Category: Headphone Amps
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Digital-To-Analog Converter (DAC) Buying Guide (2023)
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessWhat to know when buying a Digital-to-Analog Converter or DAC/Amp Combo: In today’s digital audio world, you need a good digital to analog converter or DAC if you want 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)…
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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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iFi Audio’s New ZEN Air Series Offers Enchanting High-Fidelity Audio For Only $99!
Analog, Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, First Impressions, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, News, Videos, WirelessWe’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, a new line of four products that promise quality and performance close to their award-winning ZEN series but at an…
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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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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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HIFIMAN Electronics To Debut Two Brand New R2R Dac/Amplifiers At CanJam NYC 2022
If you’re heading out to CanJam NYC 2022 this weekend (Feb. 26-27), HIFIMAN Electronics will be demoing two new DAC/Amplifiers, both with the company’s low energy, high sampling HIMALAYA R2R DAC module which supports PCM (max 24Bit resolution). The new models include: HM800 (SRP: $299): A portable, fully balanced DAC/Amp that is approximately the size…
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Meze Audio To Showcase Their Enchanting Flagship Headphones At CanJam NYC 2022
DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, News, Portable Audio, Shows, VideosThis upcoming Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 26th and 27th), Meze Audio will be displaying their latest Flagship headphones, the Meze Elite and Meze Liric, at Head-Fi’s CanJam NYC 2022. CanJam is the largest multi-city audio show dedicated to Headphones in the world. If you’ve wanted to hear Meze’s latest top-of-the-line home and portable headphones, then…
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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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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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The Long-Awaited Chord Mojo 2 DAC/Headphone Amp Is Here: Release Date, Features & Price!
Today Chord Electronics unveiled the Mojo 2, a sequel to one of the first and most highly esteemed portable DAC/Amps ever made. The latest Mojo boasts a new lossless “UHD DSP” EQ that allows you to make tone adjustments without signal degradation, and according to Chord, this means you can match it to the tuning…
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Zorloo’s Zophia Hybrid Wired/Wireless Earphone Is Hot On Kickstarter!
Bluetooth, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, News, Portable Audio, Streaming, WirelessZorloo, a company mostly known for its excellent USB DACs like the Ztella and Ztella II, is back again with a new True Wireless/Wired product called the Zophia Wire.less Earphone. It launched today on Kickstarter and so far it has garnered tons of interest with its novel design. The Zophia can work as either true…
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HIFIMAN Electronics Debuts New R9 Closed-Back Dynamic Driver Headphone
Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Music, News, Portable Audio, Videos, WirelessHIFIMAN unveils new $599 R9 Closed-Back Dynamic Driver Headphone, supports both single and dual-sided cables along with their R2R Bluemini Bluetooth Dongle-available now at hifiman.com: The following press release is courtesy of HIFIMAN Electronics: HIFIMAN Electronics’ R9 Closed-Back Headphone Features Topology Diaphragm for Outstanding High Frequency Response The Company’s second Closed-Back Dynamic Driver Headphone Includes…
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FiiO Music App V3.0.9 Update For Android Devices, X Series And M Series Players Available Now!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, DACs, Downloads, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, News, Portable Audio, Software, Videos, WirelessToday FiiO released a new update for their FiiO Music App which works on most Android devices and FiiO’s Android-based music players (like the M11 Plus which we use as a reference player). The new update brings a lot of changes and enhancements including a new theme, upgraded Bluetooth control, and an additional sorting option.…
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iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon Portable DAC Amp Review: This May Be The Last Digital To Analog Converter You Need To Buy!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, News, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, WirelessIntro Back in 2018, when iFi Audio introduced the xDSD, the first model in its x-series line of portable DAC/Amps, it was groundbreaking, both in terms of design and feature set. The xDSD DAC/amp was shortly followed by the second model in the line, the xCAN, which was equally innovative with its powerful amp section…
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Linsoul Audio/HarmonicDyne Poseidon Review: These Handsome Headphones Know How To Get Down!
Intro The Linsoul Audio/HarmonicDyne Poseidon ($439.00) is third in the line of wood cup HarmonicDyne headphones, each named after a Greek god. The first one was Helios, followed by Zeus. The Zeus headphones featured drivers with a Beryllium coating, which reduced distortion and added clarity. The Poseidon picks up where Zeus left off, including the…
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Dilvpoetry DT-1 Tube Headphone AMP DAC Review: Lavish Your Headphones With Warm Tubey Goodness!
Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Deals, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Reviews, Streaming, WirelessTL;DR The Dilvpoetry DT-1 combines a decent DAC, powerful headphone amp section, and effective tube input stage in a single box for convenience plus musicality. Intro Tube-based headphone amps can offer listeners a different sound profile to solid-state models. Fans of tube amps crave their tendency towards an “organic” sound that is both warm and…
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Philips Sound Unveils New Premium True Wireless Earbuds With Dual Hybrid Drivers!
Bluetooth, Budget, First Impressions, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, News, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, Shows, Streaming, WirelessLast 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 sound providing a “warm, natural midrange and deep yet accurate bass.” They are also said to have dual hybrid drivers,…
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Product Of The Year Awards 2021: Best Analog Audio & Turntable Components, Best Audio Accessories
Analog, Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, Deals, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Home Audio, Music, News, Power Amps, Preamps, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessAs the year wraps up, this is the time when we look back at the best stuff we’ve come across in 2021, awarding them based on several criteria, including value for money, design/build, innovation, and of course superior sound quality! In this post, we present our 2021 Product Of The Year Award winners for Best Analog Audio/Turntable Components…
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