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How to Pick the Best Bang for Buck IEMs The idea that audiophiles are enthusiasts who spend thousands of dollars on audio gear is a common misunderstanding. Not everyone who enjoys music has that extra cash to burn. The good news is: Good sound and low expense are not mutually exclusive. Verily, the budget in-ear monitor (IEM) market is a vast rabbit hole to fall into. It can be tough to distinguish outstanding gems from the typical pool of cheap sidegrade spammy options....

Introduction Most audiophiles and music enthusiasts have likely heard about Roon. Sometimes ad nauseam from its many fans. The gushing declarations of appreciation usually come from apparent evangelists who have ‘seen the light’ and been converted into Roon-believers. Reservations tied to religious cults aside, what is it about Roon that seems to make for such passionate supporters? To the uninitiated, the answer isn’t clear. A major problem seems to be that no one is able to easily explain Roon to anyone that hasn’t used it....

When you have no choice but to be exposed to constant ambient noise, active noise canceling (ANC) headphones can save the day (and your hearing!). However, if you’re the type who likes to research before jumping into a trend, it’s easy to get lost in all the technical jargon when reading about ANC. Unfortunately, not knowing what ANC is all about and how it works can lead to wrong choices....

Apple occasionally releases automated firmware updates to improve the AirPods (Gen 1, 2, 3) and AirPods Pro’s functionality and user experience. However, while the process is automatic, this upgrade may sometimes not function or install correctly. This is frustrating as you may miss out on new features or be stuck dealing with old bugs or glitches. To make things worse, the AirPods online user guide has little information on how this updating process actually works....

Despite rave reviews for the sound quality of Apple’s new 16-inch MacBook Pro, there’ll always be critics of the company’s latest and greatest. The most recent pundit is musician Neil Young, who recently called the laptop’s audio performance terrible. During an interview with The Vergecast, Young talked about how the convenience of being able to record music with any device on the go comes with a few caveats, specifically degrading audio quality....

Dan Mackta, Managing Director of Qobuz’ United States (US) arm, expects that by year-end the platform has all the records that other rivals could offer. Responding to a question from a member of Reddit’s “r/audiophile” community, in which the company official did an AMA (Ask Me Anything), Mackta said: In a different thread, Mackta revealed that the French streaming firm is “actively pursuing every notable label and rights holder,” but the challenge arises from some artists’ and music producers’ reservations in releasing their original records for streaming....

Where to buy? Case Battery Key Notes 36 hours of battery juice Can recharge the earbuds 4 times Micro USB charging connector Doesn’t support wireless charging UX Key Notes The charging case can be easily open with one hand Strong magnetic hold keep the earbuds intact 5 LED light indicator (20% increment) Design of the sensor position limits the choice of ear tips Simple to use and intuitive. Manufacturers tend to be too fancy with their charging case and neglected usability....

This year has gone splendidly, hasn’t it? As we ponder about life, the cosmos, and everything, the world is careening towards more uncharted waters and pathogens. Perhaps it’s opportune to take stock and reminisce about the things we love and cherish. Family, Coffee Bean, and upgrade cables for instance. While awaiting the release of No Time to Die, allow me to show you another way to part with your hard-earned cash....

It stands to reason that shrinking down a combined DAC and amplifier should lead to unwanted compromises. Perhaps it’s the number of buttons or interfaces, the display, the quality of internal componentry, or the thermal dynamics. After all, as the size comes down, so too does the physical space for all of these things. Right? Actually, it can be done very well, and there have been many great examples here on Headphonesty to prove it....

For CHI-FI enthusiasts, the highly-acclaimed Moondrop Aria 2021 need no introduction. However, did you know that prior to the Snow Edition’s release, there were other “Moondrop Arias”? Long before the Aria 2021, there was actually an older bullet-shaped Moondrop Aria, with non-detachable cables. The original Aria are sadly no longer in production. Back in those embryonic days, Moondrop wasn’t as established as they are now and this ancestor Aria flew under the radar....

Let’s imagine something together. You are a very successful person. You want – no, you deserve – the finest things life has to offer. The sunniest days, the best experiences, the most elegant solutions. Money is no object, of course. You value the simplest and most beautiful path to nirvana. You also happen to love music. Listening to music on headphones, to be precise. So, you are going to need a digital audio source, a DAC, an amplifier, and headphones....

Ceres is the ancient Roman goddess of agriculture and fertility. She is celebrated as a symbol of bountifulness and plentifulness. The word “cereal” actually has its roots from this Roman goddess, due to her association with edible grain products and provision. Interestingly, in Roman mythology, Ceres is usually portrayed as a calm goddess who didn’t partake in petty quarrels and fights, unlike her other mercurial divine counterparts. The Shozy Ceres, as we will discuss in further detail below, do live up to their namesake in terms of sound, featuring a calm and laid-back tuning, with big warm bass....

In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) are earphones intended to fit into the ear canal for a personal music listening experience. They are easy to use, but it can be tricky to achieve a comfortable fit and proper noise isolation using them. This is primarily due to a critical component that users often overlook – the ear tips. While IEMs come with a pair of default ear tips, it’s increasingly common to find manufacturers including sets of varying/different sizes ear tips (often small, medium, and large-sized round silicone and/or foam ear tips) and styles....

How to Pick the Best Headphones for Hearing Impaired Hearing aids can be very expensive, and for many, they’re just not financially accessible. In contrast, headphones are noticeably cheaper. The great news is, some headphone models include features that are specifically designed to aid with hearing loss. That’s why headphones may not be the first thing you think of when talking about hearing assistive devices but they’re actually more commonly used than you might think....

AirPods are a versatile audio accessory. They’re easy to connect and use with just about any Bluetooth-enabled device on the market. Despite that, PC users can sometimes encounter problems when using their AirPods with Windows 10 and 11, such as not hearing sound. And what’s even more annoying is that it’s hard to figure out if it’s a Windows issue or a problem with the AirPods. Don’t worry because we have the answers you need right here....

While AirPods are designed to work with Apple devices, they work as regular Bluetooth devices when connecting to non-Apple devices like Google’s Chromebook. But though AirPods can connect to Chromebook, the process is not as straightforward. Worse, even when you know the fundamental steps, different software and hardware issues may arise that will prevent you from actually using your AirPods with your Chromebook. Not to worry! In this article, we’ll guide you through how to connect AirPods to your Chromebook, tackle connectivity issues, and highlight what to expect when connecting these seemingly incompatible devices....

As the pioneer of modern noise cancelling technology, Bose is undeniably one of the top headphone brands today. But with a great name comes great expectations. So it’s truly disappointing when your Bose headphones can’t even connect with your Mac. Sure, you can use them effortlessly with your iPhone because of the Bose Connect App. But the same cannot be said for Mac, especially since the app is only available for mobile devices....

Anyone who owns a pair of AirPods has probably experienced standing in the middle of the room or the street, scratching their heads, wondering where their AirPods are. To make things worse, AirPods aren’t exactly cheap so losing them is painful on the pocket too! To prevent having your AirPods count as a figure in that statistic, read about these clever solutions on how to find your AirPods no matter the situation....

The world-renowned French fashion brand, Louis Vuitton, has just waded into the audio market with an eye-popping expensive pair of true wireless earbuds, delivered to your door in a range of four colors; the classic white, sleek black, luxurious red or yellow and blue stripes. Eye-catching! — Louis Vuitton (@LouisVuitton) February 9, 2019 With a hefty price just shy of a thousand dollars, the fashion house’s foray into audio has everyone talking....

I should have requested the Apple lightning variant of the Audirect Atom 2. Seriously. By ordering (what I, in a fit of delusion, thought would be) the more flexible USB-c version, I’ve pretty much undone one of the most compelling reasons to buy the Atom 2. The Atom 2 is a very small and impressively attractive portable DAC/amp that elegantly plugs directly into the phone of your choice, Android or Apple....