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MoonDrop Technology Co., Ltd. is a Chinese IEM manufacturer that has garnered much interest within the headphone enthusiast community due to the success of their Kanas Pro and KXXS IEMs. They are known for tuning based on the Harman Target Curve, and for producing excellent sounding mid-range IEM options ($100-$200). Their latest offering, the $109 Starfield, has been eagerly anticipated. MoonDrop was formally established in 2015, and from the beginning, they have remained focused solely on the design and creation of IEMs and earbuds....

Shanling is known for making great portable DAPs these days and has recently begun making earphones as well. The ME80 are the latest pair of earphones produced by Shanling and have a single dynamic driver configuration. At first glance, with their single driver, they do not seem to be anything special. But ultimately, what we as audiophiles find important is how they sound, right? So let’s see how the ME80 perform....

Well. I know what you are thinking. It’s about time that Headphonesty reviewed a THX amplifier. After all, 2019 saw the release of several interesting headphone amplifiers bearing the famous THX name. Each was heralded as providing the cleanest measurable amplifier signal available at various price points and with differing THX circuitry implementation. The trifecta of ultra-low distortion, no coloration, and high output power. What’s not to love? The THX amps were purported to be real game-changers, and (at the time), there was a ton of hype about them all....

Taotronics have released many models of wireless Bluetooth headphones but the pairing process for most models are similar. By following this guide, you will be able to easily pair your Taotronics Bluetooth headphones to any phones and computers. Getting Started: Reset the Headphones To start with the best foot forward, if you have ever paired the Bluetooth headphones with any device before, make sure you remove its paired history from the Bluetooth device list....

How to Pick the Best Wireless Gaming Headsets? Wireless gaming headsets are a boon for gamers looking for greater comfort, mobility, and freedom (from all the tangled, messy wire getting in the way of gaming). Thankfully, over the years, wireless audio technology has improved significantly in that it now offers both convenience and high-end functionality. However, despite such improvements, choosing the right pair of headsets continues to be one of the most underrated tasks among gamers....

How to Choose the Best Audiobook Headphones Audiobooks are rising in popularity. According to a US survey, each audiobook enthusiast listens to an average of 6.8 audiobooks in 2019 to 8.1 in 2020. And while you can listen to audiobooks through speakers, you can’t do this everywhere without disturbing those around you. This is why headphones are a must for a clear and private listening experience. Not all headphones work great for audiobooks, though....

Headphones generally are not designed for sharing as the cups are often non-detachable. This becomes a hassle when you’re trying to watch a video or listen to a song with your friend while in public areas. An alternative workaround would be to perfectly time when to hit the “play” button with your friend on each device. A tad too much effort for synchronized playing. For Apple users, there is the audio sharing feature launched by Apple in 2019....

As AirPods users, it’s easy to get accustomed to their top-of-the-line functionality known to transform the user’s listening experience. But along with this convenience comes the nagging worry that the batteries will run out, or worse, suddenly stop working. The truth is, AirPods and their batteries have a finite lifespan, after which they won’t work. And although this is inevitable, it can be challenging to identify the warning signs that could have helped you prepare for the worst....

Unboxing your first pair of wireless Beats headphones is an exhilarating moment. But, before enjoying the exceptional sound quality, you may find that connecting them with your devices may not be as easy as you’d expected. Here’s where it gets trickier: each model has its unique set-up procedure. That’s why it can be frustrating and time-consuming when you have to look for the instructions or figure out if you’re setting them up the right way....

What I like most about IEMs is durability, sound quality, and a comfortable fit. (I have very small ears, so large IEMs are difficult for me to wear.) For all these reasons, the BLON BL-01 captured my attention. This is the first time I have tried WGZBLON’s IEMs, so I have no previous experience with their products. WGZBLON’s first IEM was the BLON BL-03. The BLON BL-03 found its way to rising stardom in the Hi-Fi community and eventually had successors, the BLON BL-05, BLON BL-05S, and the newest installment, the BLON BL-01....

Or at least, that cables make a difference? Well I do, and have taken my wallet on a magical fantasy ride of no return. Non-believers, say what you will but the best cable I’ve ever owned is the Danacable Lazuli Reference, a ludicrously expensive cable forged from pure copper. In the end, I sold them because of impending poverty, but the fleeting romance was pure magic. Ariel Pursuit Since then, I’ve been on a quest to find a similar sound on a cheaper cable....

Clear Concept Audio (CCA) has produced a range of in-ear monitors (IEMs), offering a wide range of configurations and prices. The CS16 (USD$110) is the newest release and currently the flagship of the group. Despite the confusing and similar nomenclature of CCA’s products, the CS16 is named as such logically, as they have 8 balanced armature (BA) drivers per IEM – amazing! Well, let’s see if all those BAs translate into a sound experience deserving of a flagship title....

The Sonata E44 is one of several options in TempoTec’s Sonata line of headphone DAC/amplifiers. The E44 is a more powerful version of the Sonata E35 (3.5mm TRS output), aptly named as it features a 4.4mm TRRS balanced output jack, providing extra power to the headphones/earphones. If you made it this far, you likely know what this thing is. If not, let me explain… a DAC/amp dongle is a device that generates more clean power and sound than you might get from your phone or computer directly....

Ah, the age-old question posed by the greatest scholars of our time. Is Thieaudio pronounced “thigh” or “thee” audio? Is it a tad sleazy or aristocratic? Based on the products that Thieaudio is turning out, my vote is firmly in the “thee” category. No cheap trash here. Just refined and excellent IEMs at a variety of price points. Especially with their hybrid IEM Legacy lineup. Their $119 Legacy 3 are a great affordable introduction to the hybrid sound....

It is no exaggeration to say that KBEAR (and their sister company TRI), have come leaps and bounds in the cut-throat CHI-FI IEM industry in the past few years. The Meteor is TRI’s latest foray into the near USD$100 market. Company Overview TRI Audio is the premium wing of KBEAR. They released their first pair of IEMs in 2019, the I4, and since then have been on a meteoric rise (no pun intended)....

Since time immemorial, man has thought of numerous ways to prove their superiority over another, to say “I’m better than you, nyeh nyeh” in the name of one-upmanship. When war proved too costly and people ran out of playmates too soon, they invented sports. When plane tickets became too expensive, regional sports was created. So now we have people happily trumping one another in their respective regions. Today we take the magnifying glass and zoom into my region of Southeast Asia (SEA)....

Going Wireless Shure had chosen to go with Bluetooth 4 for its wireless connection. It comes with 8 hours of battery life and almost 30 feet (10m) of wireless range. It can also be paired with two audio sources concurrently. Enhanced Sound Quality Just like the SE215 SPE version, the SE215 SPE BT1 also uses single dynamic micro drivers for an enhanced bass. The bass has been tuned up from the original SE215 and now its subtle presence can be felt across the lows, mids and highs....

As new AirPods users, it’s easy to get intimidated by their design and functionality. After all, they have a lot of unique features that can seem unfamiliar – and one of those is the button on the AirPods case, a.k.a. the setup button. The problem is, there is no label indicating what it does and, without knowing, you won’t get to enjoy the convenience this button offers. Worse, if you don’t use it right, you can end up having a confusing and unpleasant experience....

The iPhone’s Headphone Safety feature, released with iOS 14, brought out a lot of different emotions among users. For some, the feature is admirable because it aims to keep people safe. On the other hand, constant alerts and automatic volume adjustments are annoying and repressive. To make matters worse, even after deciding to turn it off, the iPhone Headphone Safety can’t be turned off easily by all users. And, Apple’s restrictions on turning off this feature don’t really help either....

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, two friends started a spunky company in a Californian garage and created a pair of headphones that changed an industry. 2011 marked the launch of Audeze’s legendary and now iconic LCD-2 planar magnetic headphones, introducing the world to an immediately recognizable design aesthetic and what it means to be a flagship headphone. Over the years, much has changed with Audeze headphones, but much has remained the same....