John Atkinson has posted a review of the Audeze LCD-4 headphones ($3995) at Stereophile. His conclusions: “Life is too short to put up with poor-sounding headphones. Not only do Audeze’s LCD-4s not sound poor, they’re the best-sounding headphones I’ve heard in the 45 years since I bought my first high-end cans, a pair of...
Read More »
Chris Martens has posted a review of the HiFiMAN HE-400S planar magnetic headphones (£249) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “Given its ability to scale with state of the art gear and its ability to be driven with no compromise in volume on something as ubiquitous as a smart phone it has proven to be an...
Read More »
John Atkinson has posted a review of the Pass Labs HPA-1 headphone amplifier ($3500) at Stereophile. His conclusions: “Yes, it’s an expensive headphone amplifier; but I venture to suggest that, in bass clarity and authority and in midrange transparency, the Pass Labs HPA-1 is without peer.” You can read the full review here.
Read More »
Mark Fleischmann has posted a review of the HiFiMan Edition X headphones ($1799) at Sound and Vision. His conclusions: “HiFiMan’s Edition X headphones are about as good as headphones get (though, admittedly, I haven’t experienced the top-line HE1000 at nearly twice the price). These well-balanced performers aced any kind of music I threw at...
Read More »
John Grandberg has posted a review of the Cayin iDAC-6 DAC ($999) and iHA-6 headphone amplifier ($999) at InnerFidelity. His conclusions: “At $999 each, these two straddle some sort of line…I’m sure some would call them “affordable” while others would balk at that price as being way out of reach. Personally I think it’s...
Read More »
Alan Sircom has posted a review of the Cardas Audio A8 earphones (£279) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “More importantly, the Cardas A8 is a great value earphone for those who’ve grown out of boom and tizz. You’ll need to shop around for better tips if you want to know just how good these earphones...
Read More »
Brent Butterworth has posted a review of the Focal Sphear earphones ($149) at SoundStage! Xperience. His conclusions: “The Focal Sphears are exceptionally comfortable, well-designed, good-sounding earphones that I found especially enjoyable to use when listening to rock, pop, and jazz — and any other music in which groove is important. They wouldn’t be my...
Read More »
Chris Martens has posted a review of the Schiit Audio Yggdrasil DAC (£1980) and Ragnarok headphone amplifier (£1580) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “Rarely have I been as favourably impressed by a DAC and headphone amplifier as I have been by the Yggdrasil and Ragnarok. Though neither component comes anywhere near being the most expensive...
Read More »
Jim Austin has posted a review of the Meridian Explorer2 headphone amplifier-DAC ($299) at Stereophile. His conclusions: “Leave MQA out of the mix, and the Meridian Explorer2 is a fun, capable audio device at a cost that audiophiles—and anyone else who’s accustomed to audiophile prices—will likely find more than fair … But when you...
Read More »
Marcusd has posted a review of the Campfire Audio Orion in-ear monitors ($349) at Headfonics. His conclusions: “It is still a midrange performer and the star of the show, but it really doesn’t negate the rest of the frequency response so you get just enough to make things sound relatively balanced. Vocals are strong,...
Read More »
Philip Teh has posted a review of the Beyerdynamic T1 v2 headphones ($1099) at audiofi.net. His conclusions: “As always, the proof is in the hearing and nothing beats a personal test drive. If you’re in the market for a HD800-class sound signature and prefer a closer soundstage, then the Beyerdynamic T1 v2 is definitely...
Read More »
Alan Sircom has posted a review of the Meze 99 Classics Walnut Gold headphones (€309) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: “The Meze 99 is an unexpected joy. It has a sensational musical performance, even when played with very humble audio equipment, and is comfortable enough (both in wear and in listening) to allow the listener...
Read More »
Keith Howard has posted a review of the Sonus Faber Pryma headphones (£410) at Hi-Fi News and Record Review. His conclusions: “Would Gok Wan be seen wearing the Pryma? I imagine he would because it is, undeniably, a fashion icon in the making – one which makes other ‘designer’ ’phones look crass or plain...
Read More »
Michael Piskor has posted a review of the Sonus Faber Pryma headphones ($499-$599) at Headfonics. His conclusions: “The Pryma looks very posh and upper class and for the first time, I can recommend a flashy looking headphone to people interested in something that also sounds good too. This is an almost unheard of combination...
Read More »
Steve Guttenberg has posted a review of the KEF M400 headphones ($250) at Sound and Vision. His conclusions: “All in all, the M400 sounds refined and clear, with bass that is definitely goosed up just a tad. I’m not normally a fan of overemphasized bass, but it’s done tastefully here on the M400, and...
Read More »
Mark Fleischmann has posted a review of the Simaudio Moon Neo 230HAD headphone amplifier-DAC ($1500) at Sound and Vision. His conclusions: “The Moon by Simaudio Neo 230HAD is a state-of-the-art headphone amplifier/DAC that has a healthy, and sometimes transformative, effect on whatever headphones you plug into it. The Moon by Simaudio Neo 230HAD is...
Read More »
Jack Skowron has posted a review of the MicroZOTL 2 headphone amplifier ($1100) at Headphone.Guru. His conclusions: “So, while this is certainly not an inexpensive amp, I believe it does deliver good value, being a really fine sounding headphone amp in an attractive package. T If you’re in the market for an amp in...
Read More »
Earmass has posted a review of the Centrance DACport HD headphone amplifier-DAC ($199. His conclusions: “HD has actually outperformed my expectation and I am satisfied with the audio performance throughout the review period and I actually use it for few weeks long already, every session I am with the HD is session of pleasure,...
Read More »
Lee Scoggins has posted a review of the Cardas A8 in-ear monitors ($300) at Part-Time Audiophile. His conclusions: “Ole Blue Eyes is singing “My Blue Heaven”. These blue cabled wonders really are offering up heavenly sound with the Mojo, a great partner for the A8s. The A8s serve a up lots of detail but...
Read More »
Marcusd has posted a review of the FiiO A1 portable headphone amplifier ($30) at Headfonics. His conclusions: “The A1 is $30, tiny, well built and packs an ok starter amp inside that will be an upgrade on any amp inside your smartphone in terms of gain control, staging and dynamics in general. It has...
Read More »
Christopher Tan has posted a review of the Xiao Mi headphones ($79) at Enjoy the Music. His conclusions: “Whilst not the most resolving headphones, it is by far an absolute bargain and should held against all other high end headphones for comparison to justify the additional costs. Mi headphones make for great cans for...
Read More »
Janine Elliot has posted a review of the Questyle QP1r digital audio player (£699) at Hi-Fi Pig. Her conclusions: “For a new comer to this scene this Chinese product is exceptionally good. After my initial disappointment at reliability it became extremely reliable and extremely fun to use. It also has sufficient output to drive...
Read More »
Mark Fleischmann has posted a review of the Oppo PM-2 headphones ($699) at Sound and Vision. His conclusions: “The Oppo PM-2 is a well-rounded performer that’s suitable for high- resolution audio but subjectively on the warm and flattering side. For such a beautifully crafted, ingeniously designed, and musically versatile product, $699 is not too...
Read More »
Alan Sircom has posted a review of the Questyle CMA800R headphone amplifier (£1599) at Hi-Fi+. His conclusions: ” think the CMA800R is the headphone amp that grows with you. Good headphones require a great amplifier, and that’s where the Questyle CMA800R comes in. It’s so good, you might start to look at the matching...
Read More »
Andy Schaub has posted a review of the Simaudio MOON Neo 280D headphone amplifier-DAC ($2200) at Positive Feddback. His conclusions: “I may keep the MD-807T. I may let it go. However, I am very happy with the 280D and cannot imagine my system without it for all the things it does so well. I...
Read More »
