[Review] TDK BA200

TDK is known for making cassette tapes, CDs and videotapes. In 2007, Imation acquired the recording business, which TDK is well known for. The TDK we are referring to now is TDK Life on Record, which is actually part of Imation (along with Memorex). While in the past they produce budget earphones to cater to the general crowd, in recent years they reworked their strategy and entered the high end audio market. The TDK BA200 is born as a result. Can the BA200 stand up to its competitors?

Packaging is elegant in black, showcasing the BA200 inside. Not as luxurious as the Dunu Ares but definitely enough for a product of its price range.

Accessories are pretty average for a product in this price range. 2 pairs of bi-flanges, 2 pairs of Comply tips, 1 eartip cleaner, replacement filters, shirt clip, 6.35mm adapter, and a soft pouch. Some people may desire more tips though.

The BA200 has an over the ear design, much like the Westone Truefit series. The over-the-ear design in the BA200 allows for a more ergonomic and comfortable fit. It has flat cables, which is supposed to be less tangle prone, though to me how easy the earphone tangles depends on how one stores it. The only issue to some people is the large y-splitter, which is supposed to contain the impedance stabilizer. The impedance stabilizer is said to help the BA200 to sound at its best regardless of source, though I have no truely effective way to evaluate its usefulness.

Build quality is decent for the price range. The shells are well built. However the flat cables might feel thin to some, and at the same time, the BA200 seems to have little, if any strain relief due to the design of the cable.

The BA200 is pretty comfortable, enough for me to sleep with it for extended periods of time. Some people might find issues due to the flat cable looping over the ear, but personally I do not see an issue. Isolation is very good on the BA200, enough to bring it on the plane without much issue.

Unlike most dual drivers of the price range which use Knowles TWFK drivers, the BA200 uses Sonion drivers in a woofer-tweeter configuration with a single crossover. I don't think anyone will expect a DBA-02 like sound with such different drivers.

Bass quantity is plenty for a dual BA, with greater quantity than both the Rockit Sounds R-50 and the Fischer DBA-02, but less than the Dunu Ares. It has great texture and detail, with good speed for a BA. It doesn't have as much bass rumble as some would desire but I feel the bass does come out when it needs to be.

Mids is where the magic of the BA200 happens. They are very smooth, yet clear. They seem to be balanced in line with the treble and bass. It has a slightly warm tinge to it. The mids seem to work perfectly with all kinds of vocals, presenting them in a natural form.

Treble is laid back, smooth and inoffensive. This results in less microdetail compared to say, the DBA-02 and the R-50 but allows for a non-fatiguing listen. With no noticeable harshness and sibilance, the BA200 can be used for extended periods of time.

Soundstage is probably one of the best parts of the BA200. The soundstage has good width, depth and even height, making it spacious sounding. There is a good amount of air in between the instruments and also in between the singer. Separation is excellent at the price range, being able to make out individual instruments clearly. Imaging is excellent as well. I understand why some people compare it to the UM3x and SM3: the BA200 has the ability to escape stereo separation. It feels like the main vocalist is placed right in front of you, instruments surrounding the vocalist(s). This makes for a natural and realistic presentation which I really like.

For 229SGD, the BA200 is a really great product from TDK, one that makes me want to recommend easily along with the GR07 for people with budget under 300SGD, especially to vocal lovers. In PC shows, sometimes the price can dip as low as 139SGD, which makes it pretty much a no brainer, being one of the best and least fatiguing dual BAs around and having the ability to compete with some of the triple driver setups.