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I’ve been curious about the notion of “op-amp rolling” ever since being bitten by the tube amplification bug a few years ago. Tube guys are forever collecting esoteric and expensive tubes to try in their amplifiers, all with the intended purpose of chasing that ‘ultimate’ sound. Rolling tubes, while having absolutely nothing to do with physically rolling the round tube down a surface, may have been named from the circular rocking motion used to remove a tube from a socket....

The renowned Koss Porta Pro headphones have been in production since 1984. This sort of longevity is almost unheard of in any technology market, let alone the fast-changing portable audio world. Not only are they still sold, but the Porta Pro are a perennial favorite of audio enthusiasts, often mentioned on forums. The Porta Pro certainly look distinctive and retro, featuring an exposed metal band, blue and black plastic, adjustable temple pads, and a unique folding shape....

Resetting your AirPods can fix a variety of issues, such as those related to device connectivity and firmware. And while resetting your AirPods should be as straightforward as pressing the setup button, different hardware and software problems can sometimes prevent you from doing so. This is frustrating, especially when faced with issues that only resetting the AirPods can fix — you’ll basically be stuck with unusable AirPods! Don’t worry; we’re here to help....

How to Choose the Best Snowboarding Headphones Snowboarding remains to be one of the most popular seasonal activities today. It is a very thrilling activity that brings out the adrenaline in everyone. And whether you hit the slopes regularly as a hobby or a couple of days a year with your family, having a good pair of snowboarding headphones on while you’re out there has a lot of unsung benefits Aside from the typical snowboarding gears, headphones have paved their own way to the hearts of casual and professional snowboarders....

AirPods have not only revolutionized the way we listen to music but also how we communicate on the phone. The problem is, managing calls using your AirPods might not be as straightforward as listening to music. This can be frustrating, especially if reaching for your phone to answer a call is inconvenient or dangerous (like when you’re driving!). In this guide, we show you how to painlessly answer your phone with AirPods and AirPods Pro....

Apple’s Live Listen feature is an accessibility feature that improves hearing and allows you to use your AirPods as hearing aids. The feature has been around for four years but have only recently received a fresh wave of attention, thanks to a viral TikTok video highlighting its interesting “snooping” capabilities. However, as Live Listen isn’t one of Apple’s heavily-marketed features, finding and using it may not be immediately apparent to those keen on trying this feature....

A lot of people tend to see a short circuit problem as the end of the line for their headphones. You really can’t blame them, though. No matter how simple it may sound, a short actually is quite a formidable (and deadly to a point) enemy for those who do not know their way around electronics. However, it is nothing that a good sensible guide can handle. For the brave souls out there who stopped and wondered if they could take on the issue themselves, this one’s for you!...

A new scandal is brewing in the IEM world. This time, rather than questionable driver material claims, headphone enthusiasts are tearing apart KZ’s multi-driver IEMs and disconnecting the balanced armature (BA) and magnetostatic drivers, and measuring the IEM’s frequency response. The initial interpretation was that the smaller drivers, supposedly tasked with midrange and treble frequencies, were fake or non-functional. Additional enthusiasts have jumped in, started tearing apart their IEMs, and refined the claims that the additional drivers are real and connected, but simply dampened in volume via resistors on the crossover board to the point of inaudibility....

Cayin has made a name for itself in the portable audio space by offering great amps like the Cayin iHA-6, unique DAPs like the Cayin N6ii (modular DAC/Amp cards), and the unusual Cayin N3Pro (miniature tube amp inside). When it comes to earphones, though, they don’t really have a large portfolio to draw upon. The Cayin YB04 (a quad-BA driver setup) are the only offering to date. I tried the YB04 when they launched in 2019 and found them very picky with tip-selection....

First Impressions Despite having seen pictures of the CKX, including those on the box after they arrived, I surprised myself by laughing out loud (for real) when I opened the box. Normally, that would be a strange and inappropriate response for any adult in this situation, as there is nothing funny about these attractive IEMs (in-ear monitors). Allow me to explain… I reviewed two previous CCA models, first the C10 Pro and then the CS16....

DUNU launched a brand-new budget single dynamic driver pair of IEMs with an inspiring slogan that speaks directly to the heart of all of us. Yes. You read that right. The CRIZ FACTION! It’s important enough to be laser engraved on one of the earpieces. A quick web search later, and I’m still confused. There appears to be absolutely no explanation available. Ok then, odd slogan aside, we can get some insight into the thinking behind the Kima by focusing on their name....

The KB EAR Neon are a pair of single balanced armature earphones. Yes, you heard it right. Not single dynamic driver, but single balanced armature. One BA per side is not something we see very often in the market. We are quite used to single dynamic driver IEMs, regardless of price range. However, the use of a single balanced armature has definitely caught my attention. Let’s dive deeper to see if this standout feature works or not....

It may only be Koss that can release headphone models in 2017 and still have them considered as the ‘new’ version. It’s because these new headphones are the latest to feature the much-discussed, decades-old, iconic 60 Ohm, 35 mm driver found in the Porta Pro, Sporta Pro, KSC35, and the KPH30i. Although sporting a modern design, the KPH30i are delightfully retro-styled and hearken back to their ‘80s roots. Eschewing the ear-clip style of the KSC35 and 75, the KPH30i are a traditional on-ear style with a plastic headband....

The QT9 MK2S are Rose Technics’ flagship pair of hybrid IEMs. Will they wilt in the glare of the ultra-competitive mid-FI market? Or blossom like a rose among thorns? Read on to find out! Company Overview Rose Technics is a boutique CHI-FI brand, based in Chengdu, China. They have released IEMs with names such as the Rose Pudding, Miracle EST, and QT7 Pro. There was even a QT9 MK2 previously released, the predecessor of the QT9 MK2S discussed today, differing in name only by the letter “S”!...

What do you do when your product receives mixed reviews? Do you scrap it and try again? Do you ignore the critics and focus only on the positives? Or do you listen carefully to the feedback and enlist one of the experts in the industry to produce a revised version intended to address the shortcomings? SeeAudio decided on the latter. SeeAudio released the original Yume (first called Anou) in 2021....

Smart speakers are all around us, but because of numerous privacy concerns and complicated setups, they’re simply not for kids. That changes with the Yoto Player, which is aimed directly at children and their desire to learn and play. Playing the Right Cards The Yoto Player works by inserting NFC-enabled (Near Field Communication) cards that contain music or audiobooks which you can either buy from Yoto or upload yourself using the smartphone app....

Worse yet, a pair of bad headphones can actually deter you from listening to your favorite tracks. If they can’t reproduce the wide range of frequencies that are used in EDM, playback will be unsatisfying and may turn you away from the genre entirely. That’s why you need a good pair of headphones if you want to appreciate EDM. What headphones should you get? Why not look at the headphones used by popular EDM artists from around the world so you know they’re right for you....

Ever needed to remove your headphones after some time in the office, only to find a dent on your hair, where your headphone band used to be?This can make you feel a bit conscious about how you look, especially when professional environments like the workplace require you to always be on your best appearance. It gets even more frustrating when your headphone hair can’t be tamed even after combing it with your hands....

Jaybird seems to have hit the proverbial two birds with one stone with their latest simultaneous release. The Freedom 2 comes with double the Freedom’s battery life, clocking in at 8 hours with the cradle attached. It also brings with it a plethora of added comfort fit options, which, Jaybird claims, should allow the Freedom 2 to fit as many as 80% of the users out of the box. Freedom 2 comes with swappable earbud tips and wings, as well as the all-new SpeedFit cable system that makes it easier for users to tighten and loosen the overall length of the wireless headphone....

If you are reading this review, then chances are you are familiar with the current IEM and headphone celebrity reviewer/influencer Crinacle. Corin Ako, or as he’s better known, Crinacle, maintains the largest IEM measurement database on the internet and has recently made a successful jump to YouTube stardom. Crinacle has his own favorite sound signature and lately, several companies (including Moondrop, KZ, Fearless Audio, and SeeAudio) have leveraged Crinacle’s popularity to have him tune new IEM revisions or models to better fit his tastes....