Intro     Ever since I got my hands on the old Grado SR60i over a decade ago I have been on a journey to find the best Mid-Fi headphone in the under $400 range. I have tried and owned many of the top recommendations in the segment in that time. The DT 880 Pro has been on my wish list for years. Finally, I was able to get a pair off a fellow head-fier in almost new condition for $180 USD. Here in Canada it's hard to find under $250 USD. As of now I feel this is the last one I needed to try in my journey to find my favorite Mid-Fi headphone. I will...

Intro     I got my pair for $145 USD. This is my first pair of Planar Magnetic aka Orthodynamic headphones, and my first crack at Fostex as a brand. Note the T50RP is the more popular semi-open variant. Fostex sells this same headphone in closed (T40RP) and open (T20RP) designs also. This is the MK3 (3rd gen) of the RP Series lineup, which has been around since the 80's. I have not owned other variants or previous generations of the T50RP, so I won't be able to comment on how this fairs against those. Although these headphones are heavily moded...

Setup     I got my pair on sale for $150 USD. I have had a few lower end AKG headphones and have never been disappointed with the value and sound signature they offered. It's been a long time coming but I was finally able to get a higher end AKG in the K612 Pro. In this review I will be comparing it head to head with the venerable Sennheiser HD 600. Here in Canada the HD 600 is about double the price but offers a good benchmark to compare with.     My source in testing is the 1/4inch headphone output of my TEAC UD-H01 DAC/Amp connected via...

Intro/Setup     The on-ear open-back design is not a very popular segment. I suspect most overlook this category largely because of the lack of isolation compared to the many closed-back designs in the same price range. However, open-back designs usually sound better at any given price, and are quite a bit more comfortable. This segment appeals to those who want to try out the open-back sound on a budget, or those who want something for the office that allows you to hear the phone ring when it’s on. I happen to fall into the latter category.  ...

Intro/Setup     The full-size closed under $200 category is a very popular one among pro’s and casual listeners alike. The most similar competitor to this I own is the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 250Ohm. I will make some comparisons to this and the smaller on-ear Sennheiser HD 25-1 II which I also own. My source in testing is the 1/4inch headphone output of my TEAC UD-H01 DAC/Amp connected via USB to my Windows 8.1 desktop. I use the foobar2000 player with EQ off playing various files from FLAC to m4a to mp3 (VBR/CBR 320). I managed to get my pair of...

This will be short cause I don't have much time right now. I just got this on an impulse buy on clearance (open box). At $160 I could not resist.     Sounds amazing via USB on Windows 8.1 with latest drivers. I don't have alot of higher end DACs to compare it to but I have had alot of aftermarket sound cards and decent portable Amp/DACs like the TEAC HA-P50. It's a huge step up from that, which was my previous daily DAC/Amp. Very neutral, bass is very well controlled.     The headphone amp is a good pair with all my headphones from...

Smaller than I expected from photos. High quality materials, switches, and knobs throughout. I have 20-300ohm headphones in my collection and with the Lo/Hi gain switch this amp was a great fit with all of them. Even with my HD 600 (300ohm) I did not need to pass 11 o'clock on the volume dial with high gain. It can take power input from DC IN and use Micro USB for digital input at the same time (isolating power from the digital signal). So it can be used as a desktop or laptop sound card. It can also charge while in use with the single Micro USB...

My Setup     Tested with my Dell XPS 8700 desktop going optical out to a Yamaha RX-V365 amp (1/4 inch headphone out). I played various files (FLAC, MP3, M4A) at different bit rates using the fubar2000 media player with all EQ off. I am borrowing this DT 990 from a friend who purchased it a few months ago. I will compare this headphone to my Sennheiser HD 600 throughout this review. Note the HD 600 is double the price but serves as a good benchmark.     Design/Comfort (8/10)     In terms of design this is nearly identical to the DT...

My Setup   Tested with my Dell XPS 8700 desktop going optical out to a Yamaha RX-V365 amp (1/4 inch headphone out). Then going 3.5mm out from the desktop to my SMSL SAP III headphone amp. I tried it through on-board audio directly from my Dell inspiron laptop, then with the SAP III amp in the mix also. I played various files (FLAC, MP3, M4A) at different bit rates using the fubar2000 media player with all EQ off. I purchased my DT 770 used off a professional DJ. They are several years old and have had their fair share of abuse. I will be comparing...

Edit: My V2 has recently began to produce a constant pulsating static noise that persists as soon as it's warmed up, and never goes away. It is loud enough to be audible over music, but does not seem to get louder with volume (like the hum). The issue persists even with volume all the way down. I am currently in communication with Bravo support (Henry) via email about this.   Edit2: Henry sent me a replacement power supply but both issues persist. After filing a dispute in paypal he has given me a full refund. He failed to respond to me until I...

Setup   I have used these directly connected to my Creative X-FI Fatality Pro sound card, then through my Fiio E11 and Bravo Audio V2 amplifiers (separately). I have also tried them with my Sansa Clip+ (Rockboxed) and my Galaxy Nexus phone, both paired with the Fiio E11. I have owned them for a little over 2 months now, with over 100 hours of run-time on them.   I tested these with various media formats (OGG, MP3, FLACC) at various bit rates (128kbps – 320kbps). My operating system is Xubuntu 13.04, and I am using the default ALSA driver...

Overview/Design (9/10) This is primarily designed to amplify sound out of mobile devices that do not get loud enough for you, either because they are low quality, your headphones are not sensitive enough, or you’re going deft :). As a bonus, it has a built in bass boost with 3 settings (off, 1, 2). It also has a good quality easily replaceable Lithium Ion battery (BL-5B), and comes with the mini USB charging cable and 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable. Also in the box are two silicone bands of different sizes to attach the unit to the back of your...

I bought this on sale for $250 to upgrade from my 8 year old Logitech Z-2300’s, which served me very well. I see these going for nearly double that at many retailers. I actually purchased the Audioengine A5+ (for $350) first, but ended up returning them because I began hearing a rattle in the passive speaker. I decided to give these Edifier’s a try before trying another A5 set. I was satisfied with the A5’s, and planned on adding a woofer latter on. But after hearing the Edifiers, there was no going back. I will compare them and explain why. I have...

  The HD 25-1 is more than a great sounding headphone, it has stood the test of time, and proved to be one of the worlds most durable and versatile headphones. There's many detailed reviews of this classic headphone, so I won't go too much into the details. In short, all I can say is the hype and praise these headphones have received is well deserved. After owning these, I began noticing professional DJ's and Sports Announcers on TV wearing these all the time. Funny I never noticed that before, but I can see now that they use them for a good...

  This was the first AKG product I purchased. I decided to try a more affordable model to get an impression of the AKG sound. I bought this for $28 on a clearance sale, a major discount from the MSRP of $99.   Sound   From the moment I played the first track on these, I was blown away by the overall sound signature of this headphone. It is very clear that AKG put the money into what matters, the drivers. AKG took away all the fancy stuff, a no frills approach, and put your ears as close as possible to their investment (the drivers). The...

  I have only owned this for a couple months, but it did not take long to see why these are highly regarded. They quickly became my favorite all-rounder headphone for home use. I also own the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II, and Grado SR60i, I will make some comparisons to these also. Although sound quality is important, I will take a more balanced look at how practical these are to use on a daily basis.   Comfort/Design   I consider the comfort and design of a headphone to be just as important as sound quality, because this is what will ultimately...

  I also own the Grado SR60i ($90), and Sennheiser HD 25-1 II ($200). I will make some comparisons to these also. I realize many people consider sound quality to be the most important thing about a headphone, but I will take a more balanced look at how practical these are to use on a daily basis.   Design/Comfort   From the moment you take them out of the box, they feel and look more expensive than they are. People are always surprised to hear the price. The stainless steel accents and leather handmade ear pads add to the luxurious...