Care to explain please?
This from Amirm I see as no negative point
Answering this and related questions, I have not yet made a decision which fixture to go with. The evaluation is not complete on the GRAS 45CA until I show the results to you all.
Some things are clear at this point though:
1. B&K 5128 costs more than 2X the GRAS 45CA. This is a huge consideration for me by itself and combined with other factors.
2. Getting a good fit on GRAS 45CA is a lot easier than 5128. In some sense, having a more realistic head on the 5128 limits placement much more than 45CA. And its pinna is stickier making small adjustments harder. I probably could figure it out but it has been a breath with the 45CA so far (relatively speaking).
3. The Harman target curve is available for the GRAS and is definitely correct and predictive of preference. I can EQ with confidence and see the listening results track the target curve (within some margin of error). The target we computed for the BK 5128 does not appear to be as correct especially in higher frequencies. We are at the mercy of Harman creating the 5128 target curve which may never happen as there is not a lot of value in it for them. Without one we will be shooting in the dark.
4. GRAS 45CA is considered authoritative by manufacturers and industry.
5. This is work in progress but it seems that BK 5128 does tease out more information about high frequency response. The 45CA's high resolution pinna dampens this area good bit. Without #3 though, it is hard to interpret what should be there though.
6. Both companies have been very supportive.
7. On Jude's report, he only tested a couple of IEMs with 5128 and has yet to provide any other measurements despite promising such months ago. Nor has he explained why despite his huge investment in GRAS 45CA, it is all yesterday's news for him. He is in the BK advertising for the 5128 which taints what could otherwise be a neutral position.
8. The reliability of measurements for headphones remains fuzzy the higher the frequencies. So no matter which way you go, you can't get ironclad data.