Author: Paul Cash
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PaMu Quiet Mini Noise-Cancelling True Wireless Earbuds Review: A Quality, Affordable, AirPods Pro Alternative!
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The Low Down: Clearly modeled after Apple’s AirPods Pro earphones, Padmate’s $99 PaMu Quiet Mini (currently on sale for $79) has a comparably comfortable fit and many of the same features for roughly 1/3 of the price. We’re talking Bluetooth 5.2, Auto-Sensing Playback, Individual use of each earbud, and wireless charging, plus ANC that’s almost…
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#NewMusicFriday July 2nd: 10 New Music Releases You Need To Hear!
Check Out This Week’s Best Sounding New Music Releases! Every #NewMusicFriday, I 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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Andover Audio SpinSub Review: The BEST Powered Subwoofer For Your Spinbase!
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The Low Down Andover Audio’s $299 SpinSub is a brilliant addition to their equally brilliant Spin System, comprised of their SpinBase Turntable Speaker System, SpinDeck Turntable, and SpinStand Record Stand. In my review, I’ve already sung the praises of that stylish and compact Spin System, but the Dual 6.5-inch woofer SpinSub takes it to the…
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EarMen Eagle Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amp Review: This Dac Amp Combo Gives You Champagne Sound For Beer Money!
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The Low Down For folks who want to improve the sound coming from their smartphones (and laptops) while on the go, a high-quality compact USB DAC can be a godsend. A good one will give you clean, noise-free output along with additional detail and depth, all without weighing you down. To that end, the $129…
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Lightning DACs and Camera Adapters: How To Get The Best Sound From Apple Music Lossless
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Last week Apple rolled out thousands of Lossless Audio and Hi-Res Lossless audio tracks on their Apple Music platform, bringing with them the promise of Audiophile-Quality playback. Here’s how Apple explains it: Apple has developed its own lossless audio compression technology called Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC). In addition to AAC, the entire Apple Music…
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FIIL T1XS True Wireless Earbuds Review: Bargain Buds With Tons Of Flagship Features!
The Low-Down The $49 FIIL T1X “S” version sports a slimline charging case, USB-C fast-charging capability, quality dual-mic noise cancellation (for phone calls), plus slick app control for customization of just about every function. They’re sweat-resistant, comfortable to wear, and the intuitive touch controls are responsive. You get low-latency modes for games or videos without…
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IFi Audio Zen DAC V2 Review: A Remarkable Dac Amp Combo Gets Even Better!
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in Best Buys, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessWhen I reviewed iFi Audio’s original Zen DAC back in 2019, I couldn’t believe the massive value provided by the $130 desktop DAC Headphone Amp combo. It was compatible with all digital audio formats, including high-resolution formats like MQA and Native DSD, plus it had decent power, especially via the balanced output. Most importantly, it…
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#NewMusicFriday May 28th: New Music Releases You Need To Hear!
Check Out This Week’s Best Sounding New Music Releases! Every #NewMusicFriday, I 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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Cambridge Audio EVO 150 First Look Review: This All-In-One Integrated Amplifier and Music Streamer Is A Knockout!
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Cambridge Audio has manufactured class-leading streamers and integrated amps for some time now, so it was only a matter of time before they put both in one box. That time is now. I just got my hands on one of their latest creations, the $3000 Cambridge Audio Evo 150 Integrated Amplifier with Wi-Fi Streaming, Bluetooth,…
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Shanling Audio UA2 Portable USB DAC AMP Review: This $85 Dac Amp Combo Has Jaw-Dropping Power and Sound!
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Summary Shanling Audio has done some good stuff when it comes to DAC/Headphone Amp combos, both portable and desktop. Their BA1 Bluetooth Desktop DAC Amp scored high marks when we reviewed it earlier this year, providing a nice balanced sound for both headphones and hi-fi. They also have the $45 UA1 portable DAC/Amp, a budget…
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5 Sensational Audio Accessories To Upgrade Your Hi-Fi System!
Sometimes it’s the little things that really count. When it comes to upgrading your system, I know it’s sexier to talk about new speakers or a new streamer. But, if you don’t have quality speaker stands or good isolation for your turntable, then you may not be hearing your current components at their best. Check…
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The Best Speaker, Headphone, And Electronics Sales We’ve Found This Week: Definitive Technology, KLH, Klipsch, Meze Audio
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Check Out Our List for the Best Buys in Audio & Hi-Fi! Looking for the best values in Audio and Hi-Fi? Then look no further. We’ve rounded up the best audio and hi-fi from around the internet! There are great buys on excellent speakers, amps, and turntables, along with some amazing specials on headphones! Don’t…
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Periodic Audio Rhodium DAC Amp Review: Best Budget Dac Amp Combo?
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Summary Yes, the Dongle DAC/Amp market is super crowded right now, but that hasn’t stopped Periodic Audio from dropping their own branded dongle DAC at a reasonable price of $49. It’s called the Periodic Audio Rhodium DAC, and it has 32bit/384kHz high-res PCM decoding, along with 30 mW of power to boost their earphones. Periodic…
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PS Audio Stellar Strata Integrated Amplifier Review: An Astounding Powerhouse!
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Summary The PS Audio Stellar Strata Integrated Amplifier ($2999) is the “all-in-one” incarnation of their value-priced Stellar line, long known as an affordable entry point to high-end hi-fi separates. It’s their first one-box solution that leverages their well-received DAC, Preamp, and Hybrid Class A/Class D amp technology (with sweet-sounding MOSFET input stage), then layers a…
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SIVGA Phoenix Headphone Review: One Of The Best Budget (Under $500) Audiophile Headphones!
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Summary The $255 SIVGA Phoenix is an affordable open-back, over-ear dynamic driver headphone with a beautiful design and crisp, rich sound. The polished zebra wood cups, protein leather, chrome accents, and black lacquer metal frame combine for a luxurious-looking package. They’re lightweight and comfortable so that you can wear them for long listening sessions, but…
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Best Buys: The Best Portable USB DAC Amps Under $500!
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in Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Deals, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, News, Reviews, Software, Streaming, Uncategorized, VideosDAC’s or Digital to Analog converters have become an easy and inexpensive way to improve the sound coming from your laptop or smartphone. The easiest to use and most affordable is the portable DAC, which usually incorporates a headphone amp, hence the name DAC Amp. They also obtain the digital audio signal via a USB…
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Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M Review: This Affordable Dac Amp Is Breathtaking!
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in Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Preamps, Reviews, Software, Speakers, Streaming, Uncategorized, Videos, WirelessSummary Cambridge Audio’s DacMagic DACs have long provided solid functionality and impressive performance for the money. Their latest DacMagic product, the DacMagic 200M, is their most admirable effort yet. The 200M supports the highest bit rates ever decoded in a DacMagic DAC (32-bit/768kHz), handles DSD and MQA, plus has built-in aptX Bluetooth (previous models needed…
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Best Buys: The Best Planar Magnetic Headphones Under $500! (2021)
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Planar Magnetic headphones (read how they work here) are hot right now. That’s because compared to headphones with traditional dynamic drivers, headphones with planar magnetic transducers often sound crisper, more controlled, and have better extension for the trailing edges of sounds. It’s those trailing edges that give instruments and other sounds realism, so it’s no…
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OneOdio Pro-50 Studio Review: Affordable Headphones With Massive Bass And Hi-Res Audio!
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There’s something fun about discovering a good-sounding pair of cheap headphones. It’s really satisfying to pick up a pair of $30 headphones and get much of the musical satisfaction you get from a $300 pair of cans. That’s probably why the Koss KPH30iK are so popular. For $29.99, you get a nice engaging headphone with…
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World Premiere! THX Onyx Review: Their First DAC/Headphone Amp Combo Is Marvelous!
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in Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Portable Audio, Reviews, SoftwareOverview The portable DAC/Amp market is a crowded one. I’ve reviewed a bunch of them, and I have a couple on deck waiting for evaluation. To make noise in this product category, you have to come up with something special. Enter THX and their new THX Onyx, a $199 DAC/Amp that happens to be their…