The Fostex TH900 remains one of my favourite headphones despite its detractors who want vocals like the singer has a meter wide mouth and suggestions that its sonic signature is coloured and therefore not deserving of any suggestion that it is a reference level headphone.   I later realized I was mistaken when I thought that Fostex did not make headphones in their own names. There is the T50RP which is cherished for its planar magnetic drivers. What happened is that it is one of the most modded headphones around. In fact, I understand that there...

I have always enjoyed Denon headphones. They were one of the first I came across when I started listening to full-sized cans. They were lovely and had a very pleasing sonic signature. Then, one day, we all heard that the current beloved Denon series would be discontinued and replaced. That was the first time I heard that Denon did not produce their own headphones but that they were done for them by Fostex.   Then news slowly emerged that Fostex was producing a much better version of the previous top of the line Denon D7000. When photos first came...

My personal journey into the realm of music reproduction in the IEM realm owes very much to the guidance of Takai-san, who was the inspiration and driving force behind Final Audio Design, through his offerings by way of his creations. The fuller narrative of how I came upon the house of Final Audio Design, with its distinctive and uncompromising house sound, is well documented in my other reviews of its other TOTL offerings. It never fails to raise eyebrows but I am proud owner of the FI-BA-SS, the Heaven S, the Heaven VI, the Pianoforte VIII, IX and...

The narrative of how I came upon Final Audio Design is found in my reviews of Sonorous X and the Piano Forte X. Suffice to say that I do enjoy the unique music presentation proposed by Takai-san, the man who was behind Final Audio Design. I am proud owner of the FI-BA-SS, the Heaven S, the Heaven VI, the Pianoforte VIII, IX and X, the 1601SB (predecessor to the Pianoforte series), Lab 1 and AKR02 (special edition FI-BA-SS in collaboration with AK). I also have the Hope VI and the Sonorous X.   I remember when I first started with the Heaven S, the...

My Journey of Discovery with Final Audio Design   At the recent CanJam in Singapore, when we were passing the Final Audio booth, Claire of Jaben Singapore took me over to JoJo-san and proudly proclaimed: this is your biggest fan in Singapore! Claire had kindly done the same thing during the first Mook Festival in Singapore, where I had met Takai-san and he had kindly shared on his philosophy of the portrayal of music. Through the kind assistance of Jojo-san of course since Takai-san and I had one thing in common: neither of us could speak the...

The Road to the ACS Encore   You do not often hear about ACS, an English company that makes hearing protection as well as in ear monitors. However, they are one of the few companies that make IEMs using silicone. A few years ago, when I wanted to venture into custom IEMs, being concerned about the discomfit and possible fit issues of acrylic customs, I had consulted Claire of Jaben Singapore in respect of my fears. She had assured me that a then little known Japanese company which  Wilson and her were then actively promoting outside of Japan...

I am a relative novice in the world of Stax. However, after almost a year of bliss, I have decided that I have heard enough to offer some impressions of some of the Stax cans I own. I have done a review of the Stax SR L700 as well as the top notch but fussy SR-009. I thought I would finish up my series of reviews by setting down my experience of the previous Stax flagship, the well-loved but slightly divisive SR-007. Whenever and wherever there is a discussion on the Stax SR-007, there will be a divide between proponents of the much cherished MK1...

As I have pointed out before in my review of the Stax SR L700, electrostatics and Stax are the latest port of call in my journey of discovery in the world of audio bliss. I recall it was April or May 2015 when Spkrs01 opened the door to the intriguing world of Stax. Prior to this, Stax was only something that I heard about occasionally, but always referred to in hushed tones of deference, especially when the subject was the venerable Stax SR-009. Everyone swore blind that it is the best headphone in current production, bar none. Pity about the lack...

I am a relative newcomer to Stax and electrostatics. I would say that my journey began in or about April 2015 when Gavin, aka Spkrs01, was kind enough to introduce me to this wonderful part of the music world. Spkrs01 was absolutely wonderful in that he was unfailingly patient and kind with my endless stream of questions. Anakchan has also patiently offered reliable and honest views.   I started off with the SR-009 and SR-007 Mk1. Thereafter I picked up a pair of SR-007 Mk2 late last year to complete the line-up of Stax Omegas. Aside from my Stax...

One of the most divisive models in the Fitear range of IEMs is the MH335DW. The MH335DW is a bit of an enigma. There are those who swear that it is too bass heavy with its double woofers. There are others who shrug their shoulders and go “What bass?”   As stated on the Fitear website, like the MH334, the MH335DW is voiced by one of Japan's top mastering engineers, Mitsuharu Harada. In fact, both the MH334 and the MH335DW were designed to be mastering studio reference monitors. It may surprise some but both were voiced for a more natural but...

I have admired what Dr Fang Bian has tried to do in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate sound signature for his products. I have followed his achievements from my first Hifiman can, the HE 500 with its mellow and liquid mids, the dark one in the family. I had since moved on to the HE-6 (of which I have two, the later one I picked up because I heard that it was to be discontinued), the HE-5LE and the HE 560. I also have  a soft spot for his DAPs: I have the HM603, the classic that is HM801, the peerless HM901, the organic HM802 and the...

Every now and then, comes a headphone which defies conventional wisdom and challenges the way we look at headphones. The JPS Abyss AB-1266 is one such headphone. Whether it is by its distinctive looks, its industrial strength construction and its sonic signature, it is something which will figure strongly in our collective consciousness for a while to come.   I am blessed to own one such specimen. It sits nicely in the top tier, if not at the apex, of my little collection of headphones comprising most of the Grados, the LCD 2 & 3, HD700 & 800...

In the Singapore audiophile community, my adulation of Final Audio Design is quite well known. Well, it is borne out by my little collection of FAD IEMs: I have the FI-BA-SS, the Heaven S, the Heaven VI, the Pianoforte VIII, IX and X, the 1601SB (predecessor to the PF), Lab 1 and AKR02 (special edition FI-BA-SS in collaboration with AK). I also have the Hope VI. I think I would qualify as a Final Audio Design fan and believer in the late Takai-san's vision of the portrayal of music.   I still remember the fateful day in Jaben Singapore, when Andy...

I don’t get asked very often about the Private 333 amongst the Fitear customs I own. Nor do you hear people raving about it as you might in respect of the C435, the MH 334 and the MH335DW.   That is quite a pity because the 333 has its own charms. In fact, in a sense the 333 is probably one of the clearest yet intimate of the Fitear range of customs.   My pair of 333s have been with me for just over a year now. In fact, I quickly made these after I was so pleased with my first pair of Fitears, the C435s.   Technical details   The Private...

The Beyer T1 will always hold a special place for me. This is because this was my first flagship headphone. I had thought long and hard over choosing the HD 800, LCD 2/3 and the T1. Many thanks to Wilson and Claire for their ceaseless patience and unstinting hospitality as I went back and forth between the various candidates over a month or two.    I finally settled for the T1 as my first pair for two simple reasons: the liquid mids and the fact that Jaben in Singapore had "balanced-ready" T1s whereby the T1s came modded with mini XLR connectors...

I have owned the AKG K702 for a few years now. Of course, it is one of the most difficult to drive full sized cans around. If not properly driven, it sounds rather bright and is bass light. Feed it enough power, the sound you get out of it is rich and there some serious bass there. The K702 was under appreciated by the general public but a jealously guarded little secret of audiophiles who knew its true nature. It was also many years since AKG first came out with the K702 as its flagship headphone.    We all despaired if AKG would ever rise to such...

As stated elsewhere, for the longest time I have been more familiar with Tralucent Audio as the makers of the Uber cable as well as its silver/gold cable. both of which I have terminated for Fitear customs. I have owned the 1plus2 for for more than a month now. My 1Plus2 comes with the silver/gold cable. As with its younger sibling, the 1Plus2 needs at least 200 hours to hit the sweet spot. One thing which all owners of the 1Plus2 never fail to talk about is the sheer soundstage of this IEM. This soundstage is apparent even from the outset. The other...

Prior to owning the Ref 1, Tralucent Audio was primarily known to me for it Uber cable as well as its silver/gold cable. I own both cables terminated for Fitear customs.   I have had the Ref 1 for more than a month now. I opted for the Ref 1 to come with the Uber cable. The Ref 1 does in fact get better beyond 200 hours of use. There is no doubt that even before it is burnt in, the Ref 1's bass will wow the first time listener. However, with burn in, the timbre settles down and the quality of the bass shines through. And the Ref 1 is wonderfully...

One of the most underrated models in the Fitear range of IEMs is the MH334. As stated on the Fitear website, the MH334 is voiced by one of Japan's top mastering engineers, Mitsuharu Harada,   In fact, the MH334 was designed to be a mastering studio reference monitor. So, this would be the natural choice for someone looking for a more natural but nonetheless clear sound. In fact, I find that it is an excellent complement for my C435, which I had previously reviewed here.      I have had the MH334 for more than a month now. This time around...

As nicely explained by Victor in his review of the same CIEM, this is the previous flagship model from FitEar. In fact, unless you are married to the emphasised bass of the MH335DW, this would still be top of the line for anyone looking for a balanced sound.    I have had the C435 since August this year. I ordered on 7th August and delivery was on last week of August. It took just over 2 weeks. I was impressed!   Technical details   The C435 is a 4 way crossover configuration, 5 drivers (2 highs, 2 mids 1 low woofer) Custom In-Ear Monitor.  ...