I will try to keep this short.
 
Firstly, to disclose: I purchased the NWZ-ZX1 with a 25% off discount coupon given to me by Sony Australia after attending a demonstration event for their high resolution audio products. I was invited to this event in my capacity as a Youtube reviewer.
 
The Sony NWZ-ZX1 is a beautifully built piece of hardware. Hardware music controls are wonderful. The interface is by and large easy to use.
 
The LCD is quite reflective and not particularly bright in direct sunlight. This seems to be because it appears Sony did not use a bonded glass display assembly like modern smartphones, which causes reflections due to the air gap between the LCD and the glass. 
 
The interface and drag and drop music transfer is quite easy to use. However the default music player exhibits some lag when scrolling through albums rapidly.
 
Here is my video about the physical aspects of the player:
 

 
In terms of audio performance, it is suggested by Soomal's RMAA results http://www.soomal.com/doc/10100004953.htm that the ZX1 has a noise floor that is so high that it cannot deliver the dynamic range necessary to take advantage of 24 bit audio, and may not even have an effective bit rate to deliver the theoretical maximum 96 dB dynamic range of CD quality 16bit audio. Whether or not 24 bit audio actually matters, it is disturbing to see that Sony is marketing the player as a flagship high resolution audio device when it cannot seem to deliver what it says on the box. I would love to see more results published for the ZX1, but for reference comparison the ZX1 does not seem to do as well as an iPhone 5S http://www.soomal.com/doc/10100004450.htm or HTC One M8 http://soomal.net/doc/10100004976.htm, which are both smartphones that do more than the ZX1, have better underlying hardware, and cost similar amounts.
 
For my own subjective comparisons, I took a ZX1 and my iPhone 5S and volume matched them within 1dB using a Sescom iPod A/B switch and a Zoom H2n recorder. I then listened on a variety of equipment. On my Sony XBA-H3 and Sennheiser Amperior, a subtle hiss was noticed on the ZX1 that was not apparent on the 5S. On the multi balanced armature Nuforce Primo 8 review unit I have on hand, the hiss is very loud and noticeable. Again, this hiss was not audibly present on the 5S.
 
Here is my video depicting how the volume matching was performed and some of my notes about the audio performance of the ZX1.
 

 
Apart from the hiss, the two players sound very similar. Both sound very neutral and detailed.
 
Based on my findings I cannot recommend the Sony NWZ-ZX1. It is very expensive for a device that performs worse than similarly priced smartphones, and yet does less and is more difficult to carry around because of its unusual physical shape.
 
I think people who know what I have written in the past know that I am a big follower (and maybe a hyper critical one) of Sony's audio gear. I am disappointed to see Sony embrace a marketing push for high resolution audio while delivering flagship products that fail to live up to that spec.

This is my video review of the NAD VISO HP50 with some short notes to follow. Please note that I received this headphone as a loaner unit from NAD!
 

 
Build
 
The VISO HP50 is a well built headphone that is a surprisingly mature design for a first effort from NAD. Since the design is so simple and the materials used are good quality, it feels like a well built premium product. I am not a big fan of the black glossy plastic because it gets fingerprint smudges very easily, and I am not so sure about look of the lettering and branding on the headphone. This is just aesthetic preference though.
 
On the head the VISO HP50 feels very stable and quite comfortable. Clamping force is a little above average and combined with the slightly small / shallow earpads this means they can feel a bit stuffy on the ears. Noise isolation is very good though. For a portable headphone, the HP50 looks very large and unwieldy on the head, especially because of the unusual headband design. Wearing it on the street did get me a few looks.
 
The flat cables on the VISO HP50 are a little on the thinner side. On the plug end of the headphone the strain relief does not seem particularly well reinforced. I would have liked to see a better quality cable.
 
Sound
 
The VISO HP50 is an extremely well balanced and tuned headphone. While it's always a cliche to say this, the VISO HP50 has a signature where nothing is particularly prominent in the mix. The bass is well extended but not particularly emphasised, while the treble is smooth but textured and detailed. There is some gentle emphasis on the upper midrange / lower treble that gives everything a slightly dry, crunchy and textured sound, but not so much that it sounds nasal or has a blare to the sound. The headphone also sounds very fast, delicate and sprightly.
 
My one criticism of the sound is that it lacks a little in terms of treble extension, and as a result the soundstage can sound a little more intimate or closed in than I would personally prefer.
 
This headphone is a terrific all rounder, but some might find the signature a bit boring for more aggressive genres of music because of the relative lack of bass or treble emphasis. I think the Audio Technica M50X is surprisingly comparable if you wanted a punchier, less natural signature. 
 
Conclusion
 
A fantastically balanced all rounder that I would be happy to recommend to anyone provided they were okay with looking a bit goofy on the street.

Here is my video review of the XBA-H1. If you like the video please check out my channel Below the video is a quick summary of my opinions.
 

 
Design & Comfort
 
The XBA-H1's earpieces are quite large, and may not suit every user's ears. Thankfully they are quite lightweight. The cable is good quality and doesn't tangle easily, and microphonics / cable noise is reasonable even when worn down. Isolation is good, but with the large earpieces wind noise can be a problem. Given the large size of the earphone, Sony should perhaps had gone for a negative profile design.
 
Sound

The H1 does really sound as if someone took a XBA-1/10/C10 driver and added a bass driver to it. You get the same feathery, brittle kind of sound of the XBA full range driver now combined with a dramatically more thumpy bass line. As a result the earphone is very thick and smooth in sound, and has a similar character to the Shure SE215. However, the addition of the dynamic driver means that treble, which already lacked extension in the XBA-1 series, now really ends up taking a backseat. The lack of treble extension means that strings and vocals sound blunted, feathery and brittle, and there is a real lack of air in the sound. The Shure SE215 in comparison has a much more natural high frequency roll-off and overall I think sounds better.
 
Given that the SE215 has a negative profile fit, detachable cables, a more natural sound and a lower price, I would not really look at the H1 unless I was absolutely allergic to high frequencies.

Disclosure: I received these headphones from Sony Australia as a review sample to keep. 
 
Here is my video review of the 10R, as well as some brief notes about the sound and build of the headphone. Please check out my channel if you enjoyed the video!
 

 
Summary:
 
The 10R has a comfortable, lightweight design that is pretty much best in class for the ~$99 street prices I've seen for this headphone. However, the sound is extremely unbalanced, skewed towards a very boomy low end with vocals that sound muffled, while simultaneously having a peaky treble region that while it isn't super sibilant, ends up sounding somewhat nasal. Overall I really did not like the sound of these and they made me feel like I had a head cold every time I listened to them. 
 
Your mileage may vary but personally if for around the same price I would be much happier to recommend the Audio Technica ATH-ES700 or Pioneer HDJ-1500 for portable headphones with bass punch and more natural, cleaner signatures.

This written review was essentially my script for the following video review, so the information contained in both is more or less identical. If you want a closer look at the H3, watch the video review!
 

 
INTRO
 
The H3 was something of an aspirational purchase for me, as ever since I began getting interested in audio I was always fascinated by Bang and Olufsen’s fantastic speaker and telephone designs. In recent years Bang and Olufsen have been releasing products targeted at a younger market under the ‘Beoplay’ name, and the H3 is the company’s first in-ear earphone in this range. It has a recommended retail price of $299 Australian or $249 American dollars, which actually seems faintly reasonable for a company that makes $50,000 dollar televisions.
 
BUILD QUALITY / DESIGN

One of Bang and Olufsen’s signatures is precision metal crafting, and the earpieces of the H3 show this off in style. They look and feel beautiful , with these tiny pin-prick vent holes and detailing which is pretty exquisite. One disappointment though is that the driver capsule appears to be made out of 3 different parts, most of them plastic - B&O didn't craft the nozzle out of a single piece of metal like some other premium earphones (EX1000, Westone ADV Alpha) or even some cheaper earphones (HiFiMan RE-400, JVC FXD-80, Yamaha EPH-100), and as a result this part of the earphone feels less durable and less fancy.

The cable on the H3 is not detachable and comes with a simple 3 button remote for Apple devices. The cable itself is also a bit of a disappointment. It’s a bit thin and not very supple, meaning that it tends to retain memory and develop ugly kinks, especially when you use the nice cable winder case that Bang & Olufsen provides. There are no strain reliefs  at all on the Y-splitter, which is worrying, and the straight angle jack on the other end feels a little insubstantial.

Overall build quality is okay but you would expect better given the brand and the price. One thing to note is that Bang and Olufsen offer a 3 year warranty on the H3, and given that they have retail stores in some major cities around the world, getting good after sales service from B&O would probably be easier than most other brands.

The H3 has a traditional design that can only be worn down. This means cable noise is a minor problem, but not too bad. The H3 is relatively comfortable, but the curved part of the earpieces does sit in the outer ear so depending on your ear shape they may not sit right. With this many vents on the back, you would expect external noise isolation on the H3 to be quite poor - and it is. Forget about using the H3 on a bus or a train, these earphones are made for quiet environments.

SOUND

The one word that describes the sound of the H3 is: natural. The H3 has quite an inoffensive sound, which is slightly warmer than neutral and quite a substantial bass response. It’s balanced and clearly Bang and Olufsen have done their homework with the tuning, because the H3 just sounds pleasant, if a little unexciting. One really nice aspect of the H3 is that they have quite a natural, open soundstage, which is probably due to the extensive venting. They aren’t as open as something like the EX1000 but they strike a nice balance and have more bass than the Sony ear hanger designs, if that’s what you are after.

I have two issues with the sound of the H3 - one is that at times, the treble can get a little sibilant. This sibilance is quite minor though and it can be tamed by replacing the stock H3 tips with Sony Hybrids with a smaller nozzle aperture. The hybrid silicone is also a little more comfortable than the stock tips B&O provides.

The other issue with the H3's sound is that at times the bass can sound a little blunted and uncontrolled, again probably due to the venting. This isn’t to say that it sounds bloated, but at this price point or even cheaper I have heard tighter and more controlled bass.

 The closest earphone i can compare the H3 to is the HiFiMan RE-400, which is also a very neutral earphone that I recommend strongly for $99. The H3 and the RE-400 actually sound very similar, though the H3 has a bit more bass, a bit more sibilance, and a much more open soundstage. At the same time though, the RE-400 sounds a fair bit more cleaner and tighter, especially in the bass.

Now I think the RE-400 is a fantastic earphone and probably underpriced for $99, and that’s why I recommend it so much. In contrast, I think the H3 is a little overpriced for what you get. It’s not a bad sounding earphone, and it’s one of those earphones where I’d be very happy to listen to it for hours without noticing its deficiencies, until I put it up alongside something else and then feel a little disappointed.
 
OVERALL

I can’t really recommend the H3, both because I think the price could be lower, the build quality could be higher, and it’s not an earphone that is tremendously practical to use because of the lack of noise isolation. That said though, I don’t think it’s a terrible earphone and if you want something with some gorgeous metal finishing and a natural, easy to live with sound, you could do a lot worse than the H3.

*Please ignore the audio quality / comfort / design / isolation / value sliders for this review. As far as I can tell, they seem broken*
 
This is a universal in-ear monitor with a two balanced armature drivers and a dynamic driver. This earphone costs $1250 IEM with a cable that costs about $800, or as a package together, about $1400. I'm part of an Australian listening tour for this earphone and I spent 2 weeks with it.

Let me say this first: I found this IEM really hard to review for a number of reasons, and all of them are related to the price of this earphone. 

The most expensive earphone that I own is a second hand pair of Sony MDR-EX1000, which at the time of release were something like $600 or $700. At that time, people were saying that this was a ludicrous price to pay for an earphone that was not a custom monitor.

In recent times it now seems that $1000 is the new starting price point for flagship universal in-ears. 

Whenever there is a high priced product released, there is a rehash of the same tired argument two sides. One side thinks this kind of high pricing is a cynical cash grab. There's another side which is willing to pay good money for what is hopefully an amazing aesthetic experience, and other people who would aspire to spend that kind of money.

Here's my perspective: I'm a student. I'm a believer in the free market. I believe that things are only worth what people are willing to pay for them, and as far as I know, no one is being forced to buy thousand dollar IEMs against their will.

Even putting a dollar price on sound quality is a bit odd because it is as much a subjective experience as a technical one. Buying high end audio is something like  evaluating a painting or a sports car. There are technical aspects to the performance of the product. But it's also a lot about how it makes you feel. It is never a completely rational purchase.

I'm actually very hesitant to even talk about pricing or 'value for money' in my reviews, because everyone's preferences and circumstances are different. I don't want to encourage the perception that more expensive things always sound better in audio, because it simply just is not true. At the same time I think it's condescending to say that people who spend X money on so and so product are suckers. It's the kind of knee jerk reaction that seems to start a lot of pointless and boring arguments.

At the same time when a product costs this much, I can't help but get extremely hyper - critical, because at this price point things that might be acceptable in a cheaper product start to seem unacceptable at higher prices.

The best I can do in a review is to compare what I think are similar products in terms of build quality, ergonomics and sound quality,  give a personal opinion, and hopefully people can use the information in my reviews and the reviews of others to come to their own decision.

In the case of 1Plus2, I can tell you that while I think it does sound really good, I would not be willing to pay $1250 for it. Here's why.

BUILD

Earpieces

I made a Youtube video that gives you a look at the 1Plus2 as well as some of my observations about the build quality which are also reiterated below in text. If you like my videos, please check out my channel.
 


I place a lot of emphasis on build quality and design in my reviews, because I think build quality is a relatively objective thing that people can see and know what they are paying for.

Frankly, for the price of the 1Plus2, the build quality and design is embarrassing. It has a lot of 'boutique audiophile charm', which is another way of saying it seems amateurish.

Starting with the shells, they are quite large, bulky and made of acrylic. This is the material that they make custom moulded earphones with. Acrylic is fine for custom earphones because they are made on a case by case basis, moulded to an individual ear. It would be too expensive to make an injection mould for every individual customer, and the custom shape might be impossible to CNC mill or use some other manufacturing process.

But the 1Plus2 is a universal fit earphone. If you actually look at the internals of the 1Plus2 you can see most of it is empty plastic. I cannot think of any reason why it needs to be made this bulky or made out of this material, except that Tralucent wanted to make it 'look' like a custom moulded earphone and therefore charge the price of a custom for it.
 
////////////////////////////////
 
Edit: The intrepid Tomscy2000 (always a knowledgeable one) suggests this reason for the 1Plus2's bulk:
 

There is a reason for all that "empty space" behind the dynamic driver. I've actually heard a prototype miniaturized version of the old 1Plus2 aka Rhapsodio RDB V1 (or whatever it's called) that placed the BA receiver and the dynamic driver in a package the size of an RHA MA450 (no joke, the case is exactly the same, I think it's from the same mold) --- the sound was good, but the bass wasn't nearly as tight. The "empty space" is actually filled with speaker cabinet damping material (looks like clay-like goop and cotton/fiberglass), which is supposed to help adjust the bass response of the 1Plus2 to make it sound the way it does in the bass region.

Click to expand...

 
If this is indeed the case I do retract what I say about the 1Plus2's bulk and apologise. I would still like to see it made out of metal though.
 
////////////////////////////////

Even then, I want to bring up another product I currently have a demo unit for: the Null Audio Elpis. This is a 3D printed hybrid custom earphone from a company in Singapore which retails for about $250 USD - one fifth the price of the 1Plus2. (I plan to have a review up of the Elpis soon).

I bring the Elpis up not because it sounds as good as the 1Plus2. It doesn't, but it sounds better than the price difference might have you believe. I mention the Elpis because it demonstrates that it is not particularly costly or complex to make a hybrid design with a dynamic driver and balanced armature drivers and print it out of acrylic. It also does not need to be this bulky. The 1Plus2 is only marginally better built than the Elpis and it is not a custom earphone. I don't see where the extra money went. 

 
Cable

Let's talk about the cable. The cable that I got on this listening tour is the silver/gold MK2 cable which bumps the price of the 1Plus2 up to $1400 or costs about $700 separately. Don't ask me how the maths works there.

I'm not personally a believer in cables making a huge difference in sound quality, but let's leave that to the sound science forum. That aside I have huge issues with the cable because for an $700 product it is very disappointing.

The cable is extremely stiff because it is clearly just heat shrink around a braided wire. The plastic on the connectors is ugly - you can see the mould seams. The connection itself is an older two pin connecter type. People on the listening tour have observed that the right earpiece on this unit will detach easily, and I have found this to be the case as well. 

I thankfully have not dropped it, but I would never take this earphone outside where an earpiece could detach and drop onto a hard surface. I would not take this earphone outside anyway, because even though it is comfortable and has okay isolation it is expensive and the bulky high profile design is clearly prone to wind noise.

On the other end of jack has no strain relief and is just a off the shelf part soldered onto wire. The lack of any kind of strain relief is extremely troubling. 

Conclusion (Build)

Simply put: I do not think the 1Plus2 feel like a $1250 product. What products feel like a thousand dollars? 

Let's take the Sony EX1000. It is a beautifully crafted piece of mag alloy. The cables are beautiful and supple and the connection terminal and strain relief is completely solid. Let's take the Bang & Olufsen H3. It is a beautifully crafted piece of aluminium with tiny vents milled at a precision I have never seen in an earphone. It is $250. How about the JVC FXD80-Z? It is milled out of stainless steel and feels like a tank. It costs $70. I can name any number of earphones that have amazing build quality,like the mag alloy Westone ADV's, or my friend's pair of titanium shelled Audio Technica CK100Pro's, or the AKG K3003.

I have held all those products in my hand and they scream craftsmanship.  Even if most of them cost a lot of money, they FEEL like a lot of money.

The 1Plus2 does not feel like that. Personally, I don't care how good a product sounds - at a certain point there is no excuse for a product this expensive not to have an amazing build. Or conversely, I would not feel right about pricing a product with this kind of build at this kind of price. It comes with the territory.

SOUND

Intro

Thankfully, I am much more enthused about the sound of the 1Plus2 than the build.

I did most of my listening on an Objective 2 / ODAC with a mixture of lossless ALAC and high bitrate MP3 / AAC files. I also did some listening on my iPhone 5 and found that that the 1Plus2 is quite easy to drive.

The 1Plus2 sounds quite amazing. I don't know if they sound $1200 amazing (if that even makes sense), but it's clear Tralucent has done a pretty good job of integrating BA + dynamic drivers. Overall, the 1Plus2 sounds clean and smooth, with articulate detail and speed.

Before I heard the 1Plus2 I was a little skeptical about Tralucent's approach of putting the dynamic driver right behind the BA units, because this would mean that the bass and high frequencies will never reach the ears at the same time without some kind of crossover or DSP magic. It doesn't seem like this arrangement has a negative effect on the sound. The 1Plus2 does have a pretty amazing sense of scale that may be an artefact of the tiny travelling time increase introduced to the bass frequencies.

Bass

Speaking of the bass, it is immediately the most standout aspect of the 1Plus2. It is exceptionally tight and fast and extends extremely low with great authority. The 1Plus2 actually seems somewhat emphasised in terms of sub-bass - lowest registers hit very hard which gives everything a very big sense of scale. 

Using the bass test at Audiocheck http://www.audiocheck.net/testtones_subwooferharmonicdistortion.php
I was able to hear that the driver is doing something audible at 14hz (may just be distortion) but is certainly present and accounted for at 20hz. 

At times the bass can feel a little too heavy handed, giving it a bit of a blunt quality on some tracks. The bass of the 1Plus2 suggests the thinking behind the hybrid approach: if you look at the the worst aspects of dynamic driver IEMs in small enclosures, like the SE215 and Westone ADV, they have amazing bass punch but can sound muddy and congested in the highs. Put in a known quantity like the TWFK and tweak a crossover and, hey presto, you have the bass everyone secretly (or not so secretly) loves with the treble that everyone demands.

Of course, the single high bandwidth single driver IEMs like the GR07, RE-400 and Yamaha EPH-100 demonstrate that the hybrid approach still doesn't seem all that necessary to get a powerful visceral bass response with clean treble. This is without all the phase and impedance interaction issues that crossovers introduce.

Mids / Vocals

Mids and vocals on the 1Plus2 do not make a particularly strong impression on me. Actually, the mids are perhaps somewhat recessed in the signature. They are smooth and articulate, but they don't have any particular texture or magic to them that you might hear on something like an Audio Technica CK100 Pro or Sony EX1000.

So vocals are not the star of the show. That's not necessarily a bad thing. The 1Plus2 just sounds measured and competent.

Treble

The treble again is smooth and has a kind of brittle sheen / shimmer to it that seems characteristic of TWFK treble. The treble is very fast, and lacks decay to the point of maybe feeling a little tacky at times. Again, all very inoffensive and hard to fault, but not the star of the show. I got the sense that the 1Plus2 lacks absolute treble extension of some of the better dynamic drivers like the RE-400 and GR07. 

I was able to confirm this with another test at Audiocheck.net http://www.audiocheck.net/audiotests_frequencycheckhigh.php

I am 25 and I can hear the RE-400 and GR07 kick in clearly at the 18-17khz region, whereas the 1Plus2 only becomes clearly audible between 17-16khz. If you think only mosquitos listen to these tones, please keep in mind that the main argument for lossless tracks is that it preserves audio information resolution at these super high frequencies that would be discarded or aliased with lossy algorithms. 

If you want to try this test yourself, the site recommends that you download the file and play it to avoid aliasing artefacts from being played through the browser.

Soundstage

In terms of soundstaging, there is a lot said of the very wide soundstage of the 1Plus2, as if they were a pair of full sized headphones. While the 1Plus2 has very pin point accurate soundstage, in terms of sheer width I never got the illusion that I was literally wearing a pair of HD800's or something. 

I do feel that the massive sub-bass response grounds the sound and gives everything a sense of visceral scale and authority. Combined with the articulation of the TWFK units, everything does have a great sense of placement and presence.

In terms of the perceived space I would only go so far as to say that the 1Plus2 has a soundstage wider than most IEMs and about as wide as the Sony EX1000 / 7550, which have very wide soundstages thanks to their treble responses and odd ear hanger designs.

If I had the time to do extensive tip rolling with the 1Plus2, I could probably find a tip that would boost the high frequencies and thus create a wider sense of space. Playing around with the EQ I did find that boosting frequencies above 4khz did give a wider sense of space, but only up to a point.

Timbre

In terms of timbre, while the BA units make the 1Plus2 sound extremely clean, the fast decay and slight lack of treble extension meant that I still did not get the sense of texture or timbre that I get from good dynamic drivers like the GR07, EX1000, RE-400 or 7550.

I think the 1Plus2 sounds particularly amazing with electronic music, where the 1Plus2's strengths in terms of speed and resolution, as well as that visceral bass, really come into play. 

Maybe this is my personal preference, but I did not find the 1Plus2 as engaging with vocals or strings as I do with a lot of my dynamic driver in-ear collection.

CONCLUSION

As I stated before, I think the 1Plus2 sounds amazing, with a combination of characteristics - speed, articulation and bass slam, which make it a great listen. It is definitely one of the best IEMs I have ever heard, but the sound does have some flaws  My time with the 1Plus2 does not make me want to sell all my gear to buy one at $1250. After two weeks I did not enjoy the 1Plus2 especially more than my current stable of favourites, though it is very good.

Again, returning to that terrible bugbear of the price. What are you paying for with the 1Plus2?

Are you paying for an amazing build, a piece of quality craftsmanship that is beautifully functional and durable? No, not at all.

Are you paying for amazing R&D, some amazing technical innovation that wasn't just buying TWFK drivers off the shelf from Knowles and putting them in an acrylic shell with a mystery dynamic driver? No you're not. 

So you're paying for the sound, which is pretty great. I personally wouldn't pay $1250 for it, because it is impractical for outdoor use and in-doors I may as well buy a full-size headphone for better long term comfort.

But if you like it and are willing and able, then go for it and enjoy some music!

As we say on Head-Fi, sorry for your wallet!

Along with the summary below, I have posted a Youtube video review of the Skullcandy Navigators. If you like the video, check out my channel for more reviews
 

 
Summary
 
BUILD
 
The Navigators have good build quality, with metals used in most parts of the headphone frame. They are lightweight and fold up into a more compact shape. The earpads are very isolating, though perhaps a little stuffy. The detachable flat cable is somewhat prone to tangling. They are comfortable headphones but I found I had to use the maximum headband size adjustment and I do not believe I have a particularly large head, so it may be worth making sure they will fit before trying them.
 
SOUND
 
The Navigators have a very dark, bassy sound with rolled off highs. They have a dry note to the treble but are otherwise quite dull and mid-bassy. They are even more muffled sounding than the similarly priced Logitech UE4000. They have a signature that would, combined with the good noise isolation, work well on noisy commutes. However in most cases I found them suffocatingly dark.
 
OVERALL
 
Unfortunately the sound of the Navigators makes them hard to recommend unless you do a lot of travelling and like your bass. They are sadly not nearly as balanced as the quite nice Skullcandy Aviators. That said, they have a good design and are worth a look if you are after a decently priced and very portable headphone.

Along with the summary below, I have posted a Youtube video review of the UE4000. If you like the video, check out my channel for more reviews
 

 
Summary
 
BUILD
 
The UE4000, like all the new Logitech UE headphones, has some really nice build quality for the price. Solid feeling headband with metal parts, supple synthetic leather earpads. The detachable cable with iPhone remote is a great touch because it terminates in a 3.5mm jack and can be replaced with any off-the-shelf cable. The earcups pivot in all directions which makes getting a good fit easy. Unfortunately the ear pads are not replaceable and the UE 4000 does not fold up into a more compact shape.
 
SOUND
 
The UE 4000 has a bassy, rich sound, but they have quite rolled off highs. They don't completely lack energy in vocals but overall the sound is quite congested and separation / layering really suffers. This kind of signature is good for a noisy commute (you don't have to turn up the volume as high to get a decent sound) but is just not a great balance otherwise. The UE 4000 is less balanced than the UE 6000 (which I liked).
 
OVERALL
 
These would make a good headphone for people on frequent noisy commutes, or a nice little package for someone for whom sound quality is not the top priority. They aren't terrible sounding, but the congested signature really isn't my thing.

I'd like to think RHA for sending me these earphones for review.
 
Along with the summary below, I have posted a Youtube video review of the MA450i. If you like the video, check out my channel for more reviews
 
 

 
Summary
 
BUILD
 
The MA450i has an interesting build, with a reverse horn / funnel shape. This is actually the opposite of a horn speaker design in principle, and means that the MA350 fits very comfortably in the ear. The aluminium in the earpieces is very welcome and makes the earphone feel quite durable, but the fabric wrapped cable is tangly and microphonic. Luckily the MA350's are well suited for over-ear use. The strain reliefs seem a little flimsy. On both the RHA 350 and RHA 450i I experienced quite a large degree of driver flex which makes me nervous. The included selection of tips is very generous and it should be possible for most people to get a good fit.
 
SOUND
 
The MA450i is a very bassy earphone but the peak in the highs prevents it from sounding too congested or muddy. Bass is well rounded, goes very deep and is very visceral. The highs are generally soft except for a peak that lends energy to vocals. Overall definition is quite good, though they are not the fastest sounding earphones. They have an intimate soundstage but good instrument placement within that stage.
 
OVERALL
 
Because of the comfort of the earphones and the engaging sound, I think these make a good everyday pair of earphones - though perhaps they are not suited for critical listening. You definitely must like your bass to like these earphones, but they are a great little gems for the price. Driver flex is my biggest worry about these earphones, otherwise I would be giving these 4 stars.
 
 
 

I'd like to think RHA for sending me these earphones for review.
 
Along with the summary below, I have posted a Youtube video review of the MA350. If you like the video, check out my channel for more reviews
 

 
Summary
 
BUILD
 
The MA350 has an interesting build, with a reverse horn / funnel shape. This is actually the opposite of a horn speaker design in principle, and means that the MA350 fits very comfortably in the ear. The aluminium in the earpieces is very welcome and makes the earphone feel quite durable, but the fabric wrapped cable is tangly and microphonic. Luckily the MA350's are well suited for over-ear use. The strain reliefs seem a little flimsy. On both the RHA 350 and RHA 450 I experienced quite a large degree of driver flex which makes me nervous.
 
SOUND
 
The MA350 is a very bassy earphone but the peak in the highs prevents it from sounding too congested or muddy. Bass is well rounded, goes very deep and is very visceral. The highs are generally soft except for a peak that lends energy to vocals. Overall definition is quite good, though they are not the fastest sounding earphones. They have an intimate soundstage but good instrument placement within that stage.
 
OVERALL
 
Because of the comfort of the earphones and the engaging sound, I think these make a good everyday pair of earphones - though perhaps they are not suited for critical listening. You definitely must like your bass to like these earphones, but they are a great little gems for the price. Driver flex is my biggest worry about these earphones, otherwise I would be giving these 4 stars.
 
 
 
 
 

The below review is a summary of a full comparison of the AD1000X to the AD900X and Sony MA900 found here:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/654161/review-comparison-ath-ad900x-vs-ath-ad1000x-vs-mdr-ma900-its-still-over-900
 
I also made a Youtube review of the AD1000X. If you like the video check out my channel for more reviews!
 

 
Summary
 
BUILD
 
The AD1000X has fantastic build quality with a magensium alloy frame. The 3D wing design is comfortable, though it does not work for everyone's head. The AD1000X features angled velour earpads that are quite comfortable. The angle helps the headphones conform to the shape of the skull. The AD1000X has a double entry cable unlike the AD900X. I actually prefer single entry cables but from a balanced channel design standpoint I suppose this is a good thing.
 
SOUND
 
The AD1000X is actually quite different in signature from the AD900X, and in many ways reminds me of a less extreme version of the AD2000 (which was beautiful but could sound honky and grainy at times). First off, the AD1000X does not have the same sense of transparency that the AD900X has. It sounds immediately like a headphone that has been tweaked for a particular signature, with particular emphasis on two sections: an upper bass peak that gives everything a sense of solidity and punch, as well as a lower treble peak that emphasises the breathiness of female vocals and gives everything an emotive and exciting tone. To me the AD1000X has a beautiful and engaging tuning, and actually sounds a little less clinical and dry than the AD900X. It’s liquid and extended (but never harsh). What is also very immediately obvious is that the AD1000X does not have the same incoherency that the AD900X could have at times. The AD1000X sounds laser beam clean, and things just pop and burst on the soundstage. 
 
OVERALL
 
I think the AD1000X is a pretty fantastic package, though it is definitely classic Audio Technica with a tuning that may not appeal to everyone. It sounds clean without sounding boring, and has great build quality to boot. For the current Amazon Japan pricing I would strongly recommend it to anyone after an airy, atmospheric and exciting headphone!

Along with the summary below, I have posted a Youtube video review of the ATH-CKN70. If you like the video, check out my channel for more reviews
 

 
Summary
 
BUILD
 
The build on the CKN70 body is quite nice, with a lightweight plastic / aluminium body, though not as good as the similar (in price and concept) JVC FXD80-Z. The rubber earloop mechanism does help to stabilise the IEM in the outer ear and makes the CKN70 quite comfortable despite the quite wide nozzle of the earphone. The J-Cable cable is of a very poor quality; it is has a papery feel to it and retains memory very strongly. It is also extremely microphonic (perhaps the most microphonic able I have ever tried) and the design of the IEM prevents over-ear wear. The included tips are also similarly made out of this papery cheap rubber and do not sound very good anyway.
 
SOUND 
 
With the included tips the CKN70 is very aggressive, with a very strong bass / mid-bass response that almost seems bloated or congested at times. The highs are also very harsh, with a metallic shimmer (though not necessarily an 'S' type sibilance) that I found quite fatiguing. The sound is however lightning quick, dynamic and punchy - though at times the high frequency grain causes soundstage definition to smear. WIth Sony hybrid foam tips, which I tried and preferred to the stock tips, the sound is tamed, with a warm tone and only a slight rawness in the highs. Experimentation with tips seems like a must.
 
OVERALL
 
The CKN70 has an exciting and fun sound, but honestly I cannot see why anyone would futz around with different tips and put up with the awful cable noise especially when something like the FXD80 offers a cleaner sound with stock tips and a better cable / build. I can't really recommend these.

Along with the summary below, I have posted a Youtube video review of the K550. If you like the video, check out my channel for more reviews
 

 
Summary
 
BUILD
 
The AKG K550 has excellent build quality, with a great fit and finish and a solid, durable feel to the materials. The earpads are very large and may not fit everybody's head; despite being very comfortable and supple the earpads are sensitive to seal and small changes to positioning will affect the already quite lean bass. The headband padding is quite sparse and because they are quite heavy, after a few hours they may make the top of your head a little sore.
 
SOUND
 
The AKG K550 has a very lean, dry sound. What is most noticeable is the spacious soundstaging and clean sound despite the closed design. The K550 has no real sense of congestion or anything characteristic of closed headphones. However the sound is very lean; bass extends very deep but there isn't much slam or warmth. The treble can be slightly raw on occasion. Overall they are balanced headphones good for a variety of music but on the leaner side of neutral and not to my personal preference. Fans of more analytical signatures may enjoy these.
 
Overall
 
These are well made headphones with a good sound, but the fit issues mean that you may need to trial these before buying them. The lean sound may also not please everyone, though I commend AKG for designing a closed headphone that sounds very much like an open one.

Along with the summary below, I have posted a Youtube video review of the RE-400. If you like the video, check out my channel for more reviews
 

 
Summary
 
BUILD
 
The RE-400 has a sensible, well thought out design. Of special note is the half-rubber / fabric cord which cuts down on microphonics. The RE-400 is comfortable to wear with cable up and the metal earpieces seem quite durable. However I find the plug to be overly large and can be difficult to accomodate in some pockets. The included accessory selection is quite poor, with only a few tip sizes included. Unfortunately I could not get a good seal with any of the tips and ended up using Sony hybrids, so please bear this in mind when reading the following sound impressions.
 
SOUND
 
The RE-400 has a neutral, smooth sound with perhaps a slight emphasis on the lower mid-bass, though this is certainly no bass head earphone. Everything is very tight, very fast and this is truly an amazing performer - not even considering the price at this point. Soundstage is not immediately very wide however, and people after something with a wider soundstage should perhaps look at the Sony MDR 7550.
 
Overall
 
I think despite the small issues I have with the RE-400, it offers absolutely stunning value at the $99 price point and really lays down a challenge to other manufacturers. As a neutral IEM the RE-400 stands shoulder to shoulder with other good dynamic options like the VSonic GR07 and Sony 7550, and does it at a lower price and better ergonomics. I absolutely applaud HiFiMan for the sharp pricing on the RE-400 and would heartily recommend it to almost anyone.

Along with the summary below, I have a review thread comparing the Sony EX1000, 7550, XBA-4 and XBA-40 here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/608553/review-comparison-two-flagships-pass-in-the-night-sony-xba-4-review-vs-the-mdr-ex1000-updated-with-7550-and-xba-40
 
I also posted a Youtube review video of the XBA-40. If you like the video please check out my channel for more reviews
 

 
Summary
 
BUILD
 
The XBA-40 has quite a comfortable design. Despite the large size of the earpieces they fit in my ear well and the light weight makes them quite comfortable. However, depending on the shape of your ear the large body may be uncomfortable with your outer ears. The revised elliptical cable with the new texture tangles less easily than the XBA-4 cable. The XBA-40 is designed to be worn cable down and doesn't work with cable up wear, which means microphonics is an issue (though not severe). 
 
SOUND
 
The XBA-4 is a very dark sounding earphone, and to some it might even sound congested. (Think Earsonics SM3). The bass reaches very deep and the mids have a glossy clarity about them. The one big improvement is that the metallic shimmer present in the XBA-4 has been corrected with the XBA-40. Bass also seems to dig a little deeper and more viscerally. Because of these changes, the XBA-40 seems even darker than the XBA-4! Because of the severe impedance swings of the XBA-40, the IEM is highly source sensitive and will sound shriller with sources with a higher output impedance. The real drawcard is that the XBA-40 has, lurking underneath the thick and intimate sound, a absolutely astounding ability to separate instruments and place them within a soundstage. I can think of no other earphone or headphone I enjoy more with electronica.
 
Overall
 
I would recommend the new revision XBA-40 over the XBA-4, but only for those who are fans of dark signatures to begin with. The XBA-40 is definitely an acquired taste and not nearly as balanced as some other earphones on the market. I personally really liked the XBA-40 and I especially love the improvements they made over the XBA-4 - but I would definitely acknowledge that it is not a good choice for most people, considering that even at a discount price there are more balanced dynamic drivers that are more balanced and more ergonomic (RE-400, GR07). Still, if you listen to a lot of electronica and you have a chance to get these at the current Amazon Japan pricing they are well worth it.

Along with the summary below, I have a review thread comparing the Sony EX1000, 7550, XBA-4 and XBA-40 here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/608553/review-comparison-two-flagships-pass-in-the-night-sony-xba-4-review-vs-the-mdr-ex1000-updated-with-7550-and-xba-40
 
BUILD
 
The XBA-4 has quite a comfortable design. Despite the large size of the earpieces they fit in my ear well and the light weight makes them quite comfortable. However, depending on the shape of your ear the large body may be uncomfortable with your outer ears. I found the elliptical cable tangled quite easily. The XBA-4 is designed to be worn cable down and doesn't work with cable up wear, which means microphonics is an issue (though not severe). 
 
SOUND
 
The XBA-4 is a very dark sounding earphone, and to some it might even sound congested. (Think Earsonics SM3). The bass reaches very deep and the mids have a glossy clarity about them. Unfortunately they have a metallic shimmer to the treble that pops up every now and then in tracks and sounds decidedly unnatural. Because of the severe impedance swings of the XBA-4, the IEM is highly source sensitive and will sound shriller with sources with a higher output impedance. The real drawcard is that the XBA-4 has, lurking underneath the thick and intimate sound, a absolutely astounding ability to separate instruments and place them within a soundstage. On densely layered electronica the XBA-4 sounds like a revelation.
 
Overall
 
I would recommend the new revision XBA-40 over the XBA-4, but only for those who are fans of dark signatures to begin with. The XBA-4 is definitely an acquired taste and not nearly as balanced as some other earphones on the market. I personally really liked the XBA-4 but concede that it is not a good choice for most people, considering that even at a discount price there are more balanced dynamic drivers that are more balanced and more ergonomic. Still, if you listen to a lot of electronica and you have a chance to get these at a decent price (below $150) they may be your cup of tea!

Along with the summary below, I have posted a comparison review of the MA900, Audio Technica AD900X and AD1000X here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/654161/review-comparison-ath-ad900x-vs-ath-ad1000x-vs-mdr-ma900-its-still-over-900
 
I've also got a youtube review of the MA900. If you like the video check out my channel for more reviews
 

 
Summary:
 
BUILD
 
The build of the MA900 is interesting. The headphone feels very light weight and almost flimsy in the hand. This isn't because it is badly built - on the contrary build quality is quite decent. It is the proportion of the parts, the super light weight and the way the frame is so flexible which makes it feel flimsy. As soon as you put them on your head you realise how much effort has been put towards minimising the MA900's weight though, which is almost enough to forgive them a little. That said if the MA900 was at least made out of metals it would have inspired more confidence, even if it were a little heavier.
 
SOUND
 
The MA900 has a neutral sound, slightly on the warmer side but overall very balanced and generally inoffensive. The bass has good definition but doesn't dig terribly deep (as per most open headphones) and the mids have a somewhat dry tone, whilst lacking a little extension at the top. They sound great with female vocals. The MA900 actually sounds like a Sennheiser HD650 with less lower bass and more forward upper mids. Because of the steeply angled driver the MA900 has a open and relaxed soundstage, with good definition and instrument placement. However with the relaxed treble it does sound a tad more intimate than say, the AD900X or AD1000X. Overall they are very agreeable and the main negative that can be said about the sound is that it might be too conservative. It's perfect for hours and hours of listening with different genres, and the comfort helps a lot in that regard.
 
Overall
 
I love the MA900 as a workhorse headphone and it's what I wear most of the time at home on account of its comfort. The build quality is okay but won't inspire any collectors of Sony gear. I really think the MA900 has been overlooked on Head-Fi on account of initial bad reports about the build, and though it's not the most exciting of cans it certainly is a fantastic all rounder. At the current Amazon Japan pricing it's a steal.

Along with the summary below, I have posted a comparison review of the AD900X, AD1000X and MA900 here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/654161/review-comparison-ath-ad900x-vs-ath-ad1000x-vs-mdr-ma900-its-still-over-900
 
I've also got a youtube review of the AD900X. If you like the video check out my channel for more reviews
 

 
Summary
 
BUILD
 
The AD900X has excellent build quality (astounding for the price) and great wearing comfort provided the 3D wing design works for your head. 
 
SOUND
 
The AD900X has an airy and spacious sound with a particular emphasis on mids and treble energy, though it is not overly analytical because of a good depth and decent extension in the bass. However it lacks a little definition and on densely layered music it starts to sound incoherent or inarticulate. Bass is tight and fast but does not have the same rumble or depth as closed headphones or some orthos. On slower music (say acoustic or slow jazz) the AD900X sounds fantastic. It loves stringed instruments as well. On badly mastered tracks the treble can be too aggressive.
 
Overall
 
With the Japanese price of the AD900X and with mail forwarding set up, the AD900X is a veritable bargain. The sound is engaging and exciting. Personally I upgraded to the AD1000X and I think for not too much extra money the AD1000X is easily the better headphone, but the AD900X is still pretty awesome.

Along with the summary below, I have posted a Youtube review of the Sony XBA-1. If you like the video, please check out my channel for more reviews


 





 


Summary


 


BUILD


 


The XBA-1 is very practically designed, with a narrow nozzle and a thoughtful selection of tip sizes with Sony's great hybrid tips. They are very lightweight and feel comfortable in the ear, but because they stick out they are not suitable for sleeping on your side with. Whether or not you like the J-cable is a preference thing.


 


SOUND


 


The XBA-1 have a nice bell tone clarity in the mids for female vocals. However they lack a little extension in terms of both bass and treble, making them quite a mid-focused and mellow earphone. Bass is there but lacks authority and they also lack sparkle compared to many dynamic drivers around their price. However they are certainly have an enjoyable and pleasant tuning nonetheless.


 


OVERALL


 


I've seen these go on sale for around $20-$40 and for that price these make an comfortable and practical earphone. They would also make a great gift for anyone who was after something not tremendously fussy about audio quality, since they should be comfortable for almost anyone. There are dynamic drivers with better performance for the same price (ie: JVC FXD80) but if you are a fan of mids and mellow sounds this is a good option.

Along with the summary below, I have posted a Youtube video review of the XB900. If you like the video, check out my channel for more reviews
 

 
Summary
 
BUILD
 
The XB800 has a very chunky design which looks pretty neat and offers high isolation. It is also easy to adjust and folds up into a nice compact shape However they have a very high clamping force and are somewhat uncomfortable. They are difficult to wear around the neck because the cups prevent you from moving your head too much. The build is overall a little plasticky.
 
SOUND
 
If you wanted bass, you get bass. There isn't much else to say - the bass is deep and tight and the rest of the frequencies are severely rolled off and somewhat congested. Overall they sound veiled and muffled. I'm not sure who would want this much bass but I suppose this would be someone's cup of tea.
 
OVERALL
 
I can't really fault the XB800's sound since it does exactly what it says on the box - gives you a kick in the ears. However it isn't exactly the most articulate of headphones and the design leaves a little to be desired.