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LZ Audio, a Chinese IEM manufacturer, have just released the latest in their “A” series of IEMs – the A7. The USD$338 A7 is a 7-driver hybrid (1 DD for bass, 4 BA’s for midrange and treble, and 2 piezoelectric for ultra-high frequencies). Before this review, I had never heard an IEM by LZ, and my thought going in was that this would probably be a familiar story – yet another IEM that sounds good, but not quite good enough to fight its way above its competition....

Ever look around at all the electronics in your home and wish you could simplify? We’re fortunate to live in a time with such amazing technology, but boy do all those gadgets add up! A more minimal approach has been a constant back-and-forth in the audio world, and while there have always been simple one-box solutions, all too often they compromise on quality to hit that goal. No wonder then that many of us end up with separates, with all the accompanying cables and clutter!...

I’ve had the RHA T20i for about four months, and have burned it with my mixed tracks of pink and white noise for about 100 hours. It’s quite good for its price, and the filter system is just the icing on the cake. Packaging and Content The unboxing was a one-of-a-kind experience … I never thought that a company could showcase its in-ear monitors (IEMs) like this! It makes for a very good first impression....

Where to Buy Case Battery The charging case can give the earbuds one full charge and a little more which is roughly around 7hrs of playback time. It has one USB-C port and supports wireless charging. When I reach home, I can just place my Galaxy buds on the Qi charging pad without fussing over cables. UX The box has a low profile so it is easy to grab in your palm....

We went ahead and bought it together with the SoundMagic E80C and 1More Triple Driver. Since it arrived the last, we had the two above mentioned IEMs to compare with. The Tenore is a popular IEM lauded by audiophiles due to the deadly combo of affordability and excellent sound quality. You might have read this over-the-top review from The Verge and is wondering whether is that really true or just pure hyperbole....

Spotify has become synonymous with music streaming on the go, but what the streaming giant wants to conquer next is podcast distribution. With Spotify’s latest acquisition, the company may be closer than never to reaching that goal. After weeks of development, Spotify finally announced that it has bought The Ringer, a media outlet known best for its podcast network and multi-faceted website. The exact terms and amount paid haven’t been disclosed yet, but we may learn these once the deal is finalized in the next couple of months....

How to Choose the Best Headphones for ASMR Out of all the trends we’ve been throwing ourselves into lately, ASMR is perhaps one of the most interesting. The term stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. The term sounds complex and that’s because the science behind the concept itself is not that simple. There are a lot of things we still don’t know about our brain’s responses and the ASMR phenomenon is another one on that list....

While loud music can be exciting, you should know that the growing rates of hearing loss are attributed to loud noise and unsafe listening practices; a.k.a. headphone volume abuse. As Carreen P. Henson, a Clinical Audiologist working in a hearing aid center, mentioned on the trend of hearing loss during the Covid-19 pandemic: If you’re fond of listening to loud volumes, worry not! This guide will walk you through how to tell if your headphones are too loud and everything you need to know to prevent hearing loss....

Adaptive Noise Cancellation There are 3 different noise cancellation modes (or environment filters as Bower and Wilkins calls it) that can be toggled on PX. They are Office, City and Flight modes. Each mode allows an appropriate amount of noise specific to each environment to be filtered. This will keep the listener safe and aware of his/her surroundings. Office Mode Able to reduce background chatter and office noises but still allow you to hear the nearby discussion....

If you wear headphones daily, you might have noticed the headband-shaped dent on your hair after taking them off. This may just be an aesthetic concern for you, but what happens when you notice a slight skin indentation on the area where your headband was? It can be alarming to see dents on your head because of headband use. And the anxiety gets worse when, after a while, the dent is still there!...

Schiit is known for producing high-quality DACs and amplifiers, ranging from the gaming-focused Fulla to the higher-end Ragnarok that retails for $1,499. However, the California-based company may be in a pickle with some users reporting overheating to the point of smoke coming out of certain models. The latest incident happened to Reddit user /u/noserotonin who noticed a “strong chemical smell” coming out of his Schiit Modi 3 DAC while on his desk....

Drop, formerly known as Massdrop, is ready to launch the “world’s highest fidelity wireless headphones.” While that’s all well and good, the company is making a move that’s confusing potential buyers. The Drop x THX Panda headphones have all the makings of a great pair of cans. First of all, they come with a high-bandwidth Bluetooth audio codec, THX’s own AAA amplifier, and phase-correct planar-ribbon drivers. Drop claims that this combination is a first of its kind for wireless headphones, making them all the more special....

For people who love watersports, working out, or any outdoor adventures, knowing the headphones’ IP ratings can be a lifesaver. With this, you’ll know your headphones’ limits and choose ones that can keep up with your activities. However, an IP rating is basically a four-character code that you need to decipher. Without the right knowledge, you can be confused and buy headphones that won’t survive your lifestyle. Understanding IP ratings is key to listening to headphones no matter where you are....

Even the latest and greatest smartphone of Apple isn’t immune to glitches this far into its lifespan. Users of the iPhone 11 and a few older models have been reporting issues relating to the audio connectivity with CarPlay, and it’s been going on for a few months now. The problems arise specifically when connecting wirelessly to the car’s audio system. Multiple users have reported that their music skips or the connection drops completely....

When it comes to reading sheet music, there are hundreds of symbols that you need to learn before you can even think of playing off of it. All the different symbols used for various musical instruments also make it even more challenging. That’s why we have committed a few days of our time to put together all the musical symbols you need to learn in one place. In this article, you’ll learn musical symbols ranging from lines, clefs, rhythmic symbols, key signatures, and everything in between....

The Tea headphone DAC/amp is Khadas’ new ultraslim headphone amplifier for smartphones, still on pre-sale at the time of this publication. It is designed for users to be able to listen to high-definition music and lossless streaming audio directly from an iPhone or Android smartphone. First Impressions Opening the box and feeling the Tea in real life is a “wow” experience, as this is a clear innovation in form factor and attachment (magnetic!...

The Tone2 Pro headphone Amp/DAC is Khadas’ second-generation Tone Board. It incorporates a variety of user feedback from their first-gen product, the Tone1, neatly packaged in an aircraft-grade aluminum enclosure – a first for Khadas. First Impressions Opening the box and uncovering the little and light Tone2 Pro, it feels remarkably solid and pleasingly substantial for something so small. There are no loose parts inside or outside, even when (probably inadvisably) shaking the device....

Monoprice, as a company, has been around since 2002. Over the past 15 years, they have built a good reputation for themselves, particularly in terms of their customer service and product support. Initially known for their quality and low-priced HDMI cables, they now offer a wide range of consumer electronics including speakers, keyboards, and professional audio products. While the direction of Monoprice and the ownership has changed since its inception, their online store lays claim to over 6,000 electronic devices and accessories – that’s no small feat by any stretch of the imagination....

One of the most difficult conceptual parts of reviewing headphones, especially for a novice reviewer like myself, is the idea that one is making a final judgment on a product that has spent months in development, under the guidance of skilled engineers with years of training that I, frankly, don’t have. But despite the engineering skill that it takes to pull off a product like the Shozy Form 1.1, there are still very intentional choices being made in its tuning....

As a basketball fan, it’s perfectly normal to want to use the same things as your favorite NBA players. This is especially true for brands and products that both of you can enjoy. But, the hunt for the pair of headphones your favorite NBA stars are using can be difficult. After all, there are simply a lot of products to choose from! Plus, who can spend so much time tracking NBA players’ movement to know which headphones they actually use?...