these should also fit anyone.

Isolation is not very good for a portable headphone, and you can still hear things around you, but leakage is not a problem.

Fischer Audio Wicked Queen

Sound:

I will split this into the usual 3 categories, and then write a conclusion.

Bass:

Well as these are more style over sound, I was expecting lots of muddy bass, not what I found. What these have is actually a satisfactory amount of bass, not overwhelming or anything, and to my surprise the bass is fairly well defined. Being articulate and punchy, with good extension, but not great. There is more mid bass punch than sub bass rumble. I did notice one thing though, there is a weird resonance on some bass frequencies, I’m thinking some dampening in the cups could resolve this. Also the bass is quite slow in recovery so not very good for fast paced music.

Mids:

Well I was also expecting recessed mids, warmed up by the lows. As the lows are not as prominent as I thought they would be, there is very little warming up of the mids, and also the mids cut through the mix with good clarity. You can even hear singers take breaths whilst singing. There is a little bit of sibilance in the upper mids, but nothing serious. I am impressed by the mids from these, they are not as lush smooth and natural as I would have liked, but not bad for the price, and the type of headphone these are, the mids can be a little edgy and sharp sometimes.

Highs:

Also surprisingly present, but not the best in definition and detail. The highs become very splashy and metallic, but at least they are there. The highs really help these sound actually quite good, as no part of the spectrum is really lacking in anything. Cymbals shimmer and extend nicely, but never becoming bright or harsh.

Soundstage, Imaging and Instrument separation:

Soundstage is very average but I didn’t expect it to be large. But everything is very well positioned in the space it does have. Imaging is very well done, with both channels working to create a very nice image of the whole sound, and placement of individual instruments. Instrument separation is quite good, the sound does become congested on faster tracks, and it is also a slightly warm headphone, but instruments are generally well separated.

Fischer Audio Wicked Queen

Conclusion:

Well, I must say I wasn’t expecting much of headphones that look like these, but I will say that I am surprised, based on sound only, I would recommend these actually. Not a bloated bassy mess, as most consumer aimed headphones are, these have quite a balanced sound, with very acceptable mids and highs, and bass that does not overpower the rest of the sound. They do have a slightly warm sound, but fair well with most genres, where slower acoustic music actually sounds very good.

I hope you enjoyed this review, comments are welcome.

Tracks Used:

Skrillex – First Of The Year (Equinox) (320kbps MP3)

Paramore – Franklin (320kbps MP3)

Diana Krall – The Girl In The Other Room (FLAC)

Deolinda – Passou Por Mim E Sorriu (live) (ALAC)

Suicide Silence – Unanswered (FLAC)

Massive Attack – Angel (ALAC)

Eat Static – Dzhopa Dream (ALAC)

The XX – Crystalised (FLAC)

Funeral For A Friend – Bend Your Arms To Look Like Wings (ALAC)

Mumford & Sons – Little Lion Man (FLAC)

The Scene Aesthetic – Humans (259kbps MP3)

A Hero A Fake – Swallowed By The Sea (254kbps MP3)

Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, Spring Allegro (ALAC)

Johnny Craig – Children Of Divorce (161kbps MP3)

Deadmau5 + Kaskade – I Remember (Caspa Remix) (320kbps MP3)

Black Uhuru – Utterance (ALAC)

We Are The In Crowd – Never Be What You Want (226kbps MP3)

Silverstein – Discovering The Waterfront (320kbps MP3)

Concept Of Thought – Our Thought (FLAC)

Nirvana – Something In The Way (Unplugged) (ALAC)

Photos taken by: Felix Speller

http://www.flickr.com/photos/felixspeller/

http://www.felixspeller.com


I’m swiftly becoming a fan of Fischer Audio’s innovative designs and attention to detail, and these professional DJ headphones are certainly no disappointment. They come packaged with a choice of coiled and straight cables, as well as replacement ear pads, all presented in a lovely padded foam carry case (which itself is sturdier and more protective than many expensive record bags I’ve owned over the years)…

The pair I was handed for review sport a rather eye-catching white and red colour scheme; not to everyone’s taste, however they are also available in more muted shades. I must confess that my first impression on opening the box was that they looked a little plasticky and lightweight, but on closer inspection they are really solid and very well made. They are lighter than most comparable models (which can only be an advantage for a working DJ) and are very comfortable to wear.

On plugging the headphones in, the first thing I noticed was the bass. The combination of a tight ‘ear-hugging’ design, and a large 50mm driver makes them quite heavy on the low end, though the sound is smooth and well controlled. Initially I felt they lacked a little sparkle on high frequencies, however after a short while I got used to the warm sound of these headphones; the sound is detailed, full of character and very pleasant indeed.

Sound Impressions

A club scenario is where these cans really come into their own. Suddenly the bias towards low end frequencies makes perfect sense. The high frequencies are not blasting you, even with a lot of ambient noise, so you are able to make out the full detail of the track you’re cueing up. The tight fit of the ear-pads enables you to monitor at lower volumes than with many other headphones, which can only help to prevent tinitus.

Final Thoughts

Overall, a truly excellent pair of DJ headphones, offering genuinely great value for money. After a long listening session with these, I found my usual (and much more expensive) monitoring headphones to sound almost tinny in comparison.

If you’re looking something a bit different, like chunky headphones, and enjoy your bass ‘in your face’, these are the cans for you!

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