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Before we get into the FA 011 vs. ATH M50 comparison, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..
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What I will bring you today
For the purposes of this article, I will outline the Fischer Audio 011, compare it to the ATH M50, and then give a recommendation towards the end. 🙂
- Ratings/Price
- Specifications
- Summary
- Pros
- Cons
- Video Review
- Amp/DAC requirements
- Who these headphones benefit?
- Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- Consensus/Conclusion
- Similarities & Differences
- Graphs
- My M50 Review (with 50x comparisons)
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
Fischer Audio FA 011
Ratings/Price
- Check eBay!
Specifications
- Type: Open back.
- Materials: Natural Wood.
- Frequency Response: 18Hz – 22,000kHz.
- Sensitivity: 98 dB.
- Impedance: 160 Ohm. What is Headphone Impedance?
- Input Power: 0.4 W.
- Plug: 3.5mm.
- Cable length: 2.5m.
- Cable extension: 3.2m.
- Color: Athracite/black.
Summary
The Fischer Audio 011 is not a neutral headphone by any means. The bass here is emphasized for sure, but the mid-range is still very much present and lush.
The bass is elevated without becoming uneven and messy. There’s plenty of slam, but it’s controlled and tight. The important thing to keep in mind is that the FA 011 isn’t the most accurate headphone on the planet, but it sure is a lot of fun!
Another thing to take note of is amplification; the FA 011 will need it. More on that later!
Pros
- Beautiful design.
- Exceptional comfort.
- Good sound isolation.
- Good bass with plenty of impact.
- Good mid-range. It’s very lifelike and lively sounding.
- Great Soundstage, with a good 3-d image and nice instrument separation. What is Soundstage?
Cons
- Can be sibilant at times. What does Sibilant mean?
Video Review
Amp/DAC requirements
With most headphones paired with my Schiit Magni, you won’t have to turn the dial up much past 10 o’clock due to a combination of high sensitivity and low impedance. What is Sensitivity in Headphones?
The FA 011 does need some extra juice however. A headphone amp is highly recommended if not outright mandatory for the best listening experience. How to choose a Headphone Amp!
Good pairings:
- NFB-12
- FiiO E9
- C-421
- Schiit Magni. Learn more: Schiit Magni 2 Review.
Really these aren’t picky with the amp that you go with, so don’t get too caught up in the perfect pairing if you decide to seek out a pair. 🙂
Who these headphones benefit?
Endorsed for:
- Rock
- Metal
- Trance
- Classical
- Jazz
- Hip-Hop
- Rap
- EDM
- Vocals
- Orchestral
- Chamber
- Pipe Organ
- Gaming
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- The FA 011 makes a great gaming headphone because of the realistic sounding explosions, a long with the phenomenal comfort and accurate Soundstage. Everything is easily discernible and you’re able to detect where the sounds are coming from with great accuracy and precision.
- They require more power to drive than your average headphone.
- They tend to do better with well mastered recordings and aren’t very forgiving of bad sources.
Consensus/Conclusion
Not a neutral headphone. Phenomenal bass and mid-range. Treble can be problematic at times. Needs amplification to truly shine. Tends to reveal poorly mastered sources and does very well with good quality files. This is a headphone for bass heads, movie watchers and gamers.
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- Both do very well with Rap and Hip-Hop.
Differences
- Bass. The FA 011’s bass is much more balanced sounding by comparison. It’s a strong response, but with the M50 you’re getting a bit of an uneven mid-bass. It doesn’t sound wonky or anything, but it’s definitely pronounced. The FA 011’s bass is a little smoother, but still provides plenty of punch like prom night. 😛
- Mid-range. The mid-range is a lot more balanced as well, and provides better detail than the M50. Because the bass and treble is so strong on the M50, it gives the illusion that the mid-range is recessed or pushed back when in reality it’s actually not. It sounds that way because of the peak at 9k as well as the elevated bass response. Because the FA 011 is more balanced overall, it’s mid-range comes across as very detailed and crisp by contrast to the M50’s
- Treble. The M50’s treble is very bright, and sometimes sibilant. The FA 011’s can also come across that way, but there is really no comparison here. The M50’s can become very “essy” at times which is one of their only glaring flaws in my book. Again, I would EQ it down by a few decibels. The FA 011’s are fairly rolled off by contrast.
- Amp. While the M50’s will not need an amp at all, the FA 011’s will to sound good. They sound okay without an amp, but you’re going to want to pair them with something cool for best results. The M50’s by contrast sound great without an amp, and with one there isn’t much difference. With the 011’s there’s a huge improvement.
- Type. The M50 is a closed back headphone while the FA 011 is an open back. Closed back vs. Open back headphones.
- Headband. The FA 011’s have that self adjusting hammock headband, while the M50’s sport the traditional style.
- Material. The FA 011’s are made of natural wood, metal and plastic, while the M50’s are mostly plastic with some metal on the headband adjustment.
- Fatigue. The M50’s will tire you out after awhile due to their somewhat intense sound, while the 011’s are very relaxing in comparison.
- Gaming. I wouldn’t rely on the M50’s for gaming, but the FA 011’s do wonderful in this regard because of their open nature.
- Cable. The M50’s do not have a detachable cable while the FA 011’s do. Note that the upgraded 50x’s do have a detachable cable, and it only comes out of one side. With the 011’s it comes out of both. I believe the 011’s terminate in a mini XLR at the ear-cup end where you plug them in. What is XLR?
- Overall. While the bass and treble on the M50’s are the highlight, the mid-range is the FA 011’s bread and butter. They sound much more natural and realistic, while still having some nice bass presence.
Graphs
My Video Review!
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Final Word
I would recommend the M50’s if you’re a casual sort of person looking for top shelf quality. I do believe the M50’s to still be relevant, and consider them a high end consumer headphone. If that’s you, then I think you should have a go at them. Interested in learning more?
SEE THE UPGRADED M50X’s FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!
OR
CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL AUDIO TECHNICA ATH M50 REVIEW!!
If you’re looking for more of an audiophile type of bass head sound, the V-Moda Crossfade M100 is the solution. It’s got a much better overall sound signature than the M50, and boasts plenty of detail and clarity that the 50’s lack. If durability, comfort, and plenty of controlled high impact bass sound good to you, why not check them out?
LEARN MORE IN MY OFFICIAL V-MODA CROSSFADE M100 REVIEW!!
OR
SEE THEM FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!
I think the FA 011 is pretty good, but it’s hard to get your hands on a pair. Something similar that I think is the perfect solution is the Sennheiser HD 558. It’s extremely comfortable, lightweight and durable, with an amazing mid-range, Soundstage, and plenty of bass if you take out the foam strips behind the driver. What is a headphone driver? It’s a really easy process that I explain more in depth in my official review.
The HD558 represents the best open back headphone in it’s price range (in my opinion) with an amazing price to performance ratio to boot. Plus you won’t need an amp for them either. Interested in learning more about it?
CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL SENNHEISER HD 558 REVIEW!!
OR
SEE THEM FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!
Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this FA 011 vs. ATH M50 comparison.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Which of these tickles YOUR pickle? I would love to hear from you. Until next time..
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
