This slideshow requires JavaScript. If the first thing that came to your mind when we mentioned “Hibiki” was the premium Japanese whisky, we are on the same boat. Firstly, I want to complement Shozy for branding this IEM with such a unforgettable name. But it does carry some sort of unwanted expectation for this budget IEM that strives to look like a Custom In-ear Monitor (CIEM). But first, let’s go through the background of this IEM....
Just about a year ago, I stumbled across an interesting sounding Kickstarter campaign. A headphone accessory that I had never considered before. Not only is it a portable Bluetooth DAC/Amp, but it comes with its own strap to wear as a belt (or bandoleer if Chewbacca fashion your thing). Oh yeah, and it’s a haptic transducer (a fancy vibrating bit) so you FEEL the music. How could I resist? Spoiler alert… I couldn’t....
Rumor has it that Samsung is launching its highly anticipated Galaxy Home Mini speaker during the upcoming Galaxy S20 launch. It effectively skips the much-delayed Galaxy Home smart speaker, but if a newly filed patent is to be believed, we may see yet another device in Samsung’s audio lineup in the near future. The information comes from a patent sent by Samsung at the Korean Intellectual Property Rights Information Service....
Have you ever wondered why your favorite rapper wears headphones during his recording sessions? Or why your favorite music group wears earphones during their live performances? You may have some preconceived ideas on why they’re wearing headphones, but if you’re unsure of your guesses, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to dive through all the specific details on why musicians wear headphones in recordings and live performances, and how it all works....
A portable DAC/amp is a multi-purpose device. It accepts a digital input, converts it into analog audio, amplifies the signal, and finally outputs the music to headphones. Since we’re talking about portable devices, it also should be small enough to fit into a pocket. Missing headphone jacks from the current batch of phones have also warranted using an intermediate device (or Bluetooth connection) for headphone listening. How to Pick the Best Portable DAC/Amp To choose the right portable DAC/amp, you must decide what features are most important to you:...
Music is a universal language that has the power to bring people from different parts of the world together. So much so that it compels many music lovers and audiophiles alike to give their favorite artists and favorite music a permanent home on their bodies. Be it inking into their skin a unique interpretation of a specific lyric or making known their preference for a certain musical instrument, there can be many reasons why people get music tattoos marked on their bodies....
This is excellent news for people who are already committed to either one of these services. But for those still on the fence, the upgrades might make choosing between the two even more difficult. No worries, though! We’ve reviewed all the different features on both apps to make it easier for you to decide. So let’s dive in! The Overview Apple Music Before Apple Music, there was iTunes. In its heyday, it was a “one-stop-shop” music app that allowed music fans to purchase songs instead of entire albums....
Bone conduction headphones have been gaining popularity in recent years. With its unique open-ear design, a lot of manufacturers and advertisers promote it like it’s a godsend device to cure us of the risks of wearing headphones outdoors and headphones-related hearing loss. But others say otherwise. Sifting through conflicting opinions can be tiring and confusing. And it’s especially frustrating when you really want to try this relatively new type of headphones as soon as possible....
Bose QuietComfort 35 II features With your Google Assistant integrated, it is possible to control music, send & receive texts, set reminders, place your call for Uber, figure out the solutions to mathematical questions, and get answers using just your voice. Simply press and hold on to the Action button, and start talking. Additional features of QC 35 II includes an adjustable noise cancellation and noise-rejecting dual microphone for clear calls and clear-cut Google Assistant response in noisy environments....
The AirPods are excellent earbuds that deliver dynamic sound quality suited for music and mobile games. But what if you want to use them for more heavy-duty gaming? For instance, can you connect your AirPods to a PS5? This can be annoying, especially if you prefer using AirPods for their quality, convenience, and portability. And instead of being able to enjoy that, you’re left with no choice but to use (or worse, buy) wired headphones....
Having surround sound on your headphones makes every game or movie audio more realistic. With accurate spatial sound positioning, ‘flat’ and ‘plain’ sounds can transform into something that brings your audio to life. The problem is, there are a lot of different surround sound softwares available today. And choosing one can be difficult, especially since it involves spending some hard-earned cash. So, to help you ease that a bit, we’ll be looking at one of the biggest names in spatial sound technology: DTS Headphone: X....
However, just like in the cooking world, where there are plenty of emulsifying techniques to bring the oil and water together, there are solutions that can help you mitigate the discomfort from wearing glasses with headphones to a more tolerable level. We will first talk about the science and causes behind the pain before diving into the solutions. But not to fret, pierced glasses are not included in the list....
People mostly associate BLON with the legendary BL-03 IEMs which have an engaging, warm, and generally likeable sound. BLON is not new to headphones either, with their BL-30 (sporting a ridiculously large 70mm driver) and B20 (planar driver) headphones. However, those headphones did not set the market alight, perhaps because they do not have an accessible tuning like BLON’s legendary IEMs. The BL-B60 intend to correct BLON’s full-sized headphones track record and aim to punch above their modest price tag....
The Moondrop Kanas Pro is a name that I have seen thrown around in discussions for quality chi-fi for under $200. For some weird reasons, I love the name. The brand – Moondrop has this “worldly anime” vibe while the model name “Kanas Pro” further veil the fact that this IEM is made in China. This savvy branding strategy carries through to its packaging, which we will come to later....
Moondrop continues their foray into the TWS market with an eye-CATching cat-themed set! Where to Buy The Moondrop Nekocake are available at: Introduction Moondrop formed in 2015, and since then, they have come leaps and bounds to now be considered one of the preeminent leaders in the CHI-FI industry. Moondrop is highly popular among CHI-FI enthusiasts, and they have released some crowd favourite IEMs, such as the KATO, Blessing 2, Dusk, Aria 2021 and Starfield (just to name a few), and even ventured into earbuds, some of which are considered best-in-class (eg Chaconne and Liebesleid)....
One could never accuse up-and-coming Chinese IEM manufacturer Shuoer of being afraid of innovation. Over the last year, they’ve broken out of the gate at a full gallop, quickly releasing a wide range of products of varying types, featuring dynamic, balanced-armature, and electrostatic drivers, alongside other exotic technologies and innovations. When I reviewed the Shuoer Tape half a year ago, I was excited to see an electrostatic tweeter (EST) in a budget IEM, and, while I took issue with some of Shuoer’s tuning choices, I was excited to see how they’d develop the product....
The term “electrostatic” carries with it a kind of mysticism in the audiophile world. Perhaps it’s the driver technology itself – since the early days of Stax’s earspeakers, electrostatics have boasted lower distortion – and, many say, better sound – than any other type of driver. Perhaps it’s partially their exoticism that puts them in such high regard. To this day, it’s pretty difficult to get your hands on a pair of electrostatic headphones without ordering them specifically from the manufacturer – even in the best-stocked audio shops....
The Megatron is a controversial device. It’s a tough one to categorize. At first glance, the Megatron appears to be the size and shape of a portable DAC/amp. But unlike portable DAC/amps, the Megatron is free from such things as a physical volume control, or really any other of the standard features typically found on that sort of device. Furthermore, there’s no battery inside its metal case. So, it’s a dongle?...
Modern-day living has gotten a lot busier and noisier in recent years. With so much sound around us, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and put ourselves at risk of hearing loss. Thankfully, we have noise-cancelling headphones to protect ourselves, but this begs the question – when were noise-cancelling headphones invented? Where did this technology come from? Was it a result of years of research dedicated to solving a noise problem people hadn’t known yet, or a mere happenchance that inadvertently shaped human history and the evolution of headphones?...
It is an audio streaming platform that allows users to access a vast library of songs from around the world. Moreover, for those looking at the Unlimited plan, it might be possible to save more with a tailored plan: Free Plan vs. Paid Plans Below, we will discuss what you can expect out of the free and paid plans. Ad-supported playback Offline playback Available titles Ad-supported playback Free plan Ads range from 10 to 30 seconds, and can’t be skipped by the listener....
