Author: Paul Cash
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iFi ZEN One Signature Review: A Captivating Digital To Analog Converter On The Cheap!
TL;DR The ZEN One Signature’s natural sound and remarkable array of features make it a great option for adding digital on the cheap. Intro Back in January, iFi announced the availability of their latest ZEN component (not to be confused with the lower-priced ZEN Air Line), the $349 ZEN One Signature. The One Signature is…
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Play All The Best Music Streaming Services On This Stellar Budget Audiophile System!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, News, Reviews, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessHere at HI-FI Trends, we believe that high-end audio doesn’t necessarily mean high-priced audio. We say high-end audio is a function of design not price. Today, you can find a lot of capable budget components that are designed to satisfy audiophile sensibilities. Also with the current global economies of scale you can get more for…
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The Best Wireless Earbuds (2022): Affordable And Noise Cancelling Options!
Bluetooth, Budget, Headphones, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, News, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, Reviews, Videos, WirelessIf you’re looking for a great set of True Wireless Earbuds that have audiophile-approved sound, then look no further; here you go! We’ve picked a bunch of products at many different price points and a wide variety of feature sets. So there’s something here for everyone! We have over 20 years of experience evaluating and…
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HIFIMAN Deva Pro Review: These Wireless Planar Magnetic Headphones Are Wondrous!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Portable Audio, Streaming, Uncategorized, Videos, WirelessTL;DR If you’re looking for wireless audiophile headphones for less than $500, you won’t do better than these. Intro Back in 2020, when Hifiman released the $299 DEVA, a set of planar headphones with a BT dongle, I must admit I found them to be an inelegant wireless headphone option. I’ve never been a fan…
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Start Listening Right Away With This Super Affordable “Just-Add-Speakers” Hi-Fi System!
Best Buys, Budget, DACs, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessSetup is quick and easy with this Best Streaming Amplifier/Best Bookshelf Speaker combo! Have you ever heard of the K.I.S.S. principle? K.I.S.S. started as a U.S. Navy acronym for “Keep It Simple Stupid,” meant to convey that most systems work best when you design them simply. When it comes to Hi-Fi, there are some advantages…
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7HZ Eternal Dynamic Driver IEM Review: Ace Of Bass
TD;LR If you believe that neutral=boring, then the 7Hz Eternal may be right up your alley… Intro 7HZ took the portable hi-fi world by storm with their Timeless Planar Magnetic IEM, as it was one of the first affordable large-format Planar IEMs to hit the market. Many reviewers loved them for their detail and balance.…
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Best Budget Amplifiers For Audiophiles (2022)
Analog, Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Downloads, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, Wireless5 of the Best Stereo Amplifiers Under $2000! If you’re looking to build an affordable high-end Hi-Fi system, then you should be looking at a quality 2-channel amplifier to be the heart of it all. If you want to get the most for your money, we recommend picking up a good Integrated Amplifier, which is a…
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OneOdio Monitor 80 Open Back Headphones Review: These $99 Budget Audiophile Headphones Are Worth A Listen!
At this point, I’ve reviewed three headphones from Oneodio, a Hong Kong-based company known for its inexpensive studio-style headphones. At this point, I haven’t been overly impressed by any of them, as their sound and build quality always just bordered on acceptable. The last Oneodio headphone I looked at, the Monitor 60, represented a definite…
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Spin CDs and Stream To Your Heart’s Content With This Brilliant Affordable Audiophile Setup!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessWhile streaming is probably the audiophile’s primary music source nowadays, I know many like to spin CDs as well. (I personally like to head out to the local Goodwill on the weekend, find some 99-cent gems in the used CD section, then play them at home on my system.) To truly enjoy a well-recorded CD,…
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KZ X Crinacle CRN (ZEX Pro) Review: These $36 Earphones Set A New Standard For Budget IEMs
Best Buys, Budget, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, Uncategorized, Videos(Ed. Note 3/5/22): There seems to be some question as to the functionality of the Electrostat and BA drivers in these and some other KZ IEMs. A user on one of the audio forums did a teardown of a single CRN unit and provided some evidence that points to only the Dynamic Driver being in…
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Best USB DAC Amp Combos For Audiophiles On A Budget (2022)
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessGive your Budget Audiophile Setup a boost without spending a ton of cash! In today’s digital audio world, you need a good digital to analog converter or DAC to get the best out of your hi-fi setup. The DAC takes the digital audio signal produced by your source (most likely a laptop or smartphone) and…
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These $48 Samsung/AKG True Wireless Earbuds With Noise Cancellation Are The Best Presidents Day Sale You’ll See This Weekend!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, Deals, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, News, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, Streaming, Videos, WirelessIf you’re looking for a sweet deal on a pair of wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, then look no further. The Harman Audio website has the excellent Samsung-backed AKG N400NC TWS true wireless earbuds on sale for the fantastic price of $47.99, which is 68% off the $149.95 list price. This limited-time offer is…
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#NewMusicFriday February 18th: What’s New In Music This Week-10 Sensational Projects You Need To Hear!
Check Out This Week’s Best Sounding New Music Releases! Every #NewMusicFriday, we pick a bunch of the best-sounding new albums so you can get your audiophile music fix!… As usual, it’s a very eclectic mix (Albums are arranged with more traditional audiophile genres like Jazz and Blues at the top, and the non-traditional audiophile stuff towards…
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Austrian Audio Hi-X65 Headphones Review: Are These The Best Portable Open-Back Headphones?
Best Buys, Budget, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Reviews, VideosTD;LR The Austrian Audio Hi-X65 should please anyone looking for well-built open-back portable headphones with a neutral sound signature. Intro In 2016, pro audio mainstay AKG moved their headquarters to California, shuttering their Vienna facilities. Subsequently, a group of former AKG engineers in Austria formed Austrian Audio. They developed their line of pro audio gear…
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Best Audiophile Music Streamers Under $1000! (2023)
While CDs and Vinyl still hold a special place in many an audiophile’s heart (including ours), wi-fi music streaming devices have become commonplace on the racks of hi-fi enthusiasts. That’s because they offer flexibility and a range of music discovery not possible in the olden days. With a good streamer, combined with a music service…
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HIFIMAN Edition XS Review: Now This Changes Things! (Incl. Ananda And Sundara Comps.)
Best Buys, Budget, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Reviews, VideosI’ve been around long enough to remember when getting a Planar Magnetic headphone under $1000 was unheard of. Now, Hifiman has more models than you can count, especially if you include the Drop variants. I’m a big fan of several of them, including the $350 Sundara, which I considered to be the best planar headphone…
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Best Powered Bookshelf Speakers Under $1000! (2022)
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Software, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessBuying a pair of Powered Bookshelf Speakers is a quick and easy way to start an affordable hi-fi system. With these speakers, a good portion of the work has been done for you, as the amplification is provided and matched to the speakers, plus in some cases, matched sources are provided as well. All you…
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Philips Fidelio T1 True Wireless Earbuds Review: Luxury Build, Audiophile Chops, Acceptable Noise Cancelling
Bluetooth, Downloads, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Music, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, Reviews, Software, Videos, WirelessThe True Wireless Earbud market is a highly competitive one. It takes a unique product to cut through the armada of earphones constantly launched at consumers, and Philips, with their new $299 Fidelio T1 High-Quality True Wireless Headphones, promises just that. With the T1, they have pulled out all the stops from a features standpoint,…
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Best Budget Hi-Fi Speakers (2022)
Best Buys, Budget, Hi-Fi, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, Power Amps, Reviews, Speakers, Streaming, VideosWhen you build a hi-fi system, the speakers are probably the most important and the most difficult component to select. At the end of the day, it’s the speakers that allow the rest of the system to shine, and they also have the biggest impact on the overall character of the system. If you’re working…
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METERS OV-1-B-Connect Noise-Canceling Wireless Headphones Review: Eye-Catching Looks, Middling Sound & Comfort
Bluetooth, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Music, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, Reviews, WirelessTL;DR The OV-1-B-CONNECT’s fabulous looks and detailed sound are somewhat let down by so-so comfort and heavy-handed tuning. Intro For most audiophiles, wireless headphones usually compromise sonic fidelity for convenience. However, with the $269 Meters OV-1-B-CONNECT, Ashdown Engineering promises new ANC wireless headphones that are stylish with their functional VU meters and provide world-class audio…
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