Category: Reviews
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KZ ZS-10 Pro In-Ear Monitor Review-The Best KZ IEM…For Now
(Hey KZ Fans: Check out our review of the new KZ ZSX Terminator! It’s probably the best KZ IEM out right now!) It seems like I just can’t resist trying out new KZ earphones. I know I just wrote about the recently released ZSN Pro, but as usual, they are coming out with new models at light speed,…
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One Of The Best Audiophile Headphones Now Selling For A Crazy Low Price!
The Focal (Pronounced Foe-kal) Elear came out in 2016, as part of the French High-End audio company’s bid to grab market share in the audiophile headphone segment. They were made in France with technology inspired by Focal’s flagship headphone, the $4000 Utopia, but at the time, they sold for $1000. They were seen as a…
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HELM Audio True Wireless Earbuds Review-Wireless Headphones With Good Fit and Sound
Since Apple released its conspicuous wireless earbuds at the end of 2016, the true wireless earbud market has exploded. Tons of companies are releasing their own versions. Even Ray-J, of reality TV’s Love & Hip Hop, has a couple of pairs he sells via his Raycon website, rayconglobal.com. The segment is very competitive. HELM Audio,…
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Triangle Elara LN01A Active Bookshelf Speaker Review-Bluetooth Speakers Fit For An Audiophile
Triangle is a French manufacturer of high-end speakers and the Elara is their entry-level series of speakers. The range is made up of both passive and active variants, and what I’m looking at today is one of the active models, specifically the $649 LN01A bookshelf speaker. They also make an active floorstanding model, the LN05A. As…
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KZ ZSN VS. ZSN PRO IEM REVIEW: WHICH IS THE BEST KZ IEM?
(Hey KZ Fans: Check out our review of the new KZ ZSX Terminator! It’s probably the best KZ IEM out right now!) When the KZ ZSN IEM came out, many reviewers including myself, immediately put it at the top of Knowledge Zenith earphone lineup. It improved upon the KZ formula in many ways, starting with…
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iFi xDSD Bluetooth DAC/Headphone Amp Review-Must Have Companion For Audiophile Headphones
Best Buys, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Portable Audio, Reviews, WirelessSo not too long ago, I reviewed the iFi xCAN Bluetooth headphone amp, and today I’m reviewing its sister unit, the iFi xDSD combination Portable Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amplifier. As I said in that review, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two by just looking at them, but basically, the xCAN is…
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NAD D 3045 Hybrid Digital DAC Integrated Amplifier In The House!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, DACs, First Impressions, Headphone Amps, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, MQA, Power Amps, Reviews, Streaming, WirelessNAD D3045 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier ($699) – I call it a little wonder box…Integrated Power Amp, High-Current Headphone Amp, USB DAC w/ MQA and DSD, not to mention an APT-X HD Bluetooth Reciever. There’s not much this relatively small box can’t do. I can’t wait to put it through its paces! Stay tuned for the review……
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#NewMusicFriday feat. Joshua Redman & Lion Babe
Every Friday, I pick a bunch of the best sounding new albums so you can get your hi-fi fix…here are my picks for this week, including a cool new project from Jazz Master Joshua Redman and a new recording from one of my fav indie R&B groups Lion Babe…(Click on the album covers for the…
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5 Best Sounding Earbuds/Earphones Under $30
Man the game has really changed over the last year or so. Not so long ago, you couldn’t find many earphones under $30 that sounded decent. Now there are tons of them out there, filling the need for some inexpensive everyday carry earphones/earbuds that sound good for your daily commute. Or maybe you’re just rough…
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PSB Speakers Alpha P5 Bookshelf Speakers In The House! (+ Unboxing Pics)
As an audiophile, there’s nothing I love more than bookshelf speakers. It never ceases to amaze me how speaker designers can stuff amazing musical performances in such relatively tiny little boxes. One tiny little speaker that bowls me over is the PSB Speakers Imagine Mini. I first heard them hooked up to a Rega Brio Integrated Amp, and…
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TRIANGLE ELARA LN01A Active Bookshelf Speaker In The House!
Powered, or Active Speakers are becoming a big thing in the 2-Channel audio world. For those who are turned off by the prospect of matching an amp to a set of speakers, or even hooking up stereo equipment, active speakers are a simple way to get into audio with a minimum amount of fuss. There…
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Brainwavz B400 Quad Balanced Armature Earphones Review
Amazing soundstage and imaging put you in your own private concert. My first experience with Brainwavz was a few years back when I read a glowing review about their Delta earbuds, a product considered by some to be the best sounding earphones under $50. The Delta, with its combination of well thought out features and…
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10 Building Blocks for Your Budget/Affordable 2-Channel Audiophile System! (2019)
Best Buys, Bluetooth, DACs, Deals, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Speakers, Streaming, Wireless(Check out our new post on this topic: How To Build A Mind-Blowing Affordable Hifi System In 5 Steps!) While I spend a lot of time covering headphones, earphones, and headphone DAC/Amps, 2-channel audio systems are my first love. While headphones can create a wonderful listening experience, they can’t re-create the sound of a well-matched…
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SIMGOT EM1 IEM Review
A refined taste of high-end sound SIMGOT has distinguished itself amongst headphone manufacturers by making beautiful products with refined sound and attention to detail. Their flagship EN700 IEM in all its variants epitomizes this with a solid aluminum build and striking grill design. It has garnered them much praise, and today I am excited to…
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iFi xCAN Portable Headphone Amp Review
Powerful Portable Audiophile Amp with Excellent Wireless Sound Judging from my research and general discussion about the xCAN, it seems like people are really confused about what it actually is. I guess part of the confusion is the existence of the xDSD, a portable headphone amp/DAC that is more along the lines of what people…
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Q Acoustics 3020i Bookshelf Speaker Review
Great building block for your Budget Hi-Fi/Audiophile System! The Q Acoustics 3020i is the new “improved” sequel to the very well regarded 3020 budget bookshelf speaker. The original was known for its natural, warm, presentation which won a lot of fans in the press. However, the budget bookshelf market is cutthroat, and one can’t afford…
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HiBy R3 Digital Audio Player Review
Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, MQA, Music, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, WirelessGreat sound, Build Quality and Tons of Useful Features Makes This Player An Excellent Value. When the HiBy R3 campaign landed on Kickstarter early last year, it was leaps and bounds ahead of any audiophile music player in terms of features at the $200 price point. While they may have overshot the mark a bit,…
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Deivvox High Performance In-Ear Earphones Review
Great sounding budget earphones for your everyday carry. If you search for “in-ear headphones” on Amazon, the number of models that pop up are mind boggling. Many of those earphones are from companies that are definitely not household names, hence the reason why customer reviews, accurate or not, hold so much weight when selecting a…
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Cambridge Audio CXA60 Integrated Amplifier Review
DACs, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Software, Speakers, StreamingClass-leading sound in the sub-$1000 price range. I purchased a Cambridge Audio Azur 540a V2 integrated in the early 2000s because I was impressed with its robust design. The thick metal faceplate and big toroidal transformer told me this amp meant business, It also didn’t hurt that it cost less than $500 at the time.…
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Koss KPH30i Review: Lush Audiophile Sound for Only 30 Bucks!
Like many young and broke budding audiophiles, my interactions with Koss headphones back in the early 2000s was my first opportunity to hear what decent headphones sounded like. At that time, the KSC75 ear clip phones were considered to be the gateway drug of the headphone hobby, and after plugging them into my portable CD…
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