Ambition. According to an ancient Chinese proverb (ok, a classic Hong Kong film), “without ambition, you are no different than salted fish”. No point dreaming about lofty heights when you’re bathed and baked in sunlight until crispy. But with truckloads of ambition, and some hard work, ingenuity, and luck; even fish, salted or not, can fly. 64 Audio has been the epitome of ambition in the in-ear monitor (IEM) arena....
IEM manufacturer 7Hz is coming off a highly successful product: their Timeless were hailed by many trustworthy sources as a serious contender for the best mid-fi pair of planar magnetic IEMs. So I was excited to try their newest offering, which uses a relatively common driver configuration: a single, 14.5mm dynamic driver. Unfortunately, due to global shipping difficulties, the earphones took a little while to get to me; but when they did, I was immediately pleased by their presentation and overall “look....
Introducing the Audio-Technica ATH-AD2000 poses a kind of unique challenge. First, it’s out-of-production, living entirely on the used market (and somewhat rarely found outside of Japan), the ATH-AD2000 is not a well-known headphone outside the world of hardcore audiophiles and vintage headphone enthusiasts. It’s also not a universally-recognized landmark headphone like the Sennheiser HD600 or Beyerdynamic DT880. The ATH-AD2000, at the time of its release, was one of the fastest and most technically capable dynamic-driver headphones....
The HarmonicDyne P.D.1 are (Linsoul’s house brand) HarmonicDyne’s first foray into IEMs. Rather than being content with tackling a traditional dynamic driver, or hybrid (DD + BA), or tribrid (DD + BA + EST), HarmonicDyne decided on an unusual planar magnetic (the ‘P’ in the name) plus dynamic (the ‘D’ in the name) dual 10mm driver combination. Priced just below $400USD the P.D.1 are firmly out of the bargain category, so they need to deliver on sound quality, build, and accessories....
About a year ago I reviewed the HarmonicDyne Helios headphones. Helios was the first product from HarmonicDyne, a brand-new company reportedly related to Thieaudio, which itself is the house brand for the Chinese headphone retail juggernaut Linsoul. The Helios are an attractive and distinctive headphone, marrying steel, aluminum, and walnut wood. They had an MSRP of $200 USD, but initially launched around $150 USD and offered a solid headphone option at this price point....
ChiFi budget aficionados will be familiar with the original HZsound Heart Mirror IEMs. These were a breath of fresh air in a sea of hackneyed Harman-tuned fare, sporting a rare neutral bright tuning with great aesthetics and generous accessories to boot. The Heart Mirror Pro – henceforth shortened to HM Pro – are a follow-up to this note-worthy pair. Will the HM Pro continue to espouse impeccable tuning in the Heart Mirror lineage?...
Founded in 2005, MEE Audio, a subsidiary of S2E, Inc. is located in City of Industry, California. They proudly proclaim “we are MEE, and we deliver Music Enjoyment for Everyone.” Although somewhat under the radar (at least for me), it turns out that they have been producing headphones and earphones for 14 years, focused primarily on sports and wireless designs. In 2009, they launched their first few IEM models, the M9 and M6....
What differentiates a portable DAC/amp from a dongle? An internal battery? Output power? Features? Size? Typically, a dongle is characterized by its small size, a lack of internal battery, and somewhat limited output power. On the other hand, a portable DAC/amp is usually far larger, offering more features and outputs and containing a battery to allow for higher output power and less source device drain. Today, we’ll explore another outlier, the UA5, Shanling’s TOTL dongle – or is it a portable DAC/amp?...
If you’re at all familiar with Japanese boutique headphone manufacturer Stax, you probably already know the design – two boxy black rectangles strapped to either side of the user’s head, each one infused with the wizardry known as an electrostatic driver. The SR-L700, L500, and L300 are the current-generation Lambdas. Today I’m reviewing the SR-Lambda – the discontinued original incarnation of the Lambda design, first introduced way back in 1979....
Kids diagnosed with autism enjoyed a special sensor-friendly Mardi Gras concert made especially for them in New Orleans, Louisiana. They were given the opportunity to do crafts, listen to music, and dance along. Mardi Gras is normally a celebration that’s strong on visual and audio stimulation, which makes it difficult for certain people to enjoy. People with an autism spectrum disorder, in particular, would have a hard time understanding all the noise happening at once....
The invention of an underwater Bluetooth range extender, which aims to improve wireless signals between smartwatches and headphones, is currently in its approval status, only a few months after Finnovative Group LLC’s Kari Kristian Rauhala first filed the patent application in December 2021. As the incumbent Managing Director of Finnovative Group LLC, Kari Kristian Rauhala specializes in patents regarding audio systems and devices, as well as waterproof housings that would support the technology’s functions underwater....
I used to watch action movies on my laptop with all the explosions sounding like an empty tin can being hit in my headphones. Not fun at all. It’s missing that secret sauce that makes listening to all sorts of sounds and music so much more pleasurable: Bass. And since you’re reading this, you probably have the same problems as I had. But you’re in luck. In this article, we’ll share with you some of the best tips and tricks for boosting and adjusting bass for speakers and headphones in Windows 10....
How to Pick the Best Noise-Canceling Gaming Headset? Noise-canceling headsets, particularly those with active noise cancellation (ANC), help intensify in-game audio and music, making everything sound more immersive for casual gamers. Whereas in professional gaming, these headsets enhance key in-game sounds that pro players can rely on to make game-winning plays. Unfortunately, choosing gaming headsets with ANC isn’t easy. From the ANC quality varying across different headset types to comfort, build, and pricing – there are many variables both amateur and pro gamers can get lost in when picking the right noise-canceling gaming headphones for them....
A few days ago, some Google Home users reported that their smart speakers were no longer functioning properly. The culprit was pinned on a faulty software update, but Google has since gotten around to providing an appropriate fix. The users affected were mostly from Google’s Preview Program, which provides feature updates before the general public gets them but aren’t labeled beta builds. This made it easier for Google’s software team to pinpoint the source of the problem and roll out a solution just two days after the reports broke out....
Headphone wires are one of the most fragile parts of any headphones, yet they’re also the most overlooked. As a result, they’re often the first to become damaged. With every yank, twist, and turn, the wires’ outer rubber insulation becomes weaker and thinner. Eventually, your headphone wires become more exposed, causing them to fray or be torn off entirely. What’s worse is that even if you handle them carefully, your headphone wires are still prone to other accidents, such as getting chewed up by your pets....
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) is one of the principal factors users look for when hunting for Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs). Without it, you wouldn’t know how well an HPD can actually block noise. Unfortunately, NRR is actually not as straightforward as you may think! NRR labels only estimate what people can achieve in ideal conditions but mostly fail to deliver in real-world applications. Not to worry; you can easily demystify NRR and choose an HPD that’s right for you by understanding the basics....
Build Quality The only non-plastic parts of this headphone are the external grills of the ear cups which are made of metal. They look even nicer in real than pictured. However, the rest of the headphones feels cheap for one that cost more than $200. The enclosure between earpads and grills, cups articulations, shafts of the headband as well as the two « 3D-wings » are all made from cheap plastic when I have them in hand....
I was really excited to receive these! I eagerly opened the shipping package, admired the packaging, took some photos, and then proceeded with carefully unboxing. I then connected the fine cables to the bold IEM bodies and began trying all of the included silicone ear tips (BLON calls them earplugs) to see if I could find a fit. After I thought I had the best of the options, I put an excellent Diana Krall — Live in Paris jazz vocal recording in my CD player, sat back in a comfortable chair, and pushed play — expecting much....
Brainwavz Hooka Specifications: Weight: 125g Dimensions : 102 mm x 46 mm x 58 mm Plate Length: 78 mm Plate Width: 46 mm Build Quality The Hooka takes cues from the Truss and has an all-metal die-cast aluminum body. The same matte finishing completes the look of the Hooka. It has the same sturdiness that you see on the Truss. It comes with a 3M VHB Tape that allows you to mount the hangar onto any vertical surfaces easily....
Writing this review, I am struggling to get started. Why, you ask? I am entirely too enthralled with the NEXT on my head that all I want to do is sit back, close my eyes, and listen. And listen more. Whenever I wear them, it’s challenging to concentrate on anything else. Let’s discuss luxury automobiles for a moment. Luxury products are often not the very best performers. Rather than for peak performance, people may buy them for a variety of other reasons, including design, quality, innovation, technical achievement, uniqueness, or brand cache and prestige – to name a few....
