Category: Portable Audio
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Stereo Integrated Amplifier Buyers Guide (2023)
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When building an affordable hi-fi system, we usually recommend putting a quality integrated stereo amp at its heart. They typically provide the best mix of power and fidelity for the money. The Integrated Amplifier, a combination of pre-amp and amplifier, will play traffic cop for your sources (Streamer, CD Player, Turntable, etc.), boost the signal…
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Cambridge Audio Grabs Two Red Dot Design Awards 2022 For The Evo Integrated Amp And Melomania 1+ TWS Earbuds
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in Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, MQA, News, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, VideosToday, Cambridge Audio announced the receipt of two Red Dot Awards for Product Design 2022, picking up one each for their Evo all-in-one system (Evo 75 and Evo 150) and Melomania 1+ true wireless headphones. The Red Dot Design Award is a huge worldwide design competition that evaluates the best design concepts in a particular…
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Hidizs S3 PRO Ultra-Portable Hi-Res DAC/Amp Combo Review: The Best MQA Dac Under $100!
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in Best Buys, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, MQA, Portable Audio, Reviews, VideosTL;DR The Hidizs S3 PRO doesn’t have the most power, but what it lacks in power, it makes up in features and refinement. If you like MQA, this is the dongle to buy for less than 100 bucks. Intro Since Apple initiated the move away from smartphone headphone jacks, dongle DAC development has exploded. These…
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The Best Budget Audiophile Headphones (2022)
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Not too long ago, people laughed at the idea of Budget Audiophile Headphones. To be fair, up until the last few years, headphones retailing for less than $500 were mediocre at best. But now, there are quite a few entry-level hi-fi headphones and critical listening headphones at this price point. If you really want to…
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TINHIFI T3 Plus In-Ear Monitor Review: Great Price, But Are They Worth It?
TL;DR The TINHIFI T3 Plus may be a little edgy in the upper mids, but they’re comfortable, and they sound amazing with certain genres. Intro A couple of years ago, I reviewed the T3 IEMs from TINHIFI, and we liked them for the most part. They had a significant hump in the upper mids, which…
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Moondrop Releases Their First Portable DAC/AMP, The $189 Moonriver 2
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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 native DSD256 decoding) and fully balanced four-channel amp circuitry. This compact device also has dual Headphone ports (3.5mm SE+4.4mm Bal),…
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Digital-To-Analog Converter (DAC) Buying Guide (2023)
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in 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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The Best Wireless Earbuds (2022): Affordable And Noise Cancelling Options!
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If 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!
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TL;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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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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Campfire Audio Opens Up Exclusive Discount Hub At CampfireAudio.Market
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Are you looking for a discount on new or hard-to-get legacy Campfire Audio earphones? Then you should check out the new CampfireAudio.Market. This unique online store carries a wide selection of A-Stock, B-Stock, and certified pre-owned units across Campfire’s line. After checking out the site today, the prices look very reasonable, and they’re also offering…
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KZ X Crinacle CRN (ZEX Pro) Review: These $36 Earphones Set A New Standard For Budget IEMs
(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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Meze Audio To Showcase Their Enchanting Flagship Headphones At CanJam NYC 2022
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in 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)
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in 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!
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If 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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Ye (Kanye West) Says Donda 2 Album Only Available On Stem Player, A $200 Squishy DAP With No Screen
So it looks like Ye’s (Kanye West) new album Donda 2 will be released on schedule (2-22-22) unlike the first one, but there is a slight catch. According to Ye’s Instagram, the new album will only be available on his self-released digital audio player, the Stem Player. By the way, it’s only available from Ye’s…
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Austrian Audio Hi-X65 Headphones Review: Are These The Best Portable Open-Back Headphones?
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TD;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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HIFIMAN Edition XS Review: Now This Changes Things! (Incl. Ananda And Sundara Comps.)
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I’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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Philips Fidelio T1 True Wireless Earbuds Review: Luxury Build, Audiophile Chops, Acceptable Noise Cancelling
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The 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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METERS OV-1-B-Connect Noise-Canceling Wireless Headphones Review: Eye-Catching Looks, Middling Sound & Comfort
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TL;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…