When it comes to HiFiMan products, I am what you might call a die-hard fan. I purchased my first decent earphone, a Yuin PK3, from the company back when it was primarily a Hi-Fi distributor under the name Head-Direct, in 2007 or 2008. About a year later, I bought one of HiFiMan’s own developments, the RE0 in-ear earphone, and fell in love. The RE0 was nothing short of a revelation, providing clean, well-balanced sound that contemporary competition couldn't touch. Over the years Dr. Fang Bian & co expanded the lineup to much more than just earphones...

The PX100s were the second decent portable headphone I bought after the KSC75s, a silky-smooth contrast to the shiny, aggressive sound of the Koss clip-ons. This particular review was written when I was very new to the world of Head-Fi but in general I stand by it. Build Quality: Designed to be portable, the PX100s fold beautifully into a tiny package and fit into the included plastic carrying case. Despite the multi-jointed folding mechanism, they feel rather solid and sturdy. The metal headband is both tough and flexible and there’s a feel of...

The HD25-1 has been my favorite (trans)portable headphone for quite a few months. I spend a few nights a week away from my home rig and the HD25 works wonders with my iBasso D10 and netbook. Hi-fi on the go has never been so rugged and simple. Best of all is their sonic versatility – though my backup portables, the AKG K181Dj, excel with certain genres and recordings, the Sennheisers perform more than adequately with anything I can throw at them. Build Quality: When it comes to build quality, Sennheiser’s flagship portables can do no wrong. The...

Audio-Technica ATH-CK6 Accessories – Single-flange silicone tips (3 sizes), detachable ear inserts (3 styles), and soft carrying pouch Build Quality – Housings are made of metal with oval-shaped plastic nozzles and paper filters. Though strain reliefs are excellent all-around, the cabling itself is hugely disappointing (especially compared to the excellent cables on Audio-Technica's higher-end models) – thin, rubberized, and extremely prone to kinking and tangling Isolation – Poor due to shallow insertion and vented design Microphonics – Cable is...

Phiaton MS400: Finding that perfect combination of comfort, portability, isolation, and sound quaility has never been easy, especially in the $150-250 price range. Phiaton, an upmarket audio branch of Korean electronics firm Cresyn, attempts to find the perfect balance with the strikingly pretty MS400. Build Quality: The build of the MS400 impresses right out of the box. Unlike the brutish Sennheiser HD25-1 and AKG K181DJ, the MS400 feels precision-built without being too delicate. The inner structure, including the rotating hinges, is metal. The...