There’s no way I can start this review without giving a shout out and massive thank you to my friends over at Hifiman. This is the second time they’ve sent me some of their products to review and I’m just as thankful and appreciative, probably more actually, than the first time. Like myself, there’s a lot of people who’re interested in purchasing a DAP and Hifiman allowing me the opportunity to share my opinions with others is both very humbling and something I appreciate so again, Hifiman thank you for time with your product.
 
 
Notice: This review will share a lot of characteristics with my Hifiman MegaMini review. Though these 2 are different units they're are extremely similar.

 
 
 
  

 
The Opening Experience
 
      
 
 
 
    The initial handshake, the greeting if you will amongst consumer and company. Truthfully I’m often satisfied with a company's effort in this section; very rarely am I disappointed. So, does Hifiman continue their trend with presenting a very respectful “handshake” to their customer? Yes, The Hifiman Supermini is presented in a sublimely simplistic boc that’s matte black with the only words (other than a sticker) seen is that of the Hifiman logo.
    ‘Firedawg, why do you always praise packages that are simplistic?’ Great questions my imaginary friend. The reason for this is I’m a person of action, for better or for worse, I like to see what a product can actually do; not what’s said (or not said) on paper.
    Getting back on track, upon opening the box you have the Supermini centered inside of more black on black showing (way too much black for me but that’s just a personal thing). Underneath you are given the instruction manual, a screen protector (which is awesome), the charging cable and something that surprised me, a pair of balanced iems that according to Hifiman “is better than Re400, and less than Re600”.
    So honestly, this is a pretty rock solid unboxing. No jargon, only product. Let’s just hope the Supermini can speak for itself.

 
Construction
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    So it looks nice out of the package, but that’s all for not if it breaks easily. But I’ve no worries with the Supermini. It’s built from very lightweight and slick aluminum that feels deceptively sturdy. The screen is of adequate size in respect to the rest of the unit so no complaints there. The 3 buttons on the front from left to right is reverse/back, play/pause/select, forward/next. To the right of the unit from top to bottom we’ve the volume up & down buttons, go back, and power button with a small reset button inside a small hole as well. Lastly, on the bottom of the unit again, going from left to right. Is the balanced output 3.5mm jack, normal 3.5mm jack, micro SD card slot (up to 256gb), and finally the micro usb charging port.
    There’s really not a whole lot to the construction of the Supermini but it’s quite impressive with what’s presented. It’s very lightweight yet sturdy in my hands, the battery life is ridiculously good for I only charge it maybe every other day.
 
Specifications
    It’s not allowing me to copy the image from their website without bugging out the rest of the review, so please visit their website here so you can view the specifications.
 
Functionality
 
    Something that has broken a many of potential DAP’s for me. True sound is the an extremely important aspect (which will be touched on later) but if the unit is a pain in the butt to use, what’s the point of it sounding great? And my goodness does the Hifiman Supermini continue to deliver. The UI is very smooth and responsive and keep exactly with the folders inside other folders I’ve set up my music by. This was the biggest and honestly best surprise I’ve gotten because no other DAP I’ve tested (as of date this review is written) has been able to keep my folders as I’ve set them.
    The sorting in the main screen I wish could be adjustable to moved to how I see fit instead of a set location (i.e. it will always be Now Playing, File Folder, Albums...All Songs. I can’t adjust it to have All Songs on top followed by File Folder etc…). It’s a minor thing for sure, but something I wish was present nonetheless.
    Finally on an ending note and it’s something at least I went through but wanted to make others aware before they do it. When I inserted my SD card (my review SD card is a 64GB Sandisk) I had to format the card before the Supermini would recognize it. So regrettably I allowed the unit to format the card to that it could read it which led me to have to resync all the music I use for reviewing. It’s not a major thing (at least for me because I can all the files I used on my PC) but if someone doesn’t save their music so that they can resync theirs then they’ve lost all of it. Then even if they do, roughly 40GB of music isn’t a quick sync either.
 
Sound
    Aha, the part the everyone was waiting for. What we want to have to a very great degree in the DAP’s we purchase (well any audio equipment for that matter). According to Hifiman the “SuperMini sounds transparent, warm, sweet, and punchy.” I’ve heard this claim before, and seeing as that’s the sound signature I personally look for in music I tend to judge it a little more harshly. Thankfully I can say with honesty that the SuperMini has delivered this promise beautifully well. The sound is so smooth and very relaxing. It’s become on the my go to audio players to listen to as I’m falling asleep.
    The detail reproduction is superb. Every note that I’ve heard in music on my home set up (Schiit Lyr 2 & Bifrost 4490) I’ve heard on this unit. A downside I’ve noticed with the SuperMini is that it has narrowed the soundstage present to a fairly notable degree. Sure I’ve the plethora of Dr. Chesky albums to test depth and soundstage with but one of my favorite albums I’ve found due to it realism and naturalness being recorded live at an outside event is the Portico Quartet Live 2013. This album truly does a fantastic job teleporting you to the performance and everything so vast and distant (when certain things truly are way out). However, with the SuperMini I sound pretty congested to what I’m used to. The realism and detail is still there, it’s just not as spacious sounding.
    In terms of power output I tested a fairly decent assortment of equipment with it. Starting with my hyper sensitive ciem’s the Empire Ears Hermes VI.  The SuperMini presented a definite static that I was really disappointed to hear but it did mostly fade into the background with music playing. Another unfortunate was that they pushed a lot of power into the Hermes; I like to listen to these when I sleep sometimes due to the Hermes sensually warm and enveloping sound that the SuperMini matches wonderfully with, but it plays the ciem’s a little louder than I like one the lowest possible volume setting (1), actually even on zero I can still hear the music playing through.
    Next was the fairly difficult to drive mid impedance cans the Sennheiser HD650. The SuperMini did not even stutter in the slightest when paired with these (though even on the SuperMini’s product page it says it matches perfectly with the HD650).
    Lastly was my assortment of Audio-Technica products I’m also reviewing at this point and time. These are fairly easy to drive in terms of ohm resistance but they’re not the most sensitive boogers. Nope, no issue at all. The SuperMini didn’t even stutter when this were plugged in. They actually played very beautifully with the ATH-W1000X model, so much so it became my go to during my time with the SuperMini.
    So power output is laughably good from this small black box; but wait, it has another, final feature it’s been saving for last. It’s the capability of running balanced. Unfortunately the only balanced product I have is the iems that came with the SuperMini so I was forced to settle my A/B with them. A quick disclaimer as well is I’ve very little experience with balanced products. My first time ever hearing a balanced product was at Carolina Canfest 5 and it was only for a couple minutes max. Also, there’s a multitude of individuals who say there’s no discernible difference between balance and standard from cables so small. There’s forums on here designated to that which you’re obviously more than free to check out but the following is what I heard from my point of view.
When going from standard to balanced with the iems supplied by Hifiman I was amazed by the difference. The soundstage, the positional imaging of the instruments and my location within the audience became so much better when running balanced out. In fact, this degree was so immediately notable that I’m looking into reterminating my Hermes’ Starlight cable to be balanced (and I don’t even have a balanced player [yet]). This player is definitely designed to be ran balanced, now it can also run standard ends in the balance side with no detrimental effects, it just plays louder (by about 2 volume clicks).
 
Conclusion
                                                                                   
    To conclude my review of the HifiMan SuperMini, it’s in my opinion a truly splendid DAP that’s worth every ounce of the $399 asking price. It’s simplistic, to the point, and highly effective. Without having a touchscreen feature, this device has just about everything I’ve ever asked for in an audio player. I’ve reviewed only a few players thus far but at the time of this review this is definitely my personal favorite thus far.
    For those who’re looking to purchase a middle of the line DAP that is super simple to use, presents a nice, warm, and relaxing sound. I will most happily stamp my Army-Firedawg recommended brand onto this product. I honestly enjoyed this product and am confident pretty much anyone will as well.



 
Also, make sure to check out my unboxing and review videos. They’re pretty awesome AND you getta put a face to the Army-Firedawg name. If this review helped you out at all please hit that thumbs up button for it really helps me out a lot. Till next time my friends, stay safe.
 

 
 
 
   A few weeks ago I was given a very pleasant surprise by seeing a PM asking if I would be interested in reviewing a few products. I think the keyboard wrote the reply for me I replied with an absolutely so fast. I’ve been really wanting to hear more products from Audio-Technica for my previous experience only consists of their Noise Cancelling ATH-ANC9 headphones and believe it or not I’ve not even heard the legendary ATH-M50 models (I know shocking right).
    Fast forward and I have a package waiting for me to sign for. From here I’d like to begin the review but first I must give a very heartfelt thanks to both Audio-Technica and my good friend who not only remembered me, but invited me to take part in this opportunity. It means more to me than I can put words to that I came to mind when a reviewer was needed so again, thank you.
 
 
 
 

 
The Opening Experience
 
 
      
 
 
    I love unboxing products. It’s one of the few times as an adult I feel like a kid at Christmas again. Yes I get to listen to and experience a new product sure, but for me it goes deeper than that. The unboxing to me represents a company reaching out their hand in greetings and introducing themselves to me the consumer. Blame it on my background of being raised in Kentucky but when you introduce yourself, you do so in a confident, friendly, and respectful manner. This is done by you having a clean presentation, friendly smile, and a firm handshake. Anything but only shows that you don’t care about the consumer/person and are only interested in the money instead of receiving gratitude for a truly outstanding product that you and your team have put your heart and soul into.
    Now, as for the Audio-Technica ATH-A550Z I honestly wasn’t expecting to be awe stricken due to this product's price range whereas effort was really all I was looking for. Wow was I mistaken. Audio-Technica and their team did a beautiful job in this products presentation. As you can see in the pictures it’s placed in a firm custom cut out sleeve (that is all cheaper plastic) that honestly reminded me of Hifiman’s presentation. Inside the art box (which did have a little more writing than I felt necessary [mostly due to having the same thing repeated in multiple languages]) you’ve another, product box. The product itself is presented very cleanly and really gave me a sense of excitement to begin listen to them. I do wish that they added a little bit of contrast instead of being black, on black, in black and so on; but that’s just a personal thing.
 
Construction
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Coming from a very impressive handshake, we’re now to how well the 550Z’s are built. Just from picking these up you can tell they’re not made premiumly. The construction is almost entirely plastic (of the cheaper tier) that I will say doesn’t possess much give in terms of drop resistance (this is entirely speculation. I did no drop tests during my review period.). So I would recommend being gentle with these. Now I’m not saying you have to worry about just picking them up, absolutely not. Use them, enjoy them. Just don’t throw them down you’re done.
    The 550Z’s also possess an extremely long, 3m (9.8’), non detachable cable that’s included with a ¼” stereo adaptor. I understand that this series is geared more towards the studio performers but at least give us a detachable cable cause daggon this thing seems to catch on everything. I will say in regards for this cable that it does feel rather sturdy and has bare minimal if any microphonics.
    The 550Z have 2 (well 3, but I’ll touch on that next) support qualities. The first, visually anyways, is the wing support system. Yes, it looks like you’re a super goofy fan boy at a science convention but my goodness do I love headphones with that implement the wing system (I’ll explain why in the comfort section). Anyways, they’re made very firmly so I would advise against pinching them but they’ve enough give to survive a drop. The second, and primary, support system is the spring “loaded (I don’t know how else to word it)” headband(s). The idea behind the spring is solid; provide enough give to mesh perfectly to the user's head yet remain firm enough to hold up the headphones. In practice however this feature flopped horribly. The springs are far too soft and don’t support the headphone whatsoever. To confirm this I lifted them up and felt no pressure difference whatsoever.
    This brings me to the final part of the construction and somewhat 3rd support feature, the large circumaural earcups. These are actually something I was most impressed with. The ear cups are actually angled a little bit to direct the already angled 53mm drivers directly at the ear. Though this concept is by no means foreign or unheard of, seeing it in this price point is a very well welcomed surprise.
    To conclude, these headphones, though cheaply made, have some incredible features implemented in them that, at least in my opinion, drastically outweigh the negatives. Unfortunately these headphones don’t have any sort of folding feature (don’t see how it’ll even be possible with the wing system [every time I say wing system Gundam Wing comes to mind haha]) so traveling with these may be rather cumbersome.

 
Comfort
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    So thus far we’ve some positives and negatives in the construction; some of which directly affect the comfort. Let me begin with the clamping force. Outstanding. As mentioned earlier in the construction, I love headphones using the wing system. Though admittedly it looks rather goofy, of all the headphones I’ve used with this system, have had remotely anything but optimum comfort.
    I personally didn’t have any issues with the weight so I can’t really say they were heavy or light but I guess if I had to say anything about the weight is they felt like a normal pair of headphones.
    The earpads, though lack a premium feel, we’re extremely comfortable. I had no issues whatsoever with my ears getting fatigued. I will however say that the pads don’t breathe much so my ears did get warm after around 30-45 minutes time. Mentioned earlier in the reviewI said that the earpads functioned as the 3rd form of support. Well, in all honesty it’s the primary form of support. Do to the weak springs in the headband(s), all of the A550Z’s weight is placed on the ears. Now, in terms of comfort I honestly didn’t ha much of an issue with this; however, I did have to readjust every few minutes or so which did get rather old.
    All in all the ATH-A550Z’s are honestly a very comfortable headphone that I’ve worn, on many occasions, for hours on end. True, there are a few things that can be improved on, but in this sub $150 price point I really can’t complain too much.

 
Sound
 
    Likely the most important part of an audio piece. The ability to reproduce audio, rather sonically accurate or something else to adhere to the listener's desires. It’s the headphones ability and manufacturers house sound that makes or breaks a headphone to a given listener. So how about the Audio-Technica ATH-A550Z? Well, these headphones are by far the most detailed and neutral headphones I’ve ever heard in the sub $150 price point, no I’ll go as far as sub $200 price point (MSRP not what you can buy used for).
    The ATH-A550Z from the very get go startled me by how, good, they sounded. The soundstage is quite round and respectable for its asking price. Though where it really shines is its positional abilities. I can very easily identify where I’m hearing audio cues and identify my position from the performers (especially in live performances). I also never got fatigued while listening to these. The frequency transitions are all very very smooth with no harshness at all. On a side note, I found these to be amazing headphones for gaming as well.
    I more or less just touched on this but the soundstage is very respectable. It’s not super vast but it’s not in your face either. It is however very accurate with excellent separation; I’m very easily able to separate the artist's voice from the instruments around them and have a pretty good idea how far apart they’re spread. The imaging is meh. I can’t think of ever drifting off into the performance I was listening to like I was there, I knew I was listening to headphones. I’m not sure if that’s part of the design of a studio monitor or just driver inability but whichever the case there’s very little imaging.
    So I’ve covered the general neutral sound of the ATH-A550Z so now I’ll talk about what I got from individual frequency ranges to hopefully help describe their sound a little better, but a spoiler to a word you’ll hear the word balanced and/or neutral fairly often.
 
Treble
 
    The highs on the A550Z are very balanced and possess great extension, and by great I mean it’ll go up there so songs like “Where’s My Mind” from Maxence Cyrin or “Diva Dance” from Evgenia Laguna will experience every beautiful note to its utmost fullest.
    The energy that the 550Z’s can relay onto the listener are mesmerizing. I absolutely LOVE listening to high energy violins with these. A popular artist I enjoy listening to is Lindsey Stirling. Almost every one of her songs has such energy and vibrance in it one is almost forced to bob their heads and tap their feet. With the ATH-A550Z, every bit of this excitement is relayed.
    I truthfully don’t have any complaints about the treble on these, I sincerely enjoyed them.
 
Mids
 
    Also, are very neutral. Rather you’re listening to male or female both sound incredibly life like and inviting. One of my favorite song to listen to is “Muddy Water” by Trace Adkins. The song is filled with emotion and soul, and if a headphone lacks the ability to portray that to me the listener then I have a hard time enjoying the experience. It’s for that reason that I always nit pick the mids first because they’re my favorite.
    Now, It’s in the lower mid/upper bass range that I do sometimes hear some distortion, so everything isn’t perfect. I’m horrible at depicting individual frequencies but somewhere in this range the vocals distort almost like that area was recorded in really poor quality MP3. Actually, speak of the devil while listening I came across this song that gave me consistent results, “Believe” by Brooks & Dunn. You can hear almost a grainy sound (yes, I know all the links are to YouTube. It’s the quickest way you can find the song I’m explaining, no it’s not the best quality but it serves its purpose) that comes from whatever range this artist lies. While listening to female artists, I don’t seem to have this issue.
    Despite the semi-consistent distortion in that range, the ATH-A550Z’s really do have some impressive mid reproduction. For musical enjoyment I doubt the casual user will ever even hear what I’m mentioning. Being modest even listening to it myself I don’t always hear it unless I’m in review mode.
 
Bass

 
    The heartbeat of a headphone. The bass is what keeps the beat and gives the listener the physical feels of the music. Sadly, the more this area becomes mainstream the more I see great potential in headphones fall because they want the sells instead of showing off what they can do. So, does the 550Z’s follow suite? Umm, kinda sorta but not really. The bass stays very balanced and neutral except for the upper bass range and it’s slight distortion and then in the very low end sub bass range. The sub bass is actually rather impressive. This small section definitely has some forwardness to it. Now I’m not a bass head at all so I’ve very few heavy bass songs in my playlist (in fact I have to YouTube “sub bass songs” when I test this area), so when I YouTube I usually find and play “Argatu” by Divisia. This song serves it purpose as a bass test song rather well and shows that these puppies have some surprising thump for an otherwise very neutral signature.
    Getting back on track, the bass is quite controlled and tight. They play very well with demanding music such as EDM and techno. Going back to its target audience, the studio recorders, I’m confident that these will serve their purpose wholeheartedly.

 
Conclusion

 
    To sum up the Audio-Technica ATH-A550Z, they’re an absurdly good price/quality neutral headphone. The amount of detail that they retrieve, the comfort they provide, and the sound quality they reproduce baffles me for them to only be $120. I couldn’t help but think of the Sennheiser HD650 the entire time I reviewed these. My reasoning behind this is the HD650’s honestly aren’t made super premiumly either, but it’s very apparent that the majority of the $500 they retail for was put towards the sound quality and not any other gimmicks or features. The ATH-A550Z followed suite in this concept and, at least in my opinion, made a very good decision in doing such.
    Despite them having a few construction setbacks and a slight distortion in the sound I think Audio-Technica nailed a home run with these. Rather you’re a studio recorder, audiophile/enthusiast, or casual listener wanting a great headphone without going broke; if you prefer a more sonically accurate type of sound then you will very much fall in love with the ATH-A550Z.



 
Also, make sure to check out my unboxing and review videos. They’re pretty awesome AND you getta put a face to the Army-Firedawg name. If this review helped you out at all please hit that thumbs up button for it really helps me out a lot. Till next time my friends, stay safe.
 

                                                                  
 
 
    I must first and foremost give a large and heartfelt thank you to Vibro Labs for including me in their tour. I’ve heard a great deal of good things about this iem and was even recommended it by a subscriber of mine, so when I seen an opportunity to listen to one myself I just couldn’t pass it up. So again I give thanks for without this tour, who knows if I would’ve ever been able to listen to such a smooth iem.
    Alright, so pleasantries aside how about we delve into what experience I got out of the Virbo Labs Aria shall we?
 
 
  

 
The Opening Experience
 
 
      
   
    The initial handshake of a company. More often than not a product sent in tours are arranged and presented as if they just got it themselves. Mine was delivered in a gaggled up wad of tangle inside its really sturdy case, a plethora of accessory tips to be used for the duration of the tour and also a bulk size of alcohol wipes. Now, I know full well that the iems wouldn’t be presented this way as it was sent out so placing the Aria’s in their cut out foam slots and then folding the cable and inserting it into theirs, I was then presented with a very high class and clean presentation. Then on another note, I’ve been a part of a decent amount of tours now and this is one of only two companies I can think of that provided an ample amount of tips for those with different size ears AND if someone else would want to listen to them as well and then cleaning supplies to boot as to keep everything sanitary. The only other company to do this, was Empire Ears when they allowed me their entire product line to take to Carolina CanFest 5.
    So using my head and putting things back where they were supposed to be, Vibro Labs didn’t just give a firm handshake, they gave a caring and considerate one as well.

 
Construction

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    The build quality of the Aria’s are that of pretty much every iem. And I’m not sure of the exact material in the mixture but it feels like a mixture of plastic and silicone, which you can’t really use much else or else the iem becomes uncomfortably heavy inside the ear. Now beyond the frame material Vibro Labs uses a removable cable design which, at least for me personally, is a necessity. I’ve seen a many of people go livid because they lost their $500+ headphones, iems, etc… be rendered completely useless because of a short or break in the cable, and with the product of this price tag there’s no excuse to not have them; also allows for individuals to purchase aftermarket cables if they were to so choose.
    The faceplate of the Aria’s is stunning, regardless of which of the 3 (if I remember correctly) options you decide to go with. The frame itself I find to be unnecessarily large with respect to the driver count and placement. When looking at the translucent color you can see the 4 drivers are close to the horn with quite a bit of free space left. I believe size could’ve been reduced because even in my ears (as the picture shows) they stick out a good bit. In addition, the horn is rather large. This is very unfortunate because even with the smallest provided size tip Christina (who has a rather small ear) was unable to get the Aria’s in her ear in which case completely removed her from the potential customer aspect. Yes, Vibro Labs offers custom fit options and that is a very viable route to go, but not everyone wants to go that route, nor should they be forced to just to get the sound they want.
 
Comfort
 
                                                                                 
 
    I more or less discussed the comfort in the previous section but other than the size of the iems being on the larger side, they’re honestly pretty comfortable and easy to wear. In fact I was listening to these while both writing this review and finishing up the final touches on another products review as well as used them during my video edits. I’ve easily gone 4+ hours at a time with the Aria’s in with absolutely no discomfort. The isolation ability, at least when paired with Comply memory foam tips, is top notch. There was a good few times my name was called and I only found this out by a very angry fiancee barging in my office yelling what she was trying to ask me.
    Then to just reiterate what was discussed in the construction section, the horn is rather large. This caused them to push a fair ways out of my ear (which didn’t affect the comfort) but made them unwearable to Christina who has smaller ears.

 
Sound
 
                                                                                  
 
    Ah and here we are, the true reason people are likely reading this review. And rightfully so, an auditory pieces main responsibility is to produce sound and to what degree does it produce it to the listener. Now, regarding the Vibro Labs Aria the quick synopsis to the rest of the review is smoooooottttthhhhhhh.
    The Vibro Labs Aria presents a beautifully smooth and non fatiguing sound that admittedly does take a bit to get used to. I say this because the sound signature at first start is a bit weak, as in almost everything sounds slightly recessed so an increase in volume is recommended. The tour forum kept mentioning about issues in the lower mid range and how they didn’t sound right but when reading the product description from the website
 
“ARIA's dynamic and engaging sound signature provides deep bass extension while maintaining clear, detailed and extended highs. It is warm but with sub-bass that is rarely achieved with pure balanced armature designs. We take tuning very seriously. ARIA was designed to not only sound good, but to create an emotional experience.
ARIA presents its performance with a smooth bass region and sloping mid-range, extending far into the highs without harshness or sibilance. Low harmonic distortion presents clarity throughout the entire range.”
 
And then @Luke Pighetti response to what he was aiming for when asked by @EagleWings (and this is DIRECTLY COPIED FROM HIS REVIEW)
 
“If I were going to pidgeon-hole it, I would say somewhere between balanced and U-shaped. To delve in deeper, the goal of Aria is to present top extension with controlled and smooth subbass, preserving microdetails and allowing articulate subbass landscapes to form. This type of tune is certainly versatile, but I think it does best with electronic music which has a very complex bassline that is usually lost in the fray of inarticulate low end that you see in a lot of hybrids and Knowles CI based earphones. I find that Aria opens up a whole new world of appreciation for complex subbass while still retaining complex microdetails.
 
And I know that makes it sound like some crazy vee-shaped signature, but the really crazy thing about Aria is that it is relaxing, non-fatiguing, and it's still very versatile. Hard to explain, really. I think you'll enjoy it. It's a unique signature.”
 
I found the Aria’s to correspond exactly with what was explained up front. And no, the sound I will say is definitely not going to be for everyone. It’s certainly unique but a wonderfully unique sound it is.
    The soundstage is very clean and impressive with great detail retrieval and instrument seperation. I know of many a headphones in this price point that doesn’t have as good separation and imaging as the Aria’s do and that’s saying a good bit. But let me describe the individual aspects of the Aria a little bit to hopefully better explain the sound signature.
 
Treble
 
    The highs on the Aria have wonderful extension and smoothly roll off JUST before it becomes piercing. They also recreate a great amount of detail especially if the instrument in already in the treble range (like when a drumstick brushes the symbols, you can hear the grittiness of that through these).
    And oh my good gosh the energy transfer. I use the performer Lindsey Stirling in my reviews quite often because I truly love her music. Just about every single piece is full of life, energy, is upbeat, happy and full of emotion. And when a in ear monitor can convey that back to my being I have found a truly well tuned creation. Another great example of treble extension is the wonderful pianist Maxence Cyrin and my favorite of hers “Where’s My Mind”.
 
Mids
 
    The soul of the audio piece. Anyone who ever reads any of my reviews or talks to me knows how I love a warm mid forward sound. Why? Because that’s where the artist's emotion lies. It’s their literal voice pleading with me the listener to feel their emotions.
    With the Aria’s I must say that the mids didn’t give me that warm feeling of connecting with the musician that I strive for. Luke wasn’t kidding when he said the mids are scooped out for their certainly quite recessed but NOWHERE to the degree of a v shape sound curve. The slope is very slow and smooth in transition. This, at least to me, reduces the annoying fatigue I get with “V” shape headphones, iems, etc… the shape valley just tires me out.
    A note that really off put me that he said is that they still possess an overall balanced sound. My thought is how in the world can they be balanced with the described type of sound? Well, I still don’t know but he was telling the truth. Once you’re in the valley of the mids, they sound wonderful and even. A song that really shows what I’m talking about is “Hurt” by Johnny Cash. You can clearly make out the rasp in his breath, the reverb of the guitar and so on.
 
Bass
 
    If treble is the eyes (didn’t mention that in this review), mids are the mouth and soul, then the bass is most certainly the heartbeat. The bass keeps the rhythm of the music and puts a whole bodied sound into it as well, so long as the bass isn’t overpowering. So how about the Aria? How does the bass hit on these? Hmmm, I’m trying to think of a good analogy of them but it’s neglecting me but the bass, though doesn’t hit hard, hits super fast and has minimal decay and bleed. Super bassy music isn’t too enjoyable with these but my goodness does EDM and techno music sound awesome. My favorite example, and admittedly I rarely listen to this genre of music unless I’m doing cardio, is “Sandstorm” by Darude. This song usually has a nice bass hit in terms of thump but most headphones will bleed some with the constant barrage of bass hits of varying frequencies and amplitude. However, Vibro Labs excellently controlled Aria’s have no problems whatsoever.
 
Conclusion
 
    At first glance I didn’t think I would like the Aria’s as much as I did. Though their signature isn’t one I personally go for, they’re an off puttingly amazingly (I think I can use those words together?) smooth iem that I’ve enjoyed for hours on end. But if you’re wanting a very tight, balanced and again I stress smooth in ear monitor with great isolation then you’ll find comfortable solace within the Aria’s embrace. However, if you’re someone like myself you enjoys a warm mid forward presentation that’s full of emotion and life then these likely are the one’s you’ll fall for.

 
Also, make sure to check out my unboxing and review videos. They’re pretty awesome AND you getta put a face to the Army-Firedawg name. If this review helped you out at all please hit that thumbs up button for it really helps me out a lot. Till next time my friends, stay safe.
 

 

 

  
 
 
 I purchased the Diamond Tears directly from Monster about 3 years ago as my now soon to be wife’s first birthday present we had together. Like most women she absolutely loved jewelry, everything about it. So much so she wants to be a gemologist. So when I got the funds to purchase these I knew they’d make the perfect gift. These beauties all but guaranteed someone coming up and asking about them and saying how beautiful they were and they they’ve never seen anything like them. From first impressions the collaboration between Monster and JYP Entertainment is that wow, these headphone really do make you stand out and draw attention like the commercial implies, hot dang.
 
  
 
The Opening Experience
 
           
 
 
 
 
    The closest I believe us as adults can get to a kid opening a present at Christmas. I also see this as the manufactures reaching out their hands to greet and introduce themselves. Now granted, it may be due to my upbringing for some people tell me they really don't care. But if I’m greeted by anything other than a firm, confident handshake, the individual will have to try a bit harder to earn my respect.
    I relate that to the initial experience of opening a product because think about this, how often do we as consumers get the opportunity to be able to meet a manufacturer's representative? Not often right? So the best way a brand can introduce themselves is by presenting their product in such a manner that I get more and more excited about seeing just what this company’s all about.
    So how does the Monster Diamond Tears (now referred to as the Monster Diamondz) present themselves? Better than almost any headphone I’ve ever opened, regardless of price. The Diamond Tears theme is high fashion jewelry and this continues throughout the entire process. Starting with the box, it’s shaped in a way similar to a designer necklace and even opens up on a hinge 90 degrees too. On that note, it’s when you open it it when the magic really begins. For when the box is opened, the headphones lift up bout 30 or so degrees (or whatever the angle is that jewelry is positioned in an expensive showroom).  And I really hope my photos do this justice ‘cause, honestly I’m blown away by the presentation and thought that went into this. To this day I’ve ever experienced a similar presentations as something so simple as the headphone lifting up. It’s been more than 3 years since Christina opened this (IT WASN’T EVEN ME OPENING IT AND I’M LIKE THIS) and I still remember the level of excitement watching as the Diamond Tears were opened.
But wait, Monster’s not even finished yet. Lifting the headphones away and underneaths you’re presented with 2 boxes. The first contains 3 cables (Apple, Android [one button], and straight line) that are almost as stunning as the headphones. The second contains something I can’t remember any other company providing, but contains a cleaning solution (Monster branded of course) and 2 cleaning cloths (one silk like and the other being a microfiber [also Monster branded]) so that you can keep the beautiful sheen that these headphones have. Then lastly you’re given the carrying case that is made of a really nice velvet like material on the outside and silk like on the inside. But the case is also shaped like that of a pouch that raw diamonds are held in.
I really hope I conveyed my sense of excitement and of being overly impressed. Monster and JYP truly out did themselves and did an amazing job designing the Diamond Tears. Oh, on a quick ending note, I forgot to add earlier that the sand that the headphones sie on is also made from the same velour like material that you’d see in high end jewelry stores.
 
Construction
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
    The build quality of the Diamond Tears, in terms of structural durability, are what I would expect from a mainstream company in this price point. It’s mostly consisting of plastic eith the only aluminum I’m seeing being on the hinge and interior frame. The headband, I will say I’ve never seen before. There’s no padding per say but is surrounded in a silicon casing (that I’ll discuss again in the next section). The supra aural padding is made from materials I’d expect to find on, how should I put this, entry level products. The cable now is very sturdy and hardly has any microphonics whatsoever.
    Aesthetically speaking, these are breathtaking (if I haven’t conveyed that already). The padding of the ear cups and headband are a beautiful snowy white that meshes into a transparent branding at the top of the headband. The backs are where the real fashion comes into play. The shape is that of a teardrop (which is appropriate considering the name) that’s been frozen, capturing all the colors of a rainbow after a tragic storm.
    It’s a real shame that no matter how I try and position these or what light I apply, I just can’t seem to get my camera to capture just how beautiful these really are. The reds dancing in exotic ecstasy with the greens and blues whilst the yellows and oranges acts as a setting Californian sun, further highlighting the stunning visual.
    This is only highlighted by the translucent cables that are provided and also by the (fake) diamond placed in the center of the back. Monster and JYP yet again did a splendid job in producing a truly high fashion piece to mesh the art world into the audio enthusiasts inventory.
 
Comfort
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Alright, so thus far the Diamond Tears have been excelling very highly in most aspects. But a headphone’s ability to look extravagant will only go so far, you still have to be able to wear them. So how comfortable are these to wear?
    All but abysmal unfortunately. The supra aural ear cups, which I’m already not a fan of, are designed to look nice but they don’t cushion on the eas well at all. Add the rather, less than premium, padding inside the cups and overly tight clamping force and you’ve left a headphone that’s pretty to look at but miserable to wear after only 20ish minutes. As in just writing this review while listening to it my ears were ridiculously uncomfortable and pretty much to the point of being painful.
    Usually I would be able to disclose some negative here because on my above average ear size but the results are the same for Christina, and her ears are rather small. The only time I know of someone not having an issue with the comfort are those who’ve an incredibly small head. A complement I  can say at least is that the silicon headband isn’t near as uncomfortable as I’d thought it would. In fact I didn’t have any issue with it at all.
 
Sound
 
                                                              
The graph attached even says PERCEIVED response. It's not the actually measured response. I added it because it aligned spot on with my own personal impressions. 
 
    So far we started on an really high note and has begun to decline. Now we’re at the most important aspect of a headphone, it’s sound quality, or personality. A brief synopsis before I describe the sections individually; The Diamond Tears sound reminds me of an escalating workout pattern you’d select on a treadmill. The treble is notably subdued which REALLY off put me for I was expecting a prominent “V” shape sound curve. The mids are quite impressive but I will also say inconsistent. The bass is bloated with a hard hit but is rather slow.  
    The soundstage is also interesting. It’s quite narrow from front to back. I say this because pretty much everything sounds like it’s right in front of my face with very very little depth. However, horizontally these perform admirably as I get a respectable sense of space and instrument seperation.
    The imaging can be had if you let it. The Diamondz can give you great visuals into the performance if you close your eyes and only focus on the music, however, it by no means will force you into visualizing it. It’s main concern is musical enjoyment and to get the user to bob their head and dance, and to look pretty while doing it.
 
Treble
 
    Beginning with the highs. The Diamondz aren’t that impressive. I love listening to artists like Lindsey Stirling because pretty much all of her music is really upbeat and full of energy, which is what I love. Though listening through the Diamond Tears, I don’t get any of the excitement that I expect. I only hear her play I don’t experience it.
    This may be due to the fact that the treble peaks really early. A prime example of this is in the song “Diva Dance” from the movie The Fifth Element. The vocalist has an amazing yet potentially ear piercing voice that has wonderful emotion present from her silent whispers to her majestic screams but hardly any of that is conveyed by the Tears.
    Some positives about the Diamondz treble is that they’re not harsh at all. In fact I found the transitional abilities very impressive and equally smooth. If you’re listening to these headphones as just something to listen to music with (which again is what these are mostly geared towards, audiophilia is not it) you’ll likely find great enjoyment out of them with honestly pretty much any genre of music you prefer to push through them.
 
Mids
 
    The mids are, as I said in the synopsis, interesting. The mids are recessed or forward but respectfully flat truthfully. What makes them interesting is that they’re inconsistent. Sometimes I’m listening to a song and the artist sounds like they’re whispering while others they sound like they’re right in my face forward, regardless of the artist's gender. And it’s that inconsistency that I couldn’t find solace in these headphones, if you’re one who follows me and/or my reviews you know that the mids are my favorite part to audio. It’s in the mids that the vocals lie, where the emotion is present and the feelings are conveyed. But when a headphone sounds great for some artists but horrible for others, a guessing game is just not something I find interest in, especially at the Diamondz price point.
 
Bass
 
    The heartbeat of the music. The bass is arguably the most mainstream of the frequency range for it seems everyone wants the thump. Now for those of you who are unfamiliar with Monster, they love the thump (Beats anyone?). Just going from memory, I can’t think of a single model they carry (or carried) that I’ve heard, that isn’t overly bassy.
    With the Diamond Tears in particular they possess a really bloated bass to them that’s really fun to listen to. Actually, this analogy just hit me but the Diamondz bass reminds me of that of a two handed warhammer. They have a very impressive attack but in turn sacrifice their speed and recovery. So what I’m trying to reference (and I really thought I was being clever too) is that the Diamond Tears have a nice  and deep hit however, it has an exaggerated decay that bleeds into the following notes.
    The bass on these fully live up to what the Monster fan base have grown to both love and expect. They’re super fun and punchy and unapologetically sacrifice sonic accuracy and tightness for a bob your head and dance type of sound.
 
Conclusion
 
                                                                        
 
 
    These headphones really are geared towards those who just want to enjoy themselves and look good while doing it. They’re absolutely stunning aesthetically and possess a fun and punchy sound to move your body to the funky penguin beat (Madagascar anyone?). Though these are certainly not for the audiophile world, they most certainly have a place. While wearing these out a many a women comment how beautiful they were and have never seen anything like them.
    However, due to the issues with the comfort, I don’t see people wearing them on their heads for any sort of extended period of time. Instead I foresee (or rather do physically see) these being worn as a fashion accessory to stand out from the crowd. Ass the ( I believe) 5 different color options to choose from and you’ve an auditory accessory to put all eyes on you.





 
Also, make sure to check out my unboxing and review videos. They’re pretty awesome AND you getta put a face to the Army-Firedawg name. If this review helped you out at all please hit that thumbs up button for it really helps me out a lot. Till next time my friends, stay safe.




 

    
 

 
A little About me    
 
The Opening Experience
 
    I traded for this product here on Head-Fi so I can’t correctly give an accurate unboxing experience. But I can say I was super excited to get it in the mail *insert smiley face*. ALSO, this is the NFB 15.32 variant (newest). The product page says NFB 15.1 (original), same frame but updated insides.
 
Construction
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Though I can’t comment on the unboxing experience I can and most certainly will however say that the build quality of the NFB 15.32 is absolutely top tier. It feels completely stern in my hands and there’s no weak link that I can at least make out.
    The frame itself is made completely out of sleek black aluminum, The only plastics that I’m seeing is the power, inputs, and the plethora of knobs on the front that let you chose pretty much every function you could imaging. The back has the standard coax, optical, and usb inputs but quite misfortunate it ONLY has dac coax outputs. So it can only tether its dac to another amp. and not vice versa.
 
Specifications (Ripped straight from the manufactures website)
 
    


 
Functionality
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    The ease of use for this unit is, at least not me, not easy. I had an unnecessarily difficult time trying to both find and then download the correct drivers for this device, Now a quick disclaimer, is that I often have this issue ever since I purchased this Windows 8.1 laptop so it may very well just be a difficult program I’m running (whatever came with this thing).
    Now, once you have the correct drivers downloaded you’re good to go as it’ll work absolutely beautifully as is. However for those more technically inclined than I am, there’s an “OS” and “Filter.” There’s an application you can download on your computer that allows you to program different sound signatures into the amp. (pretty much like EQing your amp). I tried this a couple times and each time I did I felt like I ruined the entire amp. For nothing but very loud static would come out. The owner before me was able to get it to work just fine so I’m simply saying I had a difficult time and just enjoyed the amp. with how it is stock.
 
Sound
 
    The Audio Gd NFB 15.32 is a wonderfully musical sounding solid state amp. It has a sensual warmth to it that really reminded me of a tube amp. The mids are super smooth and complement HD650s almost as good as tube amps. do (tubes really are the best for the 650). The NFB has really nice transition between the notes along with really, I mean REALLY amazing separation when considering this beasts price point ($250).  One of my favorite songs I’ve found to both listen to and test realism and soundstage is “Pirate of the Caribbean” by the Rhapsody Philharmonic. This is a flash mob style video/recording that really puts you at the performance within the crowd of onlookers.
    The NFB 15.32, being warm with soft mids, really accent that of the Cello and Double Bass that begins the performance. As the rest of the performers start joining in you hear the crowd react and the different instruments sound as spaced out as they look in the video (I’m aware a YouTube video is super hi rez yeah yeah, but it’s quick source for finding music I like both known and new).
    The power output on this is also very very impressive and very linear. Easily able to drive my HD650s quietly and with vigor. Though the Aune X1s is a flatter sounding combi unit and is also very linear in a direct A/B it pales to the NFB. Now, with this being said however; it is not as quiet as the Aune. The NFB 15.32 does read some feedback when placed too close to another device and is very apparent when powering my Empire Ears Hermes VI (ciems).
 
Conclusion
 
   
 
    So to sum up my thought of the NFB 15.32, I find it to be an incredibly musical combi unit that I’ve really came to love. This may be either a personal preference or even a deficit or maybe even both; but I really wish it wouldn’t try as hard to do too many things. It plays audio very very well and presents a wonderfully warm and engaging experience that tube lovers can come to be at home with, But it puts too many buttons on the front that almost forces the user to try and program things that doesn’t even need to be.
    The build quality is one that gives me complete and utter confidence for users to have years to come but it only having a dac out has really irritated me. Especially when other combi units I’ve listened to or even reviewed have had that feature. In fact I really wanted to make this unit my bedroom unit to listen to as I went to sleep because of its warmth but it has NO COAX INPUTS!!!! So there’s no way I can just plug my phone in and drift away.  Small shortfalls, absolutely but shortfalls nonetheless.
    For those who want a very simple and respectably affordable combi unit and you don’t want to do a “stack” then this is absolutely a unit you should look into getting for it seriously outperforms, in terms of audio reproduction, a vast majority of the competition in this price point. However, if you like to have the ability to do a stack or even play music from your phone through this then unfortunately this unit may not be the right fit for you.  





 
Also, make sure to check out my unboxing and review videos. They’re pretty awesome AND you getta put a face to the Army-Firedawg name. If this review helped you out at all please hit that thumbs up button for it really helps me out a lot Till next time my friends, stay safe.

                                                                      
 
Before Carolina CanFest 5 (which was also my first audio meet), I’ve only been able to read others opinions of the well regarded brand known as iFi. Luckily, one of the most down to Earth reps. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting was able to attend and brought the full iFi lineup!
    But my impressed feelings and impressions on those will have to wait for another conversation, for this review is about the iFi Nano iusb3.0 that Mr. Censullo was kind enough to allow me to loan for a very extended period of time so that I may fully come to understand this device. So to you my friend, I extend a very heartfelt thank you. Now, with all the pleasantries aside, let’s dive into what my thoughts ate of the iFi nano iusb3.0.
 
EDIT: I removed "DAC" from this review for it is NOT a DAC though I myself was mistaken for the results I got from it (which were most certainly there) this is only a usb filter/cleaner.
  
 
 
 
The Unboxing Experience
 
    
 
 
    For those of you who follow me likely have learned that I’m a stickler for the initial opening experience. My reason for this is pretty simple and straightforward, The unboxing experience, to me, represents the initial handshake you give when you introduce yourself to someone new. Will you be greeted by a firm handshake that’s filled with confidence, charisma and character? Or, one that’s boring, limp and forgettable?
    In the case of the iFi Nano iusb3.0, I can very happily say I was given a firm and memorable “handshake”. The box is very sleek and well representative of the product held within. There’s not to much jargon written on the box and even more it’s placed and formatted in such a way that it doesn’t draw too much attention away from the product experience itself (in other words it lets the product speaks for itself).
    As you begin opening the, not cheap at all looking or feeling, box you’re greeted with the resistance only provided by that of a well sealed product (which means no dust, etc..). Then once the seal is popped you’re presented a centered and pedestaled iFi Nano iusb3.0 in all its clean, polished and shiny aluminum bodied glory. As I picked up the small device I was honestly off put by how light it was. NOw granted, I wasn’t expecting it to be that heavy but this little thing’s almost like paper. Under its pedestal laid all the cables needed to operate the unit (which is always appreciated and honestly a service aspect that;s overlooked way too often) as well as the warranty and owner's manual.
    I must say, I was rather impressed by the level of pride and care given to ensure the customer is given a memorable initial experience. Not just from the product either. But even the representative who was able to attend Carolina CanFest 5 presented himself as a calm and knowledgeable professional but yet very approachable, very fitting of the iFi brand.
 
Construction
 
    
 
 
 
 
    So a company's initial “handshake” is important and all but if the product isn’t built competently (with respect to the price) then it’s all smoke and mirrors to a disappointing illusion. This is absolutely not the case with the iFi Nano iusb3.0. The construction is very durable and very lightweight aluminum that unfortunately, has been tested with a drop or two but thankfully without so much as a single scratch. The left side is where you;ve the wall wart power input and the usb (from your source) as well as an auto/on toggle switch (that tells you’re computer to automatically detect the device or so solely use the computers dac [confusing I know but just leave it on the "ON" setting]). On the right you’ve two (2) usb 3.0 inputs; one to be a charge out and the other for charge and audio.  The cables included are your standard cables that are nothing special, however, seeing that they at least provide you with at least something, is a huge plus side.
    The iusb3.0 is wonderfully well built, and not just for its price point either. Serious attention to detail and product security went into making this and any consumer who would be to purchase this can rest assured that you’ll have it working its wonders for a very long time to come, even if the misfortune happens and you’re to drop it (within reasonable conditions of course).
    
 
Functionality
 
    The ability to use a device is, or rather let reword that, this device was one of slight embarrassment for me I will regrettably admit to. For when you first look at the device and all the parts (“parts” merely refers to as cables, I do believe I was making even that sound more complicated to make myself feel better) it has you, or at least myself, think way too much into it.
    This device is extremely straightforward and once I finally realised this for myself I couldn’t help but laugh at my goofiness, and be humble and let y’all have a laugh with me. So after the roughly 2 hours it took for me to figure this out I learned to utilize the iFi Nano iusb3.0 you simple do the following steps

• Plug the power wart into the wall and then into the unit to power it on (this device can be powered either by it’s own designated power source [i.e. the wall] or by a computer. However for optimum results and performance I found the best to be by it’s own designated power source).
• Plug the usb cable from the iusb3.0 into your source of choice.
• Plug the usb cable (from the charge and share usb port [the one with a charge and music icon {I’m unsure if the other port will do anything but charge a device but from my experience that’s all I could get it to do}]) from the iusb3.0 to your amp..
• Ensure the toggle switch is on the “ON” position (this is to ensure the computer will register the iusb3.0 and use it vs overlooking it and using only the computers dac).
• Play your desired track.

Yup, that’s it. That’s all that’s to this very simple device. So after I finished laughing at myself at the simplicity of the device the final judgement is the functionality is clean, swift, and instantaneous. There’s no software to install (from my memory) and the results are immediately apparent.
 
Specifications (copied from the manufactures website)

1. Overview​
2. Tech Specs​
3. Comparison​
4. Reviews​

 


 
Sound
 
    Alright, so we’ve discussed the “handshake”, the build quality, and the functionality. So what’s left? Oh yes, that’s right, the sound quality. How silly of me to forget such a thing (which I totally did and wasn’t just trying to add a very corny and not funny joke in at all). That thing that plays the largest part in a consumer's decision of an audio purchase (usually).
    As I began using the iufi nano iusb3.9 te first and most immediate thing I noticed was the newly found blackness of the sound presented in front, or rather, all around me. Now granted, neither of the two amp./dacs I primarily use are that noisy, in fact until I heard it with the nano I thought that they were quite silent. The now found silence gave me an idea that veers it away from its intended design. But with this new idea I really wanted to test just how quiet it make an amp.
    So I hooked it up to my PS4and my 2011 Astro MixAmp. Pro (noisiest amp./dac I’ve ever used in my entire life but it’s effects for gaming are respectable) and turned on my game of choice (Destiny for those curious). You see, as mentioned above the Astro does a decent job with 3d imaging but dear gosh is it absurdly noisey, so a perfect test for the iFi nano iusb3.0’s noise cancelling ability. Unfortunately, I can’t say it made the obnoxious Astro as quiet as an African midnight, but I can say that it drastically reduced the hiss to a more than tolerable level, so much so that I’m confident that the noise I’m hearing is from the device itself more so the PS4’s usb port. So in essence, mission accomplished.
    So it’s abilities for gaming are very prominent (though something I forgot to mention is that when using the iusb3.0 you can no longer utilize your microphone [if using one]), so now let’s discuss the music attributes shall we? So with music, the first thing that came to my mind was smoothness and a striking resemblance to my more expensive, and larger, Aune X1s. The soundstage was crystal transparent and the instrument separation was spot on. Actually, I’ll even add that they sounded even clearer than my Aune in a direct A/B comparison.
    Trying not to put personal bias into this but when I pair the iFi nano iub3.0 with my warm sounding Audio Gd NFB15.32 and plug in my Bowers & Wilkins P7 or Meze Headphones 99 Classics; dear goodness do I have one blissful experience! The nano’s cleanliness and buffering, I guess is the word I’m trying to think of, is just awesome when paired with a colored amp.
    ‘Hang on Firedawg! What do you mean “colored amp.?” My amp. Is a balanced and reference sound, will I not gain anything from the Nano?’ Well, my answer to that is yes and no. Ever since I’ve listened to a dac (dedicated to music) for the first time, I’ve became a firm believer everyone should have one. For it makes a world of difference and can compliment an amp. very well. When I pair the Nano with  X1s, I honestly can't tell much of a difference, my idea behind this is because they’re such a similar sounding dac. Now, when paired with a colored amp., like my Audio Gd or even a tube, you can really hear just how impressive this little box is. Why the difference in this case? I believe it’s because the sound curves contrast and thus highlight what I love about a warm amp./tube so much. However, I’m not a super expert as to why I’m getting the results I have and honestly don’t care. I’m just really enjoying what’s presented in front of me and appreciate the craftsmanship that it takes to make it that way.
 
Conclusion
 
 
 
 
    So, in closing, iFi really has done an outstanding job in its new Nano iusb3.0. It’s build quality, ease of use (for most people) and overall quality, at least in my opinion, earns it their self proclaimed title as “Baby-Bentley”. Add in what it did for my gaming experience over the last few months and you have yourself a product that’s more than worth its very reasonable asking price. I have thoroughly enjoyed this product and will wholeheartedly miss it when I send it back. In fact, it’s that note that I again express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to iFi audio and Mr. Censullo for the extremely generous time allotted for my review.
 
 
Also, make sure to check out my unboxing and review videos. They’re pretty awesome AND you getta put a face to the Army-Firedawg name. If this review helped you out at all please hit that thumbs up button for it really helps me out as well. Till next time my friends, stay safe.
 
EDIT: So if any of you watch my videos, in the unboxing I described it correctly, however in my review video I proclaimed it as having dac properties due to the results I was getting. However, I was mistaken and have made proper annotation where needed. I made a mistake and own up to it. Everything else about the review is correct (unless stated otherwise) especially in terms of results. I just labeled it incorrectly as a dac. 

      
 
 
 I must first and foremost give a large and heartfelt thank you to secondipity for reaching out to me and asking if I would be interested in reviewing some products offered by them. This is both a great honor me and a great opportunity to provide an insight into a company that budget minded audio enthusiasts who don’t mind purchasing refurbished products may find interesting. On a short side note before the review they’re having a special website relaunch event from 01-15MAY2016 that will be further explained in the “Disclaimer & Coupon Code” section.
    Alright, now that all of the pleasantries are aside how about we jump into the meat and potatoes of this review shall we? Actually on another side note. Never jump into a tub of meat and potatoes; something tells me it wouldn’t be an enjoyable experience.
 
  
 
    
The Opening Experience
 
    *Disclaimer: These were shipped to me outside of the original packaging & instead in a normal shipping box. For this reason I can’t give an accurate unboxing experience.
    Now, I will say that this were shipped to me with great care and protection of the product. They look as good as if they were brand new from Sony themselves. They had protective paper stuck to the outside earcups and headband and everything was and still is completely operational.
    So, my impression of a product from a company that only deals with refurbished products is quite good.
 
Construction
 
                                                                                         
 
 
    The build quality of the Sony MDR-ZX330BT is about what you’d expect from a headphone of this price. It’s built almost solely of plastic that does feel on the cheaper side. With that, one does have to be conscious minded about how they handle these for there isn’t much give to them.
    The only padding this is present in the MDR-ZX330BT is on the supra aural ear cups, which is made of the standard ear padding material that I just can’t think of the name of. But I’ll touch more on this in the comfort section.
    The 300BT doesn’t have any foldability whereas instead the ear cups rotate on a 90 degree axis. This may potentially cause issues for people in who want to travel with these but with them being so flat I personally don’t think too many problems would arise.
    All the operational buttons are located on the right side ear cup. Their responsiveness is adequate once you get used to the positioning. A major downside to these however and also a rather annoying one is that the 330BT’s are bluetooth only! NO option for equipping an aux cable, so when your battery dies (which granted is decent at around 8 hours) you’re S.O.L.
 
Comfort
 
                                                                                       
 
    One of the most overlooked aspect of an audio product that I’ve began to realize after the last few years is how comfortable a pair of headphones are to wear. It seems that headphones that lay within the mainstream consumer market are putting a lot of the focus on the physical appearance of the product, often even over sound quality.
    So how does the MDR-ZX330BT hold up? It should go without saying that this section is very subjective and that your experience may vary, but for me personally I found these a little below average. Nothing completely unacceptable but my time is shortened with these, the main issue lies in it being supra aural (on ear). While instead of using your actual head as a caveat for the clamping force, it is all placed on one's ears which, at least for me, grows tiring (and often painful) pretty quickly.
    The padding has a good amount of firmness in them which is great because as mentioned above is ONLY on the ear cups. The headband has nothing but the plastic which isn’t, the best in terms of comfort. The clamping force at first feels a bit much but then I began to ease into them and found it to be just fine. Overall the comfort was meh, but it did stay on the head pretty well. Believe it or not, I actually found these one of the most comfortable on ear headphones I’ve ever listened to.
 
Sound
 
                                                                                             
 
    Alright so here we is, the important part of an audio piece. How well does it portray the sound to the listener? In relation to the Sony MDR-ZX330BT, it’s good for working out. What I mean by this is it has a very small soundstage with very little space and depth. In fact the best way I can explain the depth is it’s very wall like, as in everything sounds like it’s directly next to each other, no separation at all. Even at this pricepoint (rather 99.99 new or 39.99 refurb’d) I have heard better in both regards. But all's not lost in the sound just yet. Let’s dive into the individual aspects to hopefully revive this some.
 
Treble
 
    I was very impressed by the highs on the ZX330BT. Not just for the price point they’re located at but in general they had great extension and a really nice sparkle. I feel great energy when the violin peaks at its highest notes and even during my workout I could get the adrenaline from the music from the higher notes I would be listening to, so at least in the treble I was quite impressed.
 
Mids
 
    My personal favorite aspect of music. For to me the mids portray the artist's feelings and emotions to me. So I’m particularly finicky about this section and right off my impressions with the MDR-ZX330BT is a bit of disappointment. I was expecting this to have a very sharp V-shape sound curve for it appeals to the broadest of audience, which is what most headphones in this price point do. But these are super recessed to the point of sounding hollow. Though I could still enjoy the vocals of what I was listening to I never got the fulfilling sound or feeling that I so search for.
 
Bass
 
    Alright now to what the fan favorite aspect of sound seems to be, the punch. And when it comes to the 330BT these have the punch. One of my favorite songs to listen to to test bass is “When the Beat Drops” Naruto amv on youtube. I’m unsure if it’s a remix of the original but there’s so many of them that I honestly don’t know what the original sounds like but whatever that one is I like it. But when listening to this song I most certainly get to pop my head when I feel beat drop (hehe see what I did there) and though it hits hard and is very fun, it’s decay is horrible. It feels like it just wobbles on way past the next note which makes it very hard (at times) to discern one note or instrument from the next.
 
Conclucion
 
    So to sum up my thoughts on the Sony MDR-ZX330BT (and btw typing that out each time was as annoying as you’d think) is that of it’s certainly not a headphone I’d use as my daily listener because for what I enjoy in audio, these just fall way way short. But when I go from my run these actually do a really good job and hold their own. For when I’m in the midst of my workout (especially on my run [I really dislike running]) I honestly don’t pay too much attention to the fine details of the audio whereas the beat is my main focus and that’s precisely what these highlight on. The do a great job of staying on my head even after I begin pouring the sweat (which on a side note these ARE NOT sweat resistant to working out in these is not recommended) these stay on nicely. I do feel the need to be delicate with them because of their lesser quality construction but not to the degree that I’m afraid of a drop or two.
    Also I will say that despite these being a refurbished product I couldn’t even tell. They performed just as if I got them brand new from Sony so Secondipity did a fine job and has delivered a great product at an in all honesty great price.
 
 
                                                                                                                            
 
Also make sure to check out my unboxing and review videos. They’re pretty awesome AND you getta put a face to the Army-Firedawg name. If this review helped you out at all please hit that thumbs up button for it really helps me out as well. Till next time my friends, stay safe.

     Firstly I must give a large and heartfelt thank you to both @AuneAudio for approving me a period with this and @nmatheis for organizing things in a way so that my time with this corresponded with the Carolina Canfest 5 audio meet that was being hosted in Charlotte then also I have to give thanks to @Podster for sending it to me within the correct time frame, which lately has become a rarity for most tours. So to all of you I both tip my hat and sincerely thank you. 
 
 
               
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Opening Experience
 
    The opening experience of the B1, I’m not exactly sure if this is how it comes from the factory of if it was only for this tour.. In addition, the only thing included with said package was a small aux cable. So, for this reason I cannot justify giving any sort of unboxing experience impressions on the Aune B1.
 
            
 
 
 
 
Construction
 
    The build quality on the Aune B1 portable headphone amp. is  absolutely top notch. It’s carries an aluminum body throughout and on the back there’s either a real or faux leather that gives the B1 not just a nice grip when holding it but also a refined look as well. However a quick downside (that’s incredibly small and user dependent) is that on the back where the leatherique material is, is down the middle is an aluminum line. This is a bad thing because most of us who use a portable amp with our mobile device etc… simply rubber band them together. The issue here is with the aluminum you’re almost begging to have both your mobile and the amp. to  get scratches all over them.
    The top of the amp. holds a very responsive volume button and standard 1/16th” jack. The side holds the power button, gain switch, and class A amp. switch (which I’m not going to lie I’m not really sure what this switch did so I just left it on). The front has 2 glass windows to allow you to look into the inner circuitry which is a subtle but very nice touch that I really enjoyed. Another downside before I go onto the sound section, is that the battery life indicator is quite useless. When you press the button, at least on my unit, it never shown anything except green. This was greatly annoying for after a few hours of listening I’d check the indicator and it’d show green and a few minutes later it died; what’s the purpose of an indicator if it doesn’t indicate anything?
 
                                                                                             
 
 
Sound
 
    So how well does the newest mobile amp. offering from Aune stack up? Amazingly well is the clear answer to that, The ease it drove any headphone I put through it was incredible, from my Empire Ears Hermes to my Sennheiser HD650 it powered them incredibly and provided a sense of depth that even some (similar priced) home units can’t provide me.
    The background wasn’t completely black as my ciems still had that ever present hiss but when listening to normal resistance headphones there was no issue at all and the only thing I was presented with was a very impressive sound that provided a subtle but welcomed amount of warmth.
    On the note of warmth, the Aune B1 isn’t a flat amp. Instead it gives the music a subtle yet very nice and soft sense of warmth and musicality to it that really reminded me of a tube amp. (which the glowing led’s on the front even adds to the look of a tube amp. as well). My favorite pairing however was with my Bowers & Wilkins P7 and the Meze Headphones 99 Classic (tour). The B1 complemented the sound of those two headphones so well it made it ridiculously difficult to take them off when I had to do that adult thing called work.
 
                                                                                 
 
 
Conclusion
 
    I believe this is my shortest and quickest review (at least off the top of my head) but this is a pretty straightforward amp. The sound is very clean, powerful, controlling and possesses a slight warmth to it that adds well wanted (for me personally) musicality to the sound. The build quality is absolutely top notch and I’ve zero worries about it falling or easily breaking. I’d recommend the Aune B1 to anyone looking for an portable amp. only complement to their mobile device. It’s a great price/quality catch and will suffice even the truest of die hards.

 
Also check out my unboxing and review videos, they’re pretty awesome AND you getta put a face to the Army-Firedawg name. If this review helped you out at all please hit that thumbs up button for it really helps me out as well. Till next time my friends, stay safe.
 
 
 

    
 
 
When asked if I wanted to take part in this tour I quite quickly replied with an overwhelmingly resounding, YES! After hearing how awesome the X1s was I absolutely had to hear the other offerings in Aune’s lineup as well especially in the Digital Audio Player (DAP) realm. So for this I must give a huge thank you to both Aune for accepting me and NMatheis  for inviting me to this outstanding tour. But without further adieu allow me to express my thoughts into the Aune M2.
 
 
 
 
The Opening Experience
 
    The opening experience of the M2 I’m not exactly sure if this is how it comes from the factory of if it was only for this tour. What I mean by this is the M2 actually came inside an Aune B1 Portable Headphone Amp. case and I’m highly doubtful a production unit would come packaged as such. In addition, the only thing included with said package was a micro usb charging cable and the user manual. So, for this reason I cannot justify giving any sort of unboxing experience impressions on the Aune M2.
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
Construction
 
    As we were, onwards and upwards and I right? So how’s the build quality of the Aune M2? This is only my second experience with a designated DAP so my experience is respectably limited but I do still have a pretty good idea on what’s well built and what needs some work.
    As for the M2 I firmly believe that the construction is sound. The aluminum framework feels both smooth to the touch yet hard if that touch were to lose its grip. The screen is large enough as to have a nice sized font, thus no squinting is needed. The volume button on the right side of the unit is beautifully responsive yet provides AMPLE volume selection. Not once during my time with this unit have I wished for a half volume selection, even when I’m listening to the M2 when laying down to rest when my ears are at their peak sensitivity have I had an issue. Also on the right side of the unit is the SD card slot which presented itself it’s own issues, but we’ll touch on that later. On the bottom there’s the volume port and micro usb charging port.
 
Functionality
 
    This is something I look for, perhaps even more than build quality. How easy is it to use and what’s more on top of that is how effective is the navigation? In the terms of ease of use the M2 is quite simple. Though one will have to play with it about a minute or two to figure out what’s he back etc… but once that’s down it’s pretty smooth sailing.
    Well smooth sailing so long as you’re card reads. I know that 32gb is not the max size that the M2 can register but that is the only size that I was able to get to work. I tried 2 separate 64gb sd cards and received nothing but a “read TF failed.” Forums mentioned it had to be formated as “FAT32” so I tried reformatting, but that option never appeared so I simply purchased a 32gb card and have had no problems since.
    The ability to sort through songs is still not what I wish it would be. Say I’m in the “C’s” and want to listen to a sone in the “T’s” and what more I’m not sure of the folder or artist said file is in. My only option is to continuously click forward until I finally arrive at the song I’m wanting to hear. There’s no option to fast search. Now I’ve been told a solution to this is to arrange your music alphabetically into folders but why would I want to organize over 1,400 songs when I feel this is a relatively simple software solution. My phone’s music player had this ability, as does the Ipod Classic.
Sound
 
    Alright, and the main event is upon us. How is the sound quality of the Aune M2? From my time of listening to this I was delivered an experience that expected to receive. The audio came through very cleanly and on normal sensitivity headphones these were pretty impressive, but on super sensitive ciems such as my Empire Ears Hermes it was respectable but still had notable hiss. Now the use of the Ultimate Ears buffer jack fixed this, but it was still present nonetheless.
    Now, getting back on track I really enjoyed the DAC equipped, the 4490 produced wonderfully clean sound that had quite impressive bass extension that I truly enjoyed on my B&W P7, the headphone I’ve had the longest and have well over a thousand hours with. I know how it sounds and has become my go to headphone when reviewing an amp or dac. The P7 has some of the most beautiful treble I’ve heard at its price range with very smooth and emotion filled mids with subtly warm bass. The M2, to my honest surprise, didn’t alter any of that but instead but instead accentuated them. The sound was just smoother and more easier to the ears. The musicality of my P7’s remained which is exactly what I want and expect, however the degree it was increased or rather the music was reproduced isn’t much different than what I expected.
    
                                                       
 
 
Conclusion
 
    To sum up my thoughts, the Aune M2 retails for around $350 depending where you search and for that price I got pretty much exactly what I expected sub some SD card annoyance.  The construction is solid and the UI is quite simple yet nothing extravagant (doesn’t even have the ability to show track images). The sound quality is what I expected and makes for a VERY sound investment for anyone looking for a modest priced DAP. The internal amp has some serious punch easily able to drive whatever I plugged into it (see my personal inventory for list) and the dac’s ability to reproduce the audio signal being pushed through it was great for its price. The M2 digital audio player despite having some slight drawbacks is a solid dap for those in the market.

 
Also, don’t forget to check out my unboxing and review videos! I really appreciate it and let me know what you think, if the review helped you don’t forget to hit that thumbs up button. Till next time my friends, stay safe.

                                                                                
 
 
    When first beginning my time with this unit I honestly never thought that it’d give my go to Bowers & Wilkins P7 a run for their money like they did but whew. These beauties really aren’t just good looking let me tell you that.  Before I begin this adventure I need to give a large thanks to @Mezeteam for approving me into this tour. I’ve been wanting to hear this ever since I first seen their design and the wait was most certainly worth it. So again Meze I thank you for my time with these was truly enjoyed and not just me either; many at the Carolina CanFest 5 found tremendous enjoyment out of these as well! But enough pleasantries, let’s dive into this shall we?
 
 
               
 
 
The Opening Experience
 
For those who don’t know me, I’m a stickler for the unboxing experience. For to me this represents a company extending their hand out to introduce themselves. Perhaps it’s my Kentucky background who knows, but I believe wholeheartedly in delivering a firm handshake and introducing yourself with confidence and pride.
    It’s extremely rare that a consumer has the opportunity to meet with the people behind the brand you’re purchasing. So in my opinion a product that shows pride and is displayed professionally and with confidence (i.e. not bogged down with useless jargon) that’s a huge plus for me and is representative of receiving a firm handshake. I’ve met some fine people in my life that are very successful but have a very limp handshake, and even knowing their background I’m disappointed and bored everytime we initially meet and it takes them a while for me to get interested in what they have to offer.
    In the case of the Meze Headphones 99 Classics, from the outer box they score respectably to me. The front and sides of the box are exactly what I look for, they let my mind wonder into what these really look like, sound like and feel like. The box is well made and feels nice and the sides are equally teasing with only a frequency graph to lure me in a little more. And then there’s the back. I kinda relate these to romance time with your significant other, they’re in their sexiest outfit and building you up and despite knowing what they look like the build up just makes it much better. Then mid way into the build up they just drop everything suddenly. Again you know that what you were going to see is beautiful but there’s no need to rush things.
    That analogy describes the outer box of the 99 Classics perfectly. Everything builds up to you slowly opening the box and unveiling the treasure underneath but then when you check out the back NOPE DENIED. There it is with a whole buncha words, phrases and quotes about the perfection of these and other hype builders of these. Actually on that note,before I dive deeper I HATE that word. For there is NO such thing as perfect and I find that a little a bit arrogant to insignifi such. But I digress
    As I finally open the box I’m now greeted with a very nice presentation of the molded case that shapes to the headphones and gold colored Meze logo. Upon lifting the quite hard case up I’m enjoying the very nice curves of the case that outline the headphones inside beautifully. While unzipping the case, you begin to see the beautifully crafted art work that lies underneath and once the restrictive article is fully opened the artwork underneath truly is stunning.
    Real walnut wood cups and all aluminum framework makes these one of the most visually striking headphones I’ve ever seen. They possess a real nice weight to them that’s not heavy, but enough to feel sturdy in my hands. Also included is two very high quality cables (1 microphones mobile cable and 1 6’ standard cable), an airplane adaptor and a ¼” adaptor.
    So, was I given a memorable opening experience to the Meze Headphones 99 Classics? You better darn believe it!
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction
 
As I say in most of my reviews, this is an aspect that I feel is often overlooked; even amongst high end headphones. What’s the use of listening to audio nirvana if it only lasts one session? I touched on this in the previous section but the 99 Classics are build beautifully well. Real wood ear cups add an very nice and natural feel without any give. The aluminum (correction: It's actually spring steel) frame is rugged but has enough give as to not snap if accidental pressure is applied. The cords are well braided and very tangle resistant and what's more they’re detachable, so heaven forbid one becomes frayed you can very easily either buy another from their website or even an upgraded aftermarket cable. So I’ve no concern in my mind with regards to the longevity of the Meze 99 Classics. These should easily last you many years and countless hours or musical bliss, treated properly of course.
 
                                                                                                                           
 
Comfort
 
    Now onto the thing I look for second most only to audio quality, and that’s how long can I comfortably wear these without having to adjust or worse remove them? Very little is more irritating than finding that great song but being unable to enjoy it because the gear you’re using to too uncomfortable and does nothing but distract from the piece being performed.
    In the case of the 99 Classics I find them to be acceptable but not perfect in this regard. The frame provides a decent amount of clamping force to my head that granted, I believe will stretch to my size over time (correction: due to the nature of spring steel it's highly unlikely the metal will give any contour), but until then it pushes just a little too much that added with the slightly too small ear cups (that also is subjective because my ears are above normal size) reduces my listening time to roughly 2 hours before I have to take a break from using them.
    If you didn’t notice I used the word “little” intentionally more than is necessary to show that it’s not a horrible thing but only a minor adjustment I feel to make these a top contender headphone in every aspect. Because the headband is wonderfully comfortable as is the memory foam ear pads, but just those two things combined was just what was needed to take away from them hitting the bullseye.
 
EDIT: Meze has since sent me new, larger, ear pads that have made these freaking incredible and was exactly what it needed to send it to a top tier product regardless of ones price. Now, as of this moment I'm unsure if the larger pads now come standard with purchase of the 99 Classics or if you have to purchase those separately. if available standard, the rating of this product will be escalated to a 5. If not the scoring will remain the same but with this note.
 
EDIT UPDATE: The larger earpads do in fact come standard with the Meze Headphones 99 Classics now.
    
                                                                                                                             
 
 
Sound
 
    Hey, looky here we finally made it to the important stuff, the sound quality. Arguably the most important aspect of an audio piece is how well does it not just reproduce the audio signal but how does it relay and appeal that to the listener?
    For those who know and share my tastes in audio (check out my about me if you don’t) will, like me, find great enjoyment out of the 99 Classics. The overall sound signature is beautifully warm and hits me in all the right places and REALLY give my BW P7 a run for their money of my favorite consumer priced headphone!
    The sense of depth is incredible especially for these to be closed back! They provide a nice lifelike sound that is unlike anything I’ve ever heard (in this price range) and the only thing I can contribute with this is the wooden back. But allow me to diverge this a little better so that you can better understand how I come up with this overview.
 
Treble
 
    The highs on these are pretty darn nice. They extend out but they do peak a little early. They reflect a lot of detail leaving me feeling satisfied and with plenty of energy. It is by no means at all fatiguing and in fact is quite relaxing. The only real downside I’ve found with the treble on the 99 Classics is that there’s a very notable dip in the mid to upper frequency range. It’s very small and doesn’t last long at all but it is very easily heard. Wanna hear it without having to focus on it? Play the song “Colour of the Moon” by Allan Taylor.
 
Mids
 
MIds are my personal favorite aspect of an audio piece for to me they represent the soul a given piece of gear possesses. The mids are where the vocals are and it’s the vocals that hold the artist's emotions and feelings that they’re trying to portray to the audience. I want to hear that, no, I want to feel that. And if a headphone doesn’t reproduce this range well then I’m left feeling empty and very unsatisfied with what I’m hearing.
When it comes to the 99 Classics I couldn’t have less of a complaint to make. The mid range is truly breathtaking throughout the entire range. The vocals have a realism to them that as I said earlier is unlike anything I’ve ever heard (in this price point). I really feel as if the artist is singing to me personally in a comfortable jazz club setting with very nice acoustics. Regardless if it’s male or female vocals I’m listening to I’m provided a great sense of body with a very welcomed touch of warmth that without continuously rambling on, is something that I will truly miss when I send these off.
 
Bass
 
    The bass, the heartbeat of the music. This section is one that I’m most afraid of hearing for all too often a product will be almost spot on in every other category but because bass is what’s in right now they will pump up the thump to appeal that. Well, though bass is nice to have, I AM NOT a bass head and little turns me off quicker than an overly bass heavy thump machine that dilutes everything around it.
    This fortunately is not the case with the 99 Classics. These, though a slight bass emphasis, are very pleasant to listen to and have a very sensual presentation to its impact. The bass is well controlled but does possess an exaggerated decay that really meshes well with the overall signature of the headphone. The upper bass blends beautifully into the mid section and could be easily confused with each other.
 
                                                                                                     
 
 
 
Conclusion
 
    So to sum up my thoughts on the Meze Headphones 99 Classics. I really loved pretty much everything about these. They hit home to me in almost every aspect, the sound is exactly what I look for and has become one of my all time favorite headphones. The warmth they consistently provide in non fatiguing and always leave me longing for a repeat performance.
    The build quality is absolutely top notch and the no glue construction makes these very user serviceable and much sturdier. If properly taken care of I can easily see these lasting a user many MANY years.  
 
Also, don’t forget to check out my unboxing and review videos. As well as my 2016 Army-Firedawg product of the year video! I really appreciate it and let me know what you think, if the review helped you don’t forget to hit that thumbs up button. Till next time my friends, stay safe.
 
 

    I must first thank BlitzWolf for sending me out this unit in exchange for my unbiased, professional review. Throughout the week I’ve had with this little unit I must say I’ve sincerely enjoyed myself and am quite surprised with the quality of it per the price charged. But how about we find out what makes me come to this conclusion shall we?
  
                                                                                  
 
The Opening Experience
 
    Ah the initial handshake as to introduce a product to the customer, the handshake if you will. So was my handshake deliver firm and demanding of respect or was is limp and timid and fearful? Well, it was respectful I will say that. The outer box was very plain and uneventful but it was nice feeling, upon opening you’re greeted with a nicely packaged and positioned speaker inside a generalized foam cutout. For a product of this price I really can’t expect too much more so it is what it is.
 
                                                                                                     
 
 
Construction
 
    One of the things that I believe gets pushed under the carpet, yes sound quality I will agree is the most important factor, but what good is the best sounding piece on Earth if you can only hear it once?
    In respect to the $35 BlitzWolf F1, I must say it’s build is outstanding. It’s made of a large amount of aluminum with rubber finishing the edges and buttons. This alone shines way past my personal JBL Flip that’s 4x more expensive at $100 (at time of purchase) or worlds beyond the ever popular Beats Pill that’s $200.
    The overall weight is extremely light but yet solid feeling in one's hands. Fortunately I’ve yet to drop it from an excessive height but if that were to happen I feel very little worry about the status of the speaker.
 
                                                                                                     
 
Features
 
    Other than the sound quality I feel the other most looked for thing in a portable speakers are the optional functionalities it may or may not possess. As for the F1 they're plentiful and abundant.
    There volume buttons double as a skip button which is cool and also incredibly irritating. For when you want to increase/decrease the volume you MUST hold the volume for if you tap it you’ll forward or previous the track.
    Naturally this device is bluetooth enabled which makes it an ideal speaker for me to use when out fishing for its volume is great and ITS BATTERY LIFE!!!! This things battery is like a Duracell bunny, it just keeps going and going. I’m getting around 10 or so hours of constant listening (at comfortable volume [about 40-55%]) which is awesome, BUT going back to the BT; the range is quite disappointing. The standard for BT range is roughly 32’, which is fine but the F1 may get 32’ in absolute prime conditions but from practice I’m getting around 15-20’ with frequent spotty interruptions in the signal.
    Most impressively is the microphone that’s equipped on this speaker which is most often reserved for speakers of much higher price. What’s more surprising is that the quality of the mic is actually respectable
    Lastly there’s a really cool tone that sound when it powers on, syncs and powers off. Unlike the standard tone that isn’t flattering at all the F1 has a really catchy tune that sounds pretty upbeat and gets me slightly excited to listen to it; pretty interesting how a sound can do that.
 
Sound
 
    Ah, and here we are, what everyone wants to hear about. So how well does this $35 portable speaker sound? When I first began playing music from it I really didn’t expect too awful much. But in all honesty, this little booger has some punch to it. The volume gets pretty loud and projects very nicely on all sides so room position doesn’t have to play much of a role. Overall tonality of it I learned to be a little on the brighter side with a notable V shape sound. The beat to the music shown musch greatly than the artist's voice thus making the F1 sound really fun and perfect for get togethers, SMALL parties etc…
    I could go into the individual aspects of the sound but I feel if I were to do that people may get the wrong idea of this speaker. Does it has its flaws in the sound? Of course. Is it an “audiophile” level speaker? Goodness no. But it does provide really good sound especially with respect to how inexpensive it is, and for that I’ve honestly no complaints in the sound aspect.
 
Conclusion
.
    So to sum up my thoughts on the BlitzWolf F1 bluetooth speaker, I think it’s a really fun and very portable speaker that has a lot to offer rather you’re of the budget, gift giving, or curious mindset. The build quality is outstanding for its price point and the sound would satisfy pretty much anyone. Unfortunately the range and reliability of the signal can be in question sometimes but hey, ya can’t get everything for so little.

 
Also, don’t forget to check out my unboxing and review videos! I really appreciate it and let me know what you think, if the review helped you don’t forget to hit that thumbs up button. Till next time my friends, stay safe.

   
 
 
 A headphone that’s been making waves. The direct “trickle down” of the legendary Hifiman HE-1000. To be accepted into such a prestigious tour is something I’m tremendously thankful for and for that @Hifiman, and to another friend who helped me, II thank you.
 
     
      
 
 
The Opening Experience
 
    I must say, this is one of the firmest “handshakes” I’ve ever been given by a company. The presentation is truly one I will not just remember but use as comparison for other unboxings. The pictures on the front and sides are extremely simplistic, professional and scream excellence. The back of the shell is a bit cluttered and could’ve been placed in the manual but it’s not terrible.
    Now once the shell is removed, there’s the real treasure. An all leather headphone case that is beautifully done with “Edition X” written on the front and Hifiman’s logo and Edition X stamp on the stone grey front.
    Upon opening the slightly difficult top you’re greeted with a precision cut headphone layout that adheres to every curve of the HEX, not just a styrofoam generalized cutout but truly specific made. Then in between the cans are the two cables, 1 standard 3.5mm and ¼” jack.
    An incredible visual and one that I will tip my hat to. Well done hifiman, THIS is the type of unboxing experience and “handshake” I admire in companies and it shows me that you take pride in your products and not just a new toy to make money on.
 
      
 
 
 
 
Construction
 
    As I take the headphones out I’m greeted with, a very difficult time. Despite looking better than the generalized styrofoam cut outs I’m used to these are a simple grab and equip, these take a little bit of work getting out, which I can already foresee using the case very little because of this.
    Once out of the cutout, I was honestly a little disappointed. For a headphone that costs just south of $2,000, there’s a lot of plastic on these. And it’s not even the high quality plastic but the cheap feeling kind. The headband, despite being a single minutely padded strip of leather feels pretty sturdy. The cans outer shell are higher quality plastic I feel and they have a beautiful purplish sheen to them. The grills protecting the planar magnetic drivers are well crafted aluminum that, despite hearing complaints from others, I had no quality control issues. Also on this note, in case you were unaware, these are completely open back. The noise bleed is real on these and EVERYONE will hear exactly what you’re listening to as if they had these on their heads regardless of what volume levels you choose.
    The cups themselves swivel 180 degrees effortlessly and is equipped with really nice leather/ velour hybrid padding. The cables are thankfully removable and are very well shielded and seem to be quite tangle resistant.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comfort
 
    Perhaps the second most important aspect of a headphone, at least it is to me anyways. How comfortable are they to wear? Can I wear these for hours on end or will I have a set time limit? Well with the Edition X I must say they are extremely comfortable for about an 1 ½  to 2 hours. Now, let me explain where I can up with this deduction and why it won’t necessarily be the same for everyone. The clamping force and the pads are on point! As in I am incredibly satisfied with both of them as I am with the padding length. My large ears don’t touch any of the pads however they do touch the mesh that separates the ears from the diaphragm and it’s that that causes me to grow in discomfort in such a relatively short time frame. Now those of you with average or smaller ears will have nothing but super long and enjoyable listening sessions.
 
 
 
Sound
 
    Ah, finally. The most important factor to a headphone. How do they sound? Again, costing a hefty $1,800 I have extremely high expectations of these and will critique these as such.
    Also a large note that Hifiman cannot emphasize enough. These are meant for mobile/low power use! Further going into saying that applying too much amplitude will actually diminish the sound quality quite notably. So with that in mind I used my phone (LG V10) and my Aune X1s (w/ internal varying amplitude) for the purpose of this review.
    During my week I learned that the imagine on the Edition X is incredible! During the last night of my review period I watch “Naruto the Movie: The Last” (yes, I’m a huge anime buff) and I legitimately felt like I was there. Every sound was absurdly lifelike and add in the position accuracy bestowed in these and I was having adrenaline rushes during the fighting scenes and multiple times had to remove my headphones due to thinking someone was walking in the hall behind me or knocking on the door! While listening to music, these are a perfect critical headphone to listen to because they give little to no biased at all to the audio but instead play it as it was recorded.
Now let me dive into the individual aspects of what I have learned with the Edition X during my week with them.
 
Treble
 
    The highs are, acceptable. They’re extremely accurate and clean with a stunning amount of detail, however, they don’t sparkle at all. I greatly dislike reading the hz rating because of this reason. It’s rated for 8hz-50khz so I’m expecting high to extend waaaayyyyy out there. But what I got was rather dull and fast peaking treble. I never noticed and roll in the upper treble, in fact it was quite linear, but on songs that I use that have explicit high HIGH notes (i.e. colour of the moon, diva dance, etc…) I never got those chills or emotion but rather got breathtaking and controlled detail retrieval.
     Now make no mistake, I may be disappointed in the treble response and was expecting a great deal more, but the treble is still very impressive and those who enjoy the more controlled, tame, sound will find these perfect.
 
Mids
 
    The mids are very similar to the treble in the sense that they focus completely on accuracy and flatness. The vocals are either straight flat or very slightly recessed but reproduce the audio from the artists on point. Going back to the treble I feel those who seek a truly flat and clinical sound will greatly enjoy these but someone like myself who loves the warm sensual sound and a mid focused sound I found these to be rather boring, despite the transparency of sound.
 
Bass
 
    Oh dear goodness the bass! The control, the power, the authority, the speed! I LOVE the bass response the Edition X presents to not just my ears but my being. Now those who keep up with me should no I am NOT a bass head by any means nor are these a bass head headphone but instead show what true bass should sound like and FEEL like! Never was the bass fake, or overly extended to show unwarranted excitement as most due, instead tamed the audio and made it its own delivering what was meant to be heard, nothing more nothing less.
 
                                                         
 
 
Conclusion
 
    Overall the Hifiman Edition X is a striking headphone to the clinical music lovers. They produce accuracy and a critical sound that is more emotionless than the HD700’s. If the Edition X where a person, they would be the person that is of the utmost distinguished at their job but couldn’t care less about friends, communication; or rather anything except coming in, doing their job and leaving. These do the job of playing audio accurately as well as I’ve ever heard but in doing such provides a soulless and boring sound.
    They have the flattest tonality of any headphone I’ve ever heard and retrieve detail to a degree deserving of its price tag. They do not scale much at all so I was able to transfer from amp/dac to mobile use without missing much at all.
    Are these some of the best home headphones ever made and a potential flagship killer? Eh I doubt it, there’s just no remembrance I had with these that I feel can crush headphones that are of equal tier. Now perhaps on the mobile platform they’re at the front of the pack but I doubt many people will be walking around with these for they draw a lot of attention. While shopping I wore these into a store and had every aisle someone look and try and hide a laugh.
    So are these great headphone? Absolutely, I just feel they’re currently ahead of their time and are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Add the lowish quality construction to price ratio and you’ve a constant worry about dropping them but and enjoyable experience is certainly a guarantee.
 
Till next time my friends, also make sure you check out my Unboxing and Review videos as well!
 
 

 
 
 
   First and foremost I must express my extreme gratitude to Airist Audio for allowing me to take part in their Heron 5 tour. This is an extremely high dollar piece of equipment and to be entrusted with such bestows me an amount of pride that I cannot be grateful for enough. However that be said with this being the super high price it is of $2,000 I will be of the up most critical of this unit. Throughout every aspect for if a company is going to present such an elite class product then I feel it should perform in representation of such. So pleasantries aside, let me put forth my review of the Airist Audio Heron 5.
 
EDIT: This product was previously rated 3.5 stars. Since Airist's recent price drop from $1,999 to $999 ($849 during their CanJam promotion period [MAR2016]) I feel it WELL performs above that price point thus my decision to change the rating from 3.5 to its current 4.5 star rating. For the hiss is very nominal but present and for those (as myself) without any balanced equipment there's no use for a balanced output jack thus only a .5 star loss in my rating choice.
 
 
 
 
 
The Opening Experience
 
    For those who follow me, rather on here or my YouTube channel, know that I’m a stickler for the unboxing experience. For to me this represents a company's “handshake” as it introduces itself to a customer. Will I be given a firm “handshake” that shows pride, confidence and empowerment? Or will I receive a timid, boring and uneventful? As with the Heron 5, unfortunately it falls pretty close to the later. Inside the very large and equally heavy box was, well another box. Inside that other box lies 2 exact cut styrofoam blocks encasing the beautiful silver Heron 5.
    On top of the styrofoam is certainly the nicest instruction manual I’ve ever seen being very thick as if every page is made from premium resume paper. That was a teaser for that was the only bit of excitement I had while opening this. I felt this was a meh, here you go. Here’s this $2,000 headphone amp. that’s simply packed in a regular cardboard box. I felt rather disappointed in the initial “handshake” I received.
 
 
      
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction
 
    Ok, so the “handshake” was rather impersonal and uneventful so how’s the build quality? Will its construction at least impress me? Absolutely! Everything about the Heron 5 screams quality and stirness. It’s made of primarily aluminum throughout with minimal plastics. It possesses a weight to it that too states that it’s built to last, but on that same note I would take great care for it to not drop for I feel though it wouldn’t shatter it would still break, or at the very least break whatever it landed on.
    The feet are very premium. I don’t at all believe they’re just rubber stops glued to the bottom but instead true feet that are designed to absorb and disrupt vibrations and noise.
    The front has a single power button that’s the perfect amount of resistance to it as with the large and sensitive volume button. As for the outputs there are unfortunately only 2 3.5mm headphone jacks (one high and one low impedance) so for those who enjoy and prefer the balanced headphone sound, you’ll be unable to on the Heron 5. As for inputs you have a L & R channel rca input as well as a L & R XLR input. So perhaps you can still get somewhat balanced sound? I’ve unfortunately yet to hear a balanced amp. and/or headphone so I can’t give personal insight into this (anyone wanna send me a loaner for a week to change this?).
 
    
Specifications
 
    The specifications for this are a good bit detailed. Please see the attached link below for their specification page.
 
Sound
 
    So here we are. The most important part of what makes one decide how well a $2,000 amp. performs. Will this breathe unsung life into music that one’s never experienced before, or will it sound only minutely better than the current setup? Well first I feel I must disclose what I will be using for my comparison/review use.
 
-Amp/Dac combos.
    -Aune X1s
    -Audio gd NFB-15.32 w/ upgraded dac.
-Headphones
    -Sennheiser HD650
    -Bowers & Wilkins P7
    -Empire Ears Hermes VI
 
    So as you can see this is multiples higher tier than what I’ve prior experience with. At first this was a little unnerving for I am to present my finding to both the ever experienced head-fi community and my YouTube subscribers as well. But then I realized something; that’s exactly what will make this a great review. I’m going into this with open ears and an open mind and I can really have that wow moment vs. a ‘ok this compares to this feeling’. So, did I get my awe inspiring moment when I plugged this in?
    With an unresounding and unflinching scream I cry yes! The first night I had this on it couldn’t have been more appropriate. I had just finished a 77 hour work week and was exhausted, all I wanted to do was just relax and listen to my favorite songs and let myself drift away.  When there it was waiting for me, the Heron 5. I barely contained myself to do my unboxing video but as soon as I finished it I plugged my Aune in for the dac, plugged in my HD650 and then had a moment of hesitation. What would be my first song? What would I listen to to feel the first musical tone? Finally after what seemed like forever I decided upon “Pirates of the Caribbean” by Rhapsody Philharmonic flashmob. A YouTube video. I have over 2,000 songs in my inventory that are primarily lossless rips from CDs but this is the song that beckoned to me.
    Upon pressing play my eyes were immediately forced closed by a force that could only be described as unearthly. The sense of realism and soundstage was incredible. This piece is played outdoors on a sidewalk so already you have a sense of being there but the Heron just skyrocketed that. If ever there was a thought in my head that an amp. is only for making headphones louder, listening to this has completely erased that.
    For those who are familiar with the HD650 (which is likely the vast majority of you) know how impressive their soundstage and imaging is. Now I’m still a die hard believer that a tube amp is what’s best paired with these headphones but if ever you want to be transported to the performance to where positional cues are properly engineered into the audio, the scaling abilities of the HD650 brought forth so many new and smile forcing sounds I’ve never heard before. I’ve listened to this track dozens upon dozens of times but have never gotten chills as I have with the amp.
    If fact just writing this review has been delay after delay, not because of life events or long work weeks (56 during the week I had this) but just because it’s so hard to focus on anything except the experience in being bestowed. Now yes the HD650’s are amazing headphones but I’ve had them for roughly a year and listened to them through a many of amps. but this piece of art is just magic.
    And power, oh my gosh power. This art piece reminds me of the beautiful Liger; majestic rarely seen, elegant but when prompted will deliver a force that leaves the most hearty of seekers cowering. I don’t have any legendarily hard to drive orthos i.e. Hifiman HE-6 but I am quite comfortable with the volume only being at 4-5. So like the majestic Liger, be extremely wary when approaching this because if not careful, you could receive a bite that you (or your gear) may not recover from.
    So does this incredible amp. have any fault audio wise? Unfortunately yes and it is potentially a pretty darned annoying one. When I’ve my Bowers & Wilkins P7’s plugged in (the low gain port obviously) I hear the oh so irritating hiss. Now, it’s not audible with music playing but seeing this is a $2,000 amp that boasts silence I find the fact that I’m hearing hiss on my normal 22 ohm impedance. I won’t include my Empire Ears Hermes VI ciems because they’re hyper sensitivity in the grading but I will add the note that my Aune X1s has absolutely nominal hiss on even my hyper sensitive customs (which are still 17ohms). and zero on anything else I’ve ever used. Now on the brighter side, when I plug in my Ultimate Ears buffer jack the hiss is eliminated on everything minus the ciems but still for 2 grand I expect silence.
 
                                                                               
 
 
 
Conclusion
 
    To sum up my experience with the audibly euphoric Airist Heron 5 is essentially that. Audibly, it’s euphoric on high impedance headphones. The design is what I like, simplistic, professional, elegant. My only regret audibly with the Heron is that I don’t possess an equally tiered dac to complement it and allow it to spread its wings even more.
    So awe struckness aside, I will say that this amp not having a balanced output option is a huge let down. I feel for an amp. of this caliber of price to compete with the elite class market a balanced output should be a given. Also it should be dead silent, especially when that is something boasted multiple times. I understand that a 22ohm dynamic driver is quite low but still should be so sensitive to attract hiss. The 6 driver, 17ohm customs sure I’ll allow SOME leway by refraining it from the grading but it took finding one of my headphones of around 50 impedance to remove the hiss.
    Build quality is top notch and is to be expected of 2 grand as is the power output to be completely honest. For those who are in the market for an upper elite class amp. that doesn’t use balanced outputs I would greatly encourage you to look into the Heron 5.
 
Till next time my friends, also make sure you check out my Unboxing and Review videos as well!
 
 

I must first and foremost give many thanks to both @Shanling for setting up this review tour and then also to my friend @nmatheis who invited me to take part. I am truly honored to be a part of such a community where we take care of our own and do our parts to better this field. But now the important part, the review of the Shanling M2
 
   
               
 
The Opening Experience
 
    The initial handshake to introduce me to Shanling was very firm and confident. The box was without any frills or unnecessary lettering but instead very simplistic and elegant. It gave me excitement to open it and unveil its contents. An experience that was very well done and continued into after the box was opened. Sitting completely centered was the Shanling M2 in very tightly engraved plastic holding it quite firmly. Under the plastic/cardboard was the instructions, charger and a nice carrying pouch.
 
         
 
 
 
Construction
 
    The build to the M2 is good but doesn't physically feel like the material it's made of. It has an aluminum front plate and wheel with a true carbon fiber back plate. These materials are very sturdy so the longevity of the DAP will certainly withhold, the only downside is, and it got even myself, is that it doesn't feel as premium but rather I originally believed that it was plastic but @Shanling and @nmatheis addressed this question. Though the brushed look to it really came to my liking. The volume knob moves effortlessly but stays put when you find that sweet spot in the volume. There’s very few buttons which is what was expected for more would be nothing but unnecessary and cluttering.
A downside, as addressed above, and it’s just a personal one but the M2 feels like a toy in my hands. Many people would prefer the weightless feel to it but I find it makes it feel cheap and just a big empty box. This in turn makes me really baby it and worry about what would happen if I were to accidentally drop it. But as also addressed above the carbon fiber and aluminum materials will prevent much damage from occurring so one doesn't need to baby this too much.
 
Functionality
 
    For the most part spot on. The M2 has everything very simple and straightforward. There’s an option for low and high gain for sensitive ciems such as my Empire Ears Hermes VI or as potential holding as my Sennheiser HD650. For those who EQ there’s a respectable selection to choose from as well as a customize setting as well. All the buttons and knobs are very responsive and require very little effort, and on the note of volume this little booger can be nit picked. There’s 120 volume ticks which is PERFECT for those like me who are sensitive to overly loud music and find it very hard to find a sweet spot on devices with only 10 or even 20 volume selection options. No more WISHING there was a volume less than 1 on my phone when I’m trying to go to bed listening to music. Even the battery life is outstanding overall this is a very well build DAP.
However there is a downside to the layout and it’s one I do believe is an easy fix so hopefully an update will come. For those like me who have well over a thousand songs (or around 250 I had loaded on this specific micro SD card [Shanling states the M2 can handle up to a 64gb {however one user said he was able to use a 128gb without issue YMMV}]) having to scroll and scroll and scroll just to get to the specific song you want is rather annoying. A simple fix to this issue is to once you scroll fast enough it brings up scroll by letter vs scroll by song. This takes having to scroll a few hundred to 1 in 26.  
Also another very small downside for me personally is the max storage size is only 64gb. This is very small for I’ve filled a 64gb a long time ago and am closing in on a 124. With sd cards becoming higher and higher in size and also getting cheaper and cheaper it really is a necessity for DAPs to swiftly follow suit. However with the very primitive scrolling and song selection option available this limiting factor may not be such a bad thing.
 
Sound
 
    I was very interested in comparing this with my LG V10 since its big claim to fame (other than the camera) was the ESS Sabre DAC & amp. So how did it compare with the Shanling M2 which is solely built to play audio and nothing more? Well not well at all. The Shanling M2 is MUCH smoother and transparent with a embarrassingly more powerful amp. The dac I had known but was solidified after hearing the M2 that there’s a pretty notable brightness to the V10. The M2 is very transparent and clean with very little, if any, coloration.
    Another big issue for me which makes sending the M2 on to the next person even harder is all the hiss I get from the V10 while listening to my ciems. Now this is not a downfall of the V10 whereas the Hermes VI is just so ungodly hypersensitive the hiss though drastically reduces my musical enjoyment. When playing from the Shanling M2 there unfortunately is still notable hiss but it’s so minor that when music is playing unless I’m trying to listen for it I don’t hear it whatsoever.
 
                                                                               
 
 
Conclusion
 
    So to sum up the Shanling M2, it is a very convenient DAP. It’s incredibly simple to control and the audio is wonderful. The amp and gain settings allow one to use ciems that are HYPER sensitive but yet also higher impedance headphones such as the HD650 and have an enjoyable, non fatiguing audio experience throughout. I would honestly recommend this little guy to anyone wanting a high quality, no frills dap that has a respectable small budget minded.
 
Till next time my friends. Also make sure you check out my unboxing and review videos as well!

  
 
 
 Yet again I find myself having to show a massive token of gratitude and thanks to Bill Poteet from Sennheiser. For he very graciously allowed me to review these very new and very popular offerings from Sennheiser. So my friend I humbly thank you and to Sennheiser keep on making some outstanding products!
 
The Opening Experience
 
    I unfortunately cannot provide an opening experience section for this headphone for I was delivered a review unit that solely consisted of the headphone and carrying case. But my experience from opening the carrying case was that of “my goodness these things are huge just like the case”.
 
                                                                                     
 
 
 
Construction
 
    Other than the absolute top tier models Sennheisers construction has so far been merely acceptable to me, so I didn’t have too high of expectations when I received these. But man was I caught off guard, these cans are built like a tank! I mean absolutely top notch, The HD630vb is built almost exclusively out of very nice aluminum with minimal plastic. The variable bass notch is buttery smooth and feel quite sturdy.
    The cable despite being respectably thick, it feels somewhat cheap to me. I’ve no worries about the construction of it regardless but it just doesn’t feel premium, and what more and this however is HUGE; the cable does NOT detach. It’s one of the only Sennheiser products I’ve tried that has the cable permanently attached. I personally really dislike this for 1.) it removed the ability to add on a better quality cable and by far the most important 2.) if you shear the cable, you’re S.O.L.
    The microphone is built nice and I’ve received no negative feedback about its quality. Another really great thing I’m going to sincerely miss with the HD630vb is the fact that the controls on the side work perfectly with I AND Android products! Lastly on a small side note, these are the first headphones that have the name branded facing the opposite direction. What I mean by this is traditionally (i.e. with EVERY other headphone I've used) the name faces the direction that if you can read it, that's the way you put it on your head. But the HD630vb has Sennheiser facing forward.
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comfort
 
    Probably the second most important thing to me just under sound quality. But how long can I comfortably wear these without them providing me any discomfort? When it comes to the HD630vb that’s about 2 hours, which is acceptable but not outstanding. The headband provides just the right amount of give to keep my head off the aluminum band. However the earpads are a bit stiff and add that to the slightly above average clamping force and it can become uncomfortable for some in varying times. As said for me that was usually 2 hours before I had to take them off and take a break.
 
                                                                                    
 
  
 
 
Sound
 
    Alas, here we are. The ever hyped and talked about Sennheiser HD630vb with variable bass output. So how to these sound? Well definitely not worse than other products in this price point but certainly not better than everything either.
    The soundstage is respectable, it sounds evenly spaced but the layering within the soundstage is quite impressive. While listening to one of my favorite tracks “Pirates Of The Caribbean” by the Rhapsody Philharmonic I was able to discern each individual instrument for a pretty impressive amount of time. I just wish they didn’t sound so close, they weren’t in my face but I have heard more airy even in the closed back category.
    The imaging and transparency, when I allow them, are very impressive. When I want to be swept away by the music these most certainly will but they won’t force your eyes closed and demand attention. But how about the individual aspects? How will they make you feel?
 
Treble
 
    I really like the treble in the 630vb. It extends to a very comfortable level but has a really nice smoothness to it. I doesn't sparkle or give me chills but it's just really nice to listen to.
           Now, when I'm using these for gaming everything ties really well in together. The detail reproduction of the higher notes really brought realism to the wind as I raced along on my sparrow in Destiny.
 
Mids
 
    The mid section isn't really anything to go crazy about. They're about the same as most other headphone within this price point and possess a small but notable dip as to emphasize the treble and bass.
            From a personal non professional standpoint I was honestly a little let down. Sennheiser has always had some of the best mids to me but the HD630vb doesn't stand out to me at all.
 
Bass
 
    This section I will have to refrain from writing a complete review of seeing the variability in the bass response that relies entirely on which setting the user decides and my choice may be completely different from your.
            Now I can and will provide a summary of the minimum and maximum setting for those will remain the same.
            On the lowest setting the bass response is still moderately forward and present. It's quite controlled with the level of punch it provides and between this and about ⅓ max is where I personally leave it. When it's on its maximum setting the mid-bass and some of the sub-bass is super heavy, WAY more than I like it and actually it is very similar to the Beats Pro but MUCH more controlled and clean. If you're a bass head then the HD630vb on max should satisfy you quite nicely.
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
Conclusion
 
    The Sennheiser HD630vb most certainly falls into the “fun” category of headphone. They possess a richness about them that is enjoyable to listen to especially with gaming but falls into the range of average when compared to other “audiophile” grade headphone in this price range.
           The variable bass ability can really benefit households that will have multiple users with different flavors of bass enjoyment. The built quality and design give it the ability to stand out from the crowd and ability to handle a house with, younger, audiences.
    My final thoughts is the HD630vb is THE headphone to bring the Beats lovers into the world of hi-fi and I wouldn’t be surprised a bit if that was the intent.
 
Till next time my friends, no unboxing video for this one but def check out my YouTube review though!
 
 

  
 
 
 I must absolutely first and foremost thank Jack Vang and his team at Empire Ears for contacting me personally and asking if I’d like to be a reviewer for a new line of products they have for the launch of their new company. I’m absolutely humbled and honored at this opportunity and can’t thank you enough.
    When Jack contacted me with his proposal and after the terms were all laid out he then proceeded to just completely and utterly baffle me with his customer service and true passion for getting what it was that I wanted in sound. He first asked what I wanted in audio, which is a mostly neutral/reference sound with slightly forward mids and a warm but absolutely not bassy presentation. He then recommended with complete confidence the Hermes VI model.
"Hermes VII
 
“Much like the god of boundaries and transitions Hermes is swift, athletic, and articulate. It instantly demands your attention with soaring, crystal clear highs and deep, fully textured lows. Hermes commands six drivers via a complex 3-way crossover network to ensure perfect pace, rhythm, and timing."  -Jack Vang
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
The Opening Experience
                
    As those who read my reviews know I’m huge on the handshake that takes place before I even listen to a product. How are these packaged? Is pride obviously apparent, or are these just another product they sell? And in the case of these I had to add the dealers strive for customer satisfaction.
    The Hermes VI arrived in a beautiful, simplistic and extremely high end box. Inside lies the ridiculously rugged carrying case that has my trade name of “Army-Firedawg” custom engraved into the metal faceplate. This  truly deserving of such a premium price tag, but spoiler Jack and the Empire Ears team does this for ALL their products! That says mountain about the respect Empire Ears shows their customers.
    But now onto the main attraction, my heart was honestly racing when I opened the box. Inside were my personal, luxuriously placed, custom engraved Empire Ears Hermes VI equipped with their premium BTG Starlight cable. In addition to the case I was also provided 2 silk carrying pouches and a premium cleaning cloth. I my friends, have never been so impressed by the experience of a product. I wasn’t just delivered a firm handshake, I was given a full blown hug.
 
        
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction
 
    So how is the build quality on these hand made in Georgia, United States c.i.e.m.s? Absolutely top notch. I have zero concerns about these and the longevity of their lifespan. The monitors are very firmly constructed and solid, with no discernable fusion areas.
The stock cable is amazingly strong as is the BTG Starlight cable. It’s built with a braided pattern that I’ve learned greatly diminishes vibration received if it catches on something and also almost eliminates feedback. They also detach at the monitor, thus if it were to fray and unfortunately break on something you’re not out over a grand and about 2 weeks of waiting.
The only issue I’ve found is that the 3.5mm jack, on the stock cable, is very bulky. I use an OtterBox Defender series case and this connection will not twist as all in this case. This in turn eliminates the ability for me to lay the phone on its back in fear of harming the connection. Also I have to place the phone in my pocket with the screen facing me as well as not being completely in my pocket for the same reasons. Though this isn’t a huge issue at all, it does get rather irritating, but for those who don’t use a case or use a smaller one you’ll likely not have this issue. The BTG cable actually extends further out, though it is even bulkier than the stock cable, the extension allows it to easily clear my case.
 
 
                                                                                 
 
 
Comfort
 
    How is the comfort of a Custom In Ear Monitor? Well, perfect. It’s my exact ear impression so I don’t see how it’s possible to fit any better than it does. The Hermes are super light so there’s zero stress on the ear even during long listening durations.
    The isolation is absolutely top notch. I can’t hear a darned thing when I’ve these inserted correctly let alone if I’ve music playing.
    The cord, as mentioned earlier, has very low feedback. This is very important for when I move and it brushes my clothes I don’t hear a buncha rustling. It also is very lightweight and sits very comfortably behind my ears and locks into place with a plastic tube.
    I initially had 2 downsides to these but they both turned out to be a miss on the audiologist part (local one in Charlotte not by the Empire Ears crew) by making my horn too long on the left side and when I turned the monitors became dislodged. Empire Ears happily fixed these issues, without me having to get remolded. So those complaints no longer exist.
 
 
                                                                             
 
 
 
Sound
 
    Arguably the most important aspect of an audio equipment io how do they sound? Well, out freaking standing is the “professional” terminology that comes to mind. When I have these in my ears I am AT the audio performance that I choose. The most immediate thing that comes to mind when listening to the Hermes is transparency. I’m absolutely blown away by the amazing accuracy and lifefulness that exist in these. While listening to “If I Could Sing Your Blues” by Sarah K I heard reverberation from the surrounding that I’ve never before experienced, so much so that Dr. Chesky honestly did make me feel like part of a very private performance.
    The soundstage on these is, complicated; or at least for me to put words on it. What I mean is the Depth and Space individually are pretty decent, nothing outrageous but still vast enough. The thing that really set the Hermes apart and what gives me chills is the layers and the separation within the layers that I’m presented with. While listening to “Beethoven’s 5 Secrets” by The Piano Guys live I easily discerned the different sections of instruments used and as well could almost discern each individual one which bring me to the next point that really shined with these.
    The detail retrieval. Above and beyond anything I’ve ever heard before, including other elite class products. I thought I heard every note to the songs I use to demo but oh no with the Hermes I heard a few more small notes that I never knew before (the traditional cliche I know) and each time gave me a smile.
    When these are correctly inserted into my ears I’m given such musical bliss and accuracy I’ve never before experienced and it’s something I do often enjoy, but those who read or watch my other reviews know my main preference is a nice, warm and relaxing overall sound. Hermes VI is all about accuracy with an ever so small touch of warmth (which will be discussed next) and like the Greek god represented, makes absolutely no exceptions or excuses.
A potential issue with these I’ve found and feel others should be aware of as well is that these DO NOT play well, or at all rather, with anything but the highest quality of files and perhaps even a decent source. Hermes puts a giant and inexcusable spotlight on every single imperfection my non FLAC or WAV file had; in some cases so much so that I had to change the track. As for the source (LG G3 w/ Adata 64gb class 10Micro SD card then later to my new LG V10 w/ ESS Sabre amp. & dac. equipped w/ 200gb Sandisk class 10), even with my WAV files which were ripped “for accuracy” from a CD using Exact Audio Copy, I made out a slightly noticeable hiss which I’ve found is due to the Hermes VI defiantly extreme super sensitivity. A fix to this is a very simple buffer jack I purchased from Ultimate Ears for $10. “Hermes is swift, athletic and articulate.” A statement that couldn’t be more accurate.
Let me dissect Hermes a little so you can get an idea of where I’m coming from.
 
Treble
 
    The energy, the attention to finite and often overlooked detail of an audio piece. Does Hermes present me the energy that lies in the musical recording or does is simply play it? Hermes does wonderfully well and reproduces everything that was recorded, and goodness does it extend the highs to reaches what can be almost piercing. While listening to “Diva Dance” by (I think) Evgenia Laguna, Hermes didn’t so much as flinch when the super high pitches came. There was never any fatigue, tiredness or static even at her highest peak, instead sung her with energy, charisma and sparkle without diluting her God gifted voice.
 
Treble w/ BTG starlight cable
 
    The treble extended further and got much brighter. Going back to the “Diva Dance” example, she now physically hurt when she was at her peak.
 
Mids
 
    The vocals, the soul of an audio piece. The first thing I listen for when I demo. & review. Will I be sang to as if I’m THE most important person alive, or will I be talked to like a bystander not worthy of one's time? In the case of the Hermes I felt like I was the only person on Earth and singing to me will repopulate it. OK that  may’ve been slightly exaggerated but the soul of the Hermes is stunning, accurate and known. They’re beautifully clean and reproduce the artist's voice better than I’ve ever heard before. While listening to “S.O.B.” by Nathaniel Rateliff everything sounded so alive in the already upbeat song. The finger snaps sounded as real as my Nanny snapping her fingers at me to stop eating her (made from absolute scratch with a 40+ yr old cast iron skillet) cornbread before I fill myself up.
Was the above example needed, no, but it got the point across about the realism I’m trying to convey these present, but I’ll end on the only ascension I can notice on these is which is a very slight raise in the lower mid & upper bass range to add a nice warm body to the voices. Which if you remember, is how I prefer my music.
 
Mids w/ BTG starlight cable
 
    The mids take a very notable increase in forwardness while still not losing its neutrality. I did notice that things sounded even more lifelike and real as well, but that could be due to the new bias.
 
Bass
 
    The heartbeat, the rhythm and pace, the adrenaline of an audio piece. Will I feel ready for battle or will I feel like I’m getting eaten by some dark force? Perhaps I will feel empty and longing instead of content and satisfied? In the case of Hermes I was content and satisfied. Hermes did not add nor take away any bass hit than I believe originally exists. While listening to “The Pride” by Five Finger Death Punch the whole song is very energy filled and impactful. On my go to headphones, Bowers & Wilkins P7, I receive the hard hit of bass to the perfect level for me. Make no mistake I am NOT a basshead but I do enjoy a nice touch of added warmth to my music which these only give just slightly in the upper bass & lower mid range.
 
Bass w/ BTG STARLIGHT cable
 
    When I equip the STARLIGHT cable the hit of the bass gets respectably harder and attains even more control than what’s already present.
 
 
                                                                     
 
 
 
 
Conclusion
 
    To sum up the Hermes VI, I have never been so impressed with a product I have reviewed. These truly lived up to my expectations and quite honestly chewed them up and set perhaps new unobtainable ones for others to follow suite. The Empire Ears team truly goes above and beyond to ensure their customer recieved exactly what they’ve always dreamed of.
    Whenever I’m listening to the Empire Ears Hermes VI I feel as if I’m truly present at a first rate performance, I lose track of time as I’m being charioted away by this Greek god and honestly I’d have it no other way. I will absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend the Hermes VI to anyone and happily put my backing seal on them.
 
Till next time my friends, make sure to check out my unboxing & review videos as well!
 
 

    If you remember a few months ago I received my first bluetooth earphone, the Havit Sports Bluetooth Earbud. I greatly enjoyed the freedom it provided me during my workouts seeing I no longer had a cord flapping merrily in the wind. So when a fellow head-fier offered to trade me the JLab Epic Bluetooth Earphones in exchange for my Monster Inspirations that I no longer used, I happily took the gentleman up on his offer. So, how do I find the JLab Epic’s performance? Let’s find out.
 
                                                                                                    
 
 
The Opening Experience
 
    The JLab Epic was packaged pretty nicely, though it was previously opened by the previous owner he did a very appreciated job of placing everything back the way it would’ve been new. The box is presented very nicely as well it possesses a front opening flap that allows you to view the product without opening it. From a retail standpoint that’s very convenient, and from a professional standpoint, eh it’s cool. The inside is traditionally packaged with nothing really standing out that sets the Epic apart from other BT IEM’s at a similar price point, however the included carrying case is one of the coolest I’ve came across for it’s big enough for a phone  (roughly 5.3” or less) as well as a clip to hook onto your pants.
 
     
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction
 
    These are built to take a beating. They don’t look that luxurious, nor are they built using premium materials, but they do bestow me the confidence that they can be used, abused and put through the ringer and continue to come back for more. That is exactly what I expect from a workout earphone, I don’t need nor want fancy I want results and efficiency and the Epic provides this in spades.
 
    
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comfort
 
    The JLab Epic rates amongst the most comfortable iem I’ve ever listened to. Of course everyone's experience will vary but the Epic’s just fit perfectly into my ears to such a degree that I could confuse them as a custom. Never once during any period duration of listening did I have any fatigue with these and also something that is EXTREMELY rare for me personally is that I had zero, none, nilche problems with the silicone tips. For those familiar with me know, I almost have to use exclusively Comply memory foam tips because silicone almost always irritates my ears but this is most certainly not the case with the JLab Epic.
 
                                                                                            
 
 
Sound
 
    So how’s the performance of these $100 bluetooth iem’s? Well they’re most certainly a huge upgrade from the Havit’s I’ve been using and these can also function as an audio enjoyment iem as well as a workout earbud and that’s HUGE.
    The soundstage on the Epic’s are pretty respectable considering the category they’re in, as well as the positional cues are quite revealing. Transparency is respectable but I can most certainly tell I’m listening through iem’s so the lifelike appeal isn’t too strong with these.
    A small downside to the sound, at least I believe it would go in this section, is that the range on these are horrible. The standard range is rated at 32ft. but these maybe get 20 before they start falling off and if there’s any obstructions of the signal path then is over. So for those of you who are like myself and prefer to put these in your pockets as you run then you will want to invest in an arm band for the signal will consistently break up.  But that’ enough of a synops, let’s dive into the individual aspects of the JLab Epic.
 
Treble
 
    The highs are respectably clean and accurate but they do tend to peak quite early. Often times this is of little concern but when I’m listening to techno or electronic music, which I only do when I run, I do find it sometimes annoying. When I’m looking for that chilling peak in the music for that extra adrenaline push to start the last x distance of my run and the Epic falls quite short of that deliverance I have to refocus my mind into the overall beat of the song to avoid losing my groove. I hate running.
 
Mid
 
    My personal favorite aspect of audio pieces. For to me the mids are where the soul of the music lies. The JLab Epic’s do a very good job at delivering the vocalists performance despite being slightly recessed when compared to the rest of the frequency band. There’s still plenty of body in each note as is realism but the vocals to still sound distant. A great example of this is in Nathaniel Rateliff’ & The Night Sweat “S.O.B.”
 
Bass
 
    Like every other workout geared audio piece I’ve tried, the bass if most certainly the focal point of the Epic. It’s very punchy and hard hitting with drawn out decay, this from an audiophile perspective is horrible and bad but from a workout angle it’s ideal. Most often when people are working out they have music playing as a background beat and music such as rock, techno, etc… are the most common genres for this activity. So having said bass response allows the listener to get that heavy beat they’re wanting for that extra pump in their workout.
 
                                                                  
 
 
Conclusion
 
    To sum up the JLab Epic bluetooth earphone I’m overall rather impressed. The more hours I put into it the more it ties into other wireless iem’s of similar price put the comfort and built quality is most certainly a separating factor. But for these to retail for $100, I find their performance well within their asking price and I am very satisfied with my trade.
 
Till next time my friends, make sure you check out my YouTube unboxing & review video as well!
 
 

                                                                          
 
 
    I absolutely have to give a huge shoutout and thank you to Todd at TTVJ audio for allowing me a chance to demo and review these. For these being so new even if I’ve the chance to go to a meet being able to see these is quite unlikely, so again I thank you. 
                                                              

 

           
 
The Opening Experience
 
    One of the few products I’m away of that do not come with a cardboard artbox (retail box). These ship very simply with the real leather case and an art wrap around it. It’s simple, straight forward and effective, I’m ok with it.
    However, the smell & texture of the leather is striking, the name “NIGHTHAWK” engraved and the weight of the box shows confidence and is thus far presenting me with a very competent and well represented hand awaiting to be shaken. Then it’s time to open the chest that is in from of me, the sound a zipper makes as I’m unzipping is something that gives me chills every time for it builds up to the treasure that lies underneath.
    And a treasure I have received, presented in front of me in silhouetted cutout, that itself is laced in a very soft material, lies the Nighthawk’s. This is the first time I’ve seen these in person and let me tell you my friends pictures don’t do them justice, for these are stunning, though they are MUCH darker in person than the pictures show. The wooden backs are a nice dark color which is a very nice and very welcomed contrast from the dominant all black color. Before these the Monster Diamond Tears were to me the most striking headphones I’ve ever seen but these are now by far the most aesthetically pleasing cans I’ve ever seen.
    In the flap lies two extremely well crafted cables, the longer one being the main AudioQuest cable and a second extra cable that’s still nicely built. 2 silk clothes to keep the wood spotless and an artistically decorated instruction and warranty book with the signature NightHawk taking flight.
    I must say I’ve often been disappointed by the representation of a product that I’ve been so looking forward to finally seeing with my own eyes, rather by own hype or general representation but I have to say I was delivered a very nice and firm handshake with the NightHawk and couldn’t plug them into my setup quick enough.
 
 

         
 
Construction
 
    Top notch if properly taken care of. The NightHawk’s feel extremely sturdy in my hands and it’s constructions even shows that. Every piece of it is supported by a flexible object rather it be string or rubber, which on that note I will add that if one is careless with flexing them, I can see one of the hinge pieces breaking but that would mostly fall into user error. The headband is on an elastic strap so finding one's exact fit shouldn’t be any problem but, as anyone who’s familiar with elastic knows, it loses its tautness over time.
    All in all the Nighthawks initially are built very well and I have complete confidence in the craftsmanship behind it. However I also must add that I feel that in order for one to continue to have these for many years to come one need to be mindful of how they handle the headphones.
    Lastly there’s the cable. There’s honestly not a whole lot to it other than it being extremely well built and other than it being very taught and prone to kinks I’ve no complaints about it whatsoever.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comfort
 
    Absolutely amazing. These are either the most comfortable of tied for most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn. They sit so perfectly on my head with such exact clamping force I’ve happily worn these 4+ hours at a time. The elastic headband conforms to the exact size of my head with minimal effort. The earcups felt extremely soft yet didn’t give way more than what was needed while at the same time being breathable. Very well done one the comfort side of things.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sound
 
    A couple people suggested I try the AudioQuest Nighthawk’s for they believe I’d greatly enjoy them for my tastes in music and sound signature preference. In fact I was asked to specifically compare them with that of the legendary Sennheiser HD650’s saying they were very similar. So after giving them a good amount of time and listen what’s my personal verdict on them? Let’s find out
    Firstly I have to make note of some of the best transparency and imaging I’ve ever heard. Not just in the price category it’s in either, but overall. The Nighthawks do an amazing job and bestowing the realism of the musical piece so amazingly well that I’ve came to choose these when listening to movies over any other product I own because of this. For gaming. or in music in general, the positional cues are extremely accurate and the layering in the soundstage though being one that’s very intimate, is still spot on and very enveloping.
An intimate soundstage, breathtaking imaging and wonderful transparency aside, how are the individual aspects of the AudioQuest Nighthawks and do they live up to the hype? Or are they purely aesthetics?
 
Treble
 
    The treble was accurate but yet still quite recessed. I didn’t get the energy transfer from my music that I like but I still felt what I was receiving was true. I really enjoy listening to “Tank” by The Seatbelt (from the Cowboy Bebop anime) and though I could very easily discern each trumpet apart from the next as well as locate them, I didn’t get chills even once. There just wasn’t any spark to the high notes which is very unfortunate.
 
Mids
 
    My personal preference to an audio piece. The mids to me represent the body and soul of music so if a piece of equipment can’t show great competence in this area I’m left feeling hollow . So does the AudioQuest Nighthawk live up to people recommendations for being something I’d like?
    For the most part I find the mids rather enjoyable. The “mid-mid” is quite clean and I feel quite accurate to the vocals. They feel focused and forward and give nice distinction from the rest of the musical ensemble. The lower-mids shows just a touch more coloration to the darker side (my guess is due to the bass bias) but not enough to deter me from enjoying it thoroughly or honestly even noticing it unless I’m strictly critiquing it. However, I’ve a definite issue with the upper-mid lower treble range for I notice a very distinct and very sharp dip that only lasts for a few hz but to me it’s very noticeable and sounds quite distorted. The best way I’ve found to reproduce the distortion I’m referring to is for those who use an audio app (in my case PowerAmp Pro.), if you turn on and increase the “Stereo-X” knob it makes a very similar sound. This is by no means a deal breaker but something to certainly be addressed.
 
Bass
 
    Most certainly and quite definitely the focal point of the Nighthawk. These have some thump to them but not in the bad way. Now make no mistake, I’m no basshead for I often find overly bassy products unpleasant and irritating to listen to but daggum, I really enjoyed the hit of the NightHawk’s. These really shines with hard rock such as Five Finger Death Punch, Skillet,
Rise Against, etc… The bass was very controlled and very impactful and the already incredible imagine of these really got my heart pumping. Want a freakishly good pre/workout song? Check out “Jekyll & Hyde” from FFDP. It’s already a great song but the Nighthawk’s brought it to life.
 
                                                                                       
 
 
Conclusion
 
    By far one of the most if not the most aesthetically pleasing headphones I’ve ever laid my eyes on. The comfort is unparalleled as well as the mouth watering imagine & transparency. The Nighthawk’s are definitely geared towards the bass lovers and really shine with hard rock style music and action movies. If properly taken care of I’ve no doubt that these will last for years to come and will certainly draw attention when seen.
    Lastly before I depart, I was asked by one of my followers/subscribers to compare these to my Sennheiser HD650’s. Though I’ll save the full A/B for the video; I’ll summarize by saying that they both have their strengths and crowds. If you like a more lifelike experience and really like the bass hit or you want headphones for media use over music I’d most certainly recommend the NightHawk’s. However if you like a more enveloping and fulfilling sound with a more broadened cache of music then I think you’d enjoy the HD650’s more.
 
Till next time my friends, till then check out my Unboxing, Review @ vs. HD650 videos!
 
 

 

 

  
                                                                        
 
 
 The Sennheiser HD650. The #1 overall rated headphone on the most prestigious and well known personal audio website Head-Fi.org. So when I had the chance to trade my most expensive headphone I’ve ever purchased (at the time), the Beyerdynamic T70p, I was definitely interested to see just what everyone was talking about. So I’ve had these headphones for about 6 months now and have put a respectable amount of hours on them considering all the gear I’ve also reviewed during the time frame. So do I think these deserve such recognition? Let’s find out.
 
                                                                                            
 
The Opening Experience
 
    For those who’ve been following me rather on here or on my YouTube channel know that I brag on Sennheiser and their “handshake” they provide their customers with their products, and the HD650 is absolutely no exception. Upon opening the very well built box you’re greeted with a cut out foam plate that surround the outline of the headphones and presents them in a way that just screams ‘listen to me’.  The cord even has its own cut out that isn’t just twisted and placed but instead elegantly laid preventing any kinks or binds. Like all other premium Sennheiser products I’m experienced with, they provide the customer a firm and gratifying “handshake” that gives confidence in their products.
 
                                       
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Construction
 
    At the time of this review the Sennheiser HD650 retails for $499.95 on the moon-audio website. So for $500 what do I think of the built quality in respects to other headphones in this relative price range? Well, acceptable is the answer to that. I firmly believe they could’ve been built a little more sturdy but I still have confidence that they’ll last for many years to come. The primary material used is plastic that I’d put as mid grade with aluminum consisting of the grills and the headband inners. A major fault to these I can foresee is that if these get pinched on something, something will snap. Rather it be the headband or driver cups, if one gets careless with these I feel these may break.
    And then there’s the cord, I really don’t have a positive stance on the cord. I don’t believe it’s the cheapest of cables they could’ve made but they seriously could have done a better job at making this feel like a premium cable to a premium product. Now it doesn’t tangle up I will give it that, I’ve never had to worry about knots, but I would still recommend opting in for a 3rd party upgrade cable.  
 
 
                                                                               
 
    
 
Comfort
 
    Similar to the construction, I rate the comfort of these as acceptable. They provide a nice amount of clamping force that for me is just fine but I can see it being a little much for some. The sizing options are abundant and stay firm. The issue I have is the padding, for my taste, is a bit stiff. They do conform to my head well but it’s not like a warm marshmallow conforming to a stick but rather sand conforming to your hand as you push on it. Both are soft and pleasant but one is notably stiffer and grainier than the other.
 
 
                                                                                   
 
 
Sound
 
    Finally here we are, arguably the most important aspect to an audio piece, the quality of its audio reproduction. Thus far the physical aspects of this headphone are merely acceptable, so, will it’s sound make up for its other faults?
    With an overwhelming as resounding, oh my goodness yes. The positional sound cues are BY FAR the best I’ve ever heard at not just this price range but multiples more. The soundstage is amazingly vast and the layering is breathtaking. While writing this I’m of course listening and I find myself very often drifting of with my eyes being forced closed to enjoy the enveloping sound sweeping over me like a raging wildfire. But for those who’re like myself who find beauty in the flame know that along with its power lies a pure, wild and unearthly beauty that can’t explained. It’s power, like that of the HD650, to draw one in is something that MUST be experienced. Finally before I break it down to the individual aspects there’s one last aspect to discuss and that’s the imaging, When these are paired with good equipment, and if you let them, they can transport you to the performance you choose. The imaging on these are wonderful, now I have heard better at this price point, but it’s nowhere near as riveting as the HD650’s other strengths.
 
    Also, the equipment I use is the following. Normally I do not post what I test them on but the HD650’s scale better than ANY headphone I have EVER tested regardless of the price.                          

1. Garage1217- Project Horizon 3                                                           
   
   1. This amp. definitely gave the HD650 the best sound quality for what I personally enjoy. The warmth of the tube amp., as almost every forum you’ll search, definitely fits the HD650 best. BUT in attaining the warm and relaxing sound quality of the tube, I found that I did lose a little bit of accuracy more so than with my other headphones.
2. Aune- X1s
   1. My current setup, this amp./dac combo is just stunning. It’s sonically accurate and really brings out the highlights of the HD650. I really have no complaints professionally but on a personal note, after I traded my PH3 I learned I do rather miss the warm sound the tube gave when I want to relax after a long work day.
   2. 
3. LG- V10 (mobile phone w/ ESS Sabre DAC & amp. installed)
   1. I have only had this device for about a week so I will refrain from giving a professional review of its input to the HD650 other than it drove it very competently and sounded similar to the X1s but without the transparency. I still got the strengths mentioned above, just not to the same degree.

 
Treble
 
    The highs, the energy of the headphone. The ability of a headphone to produce the highest of notes without losing its energy and fading out or sounding weak, all while maintaining the accuracy of the original sound is quite difficult for many to attain. But the HD650 not only rises to that challenge, it meets it with a confident smile and a bring it on gesture. The HD650 produced every super peaking treble testing song I could think to throw at it and never so much as flinched. It took the sometimes ear piercing diva dance and gave her the accuracy and clarity that I’ve yet to hear on a headphone this price. To my ears the treble didn’t roll off but stayed consistent throughout the range.
 
Mids
 
    Another thing that those who follow me will know I pay particular attention to, for to me the mids are the most important thing for they represent the body and soul of the audio piece. The mids are the artists voice, feelings and emotions; and without good competency to reproduce this range a headphone is left sounding hollow and soulless which in turn leaves the listener feeling empty and without a fulfilling experience.
    In the case of the Sennheiser HD650 I find absolutely no faults in the mids. They give me a wonderful sense of warmth and liveliness to them that really makes way for a very soothing experience (especially with a tube amp.). I don’t think they’re forward that much, if at all, but they definitely stand out.
 
Bass
 
    The ‘umph’ or heartbeat of an audio piece. This is what is by far what’s in fashion today. Who can produce the deepest and hardest hitting, well my issue with this trend is it completely takes away from the rest of the recording. Often times overly bassy cans give me the image of pacman eating the rest of the audio notes, and that my friend is a no go. So do the HD650’s follow this trend, they are the #1 headphone remember?
    The answer is NO. Though these do have a bass emphasis it is very slight. The bass is fun and gives a nice touch of ‘the feels’ but I don’t have that bad of a note to the bass. And it’s only that the decay is a little drawn out when compared to the overall flawless presentation of the rest of its frequency spectrum.
 
 
                                                               
 
 
Conclusion
 
    So in summary, do I believe these live up to being the #1 overall headphone ever made? Hmmmmm, price/quality ratio yes, absolutely by far. But I’m a firm believer that there honestly is no such thing as “best”.  However, Sennheiser absolutely knows what they are doing in the audio world and have proven they can compete with what the world calls the best with a headphone that is honestly, respectably affordable.
    Despite having some areas that do need some attention, I will whole heartedly put my name behind this product and recommend it to just about anyone to have one in their collection. I listen to these with everything under the moon from hard rock to bluegrass gospel and the HD650 consistently gives me a heartwarming, full and satisfied filling. Goes to show what can be produced when a company spends the majority of the product budget on sound quality over other unnecessary features.
 
 
Till next time my friends. Until then check out my video Unboxing & Review!

Yet again I find myself having to give a major thanks to Edifier and their team for selecting me to be a reviewer for them and for sending me a product in exchange for my honest review. So without further adieu let’s dive into their flagship I.E.M.
 
                                                                            
 
 
The Opening Experience
 
    The initial handshake was at first quite nice. The box is advertised with very minimal jargon on the box as is it keeping itself very minimalized. Upon opening the box everything else just seemed normal. Nothing was really that extravagant nor was it distasteful and limp.  A plus side though is these do come with a respectably nice carrying pouch.
 
 
                                                                                              
 
 
Construction
 
    Solid.  I’ve no concern whatsoever about the durability of this product. The horn’s are angled, the cable is flat yet strong and the monitors themselves are built quite taught. So for the $40 range these are built very very well.
 
Comfort
 
    Average. I personally didn’t have any issues with these in terms of them staying in my ear and being comfortable during longer listening durations. However about any IEM in this price range with an angled horn gives me the same amount of comfort. A downside though it the provided tips WOULD NOT stay in my ear at all, regardless of size tried. I am unfortunately out of my beloved Comply memory foam tips which led me to try, believe it or not, Klipsch tips. Yup the ones with the super small horn, stretched enough to fit over these and I was able to enjoy them from then on.
 
                                                                                                  
 
Sound
 
    Upon playing your first track with the P293 one will immediately know these are geared towards the mainstream crowd. The “V shape” is very prominent in the P293 even more so than their H850 I previously reviewed. Also and this is most likely due to its price range but I notice that when I’m listening to a large collection of sounds (i.e. a large orchestra or even simpler a stadium of people clapping/applauding) the sounds really come in and out like it has no idea what to produce and what it can’t. It’s the first I can honestly say I think I know what a confused earphone sounds like.
The soundstage is on par with others within this price, BUT the positional cues IF on a small platform (i.e. not a lot of moving pieces) are rather impressive and give a nice sense of immersion, I even used these to game with comfortably. Also on that note the microphone on these is awesome. Not once did I have a complaint but the opposite in fact, I got complimented on the clarity a couple times. But let me dwell into the individual aspects of the sound a little more.
 
Treble
 
    Superimposed to the point that it’s not realistic. I fully understand the desire to pull detail and give the mainstream crowd the “I heard things I’ve never heard before” experience but I feel this tried a little too hard. Now this is coming from someone who has a fairly decent understanding on what to listen for, the average listener I’m confident would rather enjoy this aspect. Also the treble does peek quickly but not before the note reaches a comfortable level. So those who’re hypersensitive to treble may really like these as well.
 
Mids
 
    My personal favorite aspect of audio. The P293’s reproduction on the mids are, drastically recessed past the point of hollowness. I was heartbroken at the recession of the mids. BUT I have learned that for some reason the casual listener prefers that type of signature so I can’t fault Edifier too much for gearing their prices and sound towards that crowd. But mmmm doesn’t make the rain cloud over my head go away.
 
Bass
 
    Punchy, potent and deep. While listening to “The Pride” or “Lift Me Up” by Five Finger Death Punch or “Hail To The King” by Avenged Sevenfold, I find myself always bobbing my head and enjoying the bass hit the P293 gave me. Yes they’re a bit more than what I personally go for but they fit the overall signature of these really well. If your forte is hard rock to metal then you should seriously try these.
 
                                                                            
 
 
Conclusion
 
    To sum, the Edifier P293 is an IEM that competes with any IEM at the $50 price point. They’re built very well and though the sound to me sounded average compared to others I still wouldn’t put these in the back shelves for these can really impress the average listener and can be a gateway IEM to bigger and better products.
    Lastly on a side note these paired ridiculously well with my Aune X1s. Yes I initially plugged it in just as a “hmm let’s see” but dang, it scaled quite well.
 
 
Till next time my friends, but till then make sure you check out my Unboxing & Review videos!