The VELVET IEM by Earsonics
EarSonics is one company that needs no introduction and has been a major player in the audiophile world since the launching of the SM3 which many had adored and kept as part of their growing collection. The SM6...
The HE400i and HE560 Planars by Hifiman
People keep asking me what my favorite headphone is, or what one I would keep if I had only one and for the last 3 years I have said to them it is the Hifiman HE6. The HE6 and I have been through a lot of growi...
The Reference R1 by Flare Audio
Ever ask yourselves what a headphone would sound like if you combined an Electrostatic, Planar and a Dynamic headphone and furled it into a ball? Well, this R1 could be that headphone. The Flare Audio R1 uses...
The W50 IEM from Westone
Westone has been revamping a lot of their universal IEM lineup of late. Well in actual fact pretty much all of it from the UM10 upwards since last year. I had a chance to review the UM Pro 10 and Alpha series a...
8.3Our Score
The HM-901 DAP from Hifiman
Hifiman can claim to have been one of the original proponents of the new wave DAP market when back around 2007 they launched the HM series with the excellent if somewhat 'boutique' HM-801 and then in 2011 came ...
Ibasso DX100 – The last word in DAPs?
This is not your typical reference portable player review. To be honest, my idea of portable personal audio at this point is a smartphone with decent audio and an in-ear-monitor; lugging around two devices stra...
Score
ALO Audio – The Pan Am
Launching a product is starting to become almost Applesque with ALO Audio these days. Gone are the nerdy amp numbered branding of yesteryear and in comes iconic images of American history combined with a smooth...
Sennheiser HD700 – It’s a tough market
Back when Sennheiser released the HD800 there was a real commotion that this could possibly be the best headphone ever made (dynamic that is) and despite its flaws and polarizing nature in the headphone communi...
ALO Audio RX MK3 Balanced Headphone Amplifier – Portable Perfection?
Fresh off the Continental and National Amp review along comes another highly anticipated ALO Audio amp in the shape of the RX3 which, naturally enough given the numbering, is the next step in the evolution of t...
Hifiman HE400 – A planar headphone for the masses?
A new Hifiman planer headphone is quite common these days so the impact of a new arrival is perhaps a tad more muted than say the heady hurrah of the unboxing of the HE6. So with the release of the HE400 planer...
Hifiman HE5 – Where It All Began
Hifiman is now fast becoming one of the recognized leaders in high end orthodynamic headphones and its current stable just got a shot in the arm with the announcement that the HE300 and HE500 got their prices r...
AKG K3003 – Is this the best universal IEM in the world?
When one uses the term 'best' it a pretty strong statement and in the world of snake oil producing audiophilia is a more common term than most so normally I treat the word 'best' with a degree of caution when p...
Stax Lambda Pro + Srm-1/mk-2 Review
Why Stax? I always felt these were at the pinnacle of the headphone chain. head-fi and poisonous impressions from acquaintances here at headphiles have all added to that longing for a personal electrostatic ...