OK boys, try this for size. (No rars this time as that would exceed my webspace limit). There are edits at 6.5", 14", 29", 51.5", 1' 12.5", 1' 33", 1' 53", 2' 21", 2' 44". I'm not telling how many different types of encoding there are, except to say that the original wav appears at least once

OK, here's what you've all been waiting for... I think mp3 wins almost outright Thank you all for taking part. I think only Tim D came anywhere close - I reckon he more or less spotted the 128k mp3, but also heard quite a few things that weren't actually there, or at least weren't...

Here is a 29MB wav of a piece of music. Some of the file is the original wav ripped from CD by CDex in full paranoia mode, other parts are mp3 encoded using LAME at 128kbps, and yet other parts are mp3 LAME alt preset standard. So, Golden Ears will consider some parts perfect, other parts...

Another big thank you to bangraman, this time for the loan of his HD280s. The HD 280s, whilst reasonably well balanced, in comparison to the HFI-650s, immediately give the impression of being, um, veiled, with a boomy mid-bass. The 650s, while not really sounding any brighter at all, are...

A big thank you to bangraman for the loan of his D22s Here's my instant, well, 30 second, quick and dirty review... The D22s have much more top and bass - but the top is splashy and over-emphasised, as is the mid-bass, which is ill-defined and woolly. Also, there is a strange...

This is a preliminary impression really, as I've had the HFI-650s for just three days. However, my first impressions usually stick with me, so don't expect an update Out of the box the 650s looked and felt well built, with a fairly thick (4mm diameter) cable, the first 1m of which is...

Now I've lost that hair over my ears all my cans sound carp. FOR SALE: MX500, PX200, HD600 WANTED: Mega-mufflers PS MX500 withdrawn (huh, they go IN the ears )

My search is over - the wallet is now closed! I felt the need for something better than the MX500 for portable use. Surely there is something better than the lowly MXs, right? Well, I'm now finally convinced that there is not currently an ear bud better than these (unless the sound of the...