[Prelude]
Just a few weeks ago, I have no knowledge what-so-ever regarding Fischer Audio. I would be crazy to even consider recommending any of their IEM models to you. After all, there are literally hundreds of small companies dumping ships-load of zero quality knock-off and generic Chinese made headphones into the market. It is often a very difficult job to sort through these 'offering' and find the handful of brands that actually do pay attention to detail and take the time to fine tuning the sound of their products. I am happy to report to you that Fischer Audio is just one of these companies that do things right.

Before the review begin, I want to take the chance to thank Fisher Audio for sending me the IEM for review and especially Alex (company rep.) for the communication and his boss for finding me. If you guys are reading this: Please do consider selling your products internationally.



[Spec]
There will be 6 models of IEM being reviewed here: The FA-999 is the latest entry of FA's "Premium" series, targeting budget orientated consumers who are interested in the bang-of-the-bucks deal. The Omega is one of FA's "Signature" series. It is a step up of "Premium" series and targeting people who are seeking a better sound with a limited budget. The Paradigm v.2, Enigma, Silver Bullet and Eterna are all in the "Fundamentals" series , which is more audiophile orientated.


FA-999
Frequency range: 20-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 101 dB
Impedance: 16 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.1 M
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L) and manual.




Omega
Frequency range: 12-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 105 dB
Impedance: 32 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M with Oxygen-Free Copper cable
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L) and manual.





Paradigm v.2
Frequency range: 10-20000 Hz
Sensitivity: 104 dB
Impedance: 16 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L), soft pouch and manual.

This post has been edited by ClieOS: Oct 17 2009, 11:54 AM

Enigma
Frequency range: 8-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 102 dB
Impedance: 18 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L), soft pouch and manual.




Silver Bullet
Frequency range: 12-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 102 dB
Impedance: 18 Om
Input power: 60 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, M, L), soft pouch and manual.






Eterna
Frequency range: 8-22000 Hz
Sensitivity: 110 dB
Impedance: 18 Om
Input power: 350 mW
Cable Length: 1.25 M with Oxygen-Free Copper cable
Includes: Single flange eartips (S, L), Bi-flanges eartips, Silicone ear guides, soft pouch and manual

*All come with 3.5mm L-shaped, gold plated mini plug.

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Added on October 17, 2009, 11:54 am[Packaging and Build Quality]
Besides FA-999, which has a blister pack over the paper box, all the models are well packed in a hard paper box with transparent window access so you can get to see what you are going to buy. As you can tell from the pictures, the packaging are neither top notch nor shabby. It is what I'll describe as better-than-average.

For most of the models, you will get a decent soft pouch, though I do hope FA will include a hard case for the better models. I won't even mind paying a little bit extra since it really 'completes' the whole package. This is especially true to Eterna since its ear guides are rather big and a hard case can really be helpful. Being the lower end models FA-999 and Omega don't have any pouch, but Omega does have a Velcro strip on the cable to help managing cable when unused. While most of the models have very well built mini plug, the cable are less impressive. Beside Omega and Eterna (which have thicker yet flexible cable), the rest of the models use what seems to be the same type of black cable mostly found on Sony or Panasonic earbuds back in the 90's. While the cable isn't much to look at, they are still adequate for the job.

One thing that doesn't come with most of the models (except FA-999) is the shirt clip. However, since microphonics is generally pretty low on the plain looking black cable FA used, it really isn't a big problem at all. Out of all the models, Silver Bullet is the only one with full metal housing. The housing is gorgeous to look at and has some weight to it (feel like steel btw), but the included eartips are really too soft to get a good seal. Weird enough, I only found the eartips on the Silver Bullet package to be too soft. Those on other models are actually pretty good. Their isolation are all very decent. Basically they are Eterna > Enigma > Paradigm v.2 = Omega = Silver Bullet (w/ generic single flange) > FA-999. To give you a rough idea, the isolation on FA-999 is about -20dB, which is about average on my scale and enough for daily use.

Granted none of them is built like tank, I find the overall build quality is very solid for their asking price - except for Eterna, which has a better build quality than the rest of the group and comes with ear guides, as you can see on the pictures above.

[Sound Quality]
As always, I put in roughly 40~50 hours of burn-in (each) before the audition. I do not find any major change on most of them except FA-999, which shows a noticeable better bass control after the process.

FA-999 is one for the basshead. It sounds warm, smooth and very full with a pretty good bass response going down to the 20Hz. Treble rolls off early at 16kHz and the the air killing fullness makes it veil. Bass can be a bit boomy on bass heavy music. Overall, FA-999 is a decent deal for its asking price of $21.

Omega sounds fairly balanced without any major flaw. Good treble and airiness though lacks very fine detail, Vocal is neither too close nor too far, bass is very solid and goes down deep with good slam and speed. Soundstage is better than average. Overall, Omega is definitely the best sub$30 IEM I have ever heard. The SE530 like design and the good fit also add more points to the listening experience. For an asking price of $22, it represents a big jump in SQ over FA-999.

Paradigm v.2 is the vocalist of the group. Slightly warm with very decent treble and bass response (which also goes down to 20Hz but much less in quantity compared to Omega), the strength of Paradigm v.2 lies in its clear vocal and mid range, yet remains fairly neutral without too much coloration. Soundstage is about average. Overall, the $31 Paradigm v.2 is a solid performer.

Enigma sounds warm and full with a good treble and an excellent bass response. Vocal is slightly more laid back but not to a point of being recessed. Soundstage is very good but the warmness does reduce the airiness a bit. It plays well with all type of music genres but really excels in none. Overall, the $40 Enigma does well worth the price.

Silver Bullet is all about soundstage and airiness. Once you replace the stock eartips with any good quality single flange, you will find a slightly warm sound with good airy and well detailed treble, better than average bass that is a bit low in speed and impact and a recessed yet not totally out of place vocal. The sound signature resembles that of TF10 except Silver Bullet is even more laid back with bigger space. While not everyone will like the very airy and specious presentation, the overall performance is still commendable for a pair of $53 IEM.

Eterna is a pair of very musical sounding IEM - it is not about accuracy of the sonic reproduction, but the 110% dedication to fun and music enjoyment. It has a slightly warm and an upfront presentation. Treble is there but not on the center stage. Midrange is full and vocal is sweet. Bass has a really good body, depth and decent speed though it still misses the deepest of sub-bass compared to that of real bass monster (i.e. Atrio). Airiness and soundstage are almost spot on for a pair of IEM, neither too far or near and yet still retains clear separation and layers. This is by far one of the best dynamic universal I have heard (placing it alongside with IE8 and just slightly ahead of RE0) and to best them all - it only costs $59. I dare to say I even prefer it over almost dull sounding SE530 and almost on par of TF10 (only because TF10 offers better accuracy with less coloration). To add more points to Eterna, it is almost as comfortable as UM2 and has a really good build quality. If I have to pick a weak point from Eterna, it is the lack of hard case since it is rather bulky with the ear guide in place. Highly recommended with a Sonic Diamond™ Award.



[Conclusion]
It is kind of strange to just discover Fischer Audio even though they are in business for quite a few years now (not to mention they really have a good line-up of products). In our first email exchange, I remember Alex @ Fischer Audio introduced the companies' products as 'not quite good as Ultimate Ears but definitely better than Philips.' Well, I am quite happy to prove him wrong. They are in fact every bit as good as many of their larger competitors. At the end, the only remaining question is of course "where to find one?" Hopefully this review will give Fischer Audio a bit more incentive to venture out to the international market. For now, those who are in Russia and Scandinavia should really start looking around for stores that carries these lovely babies. Hopefully some of the bulk order organizers in the forum can also pick up some of these models for the local market as well.

A quick sum-up can be found here.

p/s: I'll be gone for a days or two for a family trip and should be able to return home by Sunday to answer any question.

This post has been edited by ClieOS: Oct 17 2009, 11:54 AM

All prices are discussed in the SQ section.

Not real motivation to try one so, no.

As described on the prelude, Fischer Audio sent them to me.

That's because I tell them to send me whatever models they like me to review.

Fischer Audio has been in the Russian market for a few years now, so I'll guess they are at least a reliable company. As for custom, I have no idea. I never get taxed by custom before (considered I have received >2K of headphone and gears by regular mail and DHL so far), so I think I am lucky that way. The easiest way will be just find one of the regular bulk organizer in the sale forum who usually import headphone from HK to organize it. Personally I don't even know how to begin.

Ha, talk about the devil himself...errr, I mean 'God'

I have another poison for you on Dec. It is called FiiO E7...

The final price will be set by the final product (the components and design used). FiiO is still doing minor change on their prototypes AFAIK, so there is no final price yet. But the whole point of E7 is to provide an decent entry level amp+DAC for the mobile user, so it definitely won't be more expensive than their competitors. My guess is around US$80, but it is a mere guess at the moment.

US$59 is the equivalent of Russia local price.

...and before anyone get angry about me saying Eterna has the same SQ as IE8, then have a different opinion of their own: I was making a point on Eterna and IE8 being two of the best dynamic IEM I ever heard, not that they share the same SQ, or the same sound signature in that matter.

This is the original paragraph:

I only auditioned IE8 briefly, not enough to pass done any real judgment thus I don't want to include it in any review. However, I also audition UM3X and W3 the same day (and I had my RE0 that day for comparison), and IE8 is the only one that impress me, that say a lot on how it fairs. Since I also like Eterna just a tad better than RE0, that make IE8 and Eterna two of the best dynamic IEM I ever heard. I don't want to misguide you to think that I can / have compare(d) them side by side to actually tell you how they compared with each other. If anything, recalling precise audio memory is often too inaccurate for any usefulness.

That perhaps requires some clarification: I was impressed by IE8 as it has a different sound signature from your typical high end IEM. I think Sennheiser's approach is more 'enjoyment orientated' instead of trying to sound 'more correct'. UM3X on the other hand is also a solid top tier choice, but I feel that it is too conservative on its sound signature and lacks personality. It is not necessary a bad thing as it makes the IEM less picky on music genre. The real disappointment of the day was W3, which I can only describe as being rather harsh and lack in resolution. Personally I would have taken UM2 over W3.

It seems our Southern brothers @ Singapore just got their Eterna shipment.

http://forums.vr-zone.com/mass-order-forum...dio-iem-13.html

We share quite an opposite opinion.

This post has been edited by ClieOS: Mar 17 2010, 05:57 PM

I will probably review some (or may be all) of them as well.

I am not sure when I will get the samples (or which models actually), but it should be within these two weeks.

A small news update: I just got confirmation on the EMS packages Fischer Audio are sending me. Maybe this weekend but most likely I will get them early next week. Still not quite sure which models they have sent me though, but my guess is all the new IEM and perhaps all the big cas as well, as one of the package weighted close to 2kg

Probably. I can give an initial impression but the final review is going to take time, consider there will be quite a few of them needed to burn-in and I want to have the time for serious audition and comparison.