Small, portable DACs with an integrated headphone amplifier are more and more common, with an ever-increasing variety of inputs and outputs. The Questyle M15 keeps things simple while offering some flexibility with a 4.4 mm balanced output as well as a traditional 3.5 mm jack. What really sets this device apart is the design, which is quite unique, but we shouldn’t judge a book from its cover as there’s much more to it than just nice design. Disclaimer: I received a free unit directly from the people at Questyle, whom I thank. The M15 retails for...

Who said that a big size means big power? They surely hadn't met the SMSL C200, which is sure tiny but mighty. This diminutive desktop DAC with integrated headphone amplifier surely does pack a punch, with 2.6 W of power output at 16 Ω - more than devices several times larger and more expensive! There's few compromises that were made to get to this point, and the result is an incredibly competent device that has everything you need without emptying your wallet. Disclaimer: many thanks to Aoshida Audio for sending me a free unit. The SMSL C200...

IKKO recently unveiled their new product, called the IKKO Zerda ITM01: a small portable DAC meant to be used with computers and smartphones, it uses an ingenious connector (proprietary, unfortunately) to give you the convenience of a high-quality DAC without the inconvenience of cables that wear out. It does in fact use a magnetic connector that makes it super easy to change the cable - quite a good idea! Add to that the fact that it also has multiple modes and you get an interesting product that's worth taking a look at. So we'll do just that! This...

Every once in a while a company launches a set of earphones that just looks gorgeous. The IKKO OH1S Gems has a very apt name, as they rally do resemble some ornate piece of jewellery thanks to their use of metal and transparent plastic in their build. They offer IKKO's house sound, which is quite coloured but also balanced enough in this incarnation to be enjoyable with a wide range of music genres. This review was originally posted on Soundphile Review. Disclaimer: IKKO sent me a free unit to write this review. There's additional info on the...

Sivga has made a name for themselves with competitively priced planar headphones and they are now expanding their line-up with new headphones. Among them are the Sivga Robin SV021, which apparently aren’t named after the assistant to the Dark Knight but rather after the European bird. They sport a dynamic driver and wooden earcups that look gorgeous, but are they going to sound anything like they look? Disclaimer: I received this unit directly from Sivga. My thanks to Collin. The Robin SV021 retail for $149. Additional info is available on the...

Although xDuoo updated their renowned XD-05 DAC/amp last year, they still didn't provide a balanced output. That gap has now been bridged with the xDuoo XD-05 Bal, which is a completely re-engineered and re-designed product that's smaller as well as more powerful and richer in features. As a funny aside, "bal" (pronounced more or less like "bahl") means both "ball" and "lie" in Milanese, the language once spoken in and around Milan (forcefully eliminated by the Italian government in the past few decades and now basically extinct). Thankfully enough...

There's this obsession in the audiophile world about the need to "purify" every signal because doing so would purportedly lead you to getting a much better experience with never-before-heard details and engagement. Most of that is pure rubbish and akin to homeopathy - in other words, a scam. There is something to be said for some of that, though. When I was reviewing the iFi iDSD Diablo I got the chance of trying out the iFi iPurifier3 as well - it was included in the package, after all. I tried it in multiple conditions and found out that it does...

Back in May 2019, when I was at the Munich High End (it seems like entire lifetimes ago), I spoke with people from iFi Audio and one of the topics that popped up was that of balanced connections: back then no iFi product outside of the Pro line had those, but they promised me something interesting was in the pipeline. A few months later they announced the new xDSD and xCAN, which were the first products to include balanced output. The line-up has since got bigger and better and the iFi NEO iDSD is the first non-Pro product to offer XLR line outputs...

Just when I thought that iFi was done with the old "micro" line-up, they come up with a new device that promises to make their best portable DAC and amplifier even better. The all-new iFi micro iDSD Signature is an evolution over the previous micro iDSD Black Label that introduces a small yet quite significant addition: a balanced headphone port. Most of what everyone (me included) loved about the Black Label is here as well, sometimes with improvements that make the Signature stand out. Disclaimer: thank you to Karina at iFi for sending me a unit...

iFi recently announced a slew of new accessories, ranging from cables to cases to put your audio stuff in - and the iFi iTraveller is exactly that. It is a small case made of fabric with ample lining to keep all your stuff safe and sound while you are out and about. And it's stylish, too! This review was originally posted on my blog, Soundphile Review. Disclaimer: this unit was provided on loan as part of the iDSD Diablo accessories. The iTraveller is available for £49. Further information is available on the official website. Travelling has not...

When I was a child, back in the glorious Nineties, I remember I had a model car of what was among the fastest cars back then: the Lamborghini Diablo. It was fantastic and its design and colour really gave the impression of speed and power. Being around 3 years old, I obviously destroyed it and I still regret that. Now, I don't know if the Italian supercar is the inspiration behind the iFi iDSD Diablo, but surely the impression of unrestrained power it gives is the same as the car - and for all the good reasons. This review was originally posted on...

Hello there! This is my first review here on Head-Fi, though I've been reviewing headphones for more than five years now. Is it even possible to recreate a classic? They say we're living in the most nostalgic of eras and the various remakes, reboots and sequels of old films and videogames is a proof of this. What I didn't see coming was a remake of old headphones. The HiFiMAN HE-R10 are meant to be spiritual successors to the much-acclaimed Sony MDR-R10, produced between 1989 and the end of the '90s. HiFiMAN saw that the patent for the Sony...