First Impressions Archives

NAD C700 Streaming Integrated Amplifier In The House: First Impression Review

On September 26, 2022September 27, 2022 By paul-cash

I marvel at the quality of today’s “just add speakers” streaming integrated amplifiers. The best have beautiful high-resolution screens that wow you with alluring album art and copious metadata displayed in large, crisply rendered fonts.

Categories : DACs First Impressions Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music Home Audio MQA Music Software Streaming Videos WirelessTags : audiophile Hi-Res music streamer wifi music streamer with dac music streaming music streaming devicesLeave a comment

Ifi Audio’s Stunning New NEO Stream Brings Tons Of Crisp Digital Tunes To Your System!

On September 22, 2022September 26, 2022 By hft-staff

A little while back, we reviewed iFi Audio’s ZEN Stream, a simple yet powerful streaming transport that let audiophiles bring a pristine digital music signal into their systems without a lot of fuss. While we

Categories : Analog Best Buys Bluetooth Budget First Impressions Headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music Home Audio News Portable Audio Software Speakers Streaming The Best Videos WirelessTags : audiophile best bookshelf speakers best over ear headphones best powered bookshelf speakers Hi-FiLeave a comment

The Hottest Budget Audiophile Gear Right Now: New Stuff From Elac, Meze Audio, Buchardt Audio, And More!

On September 15, 2022September 16, 2022 By paul-cash

Now that we’re moving into the fourth quarter of the year, and simultaneously sliding into the holiday season, the new product announcements are coming in hot and heavy! Today, we have a list detailing some

Categories : Best Buys Bluetooth Budget DACs First Impressions Headphone Amps Headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music Home Audio Integrated Amps MQA Music News Noise Cancelling Portable Audio Power Amps Preamps Reviews Speakers Streaming The Best Videos WirelessTags : audiophile budget audiophile budget audiophile systems Hi-Fi Home AudioLeave a comment

The Best Budget Audiophile Gear Of 2022 (Fall Edition): Speakers, Headphones, Etc.

On August 23, 2022August 23, 2022 By hft-staff

If you’re putting together an audio system on a budget, it’s an excellent time to be alive. Affordable hi-fi gear has never sounded better, so getting more system for your money is easy if you

Categories : Budget DACs First Impressions Headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music Home Audio MQA News Portable Audio SoftwareTags : audiophile audiophile best digital music player digital mp3 player digital music digital music player Hi-FiLeave a comment

HiBy Goes Back To The Future With New R2R Digital Audio Player

On August 5, 2022August 5, 2022 By hft-staff

With Delta-Sigma DAC chipsets becoming so ubiquitous in our globalized markets, R2R-based DACs are coming back in a big way. Once considered an outdated technology, many audio manufacturers are selling them as a contrast (in

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Pangea Debuts Beautiful Hardwood Version Of Their Popular Vulcan Audio Rack

On August 2, 2022August 2, 2022 By hft-staff

Today, Pangea Audio announced the arrival of the Vulcan Parawood Four-Shelf Rack, a new version of their highly sought-after Vulcan audio rack. The new design features shelves of sustainable tropical hardwood with a clear semi-gloss

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Pre-Orders For The Z REVIEWS x LETSHUOER Z12 X HiFiGo Planar IEM Begin Today

On July 22, 2022July 22, 2022 By hft-staff

This year, LETSHUOER made a massive splash in the IEM market with the S12 Planar Magnetic Driver IEMs (review coming soon), which provide remarkably balanced and detailed performance for a very affordable price. Now in

Categories : Analog Best Buys Bluetooth Budget DACs First Impressions Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music Home Audio Integrated Amps MQA News Reviews Speakers Videos WirelessTags : audiophile hifi audio streaming amplifier streaming ampsLeave a comment

Audiolab Omnia Integrated Amp In The House: First Impressions And Unboxing Pics!

On June 27, 2022June 29, 2022 By paul-cash

It seems like every high-end hi-fi company has an all-in-one amplifier at this point. That said, there aren’t too many with a built-in CD player. As a matter of fact, I can only think of

Categories : Analog Best Buys Bluetooth Budget DACs First Impressions Headphone Amps Headphones Hi-Fi Home Audio Integrated Amps MQA News Noise Cancelling Portable Audio Speakers Streaming Videos WirelessTags : audiophile Hi-Fi hifi audio hifi systemsLeave a comment

The Best Budget Audiophile Gear Of 2022 (So Far): Speakers, Headphones, Etc.

On June 13, 2022June 17, 2022 By paul-cash

If you’re putting together an audio system on a budget, it’s an excellent time to be alive. Affordable hi-fi gear has never been better made or better sounding, so you get more system for your

Categories : Bluetooth Budget DACs Deals First Impressions Headphone Amps Headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music Home Audio MQA News ShowsTags : audiophile best budget dac amp combo best dac amp combo best headphone dac amp combo dac amp dac amp combo headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res hifi audio hifi systems Home Audio music StreamingLeave a comment

Ifi Audio’s New GO Bar Ultraportable DAC Features Detachable Cables, Balanced Output, And Full MQA Decoding

On May 19, 2022May 24, 2022 By hft-staff

This weekend, at the High End Audio Show in Munich, Ifi Audio is unveiling its latest DAC/Amp combo, the ultraportable Go Bar. This new compact DAC/Amp will provide much of the functionality of its larger

Categories : Budget First Impressions Hi-Fi Home Audio News Speakers VideosTags : audiophile best bookshelf speakers best home bookshelf speakers Hi-Fi Hi-Res hifi audio hifi systems Home Audio speaker reviews standmount speakersLeave a comment

Watch: Klipsch’s Next-Gen Reference Premiere Speakers Are Here!

On May 16, 2022May 16, 2022 By hft-staff

Unless you’ve been under a rock, you know the Klipsch RP-600M Reference Premiere Bookshelf Speakers (our review here) is one of the most successful affordable speakers ever made. That said, as audiophiles, we also know

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AXPONA 2022: Coolest Stuff From Day One At The Biggest Hi-Fi Show!

On April 24, 2022April 25, 2022 By paul-cash

One of the best things about going to an audio show like AXPONA is coming across extraordinary or unconventional stuff. A big part of designing hi-fi is coming up with new ways of doing things,

Categories : Budget DACs First Impressions Headphone Amps Headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music News Portable AudioTags : headfi headphone amp dac headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res hifi systems Home Audio music usb dac headphone amplifierLeave a comment

Moondrop Releases Their First Portable DAC/AMP, The $189 Moonriver 2

On March 25, 2022March 25, 2022 By hft-staff

Today, Moondrop unveiled their first portable USB DAC/Amp combo, the Moondrop Moonriver 2. On paper, it looks well-equipped, with top-notch audio components like dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 premium DAC chips (supports high-resolution 32-Bit/384kHz PCM and

Categories : Analog Best Buys Bluetooth Budget DACs First Impressions Headphone Amps Headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music Home Audio MQA Music News Videos WirelessTags : bluetooth dac dac amp combo headphone amp dac headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res hifi audio Home Audio musicLeave a comment

iFi Audio’s New ZEN Air Series Offers Enchanting High-Fidelity Audio For Only $99!

On March 4, 2022March 8, 2022 By hft-staff

We’ve been fans of iFi Audio’s products for a long time now. They always offer an excellent mix of innovation, value, and, most important, sound quality. Given this, iFi is introducing the ZEN Air Series,

Categories : Best Buys Bluetooth Budget DACs First Impressions Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music Home Audio MQA Music News Streaming Uncategorized Videos WirelessTags : audiophile Bluetooth digital audio streamer digital to analog decoder Hi-Fi Hi-Res hifi audio hifi systems Home Audio MQA StreamingLeave a comment

The $349 ZEN One Signature Is A Noteworthy Pure Digital To Analog Converter With MQA and LDAC Bluetooth!

On January 14, 2022January 18, 2022 By hft-staff

Today, iFi Audio announced the availability of the $349 ZEN One Signature…this new pure Digital to Analog Converter takes the DAC stage from our recent Product of the Year ZEN DAC V2, adds S/PDIF inputs

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Cambridge Audio Announces Two Slick New Turntables At CES, Alva TT V2 & Alva ST

On January 5, 2022January 11, 2022 By hft-staff

Further news coming out of CES 2022 in Vegas…Today, British Hi-Fi manufacturer Cambridge Audio unveiled the brand new Alva TT V2 ($1999) & Alva ST ($999) turntables, which are expected to hit retailers in the

Categories : Bluetooth Budget First Impressions Headphone Amps Headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music News Noise Cancelling Portable Audio Shows Streaming WirelessTags : audiophile headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res hifi audio music true wireless earphonesLeave a comment

Philips Sound Unveils New Premium True Wireless Earbuds With Dual Hybrid Drivers!

On January 5, 2022January 5, 2022 By hft-staff

Last night, at CES in Vegas, Philips Sound gave the first demo of their soon-to-be-released T1 True Wireless Earbuds. Marketed under their Fidelio premium audio brand, the T1 is said to have the brand’s signature

Categories : Bluetooth First Impressions Headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res Music News Noise Cancelling Portable Audio Reviews Streaming Uncategorized Videos WirelessTags : audiophile headphones Hi-Fi Hi-Res hifi audio Home Audio StreamingLeave a comment

Technics’ New EAH-A800 Noise Cancelling Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Boast High-Resolution Audio With 50 Hours Of Playback!

On January 4, 2022January 5, 2022 By hft-staff

Today, Technics unveiled the $349 EAH-A800 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones, a new premium set of Bluetooth earphones that promise industry-leading battery life (up to 50 hours), class-leading active noise canceling, and LDAC Hi-Res wireless audio.

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Audiolab’s New Omnia Is A Stunning $2300 Class AB Integrated Amp With Built-In CD Player, Play-Fi Streaming, and USB Input!

On November 23, 2021November 26, 2021 By hft-staff

Today, Audiolab released the $2299 Omnia, a classy-looking Roon Tested streaming amplifier with a built-in CD player, Play-Fi streamer, MM phono stage, and asynchronous USB input. The amp stage is Class AB (50w per ch.

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Meze Audio Launches The Enchanting LIRIC, Their First Portable Closed-Back Planar Magnetic Headphone!

On November 15, 2021November 22, 2021 By hft-staff

Today, Meze Audio released the $2000 LIRIC, their first portable planar magnetic headphone! This new model is a closed-back beauty with a matte black magnesium frame trimmed with leather. Inside the cups are Rinaro’s Isodynamic

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NAD Reveals The C700, A New $1499 “Just Add Speakers” BluOS Streaming Integrated Amplifier

On September 30, 2021October 1, 2021 By hft-staff

Today, NAD launched the $1499 NAD C700 BluOS Streaming Integrated Amplifier, a new affordable counterpart to the well-reviewed Masters Series M10 BluOS Music Streaming Amplifier….has 80W per channel, Full-Color Display, HDMI, 2 Way apt-X Bluetooth,

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Shanling Audio Previews The EA5, Their New $940 All-In-One Integrated Amplifier/Headphone Amp

On September 23, 2021September 23, 2021 By hft-staff

Today Shanling Audio previewed their new Class D All-In-One Integrated Amplifier, the EA5: Designed as a multifunctional music centre for your desktop Hi-Fi system, working perfectly all alone or in combination with your other devices.

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Eye-Opening! PSB Speakers Flagship Synchrony Series Launches In North America

On September 1, 2021September 8, 2021 By hft-staff

Today, PSB Speakers, long known for manufacturing fine speakers of excellent value, announced the imminent arrival of their new flagship speaker line: “PSB Speakers, long renowned for excellence in loudspeaker design, announced their new flagship

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Shanling Audio Teases New M9 Flagship Digital Audio Player

On August 10, 2021August 10, 2021 By hft-staff

Today (via Twitter) Shanling Audio teased a new flagship Digital Audio Player coming this fall: Introducing Shanling M9 With M9, we will be taking a big step forward in the Android platform. Moving to newer

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Audeze’s New CRBN Electrostatic Headphone Has Unconventional Tech And Enchanting Looks!

On August 2, 2021August 6, 2021 By hft-staff

Today, Audeze, a company best known for reference-quality Planar Magnetic headphones, launched CRBN, a new electrostatic headphone with a novel carbon nano-tube technology in the drivers. This tech is based around a web of carbon