This and That:
Four pairs of silicone tips, a shirt clip and a cable wrapper (that one shouldn't use as it will introduce more wear on the cable) come included. Most sources show a small carrying case included with the in-ear, however I didn't receive it for whatever reasons.
Small shells that somewhat look like those of several Zero Audio in-ears.
Decent cable. Unfortunately no chin-slider and only average strain relief above the y-splitter.
Horn-shaped nozzles. Ear tips can be attached either to the nozzles' tip or stem. Be careful not to break the separate the inner part from the nozzle from the tube when removing the tips (has happened to me before as it isn't glued in very tightly). (Somehow the whole presentation and build quality don't fully convince me, likely due to that incident.)
Sound:
I used the largest included silicone tips for personal and critical listening. The tips were placed at the top of the nozzle.
I've only used low impedance sources for listening.
Tonality:
Those seeking a neutral to slightly (upper) midrange-forward tonal presentation should be pleasantly satisfied with the HSA-BA100.
The bass the HSA-BA100 puts out is flat – flat as in “really flat”, Etymotic-like flat. And here I’m not referring to the ER-4XR with its moderate bass elevation but to the ER-4S and ER-4SR. The HiSoundAudio has only got 1.5 dB more in quantity than those two in-ears in the upper bass and lower root – which is certainly not much at all. So everyone who isn’t looking for a really flat and neutral bass response without any emphasis does definitely not belong to this in-ear’s target group.
Extension into the sub-bass is good however it won’t give you the perceived impact as some of the other few in-ears that are comparably flat in the bass can give you wherefore most people will probably find the HSA-BA100 to be a tad light in the sub-bass while it actually doesn’t really lack quantity here but just loses a little level in its lowest registers close to 20 Hz.
While the lower and central midrange remains flat, there is a bit of a lift between 3 and 4 kHz in the upper mids that can bring vocals more forward (make them appear a bit more “in your face”), increase the perceived clarity, or make vocals appear somewhat more on the brighter and leaner side (however this can also help to make female vocals stand out more for those who like that).
As long as you are not extremely “allergic” to a lift in the lower treble/upper midrange/presence area, it will be no problem though since it is done rather evenly and not overdone in quantity.
Above that, the highs are fairly neutral and even except for an ever so slight 5 kHz lift and keep their presence until around 12 kHz where they start rolling off – so you still get a fairly good extension, especially for a single-BA in-ear, however should not expect to hear much subtle sparkle in the super treble.
So to wrap it up in this section of my review, the HSA-BA100 has got an overall pretty neutral and flat tonality and sounds reasonably even wherefore it also sounds mostly realistic and authentic what definitely a large number of in-ears in this price range fail to achieve. The only things that can sound a bit off are artificial or sampled drums and artificial or sampled cymbals that can have a bit of an edge to them (due to the slight 5 kHz lift).
Resolution:
Nothing unexpected is happening here and HiSoundAudio’s HSA-BA100 sounds as quick, detailed, nimble and detailed as you would expect from a solid to good single-BA in-ear.
The bass is well-controlled and fast, and while it is not the tightest for Balanced Armature standards and is heading somewhat more into the softer direction, it is by no means slow. Fast and more complex genres for example certainly do not represent a problem for the HSA-BA100’s lows at all and notes as well as instruments remain well-distinguishable from each other.
The overall resolution is good and details are surely not missing.
With more complex recordings where a lot is going on at the same time and where many instruments or tonal elements are present, the presentation becomes a bit less focused though, which I think is because the HiSoundAudio HSA-BA100 might have somewhat elevated distortion levels, making it then sound somewhat less clean compared to some of the better single-BA in-ears on the market such as Etymotic’s models or HiSoundAudio’s own HA-2. To my ears, this is mainly happening in the lower midrange.
High notes are reasonably well separated and detailed as well, with a decay that is neither too quick nor too slow although notes seem to stay a split second longer than they could.
Soundstage:
The HSA-BA100 is a convincing in-ear when it comes to the soundstage department. It doesn’t only stand out with a somewhat larger than average soundstage, but also features a quite excellent spatial reproduction with a three-dimensional, spherical and surprisingly precise sense of space and imaging as well as good layering.
The air and borders around and between instruments feel nice but don’t stay as precise when faster or more complex tracks (or those with many things happening on the soundstage at the same times) are being played. Nonetheless, instruments still don’t bleed into each other then, even though the borders don’t remain as clear and precise as with some other more capable single-BA in-ears.
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In Comparison with other Single-BA In-Ears:
Brainwavz B100:
The Brainwavz is the bassier and warmer in-ear out of the two in comparison. It has got the more (but not much more) forward upper bass and root, no lift in the upper midrange, a dip in the middle highs (around 5 kHz) and comes back in the upper treble.
Overall, I would consider the Brainwavz’ upper end tuning to be a bit more natural/authentic even though it is also more relaxed.
When it comes to bass quality, I hear the HSA-BA100 as being somewhat ahead in terms of speed and resolution. The B100, in comparison, sounds less well separated in the lows, and also appears more focused down there.
In the midrange and treble however, it is the Brainwavz that I would say resolves somewhat better and manages to separate notes with the higher precision.
When it comes to soundstage size, both in-ears share about the same width (small advantage for the Brainwavz) while the HSA-BA100 has got the deeper presentation with more spatial depth. Instruments are separated more precisely on the HSA-BA100’s side.
HiSoundAudio HA-2:
The HA-2, while overall relatively balanced as well, has got a bit more warmth in the bass and lower root and also in the lower midrange. Not that much, but certainly already enough to make it sound a little warmer in comparison.
The HA-2 has got the more linear/neutral midrange, the more relaxed middle treble, and a moderate emphasis between 7 and 8 kHz.
When it comes to detail retrieval, the HA-2 is ahead in the midrange and treble and resolves and separates the acoustic elements just better.
Bass speed is about comparable while the HA-2 is a bit tighter. In terms of layering and detail retrieval in the lows however, it is also the more expensive HA-2 that is somewhat superior again.
The HSA-BA100 doesn’t have the same spatial width as the HA-2 but comes reasonably close to not sound small. It features the more pronounced spatial depth though.
In terms of separation and layering however, it is also the HA-2 that is more precise.
Conclusion:
Reasonably priced. Decent. Neutral. Treble could be just slightly more realistic.