Review – Dita Audio Twins – Fealty & Fidelity
Specifications
- Driver: Single dynamic driver: Ref-Fe / Ref-Fi
- Frequency
Response: 18Hz-25kHz
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Sensitivity: 95dB
+/- 1 dB@1kHz
- Color: Fealty: Iridium Silver / Fidelity: Barium Grey
- Cable: DITA Fat Cable 2 with TPE Insulating Jacket
- Connector: Awesome 2.5mm TRRS & 3.5mm TRS; Optional: 4.4mm, 5-pole
Price: U$1299.
Design
The materials applied on
the Twins earphones are all of high quality and durability. There are no cheap plastic
parts that could be spotted from the external design. Top notch build quality from
the shells to the own Dita Audio awesome plug hardly gets any better even at
higher prices.
The earpieces are made
of CNC machined and anodized aluminum, thick and looks extremely solid. They
consist of two parts very tightly attached. The external side has the ‘D’
printed on it over a shiny semi mirror like background. The inner part is a bit
thicker and has an angled nozzle for a more natural fit. They have a rather
compact size as they merely need to hold a single 10mm driver, in a completely
round shape with an extended upper part for the cable sockets. At the top of
the nozzle there is a mesh filter attached to it and extra filters can be found
inside the box.
While the aluminum used
on the Twins is very tough, it is also relatively light over different metal
materials used on other IEMs. With the short nozzle the fit is very shallow,
with the round earpieces sitting on the outer part of the ear and only the ear
tips reaching the ear canal. That is not to say these are uncomfortable; on the
contrary, they have a very unobtrusive fit and are very comfortable to wear. If
anything, the upper section of the shells, where the plugs are placed, might be
a bit rough if contact the outer ear, though it may vary for different people. Even
the isolation is surprisingly good, at least above average, considering the
shallow fit and the very small vent placed on the frontal side of the shells.
Actually, I was expecting a much lower noise isolation, but they result very
comfortable at moderate volume levels, even on crowded noisy areas. They are
not going to compete with fully sealed in-ear monitors with a more custom like
shape, but still very good with just the final E tips included. And speaking of
tips, even after some tip-rolling, the included ones provided the better seal
and fit.
For the cable, the Twins
introduce the new Dita “Fat Cable”. Indeed, it is a very thick cable, probably
the thickest included with an in-ear monitor before going to extra aftermarket
options with multiple braided wires. No details about the wires implemented on
the Fat Cable, though. Similar to the Dream model, the Twins have their own
2-pin detachable plugs. The plugs are very proprietary to the own Twins models
and most probably they will not fit other earphones. On the other side, the
2-pin sizes is of the standard 0.78mm, so using other cables on the Twins
should be possible. Even so, the cables are very tightly attached to the
earpieces, much more than any other 2-pin cables I’ve seen on different higher
models. Despite the thickness of the cable, it is very soft and pliable, and
also carries low noise when moving around; not the most quiet one, but still
comfortable. It doesn’t feel too heavy either and helps to keep the earphones
in place. The outer cable jacket is TPE with soft and smooth rubber touch on
it. The round y-split is all metal too with the ‘DITA’ writing on it and the
cable slider runs smoothly up to the base of the plugs.
Lastly, like any Dita
Audio earphones, these also feature the “Awesome Plug”. A neat and convenient
system that allows to exchange the cable plug in order to be used with
different sources with balanced outputs. It only requires to unscrew the
knurled rings and then correctly attach the 4 pins to the main cable. The plugs
are all 90º angled, including the extra optional 4.4mm plug.
Sound Quality
Shanling M5s, HiBy R6 Pro, iBasso DX220
(Amp1 Mk2).
xDuoo XD-10 (Poke), Aune X1s Pro
The Fealty and Fidelity
are not named as “Twins” for just marketing purpose. Both terms may have a deeper
meaning for Dita Audio company, rather than a description of their each sound
presentation. While they are identical in design and build quality and just differ
in color theme applied, when it gets to sound performance each model aims to a
different goal in its final tuning. Yes, they might share a same single dynamic
driver so it is expected they offer very similar pure acoustics technical
abilities like resolution, soundstage, imaging, extension and dynamics.
However, these are definitely not ‘identical twins’ for what sound matters.
Differences are not day and night when changing from one set to the other, but
even so, a phrase like “two sides of the same coin” might apply here. Overall
tonality varies, being the Fealty richer, a tad warmer, and more musical, while
the Fidelity more neutral, linear, with its more reference type of signature.
There is very little coloration on the Twins and both will be showing a well
balanced response.
Technical specifications
are identical on both Twins. While the rated impedance of 16ohm is a
standard level for an IEM, the sensitivity is a bit on the lower side with a 95dB
rate. As such, they are not being the most efficient earphones from any
portable source, but still will sound very well with some extra volume without
showing lack of control or distortion on the sound. Even so, they definitely
improve with a more dedicated audio source or some extra portable
amplification, reaching a wider stage, best dynamics and extension. The Shanling
M5s with the balanced 2.5mm is powerful enough to drive the Twins to
a proper level, and anything above it should be more than enough, like the HiBy
R6 Pro and iBasso DX220. The Twins showed no hiss whatsoever, and no
background noise either.
– Fealty
Sound is more natural on
the Fealty with a full, well weighted and rich tonality. It clearly takes the
advantage of full-range dynamic drivers with excellent dynamics and texture.
The bass is nothing overly enhanced but clearly shows enough power with
excellent control and precision. It is tight yet has a very solid impact with
its most natural attack and well-paced decay. It goes slightly warm, north of
neutral for sure in terms of quantity, though always keeps a good balance with
the high quality that could be expected for a high-end dynamic driver. The
sub-bass shows nice and very effortless extension to lowest notes with no sign
of any early roll-off; something usually found on balanced armatures units, and
one of the reasons they need to used multiple drivers to match the dynamic
rivals. There is no extra lift on the mid-bass range that may break the overall
balance and the good control and layering allows clear separation between lower
instruments.
The midrange is where
the Fealty starts to shine, and also the main area where it differs from the
Fidelity. The mids stand out with very natural timbre, slightly warm and thick.
It has a more enveloping presentation, not too forward but certainly rich and
well rounded. It goes smooth yet energetic. There is no bass impact on the
lower mids, just a nice touch of warmth that contributes to the fuller tone and
weight for both vocals and instruments. Upper midrange follows the same
balance, with a sweet texture that suits nicely to female vocal oriented
genres. It does trade the last bit of air for a more emotive and musical
presentation that is very easy to like. The Fealty is also more forgiving and
relaxed than what the Fidelity will be, though remains resolving and detailed.
The differences continue
towards the treble area. They both have bright tilt, but the focus is set on
different frequency. The Fealty fullness on treble starts from the upper-mids
and remains on the whole lower treble, and then goes smoother towards the
high-treble end. It does not sound rolled-off nor it lacks in extension, but
subjectively is smoother and not edgy. It can be perceived as more ‘hot treble’
with its energetic and crisp attack, though well controlled and very little
prone to show signs of sibilance. Suits better to guitars and other string
based instruments with less sharp crash on cymbals; electric guitars are amazing
here, full of bite and crunch on them.
– Fidelity
The Fidelity focus is
more towards precision, detail and air. It is a more neutral and linear
response, that while leaner, still aims for balance in a more reference kind of
tuning. The Fidelity also show the capabilities of dynamic drivers, having
excellent coherence and right timbre.
The bass is very neutral
in quantity, at best can be heard as very slightly above of neutral. It is
cleaner, less emphasized, with less mass and impact, traded for a bit more pure
quality. Effortless and very tight giving the impression of higher speed and
accuracy; same attack as the Fealty, though not in decay and then it presents
less depth and softer rumble. The lower instruments are less weighty but better
separated.
As mentioned above, the
differences in the low-end are less sharp than how they are on the rest of the
frequencies. Yet, if using some bass gain it will be shown firstly on the
Fealty thanks to the relativity warmer, richer tonality, whereas the Fidelity
will remain more reserved.
The midrange keeps the
very neutral presentation, being leaner with a cooler tonality. In exchange,
the midrange shows practically zero coloration with high articulation and
sounds very liquid. Linearity is kept from lower to upper mids as the gain is
more specifically around the main treble area. The Fidelity is less matched for
vocal oriented genres as they will sound thinner, less bodied next to the full,
richer Fealty. On the other hand, the instruments separation is greater with a
sharper differentiation. There is more precision, space and sense of air in
comparison, and definitely a strong suit on the Fidelity side among universal
IEMs.
Treble on the Fidelity
should classify as ‘bright’. While the lows and mids are very even, there is
more elevation on the highs. It is not a too bright in-ear monitor, but yes
above of neutral. Unlike the Fealty where the lower treble is more highlighted,
the Fidelity gain is more present on the upper treble. It is sharp and a bit
edgy with lot of sparkle and energy. Treble extension appears to be greater
here, nicely done as single dynamic unit. Control is high as well, and should
be expected at this price range. The detail is more forward and overall the
resolution is higher with more air and clearer separation.
Both Twins models do
stand out in their presentation. A single dynamic driver of just 10mm might be
considered not enough when other manufacturers implement larger units even for
their hybrid models, but there is really nothing that the Dita Audio options
are missing. In fact, the presentation is impressive, with a rather wide stage,
good depth and excellent coherence and precise imaging. The sound is spacious
and airy, with a resolution that matches well their $1000+ price category. In a
close comparison, there is more depth on the Fealty giving a more dynamic and
3D effect with a little touch of more intimate midrange, while the resolution
is a tad higher on the Fidelity showing the last bit of detail and cleaner
timbre and more openness to the overall presentation.
Conclusion
All in all, the Dita
Audio Twins stand out for their impeccable build quality, surprisingly good
comfortable fit, and of course, their own Dita Awesome exchangeable plugs
with the new thickest Fat Cable. In sound quality, both Dita Twins have
a ‘unique’ tuning on them. These are a clear example than there is no need to
mix multiple drivers types or have the last tech included in order to sound
good. A single dynamic driver that competes very well with the current
competition at these prices. Whether it is a ‘fun’ sounding profile on the Fealty
offer, it will be a matter of taste – if seeking for sheer voluminous mid and
upper bass body, then maybe not, but it is certainly a very engaging and especially
musical presentation. It is not that kind of lively v-shaped type of signature,
but easily a very enjoyable option that could be consider as all-rounder pick
with a non-compromising yet detailed and resolving sound quality. On the other
hand, the Fidelity sound is tuned for more critical listening, aiming to
higher retrieval of micro detail, being more linear with a the neutral to
bright signature.