When your Powerbeats Pro earbuds won’t play any sound, it can be a frustrating problem to try and fix. Besides, one of the major selling points of the model is ‘wireless that works,’ so when it doesn’t, you might feel let down and annoyed. Even worse, Powerbeats Pro are expensive! The prospect of having to replace them isn’t pleasant for anybody, especially regarding such a basic function of the product....

In the past, great things came in threes, like divas (Mariah, Whitney, and Celine); action heroes (Stallone, Willis, Schwarzenegger); and religion (er, better not). Likewise, for top-of-the-line (TOTL) earphones, there were just Sennheiser IE800, AKG K3003, and Shure SE846. If you aimed for the top you only need to consider those. It was a simple and glorious time. Come 2018, the prices of flagship in-ear monitors (IEMs) have at least doubled, and there is a mushrooming of boutique brands with spectacular prices, leading to market infatuation, saturation, and fatigue....

First Impressions My last review was for one of the Fearless Audio Shangri-La’s IEM (in-ear monitor) siblings, the Provence. Physical attributes are virtually identical with the exception of the faceplate designs and the addition of two extra balanced armature drivers per side in the Shangri-La. As such, we will review the differences, particularly in the sound section. The Shangri-La are at the top of the ‘Colorful World’ collection, Fearless Audio’s entry-level models....

Before the official launch of the VxV, Fir Audio created stories and dolls for a bunny named Firry. This turned out to be a successful marketing strategy as it generated lots of talk about the VxV. Now launched, they are advertised as an “everyday-carry” and priced at about $1000. Let’s see if the VxV are worth the kilo buck price tag and carrying around every day. About Fir Audio Founded in 2018, Fir Audio started by producing IEM maintenance devices, such as vacuum cleaners for IEMs....

In the audiophile headphone world, the Focal Sphear is often overlooked and not so popular. It is mainly because they aren’t about the hype life. It’s funny but true since Focal only started foraying into the IEM category barely two years ago. Their over-ears headphones lines like the Focal Spirit and Focal Utopia are renowned everywhere. I have been an audiophile around late elementary to early middle school when I have started this journey....

The version I bought is a Stax SR-Lambda Pro (or SR-Λ Pro). Released in 1982, it is the second Lambda ever produced. The first Lambda was launched in 1979 and had normal-bias plugs (230V), whereas all the other Lambdas were designed with pro-bias cable (580V). Over the years, several Lambda were produced and the current line is composed of 4 models: the Stax SR-L300, SR-L500, SR-L700 and SR-L300LE. Like any electrostatic headphones, they need a dedicated amplifier for it to power it efficiently....

I recently reviewed the Orchard Audio PecanPi Streamer Ultra, a Raspberry Pi-based network music streamer device with an integrated touchscreen. While I appreciated the device’s idea and sound quality, I struggled to justify the price and the compromises made in convenience and features. Many compelling aspects of a Pi-based streamer became apparent when using the Streamer Ultra. Rather than using a multi-purpose, complicated, and inherently noisy computer to serve up digital music files, a Pi streamer can offer a streamlined and straightforward solution....

How to Choose the Best Call Center Headset Whether you’re a call center agent or manager, staying on top of your game is crucial. One call can mean the difference between gaining and losing a customer – and your equipment can significantly impact that. After all, we know how frustrating it can be to try having a conversation over a fuzzy, crackling, or noisy line. The good news is, there’s a simple solution to these problems: quality headsets made for call centers....

How to Pick the Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for Sleeping? Sleep is one of life’s most precious commodities. It helps us heal, recharges us, and keeps us sane in the face of our busy, fast-paced lives. But as the world gets progressively more hectic, the harder it is to disconnect and have some quiet time. As a result, sleep becomes something we find ourselves getting less and less of. Most of us already lead stressful lives as it is....

Waterproof headphones are a must for any swimmer, but it’s important to understand that not all waterproof headphones are created equal. The level of waterproofing, or IPX rating, will determine whether the headphones can withstand laps in the pool or just splashes around the pool deck. In addition to the IPX rating, build quality is another essential factor to consider. Poorly built swimming headphones with low alloy content (for stainless steel housing) can lead to corrosion and mineral deposits....

One of the biggest frustrations for earbuds owners is losing or damaging the ear tips. One minor casualty can ruin the entire experience. Fortunately for AirPods Pro users, it turns out that Apple provides free replacement tips using a simple method. This trick was discovered by users on MacRumors’ forums and later reported by the website itself. User boshii was the first person to point this out and adds that he had AppleCare+ included in his AirPods Pro purchase....

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Brainwavz in any way, and I have written this review as impartially as possible. Review by: “Charlie” from The Little Audiophile In the studio monitor headphones world, what headphones are available to us? The legendary Sony MDR7506, the highly regarded Beyerdynamic DT 880, the ever-so-popular Audio Technica M50x (and M40x, mind you), and many other brands that come to mind. But in this review, we’ll be looking at the Brainwavz HM5: an unsung hero in the sub-$200 studio monitor headphones market....

If you’re in the market for something to satisfy your audio needs, you may be wondering whether or not headphones or earbuds are the right choice for you. After all, what’s the difference? For some, it would seem they serve the same purpose anyway. On top of trying to decide between earbuds and headphones, it’s easy to find yourself overwhelmed by the many different brands out there and what they have to offer in terms of features and design....

Nintendo did not offer Bluetooth audio connectivity to Switch users for the longest time. But this finally changed with a September 2021 firmware update. Yet, the feature is still not exactly perfect, and connecting Bluetooth headphones to Nintendo Switch is not straightforward. Even worse, you may encounter new issues after pairing, like audio lags, trouble connecting wireless controllers, and no Bluetooth mic support. Don’t lose hope just yet! We’ll show you exactly how to connect your Bluetooth headphones to Nintendo Switch....

Can you tell us about your audiophile journey? Audio has always been a thing in my family. Growing up we had speakers in every room. The funniest being my mother’s subwoofer in the kitchen. My brother repaired and built speakers in high school and is now an audio engineer who is an artist when it comes to live music and large audio installations. As far as headphones are concerned, at-home listening had never really been a thing for me since we were always surrounded by speakers....

Once the pooled sum crosses a threshold, the makers get access to the money. They then begin manufacturing the promised headphones. Cut-throat competition Due to the popularity of crowdfunding, more established companies have caught onto the hype. They use it as a way to pre-sell their products, apart from the traditional sales channels. Armed with a higher budget, they are able to carve out a better crowdfunding campaign. Losing attention This casts more pressure on smaller makers who are already tight on cash....

I love music; it’s why I’m here. That’s the understatement of the year. In my youth I was compelled to share the music I loved—and I’m showing my age here—by making cassette mixtapes. Who among us hasn’t shared our futile expressions of love via the media of song, only to be spurned by the object of our affections because she’s already dating a dude named Chad?! I digress. At least I got to keep the mixtape, which contains my entire outlook on life at that moment captured in song....

Getting out of your comfort zone to expand your horizon is easier said than done. Such an endeavor is met with hardships, failures, and oftentimes – ridicule. Companies take serious risks when trying to do something new. Moondrop is one of the most established IEM manufacturers around. So when Moondrop announced its upcoming range of headphones across various price points, it was met with commendation and skepticism. Everyone had one question: will these headphones be any better than the already established options on the market?...

This slideshow requires JavaScript. Reid Heath Acoustics (RHA) was founded by Reid Heath in 2011. Since then, they have been making high-quality audio products and one of them is the RHA MA390u (u for universal). MA390u is the entry-level model in their MA series of earphones. But does it have a sound which is beyond its price point? Let’s find out in this review for the RHA MA390u. I’ve used the RHA MA390u for about 4 months and have listened to them for at least a total time of 60-70 hours using various genres of soundtracks in which I have got a pretty good impression about the earphones....

The Sennheiser HD600 hardly need to be introduced. They are probably the most famous headphones released in the past 20 years. Following the Sennheiser HD560 Ovation, the German brand released the HD580 in 1993, which has formed the basis for all open-back models coming out after, including HD580 Jubilee (1995), HD600 (1997), HD650 (2003), HD6XX (2016) and HD660S (2017). Built & Style Some will find their appearance dated and reminiscent of the nineties because of the blue « marble effect » covering the plastic, but I actually find them pretty....