==Introduction==
I would like to thank Flare Audio for providing the Flare Audio R2Pro at such a reduced price and a seller on Head-Fi for providing the Final Audio Design Heaven VI that will be pitted against the R2Pro in this review.
This review should of course be taken as a grain of salt as it is my opinion and only my opinion. I have past experience with quite a few cans and IEMs before. I personally own or have owned these cans and IEMs (to the best of my knowledge):
� Sennheiser HD25 Aluminium 25th Anniversary Limited Edition
� Sennheiser HD424
� M-Audio Q40
� Denon AH-D2000
� NAD VISO HP50
� Aedle VK-1
� Beyerdynamic DTX-101iE
� Monster Turbine Pro Gold
� ADL EH-008
� Koss Sportapro
� AKG K7xx
� Other odd vintage cans
I wanted to try how different companies implemented their own unique philosophies behind dealing with the pressure caused by a single moving driver in front of and behind it when placed in a confined space like an IEM enclosure. Flare Audio's implementation uses a dynamic 5mm driver with their own pressure-balancing system (I think it's called the Dual-Sized Vortex) while Final Audio Design use a balanced armature driver of an unknown sized backed up by their BAM mechanism.
The Flare Audio R2Pro is used with Jaben spinfit tips while the FAD Heaven VI is used with stock medium soft tips. I will also sell the IEM that I don't like as much so this makes it a deathmatch of sorts, if death means having to leave me forever. Now, lets see how they stack up against each other!
==Aesthetics==
Packaging and Accessories
The Final Audio Design Heaven VI came to me second-hand so I can't judge it all that much but its carrying case is simply stunning, if seemingly rather easy to scratch and damage. The seller also supplied with a small baggie of original eartips which is nice to see as I suppose that FAD deigned to offer that amount of choice for us consumers.
Design and Build
The Flare Audio R2Pro is made of titanium and is absolutely tiny. This means that they're harder to insert properly but once there they isolate nearly everything. I really like how solid they feel despite how small they are and it never feels like the housings themselves
need to be babied.
I prefer them with an over-ear fit as I find that helps lessen microphonics and make them easier to fit properly. I think the cable, however, is absolutely atrocious and belongs on a $50 pair of earbuds and certainly not a $400 MSRP pair of earbuds. I'd really love it if Flare Audio provided a stronger and higher-quality cable or at least one that doesn't seem that it'll break as soon as it is pulled once. There is a block of aluminium serving as the Y-split which I think actually helps with the over-ear fit as it weighs them down and helps them stay there without falling off, but I know some people who complain about how it's too big. I also hate how the Left/Right markings are on the Y-split instead of the IEMs themselves which forced me to use a bit of tape to mark which one is the right side.
The Final Audio Design Heaven VI is made of Chromed Copper and has an absolutely beautiful finish which unfortunately makes me scared stiff of scratching it lest it ruin the finish. They're also larger than the R2Pro and requires a shallower fit to get the sound right but don't isolate as well and to me aren't quite as comfortable to wear.They have a...let's just say weirdly coloured...flat cable that at least seems to be somewhat durable and not likely to break with real strain reliefs! attaching them to the IEM housings. The cable, unfortunately, is as microphonic as the one on the R2Pro, but there's a chin slider which helps things somewhat but isn't as flashy as the R2Pro y-split.
Comfort and Isolation
I find both IEMs to be really comfortable to wear, but the Flare Audio R2Pro edges out the Final Audio Design Heaven VI due to its smaller housing size and over-ear fit. This means that the R2Pro are also better at isolating outside noise than the Heaven VI and this also allows the R2Pro an advantage when wearing them underneath a helmet or on the side in a bed.
==Sound==
Equipment and Burn-In
The equipment I used was: Windows laptop (running Foobar 2000) > Cozoy Aegis > IEMs and the LG G4 > USB Audio Player Pro > Cozoy Aegis > IEMs. The Flare Audio R2Pro was used out of the box with no burn-in and I'm not sure how long the Final Audio Design Heaven VI has been burnt in as they were bought used.
Comparisons
We're starting with a solo piano piece which I've known and loved for a while. The reason I'm starting with this is because headphones in general have a lot of trouble reproducing the exact finesse, timbre and vibrations of the piano and making it sound exactly like a piano. A perfect challenge to start testing these two competitors with.
| Flare Audio R2Pro | FAD Heaven VI |
| This is a somewhat brighter piano sound with a little more liveliness but in this case it�s definitely more natural a piano sound in comparison The presentation is again more airy but at the same time seems to be a little more compressed than the R2Pro The piano still sounds excellent with decay and reverb right on point Low frequencies are there but leave the piano sound alone and do not interfere with the presentation at all which is a plus in this case |
Winner: Final Audio Heaven VI, barely.
This is because the more euphoric presentation of the Heaven VI helps make the piano sounds just a little bit more lively and forward compared to the darker presentation of the R2Pro which doesn't work quite as well for piano pieces.
| Flare Audio R2Pro | FAD Heaven VI |
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I prefer the richer presentation of the R2Pro for both sections of the song; the vocals are richer and more flowing and the latter instrumental section is presented in a more spacious and larger presentation compared the the Heaven VI that I just prefer.
| Flare Audio R2Pro | FAD Heaven VI |
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The Heaven VI just does not have enough bass quantity to fully render this song in its impressive whole state and this combined with the smaller soundstage help the R2Pro walk away with this one.
| Flare Audio R2Pro | FAD Heaven VI |
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| Flare Audio R2Pro | FAD Heaven VI |
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This is a toss-up between whether you prefer a brighter, more forward sound signature or a darker, more weighted sound signature. I know many people will prefer something more forward and in-your-face but personally at this point the R2Pro is the winner to me. This is because I much prefer its darker and bassier sound signature which works for more genres of music that I listen to verses the more specialized and polarizing Final Audio Design Heaven VI which only works for certain genres of music.
==Conclusion==
Neither of them are IEMs that you'll buy if you want value for money. There is the R2A which offers most of the bang for the buck of the R2Pro if you want to go that route and Final Audio Design isn't really known for their bang for the buck and by contrast are known for their unique statement products. However, I think that in this case, the R2Pro edges out the Heaven VI as I just prefer its sound signature which just clicks for me. That's not to say that the Heaven VI is bad, but it will be better used in someone else's collection and so it will unfortunately be leaving my collection in the foreseeable future.
| Category | Score (R2Pro) | Comment (R2Pro) | Score (Heaven VI) | Comment (Heaven VI) |
| Packaging and Accessories | 5/10 | Mediocre for its price range, but the inclusion of a nice case redeems this somewhat. | 7/10 | Absolutely beautiful if easily scratched carrying case with a good selection of eartips for use. |
| Design and Build | 2/10 | Solid aluminum enclosures are nice, but the cable is worse than that found on many a $50 IEM. | 7/10 | Wonderful shiny chrome copper housings let down a bit by its cable, but not as badly as the R2Pro. |
| Comfort and Isolation | 9/10 | The R2Pro shines as its deep fit and tiny size helps a ton in this category versus the larger and bulkier Heaven VI. | 8/10 | Still excellent, but not quite as good as the R2Pro � especially because it�s thicker and longer and thus not allowing such a deep fit. |
| Bass | 9.5/10 | Yummy, juicy bass with excellent impact and beautiful extension that helps with a myriad of genres from rock to electronic. | 5/10 | Extended fairly well, but let down by its mediocre impact which polarizes it into genres not reliant on a good bass section. |
| Midrange | 9.5/10 | Natural and flowing midrange reminiscent of how we breathe � effortless and without thinking. | 9/10 | Beautiful midrange in a different way as it�s emphasized to make instruments and vocals shine. |
| Treble | 9/10 | Slightly dark treble, but this suits my tastes as it�s not peaky at all while still being incredibly detailed and with only a hint of treble spike. | 7/10 | Good detail but somewhat emphasized presentation makes me doubt how much of it is actual detail and how much of it is artificial. |
| Presentation | 9.5/10 | I love the overall frequency response of the R2Pro, and while it won�t rival top-tier IEMs, it just clicks with the kind of natural and effortless presentation I know and love. | 7/10 | Its somewhat polarizing frequency response makes people either love or hate these IEMs, and while I can hear the merits, I don�t think this kind of presentation works with me. |
| Value | 7/10 | This score is driven down by two things: the R2A, which is most of the R2Pro while being only half the price and the cable, which is horrible. | 5/10 | As I mentioned above, I can�t say an IEM that only works with certain genres of music offers excellent bang for the buck. |
| Total | 7.5/10 | A wonderful-sounding IEM is unfortunately let down by its mediocre cable and meagre accessories, but this doesn�t stop me from loving just how wonderful the R2Pro sounds. | 7/10 | Somewhat the opposite of the R2Pro, the beautiful housings and case of the Heaven VI is let down somewhat by its polarizing sound signature that my brain just doesn�t click with. |
==Specs==
Specs R2Pro Heaven VI Headphone Type: IEM IEM Driver Type: Single 5mm Dynamic Single Balanced Armature Frequency Response: N/A N/A Max. Input Power: N/A N/A Sensitivity: 105 dB/mW 112 dB/mW Impedance: 16 ? 16 ? Weight: 9g 17g Connector: 1/8-inch jack 1/8-inch jack Accessories: 3 sizes Comply tips
Sewn carrying case 5 pairs of different sized silicone tips
Metal spring-loaded carrying case
Presentation box
| Specs | R2Pro | Heaven VI |
| Headphone Type: | IEM | IEM |
| Driver Type: | Single 5mm Dynamic | Single Balanced Armature |
| Frequency Response: | N/A | N/A |
| Max. Input Power: | N/A | N/A |
| Sensitivity: | 105 dB/mW | 112 dB/mW |
| Impedance: | 16 ? | 16 ? |
| Weight: | 9g | 17g |
| Connector: | 1/8-inch jack | 1/8-inch jack |
| Accessories: | 3 sizes Comply tips Sewn carrying case | 5 pairs of different sized silicone tips Metal spring-loaded carrying case Presentation box |