Audiosense DT200 Review (1) – A Warm Embrace
Pros:
Extremely comfortable, good build.
Excellent isolation.
Coherent/organic tonality.
Non fatiguing.
Great timbre (for BA timbre).
Great imaging.
Generous accessories.
Easily drivable.
Cons:
Average clarity and details at midfi range.
Average soundstage width.
Subbass and higher treble roll off.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Audiosense DT200 is a warm neutralish set that is extremely comfortable and well fitting. Technicalities aren’t classleading, but it has a very non fatiguing signature with a well balanced and organic tonality.
Indeed, it is easy to find technically proficient budget/midfi CHIFI, but it is much rarer to find a well tuned set which embraces a coherent tonality like the DT200.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver Type: 2 Balanced Armatures
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 22 KHz
- Impedance: 14 ohms
- SPL: 99 +/- 3dB
- Sound Isolation (up to): 30 dB
- Cable type: Detachable MMCX
- Tested at $149 USD
PHYSICAL THINGS AND USABILITY
ACCESSORIES
In addition to the IEM, it comes with:
1) 8 Core OFC cable – well braided, minimal microphonics, very sturdy
2) Pelican like hard case
3) Foam and silicone tips of various sizes
Essentially their accessories are exactly the same as that provided in their flagship Audiosense T800 IEM, which I self purchased about a year back. I’d take a good sounding IEM any day over good accessories, but I’d like to commend Audiosense for providing such goodies even for their non flagship models.
BUILD/COMFORT
The DT200 has one of the most comfortable resin shells I’ve used in a non custom IEM, you can forget it is inside the ears for hours. It is similarly shaped and as well built as their flagship Audiosense T800’s resin shell but with a much smaller profile of shell size than the T800, which some folks had an issue with in comfort (see photos below for size comparisons).
I’ve generally disliked MMCX connectors in IEMs due to their shorter shelf life compared to 2 pin type connectors, but the DT200’s MMCX connectors are very sturdy and disconnect/connect easily with the stock cables.
Isolation is superb, at about 30 dB as claimed in the specs sheet, similar to its flagship bigger brother, the Audiosense T800.
DRIVABILITY
The DT200 is pretty drivable from lower powered sources like smartphones, and amping isn’t truly mandatory, though there is a slight scaling of dynamics, soundstage and details with good amping.
SOUND & TECHNICALITIES
The DT200 has a warm neutralish sound signature. Tonality is very coherent and organic, unlike some budget multi BA/hybrids. It is very non fatiguing, with no harsh frequencies, and hence coupled with the comfortable fit, the DT200 is well suited for long listening sessions. I appreciate that the DT200 doesn’t have the typical upper mids CHIFI sawtooth harshness, and is actually quite a “westernized” tuning. The local Asian market seems to prefer boosted upper mids for their mainstay female vocal predominant songs, and strangely, Audiosense is marketing the DT200 more for their local market rather than the West.
Technicalities like details and clarity for the DT200 are average at the midfi region, and there are definitely more technically proficient sets at this price range. Imaging is very good but instrument separation may be congested occasionally due to the average soundstage width.
The DT200’s soundstage is average in width, though depth and height of soundstage are above average.
Timbre is very good for BA timbre, but not as good as some dedicated DD sets (eg BLON BL-03, KBEAR Diamond) in the timbre for acoustic instruments.
Upper mids are actually pretty smooth and non fatiguing in contrast to the graphs.
Bass:
Bass quantity on the DT200 is just slightly north of neutral, with more midbass predominance and a roll off at subbass. The midbass has good punch and it is very accurate and well textured with no midbass bleed. Those who like typical BA bass and speed will like it, but the lack of a DD type subbass decay/rumble may not be compatible with certain bass predominant music or bassheads.
Mids:
Mids on the DT200 are very well balanced and coherent, with a slight boost in the upper mids that is not fatiguing or harsh (in contrast to the graphs). Vocals especially female ones, have a bit of a lack of bite/edge definition, which may be a pro or con depending on the music you listen to. Note weight is on the leaner side.
Treble:
There’s a roll off from lower treble all the way to upper treble, so this isn’t an airy or treblehead set. As such it borders on being dark and hence the DT200’s treble doesn’t have a lot of detail compared to other multi BA type gear or brighter sets, but the DT200’s treble is very smooth with no sibilance. Hence it is suited for long listening sessions.
COMPARISONS
I decided to compare the DT200 against other all BA setups so as to compare apples to oranges, as IEMs with other transducers eg DD bass, may have different strengths and weaknesses.
- Audiosense T800 (8 knowles BA; $298 USD)
The T800 is the current flagship jewel in the Audiosense crown, and it has 6 more BAs per side, but costs double the price of the DT200. The T800 is U shaped with an atypical BA bass that sounds like a DD bass in terms of decay and rumble due to its vented subwoofer design. As such it has more subbass quantity/extension than the DT200.
The DT200 is more comfortable than the T800 for long usages due to its smaller sized shell.
The T800 is better in technicalities (imaging, instrument separation, clarity, details and soundstage).
Timbre and isolation is about on par.
The T800 is much brighter and may be fatiguing for long sessions due to the hyperdetail and boosted upper frequencies, whereas the DT200 is extremely non fatiguing and suited for long listening sessions.
2. Hisenior B5+ (5 knowles BA, $80 USD)
The Hisenior B5+ is half the price of the DT200, and it is a midcentric (N shaped) set with more marked subbass and higher treble roll off than the DT200.
The DT200 has better fit and comfort than the B5+. Timbre and isolation is better on the DT200. Bass is tighter, better textured and more accurate on the DT200. Technicalities and soundstage are better on the DT200.
The usual adage of tuning being of more importance than driver count applies here, with the 2 BA DT200 outperforming the 5 BA Hisenior B5+, though the latter is half the price. I wouldn’t say the DT200 has double the sound quality compared to the B5+, but in this hobby, diminishing returns would be present the higher you go up. Nevertheless, the DT200 is on another league and is the more refined IEM for sure.
3. Westone W30 (3 BA, $400 USD)
The Westone W30 is a warm neutralish set, with slightly better treble extension than the DT200. They both have a midbass hump with rolled off subbass typical of BA type bass.
Both the DT200 and W30 are very well fitting, but the DT200 is slightly better in comfort for me. Isolation is about on par. Timbre much is better on the DT200.
Technicalities and soundstage are just a tinge better on the W30. The W30’s bass is more flabby and less accurate than the DT200, and the W30 is more fatiguing in the upper mids/treble than the DT200.
Hence, there’s much better value to be had in the DT200 for sure, I would consider them sidegrades with the DT200 being less than half the price.
CONCLUSIONS:
The price bracket the DT200 has released into has quite serious competition. It isn’t a treblehead, basshead, analytical or “fun” sounding set and won’t “wow” the listener on first impressions, but the DT200’s sound signature is the kind that grows on you, and is a very “audiophile” like tuning. I would recommend the DT200 to those seeking a non fatiguing listen for long sessions with a warm-neutralish coherent and balanced tonality.
I think Audiosense did a good job with the tuning considering the DT200 just contains 2 BAs, so certain technical aspects were kind of limited by this, but as oft repeated, driver count is not as important as tuning.
In view of the excellent isolation, it may also possibly be an entry level stage/studio monitor for audio work, though the technicalities such as soundstage and details aren’t classleading. However, as alluded to earlier, it is very easy to find technically proficient CHIFI at the budget/midfi level, but much harder to find something with a well tuned and organic tonality, such as in the DT200.
MY VERDICT
You find an INDEX of all our earphone reviews HERE.
DISCLAIMER
The DT200 is a loaner review set from HIFIGO. After the review I have passed it on to coblogger KopiOKaya.
It can be gotten at $149 USD from https://hifigo.com/
Our generic standard disclaimer.
You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.
