SOMIC V4 Dual Drivers Hifi earphones review:
 

 
 
I'm trying lot of Dual Drivers chinese earphones lately and feel like talking about one of the more obscure one wich is the Somic V4, a strange looking Dual Drivers iem that look like a star war space ship and got an intergalactical out of this world sound for his sub-20$ price (only at Gearbest). My review will be based on listening sessions with Xduoo X1 and Xduoo X3. I can say that I wasn't having lot of expectetion for this one because of the lack of (unfair) enthusiast about it, perhaps this is why they impress me so much out of the box! I was particularly curious about their low amping needs because even if they are dirt cheap the V4 have silver plated twisted cable of great quality that would have been very usefull on the VJJB V1S wich I find they need high amping to get the best out of them. Both have a similar sound signature (could it be the same 6mm drivers?) and are excellent earphones for the price, they are on the bright side and very detailed sounding. The Somic have a little more meat in the lows and even at 16ohm they are easier to drive than the 8ohm VJJB V1S. Another time, it is hard to understand for westerner how it can be possible to get such good earphones with top noch cable for an absurb price that do not reflect quality of material potential.
 
Specs :
Brand Name: Somic
Style: In-Ear
Line Length: 1.2m
Resistance: 16Ω
Communication: Wired
Plug Type: L Bending
Sensitivity: 108±3dB
Connectors: AUX
Vocalism Principle: Dynamic
Frequency Response Range: 12-22000Hz
Model Number: Somic V4 IN-Ear Headphone
Package: Simple PVC Package/With Retail Package
Color: Black,Blue
Drive: 6mm Drivers
 

 
 
PACKAGE :

 
Not a lot to say here. You got the earphones and some extra tips.
 
CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN :
 

Okay, i'm obsess by the quality of the cable of this earphones, look a this sexy twists! The price tag will not even be enough to buy this cable, it is silver plated, beautifully twisted, grey-white and with a L plug at the end, look very sturdy and do what it should do wich is more power transmission. The plastic earshell do not look that nice tough, and are quite ugly to be honnest with their retro futuristic look and strange reactors-like-tubes, the translucid plastic is rather cheap looking but very light. What is suprising is that even with this strange form factor the V4 are quite comfortable to wear with the right tips and are about as comfortable than the VJJB V1S.
 
SOUND IMPRESSIONS :
 
DAP used : Xduoo X1, Xduoo X3
IEM for comparaisons :
VJJB V1S : Brighter and less bassy, little more treble, little smaller, harder to drive.
Tennmak Pro : Warmer with more bass, wider soundstage, more mids, more musical and comfortable and have a detachable cable.
 
 
LOWS :
The bass is fast, round and punchy without lot of sub bass. It isn't pumped up and super meaty but the little extension it got make it sound natural for acoustic music like jazz. Compared to the VJJB V1S the low are more present and give more dynamic to the whole music. With burn in it look like it improve even more. While I wasn't able to enjoy electronic music with the VJJB I can with the Somic, the 2 drivers implementation are very well tweaked and give great instruments separation. Bass do not bloat in mids region and never distort, it have good texture to it and as I listen to some Nosaj Thing right now I can easily hear all bass and subass layers and other frequencies that dance above it in a very impressive and well articulated presentation. Compared to the Tennmak Pro, the sound feel less fuller because of a smaller soundstage and lack in sub bass region, but instruments separation are clearer if not somewhat dryier too.
 
MIDS :
The Somic V4 do not have a V-shaped sound signature and aren't neutral too, this got lot of frequencies range tweaking in it including upper mids bump but the real tweak is more in low and high region wich is why we got so much details with this earphones. Still, the mid are there, clear and present, well placed and more foward than average V-shaped sound. They are bright but feel enough natural to be enjoy, they lack a little roundness to it but have good texture. The Tennmak haven't very foward mids either but presentation is more airy and envelopping than the Somic. The VJJB V1S are the more mid centered but can be too fowards and brigh sounding making this unpleasant ''shhhhh'' noise problem with some voice. All in all the V4 mids are very well presented and can even sound clear in the middle of big isntrumentation. Impressive!
 
HIGHS :
This is were I was mostly impress by this earphones and make me consider them as serious HIFI gear. The Somic are very detailed and for once we can feel that 2 drivers take care of the sound spectrum to his advandtage, low, mid and high are well separeted wich give a complex and dynamic presentation of different layers of sound. Here we have good treble sparkle that do not sound harsh, the microdetails are there as well as the good instruments separation that permits details to be more isolated in a beautifull, cohesive whole. Really, I listen right now to complex IDM with lot of layers of details and it deal with it without any congestion, for the price it is near inconcevable to find this type of sound!
 
FINAL WORDS :
 

 
 
The Somic V4 are underatted unknown gem that deserve more recognition, in the sub-20$ dual drivers earphones they are simply a no-brainer and surely the best deal you can get. As I have listen to Dual Drivers earphones ranging from 12$ (KZ ZS1) to 250$ (Shure SE425) I can say with no doubt that they can compete with Dual Drivers earphones way pricier and even beat lot of them, in other words : they are not from another league and if I have pay 50$ more I still would have consider it as an excellent choice. This earphones really produce serious hifi sound so I strongly suggest to anyone thinking buying good 10$ IEM to put 10$ more and get real audiophile sound that give a unique musical experience!
 
 

Tennmak Pro Review :
 

 
 
After having in my possession for a while my beloved Tennmak Dulcimer, I have decided to give a try to the Tennmak Pro because they have a dual drivers as well as a detachable cable. Let me say that I do not regret it and even if I have big attempt because of some positive impressions from headfier it surpass it to a point that I feel it's unfair to compare it with other earphones from it's price range. Chinese earphones market grow fast and the quality we can get for little money (from westerner point of view) is just incredible, lot of exemple of this (not so) hidden gems can be found on my ''Best sub-100$ earphones'' thread and I just begin to explore this market. However, really good sounding earphones still are exception, good sounding are easy to find but when we have everything like excellent construction, sound and comfort in one pair of earphones this is something special and the Tennmak Pro is the perfect exemple. Level of details, instruments separation texture, bass and soundstage is out of this world for his 25-30$ price. For me this is one of my favorite all-arounder custom earphones and the most comfortable for long listening session, I will like to try them with different cable and will perhaps update this review when I will test them with silver plated cable as I do not use the mic fonction of the cable it came with, wich is a very good quality one.
 
FEATURE:

1. Dual drivers--6mm+9mm drivers for each channel, make sound more deep, thick, smooth and strong.

1. Detachable design --MMCX connector ,easy to change cable

1. Sport design---earhook shape . will never drop off during sport

1. Universal remote--- compatible with IOS sytem and Android CTIA standard mobile phone 

1. Extra S / M sizes eartips to match your ear.

1. Tennmak exclusive product --launch on 3/16/2016

 
PACKAGE CONTENT:
 

Package came in a little Tennmak box with 3 pairs of silicone eartips and a nice little case. Simple and classy.
 
 
CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN :
 
Tennmak Pro construction is very good even if the earshell is made of translucid plastic. It look sturdy and feel solid in our hands. As the earshell are quite small for dual drivers it is very comfortable to wear and stood well in ears, you do not have to struggle to insert it correctly because the form factor do it for you. The detachable cable is thick, very flexible and of high quality, releive strain is good and you never ear any microphonic noise because of over ear design, you must pull hard to disconnect it tough, as well as pushing very hard (and carefully) to plug it back, it can be a little stressfull as I was afraid to break inner connection because I really need to push hard to connect the cable. All in all, this is incredible quality construction we get for such little money!
 


As seen, the Tennmak are about two third of the size of the Ownluxe, wich make them one of the smaller Dual Drivers you can find in this form factor.
 
 
 
SOUND IMPRESSIONS & COMPARAISONS :
 
DAP  used for this review : Ibasso Dx90, Xduoo X3, ONN X5
Ibasso Dx90: More organical and clear sounding, excellent instruments separation, details in abondance, little roll off vocal.
Xduoo X3 : Energic sound, little lack of air and cleannest, more foward vocal than Dx90, slightly bigger soundstage, mid bass bump.
ONN X5 : Bright sounding, fowards vocals that is well suited for the Pro, less clean sounding and smaller soundstage, shy instruments separation more ''in-your-face'' sounding of the 3 DAP.
 
Dual Drivers Earphones for comparaisons : Somic V4, Ownluxe A1, VJJB V1S
 
Somic V4 : Brighter than the Pro, more neutral sounding, smaller soundstager and less bassy, little harsh sounding and more highs. Tennmak are more musical and comfortable but less analytical.
 
Ownluxe A1: Darker sounding than the Pro, bigger soundstager and more decay in sub bass region, more air between instruments, less detailed but very good if you like the soundsignature. Pro are better all arounder and smaller and more comfortable. Tennmak Cable produce less microphonic too.
 
VJJB V1S : Brighter than the Pro, with little more micro details, smaller soundstager and less bass. Harsh texture and less musicality than the pro, less clean sounding too.
 
 
LOWS:
Perhaps the Tennmak Pro aren't exactly basshead earphones but they have plenty of it that will be enough to please any bass lover. Lows are thick and weighty with good sub bass and resolution, not extremely textured and on the warm side but really easy and fun to listen to. Bass is the first they that you enjoy with this earphones because it make the sound full and extremely enjoyable because of the immersive soundstage that it have too. You do not need lot of power to get the big punch, with other earphones sometime bass will be weak because amping isn't giving enough juice, with the Pro it will be right sounding with any DAP, Xduoo X3 and ONN X5 do not have any difficulties to have proper amping, even a Ruizu X02 will give enough power to get a full, thick sound out of the Pro wich is something to seriously take in account when you want the right earphones.
 
MIDS :
Even if the lows are quite immense and authoritative, vocals aren't drown in it, it sit there with great details and texture even if it isn't in a very foward way. If you use a DAP with fowards mids it will sound better for sure, the ONN X5 is a good exemple of this and his bright sound with mids bump is a great duo with the warm, clean and bassy Tennmak. Because of the good instruments separation medium range is well articulated and fully represented, not hiss to be heard or weak frequencies tweak that make it feel unatural, this is smooth sounding mids with great presence that sit comfortably on the vast bass.
 
HIGHS :
As a warm and forgiving sounding dual drivers earphones the Tennmak Pro have a sparkly treble with a little roll off at the bottom end of highs. Details are well rendered tough and never sound harsh or forced, it flow naturally and even if it is not an ultra analytical earphones we enjoy a full sounding experience with excellent dynamic and instruments separation. I find the Pro more detailed than the Ownluxe that cost twice the price but as the form factor suggest, the soundstage is a little smaller. The VJJB V1 are more bright and foward treble wich make them a little more detailed but congested too, as if the sound is squeez for his juice, I do not like agressive sounding earphones wich is why the Tennmak Pro is my favorite of all this dual drivers earphones, it have a easy listening sound that have weight to it wich make sound presentation more exciting and organic, the sound space is very lively and immersive and because of the warm sound signature it is an excellent all arounder earphones that can suit any style and excell with most of them.
 

 
 
FINAL WORDS:
 
As a owner of more than 20 different earphones, I cannot say I use them all on a regular basis. The Tennmak Pro is one of the rare exception and since I have them they are my go to earphones when I go outside, their comfort and always friendly sound make them a daily joy. I really don't think you can have better dual drivers earphones under 50$ and i'm not sure under 100$ neither (will have to test more of this price range). To be honnest I prefer the Tennmak to the Ownluxe A1 too wich have a clumsy cable and lack in mids and details, even if they sound very good the soundsignature is more capricious. If you search for an excellent dual drivers earphones that are small, extremely comfortable, do not make microphonic noise, got a weighty sound with excellent bass performance, present mids, good soudstage and excellent instruments separation do not look further, this can be the end game for you. I can't recommend enough the Tennmak Pro, they are an exception that make look the KZ ZS1 like a toy and the VJJB V1S like an austere sounding experience.
 
I buy my Tennmak Pro at Tennmak Official store and think it's the best price you can find them:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Tennmak-Tenmk-Pro-Dual-Dynamic-Driver-Professional-In-Ear-Sport-Detach-Earphone-Headphones-with-Microphone-Remote/32624020655.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.187.tIkw9M

SO today is time to make a little review of a not so well keeped secret chinese monitor headphone Gem.
 

 
 
I heard about the Superlux headphones here on headfi and was rather sceptical of the sound they can produce, I was like yeah they are dirt cheap and could be great value, but how good at this price the sound can be? It can't be a serious sounding monitor, can it?
Well, when I finally see them at Gearbest store in sale for a more than ridiculous price I decided I have nothing to loose and who know as i'm a music producer perhaps I will really use them to mix some tracks...
And I finally put them on my head and begin to listen to a violin quartet and was like:
Okay, this headphones are not a legend for nothing, they deserve their most-buy reputation, this is serious cans with a serious sound, extremely neutral and detailed, light to wear and comfortable and I can really make great mix with them even if they cost third time less than my now gone Sony MDR-7609.
 
 
CONSTRUCTION, PACKAGE & DESIGN:
 

 
 
Package look like a dollar store joke and I was laughing first time I see it, thinking: their you go for your 20 boxes dumb head, what were you hoping for? A Miracle? Yes the package is a joke, it is not serious, it is a price cutter so you can buy a miracle! Just throw this in trash can and concentrate on headphones instead.The construction isn't bad at all for the price and make me think of AKG K240 on all aspect, HD681 just try less harder to look fancy with plastic piece but both are about the same construction taking apart the fact that the AKG have a detachable cable. So construction is all plastic but well assembled and extremely light tp wear wich make them very comfortable for long listening sessions. It do not use the kind of glossy plastic that is easy to break and I think durability isn't that bad because I do not instinctively fear to drop it on like with other plastic headphones I have. This type of construction, even if a little cheap, is incredible for the price. Clamping force is light and earcups are movable and take the form of your head.
 
SPECS:

1. Headphones Type
   Headphones - binaural
2. Headphones Form Factor
   On-ear
3. Headphones Technology
   dynamic
4. Sound Output Mode
   stereo
5. Frequency Response
   10 - 30000 Hz
6. Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
   0.25% %
7. Sensitivity
   98 dB
8. Impedance
   32 Ohm
9. Diaphragm
   2 in
10. Magnet Material
    neodymium

 

 
SOUND IMPRESSIONS:
 
So, it is write 2X 32OHM on the headphones cups wich make them 64Ohm and a little hard to drive with average music players. For this review I use my Ibasso DX80 as well as my SANSUI amp with Ibasso DX90 line out. The Superlux HD681 can't be drive properly with Xduoo X3 and even less with ONN X5 or Ruizu X02. You don't know what this headphones are capable off if you do not have an amp or powerfull mixer. The HD681 are more easy to drive than the 128 Ohm Superlux HD681B but to get full sound, bass and air between instruments you don't need to crank the volume, just to give them the right power so they can breathe properly. When use with a powerfull amp the real deal begin, we are now blessed with a magificent and detailed sound with very wide soundstage and fowards texture and treble. There lot of air between instrumentation and separation of them are great because of this. The Sansui AU-D5 amp give some welcome warm to this rather bright earphones too, when listening to classical this is really a great headphone, we heard every details of violin player including breathe and bow microdetails scrubbing texture, the acoustic guitar chord is full of sparkle and we feel the fingers pulling every rope. The HD681 really hit higher than their price range and sound exceptionnaly good for this very reason.
 
LOWS:
The Superlux HD681 aren't basshead headphones at all and have the typical sound that we want from  a monitor headphones wich mean detailed, neutral with a good instruments separation. Bass isn't very round and heavy, even if it dig deep and low it isn't the type of bass we feel, tough with a powerfull amp it come to life and have more weight, this headphones will not be appropriate for IDM or rap because of the airyness presentation of the soundspectrum. Still, right now as I listen to Jamie Saft New Standard jazz album, Steve Swallow bass is very well rendered and every note clearly audible, when the drum take more place it is less clearly presented tough because the toms decay can interfer with bass decay. Anyway, the HD681 love (piano!) jazz and play it with great precision and energy, some albums can sincerly sound memorable with them.
 
MIDS:
Now I listen to the excellent Aventine album by Agnes Obel, her voice float around me and have great warm, texture and autority. Instrumentation is more foward than her voice but in an immersive way and has the voice is in the center of it we don't feel it is veiled or too dark. Another time texture is a little agressive even if it isn't harsh for the ears. Microdetails are foward too and the overall sound presentation lack a little roundness or softness to be truely mesmerizing-this is were the ridiculous price tag show his greatness limit. Anyway, the HD681 medium frequencies are very realistic and far from being in the backseat and the texture is welcome for extra resolution that can give more dynamic to some music. Violin, piano and vocals sound very good with the HD681 and acoustic music is a real joy because of the analytical presentation showing everything that is going on in a track, for the better and the worst. Because of this extra texture some signers voice can hiss (Beth Gibbons does this).
 
HIGHS:
This headphones have LOT of treble to share and are on the bright side even if a relaxed version of it. We have plenty of texture, microdetails and treble sparkle here, sometime it can even be too much of it. For exemple, if you listening to an old vinyl recording the background hiss will be too fowards and perhaps spoil the clarity of instrumentation. But if the recording is perfectly clear this extra treble will give extra details and texture to instruments, you will eaisly pick everything you want from a track as the neutral presentation with foward treble will give as much importance to cymbals than bass and guitar. I guess with very complexe and dense tracks it can became overwhelming for a proper musicality as every sound will be be pickable by the ears. I consider this as a must for monitor headphones tough, wich are use exactly to be able to calibrate every sounds and instruments in your mix.
 
CONCLUSION:
The Superlux HD681 are incredible headphones that can be use by serious musician as well as audiophile on budget that want a realistic and analytical headphones. They outperform way pricier headphones and are extremely comfortable for long listening. If you want a little more bass you can try the HD681B wich have a little more but are even more hard to drive. Superlux really impress me with their budget friendly headphones and earphones that have a real hifi sound and really deserve the admiration they already have.
You can find them here for an ultimately absurb 20$:
http://www.gearbest.com/headsets/pp_270782.html
 
LONG LIVE TO SUPERLUX!!!!

The Ruizu X02 is a little chinese music player that is very popular right now, strangely tough there a big enthusiast thread about it no review can be found on Headfi, what's that?
Is it because it sound bad? I don't think so.
Is it because it do not sound HIFI? Perhaps, but at this ridiculous price who would think to get an exceptional sound chip and ultra clear sound? Not me for sure, I buy this enjoyable ''toy'' just to have a music player that I can take as back up or when it rain or snow or became dangerous to walk with an expensive device at night in a town with high rate of criminal activity.
 

 
The Ruizu X02 have 2 versions, 4G and 8G, with expendable memory trough microSd card. It can play Flac too and have a very long battery life (up to 80h).
 
Info:

RUIZU X-02 pocket 4GB HiFi media MP3 player
Compact and portable, convenient to carry anywhere
Lossless sound fidelity, loyal to the original sound
With digital display, supports AMV format, photos of JPG, JPEG, BMP format, and e-book with TXT format
Easy system: The most simplified system, easy operation
Audio format: MP3, WMA, WAV, APE, FLAC
Support TF card (not included in the package)
Record function

 
CONSTRUCTION & UI:


(From left to right: RUIZU X02, Idealist S1813, ONN X5)
 
Construction is all plastic but feel nice in the hand. Buttons too feel nice under the finger. Microsd slot work well and is easy to inser and extract the card. Screen is quit bright and easy to read. UI really impress me by his user friendly and intuitive approach, all operation can be make fast and the firmware is stable without any problem (the better out of the 3 showed up there).
 

 
SOUND :
 
So YES the sound is good for his price and can compete easily with other sub 50$ popular music players. At 15$ (usd) X02 is not the king of sub 100$ DAP for sure but it is surely in his price range. The sound is clear and bright with good energy and instruments separation if you use the right earphones with it. In fact, with good earphones this player can be sufficient for average music enthusiast that just want a ultra portable player with super autonomy. It is a perfect travel DAP that will do his job when it need to, nothing more nothing less.
 
 
LOWS :
The bass isn't enormous with the X02 and I guess it's because it do not deliver alot of power (wich is perhaps why his battery can stay so long). The bass is there but lack in weight and energy, it can sound good in classical music because of his bright nature but not in IDM or big beat music. Strangely, the lack of bass doesn't make music unatural and can be resolve with bassy earphones, when I use my Tennmak Dulcimer it get better, even more with my Superlux HD381 because of his good resolution.
 
MIDS :
Vocal are quite foward with the X02 and can be easily discernable even in bad recording. This make it even more adequate for instrumental and signer based music wich is were this DAP excell. Listening it right now with the Letv Reverse is really a good combination for opening mids (and bass) and make the sound more spacious and soundstage more articulate. With intimate recording it can sound sincerly good, as always I will say the earphones combination is crucial. So even if the sound isn't the clearest it can perform pretty good with the right earphones.
 
HIGHS :
The Ruizu X02 haven't lot of sparkly treble, more the opposite, the highs aren't particularly clear or present, details retreival don't feel abnormally bad because the energical music rendering make it quite fun to listen to. I do not hear lot of hissing too, wich is very good for this price range! Anyway, details retreival don't feel veiled and with analytical earphones ou can have a good musical ride.
 
Fast comparaison:
Idealist S1813: Ruizu have a more bright and neutral sound while the Idealist is more open and airy with a little more bass. UI is better and firmware do not crash and read correctly Microsd cards.
ONN X5: X5 sound is more detailed and clear, instruments separation is better, it can read HIRES files too. UI and Firmware of X02 is still better and line in have no static noise problem.
 
VERDICT :
 
The Ruizu X02 is an excellent music device for the price and do not sound bad at all. An average listener that just want to enjoy music on the go could have an excellent pairing of earphones and DAP for an absurd price, for a little 25-30$ you can get the X02 with earphones like the Superlux HD381, Letv Reverse or Rock Zircon from Gearbest or on Aliexpress, this is more than pleasing for on budget audiophile. The sound is gentle and perfect for long listening even if a tad on the bright side because of is V roll off nature sound. Anyway, the battery is life is incredible, it got radio and recorder, can work with 64g microsd.
 

 
 
Ruizu X02 deserve his popularity and can't be beat by any other dap at this price range for now.

Xduoo X3 review :





After two months of daily use, the Xduoo X3 give me already enough pleasure to make me want to share my enthusiast impressions about him to headfiers around the world. This player is a little miracle at his price and permit to new comer in hifi world to enjoy audiophile quality at a very accessible price. It is a revolution in itself as no other music player in this price category have this type of DAC chip that the X3 hide in his sleek body : the famous Cirrus Logic CS4938. Being able to install this chip and OPA1612 and LMH6643 amps in a device that small is a tour de force from Xduoo, and most important of all : making it sound really good. Since the first day I use this DAP i'm constantly blown away by it's excellent sound, I say this as an happy owner of Ibasso Dx90 and Dx80 (that have same DAC chips as X3). Simply put, this music player have a sound quality of 250-500$ range DAP and can be compare to them without feeling inferiority complexe. I'm not hysterical when i'm writing this, just plain objective about SOUND quality wich is what I focus in my reviews for ranking.




CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN :

This DAP is smaller than what I think wich is very impressive for the power it deliver. It is about the same size than the Sony NWE music player series, but thicker, with a beautifull all metal construction and the weight that come with it (when I made research for the Sony DAP I was laughing out loud about bad sound reviews as the price of this cheap DAP are 10$ less than the X3). The construction is admirable, the brushed metal body is very solid and you feel you have a quality product in your hand, something precious and promising. Screen is very little tough and the information can be hard to read in big sunlight. One thing to know about the metal cosntruction is that even if it's solid, it is easy to scratch and for now, it is hard to find an appropriate protective case as the one they sold let expose the scrachable surface. Perhaps the black version isn't as easily scrachable than the uncolored version but i'm not sure, so if you are an esthetic freak you will became paranoid with this device. Anyway, as i'm all about sound and life durability, this did not really bother me, I try to protect the X3 as I could but after one week it was already full of little scratch. On the right side fo X3 body you have 2 microSD slot, on the left the Lock switch and at the low side you have one Headphone out and one (precious) Line out, both look of excellent quality. About the MicroSD slot, first time I receive it I was thinking it was defective because I wasn't able to stick it in the player. Don't panic and take a big breathe : you need a really little tool or very long nail to be able to install it correctly because it most go DEEP in the X3 body (I use a pencil tip for this).









FIRMWARE :
I'm not very critical about firmware, if it does well his job and don,t crash or interfer with sound quality I will not complaint. The X3 have a rather minimalist navigation menu based on folders, it is not the more user friendly firmware and can be annoying when you want to go back to the main folder because it will sometime go back to the main menu when you press back button. Anyway, you can install ROCKBOX for better firmware, but be aware it do not support SACD. I did not have sound problem or serious crash with this firmware so my impression is neutral (i'm use to chinese firmware). You don't have equalizer with X3, but have 2 DAC sound filter (Sharp, Slow roll off) and 2 gain mode (0db or 6db extra amping). All in all, the UI is easy to understand and okay for me.

Specifications

1. SoC: Ingenic JZ4760B
   
2. DAC: Cirrus Logic CS4398
   
3. Amplifiers: 2 x OPA1612 + LMH6643
   
4. Output power: 250 mW @ 32Ω
   
5. Line out level: 1,5 VRMS
   
6. Frequency range: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz (±0.5 dB)
   
7. Total harmonic distortion + noise: 0,002%
   
8. The ratio signal/noise ratio: 112 dB
   
9. Recommended load impedance: 8Ω – 150Ω
   
10. Support for lossless formats: APE, FLAC, AIFF, WAV, ALAC
    
11. Supported resolutions: up to 24 bit, 192 KHz
    
12. Support lossy formats: MP3, OGG, ACC, WMA
    
13. DSD support: DFF format (DSF promised later)
    
14. Built-in memory: no
    
15. External storage: 2 x MicroSD up to 128 GB
    
16. Battery: 3.7 V, 1500 mAh
    
17. Working time on single charge: about 8 hours
    
18. Charging time: <2 hours (charger for 2)
    
19. Screen: the 1.3″, OLED
    
20. Dimensions: 105,5 mm × 45 mm × 14 mm
    
21. Weight: 100 g
    

Earphones : LZ-02A, Superlux HD381, Letv Reverse, Tennmak Dulcimer, Westone custom ES2
Headphones : Koss Portapro, Grado Sr325i, Edifier HD815
DAP for comparaisons : Ibasso Dx80 (same CS4398 DACx2), Ibasso Dx90 (ESS Sabre 9018 DAC) and ONN X5 HiRes player (50$ DAP comparable to Fiio X1)



Xduoo X3 is a winner all the way, it's very difficul to be objectively critical with him because of his price that do not reflect the sound quality we can have out of his marvellous Cyrus DAC. When I compare it to the Ibasso Dx80, I feel both have the same sound signature and if you compare their sound from their line out you will be hard to find any difference. It perform especially well with bright earphones because the overall soundsignature of the DAC section is on warm side with a little roll of in the highs.The first major difference is the amping, Dx80 have a 3600 mAh while the X3 have a 1500mAh, the fact that the Dx80 have more than 2 time the power output make him more appropriate for 32Ohm to 150 Ohm headphones comparatively to the X3 that give the best with 16Ohm earphones, it give more weight to bass and air to soundstage and instruments separation, wich make you think X3 is veiled when it's not. Use the right earphones and miracles WILL happen, some easy to drive headphones can sound good with it too, like the Koss Portapro but with the Grado Sr325i it's another story, yes, it will drive them enough to enjoy music at high volume if you use High gain but it will not sound right and will feel anemic in his normaly wide soundsignature. But X3 engineer think about this and include a very usefull and trustable Line out with the player, wich can give you endless soundsignature possibilies, for me, Line out is having 2 DAP instead of one and expense the value of his usability. Really, this player have everything to became a CULT device!

LOWS :
The X3 dig deep in the lows but with some more demanding earphones or headphones it will need an external amp to make the best out of his hifi DAC. Bass is vast and kind of airy, sub bass is a little push fowards wich make it sound a little less clear and detailed than the Ibasso DX90 bass, it have good impact too and decay but is far from being overly colored like the Ipod or Sony bass. We feel it more than the Dx90 and have a fuller, more round and musical sound instead of a seriously analytical one. The bass is as foward as the mediums frequencies wich can interfer with instruments separation clarity sometime. This little bass hump help bass shy earphones like the LZ-02A to sound more energic and fuller and really show what they are capable of. Without external amp the X3 lows can struggle to dig deeper, but it only happen if the earphones have low sound pressure or big amping needing. However X3 have plenty of power for average earphones and can drive pretty well 32Ohm headphones too.

MIDS :
The medium frequencies are more foward than with the Ibasso Dx90. We got the same sounsignature that the Ibasso Dx80 with a little less air between instruments and impact in bass region (DX80 have 2 Cirrus DAC). We never struggle to find the vocal with X3, wathever earphones you use, they are warm and present and in the front seat, bass can beautifully embrace them depending of the music, the dynamic and cleanesss is incredible for this price. Comparatively to the DX90 mids are less analytical and cold sounding, more musical and forgiving. No harsh peak with it, just liquid, organic feel, it flow with the music effortlessly. You got plenty of details too, but this is not ultra textured sound, more a easy listening type of sound that do not cause fatigue and is very inviting for repeated listening session. The earphones you use will modify for the best or the worst this soundsignature, with V shaped like the Tennmak Dulcimer it will help to render a more fuller sound by giving them more mids.

HIGHS :
Yes we got LOT of details with the Xduoo X3 but it isn't an analytical or artificial sounding DAP at all. The highs are smooth as well as the treble. Perhaps I will have love more teeth and sparkle to the treble, but as we never have to struggle to find details in music I get to really enjoy this natural sounding presentation. I can close my eyes and get drown in music with this player, it do not keep me on alert like a cat that can hear up to 65Khz frequencies. The music flow, instruments take their place in sound space beautifully, micro details are still here but not pushed in front, cymbals decay in the air naturally without never sounding too harsh. The miracle with this player is to be able to produce the perfect All-arounder Hifi sound.

CONCLUSION & Further impressions :



It isn't easy to write about specific frequencies range of a DAP as the earphones you use will have a big impact on the soundsignature. What I can say is that the Xduoo X3 sound extremelly good and will even please somebody demanding that own 500$ DAP or an Hifi Homesystem. Myself I have own and heard 10 different Dap ranging from 20 to 500$, I prefer the Xduoo over the Fiio X3, ONN X5 and even the Fiio X5 (from what I remember). Sometime I prefer it to the Ibasso DX90 even if it stay as my favorite DAP for revealing listening. If I try to search for cons I will say the Battery life will not last long with High gain if you listen like me at high volume (or use hard to drive earphones that need more volume), myself I rarely have more than 6 hours of playing time. The UI isn't very intuitive but do the job and is stable. Micro SD are fastly read and I never encounter problem with my 2 64g card that I do not format. About MicroSd, inserting it is another problem, this isn't the type of player you can change card on the go as it need or (extremly) long nail or a little object to push it right (I was thinking my Xduoo was defect first day I receive it because of this). Metal body is prompt to scratch without a protective case.

I conclude that this is the best Hifi player you can get for 100$ right now, NOTHING can beat it and you must go in the 500$ range or even more to benifit a better sound and amping capacity. As we can't have ultra portability and a BIG battery, I advice to buy this player if you want to use it ONLY with earphones and use a portable external amp for headphone of over 32 Ohm, tough their some exception if your headphones have high sound pressure. If you plan to use it with you headphones collection without any amping I think you will be deceive and think it sound shallow, wich isn't the case at all. For me, Xduoo X3 is a game changer that open door to anybody that want to take a step in audiophile world, if this player existed 5 years ago, I will be more rich right now and wouldn't have spent this much money to find the perfect players by making numberous mistakes (Colorfly C3, Fiio X3, Hifiman 600).

XDUOO X3 is a MUST BUY for ANY music lover in need of an all-in one portable solution or second ultra-portable DAP.
Can't be more enthusiast about a music player than this!!!!

-SUPERLUX HD381 REVIEW-

 
 
After 2 weeks of use, I already feel Necessary to review the SUPERLUX HD381. Why? Because they are simply mind blowing for a sub-30$ earphones!!
In the last 2 month I have listen to about 20 pairs of different chinese brands earphones and it was a revolution for me that is use to spend way more money to find good sounding earphones. I was already a owner of Vsonic GR06, but do not feel this earphones was really a bang for the buck at 60$ compared to more popular brands like Sony, Yamaha, Sennheiser, Westone, Shure etc. My real surprise happen with the Xiaomi V2 that was less than 20$ at the time and deliver a very impressive and addictive V-Shaped sound that drive me to use them more than way pricier earphones I have in my collection. Before the HD381 I try the HD381B and was madly deceive, I wasn't able to want to listen at them because the sound was so badly tweaked it was like taking off musicality of your favorite tracks, who want that? Now, with the Superlux HD381 we are in another league....at a cheaper price (depending where you buy them), this earphones have enormous airy soundstage, big bass that doesn't drown the mids, impressive texture and details, and just the right sound signature spot between brigthness and warmness. Really, can't be more enthusiast about an earphones (even if I don't think about the price tag)!
 
CONSTRUCTION and DESIGN:
Superlux isn't know for fancy construction, they sell cheap headphones and earphones that have the goal of being enough serious looking and sounding to be used by professionnal and musicians and yes serious Audiophile on budget. This earphones have and average all plastic construction, the cable is cheap and easily brokable but you get and extension L cable that is very usefull. They aren't beautifull neither ugly, and the earshell have an interesting form with somekind of hole and damping material in the front wich inflict on the soundstage performance I guess. Their no Left right marking, just a red spot to know wich earphones is the left one. The HD381 are very comfortable and the cable tangling do not produce microphonic sound. The earshell go out of your ears a little, so it isn't really advice to sleep with them as they are too big (long). The eartips include with them do a good job, but as always, I use my favorite memory foam tips that do better for noise cancelation and long listening comfort.
 

 
 
 
 
SOUND IMPRESSIONS :
 
First time I put the HD381 in my ears and press play buttom on my Xduoo X3 I barely fall of my chair, I really but really wasn't thinking it would sound that good and precious. I don't say the sound is 300$ worth, it's only one dynamic driver in a particular earshell afterall, but the whole sound experience is so well articulate and wide, it's like having monitor earphones with extra bass and a fun soundsignature. The presentation is airy and authoritative at the same time, with excellent instruments separation and sound imaging, good texture and details but not in an analytical micro details focused way. It's all about musicality here and a very versatile one.
 
LOWS:
I think that even if the lows aren't extremely bumped, bass head with various music taste will adore the bass performance. It is round, punchy, with good decay and texture, and can deal with acoustic and digital bass. The bass sound as good with jazz than with rap, perhaps basshead will like more sub-bass, anyway, we got the sub bass too with these but they do not corrupt the sound and drown other frequencies like with other excellenet earphones as the LETV Reverse. This mean it's a little brighter too, but very very little, it's because the treble is extended and permit this texture we have with cello or slap bass that give realism to the sound presentation. Compared to the Tennmak Dulcimer, bass is less boomy but permit a more neutral sound that give a better instruments separation and details retreival. We don't fell the bass stole the show, but is a vital part of the show.
 
MIDS:
The HD381 excell in low and mid frequencies range. The vocals are over average fowards and did not have the drawback of V shaped sound signature. It is very present and textured, did not feel harsh and is more warm than bright, even if the treble is well extended and can reveal background noise of bad recording. The sound is wide and envelopping, and as I listen to Agnes Obel right now (with Fiio E7), I feel overwhelmed by beauty, it is like being in a big room with her and having the chance to taste all the subtility of her magnificent voice. No strange mids bump here, it is like an amplified neutrality (hum, yes). The soundsignature is not clinical at all, and when I talk about neutrality I talk about a musical one, not a dead serious monitoring one. Now I listen to Linda Perhacs on my Ibasso Dx80, this is a very good album to test mids and whole frequencies capacity because it have lots of instruments, texture and micro details...not alot of earphones can deal with this recording but another time the Superlux HD381 excell! All background voices layers are well rendered and separate, with front signers in the front seat, cymbal, guitars, textures, energy, I really can hear EVERYTHING and to be honnest, i'm not even sure it never happen with any earphones I use, here, we have zero congestion even if we throw hundreds of different sound in this little earshells...sound imagery is magnificent and wide...okay, enough.
 
HIGHS:
Not because other frequencies range are the stars that the highs are rolled off here, nope, the treble is full of sparkle and super extended, wich can lean thinking this is bright earphones. I can't say they are bright cause I find them warm sometime, can't say I find them warm cause I find them bright other time, so, what term to use? I don't know, musical with good warmnest and brightish treble? We can find micro details here, easily, and nothing sound metallic or hissy like the cymbals extension can sound with bright analitycal earphones. The highs are simply not overly focused but can be easily heard as they participate naturally in the whole spectrum of sound presentation. I listen now to Cartography by Arve Henriksen, a complexe ambient jazz album that mix acoustic and electronic instruments, have lot of textural sound and different frequencies in it, a very difficult album to enjoy with earphones because of the envelopping experience we search with this kind of music, if it was too bright it will sound distracting and spoil the whole experience. The HD381, another time, don't deceive at all, saxophone is wide and go up to the top, micro detials are good but not extremely sparkly and more neutral so we can heard much more different details in fact and the sound live in a wide well rendered sound imagery. If the highs are suppose to be agressive it will be too, some snare hit was like this in the album and perfectly rendered. Yes, the HD381 got it ALL!!!
 
CONCLUSION:
I think you already know it: I ADORE this earphones and since I have them I obssessively listen to them even if I have earphones that cost 50-100 and even 500$. Not that the HD381 beat them in all category, it's the musicality and versatility of the sound that I like, I can choose any music style with them and it will sound good or excellent. I say this without thinking the supremely absurb price I paid for them...if I think about this too, I will became insane trying to understand how they could acheive this kind of masterpeice that beat most of sub-100$ earphones I ever heard.
 
!!!!!!!!MORE THAN HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!
 

 

MRZ TOMAHAWK Musicmakers Earbuds review :





I'm not really a earbuds fan and have very fews of them in my life.
Lately my curiosity about their open sound potential begin to grow and I want to try some promising ones. Because of the good reviews and praising about the Mrz Tomahwak here on Headfi, I decide to try them and have big attempt when I receive it. My attempt wasn't deceive but I wasn't blown away too by the sound these earbuds produce, in fact, to got the best out of them you need a quite powerfull DAP, these earbuds are capricious like my grados SR325 and need lot of goodwill from their user to be enjoy, once you give them what they want they will sound sincerly superb.

CONSTRUCTION :

EDIFIER M710 On-ear headphones
 

 
 
This is the third Edifier headphones I review and it conclude a very pleasant travel in Edifier Sound world. I discover that a brand  mostly know for his speakers making can make very good headphones at a more than competitive price. In fact, now that I listen to 2 headphones and 1 earphone, i'm more curious than ever about Edifier and will surely try other models like the flagship model H850.
 
CONSTRUCTION:
Excellent construction for the price. Hard solid plastic with brushed metal earcups part, movable earcups for transportability, classy looking. Moving earcups can make plastic sound while listening. Cable look sturdy and have good strain relief. Due to his rather hard clamping force, this headphones can hurt ears after 2 hours of listening but will became less tigh for the head with time. I do not test the mic but the volume control is very usefull and work very well with any device (not like volume control with buttons that work only with smartphone and are useless with DAP).
 

 
 
PACKAGE:

 
Package include two Dual Male to Female 3.5 adapter’s .  One is a cable and the other is a airport adapter. Both look of good durable quality.
 

 
 
 
 
SOUND:
 
Sources (fast impressions):
 
Ibasso Dx90 : U shaped sound. Punchy bass but lack extension and roundness, mids are foward and a little bright, good texture and details retreival but not as neutral as I will like, over average sounstage, bright sound without harshness of sybilance. Less clear than closed one. Voice can sound unatural *shhhh'' noise. Overall sound feel little bit veiled. Dry and airy.
Using an Ipod touch : Bass too foward and mids even less present, bass bloat lot of details and can hurt ears. Less clarity and V shaped sound plus Vshaped source don't go well togheter.
 
Ibasso Dx80: The laid back and warm sound of Dx80 is a good combination with the M710 and make it more musical and smooth sounding. Bass is rounder and mids are still foward but less bright.
 
Fiio E7 : Warm dark sound, basshead sound, round punchiness, lack of treble sparkle and details, mids do not seperate from other frequencies range, lack of cleaness, good dynamic and fast fun sound, too bassy can cause ear fatigue and bloat details.
 
 
Macbook pro : bassy and dark, peircing treble, not good.
 
 
LOWS:
Every Edifier headphones I try are bassy in there soundsignature, this one have a mid-bass bump and is very punchy. There good bright texture in the bass but it do not go extremely low, sub bass is a little bloated too. Bass can feel harsh or too grainy sometime because of his brightness. Still, we can feel it alot and it give energy to the sound, bass do not bleed in the mid fequencies section and can remind the Grado Sr60 in it's style. Cello and slap bass sound thick and natural most of the time. With the Ibasso Dx80 it sound very good because of the warm sound presentation, but with a music source that have bad bass eq it will be out of control and break your skull in two half.
 
MIDS:
This closed cans are all about mids, the vocals are very foward and gently bright, it is dense and airy too. It make a very engaging listen when the right signers is used. With too congested or complexe music track the mids can get lost in a wall of sound because instruments separation is not the more articulate with the M710. It is a fun and all-arounder sound signature that can sound good with Classical as well as with Hip-hop or foll. I really like the foward and in-your-face presentation of vocals that sometime feel in the backseat with other closed headphones. Of all 3 Edifier headphones I try the M710 have the best mediums frequencies and have the more ''linear'' sounsignature in the sens that Bass And Mids are adjusted to feel more present without sacrifiing a realist sound experience.
 
HIGHS & TREBLE:
Grainy treble and roll off high with some extracted frequencies peak to help details be perceive, this is how I will describe the high frequencies range. Treble is in the harsh side, but do not induce ear fatigue because of the warmness that smooth the sound presentation. Some people will consider the M710 as dark or veiled, it is true that it is not an extrely clean sound, as if it was a direct competitor to the Sony on-ear headphones soundsignature wich can remind a little the Edifier one but Sony is more harsh, agessive, dry and way less musical. To get the best, you need a good clean sounding DAP like the Ibasso Dx90 wich have the ability to clear as much a it's possible a Headphones sound.
 
 
OVERALL SOUND IMPRESSIONS:
This closed cans really impress me for their price, even if they are bright they have an elegant sound presentation that is airy and musical. Soundstage is more large than Grado S60 even if they are not open back headphones. If you lsearch a good looking headphones that will deliver good musicality with all kind of music, the Edifier M710 are made for you. They look way above their price tag and the construction will have a long durability. If you have a music player like an Xduoo, Ibasso or ecven Fiio X1 it will be a delight to use this headphones, if you have a bassy smartphone or Ipod you will have to EQ to get the best of them. Really, at 40$ this headset is a no-brainer.
 
!!HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Okay, i'm the nostalgic type.
 
Sometime you make error you know, like letting go the girl of your life for an absurd reason or even worst like letting go the Xuelin Ihifi 812 V2 because you are an immature audiophile on budget that think next DAP purchase (FiioX3) will sound better.
Yes, I sold you Xuelin and i'm so so so sorry, I shouldn't, I was  a megalomaniac wool-gathering, can you forgive me and come back please?
I think about you alot, so, from the dream I still have of your syrupy and envelopping sound I will try to write a tearful hymn to you. I really don't understand why you just have one review and that nobody praise your sound....you deserve better!
 
-REMEMBERING A LOST PARADISE-
 
The Xuelin ihifi 812V2 was my first HiFi DAP ever owned, it have a special place in my broken heart. This DAP was a torture to use but an healing to listen too, I remember the first time I press play, the voice of Hope Sandoval crawl on me and soak all my being in a nectar of beauty. It was overwhelming, the voice was so enveloping and tridimentional. Yes. I cry. Never before trough ipod or Sony media player have I heard so much details and soundstage, the sparkle in treble was so detailed and sirupy too....oh my, is it a good idea to remember my lost love?
The Xuelin doesn't have a V shaped soundsignature, more a neutral one with a hint of musicality, we can say it sound like an Hifiman 601 with a little bit less bass, a more articulate sound and more fowardness and fullness in medium frequencies.
 
 
LOWS:
The bass was big and gently punchy with this player, from what I remember it goes very low but have no emphasis on sub bass. Comparatively to other players, you don't need external amping to earn the real bass from your headphones and it's now that I know how precious this capability really is. Right now i'm listening to Xduoo X3 and feel the amping is just good for IEM or 16OHM headphones, go to capricious 32Ohm one and you will not exploit the full potential of them. I was listening mostly to my 32Ohm Grado Alessandro with my Xuelin and it was a superb synergy, even with my Ibasso Dx90 I could not say that because of the soundsignature of his dac so it's a miracle in it's own. Bass is Beefy and round, it's really there and can be feel, extremely well presented with enough air between instrumentation to make it realistic. It give warm to vocals instead of stealing the star of them.
 
MIDS:
Oh my, oh my! The mids are Superb, warm, vast, textured and airy! How could it be possible? I really don't know but I guess it's the kind of mids you get from way pricier audio system using a Wolfson WM8740, I don't listen to the Astell & Kern that cost twice the price but can surely say that it isn't because a DAP have a Wolfson dac that it will sound good: The Fiio X3, my ultimate deception, is the proof of this statement. It is how you use the Dac potential that can do miracle and the Ihifi 812V2 really surpass any attempt here. I have own Colorfly C3, Fiio X3, Hifiman 601, Fiio X5 (for 3 weeks) and Ibasso Dx90 (still have) and can say the Xuelin got the more beautifully presented mids of all of them, it is THAT good. Not bright but textured, not congested or regressed but foward and pround to be, not artificial sounding but natural and sweet. Mids are so good that you have to be punish and this is with the highs frequencies: they do not extend to the bottom end.
 
HIGHS:
Okay, to be honest I do not feel a lack of details because the overall sound was too delicious. But I remember that it was sounding less exceptional with extremely complex electronic music, in this case the low and mids was somewhat distracting and it cause a lack of energy and speed in sound rendering. Strangely, I find the treble sparkly, but the roll off in highs frequencies above 10khz (approximatively!) remind me of Hifiman 601 and give an analogue sounding to the soundsignature. So is it negative or positive? I think it depends of the music genre you listen to, but be sure it will be way enough detailed for normal listener and audiophile that aren't into ultra analytical sounding player.
 
CONSTRUCTION AND FIRMWARE:
The construction was good and all sturdy if we look it for a durability point of view, it was solid like a rock but big like a bible. All black metal, metal everywhere! It lool like a geeky DIY project that earn a good note but for portability it was not very practical and way too big and uncomfortable to wear. It was heavy too and the big sound bottom volume wheel was prompt for unfortunate turning. It feel more like a small house DAP than a real portable one and this is why I finally sell it and buy the Fiio X3 with the same Dac thinking it have the same sound (you learn from your error). The screen was too little and fragile (only thing fragile about this player) and if a drop of water fall on your player because of the space between screen and metal body it can do serious damage I guess.
Firmware was something from the 80's when you got to write complicate operation to get the basic, it was not a friendly firmware and it was in chinese at the begining...quite complicate to change the langage but once it's done the real problem was the bugs, I can deal with anything but a defect about tracks format. Sometime when it happen it make a sound that peirce your ears (it do that too when it's out of battery sometime)....yep, but even if it does now I'm ready to live with masochism to ear the unique delicious sound of this DAP.
 
CONCLUSION:
This player is all about sound. Nothing else. No line out, no good firmware, no good portability, no good battery life, just EXQUISITE SOUND. If you feel you need lot of different soundsignature to complement your music collection this is for you, if you listen mostly to signers and midcentric music this is for you, if you like goosebumps of ectasy this is for you, if your capricious and ''ipodophile'' this isn't for you at all, if you check for portability this isn't for you, etc. You get what I mean. Here you pay 180-220$ for a sound experience that is more in the 500$ range and can compete with Astell, Ibasso, (easily) Fiio, and much more expensive player. Really, it's the bad duckling of music player and should'nt be like this, if one day i'm more rich I will for sure buy another one because I miss you Xuelin ihifi812V2. Oh, please, please come back home.

EDIFIER M-815 Multi purpose Closed headphone

Firstly, I want to thank Thomas from Edifier for giving me this headphones in exchange of my honest and objective review. I'm not affiliated to Edifier and find this opportunity for free review sample here on Headfi forum. As my curious ears want to try everything, I could not pass this opportunity.




CONSTRUCTION:
The construction of the M-815 is rather fragile and all made of plastic. The positive side is that it's extremely light but I feel that the headphone can broke if you drop them on a hard floor. Because of the glossy plastic it can be very easily scratch. It have false leather cusions that are thick and very comfortable and a memory foam padding on the headband that don't cause any pression on top of the head. The M-815 have a rather urban look, not too flashy with his glossy black plastic, and not that far from looking like the Beat headphones. you don't look like an astronaut that just land in the middle of the street when you wear them in public.

PACKAGING :

The packaging look like this.




It include an air plane adapter and extra 20cm plug. Not much to tell about this.

-SOUND-

For this review I use mostly my Ibasso Dx90 without extra amplifier. I will include some impressions of sounds performance with my Ipod Touch and my Macbook with the E7 Dac-Amp (Wolfson WM8740).

LOW :
This is bass monster headphones, first time I try them wasn't really aware of this, just thinking, well they soud bassy and it kick hard. Real bone breaking bass appear when the seal is very tigh. When you got this, the bass doesn't escape, it is there, everywhere, big vast subwoofer like bass. For some, it's a turn off, but I need this type of soundsignature for my Trap Rap and IDM music collection and it play this extremely well. Neutral headphones for this type of music isn't very exciting and I guess the producer did not want you to have a analytical headphones like you were a serious classical music critic that search for any imperfections in a composition. So, yes, Basshead closed headphones we have here, bass that extend far in the low, with some tweaking so it feel more rounded, punchy and full. Not a lot a texture, rather bright too, but even if the bass stole the star to everything else it do not bloat on mids and high. Listening to Earl Sweatshirt right now, sound is way more fun and lively than my Sennheiser HD280 that cost twice the price, but the construction of Sennheiser is invincible and have an emphasis on more lower frequencies. Still, as said the bass isn't perfect and can make sound weird too textured synth bass....wich happen with the very first track of Sweatshirt, when I put the Ibasso to low gain it became more listenable. When I try this headphones with my Ipod touch it was way too bassy for normal human being and after 1 minutes I got an headaches so...with the right gear the bass is joyfull and plentyfull, very accurate and airy, bright without harshness and it do not make any distortion. I love it!

MIDS:
Hum, so, this is a classic V shaped sound with a classic V shaped issue : lack of fowardness in medium frequencies. Vocals can feel a little bit too backward with some type of music (Trap not include) and I guess this can be easily compensate with a good EQ (wich the Ibasso do not have). Anyway, the mids are there and quite clear and bright, they do not disappear as with cheap headphones, no distortion issue either, just not enough airy and present to my taste. I like warm, thick mids with good spatiality wich this Closed headphones do not deliver, but this is personal taste. I can't say the vocals and instruments like violin or saxophone sound bad but I prefer how the mids sound with the Edifier M-710 on-ear headphones wich are very present, more textured and have an in-you-face ''grado-ish'' style. Because of the vast (!) soundstage of the M-815 some people will adore the mids as they are stock in the middle of a very lively and energic sound and have enough presence to be enjoyable but not mesmerising. If I give a note to the mids it will be a 7 out of 10, wich is not bad at all. The problem of recessive mids only occur when big bass take big place, listening right now to Julian Holter at low gain the toms it hard with violin and slap bass and her voice is beautifully presented, I think the problem will be more present with high compressed music as this album is in 24bit flac and sound superb with the M-815.

HIGHS and TREBLE :
Details retreival is quite good with this headphones, it is tweaked a little to fit better in pop genre but this is a well done soundsignature that do not cause ear fatigue (the bass can tough) and give lot of energy and instruments separation feel (not balanced). Treble haven't a lot of sparkle and is on the bright side, it can tend to make the sound dry both you do not have any sibilance and the envelopping bass give roundness to the overall sound presentation and warm the treble a little bit. You must know that I have the bad habbit of listening music REALLY LOUD, don't do that kid, acouphene isn't urban legend. So, at max volume the highs became more peircing and some type of voice will begin to hiss. Normal human being will just heard smoothness with the Edifier, they are less bright than their on-ear brother and I feel highs is a little roll off at the bottom end. Lack of texture is there too and treble lack sparkle to help a more balanced sound presentation. Another time, for 40$ you got lots of details that is way above it's price range and I judge this 40$ headphones sound as I will judge a 300$ pair, this is why you must take what I write in perspective of his price range.




OVERALL SOUND IMPRESSIONS :
Personally, I adore this headphones and feel they are a hidden gem, perhaps their look or all plastic construction did not help them to get the praise that they deserve but they are confortable and light because of this design. The soundstage is quite big for a closed can and instruments separation very good for their little price. Bass is very exciting and boomy but not bloated like some closed headphones I heard at more than twice the price. More I listen to them and more I consider them as a good all arounder, really as a guy that have own 1000$ headphone I begin to think price value tend to diminish when the price go higher. It's a soundsignature that fit our taste that we search and if you are like me and listen to a wide range of music this belong to your collection. All type of beat driven electronic music is really fun with the Edifier M-815.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

It make more than 1 year that I listen daily to my beloved Ibasso Dx90 and I feel it's now time to make a proper review of this wonderful DAP.
 
To begin, I have in my possession this audio players in the past - ihifi 812V2, Colorfly C3, Hifiman H601 and Fiio X3- and the Ibasso is the only one I kept. It say alot I think, because the only one DAP that I regret selling is the Xuelin ihifi 812V2 and it's because of his wonderful warm Wolfson sound that is extremely different to the Ibasso Dx90 wich is more coldish-warmish and analytical sounding.
 
CONSTRUCTION :
 

 
 
The Dx90 is well built, all black brushed metal alloy with 3 big button and that's it. When my girlfriend see it she say : ''How ugly, this player look like to have been built for man only''. Well, i'm a man and find it very beautiful, it is sober, classy and dark, very dark, all black and not sensual or playfull in his look. This player look serious and sound serious. And it have it all : 3 amp gain switch, one coaxial out and one line out, volume button at the right side and on-off button at the left side, changeable battery, a micro SD slot and the most important : a touch screen.
 

 
 
FONCTIONALITY :
 
As said, physical fonctionality is quite minimalist, when the screen is close you can't use the touch screen so with the 3 big button you skip tracks or pause it easily from your pocket without having to look or pull out the player. The touch screen interface is fast and easy and firmware is quite stable but there is a LOT of them, wich can be confusing as must of firmwares have different sound signature (will talk about this later). So, you have lot of options in this little device, but this isn't an Ipod and some Ipod user did not like the ''folder'' based interface. As I listen to full album and i'm not a mix guy, this wasn't a problem for me, but I think it's better to use Flac files than Alac (mp4a) because some user have problem with tagging. Anyway, you can create playlist in your folder or inside the Dx90 easily, choose your music by directory, album, artist or genre and choose inside memory folder or micro sd card folder. Touch screen is very responsive and scrolling go well but displaying is very SMALL so it can be frustrating for people with big finger, especially taking the fact that must of time it's the thumb you use to navigate.
 
FIRMWARES :
 
10 firmwares. Plus lot of non official ones that worth the try. Firmware aren't suppose to affect the sound ''theoretically'', but even Ibasso confirm that it does make subtle change. I try them all and return to the V2.1.5 everytime (lurk version). I will say the sound signature is always similar but Low and High can change a little as well as instruments separation and ''air'' between sounds. As I feel other can sound too bright and bass shy, I sadly return to my favorite one even if it doesn't support DAC option for MAC. The 2 last versions can handle this tough, but the last firmware DAC option do not work well with my Amarra Symphony software and make clipping-static noise, I don't investigate more about this as I have other DAC and did not really care about the one of Ibasso Dx90 (I like to have different sounding source). What I care about is sound, usability and stability, and from firmware 2.1.5 to 2.4 I do not have real bugs to report with the kind of use I have. Sometime when a track change their can be a little click noise, as well as when you close the device. Something strange too is that you have to take out the battery and put it back because the player will not start for unknown reason, this can be frustrating and frightening but it happen twice in a year for me. If you do not scan you micro sd card before, sometime the album will not play fully and you will have to skip the track yourself to it to play fully again. That's about all the ''bugs'' I can find and it's perhaps due to the fact that I change firmware LOT of time and install unofficial ones too.
 
SOUND :
 
For review I use :
Headphones : Grado Sr325i, Koss Portapro, Sennheiser HD480
Earphones : Westone custom Es20, Yamaha EPH-100, Xiaomi Pistons 2, Brainwavz R3
Amplifier : Fiio E7, Sansui AU-D5
Firmware : V2.1.5L
Music Format : 16-24bit Flac 44-96Khz, Mp3 320kb, Wav
Music genre : Classical (chamber quartets), Jazz (Ecm, post-bop, fusion), IDM, Indie (female signers), Folk (Female signers), Ambient (with lot of sounds layers)
 
LOW :
As I said, I find that firmware does change the sound, not drastically, but it can push a little foward the bass with some. I said that because the Ibasso Dx90 have not a big bass impact or let's say tweaked low end, it is a neutral player that treat all frequency range equally. The extension and clearness is excellent and go deep, very deep. Decay in bass is superb, toms kick blossom in space, sub bass go well beyond hearing possible perception. The imaging of low are fabulous too and do not blur other frequencies ever, it is extremely precise and you can heard every bass line perfectly even trough big orchestra. To complement well this player, headphones with a good amount of bass impact can really make a difference. For example, I find the Yamaha EPH-100 (a bright earphones with average soundstage) to sound dry and boring with bass heavy music and that even if with some track it can exceed to render the finest details of a bass line. With the Xiaomi Pistons2 it complement superbly and make this 15$ earphones sound like a 100$ with a round, bassy and detailed sound. The Grado Sr325 complement well too, but not with electro music. Koss Portapro are a superb combination that have a very exciting sound with fast punchy bass, every Ibasso Dx90 owner should have a pair of these, the extreme clarity of Ibasso sound make an absolute duo with the somewhat dark sound of Portapro. In other words, Ibasso Dx90 have a studio like bass presentation of very detailed clarity, it is not a sensasionalist presentation, more a perfectionist one.
 
 
MIDS :
If I describe the Ibasso sound as a U shape one it isn't exactly what I heard but it's near, as a very neutral and clean player the mids do not need to be overemphasized to be enjoy. There a feeling of liquid easyness with the whole sounds layers that permit to concentrate on your favorite part of audio spectrum and pick every bit of details you want. The vocal with Ibasso are bright and superbly articulated, never the voice feel unatural or sibilant, it will be the fault of your earphones-headphones if it does. With the Yamaha EPH100 it can make sibilance and the mids are tweaked in a very bright way, with the xiaomi it help the V shaped sound to feel more articulated and hear more easily the mids without any sibilance. With the Grado Sr325i vocal are push a little foward as well and result in a harmonious and detailed whole. I find the mids even better with an amp trough the line out, especially a big one as it give a little warm to the somewhat serious sound of Dx90. What is exciting with a player that have a line out is the freedom of changing slightly the sound the way you prefer, with a line out you have a reason to make a amp collection. If I compare the Sabre ES9018 dac to the Wolfson WM8740 of the Fiio E7, I will say it's digital world versus analogue world, sacd versus vinyl, OP amp versus tube amp, purity versus musicality, hope you get what I mean. Medium frequency are more rounded and foward with Wolfson than Sabre, more easy listening type, and I admit that straight out of the DAP the Xuelin ihifi V812v2 can give more goosebumps with vocals in general, but if you use an amp with Ibasso Dx90 the story change as well as the details retrieval are way out of the Xuelin league. So, another time it's up to your personal taste, but I feel Dx90 sound is more an all arounder than Xuelin V812v2, Hifiman Hm-601 and Fiio X3.
 
 
HIGHS and TREBLE:
This is where the extreme clearness of sound display the most his strong and gracile presentation. The treble of Ibasso Dx90 is sparkly and never harsh, details retrieval is hallucinatory and can just be measure by the capacity of your earing range. Everything is there, layers and layers of easy flowing textures can build in a harmonious ensemble without effort, it flow naturally and musicaly, without ever trying to impress the highs excell and go up to top without brightness or artificial sounding. As the amount of details blossom in an airy and vast musical space, highs can feel not enough tweaked for some, the fact is you can hear more if you want, but the neutral signature of Ibasso Dx90 did not extract some specific frequency range to color or energize his sound. Even if it doesn't feel boring at all, the flatness of sound can be too polite for some, more than ever the music player ask for attention to the listener to be granted by his humble complexity. With my Grado that are already details revealing and considered too bright by some the Ibasso should sound dry and perhaps harsh but it isn't the case, and I think this is where the extremely low ''total harmonic distortion'' show the potential of the sound spectrum of extreme cleaness, even more with an amp connect to line out. With High resolution music it is even more perfect. Of all the music player I try, Ibasso Dx90 have the most beautiful and natural sounding high and for once I feel the 17hz-20khz frequency response specs can be really perceive by my hearing (and the hearing of my cats too).
 
 
SOUND SUMMARY :
 
The Ibasso Dx90 have a spacious soundstage with lot of air between instruments, it is above average but less rounded than Xuelin ihifi that use a Wolfson Dac brillantly. It can drive properly your portable headphones and all earphones are easily powered but full headphones of more than 150 Ohm or hard to drive orthodynamic isn't always used at their full potential straight off the player. You should at least use a portable amp and one with a bass boost can really be usefull too. As said, the sound feel serious, the audiophile terminology is for once appropriate to an hifi player, if you don't consider subtle enhancement in the naturalness of sound presentation as the holy grail of your audio quest I don't think this player is necessary for you. Sacd do really show what this player is capable off and you should not listen to MP3 under 320kz as you will think the player hiss while it's due to the poor quality of your music. The sound is heard as the artist in his studio wish it would, everything is discernable and can be picked up by your attention, this player give you bionical ears, seriously! It will suit most type of headphones and earphones, only over detailed or already too bright one will not complement it well.
 
 
It make more than one year that I use daily this fascinating player, I use it to plug to my system, my portable amp and to transport it everywhere I go. If you bring with you a batterypack (can use Dx90 while charging) or second battery it will have an infinite autonomy. The only flaw of this player is about the firmware but i'm not really difficult about this and never been an ipod fan, or playlist or whatever custom friendly device and of all the players I own I feel the Dx90 firmware is the most sophisticated with it's very responsive touchscreen. You should note too that the equalizer worth nothing and should ALWAYS be turn OFF. If you want more options with the firmware I advice you to install ROCKBOX to it, will try this soon but never feel the need to be lost in an abondance of options.
All in all, I adore this music player and can say my life will be less musical without it, this is sad but since I have it i'm unable to return to my Ipod touch without finding it annoying and dirty sounding. This player have the magical capacity of making souding all your headphones at their best if they are bellow 100 ohm, even cheap headphones became surprinsingly good sounding sometime with this player, it is a fascinating device that open lot of doors and I strongly advice to every new audiophile to begin with this. As said, when I compare the Ibasso Dx90 to something mass marketed like Ipod touch it is so horrifious how the Ipod is tweaked in the lows an mids that I can't even enjoy music with it anymore, the ipod bass veil everything and lack of cleaness can make distort even good headphones if they are bassy. This is one of the miracle of this player, it bring the best of all your gear.
Anyway, as perfection could not really exist in all perspective, the Dx90 still have firmware bugs that can cause frustrations and insecurity about his longevity, mine crash sometime in some mysterious way that can cause great anguish. For that, this player will not earn a perfect 5 but a still prestigious 4.5 stars.
 
 
IBASSO RULES!!!!!!
 
 
 
 
 

I buy this earphones at Gearbest for less than 10 boxes because the construction look sturdy and cable was detachable....wasn't having big attempt for the sound, but when I listen to this for the first time I was really impress by the authoritative bass and bright and detailed sound.

The Plextone X46 have an agressive V shaped sound that could do disaster with the wrong audio source like an Ipod or other Bass tweaked audio device, but trough my rather neutral Ibasso Dx90 the sound is surprinsigly above average of most sub-30$ popular market brand I listen too....you can't beleive this earphones cost just only 10$ once you look at their construction AND listen to them.



The construction is mostly metal without being too heavy, it look sturdy and not ugly at all, kind of ''classy futuristic'' looking I will say.



Cable too look of quite good quality. As it only make a week I got them I can't comment alot about durability for now.




Even at 10$ I ask to an earphones to be listenable and the Plextone X46M have a really enjoyable V shaped sound that have a lot of big chunky bass and a good treble to let some details to shine.
For sure this earphones aren't perfect, they lack in mids and natural clarity, they feel tweaked and they do not sound well with all sort of music, vocals can look distant sometime but they are bright enough to be easily heard.
The X46m excell with IDM, beat driven music and electronic, pop and modern rap, they have a good instruments separation and even if the sound is kind of bright it is not really fatiguing. The soundstage is above average too, and soundsignature is very exciting. Listening to Ratatat right now is literally explosive with the Plextone!

I use the Ibasso Dx90 as music source as they sound really too bassy on Ipod or Smartphone in general.

For me, personally, this earphones are quite okay at their absurb price and even if they lack in sound elegance they still sound better than most cheap earphones, the fact that they produce an immersive and energic sound that doesn't distort at all and have an above average soundstage is kind of a miracle.

If I only give this super earphones 3 stars it's because my review is dominate by analytical SOUND IMPRESSION, and the X46M is seriously too V shaped. If my review was just about price value like most consumers do with their purchases it will earn a BIG 4 stars.

If you are an audiophile on really tigh budget that listen to pop music and have an audio source not already bassy, you should try this out!

 
-EDIFIER P275 In-ear headset Review-
 
 
I received the Edifier P275 earphones as a free review sample in exchange of my honnest review, wich I will honored here.
 
.
 

 
CONSTRUCTION :
 
The construction is all plastic, kind of urban looking, and open in the back with 6 little holes that permits a better air flow for the sound. I will say the aestetic is targeted for teenager and look enough sturdy for everyday portable usage. The cable is flat and their an in mic (without volume control) 15 cm under the left earbud. Package include 3 pairs of eartips and a somewhat little cable extension.
 
 
SOUND IMPRESSIONS :
 
For this review I use 3 different audio source wich are my beloved Ibasso Dx90, my Fiio E7 Dac and my 5^th generation Ipod touch. I will condense the overall impressions of all source but can already conclude that it sound best with the Fiio E7 warm and mid centric soundsignature.
 

 
 
LOWS:
The P275 are bassy headphones with a dark and detailed V shaped sound. The low are very present but not in an extreme invasive way, it is punchy and round but not very textured. I find it very beautifully presented with the Fiio E7 trough my Macbook using Amarra Symphony, it sounded better than with the Ibasso but less clean, with the Ipod touch it became too bassy for me but for other listener this super bassy sound signature will be a delight because the bass don't bloat other sounds. If your music player is flat sounding or not already too bassy, the low frequency will sound above the average of 30$ earphones, it is well controled, dynamic and very fun to listen too, perhaps sub bass isn't the most articuled here but even at extreme high volume the big bass do not distort and still well controled wich I find really impressive. The Edifier P275 lows sound very good with electronic music, rap, pop and bass driven music, it is less good with acoustic bass or cello.
 
MIDS :
For me Medium frequencies mean female vocal, piano, violin, saxophone and is the secret ingredient that hold togheter the whole sound spectrum, so it is very important for the musicality of earphones. I will lie if I say the mids are a delight with the P275, because I don't feel they are enough foward. Vocal feel bright and distant sometime, especially if there an heavy bass line with it. This earphones are not good candidate for folk signers and indie in general and will sound better with male vocals and pop music. Electric guitar sound a little to sparse too, and violin lack in warmnest and texture. But another time, the P275 impress with his overall clarity of medium range and even if it can feel a little bit veil the voice is more present than average too V shaped earbuds.  The fact that low frequencies do not bloat on medium range give the sound a dynamic and detailed presentation that is really fun to listen and excell in Trap rap and hip hop in general. More your music source will have a clean sound more you will enjoy the mids with this earphones. Listening experimental R&B of Kelela right now with my Ibasso Dx90 is sincerly a real treat, can't say that with other 30$ earphones I use.
 
HIGHS AND TREBLE :
I find this earphones really detailed for their price, the treble is smooth and highs are slightly accentuated to create a very lively and energic sound signature. This suit perfectly IDM music and complex bass driven music like Ametsub, Boards of Canada, Arca or Aphex Twin. I do not feel ear fatigue and treble harshness, neither any sibylance happen at any volume setting. The accentuation of highs extrack details and permit to discern easily hit hat and percussion in a track, sometime this can feel unatural with acoustical music but it suit really well pop genre and dubstep where bass, synth and digital percussions is very present and central. This V shaped sound is well done and excell in fun factor, this time the neutral sounding Ibasso Dx90 sound better for clean details retreival because of the dark sound signature of P275.
 
OVERALL SOUNDS IMPRESSIONS:
The soundstage of this Edifier P275 is above average for his price range, it don't feel stock in your head or congested, it float around your head like a big helmet with 2 bassy speaker inside. Instruments separation is good with most of music but can feel overwhelmed with very complex composition were layers of sounds are too textured. You must know too that the Edifier P275 earphones need a perfect seal to be enjoy at his full potential and it can be hard for some type of ears because I find that for me the better fit was over the ear, wich isn't ideal with an mic headset, if the seal isn't perfect their will be a lack of bass and the sounds will feel dry and distant.
 
All in all, I really enjoy this earphones and think it is a cheaper and better alternative to bassy earphones like the Beat from Dr.Dre. If you are on budget and listen to beat driven music you will not be deceive by this surprising little beast!

This is time to review some vintage gear and today it will be my dear and trusthy Sennheiser HD 480 classic II.

 
Let's begin by saying this is the kind of hidden gem you must jump on if you see it in a garage sell or thrift store. It is easily findable on Ebay too at a price between 30 and 70$. Either way, you will find it's a great value if you have the right gear to amp them. Don't judge a book by his cover, this headphones may not be the sexiest one but they sound darn good my friend!

 


 
First time I listen to the Sennheiser HD480 classic II I was quite disappointed and find the sound kind of bright and distant, with a rather congestioned presentation and small soudstage.  My eyes was fixating the MADE IN GERMANY writing on the earcups with an overwhelming confusion, I couln't beleive this was the sound they were suppose to produce.
It wasn't.
I was listening from my Ipod and Ibasso and both CANNOT drive them properly as this headphones are hard to drive 100 Ohm impendance with a low sensivity of 95db.
I plug them directly in my big Sansui amplifier and tadam: Angels can fly in my ears now.

 

 
SOUND:

 
LOW:
As with must of Open back headphones, the bass isn't very heavy even if the extension is very good. It is quite punchy, like the Grado Sr serie, and especially well suited for acoustic bass. The Bass is mid centric and thick but doesn't ''omph''. It is a neutral and realist presentation and feel very ''liquid''. Cello sound magestic. Double-bass fantastic. Low Organ is a hit or miss.

 
MID:
This is were all the magical begin. The HD480 sound is midcentric and especially good to reproduce vocal (male and female). The mids are full and warm without lot of texture, it is more a darkish kind of mids taking the front seat, neither agressive or cold, just musical and vast like a cocoon for the other frequencies. The overall sound is relaxed and can be enjoy for hours without any ears fatigue.

 
HIGH :
Even if treble is there and details retrieval are good, HD480 is not an analytical headphones. The sound is for easy listening session, so you can close your eyes and just be lulled by gentle musicality. No harshness or sibilance here, no treble sparkle neither, just a well articulated sound with enough highs to make it exciting and realist.

 
SOUNDSTAGE etc :
Very wide soundstage feeling like having speakers around you. Very enveloping with good instruments separation but not as clean as I will like, music is perceive more like a whole than a bunch of separate instruments and this sound presentation is really enjoyable with the HD480 because it is make in an elegant and very musical way, the whole sound dynamic, lively and exciting.

 
If you can grab this vintage headphones for 50$ or less, jump on it because I feel it is still superior to a lots of open air headphones between 75-150 price range. Just be sure to amp them with LOT of power. I'm very impressed by this Sennheiser headphones and will try more of the vintage HD line for sure!

I have the Fiio E7 since 2 years and he's alsways at my side when I open my computer to play music trough Amarra Symphony software.
This little Dac-Amp never deceive me and the first time I try it it wasn't a placebo effect that make me step off of my chair and yeal: ******* SOUND GOOD!
 
As a matter of fact, it was the beginning of a confuse quest about the meaning of a DAC. Before that I wasn't sure it can change drastically the sound, but this was because I wasn't listening the music but just feeling it, wich should be the way to listen to music, but when you develop curiosity for all the frequencies range and their interaction in an acoustical imagery you became as this passionate biologist that want the best microscope to be able to see ALL the details of living cells. You want more, always more beauty, for every type of music you listen.
 
The Fiio E7 is an entry level DAC, it will wow you if you do not have better gear alreay. I can assure it is better than my Macbook soundcard but in no way better than the sound of the Ibasso Dx90, Dx50 or even Hifiman 601. With any computer Dac you should use an appropriate software that will use all the potential of it, plain itunes is not the best. Even VLC is better than this but can make static with flac files.
 
Sound is warm and relaxed, treble is a little roll off and mids are fowards. The low end is spot on and have a 4 levels boost. Must of time I put it at level 1 bassboost and it give my Grado a more rounded and beefy sound, wich sound excellent and give more excitment to lot of tracks.
This is not an analytical or cold DAC, and it's forgiving for lower quality audio format (still I do not advice to use less than 260kb). It sound musical and give more power to headphones, max impedance I will suggest is 150 Ohm, and for full result it's better to keep it under 100 Ohm.
 
I highly recommend the FIIO E7 (E07K now).

AH! Grado. Sir John Grado.
How can we not love you? How can we not hate you?
You never sold your soul to the market and still construct your headphones in America, your quality is still the same as in 1990 when you begin to create your first marvelous headphones with your wife in a small workbench while the company was on the verge of bankrupcy. As a mad scientist and sound poet, you discover one of the more musical driver of all time and design open back cups that give fresh oxygene to the musicality of every frequency. We know you like to listen to your creation with  tube amp and surely prefer vinyl to CD or even SACD, you are from the old school for the better and the worst.
Now that your son begin to take your step, it could be for the better or the worst too, as from what I read he look like to be more a business man than an incurable audiophile.
Anyway, you create marvelous headphones with a unique soundsignature that fascinate today as much as 25 years ago.
For that, dear John Grado, you are a Jazzy God.
Yes, no need to read about you to know you LOVE Jazz, old smoky jazz, Duke and Lady Day, flying piano notes that decay in a dark room and doublebass that can be feel from the ears to the guts.
And as a Jazz aficionado, your headphones is a sent of God to me, the miracle I was waiting for without even knowing it.

 
I have had in my possession the Grado Alessandro, the Grado GS1000 too but the only one I kept is the Grado Sr325i wich I will review here.
 
-GRADO SR325i-
This headphones are something special, a little bit excentric in the appearance I can say, with their heavy metal construction and gold color, you will not pass unremarked in the crownd with them on the head. As their sound leakage is enormous, I doubt you will feel socialy acceptable with them on too, well, I know kids nowadays play their music out loud on their smartphone, but this headphones isn't meant for kids at all, not the one that listen only to Pop and rap and boomy entertainment.
 
CONSTRUCTION :
Talking about construction, the headband is made of real leather, construction is all metal and plastic and gold earcups made of very heavy metal that look indestructible.
Unfortunately, it is not. Because of the turning earcups the cable begin to broke on one side and inner wire are now visible and dangerously loose on my Sr325i. This happen with my Grado GS1000 too and I have to sell them because it was too expensive to repair. Their you have the number one Grado issue. You can solve this with your own ingeniosity and I will for sure next time, but to avoid the constant swirling that fatigue the cable to the point of breaking it you will need to construct something that hold the metal branch so it doesn't constantly turn.
The Sr325i came with the L-cush, but I try it with the bowl cup and it is more comfortable and improve even more the soundstage, the L-cush can make your ear touch the scring and you must know that if a hair get in the way between your ear and sound scring it will cause GRATTLE SOUNDS with some frequencies, having a bald head is very usefull with Grado because this grattle sound can occur with ALL their headphones.
 
-SOUND-
 
LOW :
I think the Grado Sr325i are the more ''bassy'' one of the SR serie. Compared to the Alessandro or Sr60 the extension in the low end is bigger and fuller. It is still punchy tough, but with more weight and realism, toms hit sound more natural and listening to doublebass or cello is a real treat. The bass is very addictive and accurate if not extremely fast, it flow in they air with confident and is a delight when the source is acoustic, a little less when it's from electronic music because grado have what I will call a Vintage sound that beg to be amped by a tube amplifier. For Classical, Jazz, Worldmusic and any instrumental based music it is eargasms, for modern rap, D&B, IDM and boomy pop it is not always a good combination.
 
MID:
Grado medium frequencies are the most important part of the Grado sound. From the Sr60 to the GS1000 you can't be indifferent about them. Their elegant and warm presentation is nothing short of mesmerising, you are drown in the vocals like in a pool of good champagne and can float on your back for hours listening to the fascinating bubbles (sorry for the strange metaphor!). The SR325i is no exception to the rule, I have goosebumps everytime im listening to female signers like Arianna Savall, Mazzy Star, Agnes Obel, Julia Holter or Billie Holiday...the medium range is foward but in a vast way and have good texture to it, instruments like violin and saxophone sound superb on the SR 325i. The overall sound is sometime enveloping and intimate concert-hall-style.
 
HIGH:
I read some reviews that said the treble is kind of bright with these Grado, I do not think that at all but I guess every ears are differently sensible to high frequencies. I don't find harsh or agressive the highs even if the details are very present and treble sparkle alot, for exemple the cymbals extend vastely wich I find very enjoyable, it had too to the full spectrum texture but never feel over forced, in fact, for my hardbeaten ears it sound relaxed and gentle. Harshness is more present when the Grado are not enough amped, it can sound okay with a low source but will GREATLY benifit of more amping, this way the sound doesn't struggle to get free and musicality is at his fullest. Any Grado will sound better if correctly amped I think.
 
 
This delactable Grado SR325i have a very impressive soundstage with incredible instruments separation, listening to Linda Perhacs right now I can picks all instruments and the voice shine in the middle of this beautifull musicality. The sound is unforgiving too with low quality music or overcompressed tracks. As it's sound signature can be detremental for some style of music I will not consider it as a all-arounder. Anyway it excell in beauty when the moment come and their a plenty of magical ones.
I never found a headphones that can sound good with all the style of music I listen too so I do not ask that to a headphones and what the Grado SR325i deliver me is over what I wish, I highly recommend these headphones and will refrain from given it 5 stars because of the swirling cable and earcups problem that can be very very frustrating.
Anyway, nothing import more than the sound and
GRADO SOUND GREAT.

I got this little amp for very cheap and wasn't having any big attempt.
First time I try it it was with my Grado 325 and Ibasso Dx90 and to be honnest it sound quite good, the little push was just enough to give them more air and warmth. Anyway, I fastly discover the limits of this little amp because it make distortion time to time depending of the type of music you play. Because of the clumsy bass boost things can got ugly. When the music suit it's irreversible bassy style, the AP001 can make shine some headphones I guess, but not in a trustworthy way. As they weren't able to drive my Fostex Tr-40 rp (distortion) and Sennheiser HD-480 (100ohm), i'm really not sure it will drive 150 ohm headphones as it clame.
 
I already have a Fiio E7 that still do well and other amps sources so the need wasn't really there too. The Fiio E7 do not have the distortion problem and drive headphones of higher impendance too. COmparing both, it is clear the the Fiio E7 is way better and clearer, it's like comparaing Hifi to Lowfi, yes, I dare to say the Brainwavz AP001 sound like a cheap no-name amp because it is NOT properly fonctional an can make your gear sound WORSE than without the amping. Finally, with further test, the distortion problem occur too with the Grado Sr325, it is not just the bass that make it distort but the high too, both bottom of the frequencies range is know to be hard to drive fully and this is why we need portable amp for portable player, the 120% more power that give the AP001 is an amateurish one and it caricature the overall sound perception with clumsy OP amp.
 
Still, the ultra light portability make the Brainwavz Ap001 interesting in some way and as I said, it-can-sound-good.
The construction is plastic and metal, quite solid but don't step on it. The battery life is supposed to be up to 12h wich is alot.
 
In conclusion, I think this Brainwavz AP001 Amp have potential and can be improved but for now it is easily beated in sound quality and trustability by others amp brands.
 
I do not suggest you to buy it, grab the Fiio E6 instead.

The Vsonic GR06 is the little brother of the legendary Vsonic GR07 that are highly praised here on Headfi, but is it tall enough to compete with earphones of his price range nowadays?
 
My answer will be, huuuuuuuum...pretty much yeah.
 
The GR06 have so much exciting aspect that make them stand out from the over crownded earphones market that it still impose themself as a solid leader in the sub-60$ category.
 
Firstly they have a very small driver but a very BIG sound. The earphones are very little too and I can sleep on my ears with them and don't notice they are there. The cable is of excellent quality and, as it is intended to be wear over the ears, microphonics sound are quasi inexistent. The tip of earphones are movable so you can fit them more easily in the ears.
When it come to sound  what surprise the most is the joyfull energy that come out of this little beast, the sound is playfull and round, bass is big and punchy, mids are foward and enveloping, high are smooth but present. The sound signature is well suited for all kind of music but shine more with pop, IDM and beat driven music wich benifit from the exciting bass performance. Soundstage is above average too, but can feel stock in your head because this earphones became a part of your body, seriously, they literally fusionate with your head!

The Brainwaz R3 are my second pair of dual dymamic earphones and when I bought them I have very high expectations. This gigantic earphones doesn't deceive me and i'm glad to have them in my ever growing IEM collection.
 
First thing to know with this earphones is that the sealing is EXTREMELY important to taste their full capabilities, in all the tips that are included the memory foam was the only one to work perfectly with the sealing, other one was falling or making the sound distant and without bass impact.
 
Once you seal them properly your are gratified with a very addictive sound that can be described as wide, detailed, energic and gently V shaped. The bass is punchy and well extended but not over emphased, the mids are neutral and warm and the treble is smooth but present. The more impressive particularity about the R3 is the immense soundstage and above average instruments separation, it make the sound flow around your head instead of feeling stock inside of it. This can be very enjoyable for feeling the complexity of musical composition as well as imaging stereo sound.
Right now i'm listening 96-24bit Vulnicura by Bjork and it sound fantastic with the Brainwavz R3, the complexe instrumentation never interfer with the voice of bjork and texture are rendered fluidly, sub bass is present and mid bass is enough punchy to create a very energic whole, I can easily pick any details of the track and none of them feel congested or distorted, this album is a real treat with the R3!
 
For sure, some basshead will not find enough bass in this earphones, still, as an ancient owner of the Shure se430, I can say that the R3 are among the best dual earphones in their price range, compared with the Shure se430, they sound a little more warm and less analytical but I find them more fun sounding and less congested when it come to soundstage.
 
The construction is top notch and look like a tank, they are as big and subtle as a thank too tough, but for their size they are very confortable with the right tips (foam!).
The cable are big too and can be complicate to wear properly around the ear. As with most Brainwavz product, their alot of useful accesories that came with it too.
 
All in all, I'm really impress by the Brainwavz R3 and their good performance with all type of music I listen with them.

I own 3 pairs of different Brainwavz earphones, the R3, S1 and S0.
The R3 are my favorite and while I try as much as I can to like the Brainwavz S1 I just can't convince myself to use them much, they really do not complement well my portable player (Ibasso Dx90) and even if they sound better with my Ipod touch, I will never suggest them as an all-arounder for anybody.
 
The Brainwavz S1 doesn't sound cheap tough, they are VERY detailed, but their sound signature is really a Love or Hate affair I think and your gear will surely have a big weight in your appreciation of this well crafted in-ear. I listen to them right now and make some strange grimace as it pierce my ears so it's not a good sign. The frequencies are over tweaked in this earphones and it interfere with the music for the better (rarely) and the worse (frequently). The harshness of the sound can cause distortion in sub bass as well as in some vocals mids, if you listening to Hi res music it will be less apparent than Mp3 but still: it will happen.
In few words, the bass is there, punchy but somewhat clumsy, the mids are fowards but congested, and the high are artificially pumped up. Soundstage feel akward and too bright, but the energic sound can be good with well recorded jazz or chamber classical, with complex tracks the Brainwavz S1 show his limit fastly.
 
In the positive side, the construction is sturdy and it include lot of extra accesoiries.
The price is very low too and if I take that in relativity it will be hard to don't conclude it's a good buy.
 
If you are into Bright and analytical sound, you might really like this earphones as everybody have different ears, this sound signature is just not my type and I can't lie about it.