Changing Lane

Also showing off in the 2014 Tokyo Fujiya Avic Headphone Festival is ibasso still-in-development IEM called 'Oriolus'. Detail is sketchy for now though it is reported to be a triple-BA + single dynamic hybrid design. No price or release date yet as rumors point out that ibasso isn't fully happy with the current prototype.

Sony Custom

The big news over the last two days in the IEM world is that Sony has decided to do custom IEM. The sub-brand will call 'Just ear' and at at least for now, three different standard models / tunings ('monitor', 'club sound' and 'listening') will be available where there is also mentioning of user customizable tuning for additional fee. Price is set around USD$2000 to $2500 for standard tuning and another USD$500 for customized sound. Not sure whether Sony will bring it out of Japan or not, the release date is set before the end of the year.

It is great that Sony decided to push further into the IEM world, and the build quality seems to be great. However, consider that the company has yet to even make an universal IEM that can compete in the top-of-the-line level (*I have heard as high as XBA-H2/3 and they are not that much of a looker IMO), I would certainly doubt Sony's ability to tune a TOTL custom with premier price tag. There is just not enough to inspire confidence.

More, continues...

 

More news from Japan - JVC is introducing a new line of micro dynamic transducer based on titanium diaphragm and we will see them on the new Twin System based FXT100 and FXT200. Judging from the model number, they should be upgrade over the aging FXT90. FXT200 also comes with a limited edition (picture above) with gold color housing and silver plated OFC cable, and a bit more pricy as well. The regular version should run you about USD$100 and USD$150 respectively. Add about USD$20 for the limited edition.

Beside the upgrade FXT models, the new driver will also be featured in the new single driver based FXH line with three model: FXH10, 20 and 30, for about USD$45, 52 and 70 each.

The UK company Rock Jaw is introducing a new model called Kommand. It is one BA and one dynamic based hybrid with ear-clip and user-tunable nozzle system. Price should be under USD$200.

As a Chinese company, Fidue might not be that well known as a consumer brand on the international market. But they are known among head-fi community for making really high quality universal IEM. Their new model is called A71 with dual dynamic design and incidentally, one of them is a titanium driver as well. Price will be just around USD$100.

More News from Japan

With the arrival of the 2014 autumn Tokyo Headphone Festival, DUNU is announcing two more IEM models - the dynamic transducer based Titan 1 with titanium diaphragm and DN-2000J, a re-tuned and shrink down version of the original DN-2000, which seems to be more of a special model for the Japanese market. No price was mentioned. Also on the announcement is the Alpha 1 - an hybrid one BA + one dynamic earbud - yes, earbud, not IEM, and likely the first of its kind.

News fron Japan

Audio Technica just had a press release in Japan introducing new models. Among them, the new CKB series, which are mainly budget priced single balanced armature transducer based IEM: ATH-CKB70 (top - USD$85 est.) and ATH-CKB50 (bottom - USD$42 est.). As typically Japanese, they also introduces a few more red color "limited edition" of older models, which really just no worth looking unless you just happen to need IEM in that particular color.

We mentioned that Sony had introducing the XBA-Z5 as their new flagship in IFA2014, but it seems they are not quite done yet - the XBA-100 (picture above), which I assume is an updated model on the existing XBA-10, will feature a single BA driver with  new tech developed for Z5's driver and priced around USD$100. Sony also upgrades all the XBA-H series with the new driver technology and now they are called the XBA-A series. They will be priced pretty close (but slightly more expensive) to the current XBA-H series.

Back to Zero

Brainwavz has released a new model called S0, as a step-down of the current S5. It will be priced at half the price as well, at US$50.

3-in-1

EarSonics is releasing a new universal IEM model called the Velvet under its 'premium signature' series. It has a switch on the earpiece allowing the listener to tune for three different sound signatures. No much detail at this point but do prepare to pay USD$800 for a pair.