Just when I was enjoying my oversea vacation a week ago, Maxell quietly released a new hybrid flagship to the Japanese market. It is the MXH-DBA900, featuring the same one dynamic + one BA configuration as their previous DBA700 but come with over-double the price tag (~US$205). The DBA700, which is priced under US$100, is well worth the price but not particularly a giant killer in any way. With Maxell confidently prices the new DBA-900 much higher than DBA-700, hopefully we can see it finally competing with the big boys head-on.
CHX series
On other hand, Audio-Technica is doing its thing by releasing way too many new models again. This time they have two new series (*worth noting, there are actually more models being released), the CHX series (2 models: CHX5 and CHX7) which is really more earbuds than IEM and the IM series which composed of dual dynamic (IM50, IM70) to multi-BA configuration (one BA for IM01, two for IM02, three for IM03, four for IM04). Price go from as cheap as US$60 (IM50) to as much as $600 (IM04). The good news is that isn't any dreadful MMCX connector insight even though AT goes for removable cable on all models.
One question remains: would the new IM04 spells the end of the CK100 Pro as flagship? Though I do have to say the new IM04 does look too dull for the price tag.