Shipibo Audio Padded Leather Headbands, Wooden Cups, Aluminum Rod Blocks, and Aluminum Gimbals for Grado Shipibo Audio included two headbands for review, one padded slightly thicker than the other (the wide comfort model). Both exhibit top-notch construction, made out of black leather, and are equally attractive and comfortable. They are fabricated from genuine calfskin leather with soft memory foam padding for added comfort. They are sewn together by hand using strong, semi-waxed polyester thread. The thinner band is ideal for custom builds with...

Symphones V8 Drivers I’ll let Rhydon Rayment introduce his company and philosophy: “Since 2010 Symphones has done more than refine an old tradition: we've started a new one. By fusing dynamic design with the vivid DIY culture we work to enable a new movement of designer artisans. Symphones empowers DIY builders through our dedication to making the highest quality headphone drivers. To achieve optimal results, our products undergo years of design, testing and verification, making each driver worth your patience and skill.” “At Symphones we make...

COMPANY: Beautiful Audio COMPANY WEBSITE: www.beautifulaudio.biz MODEL: Leather and merino wool headband covers and ear pads with customizable foam inserts COST: 2 ear pads + 2 densities of inner foam: $115 USD, headband cover: $60 USD TYPE: Grado headphone accessory COLOURS: Merino: Brown, Black + Grey, Green + Black, Blue + Black, Red + Grey. Leather: Black, Coffee, Yale Blue, Olive Green, Redwood, Burgundy, Indigo, Gold, Silver, Pale Brown, Byzantium, Carnelian, Rufous, Sparrow Grey, Stone, Sand INCLUDES: Headband Cover 2 Ear Pads 2 pairs...

COMPANY: Ashdown Engineering – Meters Music MODEL: OV-1 COST: $299 USD TYPE: Closed, dynamic with ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) and VU meters DRIVER SIZE: 40mm dome FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz - 20KHz IMPEDANCE: 32 Ohm@1Khz SENSITIVITY: 94DB/mW WEIGHT: 380 grams COLOURS: Tan (brown) as reviewed, Black, Rose (white + pink) INCLUDES: USB to micro USB cable 3.5mm 1.2m input cable 3.5mm 1.2m input cable with 3-button inline microphone 3.5mm – 1/4” gold-plated adapter Clamshell hard-sided carry case with zipper closure Cleaning cloth...

REVIEW – PORTABLE AMPLIFIER + DAC – JDS Labs C5D COMPANY: JDS Labs MODEL: C5D COST: $250 USD TYPE: Portable Headphone Amplifier + DAC WEIGHT: 120g COLOURS: Black (previously available in Red with Silver End Caps) INCLUDES: C5D portable DAC + Amp 4 adhesive rubber feet (note the rubber feet in my pictures are not the original small round included bumpers) 3-foot micro USB cable User manual Description: C5D is a high-performance portable headphone amplifier featuring digital volume control, multi-position bass boost, dual gain, and...

Meze 99 Classics Review   COMPANY:  Meze MODEL:  99 Classics COST:  $309 USD  (approximately $400 CAD at time of writing) TYPE:  Closed, Dynamic, Over-Ear DRIVER SIZE:  40mm Neodynium FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  15 Hz – 25 kHz EFFICIENCY: 103 dB NOMINAL IMPEDANCE: 32 Ohms WEIGHT:  260 Grams COLOURS:  Sustainable wood ear cups:  light maple with silver accents and beige ear pads or walnut with gold accents and black ear pads   INCLUDES:   Headphone Adapter – 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm and 3.5 mm to dual airline 3.5 mm. Headphone Cable – 1.2 meter OFC...

COMPANY:  Sennheiser MODEL:  HD598 COST:  $299 CAD - $250 USD – Note: often on sale for much less TYPE:  Open, Dynamic, Over-Ear DRIVER SIZE:  40mm neodynium FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  12 Hz – 38.5 kHz EFFICIENCY:  112 dB NOMINAL IMPEDANCE:  50 Ohms WEIGHT:  270 Grams COLOURS:  Ivory with Burl Wood or Black (SE Edition) INCLUDES:   Headphone Adapter – 6.35 mm to 3.5 mm Headphone Cable – 3-meter OFC (Oxygen Free Copper), 6.35mm with single sided 3.5 mm bayonet type connector with twist lock to ear cup Cardboard box with plastic window    ...

COMPANY:  HiFiMan MODEL:  HE400S COST:  $399 (CAD – Amazon.ca)  $299 USD TYPE:  Open, Planar Magnetic, Over-Ear DRIVER SIZE:  Diameter 80 mm FREQUENCY RESPONSE:  20 Hz – 35 kHz EFFICIENCY:  98 dB NOMINAL IMPEDANCE:  22 Ohms WEIGHT: 350 Grams COLOURS:  Silver/Black   INCLUDES:   Headphone Adapter - 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm Headphone Cable - 1.5 meter, 3.5mm 90-degree angle plug Cardboard box with foam padding on the inside     Build Quality, Aesthetics and Comfort   While there have been reports of earlier model HiFiMan headphones having...