Views 29,117 JDS Labs El DAC II+ Balanced is a $299 USD DAC designed by JDS Labs and part of their Element series of products. It will be compared to other high-end DACs, including SMSL DO200 MKII (469 USD), HIFIMAN EF400 (599 USD), Pro-Ject Dac BOX DS (430 USD). …
Fun
Astral Audio Pulse Cable – Starfield Source Of Music
Views 26,142 Today we focus on the 550 USD Astral Acoustics Pulse Cable, an aftermarket 4-Wire, 23 AWG Copper cable for IEMs. It will be compared to other aftermarket cables for IEMs, including STE AG W16 (580 USD), Plussound Copper+ (999 USD), Effect Audio EVO 1 (440 USD), and Ares …
BQEYZ Topaz – IEMs Of Magnetic Proportions
Views 25,402 BQEYZ Topaz are a pair of $89 USD IEMs with a Piezoelectric Ceramic Driver, and a 13mm Liquid Crystal Polymer Diaphragm Dynamic Driver. They will be compared to other budget entry-level IEMS including Heartfield Acoustic Deer ($169 USD), HIDIZS MM2 ($79 USD), IKKO OH1S ($143 USD), and Tingker …
IKKO Zerda ITM02 – Sweetest Smallest Dongle
Views 25,874 IKKo Zerda ITM02 is a $59 USD DAC/AMP with the smallest design I’ve seen so far, up to December 2022. It will be compared to other super affordable DAC/AMPs, including TempoTec Sonata Hd V (70 USD), FiiO KA1 (49 USD), Periodic Audio Rhodium (49 USD), and IKKO’s own …
Feliks Audio Echo 2 Tube Amplifier – Lamp Refinement
Views 59,843 Feliks Audio Echo 2 is a 799 EURO Tube / Lamp Amplifier handmade in Poland, Europe. It is a unique product running on 4 Tubes, with a high 350mW power output, designed to drive high impedance headphones, with 1 pair of power tubes, and 1 pair of driver …
KZ AS16 PRO IEMs – Refinement Successful
Views 19,913 KZ AS16 PRO is a 56 USD IEM designed with 8 Balanced Armatures for each ear, and a superb cyan colored design. They come in black color too, with a remote on the cable, or a simple cable. Given their super entry-level pricing, there are few competitors suitable …
Hiby RS2 Darwin Player – Musicality Focused DAP
Views 34,295 Hiby RS2 Darwin is a 479 USD DAP with a beautiful aesthetic design, a minimalistic and practical OS design, and full Hiby Support, including R2R DAC and a 256-Tap FIR Filter that’s adjustable. Given the price point, it will be compared to other popular midrange DAPs, including iBasso …
Westone Mach 60 IEMs – Triple Plan – Bass, Mids, and Treble
Views 37,266 Westone Mach 60 are a pair of IEMs priced at 1100 USD, currently found on sale for 879 USD, with 6 Balanced Armature Drivers, and a unique sound to match the super ergonomic design. They will be compared to other high-end and flagship IEMs, including Ambient Acoustics MAD16 …
Shanling UA3 Dongle DAC AMP – Hi-Res DSD Supporter
Views 26,195 Shanling UA3 is a 110 USD portable USB DAC / AMP with an AKM AK4493SEQ DAC chip and Dual Ricore RT6963 AMP Chips. With two headphone outputs, one that’s a 3.5mm Single Ended Output and one that’s a 4.4mm Balanced Output, Shanling UA3 will be compared to other …
iBasso DX170 DAP Music Player – Relaxed Warm Music Key
Views 42,917 iBasso DX170 is a 449 USD DAP or Music Player made by ibasso, with Dual Cirrus CS43131 DAC Chips, DSD setup, a 5″ IPS Display, and 3200mAh battery. It will be compared to other high-end DAPs and music players, including Shanling M3X (350 USD), iFi Audio xDSD (400 …
KZ GP20 Gaming Headphones – RGB Sonics
Views 30,075 KZ GP20 is a 65 USD high-quality gaming wireless headphone with Bluetooth 5.0 support, 65 Hours quoted play time, RGB Light effects, and 50mm dynamic drivers. I did review a few bluetooth headphones around the 65 USD price point, so KZ GP20 will be compared with Pamu Explore …
Surfans F20 DAP / Music Player – Dynamics & Warmth
Views 34,518 Surfans F20 is a 119 USD music player or DAP with a 3.5mm single ended headphone output, a line out, micro USB port, and a wheel for browsing the file tree. It supports microSD cards up to 256 GB, and it comes with a 32 GB microSD card …
1More EVO ANC TWS IEMs – Alien Design For Natural Music
Views 37,463 1More EVO ANC is a pair of Bluetooth TWS or True Wireless IEMS priced at 169 USD at the moment of writing today’s review, and they have LDAC technology, Sound ID EQ Options, along with a wireless audiophile sound. They will be compared to the best TWS IEMs …
Arylic S50 Pro+ Streamer / DAC – More Performance, Less Cost
Views 29,413 We have a new high-performance budget Streamer / DAC from Arylic, and their S50 PRO+ is priced at 219 USD, and will be compared to Arylic A50 (220 USD), allo Audio Revolution DAC (260 USD), and Pro-Ject DAC Box DS (430 USD). Introduction Aryllic is one of …
iBasso DX320 DAP Music Player – Ultimate Sonics
Views 41,520 Ibasso DX320 is the 1599 USD flagship DAP or Digital Audio Player made by iBasso, with a modular AMP design, two colors available for purchase, and with new ROHM MUS-IC DACs instead of ESS or AK chips. Given the price point, it will be placed against the wall …
S.M.S.L SMSL HO100 – Relaxing Listen
Views 33,086 S.M.S.L SMSL HO100 is a Headphone Amplifier priced at 149 USD, XLR and RCA inputs, three gain levels, and an ultra low distortion design. It is also made to pair perfectly with the SMSL DO100 DAC I just reviewed. SMSL HO100 will be compared with JDS Labs Atom+ …
Soundmagic T60BT – Music In Pearly Light
Views 28,887 T60BT is an affordable TWS IEM with aptX, made by Soundmagic and priced at 69 USD at the moment of writing today’s full written review. They have a 5.8mm dynamic driver, and will be compared to other affordable TWS IEMs, including Tranya T40 (79 USD), Super EQ Q2 …
PadMate Pamu Explore Headphones – Bluetooth Energy, Bass Synergy
Views 34,196 Padmate Pamu Explore is a pair of Bluetooth headphones, priced at 89 USD, and given the low price but interesting design, will be compared to other bluetooth headphones, including SuperEQ S1 (69 USD), FiiO EH3NC (170 USD), and Valco VMK20 (180 USD). Introduction Padmate Tech or Pamu …
Matrix Audio Element i Streamer / DAC / Headphone AMP – Music Connections
Views 37,405 Matrix Audio Element i is a Streamer with a headphone output, DAC output, and much more, priced at 1150 USD, and will be compared to some of the best streamers, DACs and headphone amplifiers in the price range, including Cyrus One Cast (2000 USD), cocktail N25 Music Streamer …
Jade Audio FiiO KA1 Dongle DAC / AMP – Tails Of Sonic Speed
Views 41,171 Jade Audio / FiiO KA1 is a dongle DAC / AMP priced at 49 USD, with a type-C connector, Type-A adapter included in the package, RGB status indicator, and with an ES9281AC PRO DAC Chip. It will be compared to other entry-level Dongle DAC / AMPs in the …
Smabat M0 Earbuds – Affo Modular Buds
Views 58,649 Smabat M0 is a pair of Earbuds, or earphones with no silicone tips, priced at 35 USD, made to be modular, so you can replace the drivers inside, and the company also sells replacement drivers. The drivers are 15.4mm in size, and they are titanium plated, but given …
7Hz Eternal IEMs – Timeless Music Playing Now
Views 35,304 7Hz Eternal is an upper midrange IEM or In-Ear Monitor sold mainly on Linsoul, priced at 249 USD, with a huge 14.5mm dynamic driver, and which will be compared to other high quality IEMs such as FiiO FD5 (300 USD), Dunu Falcon PRO (220 USD), and ddHIFI Janus …
IMR Acoustics PRO Dark Matter (God Particle) – Universal Utopia Sounds
Views 46,414 IMR Acoustics PRO Dark Matter is an IEM priced at about 700 GBP or Great Britain Pounds, or about 910 USD, handmade by pros for pros, with two drivers, one dynamic and one bone conduction in its design. Given their price point, Dark Matter resides in the territory …
Tranya T40 TWS IEMs – Matrix Of Sounds
Views 70,498 Tranya T40 is a pair of TWS IEMs priced at 79.99 USD, sold through multiple channels, and with a huge 13mm dynamic driver, and Dual Effect modes. They have Type-C fast charging, and IPX5 Water Proofing, and will be compared to other entry-level, affordable budget TWS IEMs including …
Ambient Acoustics MAD24 – Insanely Musical
Views 59,720 Ambient Acoustics MAD24 is an in-ear monitor priced at 3499 USD, designed with 24 balanced armature drivers, under the Main Audio Destination naming scheme, and which is quickly gathering recognition in the Audiophile World. Given the price point, they have to be compared to pretty much every single …