Introductions – I’m not going to lie, my first impression of custom cables always comes down to their aesthetic; bespoke cables are just so visually pleasing, especially EffectAudio’s latest cables which include their custom CF connectors. Humans are inherently drawn to the elaborate, lustrous myriads of silver, gold and copper, and these cables seem almost like jewellery compared to the stock, opaque sheathed cables provided by manufacturers. But beyond looks, sound is definitely levied as the biggest aspect of the custom cable “experience” and...

Introduction – Perhaps no market is currently more competitive and fast paced than the hybrid in-ear space and as such, manufacturers must keep pace to stay on top of the pack. Oriveti are a company that achieved no shortage of acclaim with their original triple driver in-ear, the Primacy. And for good reason, it was an incredibly balanced, smooth listen with class-leading ergonomics. The Primacy offered a refinement in an emerging market that was dedicated to technical ability over finesse. So it’s rather impressive that, even without clear reason...

Introduction – For those who are just getting into audio or are not familiar with Sennheiser (you should be!), the HD800S are their flagship open back headphone that sit below their unobtainable Orpheus but above the vast majority of other headphones on the market. With an RRP of over $2500 AUD, they are very much a statement product, one that disregards all notions of value in favour of pure performance and excess. But for those more familiar with audio, this review will be somewhat ironic; the Sennheiser HD800S needs no introduction nor do...

Introduction – Many people started their audio journey in the same way, caught between the Japanese precision of the ATH-M50x or the Brooklyn passion of the Grado SR80i. But those a little more invested in the hobby might direct you towards an Alessandro headphone instead; a manufacturer who adopts the classic design of the Grado`s with a subtly redesigned and reimagined sound. Whilst the Alessandro`s retain the almost painfully clear sound beloved by Grado fans around the world, they also provide more balance and refinement intermingled within the...

Introduction – Although they are the highest terms of numbering, the R2000DB still occupy the second highest performance bracket just below the S1000DB. With a considerably increased asking price, the R2000DB most notably bring vastly improved build quality and a much tighter low end over the R1700BT whilst retaining the strong high-end performance due to the presence of an upgraded eagle eye tweeter as seen on the R1700BT. Through the relocation of several key features and larger housings, the R200DB now have a much more dedicated role as a...

Introduction – Sony took a risk with the A25. It bears no touch screen, no smart features and really, no particularly standout features at all. What the NW-A25 is instead, is a very refined, streamlined take on the classic audio player. With a full focus on audio quality and as a pioneer of the new Hi-Res audio standard, Sony panders to a large but very specific audience. Does the Sony bring enough new features and audio performance to the table to compete with Apple’s iPod Nano line-up and is it a companion or replacement for smartphone listening...

Introduction – $100 may not be a large sum of money to an audiophile willing to drop $1000 on a pair of headphones, but for the average buyer, for which these fully wireless earphones are intended, this is likely the most they will ever spend on a set of earphones. So the $100 D900s (that I previously reviewed) could not escape with an excuse like: “it’s a proof of concept”; At this price, they are not just a foray into wireless technology, but will likely be the average buyer’s only earphone and thus, in addition to sound quality, reliability and...

Introduction – With an overwhelmingly positive response on my Oppo PM3/Bowers and Wilkins P7 comparison review, I have decided to expand this article to include a few more models that I’ve been listening to. The two that I have decided to add today are the Sony MDR-1A and Denon MM-400, the former being quite recognised yet with mixed reception and the later bearing very minimal online presence, but what is there is almost exclusively positive. Again, all of these headphones carry a similar price tag around $400 USD, however the P7, MM-400 and...

Introduction – Meze return with another earphone that promises an impressive price/performance ratio along with a stunning design. Whilst not as cutting edge as the Meze 12 Classics, the 11 Neo is still a new in-ear earphone that holds an important place in the under-$100 price range. With impeccable build quality that matches that of it’s higher priced sibling, the 11 Neo seeks to take a place in the smooth/natural under $100 earphones. But does the 11 Neo succeed or does it’s modest price shine through it’s sonic performance? Let’s find out...

Introduction – With all these “up and coming” brands seemingly emerging out of mist, it’s becoming harder and harder to stand out from the crowd. This is great for us consumers, it just means earphones are getting better and better, but for manufacturers, the market has never been so fierce. Enter Meze, an audio company that’s not new, but definitely not a veteran like Shure, Westone and Sennheiser. With their 99 Classics headphones they made quite a splash and now return with a similarly enticing in-ear earphone, the 12 Classics (not sure why it’s...

Introduction – Westone are a cherished brand within the audio enthusiast community. Their house sound is natural, sculpted to create interest whilst retaining enough balance to remain versatile with most genres. It might come as a surprise that such an audio focussed brand is branching into sport earphones, but with extensive experience in both consumer and professional fields, few are better equipped to pull it off than Westone. The Westone Adventure Alpha is completely custom, with a radically different design to the rest of Westone’s...

Introduction –  Archeer return with another astonishingly affordable Bluetooth speaker whose approachable aesthetic caters towards the younger buyers out there. And yet again, Archeer persist with overly complex designations; WJ-C1 doesn’t roll off the tongue with ease, I would like to see some creative product names in the future. What does impress is the speaker’s surprisingly rich feature list and intuitive controls, both culminating to create quite an appealing package. Of course physical design aside, the function of a Bluetooth speaker...

Introduction – The conventional earphone uses a single dynamic driver, essentially a minute speaker that injects a high energy dose of audio energy directly into the pleasure centre. Conversely, the more boutique earphones out there assume a completely different technology, the ultra-high precision armatures used in devices such as hearing aids where accuracy of spoken voice is key. Unfortunately, these two technologies were rarely combined with palatable results. For instance, cheap hybrids were either fake or had significant crossover issues...

Introduction –  It can be hard to find a rational reason to purchase a set of bookshelf speakers when there are so many fantastic computer out there that offer more features and similar sound quality for the same price. With theR1280T, I found myself conflicted about its role in the speaker ecosystem. It was a well performing, nicely designed speaker system, but it’s price/performance ratio didn`t hold up particularly well when compared to something like the Logitech Z623. But here comes the R1700BT, the next step up from the R1280T that sits...

Introduction – Like Xiaomi, Oppo leverage their smartphone mass manufacturing prowess to produce interesting takes on conventional technologies. The AMP/DAC market is an interesting field in that it is simply so diverse. As with many users, my first DAC was the Fiio Q1, a solidly built, well performing device and I was content with it in all aspects. But that was until I heard the Chord Mojo, a completely proprietary device that illuminated acoustic intricacies like no other. But whilst Fiio and Chord provide two very impressive devices at opposing...

Introduction –  Brands such as Dunu and Shozy have demonstrated that budget earphones can provide performance that rivals and sometimes bests much more expensive models. But none of these manufacturers have yet produced wireless nor hyper budget offerings. With the release of the iPhone 7 and the shift towards wireless technology, it`s interesting to look at products that fall under both the budget and wireless categories; products that will inevitably be popular with Apple customers. Whilst I was lukewarm towards the fully wireless Syllable...

Introduction – Edifier have proven time and again that they are masters of design without compromise of sound quality. This is helped in part by their acquisition of STAX, the renowned electrostatic headphone manufacturer considered to be one of the greatest in the world. I`ve tested Edifier`s flagship computer speakers as well as the portable Rave MP700, but can their newest speaker in their bookshelf speaker lineup, the R1280T, achieve similar visual and sonic impact with an RRP of just $150?   Disclaimer – I would like to thank Edifier very...

Introduction – It`s always interesting to look at hyper budget orientated products. At this price point, earphones become basic throw aways, they cease to be luxury products and lose the element of prestige offered by more exotic models. One of the perks of being a reviewer is that I`m often contacted by companies that I wouldn`t otherwise consider buying from. Origem fits this description perfectly; a company whose products I haven`t even seen reviewed before but also a company that offers some genuinely intriguing products. What I`m reviewing...

Introduction – Archeer are rapidly becoming the next upcoming brand to offer budget friendly devices that don`t compromise on quality, or at least don`t compromise where it matters. While my impressions of the a106 were pretty lukewarm, my experiences with its larger and far more accomplished sibling, the a320, tell a different story entirely. With a 2.1 active driver setup, the a320 is quite unorthodox for a portable speaker. Most mainstream portable speakers utilize small full range drivers with maybe one or two passive radiators to augment...

Great quality to be expected of a Fiio product, the cable works as intended and feels nice in the hand. There`s no strain relief on the 30pin connector, perhaps it`s to increase pliability? Otherwise I appreciate the use of right angle connectors which are great for stacking. Since I use it with a Nano 3g and a Fiio A1, the cable is perhaps a bit thick and stiff, though I`m sure it will pair well with a larger iPod/iPhone.