Category: Reviews
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SMSL DO200 Review: This $489 MQA DAC Will Help You Build A Killer DAC Amp Stack!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessTL;DR This attractive and full-featured MQA DAC gives you a truly musical and immersive performance. You will have to spend several hundred more to get significantly more definition and layering. Intro At one point in time, desktop DAC and headphone amp separates were only available to those with deep pockets. But over the last couple…
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Holiday Gift Guide For Music Lovers & Audiophiles 2021: 10 Ideas For Last Minute Christmas Gifts (And They’re On Sale!)
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Deals, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, News, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessHey folks, Christmas is fast approaching. If you want your gifts to arrive by Dec. 25th (11 days away!!), especially with free shipping, then you need to order them right about now. In this installment of the Holiday Gift Guide For Music Lovers And Audiophiles, we have a list of some of our favorite gear…
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iFi Audio GO blu Review: This Elegant $200 Bluetooth Headphone Amplifier Is Powerful & Compact!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Music, Portable Audio, Reviews, VideosIntro Ifi Audio is known for making remarkable yet affordable DAC/Headphone Amps, but today we’re looking at their first Portable Bluetooth DAC/Amp, the $199 iFi GO blu. Unlike many portable Bluetooth DACs, the GO blu has separate Amp, DAC, and Bluetooth circuits which enable it to provide double the output power of competitors. iFi also…
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OneOdio Monitor 60 Review: Are These The Best Budget Audiophile Headphones?
Intro The $79 OneOdio Monitor 60 is the third Studio/DJ headphone I’ve reviewed from this relatively new Hong Kong company, and it’s also by far the most ambitious design I’ve seen from them. The first two I looked at were satisfactory for the price, but ultimately just ok in terms of build and sound quality.…
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Holiday Gift Guide For Music Lovers And Audiophiles 2021: 5 Best Christmas Gifts Under $250
Analog, Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Deals, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, MQA, Music, News, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Shows, Software, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessHey Folks, Christmas is fast approaching, so here’s another installment of the Holiday Gift Guide For Music Lovers And Audiophiles to help you pick the perfect gift for the Hi-Fi enthusiast in your life! This time around we’ve picked out five exceptional gifts between $150 and $250 that will make an Audiophile very happy, including…
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Bluesound NODE Gen 3 Review: This Wireless WiFi Music Streamer (Still) Does It All!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Reviews, Software, Streaming, Videos, WirelessTL;DR While there may be some streamers out there that are a little more transparent, none at its price point offers the impressive blend of features and quality sound provided by the latest Bluesound NODE. Intro For many years, the Bluesound NODE has arguably been the best value in mid to entry-level music streamers. It…
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Cambridge Audio EVO 150 Review: THIS Is The Best Streaming Integrated Amplifier Under $5000!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, MQA, Music, Noise Cancelling, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Software, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessTL;DR The Cambridge Audio EVO 150 Integrated Amp is a vibrant musical performer that is easy to use, can play music any way you want, with just about any speaker you want. Intro Streaming integrated amplifiers with built-in networking facilities are all the rage right now, with the newest models bringing a level of sophistication…
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PAMU Z1 True Wireless Earbuds Review: These Affordable Earphones Have Alluring Sound And Brilliant Noise Cancelling!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, Deals, Headphones, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, Reviews, Software, Videos, WirelessTL;DR If you can get with the youth-oriented design, then the PAMU Z1 has a lot going for it, like a comfortable fit, decent ANC, and nice sound quality for the price. Feature and soundwise it matches up well with some of the best TWS buds at the price point, like the EarFun Free Pro…
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Cheap Amazon Black Friday Deals: The Best Hi-Fi And Audio Under $100! Speakers, Headphones & Earbuds
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, Deals, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, News, Portable Audio, Reviews, Speakers, WirelessWhile Black Friday technically doesn’t arrive until the 26th, Black Friday sales are in full swing! This list has some of the most affordable deals (under $100) on Amazon, perfect for stocking stuffers, or for those on a budget! Keep scrolling for the deep discounts! If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of Black Friday…
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Sendy Audio Peacock Review: This Ain’t No Ordinary Planar Magnetic Headphone!
TL;DR While the Sendy Audio Peacock’s build quality and comfort are top-notch, its tuning and overall resolution are just a step behind the competition. Nevertheless, some may find its natural, easygoing sound and wide soundstage appealing. Intro Earlier this year, I reviewed a couple of headphones from SIVGA, a China-based company known for its affordable…
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EarFun Air Pro 2 Review: These True Wireless Earbuds Aren’t Perfect, But There’s Still A Lot To Love!
Bluetooth, Budget, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessTL;DR The EarFun Air Pro 2 offers several improvements over the original, like better ANC and wireless charging, but unfortunately, it also has minor fit issues along with some harshness in the mids. Intro Ever since I was introduced to EarFun via a company representative back in 2020, I’ve been very impressed by their offerings.…
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This $89 Early Black Friday Deal From Cambridge Audio Will Make The Music Lovers On Your Gift List Very Happy!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, Deals, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Music, News, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessHey Folks, if you’re looking for a excellent gift for the music lover in your life (or yourself for that matter), then you should check out this Early Black Friday deal from Cambridge Audio! Starting Today, their sensational Melomania Touch True Wireless Earbuds are on sale for $89.95, down from their regular price of $119.95.…
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Audeze Penrose X Planar Magnetic Headset Review: This Is The Best Sounding Wireless Gaming Headset for Xbox and PC!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Downloads, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Reviews, Software, Streaming, Uncategorized, Videos, WirelessTL;DR The Penrose X is an excellent gaming headset for Xbox and PC with top-notch separation, detail, and spatiality. It also does a decent job with music once you get it dialed in with EQ. The tight clamp and firm earpads may take some getting used to. Intro If you visit an online audio group…
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iFi Audio hip-dac2 Portable USB DAC/Headphone Amp Combo Review: The Sequel Adds Tremendous Refinement!
Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Portable Audio, Reviews, Videos, WirelessTL;DR With improvements in its detail and separation, the iFi hip dac2 is a worthy upgrade to the original. Intro Back in January of 2020, iFi dropped a new battery-powered portable amp that was slimmer and lighter than anything they had released to date. It was called the hip-dac, named as such because the design…
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KLH Albany II 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers Review: Captivating Clarity And Stunning Soundstage!
TL;DR Overall, the handsome and compact KLH Albany II is capable of an extremely musical performance. But like many speakers its size, the rhythmic drive and engagement are sometimes constrained by the lack of deep bass. You’ll probably need a sub. Intro Budget Bookshelf Speakers seem to get better year after year, giving you more…
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GoldPlanar GL2000 (Double Magnetic Circuit) Review: These Stunning Planars Are An Engaging Listen!
TL;DR The $ 639 GoldPlanar GL2000 Planar Magnetic Headphone (Double Magnetic Circuit) isn’t the most refined headphone at its price point, but it’s good-looking, super comfortable, and quite exhilarating to listen to. It’s no wonder why many feel it’s the best headphone they’ve ever heard. Intro There’s not a lot of full-sized Audiophile headphones between…
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S.M.S.L AO200 Digital Amplifier Review: This Scaled-Down Integrated Amp Has Jaw-Dropping Power!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Deals, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, News, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessTL;DR As long as you measure your expectations, the eminently affordable S.M.S.L AO200 is an enjoyable Class-D amplifier that gives you just enough detail and imaging to bring life to your music. Pick up a pair of decent bookshelf speakers, and you will have an enchanting system for a small apartment or bedroom. Overview If…
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Q Acoustics’ Awe-Inspiring New Concept Loudspeakers Promise A Live Performance In Your Living Room!
Today, Q Acoustics’ launched the latest edition of their remarkable Concept speakers, incorporating technology from their flagship Concept 300 (our review here) and Concept 500 speakers. Through the use of knowledge gained through the design of those state of the art models, Q Acoustics’ promises speakers with ultra-quiet enclosures that provide “focused stereo imaging, accurate audio…
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#NewMusicFriday October 1st: New Music Releases You Need To Hear Feat. Brandi Carlile, Henry Threadgill, And Trust Fund Babies
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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THX’s Mind-Blowing Onyx DAC Amp Combo Now Comes With 3 Free Months Of Hi-Res Streaming From Qobuz!
DACs, Deals, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, MQA, Music, News, Portable Audio, Power Amps, Reviews, VideosStarting today, THX and Qobuz have teamed up to bundle THX’s excellent Onyx DAC Amp with 3 free months of Qobuz Studio Premier. In order to get Free Qobuz, you need to purchase an Onyx via the link on the THX site, after which the redemption info will be forwarded to you. We loved Onyx…
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