Views 58,275 iBasso works on refining their DX300 DAP, and that starts with the best module available for it right now, which is AMP12, the natural evolution of the original module it comes with. Somehow, the default amp module was already better than what we had available for DX220 so …
Fun
Crosszone CZ-10 Headphones – Soundstage Excelsior
Views 75,174 CZ-10 is a breath of fresh air, as I’ve only reviewed open-back headphones for most of this year, so having something closed back, or at least semi open is refreshing. This is a proper Japanese headphone, high-end with all the bells and whistles, priced at 900 USD, and …
iBasso IT01X IEMs – They Keep Coming
Views 29,038 iBasso has been on a roll for the entry-level price range, and the IT01X is the natural evolution after the original IT01 and IT01S. It comes at the price of 120 USD, and has a double sided driver, along with a helmholtz resonator like IE800 from the past. …
JDS Labs Atom AMP+ – Uber Amplified Maximus
Views 73,923 JDS Labs Atom AMP+ is an amplifier made by JDS Labs from the USA, and priced at 100 USD at the moment of writing this review. I did not review many amplifiers in this price range, so the comparisons will include the original JDS Labs Atom, xDuoo TA-10, …
TRI Starsea – Sea Of Music
Views 61,900 Tri Starsea is the kind of IEM with a simple 2 BA + 1 DD Design, which sounds really nice. They are priced at 130 USD, so they will get compared to BQEYZ Spring 2, Etymotic ER3SE, and Shuoer Tape PRO. Introduction TRI is actually commanded and …
Optimisation Elements OElements Tita IEMs – BA Snap and Snap!
Views 70,193 Tita, and I hope autocorrect won’t turn this to t*ts, is an IEM made by Optimisation Elements, and it is based on a single Balanced Armature, priced at 170 USD, when you order it with the cable too. It is a direct competitor to the Spring 2 IEMs …
Keces S3 DAC / Balanced AMP / Preamp – My Favorite Warm Performer
Views 74,176 Keces S3 is a high-end top of the shelf DAC / Balanced Headphone Amplifier made in TAIWAN, and priced at 1300 USD. The comparison list will include Audio Analogue AAdac, Wells Milo, iBasso DX300, and Mytek Brooklyn DAC+. The pairing list will include HIFIMAN Arya, Rosson RAD-0, and …
Unique Melody Mest MKii IEMs – New Flagship Quadbrid
Views 46,732 Truly a revolutionary piece, the MKii of Mest from Unique Melody is priced at 1500 USD at the moment of writing this full written review, and it features four types of driver technologies, made to sound the most coherent, detailed yet natural of all the IEMs out there. …
Earstudio ES100 MKII – Bluetooth Receiver Extends My EQ
Views 39,162 Eartstudio ES100 MKII is an older bluetooth receiver, but one that everyone loved, and is priced at 90 USD at the moment of writing this full written review. It will be compared to FiiO BTR5, FiiO BTR3K, and Qudelix 5K. Introduction Earstudio is a really nice company, …
HIFIMAN RE400C – The Mythical Beast
Views 59,388 RE400C is an IEM with the connector on type-C and priced at 80 USD. They will only work with smartphones that have audio over type-C USB, and they are made for smartphones only. Given the design, I can’t compare them with anything, nor go for pairings, but I …
Shanling M3X Music Player – Refine The Refined
Views 58,024 Shanling M3X is a high-end DAP priced at 340 USD, with one microSD slot, Balanced output, MQA support, and up to 23 hours of battery life from a single charge. The main competition is going to include iBasso DX160, FiiO M11 PRO, Shanling M2X, and iFi xDSD. M3X …
NxEars Basso – Long Awaited, But Welcome
Views 28,883 NXEars Basso is an IEM made with 4 Balanced Armatures, a real copper face plate, and an MMCX Removable cable. They are priced at about 550 USD at the moment of writing this review, so they will be compared to fierce competition like iBasso IT07, Jomo Audio P3 …
Denon AH-D7200 Dynamic Headphones – Unsupported Flagship
Views 30,323 Denon AH-D7200 is the flagship Dynamic Headphone for Bassheads made by Denon. It is priced at 700 USD, and it will be compared to Beyerdynamic Amiron, Sennheiser HD660S, Dan Clark Aeon Flow, and Harmonic Dyne Zeus. Introduction Despite being extremely popular, large, and in-demand, Denon is the …
FiiO FH5S Hybrid IEMs – Mid Centric Evolution
Views 75,051 FiiO FH5s is an upgrade of the original FH5, and this time around it has two dynamic drivers, and two Balanced armatures. It is priced at 280 and naturally has to be compared to FiiO FH5, FiiO FD5, but also to IEMs like Unique Melody 3DT, Kinera Freya, …
Fostex TM-2 Bluetooth TWS IEMs – Audiophile Sports
Views 25,523 Fostex TM-2 is a TWS IEM that actually goes for and achieves the dream of the TWS world. It is priced at 300 USD at the moment of writing this full written review, but can be found at 200 USD in multiple locations, and they will be compared …
Dekoni Blue Planar T50RP MKIII Mods – Electric Punch
Views 61,478 Dekoni Blue is a headphone made by the guys who make earpads and mods, so you know they come with the best earpads you could ever want. They also have a really pocket-friendly price of 250 USD. The comparison list will include HIFIMAN Sundara, Sivga Phoenix, and SoundMagic …
Shuoer Tape PRO IEMs – Ships Fire Your Side Cannons!
Views 55,739 Shuoer Tape PRO is the upgraded version of the original Shuoer Tape, but released at pretty much the same price of 150 USD. They still have pretty much the same tech, and come with a balanced cable also, but this time Shuoer Promises tuning too. The comparison list …
Unique Melody 3DT (3D Terminator) – Sound Stage Exploded
Views 59,274 There’s something about Unique Melody that makes them one of the best IEM companies out there every single time we make a rank. They always made interesting IEMs, and 3DT is unique because it features three independent Dynamic Drivers. Just think about this! They cost about 400 USD …
Modern Boombox Style – Vifa Copenhagen 2 Bluetooth Speaker Review
Views 54,420 Vifa is a large company from Denmark, and they are aces in producing bluetooth speakers. Vifa 2 is priced at 700 EUROs. This makes it a direct competitor for Audioengine A5+ Wireless, AIWA EXOS 9, and Taga Harmony HTA-800 Amplifier + 806F Floorstanding speakers. There will be no …
The Traveller Stays At Home – AIWA EXOS 9 Bluetooth Speaker
Views 47,908 AIWA EXOS 9 is in a class of its own, being a bluetooth speaker, but not a very portable one, thanks to its weight, which is almost funny high, of about 7 KG, but it has a lot going on for it, including APT-X, a battery of about …
Flagship Now Affordable – HIFIMAN RE2000 Silver Review
Views 47,234 HIFIMAN RE2000S is a new IEM from HIFIMAN, based on the mighty RE2000, which I reviewed before, but now at a much more affordable price point of 800 USD, at least at the moment of writing this review. I will be comparing it to Lime Ears Model X, …
KZ Knowledge Budget-Fi IEMs – ZSN, BA10 and ZSN Pro Review
Views 24,082 Today’s review will focus on the latest releases from KZ, namely ZSN, Ba10 and ZSN Pro, all very close in terms of pricing to each other, trying to help you decide which, and if any will be a good fit for you as your main IEM, or as …
Final E5000 – Thick Sound Delight
Views 30,745 Final E5000 is the current upper midrange model from Final Audio, a IEM that promises to sound incredibly natural and fun, statements which we’re going to put to test in this review, as well as comparing them to other similarly priced IEMs. Introduction Final Audio is a huge …
Final Audio E2000 and E3000 – Impressively Inexpensive
Views 37,201 Final Audio are a large company known for their Sonorus and Heaven series, along with their really exquisite FI-BA-SS series. Today we’re going to be looking at their absolute entry-level IEMs, E2000 and E3000. Introduction Final Audio is a beloved and respected company when it comes to …
Westone WX – Wireless Relaxation
Views 23,283 Westone created an awesome IEM with their UM1 which was a bassy, warm and relaxing earphone, and they’re now offering a similar IEM, but this time with Wireless abilities through their rather intriguing MMCX Bluetooth cable. We’re going to put their latest creation to test and compare it …