Category: Reviews
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Rocky Mountain Audio Fest Report Part 3: Affordable Hi Fi Roundup, Including A Sneak Peek At The New Elac Debut Reference!
Budget, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, MQA, Music, News, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Shows, Speakers, Streaming, WirelessHifitrends.com is all about low-cost, high-performance audio gear, so it was great to see so much affordable hi-fi at the show! First of all, RMAF 2019 had three rooms dedicated to “entry-level” gear, and while that designation irks me (maybe I’ll write a post on that someday), I love the idea behind it. Rooms were divided…
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SVS Prime Towers In The House! First Impressions And Unboxing Pics
I just did a review on the DALI Oberon 5 Floorstanders, and pretty much that whole review I ranted and raved about how compact they were for a tower speaker. Well, this week I’m checking out a speaker on the opposite end of the tower speaker spectrum, the $1000 a pair SVS Prime Tower. The…
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Album Of The Week: Sara Gazarek-“Thirsty Ghost”
This week’s Album Of The Week is a Jazz Vocal gem from an artist named Sara Gazarek. I’ve been following this LA-based Jazz vocalist since 2005 when she released a beautiful album entitled Yours. On that project, she introduced the world to her clear as a bell vocal and bewitching production, and I’ve been a…
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DALI OBERON 5 Floorstanding Speaker Review: It’s A Small Wonder!
Sometimes only a good floor-standing speaker will do. As much as I love mini-monitors, their sound doesn’t have the scale and weight of a good floorstander. The only problem is not everyone has the room or the inclination to place a hulking set of tower speakers in their space. Enter the Dali Oberon 5. It’s…
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Simgot’s Flagship EK3 Three Balanced Armature IEM In The House-First Impressions And Unboxing Pics!
The first time I saw pics of SIMGOT’s new flagship IEM, the $360 EK3, I was in love. The shiny transparent resin shell, the honeycomb imprinting, the splendid gold/silver braided cable, I was hooked. The only thing left to wonder was, “Does it sound as good as it looks?” Well, fortunately, thanks to SIMGOT, I…
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Tripowin TP10 5 Balanced Armatures In-Ear Earphone Review: Fun And Cheap In Ear Monitors
Tripowin may be a new name in the IEM game, but the design and technology behind its products probably not so much. If you are a fan of KZ IEMs, you will recognize the packaging, inserts, and accessories of the Tripowin earphones bear more than just a passing resemblance to KZ products. Hence most people…
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HELM True Wireless 5.0 Headphones Review: A Sequel Worth The Wait
Back in April, I reviewed the original HELM Audio True Wireless Headphones, a pair of TWS earphones that had both good looks and notable sound, but seemed a little behind the curve when it came to features. They didn’t have things like auto-pairing, apt-X, and Bluetooth 5.0, stuff I like to see on a TWS…
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Ikko OH1 In-Ear Monitor Review-A Whole Lotta Fun!
I’ll be honest. I know very little about ikko as a company, but I have seen their $139 OH1 Hybrid IEM kicking around the internet on a few different sites. They have always looked interesting to me, especially their multi-faceted “Meteor” aluminum earphone housings. That’s why when Xtenik Audio offered to send them out to…
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Deal: Monoprice Monolith M1060C Closed Back Planar Magnetic Over-Ear Headphones-$60 Off!
Planar Magnetic headphones are known for their Natural, Open sound, but most people don’t know the pleasure of planars because they usually cost more than a headphone with more common dynamic drivers. However, Monoprice is currently running a sale on their beautiful full-size Wood Planar Magnetic Over-Ear Headphones (which get great reviews, BTW) so now…
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NAD VISO HP70 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone In The House-First Impressions And Unboxing Pics!
Bluetooth, First Impressions, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, Uncategorized, WirelessNAD is known more for excellent budget amps than headphones, but the few models they have put out so far get high marks amongst audiophiles. Their cans are known best for a spacious open sound along with deep bass, and I’m assuming this will carry over to their VISO HP70 Wireless, which is their first…
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Audiolab 6000A Integrated Amplifier Review: Class-Leading Sound And Construction
Bluetooth, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Streaming, WirelessAs I said in my first impressions/unboxing post, Audiolab shook things up 35 years ago with their 8000A Integrated Amp, a product still revered today for its bulletproof build quality and high-end sound. The $950 6000A Integrated Amplifier I’m looking at today is the cornerstone of the UK company’s new and more affordable 6000 series,…
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Periodic Audio C (Carbon) IEM and Ni (Nickel) Headphone Amp In The House!-First Impressions And Unboxing Pics
First Impressions, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Music, News, Portable Audio, ReviewsJust got a pair of Periodic Audio’s new Flagship in-ear headphones, the $399 C (Carbon) IEM in the house, and I can’t wait to give these a real good listen. Periodic Audio basically only makes IEMs, (they do have the Nickel amp, which I also have) and their mission is to make the best sounding one…
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TINHIFI T3 Dynamic Hybrid Driver In-Ear Earphones Review: Stunning Realism
For the past year or so, Tin HIFI has won the heart of many a headphone enthusiast with their dual-dynamic earphones like the T2 and T2 Pro. Many people have raved about the natural, engaging sound and reasonable prices of these IEMs, but some also complained about the thinness of the cable and a lack…
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Dekoni Audio Blue Planar Magnetic Headphones In The House! First Impressions And Unboxing Pics
Budget, First Impressions, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Portable Audio, ReviewsI’ve been trying to get my hands on these headphones for a while now. I’ve heard them at shows and was impressed by the sound, but it’s a whole different animal to break-in a pair at home. There is no shortage of Fostex T50 mods out there, and the Dekoni Blue is the first I’ve…
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Emotiva TA-100 Integrated Amplifier Review: A Pleasure To Use
Budget, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, UncategorizedEmotiva is a cool U.S. company based in Tennessee, which engineers the heck out of their audio products and then sells them directly to the consumer (they only sell on their website or Amazon) for meager prices. This commendable business model has allowed them to create their high-value, high-performance Bas-X line, which I’ve been admiring for…
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Deal: Get $200 Off One Of The Best Closed Back Headphones For Audiophiles!
Best Buys, Deals, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Music, News, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, ReviewsFor a limited time, you can grab a pair of Focal’s amazing Elegia for $699, which is $200 off the regular price of $899. The Elegia was released in November of 2018 and is one of the best closed-back headphones on the market! It delivers incredibly detailed and open sound (rare for a closed-back model)…
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10 Father’s Day Gifts For The Audiophile Dad
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, News, Noise Cancelling, Portable Audio, Power Amps, Reviews, Software, Speakers, Streaming, WirelessIs your Dad a music lover? Is he still listening to his tunes on a beat up old hifi stereo system or headphones purchased before you were born? Well, Fathers’ Day is the perfect time to help him upgrade his rig! Below is a list of affordable audiophile speakers, headphones, amps, and DACs that will make…
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Status BT Structure Review: An Audiophile Alternative To Beats Workout Headphones
Bluetooth, Budget, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, WirelessWith the True Wireless Earphone craze in full swing, it takes a lot to get me excited about a pair of semi-wired Bluetooth fitness earphones. But I’ll be darned if this new product from Status Audio hasn’t done it. When I heard they had a dual-driver hybrid model with apt-X, I was all in to…
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SVS Prime Wireless System Review: These Powered Speakers Give You The Total Hi Fi Package For Only $599
SVS has built up a crazy following around their massive active subs and passive Prime Series speakers. Their products are designed to offer the enhanced dynamics and excitement needed to build a quality home theater, but at the same time offer enough refinement for audiophile level music presentation. The cool thing is they do all…
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PS Audio Sprout100 Integrated Amplifier Review: Simple And Elegant Hi Fi
Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Streaming, WirelessPS Audio is known as much for its personable co-founder and CEO Paul McGowan as it is for its relatively value priced high-end audio separates. But a few years ago, Paul’s son Scott decided they needed to create a compact integrated amplifier that fit the needs of younger and most likely space deprived audiophiles. He…
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