Softears RS10: the whole truth about sound! Hi friends! After a short off-season, we return with a spring mood and an unquenchable desire to once again tell you about the most interesting devices from the world of portable audio. This time, two very interesting IEM models from the Chinese brand Softears - RS10 and RSV - arrived at our editorial office. To say that this pair of in-ear monitors surprised me is to tell the truth only partially, and our today's release is devoted only to 100% truth. Seriously, these IEMs are wonderful for everyone...

FIR Audio M4: the sound hyperrealism Hi friends! I am glad to inform you that today we continue our acquaintance with the line of in-ear monitors from the American brand FIR Audio! Today our guest is the second oldest model, if you count from top to bottom from “M5”, which has already caused noise in the audiophile environment - FIR M4. Like all IEM / CIEMs of the FIR brand, the M4 has a hybrid design: here, as you might guess from the model name, there are four drivers (1DD + 3BA). In addition, there is an integrated Atom-X module inside and a...

Hi friends! Sometimes life is so much like a movie that you tell someone, and in response you will hear “Yes, you made it all up!”. But, believe me, that is why it is the New Year, so that the most wonderful stories happened in reality on these holidays. So, imagine, on December 31st and only a few hours are left before the chimes, and in general you and your family should have left the city, but, alas, it did not work out. Festive food is being prepared in the kitchen, and you and your children are looking out the window, seeing off the 2020 so...

FIR Audio VxV: chasing a naughty hare Hi everyone! Last summer, we told you about the amazing custom CIEM (there is also a universal version of IEM) earphones FiR Audio M5. And now, in parallel to its cool M-line (M2, M3, M4, M5), this American brand with funny bunny ears on the logo (how I like them) has created its new sound wonder under the VxV (5x5) index, which has slightly different, but no less interesting sound signature and is produced exclusively in the IEM version. This model has, as you might guess from its name, five drivers: one...

Penon ORB: anatomy of sound Hi friends! Today we have Penon audio again, this time with ORB hybrid IEM. Quite recently we got acquainted with their earphones based on one BA - Sphere, and now an even more interesting two-driver model IEM, built on the dynamics (DD) and one BA driver, has arrived to us. Penon ORB really turned out to be very, very interesting IEM, both in terms of design and ergonomics, and in terms of sound. For those who skipped a summary of the previous series: Penon audio is one of the largest specialty stores in China and is...

TWS adapter iBasso CF01: air kiss Hi friends! It's no secret that audiophiles have a fair amount of retrograde: many of us sigh languidly at the sight of vintage Japanese audio equipment, but at least a small vinyl collection is considered to be a must have for any self-respecting and unwritten tradition of our international community of high-quality sound lovers. However, today, let us carefully blow away the romantic veil from the past, like dust from a record, and turn our eyes forward. Moreover, we have a wonderful reason for this. An extremely...

iBasso SR2: A respectable gentleman does not hide emotions Hi friends! I am glad to inform you that today we have in our editorial office another creation from a brand that does not require special introduction, iBasso. Testing new developments from this reputable company is always an interesting and exciting activity. The full-size SR2 headphones that finally arrived to me were no exception. The predecessors, SR1, somehow passed our editorial board, but I think it will be more interesting to get to know their successors right away, because iBasso...

iBasso DX220 MAX: Mad Max plays without compromise Hi friends! Today we have a significant event in the editorial office - despite the numerous obstacles that have arisen in the world due to covid's hysteria, we still got a new device from iBasso! Over the past year, the main DAP from this respected iBasso brand has been the DX220, which we talked about in detail last spring. But time does not stand still, and the company took the next step to the heights of perfect sound, releasing its next flagship - DX220 MAX. I won’t let the fog in and...

InEar ProMission X: touch to the magic sound Hi friends! After a brief interruption due to worldwide quarantine, we continue to introduce you to the latest in portable audio. It's time to escape from all this fuss and return to the beautiful, to the music. Indeed, as we say in Russia, “Music helps us build and live,” and listening to your favorite compositions in good quality is even more fun. Anyway, all the hardships and troubles will pass sooner or later, and art - forever. Today we are reviewing, perhaps, one of the most worthy of the world...

EarSonics Stark: Five steps to spacewalk Hi friends! As soon as we opened the window today, our editorial office smelled the lavender fields of Provence and the room was filled with grassed purrs of Yves Montana. And all because we continue our acquaintance with extremely interesting new products from the famous French brand EarSonics! Not so long ago, at the end of winter, the younger brother of the new EarSonics hybrid line - Blade, warmed and invigorated us with our sound. Now it’s the turn to prove himself to his elder relative: the stately...

Bonjour, mes amis! The early French spring bursts into our editorial office and all because it was from those wine and cheese regions that a package with wonderful contents came to us. Moreover, it seems to me that this will be one of the most interesting new products of the year - in-ear monitors with the intriguing name Blade from the French brand EarSonics. Most recently, the company introduced the world two new IEM models, two brothers Blade and Stark. Both models have a similar appearance and hybrid design: Blade (2BA + 1DD) and Stark (4BA +...

Hi friends! The smell of tangerines and the taste of champagne disappear with the New Year holidays, but the winter fiesta continues in our audiophile haven. I already admitted earlier that meeting with each new iBasso device is akin to a holiday for me, this time was no exception. Moreover, the five-driver AM05 earphones, which will be discussed today, have everything to become one of the hits of 2020 in their "weight" category. Well, since our festivities continue, I will allow myself to raise a short toast before the start of the review: for...

Hi friends! Our introduction to xDuoo brand audio continues. Today, our guest is their new creation, or rather, the reincarnation of the already familiar to many portable DAC / headphone amplifier XD05. The device added to the name "Plus" and fully justifies this change with its filling: there are improvements in circuitry and in components. So, the device, unlike its predecessor, which had the AK4490 on board, is built on the basis of the new AK4493EQ DAC chip from Asahi Kasei. In addition, the device provides for the replacement of...

Hi dear friends! I will not hide, meeting with the latest DAP from iBasso is akin to a holiday for me. This brand from the Middle Kingdom has long been a benchmark in the audiophile world, and without a doubt, it fully deserves it. Let me remind you that the company began its journey with the production of portable amplifiers and DACs. Moreover, in 2012, the brand introduced the DX100 audio player, which won the hearts of music lovers around the world. Later saw the light and younger models: DX50, DX90, DX80. Well, then the flagship DX200 appeared...

Do you know what the secret of a musical piece, which both true connoisseurs and professional critics will call genius? The plays, where the composer, as if a wizard, sends the listener to a wonderful world of trembling consonants and constellations from notes, spend along minor canyons and major peaks, and at the end, during the sound of final, triumphal chords, leaves alone with the flowing euphoria. However, the magicians from the American company FIR Audio, it seems, know such a magical recipe. Recently, they released a line of in-ear monitors...

«You wear black on St. Germain des Pres I can still hear you miles away I wear black you wear black The trumpet answered back Jazz is Paris and Paris is jazz…» Malcolm McLaren "Jazz Is Paris" Bonjour, friends! Today to us will have the luck to enjoy excellent audiodelicacy straight from France! Well, and it is an good occasion to taste Burgundian, to drag on Gauloises and to reconsider something from Jean-Luc Godard. However, this is already optional for dessert, and our main dish, without...

Hi friends! Three years ago I told you about the iBasso DX80 DAP, and here we are again on the New Year's eve, and I am holding in my hands an extremely cute device that replaced that wonderful model. I can’t not say a few words about iBasso, suddenly someone else does not know. This Chinese brand began its journey with the production of portable amplifiers and DACs. In 2012, company introduced the DX100 DAP, which won the hearts of music lovers around the world. After some time, the younger models also saw the light: DX50, DX90 and some later...

"Constancy consists not in doing always same, and in that our affairs tended to the same purpose" Louis XIV Bonjour, friends! The well-aimed phrase of the king-sun which became the epigraph for today's review perfectly is suitable for the Shozy company which has the understanding of a sound and puts it in each developed model. At the same time it manages to do it in quite modest price framework. Quite recently Shozy presented at an exhibition three new models of intra channel earphones of which I now also will tell you about one. I ask to love and...

Hi friends! Whether we like it or not, winter is getting closer. And for me, the first forerunner of blizzards and snowdrifts was the outstanding IEM model NF Audio NF3u. The sound of these ears is as clear as the first snow, gently strewn lightly still sleeping city, it blows from the freshness of the frosty morning. But back to the lyrics a little later, but for now a few words about the creators of this winter tale. NF Audio ("Near Field" monitoring), is the Chinese brand specializing in production of custom In-EAR monitors (CIEM), but in their...

Recently, the skylark fluttered to my window sill and at once charmed me with its flurry chirping. We quickly became friends, and I learned that my guest had flown in from distant lands specifically to amaze the true connoisseurs of bird trills with his singing. But I will not fool you anymore and pretend to be an ornithologist, my lark - these are wonderful 10-driver IEM from the young Chinese brand Lark Studio. And this bird, I must say, has an impressive coloratura. Hurry to hear! Specs Drivers: 10x Balanced armature drivers per side...