REVIEW Burson Fun (Standard setup)

TL;DR: Amazing performer for its price. Highly recommended.











Pros:
Performance, Dynamism, Power, Transparency, Low Noise Floor, Price, Versatility


Cons:

Looks, no gain selector





About me:
As you can see in my profile - I am completely NUTS if it comes to audio gear. I have way too much. For me experimenting and trying new audio devices and headphones is FUN. I love to tinker and explore my music all over again. Because first of all I am a music lover. I cannot get enough of my favorite tunes. Though my music taste is sometimes eclectic and often standard, I tend to like music nobody else has ever heard of to some degree.




I love full sound, borderline bass-head. I like treble too but am surely not a treble head. For me, musicality, or however you want to describe the thing that MOVES you when you listen to music, is what counts. If a piece of equipment makes me want to dance, tap my toes, and rock it out, then it’s GOOD! No matter what.







Premise:

I love my Burson Conductor with the ESS 9018 DAC chip. I consider my Cavalli Audio Liquid Carbon and JDS Labs EL DAC (AKM4490EQ) a superb combo. On the go, I like my ifi xDSD. That should set the tone and give you a baseline.


My current favorite headphones are: LCD2, TH900, HE560, HD650, Oppo PM-3 current fav IEMS: UE11Pro, Roxanne2, IMR-R1, JVC-FW1, KZ-AS10 (yep).



Let the FUN begin:


Burson & the outside:

Others have already explained the looks of the Burson Fun and the company history, please check out their website and the photos. In short, it’s a rather functional case, that can also be mounted in a desktop / tower PC (wow, I haven’t had one of these in ages). And it’s black. I like it but it’s rather bland.


The power switch is on the back, the front has the single ended 6.35mm headphone out and the volume pot. The volume pot is well weighted and feels just right!. No fancy stepped attenuator like the Conductor, but a perfectly fine volume pot. I also found that the channel imbalance (or rather balance) is amazingly well controlled. I couldn’t hear any, even with very sensitive in ears.


Which brings me to…


…Specs:


That thing has power - lots of power, it really has a good grip on demanding headphone drivers, squeezing every bit of control and detail out. Never heard that in this price range to be honest.


2.1 W at 32 Ohm

330mW at 300 Ohm

Headphone output impedance 6 Ohm


I found that the output impedance can make some very low impedance headphones sound funny, so better to stick with anything at≥ least 16 Ohm and higher, ideally 32 Ohm and higher. Also - the lack of a gain switch can cause some issues with sensitive IEMs - there is not much play on the volume pot....





The SOUND:


That’s why we are all here. So - this Fun is the base model, I have ordered OPAMPs from Burson to do some rolling as I like to tinker and see what they can do. Hard to believe this Amp can be improved though.


General sound signature:

Full bodied, yet detailed, very believable soundstage, not too large, not too small, pretty bang right where it should be.

Ideally a good amplifier should get out of the way and let the music just move you. I don’t know how Burson does it but my personal track record is really good. And I had a couple of amps in my life

Is it completely neutral - not entirely - but I have the feeling that the headphones I tried with this amp were driven so well - I haven’t heard such a well performing amps with such lovely black background at this price range. I have not felt fatigued while listening to it and to be perfectly honest - I really enjoyed every minute with the amp. I must admit - its been a while since something in this price range has brought me so much FUN - pun intended.

The FUN with there standard OPAMPs was never harsh, but it, full bodied and rich but not overboard smooth or dark. it has a velvety quality to it. For $299 it’s really lovely quality sound. As transparent as possible - driving the headphones - amplifying the sound, not adding or coloring it.

I can’t wait to try the OPAMPs to alter the sound a bit and see how I like it. I shall edit the review once I got the tinker tools.

All the different headphones I tried with the amp - sounded distinct and special - since the Fun didn’t add any of it’s own colouration to the sound - the specific sound signature of the headphone was allowed to fully shine through. A very nice treat indeed.

How Burson managed to get all the benefits of their full priced amps or DAC/amps in such a small and affordable package - is beyond me. The shoehorned the full amp section of the Conductor V2 into the chassis - an improved version of it.

But let me finish with this: We are living in amazing times for personal audio, the quality we can get today for a few hundreds would cost thousands just a few years ago.

Burson - you have a real hit on your hands. In standard form already, plus offering the opportunity to roll OPAMPs = brilliant. A really well made amp based on a highly regarded platform that got improved for the last 10 years.


Disclaimer: The Burson Fun was provided to me in exchange for my opinion. I do have Burson gear (purchased from my own hard earned money) like the Burson Conductor. I paid full price for the OPAMPs as well.

Burson!

What are you doing?

Pushing your V5 Opamp into everything you can find? Hell yeah.

Disclaimer: I own a Burson Conductor for a few years and a Cable + from Burson. While I purchased my Burson Conductor, this cable here was NOT purchased, it was sent to me by Burson so I could write down my experience with it. At no time did Burson ask me for a positive review. In fact, I let Burson wait for nearly a year until I finally managed to write this review. Ouch. Work commitments got the better of me.

I am reviewing here a A2R - a cable I can put into my DAPs as sources and let the Burson magic improve the signal to proper amplifiers.

Theory:
There is a unwritten law that interconnects should have a specific voltage and output resistance and whatnot. However in times of battery operated equipment this is not the case with many line-outs, especially not the ones from little digital audio players etc. This is where the Cable + Pro comes in the A2R configuration. Input is a 3.5mm TRS jack to plug into your DAP or any other source with 3.5mm connectors. It ends in a RCA connection to attach to your headphone amp or normal audio amplifier. Burson also sells a R2R version of the cable.

What's in the box:

- Canare connectors and cable
- magic sauce box in the middle
- USB power supply
- micro USB cable



Once connected and supplied with power, the internal parts of this active cable modulate the signal, or boost if you want, to the proper strength that should be supplied to an amplifier. Impedance mismatch is a thing of the past.

The result:
As expected. Haha, yes you read that right. Since I already have the Burson Cable + in R2R version, I expected the same improvements from this cable too. And yes, it delivers. To my ears the results are:

- improved dynamic range
- more powerful low end
- increased clarity / air



Burson did in fact use their V5 OPamps in this little black box and wow, they work well. I don't know what other trickery is going on in this box - for the technical inclined Burson does explain the process to an extend on their website - so check it out there if you are interested.



It makes such a difference having this cable in the chain. I lend it to a few friends to try it themselves and they confirmed what I heard too. Needless to say, they have their own Cable + Pro now, haha.



Conclusion:
Is it worth it? Let's summarize: you need another power socket, the cable is expensive, it's something to install once and forget. It's expensive - if you are not into expensive interconnects.

My advice = get it!!

5 Years warranty - that's a plus. The effects of this cable are very much noticeable and they are very pleasant to my ears. If you are like me - you never knew you were missing something.

4.5 stars from me. I would give it 5 stars if it would be a tad more affordable.

J & L Real 85A Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker

Disclaimer: J&L provided me with a free sample of the speaker in exchange for a review. I have no other financial or personal ties with J&L. This review is my honest opinion.

Design:

The design of this speaker is rugged, military looking and rather utilitarian. It comes with lots of rubber housing and silicone coating to protect the device from the elements. All parts and buttons are covered and the texture on everything feels good and long-lasting. It certainly lives up to the outdoor speaker name. The device feels solid and well built. According to the many factor it is drug resistant I have tried this with a few drops from table hight onto the floor and it survived just fine without any scratches, it just bounced it off.

Usability:

Standard Bluetooth speaker use experience which is a good thing. No surprises and no quirks. Voice commands are clear and understandable. Very welcome for an outdoor speaker is the additional use as a power bank, it can help a lot when out in the woods. Button presses are clearly defined and give good feedback. Using it as a handsfree calling device works quite well and thanks to the DSP everything is well understood and understandable.

Packaging & Accessories:

Packaging is small and tight, no fluff and no unnecessary space is wasted. This is a rugged speaker after all. There is not too much included, only the essentials, good job. Accessories provided are: a carry bag, a USB charging cable, an AUX cable 3.5mm male on both ends if you want to connect things wired and lastly a cord to attach to the speakers in case you carry it with you and want to hang the speakers somewhere.

Usage:

Using the speakers is a joy, it is rugged you can toss it around without thinking much about it. It can withstand plenty of abuse. And since it is water resistant, shockproof and drop-resistant I also used it in the shower. The playing time of 22 hours it seems to be an accurate claim. The massive 5200mAh battery charges in 5 to 6 hours which is a lot, there seems to be no fast charging option.

Tech Specs:

NFC, BT 4.0, build in mic to use as a hands free device, 2x10 Watts output power. DSP enhanced sound, so it always sounds crips and full even at lower volumes. It packs quite a lot for a price under $60.

Sound & Conclusion:

Music is the primary job of the J &L 85A and like its little brother, it is very good at it. It easily roasts my way more expensive foxl "audiophile" bluetooth speaker, that cost me nearly 4 times as much. For this price, the sound quality is outstanding.

Here you can hear a comparison using my in-ear microphones: http://www.peppekus.de/JL85A_comparison.mp3

The sound pressure level is very good, details in the treble are there, mids are good and the bass is quite impressive for a small speaker that is battery powered. Of course you can't expect subwoofer like bass from a device that small and you won't get the sound of mains powered devices like the Opposite Sonica from this speaker, but hey, it's way more affordable and in its price range I would be hard pressed to even name one competitor. So for me this is a fantastic value for money product. Well don, J&L, well done. A fine device.

I already recommended this speaker for their trips dune bashing and camping.

Thumbs up from me.

Review of the Cable+ from Burson

 

Disclaimer:

I own a Burson Conductor with an upgraded USB section. Burson has provided me with this cable free of charge for me to review it. They have not requested a positive review and I don't feel obliged to give one for things I don't deem worth it.
 
Cables:
Am I a cable believer? Yes and no. I believe in the technical ability of a cable to alter the sound slightly thanks to different resistance etc. I have quite a few nice after market cables. I did not purchase them as "equalizers" for my headphones but rather for comfort, looks, going "balanced" or to replace really bad stock cables. In general, I am  rather skeptical about the effect of cables, at best their effects are audible but hardly night and day.
 

Appearance & Packaging:

 

 
Lovely packaging - I like how the "brain" of the show is being displayed in the cutout. The box contains the cable itself, a USB cable and a power supply.
Note the generous 5 year warranty being displayed prominently on the box!!
 
The cable itself is very well made. Very soft to the touch and not stiff. It feels high quality to the touch. The connectors are very sturdy and look like they would have no problem lasting the 5 year warranty period. The "box" with the electronics inside is made from machined aluminum and feels equally solid. Connecting the box to the USB power lights up a small blue LED.
 

Using the cable:

It's important to note that the cable is directional and no, not snake oil directional. In my case I opted for the R2R cable, RCA input and RCA output. Simply connect the input side to the DAC and the output side to the Amp. Then you "switch it on" with connecting it to power. Done. 
 
There are 3 versions of the cable available:
 
A2A - Aux to Aux (both sides 3.5mm)
A2R - Aux to RCA (input 3.5mm to line out from DAP, etc., output to RCA)
R2R - RCA to RCA (input RCA, output RCA)
 

 
 
 

 
 

How it works:

While others have provided more technical and scientific explanations, I am want to try something else:
The cable provides the best possible signal to the receiving end (amplifier etc.). It creates the ideal conditions to make your music sound as good as possible. It does not meddle with the music as such. It just boosts the signal to the optimal level for the amp to work right in the sweet spot.
 

 

 

 
 

 
Burson doesn't glue it's "box" and claims silly things. A simple screwdriver and you can take a look inside. And that's exactly what I did. Well made inside as well.
 

How does it sound?

Well the cable itself doesn't color the sound as far as I could hear. However, what I found it to do when I tested it with a EL DAC, Sony 1140 and Stax headphones was that the noise level was reduced, the dynamic sensation increased and I was able to hear some details better. My DAC has a nice 2.00 VRMS output and I usually connect it to the amp with a short 1 foot RCA cable from KabelDirekt. My output from the DAC is already quite good. So if you are going for this cable and you connect less good signals with a weaker signal, like a DAP line out, you might be in for even bigger improvements.
 

Is it worth it? Conclusion:

Yes. I think so. A "cable that improves the sound" - yeah sure - we have all been there and heard this. This active cable does improve the sound. It does not indulge in any snake oily stuff. It does so with honest work. It "boosts" the output to the correct values - and with that let all components "after" the cable do their work as good as they can. It let's your music shine. And for me - that is what counts. It does it with technology - not with oil. I recommend this cable. I think connecting it to "weak" connections from DAPs and other 3.5mm connections would yield even better results.
 
5 stars!
 

Weston W80 Review
 
Disclaimer: The W80 was loaned to me by the local distributor www.samma3a.com - I have to return it, I have not received any incentive, financial or otherwise for this review.
 
Introduction
 
Westone - a brand with a rich legacy besides their hearing aid business, they have been around for many years (1959 to be exact), they have produced in-ear monitors for Shure and Ultimate Ears in the past and have a very successful custom in-ear range themselves, with some of the best musicians in the world using their CIEMs on stage. Let’s see what Westone has achieved with this new flagship in their universal fit range.
 
The W80 has 8 drivers in each ear piece.  
 
I listened to FLAC, AAC and mp3 music. The W80 was mostly connected to my ifi iDSD nano or micro, the Cavalli Audio Liquid Carbon and the Hifiman HM-901 with balanced card. I switched cables from both supplied cables to Linum Bax and Moon Audio Silver Dragon v1 balanced cable.
 
  
 
 
 
 Manufacture’s Specifications
    •    Type: Sound Isolation earphone (IEM
    •    Drivers Size:
    •    Drivers Type: 8 balanced armature drivers with a 3-way crossover (dual bass,             dual mids, quad high)
    •    Frequency Response: 5-22000 Hz
    •    Sensitivity: 111 dB SPL @ 1 mW
    •    Impedance: 5 Ω at 1kHz
    •    Microphone sensitivity:NA 
    •    Maximum Input: NA
    •    Cable Length: 132cm 
    •    Weight with cable: 12.7 g
    •    Connecter: 3.5 mm with 90 degree jack
    •    Warranty: 2 Years 
 
  
 
 
 
Design
 
What has changed form the previous flagship W60? Well, these are STILL one of the comfiest in-ears ever. They are smaller (!!!!) and still house two more drivers now than the W60 to reach the 8 driver per ear count. A pretty impressive engineering feat. The 8 drivers in each ear come with a 3 way crossover. The drivers are in the following configuration: 2 for the bass, 2 for the mids and 4 for the treble. The design plates (color) can be exchanged so you can give the W80 a more unique look or match it to your outfit or other preferences.
 

 

 
 
Build quality
They are light and they feature a replaceable cable with a MMCX connector. Everything feels sturdy and light. Comfort, usability and sound quality are the top priorities for Westone. That’s why they chose a robust plastic construction over a metal one. They are never uncomfortable to touch and once inserted they completely “disappear”.
 
Comfort
These just slip into my ears and after seconds I can honestly say that I don’t feel them anymore. These can be worn for hours a without any complaints. You can even sleep with them and lay down on your ears with them. I have not experienced any other in-ear to do that with besides my custom in-ears. They are like small beans that just slip in your ears. They sit well, don’t fall out with the right tips, just super comfortable.
 
Supplied accessories
In the Box: Exchangeable silver, gold, red, and new blue color faceplates are included with secure attachment. Five sizes of patented STAR™ silicone ear tips and five sizes of premium True-Fit™ comfort foam ear tips, MFi three button cable, an ALO Audio upgrade cable, Premium Deluxe Carrying Case, Premium Small Carrying Case, cleaning tool and cleaning cloth.
 
All accessories are top notch - lovely well design small and extra large carrying case, you even get the ALO Audio Reference 8 Cable in addition to the Made for iPhone microphone and remote cable. It is pretty much the “all you need” package.
 
 
 
 
 
Sound
Now. The one small complaint I had with Westones in the past was the slight lack of treble sparkle. Ok, it was very easy to just boost the treble slightly with the help of a equalizer but I would have preferred it right in “standard” mode. And voilà - the W80 does exactly that. They have the same full and organic bottom end (if not a bit more, which I really like) - the lush mids and now as well absolutely natural treble that is still fatigue free but has the sparkle that I missed before with the UmPro50 and W60. 
 
   
 
 
 
Sound Stage and instruments separations
 
Like the W60 before, everything is perfectly balanced, without being boring and too neutral. The two sound engineers (twin brothers) that worked for years on this flagship earphone, have really created a masterpiece. The soundstage is realistic and wide, it’s reference level and organic. It’s liquid gold in your ears, a quote stolen from Tyll
 
 
Pros & Cons
Pros:

1. Sound quality 
2. Comfort
3. Soundstage
4. Balance
5. Heritage of Westone shines in every facet
6. Fatigue free, reference level, immersive sound
7. Accessories

 
Cons:

1. Price
2. the leak sound a bit

 
 Rating

1. Comfort                       10/10
2. Sound Quality             10/10
3. Design                        10/10
4. Durability                    8/10
5. Value for Money         8/10

 
Conclusion
 
No other flagship in-ear is as comfortable. The accuracy of the sound reproduction is absolutely terrific. The soundstage is extensive without being artificial. 
 
The only cons of this earphone are:
1) the price - $1,499 is quite something
2) sound leaking - listening in bed, my wife complaint she could hear music playing - this is weird for in-ears of this caliber
 
In comparison to the W60, which still remains in the line-up, you gain: more energy, more clarity, smooth organic sound, and even more detail. I wouldn’t call this the most analytical in-ear. It’s meant for musical enjoyment and does not have the absolute brutal honesty of some very analytical earphones. The soundstage is wider than the W60, bass is more “tight”, dynamic and full, overall the sound is a bit more forward than the W60.
 
Yes, they are pricey. But are they worth it? Yes. If your goal is to get the best universal in ear with the most organic and true to life music reproduction, plenty of accessories, a beautiful upgrade cable from ALO audio in the box (that is quite microphonic though), in-ears that are comfortable and were created by a company with a heritage of 50+ years that really knows what they are doing.… This is it. 
 
So, does the W80 play in the same league as my Noble K10 (the discontinued version not the Encore)? You bet! Will I run and buy it. I wish I could, but currently it seems I won't run, but rather walk quite leisurely. But I am pretty convinced that I will be owning one in the foreseeable future and it will be my next favorite in-ear for quite some time to come. I was close to buying the W60 and UmPro50, but the treble held me back. Now, with this issue gone....It's everything I want and it does nothing wrong (well, a tiny bit with the sound leakage...). Yep, this is my next....5 of 5 stars!
 
UPDATE (22Feb2017): After a lot of back and forth between the K10 (discontinued, replaced by the K10 Encore) and the W80 - I am again undecided. With some tracks the W80 wins, and then the K10 comes back and steals the show with other tracks. It seems that their differences would warrant to have both? The K10 does get more detailed, the W80 has the more interesting lower end and comfort. Tough call. If I only could have one....I simply cannot decide.
 
UPDATE (06Mar2017): Fell in love again with my K10 - with the foam tips and the JDSLabs C5D amp on bass boost low - it comes as close to perfect as ever.

Review of the J&L Real 12A Sport Wireless speaker

 
Disclaimer: J&L contacted me - asking if I could review their bluetooth speaker. They send me a sample for review that I did not pay for. At no time they asked me to write a positive review, so what you get here is my as honest as possible opinion. I didn’t have any high expectations - after all, how good could a bluetooth speaker be that is shockproof and waterproof, that retails for $39? But I was wrong….So thanks to J & L Real to give me the opportunity to change my mind.
 
Here is the link to the product page on amazon: http://amzn.to/2gSl2xy
 
Get full size images with a click - these are the thumbnails....
 
   
 
 

Appearance and Packaging:

The speaker comes in a cardboard box, with nicely padded foam to keep it safe, while the pouch works as the top protection, very clever designed. There is only the carabiner hook to attach on the top, a carrying pouch and a USB Cable for charging in the box. 
 
The speaker itself has a nice heft to it - so you don’t feel anything flimsy. It’s all feeling good to the touch and the rubber and metal housing feels like it can withstand a beating.
 

 
 
The buttons are all rubberized to be waterproof and there is one covered opening for the charing port and full USB connection to charge other devices (and use the speaker as an emergency power bank.
 
The build quality feels rock solid. Every part feels like it can withstand quite some beating. By the way - the photos were all taken after I dropped the device plenty of times and even kicked it around a bit. After all - if I review something - I want to do it right. 
 

 
 

Specifications

 
Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth V2.1+EDR
Speaker Output: 5 Watt*1
Frequency Response: 20Hz~20kHz
Water Resistance: IPX7
Built-in Microphone for Hands-free calling
Built in Battery: 1450mAh Power Bank:1450mAh
Battery Life: Up to 6-8 Hours
Charging Time: 2-3Hours 
Bluetooth Range: up to 33 feet 
Dimensions(L*W*H)：Φ104*48.5mm
 

 

Usage:

 

Using it as power bank:

Well, I would call that an emergency feature as this is clearly not it’s primary use. It works but has limited capacity for a power bank. Good in emergencies though.
 

Pairing & Voice commands:

 
Bluetooth pairing is completely straight forward - it’s in pairing mode if it can’t find any already paired device. If you want to pair it to another device just hold down the power on button for a few seconds. It's very intuitive and straight forward - if you have used another bluetooth speaker you won't have any issues.
 

Handling as a “sport wireless speaker” (waterproof)

 
Now this is a big deal - it opens up this speaker to a whole new level of use. In the shower, in the pool, during any kind of “extreme” adventures, this will be a good companion. It’s shockproof and I dropped it a few times from carrying height as well as from head level and it took this without a breaking a sweat. The sound signature with extended highs and solid low end works well outdoors. I also found it helpful that the carabiner thread is standard size so you can actually use the speaker mounted on a tripod or any other photography equipment.
 
Water:
This speaker actually floats in water - which is surprising as it feels quite heavy - I submerged it fully in water (see video) and it continued to play just fine.I have not listened with my ears under water - so can't comment on the quality as an underwater speaker for dolphins. But it does play in the rain, the shower and in the pool. 
 
Here is the manufacturers info: it's waterproof according to IPX7 standard floating and waterproof for up to 30 minutes with a depth of maximum 1 meter.
 

 
 
VIDEO - WATER TEST:

 
Handsfree usage:
Again - for the price - amazing. Of course the microphone could pick up voices a bit better from different directions and be more omnidirectional but we are talking about a $39 speaker. And given the purchase price, it performed admirably well. Voices were clear and very easy to hear and understand. I used it as a business handsfree for a day - and had no complaints from people I called. Sound quality from callers (speaker part) is excellent, clear and powerful.
 

 
 

Sound Quality

 
That’s what you are all waiting for. And it won't let you down. In short: I have not heard this kind of performance at this price point. My experience with Bluetooth speakers is limited but I have had my fair share of them. foxl Soundmatters V2 Platinum, Bose Soundlink and B&O Beoplay Beolit 15 are the ones that I either own or have spend some considerable time with.
 
Compared with the more expensive players you might notice a bit of graininess in the highs, a good, solid low end… again it won’t dethrone a Beolit 15 that is 10 times the size of the J&L 12A but it does gets amazingly loud and stays clear and detailed - which does make it a really perfect outdoor companion. 
 
Again - it punches way above it’s price and provides a pleasant and impactful sound given its size and price point. Since it’s a single speaker it cannot provide the largest soundstage, but place it properly in a room (corner, close to a wall etc.) and you can feel the sound expand and fill the room. 
 

 
 

Battery life:

Claimed 3-4 hours of playtime - confirmed. I actually never ran completely out of battery in my tests - so even after 4 hours of playing music at moderate volume it kept on going the next day for 2 hours on quite loud volume before I recharged it to take it with me to another outdoor activity.
 

- after being under water - wet but works!
 

Overall:

 
So - for $39 this device is a complete no brainer. This is the speaker for the bathroom - or for outdoor activities or even a pool party or for any environment where you don't need the style of a Bang and Olufson but just a speaker that works - and won't break. It’s rugged, it’s waterproof. It sounds really, really good. And the purchase price makes it so easy to oversee some little flaws. Soundquality wise it came very very close to my foxL V2 Platinum and that says a lot!!
 
If you don’t require the best audio quality and you don’t want to spend a lot on your wireless speaker - this is it. For $39 it’s the little audiophile carry on to a pool party at a remote lake or to a picnic.
 
I give this speaker 4,5 stars reviewing it as a "Sport Wireless Speaker" - because I feel that the value for money is outstanding. It does not mean that this speaker can beat a Riva - so please take this rating in the proper context.
 

 
    
 
Thanks to universal mounting screw - easy to use on a tripod

REVIEW: ifi Pro iCAN
 
Equipment used:
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800S, Hifiman Edition X, Hifiman HE-560, AKG K7XX, Audeze LCD-2f, Sennheiser Momentum, HD-650, Oppo PM-2, PM-3, Aurisonics ASG 2.5, Noble K10U, LZ-A3, plenty of other IEMs.
 
All images are full-size and can be clicked and seen full screen.
 
 
 
 
The HD800S leans heavily on the Pro iCAN below:
 
 
 
 
 
Music used:
From Röyksopp to Amber Rubarth, Diana Krall to Apoptygma Berzerk, Tom Jones to Sphongle, Yello to Camouflage, mostly FLACs 24/96 or 16/44.1 - some mp3 320kbps, some AAC 256kbps
Depending on headphone high or low gain - no EQ
 
Disclaimer: samma3a.com and @Mazen4samma3a provided me with a demo unit of the ifi Pro iCAN. I am not affiliated with ifi or Samma3a.com Though I really highly appreciate what samma3a is doing for the audiophiles in the region!! Thank you so much for letting me test and review this amazing amp. I do own the iUSB2, iDSD nano and iDSD micro from ifi. 
 
TL;DR
 
Conclusion: I called the ifi iDSD micro the Swiss Army Knife of portable/desktop DAC/amps. The Pro iCan is that times 1,000 in the desktop amp range. Versatile, tube-sound, solid state sound, tube+ sound, power to drive an HE-6 and highly sensitive 8 Ohm IEMs, fully balanced mode, connectors for ANYthing. And a sound quality that you usually have to pay at least double the amount for. I so want this amp. This amp is pure endgame material. There is no reason to own anything else. If you can afford this beauty.
 
 
Now, the longer version:
 
Packaging & Accessories
 
As usual - clever packed by ifi with all essentials in the box. Power supply (iPower Plus) the amp it self, a remote, manual, warrantee card and a set of cable (RCA cable).
 
 
 
Technical Highlights
 
Balanced headphone amplifier. Two system amplification stage, one tubes, one pure class A solid state. 2 GE 5670 new old stock tubes are the heart of the tube stage, ultra low noise, J-Fets are the core of the solid state stage.
 
Ouput: 
14,000mW @16Ω (peak, constant 4,800mW) 
240mW @600Ω
Dynamic Range: > 117 dB
THD: <0.003%
Analogue processing: X-Bass in 3 levels, 3D Sound in 3 levels
Gain: 0dB, 9dB, 18dB
 
Headphone outputs:
3.5mm single ended
3.5mm balanced
6.35mm single ended
3 pin XLR balanced (left and right) right connector works as well as single ended 6.35mm)
4 pin XLR balanced
 

 
 
Outputs:
balanced 3pin XLR (left /right)
RCA output - single ended
 
Inputs:
3 x RCA single ended in
3 pin XLR balanced input
 
     
 
 
Sound effects:
X-Bass in 3 levels (OFF, 10Hz, 20Hz, 40Hz)
3D Sound in 3 levels (OFF, 30, 60, 90 headphones)
 
 
 
 
 
Usability and Build Quality
 
Build quality is great. every knob feels solid and every dial is weighty and smooth. The volume knob is motorized and can be operated via remote (I didn’t have the remote for the test though).
 
The iCan has a special power supply unit that is of the ultra low noise variant. You can’t fault ifi on their power supplies, they are always amazingly clean. Another add-on part for this amplifier will be the Electrostatic Headphone Energizer. A separate box that can be connected to the Pro iCan that delivers up to 1,700V Peak - with Bias selectable for Stax, HiFi/Pro, Sennheiser and other manufacturers. It’s not yet clear when it’s coming.
 
The switches and knobs from left to right:
 

• Power button:
  Press it and the iCan starts the boot up procedure. Relays click, laser needle stitched logos light up and change color, once in operating temperature, depending on mode (solid state or tube) the light changes and let’s you know it’s ready.
• Input selector:
  Large dial on the left. The same size as the volume knob on the opposite side. Choose between 3 analogue inputs and balanced input.
• Bass selector:
  Switches the XBass from OFF to 10Hz,20HZ,40Hz - increases the bass response of headphones or speakers to your liking purely in the analogue domain.
• Amp mode switch:
  3 mode switch that selects solid state operating mode of the amp, tube mode or a tube+ mode.
• Headphone outputs:
  3.5mm single ended, balanced, 6.35mm single ended, 3pin XLR and 4pin XLR
• 3D selector knob:
  Selects the analog 3D/soundstage enhancement effect in 3 levels plus OFF
• Gain stage selector switch:
  0dB, 9dB and 18dB selector.
• Volume knob:
  motorized knob turn it to change the volume.

 
    
 
 
 
 
Build Quality
 
The enclosure is aluminum - it feels great to the touch - Interesting cutouts that let the lights of the LEDs and tubes shine through the housing as well as ensure the device has enough heat escape ports. It does get quite hot in operation.
 
Everything feels solid and nice - however my only real negative with this amp is: it’s too light. Yes, I really mean it. You cannot plug in a XLR or even a normal headphone without making sure you hold the amp with your other hand. It has a large antiskit rubber pad on the bottom of it but thanks to it’s really low weight it happily moves around very easily. A small pull from a headphone cable and it moves. I believe this amp should be at least 1kg heavier. It’s meant for desktop use, so really shouldn’t slither along like a snake. But that is it. That’s all of my criticism. 
 

Bottom anti-skid rubber could be stickier....
 
Sound Quality Comparisons & Usage
 
General
 
Using the Pro iCan
 
For an amp that is as powerful as the iCan Pro - it’s important that it’s save. You can switch everything while the amp in in operation without causing anything to break. Changing the gain, makes some relays tick and before the new gain engages you have a few seconds to react to your input before your ears might get blasted with too much power  
 
Switching from solid state to tube mode, creates a small break of 20-30 seconds until the tubes have reached operating temperature. When switching from tube mode to solid state mode the tubes don’t immediately switch off - they stay on for some time longer, to not expose the tubes to many on/off cycles. Only when not used in a longer period do the tubes switch off. Every other command is done immediate and you hear the result.
 
   
 
 
Sound quality
 
Overall: how did they mix detail, smoothness, rich and satisfying sound, with precise imaging and soundstage?
 
Solid state mode:
Detailed, neutral and balanced solid state mode. Plenty of power to even drive the most demanding headphones. I was quite impressed that this little thing can drive the HE-6 well and loud. In general Hifimans seems to sound better to me in this mode while Sennheiser and Audezes sounded better in tube mode. 
 
Tube mode:
In tube mode you get that addictive bottom end. Just recently I declared that the WA8 from Woo audio drove my T90 best ever. Now I have to announce that my LCD-2 never sounded better than on this ifi amp in tube mode. Brilliant mids, lovely bass, the way Audezes should sound. Confirmed on LCD-3 - just magical. slightly warmer sound in general with a tad treble (but not detail) roll-off. Silky smooth, sound. Like velvet. 
 

 
 
Hybrid mode:
Sort of best of both worlds. You have the highs form solid state with the bottom end of the tubes - a slightly silkier version of solid-state alone - a wining combo.
 
In all modes the iCan Pro drives IEMs as well when connected via 3.5mm plug. I also connected plenty of headphones at the same time - the iCAN didn't break a sweat.
 
EDIT: I previously called this mode: hybrid mode. That was wrong. It's tube+ mode - not a hybrid mode. ifi describes this like that:
We are tube lovers and we appreciate sometimes there is a need for even more tube-like sound, there are two tube settings – Tube and Tube+. The Tube+ position reduces overall loop-gain and thus negative feedback to the minimum. This gives a different trade-off between the tube’s natural harmonics and the transient performance.
 
  
 
 
Conclusion & Issues
 

 
 
Having just reviewed the WA-8 and found it to be one of the best sounding amps, I have yet another absolute hit product to report on. The crazy thing is that this time we have an amp that costs about the same - offers crazy amounts of peak power (up to 14,000mW peak and more than 4,800mW constant) - so it can drive even the most demanding planar magnetic headphones with ease. It also offers 3.5mm outputs with IEM match technology so you can run sensitive IEMs from it without hiss. This amp is a technological marvel. It’s well put together and sounds just brilliant. 
 
It also saves you a lot of money as you have a tube amp, a class A solid state amp and a hybrid amp in one. you can drive everything from IEMs to Planars (and with an add-on in the future even electrostatic headphones).
 
Here is a tear down video I found: https://youtu.be/qla2KXNXfdw
 
Take a look at the design and how well the PCBs are designed. The lovely tubes in it….it’s a joy to look at such a well put together amplifier in such a small housing.
 
ifi came out to assault the “state of the art” and to my ears - they fully succeeded. It’s an amp that can seriously push any kind of headphones to its limits. 
 
One very welcomed consequence from using this amp: Having heard my headphones with this amp: PM-2, HE-560, LCD-2f etc. made me appreciate them even more. I thought I am ready to move to TOTL (top of the line) headphones, like the Edition X or HD800S. Now I know there is still so much life in my current headphones and so many areas I haven't yet explored - I should rather keep them and listen a few months or years longer with an endgame amp like this one. And an endgame amp this amp is (of course, my humble opinion for my humble setup and budget) . I am pretty sure there is not much in the same price range (and probably double the price) that comes close. And if it comes close sound quality wise, it won’t offer the versatility. 
 
As an alternative and if you don’t have really hard to drive headphones, or you don't need balanced outputs, the WA-8 is in the same price range and also sounds sublime, has a smaller footprint but lacks the versatility and future proofing to a certain extent.
 
Rating: Full 5 stars (would give it 7 if possible).
 
THANKS to www.samma3a.com and @Mazen4samma3a for the review loaner! So sad to see it go back This is my new dream amp (again).

Noble Audio K10U - The Emperor (Kaiser) of in-ears!
 
Introduction
Noble was founded by John Moulton (aka Wizard) and Brannan Mason (aka The Glove) with the goal of producing the finest universal and custom in-ear monitors available today. With John’s background as an AU.D. CCC-A and Brannan’s business credentials, they were set to quite an impressive start. One of the things, besides their supposedly market leading sound quality,  Noble is known for is their creative design of their CIEMs, that can be seen on their website. They treat the CIEMs like little sculptures, pieces of art, both in material and design.  Noble has quite a stellar reputation between audiophiles and I am VERY excited to be able to review the current flagship universal fit IEM from Noble Audio, the K10U. K10U is short for Kaiser 10 Universal, referring to an employee nicknamed “Kaiser Soze” who works at Noble Audio and creates some of the custom in-ears artistic designs, while the 10 stands for the 10 Balanced Armature drivers in each ear piece and finally the U is for universal. So, let’s see if we find a massive plot twist like in the Usual Suspects in this review and if the K10U is worthy of it’s royal name (Kaiser is German for “Emperor”) ….
 
Disclaimer: 
I have received the K10U from Noble Audio as a Demo piece for the local Headphone Meetup, they are not mine to keep and have to be returned.
 
 Manufacture’s Specifications (Noble is a bit quiet on this):

1. Type: in-ear stereo headphones
2. Drivers Size: various Balanced Armature Drivers
3. Drivers Type: 10 Balanced Armature drivers per side
4. Frequency Response: n/a
5. Sensitivity: “Sensitive enough for use with smartphones as well as portable amps and DACs”
6. Impedance:  n/a
7. Microphone sensitivity: no mic cable provided
8. Maximum Input:  - 
9. Replaceable cable: yes, detachable, 2-pin (0.78mm diameter)
10. Weight with cable: - 
11. MSRP: US $ 1,650.-

 
 

 
 
Design/Materials/Build Quality
 
Design/Style/Look
 
The full aluminum housing looks pretty impressive. Actually it looks a bit scary - "how one earth will these fit my ears" you might think on first sight, but they are smartly designed and fit very well. More about that later. They are constructed from two pieces of precision milled aluminum. The “ridge” where the two red and silver housing parts are coming together is smooth and can only be felt when sliding your fingernail on them. When worn over the ears the Noble logo should stand pretty upright as shown in one of the photos. Thanks to their color they stand out a bit if that is a good or bad thing depends on your taste. 
 






 
Comfort
 
When I first saw them online and when I unboxed the K10U, I was pretty skeptical if I would ever be able to comfortably put them in my ears. The nozzle seemed to be too short and overall they looked so large. But the design is very clever and to my surprise they just sit nice and firm in my ears. Thanks also to the very nice braided cable with memory wire on the top of the ears that gives them a secure fit. Due to their weight, it might be a challenge to use them with non-memory wire cables, on my desk though, my Linum BAX worked ok with the provided ear tips and even more so with the foamies. However I can see issues for outdoor activity with cables that have no memory wire support. The provided cable though is of great quality and I felt no need to use any other cable with them. Wearing them for hours while working on my desk was comfortable, so no complaints here. However, unlike the Westone or RHA designs that disappear in your ear these won’t be used under helmets or while lying in bed on your side, they stick out too much.



Supplied accessories
 
They come in a nice box. Inside you will find, beside the K10U with the silver plated copper cable, a Pelican case size micro 1010 with a metal plate holding the collection of ear tips, your silver ownership card, a cleaning tool, a carabiner hook to use with the case and two rubber bands for stacking devices. Also included is a small felt/velvet carry much with the Noble logo on it, plus two Noble logo stickers. 
 





 
Drivability
 

Do you need an amp or dedicated DAP for these?
Not at all. During our latest meet-up around 20-30 people tried the K10U on their own setups, some just on their phones and probably 80% where wowed of how easy these are to drive ( I wish I had taken photos of their initial facial impressions). Nobody thought a 10 driver combo (20 drivers in total) can be so easily driven from a smartphone. I drove them out of a Cavalli Audio Liquid Carbon (most of the time), Astell & Kern AK380, Hifiman HM-901(bal), AK100Mk2, AP100, DX50, iPhone 6, RSA The Predator, CEntrance Hifi-Skÿn and these just delivered - consistently - marvelous sound. They are really super easy to drive. Maybe sometimes even too easy. The ifi iDSD nano has literally no play in the volume dial - they are so efficient….and you get a little bit of hiss. Overall I recommend using a proper DAP or a dedicated amp with this in-ear - it makes sure nothing is under driven and all frequencies are present the best way possible. While chatting with John, he mentioned he uses an Onkyo DP-X1 himself at the moment - hint hint
 

 
 
Sound
 
The first listen fresh out of the box was pretty amazing. Noble calls the K10 coherent and I must say I felt pretty wowed. Lovely full and “round” sounding bottom end, beautiful mids and sparkly treble - bordering on harsh though. But that was fresh out of the box…more in the detailed sections. The nozzle of the K10 has 3 openings so a 3 way crossover can be assumed, however elsewhere I read it’s a 3, 3, 2, 2 config with a 4-way crossover. Overall I can say: the most engaging and indeed “coherent” sound I have ever heard from in-ears, especially multi driver ones. You don’t hear a crossover. It’s magic. The one tiny downside I can find is that really badly encoded music (like my very old 128kbps mp3) will sounds bad - you will hear the compression artifacts, it’s not very forgiving. But who would send that low quality in such a headphone in any case. You will hear EVERY detail in the music.

Bass

Powerful, dynamic, doesn’t sound like the typical BA bass to me. It’s not a bass-head in-ear but the bass has the right amount to fill out the music and give it the perfect amount of body. It’s not cutting or bleeding into any other frequency spectrum. I have to say, I think this is, for me, the perfect bass for a reference top of the line IEM. There is just enough rumble, sub-bass that shows the layers properly and overall well controlled.

Mid-range

I believe this is what created the biggest WOW effect when hearing them first. The mids are just glorious. Like liquid gold poured in my ears (in a good way). Spot on. The tonality in general is fresh and sparkly - I don’t find it cold, rather natural and pleasing. After the initial borderline harshness went - the mids are beautiful - music really shows its soul though these….

Treble

Clarity and detail are top notch. However, fresh out of the box I found the treble borderline harsh and a close to sibilant. Sibilance is for me a showstopper. While it wasn’t a showstopper - it was irritating me. So I decided to leave them playing over night. And voila, be it brain burnin or actual burn-in, I don’t care. The harshness/sibilance somewhere between 5kHz-7kHz was tamed and the close to piercing sound around 10kHz turned into definition and air. I love the treble definition now. For my taste it could be a tiny tad less prominent but I can thoroughly appreciate the balance Noble struck here. 

 

Sound Stage and instruments separations

The K10U doesn’t have an exaggerated soundstage. I found the width, depth and height of soundstage to be adequate - you can place instruments quite well away from each other and have an idea of their position in the three dimensions, I wouldn't say you can throw a dart at each instrument but you can point in the correct direction. Music wonderfully envelopes you, just the “right” amount of soundstage without artificial enlargement or too closed in feeling. The separation between instruments is good and absolutely convincing. Again - Noble chose to create just the perfect balance of everything to be not tiring or fatiguing but entertaining, emotional and musical. 
 

 
 
Pros & Cons
 

Pros:

1. most coherent (there I said it) and best sound from an Multi-BA IEM I heard ever
2. the true “Kaiser” of universal in-ears
3. comfortable despite its size
4. standard 2 pin cable connection
5. looks like it can survive everything, build quality is top notch
6. you can’t stop listening to music with these
7. super easy to drive

Cons:

1. needed around 20hrs of play time to sound its best (only treble area changed slightly but for the better either in my brain or in the drivers)
2. The price!
3. too large to sleep with (and believe me - yo don’t want to take them off ever)
4. The Pelican 1010 case that is included could at least be customized with the Noble logo
5. you can’t stop listening to music with these

 
 Rating:

1. Comfort                      8/10
2. Sound Quality            10/10
3. Design                       10/10
4. Durability                    9/10
5. Value for Money         7/10

 
Conclusion
 
They are amazing - absolutely amazing. I can’t stop listening to them - they do everything a bit better than the top picks I had so far. In every category these edge out a slight (sometimes huge)  advantage. They are super easy to drive. Only the slightest hint of hiss on some players but nothing you would notice when listening to music. The provided ear tips were a perfect fit for me and made them super comfortable despite their size. In the end, you get what you pay for. It is a high premium price but these live up to their price tag and deliver in spades. There is no major plot twist here: [size=14.40000057220459px]veni, vidi, vici.[/size]
 
Biggest downside is that these have a price tag that is hard to swallow - but thankfully you are getting value for money. They certainly will outlast many many other in-ears and maybe you can even pass these on to your grand children. Build quality is impeccable. 
 
The K10U is detailed, musical, revealing, but also fun, dynamic and engaging. It’s a no-compromise in-ear that gets out of the way to let the music shine. Be ready for some really emotional moments with your favorite tracks. The Wizard really did something magical here. So, yes, it’s worthy of being called a Kaiser. If you can afford them - go and get them and call off your search for the best IEMs, you have found them!
 
Thanks to Noble Audio for ruining my headphone collection - as I now have to start selling a lot to be able to afford these.
 
 
 
 

 

REVIEW: Wooaudio WA8 Eclipse
 
All images are clickable for the full res version!
 
  
 
 
 

 

 
 
Equipment used:
Headphones: Hifiman HE-560, AKG K7XX, Audeze LCD-2f, Sennheiser Momentum, HD-650, Oppo PM-2, PM-3, Aurisonics ASG 2.5, JVC HA-FX850, UE900s, plenty of other IEMs.
 
 
Music used:
From Röyksopp to Amber Rubarth, Diana Krall to Apoptygma Berzerk, Tom Jones to Sphongle, Yello to Camouflage, mostly FLACs 24/96 or 16/44.1 - some mp3 320kbps, some AAC 256kbps
Depending on headphone high or low gain - no EQ
 
Disclaimer: samma3a.com, @Mazen4samma3a provided me with a review unit of the WA8. I am not affiliated with Woo Audio or Samma3a.com and am not paid or in any way compensated for this review. The unit is already returned back. Though I really highly appreciate what samma3a is doing for the audiophiles in the region!! Thank you so much for letting me test and review this marvel. 
 
TL;DR
 
 
Simply put: Incredible sound quality and a surprisingly wide array of in-ears and headphones that just sound amazing with it, makes this an easy recommendation. It’s worth it’s very high asking price. However beware to unplug headphones before switching off or running out of battery, you will be exposed to a pop. 
 
 
Now, the longer version:
 

 
      
 
 
 
 
Packaging & Accessories
 
 
The Wooaudio WA8 comes nicely packaged with USB cable, a Pelican-style, waterproof and shockproof carrying case, power brick and cable. 
 
 
Technical Highlights
 
DAC Chip: ESS Sabre ES9018K2M (24bit/384kHz); compatible with iOS and Android devices; SET Class A transformer output, drives 8-600 Ohm headphones; all tube design; XMOS xCORE Audio asynchronous USB
 
Ouput: 
250mW @32Ω 
350mW @50Ω (270mw in 2 tube mode)
180mW @120Ω 
120mW @300Ω 
80mW @600Ω 
(3-tubeOutput impedance: smaller than 1 Ohm)
Dynamic Range: > 115 dB
 
Formats supported DAC: 
 
PCM: 24bit - 384/352.8/192/176.4/96/88.2/48/44.1kHz
 
 
Headphone output:
3.5mm and 6.35mm 
 
Inputs:

1. USB 2.0 Type A, works with MacOS, Windows and Linux
2. Support for Android OTG and iOS for iOS7 and above
3. 3.5mm analog input

 
Output:

1. Headphone out: 6.35mm with adapter to 3.5mm

 
USB charging:
not available only with supplied charger
 
Sound effects:
none
 
     
  
 
 
 
Usability and Build Quality
 
The WA8 is a pretty simple device with the following switches and ports:
 

1. Volume
   Pretty self explanatory, turn the dial, the more you turn the dial to the right, the higher the volume. Feels very nice and smooth with the right heft to it and has a wide enough range to find the exact volume.
    
2. Power switch
   Recessed switch - easy to grab/feel, even when you can’t see behind the device. Not feeling the price on this switch.
    
3. Tube switch (top of device):
   Switches the operation from 3 tube to 2 tube operation. It’s like a gain switch, offering more juice with 3 tubes and longer operation with lower power for less power hungry headphones with 2 tube operation.
    
4. Digital USB Audio inputs/Analog inputs:
   Standard USB 2 input - does not charge the device, only supplies DAC with digital music information up to 24bit/384kHz, compatible with iOS and Android OTG. 
5. Line in: 3.5mm line in for using the WA8 as amplifier only
    
6. Headphone outputs:
   Two headphone sockets, one 3.5mm and one 6.35mm. 

 
 
Build Quality
 
It’s a square black (or gold, silver/grey-ish) box. It weighs a substantial 1.1KG which is quite surprising for it’s size, really heavy. Dimensions are: Dimension 6.69" (L) x 3.6" (W) x 1.69" (D) / 170mm (L) x 92mm (W) x 43mm (D)
 
The enclosure is machined aluminum - it feels great to the touch - unfortunately is quite prone to fingerprints, so have a microfiber cloth ready. Other than the the build quality is what you expect for a nearly $2,000 device (except the power and tube switch buttons).  
 
Sound Quality Comparisons & Usage
 
Well - the WA8 surprised me. I have heard Woo Audio amps in the past and always liked them a lot for their musicality, their smooth but holographic rendering of the music and how you just get “lost in music” with them. But this amp surprised me. When I looked at the spec sheet, I thought, well it should run IEMs quite well. WooAudio claims as well very low noise floor for the WA8. And so it has. No hiss with in-ears as low as 8 Ohms. Wow. With a tube amp? Crazy. It drove all my different IEMs (I stopped trying after around 12) with authority, no matter if they were dynamic driver, balanced armatures or hybrid based. None them had distortions in any frequency band and all of them sounded really, REALLY good. The low output impedance of the WA8 really shines through here. Beware though: the thing runs quite hot! As a class A amp - it runs hotter with easy to drive headphones and cooler the more it has to "work"….
 
Surely, this device sucks with full size over ear headphones - since it’s so good with IEMs, it can’t possible drive full-size cans properly….or so I thought. So I started with the easy to drive ones. Oppo PM-2 and PM-3 - sounded sublime, I expected them to be a bit too smooth - but they weren’t. It was actually hard to change to the next headphone - as I just enjoyed my tracks so much. Eventually I put the 70 Ohm, but sometimes picky, AKG K7XX on. Wow, no problem for the WA8. The 300 Ohm Sennheiser HD-650 were, like the 250 Ohm Beyerdynamic T90, a feast for the ears. 
 
I say it here on record: I think I never heard the T90 sound that good from anything that wasn’t a Bottlehead Crack.
 
Lastly I thought - HA!! Now I got you WA8 -> Planars, I am sure you will suck with Planars little 2001 Space Odyssey lookalike. But to my surprise with “only” 350mW into 50 Ohms - my Hifiman HE-560 sounded amazing. How is that possible? They sound full and “round” everything is as it should. How Wooaudio does this, with literally no headroom, is a mystery to me. But it might show that power is not what counts a well designed amp section.
 
So, wanting to show the limits of this DAC/Amp, I must accept defeat. The WA8 is one of the best sounding amps I have heard with my headphones ever. I want one to sit next to my Liquid Carbon. Badly. But the price is indeed an issue.
 
 
 
DAC use on a Computer vs. line out
 
The Sabre DAC is implemented so well - there is no harshness, but so much detail. The sound is full and rich without being warm. The WA8 does not color your headphones sound signature much but adds a little bit of smoothness to it, that makes your music more enjoyable and fatigue free and you can’t help and at least tap your toes (or go wild and headbang, dance or just rock away to your tunes). The line out does the same to your music but of course you get, to a certain extend, what you feed in.
 
 
Conclusion & Issues
 
It REALLY can drive headphones from 8-600 Ohm. The clever use of 3 tube vs 2 tube operation via switch, which works as a gain switch of sorts, makes this amp your perfect desktop setup (just make sure to follow this procedure when switching tube mode: remove headphones- switch off the amp - switch the tube mode -  switch it back on, then connect headphones again). Thanks to its battery, it allows a sort of transportable use - but not on-the-go use as it’s too heavy for that (some might disagree). The WA8 is considered “transportable” don’t confuse that with “portable”. It’s the same for my Cavalli Audio - that has no battery - which is small and light, less than half  the weight of the WA8, and also considered transportable.
 
The WA8 is an “all tubes” goodness, with a brilliant DAC implementation, simple to use and just engaging, audiophile fun. 
 
I would have never thought, that some of my headphones can sound that great from a small amp like this. Yes, you might accuse me of hyperbole, but I am absolutely in love with the performance of this amp, especially with the picky T90 that I usually run from a BH Crack with Speedball upgrade. The WA8 seems to have no issues with any headphone. And that baffles me. The background is black black black - noise level is well, not there… 
 
EDIT and UPDATE2: 19.04.2016: The pop disappeared. After a few days of use - the pop is not anymore there. We have tried everything - the pop is gone. Not sure why and how, we will observe to see if it comes back but it seems that the issue has solved itself....
But (I am tempted to say “thankfully” because otherwise it might be all too perfect) there is ONE major issue. When switching the WA8 off, there is very loud POP sound induced into the headphones. So loud, that at the first time I experienced it, I ripped my headphones from my head - fearing for my hearing. The workaround is to unplug your headphones from the amp before switching off - but there should be either: a time relay preventing this burst of energy escaping through the headphone output or a warning that this will happen written in GLOW AT NIGHT LARGE FONT on the device. However, on battery power the same happens when the battery runs out and that is something you don’t really control, as it happens without warning - so you can’t prepare for that. For a device with such a price tag, this is unacceptable and needs to be addressed. I wanted to record this for this video but then decided that I don’t want to risk damaging my headphones to show it. 
 
EDIT and UPDATE1: Woo Audio has posted a comment saying the "soft pop" is normal and part of all WA8. That's disappointing as I consider this still a massive oversight in a device with that price tag. Everyone who heard the pop didn't find it "soft". Anyhow - they say it's not harmful for your headphones. That's good to know. The workaround is to unplug your headphones before switching the amp off.
 
Minor issues: 4 hours battery life, the unwieldy, non-standard charging brick, price for replacement tubes after expected lifetime of 5000 hours (and how to change them) unclear.
 
UPDATE:
I hope Woo Audio fixes the popping issue before the official launch because with this exception the WA8 is absolutely brilliant, a true audiophile marvel!!
Woo Audio thinks the so called "soft pop" is ok to be enjoyed by all customers = I still think they need to revise that - as it's not worthy of an amp like this to pop when switched off, also I don't find the pop soft. So this remains my biggest gripe with this otherwise brilliant product.
 
It's slightly warm, musical presentation makes this an absolute hit product for WooAudio. 
 
Rating: 4,5 stars - due to the high price and the popping sound when switching off. EDIT: due to the pop disappearing - I adjust the rating up. Should it come back I will change it again. However, it shouldn't happen in the first place, so am still very suspicious about the pop.
 
  
 
In case you want to check out the video review: 
https://youtu.be/1Bx4UysYXUY
 
THANKS to www.samma3a.com and @Mazen4samma3a for the review loaner! I will be selling off some other gear (or body parts) to purchase this marvel as soon as possible.

V-Moda Crossfade Wireless
 

 
(All images are clickable if you want the full res version)
 
Introduction
V-Moda was founded in 2002 by Val Kolton, trying to combine fashion and audiophile grade headphones. Here I am reviewing the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless.
 
V-Moda introduced a couple of other models over the years and received a great reception within the first quite skeptical audiophile world. However, extremely sturdy quality with an incredible attention to detail, plus great sound quality made his brand successful. V-Moda has now sold more than 4 Million headphones and is growing still.
 
With 30% of the TOP100 DJs using V-Moda products (among them Paul Oakenfold, Giorgio Moroder and The Crystal Method - all bands and DJs I really like) - I was tasked to find out if they are capable of producing a proper wireless headphone.
 
  
 
 
 
 Manufacture’s Specifications

1. Type: Over Ear Bluetooth Wireless/Wired Headphone (Circumaural)
2. Drivers Size: 50mm diameter
3. Drivers Type: dual diaphragm dynamic neodymium
4. Frequency Response: 5 - 30,000 Hz
5. Sensitivity: 107 dB in 1mW
6. Impedance:  30 Ω
7. Microphone sensitivity: -42dB
8. Maximum Input:  100 mW
9. Weight with cable: 292g  
10. Connector: Bluetooth / 3.5 m single ended, 1.5m straight cable with Mic.
11. MSRP:  AED 1199 ($299)

 
 Design/Materials/Build Quality
 
Design:
The color scheme I am reviewing is not my cup of tea - but only looks wise. I would prefer the black version. The best thing is: I have 4 different color options to choose from. If I want to further customize my headphones I can choose and design my own “shields” that cover the ear cups. Amazing. I can provide my own design or structure that will be laser etched and/or 3D printed on the headphone. So you can create something really unique and beautiful.
 
The headphone is general on the smaller size. It’s pretty similar to the original Crossfade headphones. The goal was to protect everything that made the Crossfade such a a hit and add wireless functionality. During the year long process the goal posts changed and V-Moda wanted to improve the sound while running cabled and at least maintain the sound while running wirelessly.
 
Build quality is solid as a rock. Absolutely grade A, you have to roll over these headphones with a tank to destroy them (and then you would only pay half price to get a replacement thanks to the generous life time coverage from V-Moda). Build quality is absolutely superb.
 
  
 
 

Style/Look:

 
Lots of metal, military spec durability and an “immortal life program” - this means, after thee first year of full warranty, as an owner of a V-Moda, you can exchange your broken headphone for 50% of the new retail price with a new one. That’s pretty generous and shows how V-Moda backs their products.
 

Comfort:

292g - due to the use of lots of metal in its construction this headphone is not light. However, thanks to well designed headbands and ear-pads, it doesn’t feel that heavy. It’s pretty comfortable and sits properly on your head. The ear pads are on the smaller side. Just about comfortable for my medium to large ears. But even if your ears are larger than mine, V-Moda is for you, you can get a set of larger ear pads  (XL-Pads) from the manufacturer.

Supplied accessories:

The Crossfade Wireless come with a genius hard shell case, a carabiner hook, an USB-charging cable and a remote-mic-cable that is of course, removable. You also get a sticker and a user manual.
 
  
 
 
Sound (Overall):
The Crossfade M-100 is a highly regarded headphone. I am happy to report that the Crossfade sounds at least as good if not better. Using the headphone via cable switches the headphone into “passive mode” - no batteries needed, ever. The Wireless has a fun signature. It’s on the warmer side, meaning it has quite some elevated boost in the bass area. It certainly pumps out some impressive beats with its large driver. Using the headphones via Bluetooth, is jawdropping. I have heard quite a few bluetooth headphones over time, but none comes close to the sound quality of the V-Moda. The Pendulumic Stance S+ is a contender but has to accept defeat from this amazing BT can. 
 

Bass

Yep. Powerful, huge, dominant. Leaves nothing to ask for. It’s great bass. Defined and impactful, no bloat.

Mid-range

Mids are by the are prominent, not recessed but also not forward. Pretty neutral I would say.

Treble

While the overall clarity is really really nice, the treble is slightly rolled off, a bit more so in wireless mode, to my ears. When using a cable and an amp the treble is less rolled off. Overall still great detail and enjoyable, fatigue free treble.

Sound Stage and instruments separation

 
For a closed headphone above average soundstage and good instrument separation. I wouldn’t call it extraordinary but from a money for value ratio, it’s pretty extraordinary. You can listen to these headphones for hours. While commuting or in the office. You don’t even have to take them off to make phone calls as they work as a headset in both modes, wired and wireless. 
 
 
Pros & Cons

Pros:

1. amazing sound while using cable
2. incredible bluetooth performance
3. microphone and remote in the cable, additional high quality microphone in ear cups for wireless use
4. military spec durability and build quality
5. fun sound signature on steroids - best sound quality of any Bluetooth headphone I heard
6. crazy customization options
7. 12 h battery life

Cons:

1. slight treble roll of in wireless use (but really only by a fraction degree)
2. looks (also a pro, depending if you like it)
3. nothing else really

 
 Rating

1. Comfort                       8/10
2. Sound Quality             8/10
3. Design                        9/10
4. Durability                    10/10
5. Value for Money         10/10

 
Conclusion
 
I AM A CONVERT. The only time I used bluetooth headphones was in the gym. There were just too many compromises in sound quality, battery life and durability. But I have to reverse my stance with the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless. They last impressive 12 hours on a charge and unlike other bluetooth headphones these can continue perfectly well when used in passive/wired mode. 
 
For the retail price off 1,199 dirhams, I believe this will be a hit. It’s like having two headphones in one. You want an audiophile/fun sound signature - use them with your amp in wired mode. You want to get rid of the pesky cables while working, commuting, gym, etc. use them in wireless mode and be impressed. 
 
Incredible customization options and colour schemes. What’s not to like.  I will be getting a pair. People who know me will be surprised that I go for a bluetooth headphone, but with the quality as good as the V-Moda, I am sold. Apparently the designers of this headphone took 6 months alone deciding on the right buttons (on the right ear cup for play/pause, volume up and down) so that they are silent enough so you won’t hear it click too loud, but give enough feedback so you know you it “clicked”. This attention to detail shows. 4 years in the making the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless redefines the wireless headphone market in my mind. Very impressive.  
 
Thanks to samma3a.com for the review sample. 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

REVIEW:
 
Equipment used:
Headphones: RHA T10, T20, AKG K7XX, LCD-2f, Momentum, RE-400, HD-650
Firmware: 0.05b (later updated to 0.11b)
 
Music used:
From Röyksopp to Amber Rubarth, Diana Krall to Apoptygma Berzerk, Tom Jones to Sphongle, Yello to Camouflage, mostly FLACs 24/96 or 16/44.1 - some mp3 320kbps, some AAC 256kbps
Depending on headphone high or low gain - no EQ 
 
Disclaimer: I received the Fiio X5II review unit from www.samma3a.com the local distributor of Fiio products. I have to return the unit, so there is no financial interest. I am not affiliated with Fiio or Samma3a.com Though I really highly appreciate what these guys are doing for the audiophiles in the region!! Thank you so much for letting me test and review this player. I had so much fun doing it!!
 
When I review DAPs I tend to use an input switcher and play the same song on both players, volume matched by ear and switch back and forth. Then I do some extensive listening with the unit and different headphones.
 
I owned a lot of Fiio products over the years, the X3, X5, E07K, E7, etc. and so far never had any issues with them.
 

 
 
TL;DR
 
 
While the X3ii came VERY close to the original X5, the 2nd Gen X5 now puts a little bit of distance between them again, the X5ii is clearly the best Fiio has to offer right now.
 
 
Now, the longer version:
 
Packaging & Accessories
 
It consists of a 1m high current micro USB charging/data cable, 3.5mm to RCA COAX digital S/PDIFadapter, 2 spare screen protectors in the box, 1 already fitted on device, pattern stickers in three different designs (US flag, wood grain and carbon fibre), HD Tracks coupon, warranty card and quick start guide. The Titanium colored X5ii also comes already packed into a black silicon sleeve/case and with a screen protector applied.
 
      

 
 
Technical Highlights
 
DAC Chip: BurrBrown 1792A , LPF:OPA1652, OPA: OPA1612 + BUF634U
Ouput: 436mW @16 Ohm, 245mW @32 Ohm, 27mW @300 Ohm
Output impedance: smaller than 0.2 Ohm
Outputs: Headphone out, Digital (COAX) out (switchable to line out),
Display: 2.4 inch 400x360 pixel colour display,
Card slots: 2 mSD card slot for up to 128GB cards (256GB total)
Size: H109mm, W63.5mm, D15.3mm (compared to oldX5:  H114, W67.6, D15.6)
Weight: 165g (old 195g)
Gain: 3.6dB (Low), 9.1dB (High)
THD: <0.001% (1 kHz)
Battery: 3,300 mAh (>10 hours)
 
Formats supported: 
DSD: 2.8 MHz/1 bit (dff/dsf)
APE (Fast): 192 kHz/24 bit;
APE (Normal): 96 kHz/24 bit;
APE (High): 96 kHz/24 bit;
AIFF: 192 kHz/24 bit;
FLAC: 192 kHz/24 bit;
WAV: 192 kHz/64 bit;
WMA9.1 Lossless: 96 kHz/24 bit;
Apple Lossless: 192 kHz/24 bit;
All MP3, OGG, MP2, AAC (as used on iPads, iPhones, iPods)   
 
Size comparisons & Input switcher   
 

 
       
X5 original and X5 second generation in size comparison.
 
User Interface and Build Quality
 

 
As it has been mentioned before, I keep this part short as well. The build quality is very good, solid, nothing squeaks, buttons and ports have no play and feel solid. The scroll wheel is much improved over the scroll wheel of the original X5, it seems to have less feel and locks in you movements more reliably, however sometimes a “click” or turn is ignored. My particular demo model has quite some serious issues with the scroll wheel but I was assured that they won’t be present on the production model.
 
I repeat what I said on my X3ii review: The machined case is a joy to hold and handle and it feels really solid and well made. It loses quite some appeal when put in the silicon protection case. It’s a shame that you wont’ see much of this nice device when using that case.
 
The User Interface is already known from the X3 and X1 and has slight variations to it. Overall it’s pretty straight forward and easy to master once you get the hang of it.
 
What I particularly like about Fiio players is that you have still dedicated buttons for many functions. You have volume buttons, play/pause/select and a FFWD, RWD (long press) buttons that skip forward and backward with a short press. Makes blind use at night or in the pocket easier.
 
I tested the device with Firmware 0.11b which is NOT the release Firmware. So while it’s unlikely the sound might change marginally (usually for the better).
 
Overall the UI has only a few little quirks and is pretty well thought through. They are a couple of “shortcuts” that you can access with long pressing certain buttons, since that might change before official release, have a go yourself…you might be surprised how much time this can save.
 
The Deep Sleep mode is a very helpful feature and the battery seems to go on forever!
 
Sound Quality Comparisons
 
General
 
The X5ii has double the power at 16 Ohms than the X3ii. I was surprised how well usually hard to drive headphones sounded with it. Native DSD support in this price range is pretty crazy as well. For the comparisons below I used the Fiio HS2 Headphone Output switcher. I pitched the X5 against only one single competitor this time.
 
 
Compared to X5 1st gen (or original)
 
Main differences:
    •    mids a little more forward
    •    same bottom end but a tad more detail in the bass
    •    more detail in the treble (just)
 
I felt that the X3ii was VERY close to the X5 original, maybe even on par. It was a very close call.
 
I feel that with this release Fiio has put a bit of distance again between their X3 and X5 2nd generation offering. The X5 is now superior to the X3 (again). But to be honest, not by an awful lot.
 
Here is a quote from my review of the X3ii compared to the X5 original:
This was surprising. It seems that the design brief for the technical team was: Make the new X3II sound like the X5 for half the money. And they succeeded mostly.
 
I felt the X3II to have a slightly larger soundstage (!!) and shockingly similar in overall sound quality and signature. The X5 still has the upper hand in power handling and drives the headphones with ease where the X3II reaches its limits. So there is still a slight advantage for the X5 in regards to detail retrieval, clarity, musicality and fun.
 
End of quote. So, with the X5ii the order of things is restored. I found the soundstage to be slightly better, probably caused by the more detailed and extended treble. The mids are a tad more forward and the bass, while still a bit on the warm sound is more detailed and layered.
One could say that the overall texturing is improved across all frequencies, as mentioned the bass is dry, hard and also a bit more rumbly in the very low sub bass frequencies. There is definitively more clarity (or transparency?) in the sound. 
 
Please note, these are all very small differences when using an input switcher and very intensely trying to hear these differences. 
 

 
 
Line Out & Digital Out (COAX)
 
Now instead of separate sockets for line out and COAX digital SPDIF out, it’s a joint socket. The function of it is switched in software. So you have to dive into the menu to check which setting it is and to change it of course, if desired.
 
The combined port also means that some of the previously working COAX cables don’t work anymore. Hmmmpf. I don’t like that. However, with the supplied adapter, you can use any COAX cable and be good. The adapter cable though feels flimsy and is not of the usual Fiio quality. 
 

 
 
DAC use on a Computer
 
The X5 works like a charm on Macs (and I am assured on Windows equally well) without any drivers and offers an easy use as external DAC/Amp.
 
Pros:
 

1. increased sound quality and sound stage
2. nicer case
3. better display
4. smaller size and lower weight

 
Cons:

1. no micro SD card covers anymore
2. separate sockets for line out and digital out now combined 
3. small evolutionary updates not a revolutionary new product

 
Conclusion
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
So… should you buy the new X5?
 
Well, if you own the X3ii and run into storage space issues, the X5ii is awesome as it provides two micro SD card slots. 
 
This digital audio player is fantastic and very much worth its money. However I wouldn't run out and buy it if I already have the second generation X3. As an owner of the original X5 it is worth considering, only if you are unhappy with the weight, size or battery life of your aging X5.
 
The X5ii is an evolutionary improvement in regards to build- and sound-quality, it feels better and sounds better. The improvements especially in the sound quality are subtile but they are real, hence a clear recommendation. If you already own a X5 first gen, I would wait to see what the X7 delivers before shelling out for this updated X5.
 
Overall the new X5ii is a worthy successor, rather an evolutionary upgrade than a revolutionary one.
 
 
THANKS to www.samma3a.com and @Mazen4samma3a for the review loaner!

RHA T20 Review
 
Introduction
RHA just launched the T20 in the UAE where I live. It was a great event in a brand new beautiful hotel, the TAJ Dubai, perfect choice, RHA
 
I was lucky enough to attend this event and got the chance to listen to the T20 and also listen to a review sample for the following days.
The way RHA is supporting the local distributor and the audiophile community is really exemplary and a shining example for other manufacturers in the region. Thanks as well to gadgitechme.com for their support. All pictures in this review can be viewed at full resolution. Just click on them.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

one earpiece without tip of T20 in front, T10 in back
 
About RHA:
 
RHA is short for Reid Heath Audio - a Scottish headphone company that is still quite young but churning out better and better earphones with amazing quality and generous warranty.
 
From release to release RHA managed to up the quality and production value of their earphones. It seems that every detail they learned was implemented in the subsequent product - and they listen closely to what the community and customers have to say. A very interesting approach to start with the lower cost headphones and work your way up step by step. It's not the easiest way to establish a brand but I like it.
 
RHA produces their own drivers and uses metal housings for their headphones which makes them stand out from the competition.
 


T20 with another newby - Fiio X5ii
 
TL;DR
Does the T20 deliver: Yes. Clearly the new flagship in the RHA stable. Their best in-ear yet. 
 
About myself:
 
As a benchmark: I am 42, my headphone inventory can be found in my profile. The test was conducted mostly with the Fiio X5ii, the CEntrance DACmini CX with 1 Ohm mod, the AK100, an iPhone 6 and lastly an iFi iDSD micro. I listen to an eclectic choice of music from industrial to classic, mostly FLAC and ALAC but also some MP3 320kbps and AAC 256 kbps thrown in.
 
I own the MA350, MA 750 and T10, none of the earphones I have from RHA have a microphone, the respective i-versions of these in-ears do have an iOS compatible remote and mic. The mic does work with most Android phones as well….
 

 
 

 

 
 
 Manufacture’s Specifications

1. Type: in-ear
2. Drivers Size: ??
3. Drivers Type: Dynamic with Dual Coil(TM)
4. Frequency Response: 16Hz to 40KHz
5. Sensitivity: 90dB @1mW
6. Impedance:  16 Ω
7. Microphone sensitivity: 
8. Maximum Input:  2/5mW
9. Cable: multicore OFC, 1.35mm thick
10. Weight with cable: 39g  
11. Connector: 3.5mm single ended
12. MSRP:  $279

 
Design
 
The T20 is constructed with injection molded, stainless steel components. It has a thick and sturdy cable that is not replaceable. The design is identical to the T10 and T10i with the exception that the cable is now black instead of grey. Everything feels top quality and the 3 years warranty is certainly something you can believe in. The in-ear comes with replaceable metal tuning filters that alter the sound to a certain extend. RHA calls the driver technology “revolutionary” - well, we'll see about that later. Let me explain what is special on these drivers.
 


T10 and T20 next to each other. T20 has the black cable
 
Dual Coil Dynamic Driver:
This driver supposedly outperforms conventional drivers in resolution, clarity and detail with the use of two voice coils for one diaphragm. The way it works is that there is a voice coil on the outer edge of the diaphragm and one in the “normal” place in the middle of the diaphragm. The coils are operating independent from each other, the outer one (ring shaped) is responsible for the highs and the inner one for the lows. While we recently saw quite a few hybrid designs with in-ears using one or more balanced armature drivers and a dynamic driver, or dual drivers opposing or in line, etc, this is indeed a different approach. 



 
Style

 
The metal body feels extremely well made and sturdy. Like the T10 before them, they are worn over the ear with a patent pending ear hook system. I don’t know what exactly is patent pending on it though, forgot to ask.



 
Build quality

Solid and reliable. Everything I mentioned in the review of the 750 is valid here too. They seem to be rock solid and should outlast man other headphones. And if not: they come with a 3 year warranty that should help with the peace of mind.
 
For a projected price slightly below $300 I would have loved to see a detachable cable. 
 



 
Comfort

They slip into my ears like customs, I sound like a fanboy because if it comes to the fit with the T20 (or T10, MA750) I really am a fanboy. I have funny ear canals, right and left are different so finding something that is easy to insert and provides a great seal without filling around is really making me very happy. Others might not be as lucky but as the T10 these just fit perfect in my ears, comfortable for many hours, they “disappear” - they sit deep enough in your ears so you don’t feel their weight (39g).

Supplied accessories

Standard RHA fare. Nothing new from the MA750 or T10. A nice and soft carrying case (zip-up wallet style) made of soft touch plastic with compartments for all supplied accessories, including the metal tip holder. Great selection or ear tips: 6 pairs of silicone tips, two pairs of double flange tips and two pairs of memory foam tips (10 pairs in total).  A clothing clip is also provided. Like the T10 the additional 2 pairs of tuning filters come screwed into a nice carrying plate made of brushed metal with a color coding on them to distinguish between the filters.
 

Carry case filled with accessories
 

Size comparison carry case
 

Supplied accessories
 

Sound tuning filters in their metal plate holder (screw in)
 
Sound
Ok, so the preliminary price of the T20 is $279 so around $80 more than the T10 and double the price of the MA750… So how does it stack up soundwise? I really liked the T10’s sound - however I found it a bit too thick on the bass, even though I consider myself a semi-basshead, but I like it well delivered and not bloated or overly emphasized. I am happy to say this has been fixed. The T20s indeed deliver everything the T10 did well and fixed most of the shortcomings. It's probably the most neutral in-ear from RHA so far.
 

Frequency response curve - red-treble filter, black bass filter, grey reference...
 
IMPORTANT NOTICE: 
I have done the whole review with the reference filters. I will update this review when I have spend more time listening to the Treble and Bass filters.
 
REFERENCE FILTER IMPRESSIONS:

Bass

Punchy, fast and dry - lovely. This is the bass you want, not too overpowering like the T10 but so THERE if you need it. Hard to describe but the bass is extremely impactful when needed but has a bit of distance in it, so it hits you in front of your head - like with speakers or at a concert. In short - the bass is amazing and it hits hard when it needs to and is absent when it’s absent in the music. Not an easy feat. Way enhanced towards the T10 - Exactly the way I like it. The only criticism I might have is that really low sub bass quality could be a tad better. But then, this is complaining on a very high level. 

Mid-range

More forward than the T10, giving this headphone a lovely fun signature. Female vocals sound great and full, male vocals are clean and engaging.
 
Treble

Haahhh, so much detail. While it’s not a multi balanced armature in-ear it does deliver a lot of detail and clarity indeed. Definitively increased from the T10, they do sound like BA drivers. Not sure how (well probably the dual coil) they did this but the range and detail of available on tap is amazing. With the reference filter the experience is amazing - such an extension from the T10. No wonder these in ears got the HiRes certification from the Japan Audio Society.



Since people asked: left T10 filters with screw up, right T20 filters. They are identical.
 
 

 
Filter sets are identical between the T10 and T20.
 
TREBLE FILTER IMPRESSIONS:

coming soon

BASS FILTER IMPRESSIONS:

vs. T10 with Reference Filter: Putting the bass filters on the T20 is elevating the bass back into basshead levels. Still articulate but it's a LOT of bass. I swapped back and forth with the T10 with Reference filter and must say, the bass is now on T10 level. However you still hear the slightly recessed mids from the T10 that come apparent in that A/B test. Testing the different filters shows, that the T10 is not a bad in ear at all.

vs. T10 with Bass Filter: Geeez, T10 whips the ass of the T20 in bass quantity - that's basshead calibre. The T10 is getting into bloated territory with the bass filters. It can be fun for some songs, but it's too much for me. But I can see the appeal for bass lovers with this filter.

Vs. T10 with treble filter: Still lots of bass on the T10 - however the treble can flow freely into your ears, makes the T10 more V-shaped and enjoyable for me. It's the same amount of bass as with the Reference filter but thanks to the less rolled off highs, you can listen to lower volume and here have a more balanced sound. For the T10 - these are my favorite filters.

Summary: The T20 with bass filter are close to the T10 with treble and reference filter in bass quantity. Quality remains better with the T20 though. They should please bass lovers with this filter... The bass is lovely elevated and still has lots of texture. Not my favorite filter for the T20 but clearly a fun thing to use with certain genres.



 

Sound Stage and instruments separations

 
The way you want it. Expansive but not overly expansive (or artificially large) but enough and I find it deeper than what you usually get in this price range. Pretty exciting balance. It reminds me of my Hifiman HE-560 which envelopes you in the music. The T20 can do that too. Precise and defined placement of instruments. Perfect. I thought long and hard what could be better, and I am not sure I could find something I was missing.
 


​Plug of the T20 (left) and T10 (right) - reads: 303F - 522 for T20 and 303F - 448 for T10
 
Comparisons:
 
vs. T10:
- less bass bloat - bass still there and slightly boosted but never bloated or overbearing, impactful and dry
- midrange not as recessed, more forward, overall more pleasant
- a lot more treble extension, lots of details in the treble you might not find in the T10
 
EDIT: will add other comparisons later once I have made some head2head comparisons...
 
 
Pros & Cons

Pros:

1. sound quality 
2. comfort
3. soundstage
4. crazy versatile bass (with no bloat)
5. high build quality, feels like it can withstand lots of abuse
6. 3 years warranty and great customer service
7. evolutionary step up from the MA750 and T10

Cons:

1. a bit heavier due to metal build (didn’t bother me at all but just want to mention it)
2. no microphone i-version available yet
3. needs some burn-in time to sound best (or brain burn-in)
4. requires a good seal
5. no detachable cable

 
 Rating

1. Comfort                       9/10
2. Sound Quality             10/10
3. Design                        9/10
4. Durability                    9/10
5. Value for Money         8/10

 
Based on a price of $279 retail. 
 
Conclusion
 
Quick recap of the 750 and T10: great build quality, 3 years warranty, great sounding, comfortable, great accessories from a great company. 
 
The new flagship of the RHA line up delivers in spades. What I wrote in the 750 review still holds true, constant improvement and evolution is the name of the game. RHA took the best of the 750 and T10 and combined it with the T20. There is indeed more clarity and detail and the slightly flawed bass heavy T10 was tamed. Though a bit more sub bass (quality not quantity) would have been nice. The detail and clarity of this headphone is really astonishing. The treble is extended compared to the T10. Without being harsh, these are indeed better.
 
In a direct shoot out between the T10 and the T20 I found the T20 to be more involving, more enveloping, with a lot more detail and clarity in the treble. They are also louder and easier to drive than the T10 however the better the amp, the nicer they sound (not referring to power). This is still not a neutral earphone but way more neutral than the T10. As Warrenpchi put it: "the most balanced RHA unit I've heard this far, by a wide margin." That's exactly what I heard as well.
 

​Used the T20 also for some X5 vs X5ii shoot out. T20 quickly became my favorite in-ear
 

Since some of you asked - sound level with T10 (volume matched via iPhone decibel meter app)
 

...and here the same volume with the T20, enlarge to see the small lines I added, yellow T20, red T10. 
 
 
Why no i version?
That question was brought up a lot. RHA obviously thinks that people who buy a headphone like the T20 use it with a DAP and so don’t need a mic. I am not so sure. Personally I prefer not to have a microphone but I sure am in the minority. I guess an i version is in the works or at least seriously considered.   
 
So…..: Yes, they are now my favorite in-ears under $300, maybe even above that price. As far as dynamic in-ears go, this could very well be the new benchmark. I used to use the 750 and T10 as well as the JVC HA-FX850, RE-400 and UE900s a lot before... but now… not so much. The T20, even after wearing off the new-toy-syndrome, is a hit. Properly driven this in-ears delivers. Well done, RHA, very well done. 
 

T10 white/grey cable, T20 black cable
 
 
Update 21st June 2015:
Comparison to MA750:

In the right corner, the contender, with a fighting weight of 39g, the T20, in the left corner the reigning champion, with a fighting weight of 35g, the MaaaaaaaAAAAA SevenFiftyyyyyyyyyy.
The referee today is the Audioengine D3 24 bit DAC. 
MA750 vs T20 - FIGHT!

 
Observations from this comparison:
 
Fundamentally the T20 with the reference filter share the same signature as the 750. They are clearly coming from the same producer, they share the "house sound" of RHA you could say.
But to throw in a Spinal Tap reference: The T20 go to 11.
 
This is what the T20 delivers above the 750:
- more immediate sound with a wider soundstage ( bit of an oxymoron here, the sound is closer to you but the soundstage is wider, if that makes any sense)
- more treble detail without being harsh
- hits harder and goes deeper in the bass and sub bass
 
A fuller, warmer sound with the T20s without loosing treble detail. The T20 with reference filter is an upgrade for any 750 owner. I can hands down recommend this, if it's in your budget. It's not 2 times better than the MA750 but you will have improvements in every area...it's a clear upgrade path for owners of the 750.
 
 
 
Disclaimer: RHA provided a T20 for review following their launch event in Dubai. I own the MA350, 750 and T10.
 

Aurisonics ASG-2.5 Review
 
Introduction
Many thanks to samma3a.com for providing me with a ASG2.5 for a week to review.
 
Aurisonics is a Nashville, Tennessee, US based company that produces mostly by hand and it shows. Aurisonics stands for Auris is latin for ear and Sonics is the practical application of sound. A nice name for an audio company. When a mastering engineer founds an audio company, audiophile ‘listen’ hah!! Fire up youtube and search for Dale Lott, he is the founder and CEO of Aurisonics and if you need to see someone standing behind his products - watch him. Check out the Aurisonics website, amazing read for sure.
 

 
 
 Manufacturer’s Specifications

1. Type: in-ear
2. Drivers Size: 14.2mm (dynamic driver)
3. Drivers Type: 2 Balanced Armature custom tuned & 1 Dynamic
4. Frequency Response: 8Hz to 25KHz
5. Sensitivity: 123dB @1mW
6. Impedance:  41 Ω
7. Microphone sensitivity: 
8. Maximum Input:  
9. Weight with cable: ??g  
10. Connector: 3.5mm single ended
11. MSRP:  $699 - $1099

 

 
 
 Design
 
The ASG-2.5 are digital hybrid technology (2 tweeters and a large dynamic bass speaker) universal fit in-ears. They are also available as custom shelled versions.  These in-ears are handmade in the US (Nashville, TN) and have a tunable bass port. They come in different colors (and materials which affects the price). I had the polished red one but they are also available in polished black, brushed nickel and 24k gold. Cables are detachable and connected with a 2 pin cable. So you can upgrade the cables at  later stage or replace them should they break. The cable has a memory wire on the top part so once in place it stays in place.

Style

 
The polished red ones look gorgeous, you can see the internals through them - love it. Makes it look very cool. They are worn over the ear. They are shaped like customs. Orisons claims that they will fit 95% of all ears very well (like a custom). I must say that this was true for my left ear but the right one had a few issues.

Build quality

If you have ever seen a video with the founder of Aurisonics Dale Lott - you know that these are rock solid in-ears build to last. His experience is in producing military spec products so everything you get is sturdy and will last. 
 

Comfort

While Aurisonic claims that they will fit like customs for 95% of the population (as far as they scanned ears so far) I can only confirm that half. LOL. The ASG2.5 fit perfect in my left ear, the right one always took a lot of adjustments to get “right” - once in, they were comfortable for me and I forgot I had them on pretty soon. However, be careful as they are quite large, there is a chance they rub on one part of your ear and that can create discomfort. 

Supplied accessories

Packaging is rather small and functional. A very nice sturdy shock, dust and waterproof carry case (like a SKB or Pelican case) is included, as well as a cleaning tool and a screwdriver for the bass port adjustments (called valve adjustment). The tips are custom made for Aurisonics and are trademarked SureSeal tips. I wish there were a few more sizes and shapes in the box though, 5 pairs for a $699 in-ear is a bit on the skimpish side. 
 

 
 
Sound
 
I received a burned in demo piece. I put them on and thought - holy moly the bass. then holy moly, the soundstage, and then finally, holy moly the clarity. I really liked the sound quality of these in ears. Here are the details…

Bass

The best bass I have heard in any in-ear. Period. Since I had a demo piece I was listening to it for an hour and thought to myself, my goodness, the bass is really amazing. Then I remembered they have the adjustable bass ports and thought, ah, ok, they are probably on full blast, now let me dial down the bass and see how they sound with less bass. Then I realized that the bass valve was already on the lowest setting. I consider myself as a borderline basshead but what these headphones can produce in bass is beyond ANYTHING I thought would be possible with in ears. Amazing. They go low, very low. And they are not bloated or flabby. They really mimic as subwoofer. For me, closed valve (or on the lowest bass setting) was perfect. If opened then only by the tiniest of fractions, otherwise the bass was just too much for me unless you want a real party in your head. Bass lovers, this is your in-ear. If you leave it in the normal setting you should be happy with them unless you appreciate really subwoofer like - earth shattering bass that these things can provide.…

Mid-range

Vocals sound unbelievable good. With so much bass you usually have something that sounds recessed or distant, as it’s simply overpowering some other frequency ranges and mostly the mids. Not so with the ASG-2.5 male and female vocals sound nice and forward.
 


 
Treble

Not harsh, no sibilance. A bit laid back giving you a fatigue free listening experience. The treble might be a bit recessed - though you do hear details a plenty. 

 Sound Stage and instruments separations

 
This in-ear is a soundstage master. Since it’s supposed to be used as well as a stage monitor or mix monitor - it makes sense to have great accuracy in placing instruments in space and hearing the soundstage as it is in real life.  
 

 
 
Pros & Cons

Pros:

1. Sound quality 
2. Soundstage
3. high quality replaceable cable 
4. high build quality, built to last, build to withstand rockstar-abuse 
5. the best bass you can get

Cons:

1. quite large, so make sure it fits or get them as customs
2. comfort (option to go custom shell with those)
3. pricey

 

 
 Rating

1. Comfort                       7/10
2. Sound Quality             9/10
3. Design                        7/10
4. Durability                    9/10
5. Value for Money         7/10

 
 Conclusion
 
They are amazing and I honestly didn’t want to return them to samma3a.com (again many thanks for letting me review them). But then I had to make the decision between them and the HE-560 and sorry the over ear won. I am still debating of getting them as I simply cannot forget the bass and this amazing subwoofer like rumble.
 
If you think of buying them, think about getting them as customs, Aurisonics does offer them in universal fit (like in this review) and as custom shelled in-ears. I had some fit issues in my right ear and they were for me a bit finicky to get in. SO if you need to take them on and off a lot this could be a deal breaker for you. 
 

 
 
 
 
Disclaimer:  I have not been paid or got any kind of freebie for this review - sadly I had to return the demo set back though I really didn’t want to— they are that good. 
 
 

RHA MA750 Review
 
Introduction
 
Many thanks to RHA-Audio.com for providing Dubai with a MA750 to review and demo at the local Headphone Meet-up, your support for the headphone community is exemplary and highly appreciated. 
 
The company:
RHA is short for Reid Heath Audio - a Scottish headphone company that is still quite young but churning out better and better earphones with amazing quality and generous warranty. I own the MA350 for quite some time which was at the time it was released a very solid offering with incredible value for money.
 
From product release to product release RHA managed to up the sound quality and production value of their earphones. It seems that every detail they learned was implemented in the subsequent product - and they listen closely to what the community and customers have to say.
 
RHA produces their own drivers and uses metal housings for their headphones which makes them stand out from the competition.
 
I am reviewing the MA750 without the remote and microphone for iOS devices. The non-i earphones from RHA are across the range $10 cheaper. So, if you don’t need a mic (like me) save the money and buy these versions….
 


MA750 on the right 
 
 Manufacture’s Specifications

1. Type: in-ear
2. Drivers Size: ??
3. Drivers Type: Dynamic
4. Frequency Response: 16Hz to 22KHz
5. Sensitivity: 100dB @1mW
6. Impedance:  16 Ω
7. Microphone sensitivity: 
8. Maximum Input:  
9. Weight with cable: 36g  
10. Connector: 3.5mm single ended
11. MSRP:  $119 (750i = $129)

 
Design
 
The MA750 is constructed from machined stainless steel (303F grade) components. It has  a thick and sturdy cable that is not replaceable. The design is called “Aerophonic (TM)” and it looks surely extremely nice. Everything feels top quality and the 3 years warranty is certainly something you can believe in. Everything is designed with a lot of care, like the metal tip-holder and the thought through carry case. The drivers are RHA’s own developed 560.1 dynamic drivers that are handmade (!!).



MA750 in the right
 
Style

I would describe them in the best way as Apple-ish. They are functional and reduced to what counts and lovely to handle. Your haptic sense will have a field day. They can only be worn over the ear, which is the way I prefer in any case. 
 

Build quality

 
Everything about this ear phone feels good. Solid and reliable. No complaints here. For the same amount of money you not always get this kind of quality feel. Others might feel (not be, just feel) more flimsy. RHA surely instills a nice quality feel with their products. The cable is a steel reinforced, oxygen free copper cable. The connections are gold plated. Strain relieves are made of a metal spring on the plug, it doesn’t get much better than that.
 

Comfort
 

Man are they comfy and easy to put on. I must admit, this sounds too fanboish but I recently had a pair of Aurisonics AS-2.5 and they were large and hard to get on. These here are so easy to pop in and just snug in and seal properly. Since my ears are quite a bit different (left/right), I am always happy if I don't have to fiddle around much to get a proper seal and a nice fit. It must be a combination of the earpieces and tips together with the cable. All around a very thought through product. Sometime the metal can feel a bit cold on first insertion (you could warm them up holding them your hand for a minute) - but that feeling fades away in seconds. Once inserted I don't feel their weight, though they are a bit heavier than other non-metal in-ears.

 

Supplied accessories

 
A nice and soft carrying case (zip-up wallet style) made of soft touch plastic with compartments for all supplied accessories, including the metal tip holder. The selection of tips is amazing for this price point. The ear tips include 6 pairs of silicone tips, two pairs of double flange tips and two pairs of memory foam tips (10 pairs in total).  The cable on the 750i has a three button remote and mic for use with Apple devices, while the reviews 750 has no mic and remote. A clothing clip is also provided. 
 

 
 
Sound
 
RHA creates their own drivers. The drive used in this earphone is the RHA 560 series. General consensus of anyone I forced this earphone on is: they sound amazing for the money. Lovely soundstage, properly lifted bass (sometimes even a bit much but perfect for the outside) and a great musicality that is very satisfying. These are my preferred carry around earphones that you can throw in your bag and abuse for many years while enjoying a very refined sound. There is some cable noise even with the cable running behind your ears which is a bit disappointing but I guess the soft and thick cable has it’s small downside in this.  Percussion instruments have the proper hit to them. Clarity is spot on. If you swap headphones back and forth they can sound a tiny bit distant for the first few seconds but then click, you brain adjusts and they are surrounding you with music. They isolate pretty well from outside noise. 

Bass

Yes. Bass. It’s there, well controlled and fun, not overly boosted but never shy of bass. It’s surprising how - for me - it has the perfect balance, never bloated, never anemic. Since I like my bass a bit boosted for the right fun signature, I am more than pleased to tell you that the MA750 delivers. 

Mid-range

Great balance, vocals have a tonal balance that is surprising for this price range, full and round, female vocals are sounding a tad on the harsh side at times, but that is nitpicking.
 
Treble
Not harsh, no sibilance. Prominent but not forward. It’s not the most reveling ear phone, some others extend a bit higher maybe but it’s perfect for me because it makes this a headphone you can use for hours on end without any fatigue setting in. Hence it’s not a treble monster, a bit on the dark side (but not a dark ear phone) - I think RHA strikes a perfect balance here. 



 

 
 

Sound Stage and instruments separations

 
One of the strongest selling points of these headphones. It sounds very open and expansive for an in-ear. 
 
 
Pros & Cons

Pros:

1. Sound quality 
2. extremely comfortable
3. Soundstage
4. high quality cable 
5. high build quality, built to last, feels like it can withstand lots of abuse
6. 3 years warranty and great customer service
7. outstanding value for money

Cons:

1. a bit heavier due to metal build (didn’t bother me at all but just want to mention it)
2. has to be worn cable-over-ear (my preference but YMMV)
3. might not be available in your region as RHA is still ramping up distributors and retailers

 

 
 Rating

1. Comfort                       9/10
2. Sound Quality             8/10
3. Design                        9/10
4. Durability                    9/10
5. Value for Money         9/10

 
Conclusion
 
The moment you unpack the MA750 you know that you are in for a treat. The packaging looks great, once you open the flap and see the earphones neatly arranged in the plastic window - hype, you know you are going to like them. And thankfully that initial impression is continuing once you hold them in your hands and handle the MA750. Solid build, extremely nicely machined, an armada of ear tips to choose from and find the ones that fit you.
 
Then you go in for the first listen and you know you made the right decision. The sound signature is not neutral, instead it’s what you expect from pleasant sounding ear-phones these days. A gently boosted bass and not too harsh highs. Still these in-ears are detailed and have pleasant mids, they provide a great soundstage, actually a surprisingly large one for in-ears, they have fantastic build quality and do most things right.
 
Some people have experienced a long burn in period until they sound their best, I have not had this experience. 
 
As to amplification, these sounded perfectly fine directly from my iPhone 6, Fiio X5 (with and without C5) or AK100 (Mk2) and Audioengine D3 and Aune T1 Mk2. So even with 10 Ohm output impedance they were doing fine. I put them onto the CEntrance DACMini CX with the 1 Ohm mod and while getting slightly (and I mean tiny weeny bit) more detailed there was no dramatic change due to stronger amplification. 
 
My conclusion: If you are in the market for a around $100-$150 in-ear - you need to consider this RHA MA750 - unless you are bassophobic or enjoy more neutral sound.
 
  
 
Disclaimer: RHA provided a MA750 and a T10 for a headphone meet in Dubai - they did not ask for a review - I am reviewing it because it was pretty popular during the meet and I think they deserve to be reviewed - they are that good. My ratings are relative to the price point of the earphone.
 

Hifiman HE-560 Review
 
 
 
Introduction
Many thanks to samma3a.com for providing me with a Hifiman HE-560 to review.  
 
 
 
Hifiman is a relatively young producer of audio gear. The company was started by Dr. Fang Bian in 2005 and started selling under the HiFiMAN brand since 2007. The company was founded in New York, USA, but moved the head quarter to Tianjin in China in 2011 where their two factories are located as well.
 
They design and manufacture high performance headphones, portable players and amplifiers. The HE-560 is the successor of the HE-500. HiFiMAN’s flagship headphone is the HE-6 and they offer as well the legendary earphones RE-400 and RE-600.
 
The headphone under review here was awarded the Audio Excellence Award (2015)  and the CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award in 2015. Hence I am pretty excited to be able to listen to it.
 
 
 Manufacture’s Specifications

1. Type: Full size - over ear
2. Drivers Size: 
3. Drivers Type: Planar-Magnetic
4. Frequency Response: 15Hz to 50KHz
5. Sensitivity: 90dB @1mW
6. Impedance:  50 Ω
7. Weight with cable: 375g  
8. Connector: 6.5mm single ended
9. MSRP:  $899

 
Design
 
Wooden cups with pretty black accents and a black metal cover, innovative head band. Very clean and modern looking headphone. I think it has stellar looks. Makes my LCD-2 look very old-fashioned. Sturdy build, these headphones will stand the test of time.  However I am not so happy with the connectors, they are the same as on my HE-400 which is great if you have more than one Hifiman, so you can use the cables again. I prefer the plug-in cables of Audeze to these screw in ones, they also see to be a bit more fragile and fiddly. I do like their slight forward angle, helps getting the cable out of the way from your shoulders.  The cable runs on both sides into the ear cups, so upgrading to balanced cables is just a very simple cable swap.


 
Style:

 
Earcups have the classic round shape, angled leather ear pads are very comfortable and create a great seal..it’s a muted, elegant and clean style/design. You don’t look too silly with them on, the square headband…well…. but at least it’s very slim.


Build quality:

I wouldn’t call it exceptional - I think it’s pretty much what you would expect in this price range. Maybe you could call me a slight bit disappointed. EDIT: After owning this headphone for some time, I am still not yet decided if the build quality is good or just ok. It's light, comfortable and does everything it should. Nothing seems to fail and every connector etc. is study and seems to last. So in the end I would call the build quality OK to good but not outstanding.  It's probably the extreme lightness for a headphone of it's size and materials that makes me think the build quality is not that great, so beware this might be just my own desire for "heft"


 
 
 
 
Comfort:

Awkward looking headband is very comfortable on your head since it wraps around the shape of your head instead of creating a “hot spot” at a specific location. A very comfortable headphone I was able to wear for hours. They are also the lightest planar magnetic headphones I have ever experienced and that alone makes them amazing headphones to wear. 

Supplied accessories

A nice sliding wooden box, headphone and one cable. Not what you would expect from a $899 headphone. Pretty sparse. Slightly disappointing but the sound quality makes you forget this. How often do you unpack your headphones? I rather have a second set of ear pads or an additional cable (shorter/longer) etc. than a box. My personal preference.
 
 
  
 
Sound:
 
The overall impression you get when putting these on the first time is: Music and details are just everywhere… the sound quality is amazing on these. I will get into the details below but they deliver. The first few minutes with these I was really very impressed. Music is all around you with these headphones. You are IN your music. the music is not in your head - you are in your music - hope you understand what I am trying to say. Amazing clarity that reminds me of the HD800 - the detail monsters. The HE-560 has some of it traits. Details galore without being clinical.


 
 
Bass:

Don’t expect a boosted bass (in quantity) these are balanced headphones. Not bass-shy but also no emphasis on the bass. The bass is there, tight and perfectly layered. You won’t get the slightly emphasized bass of the LCD-2 but it’s very pleasant to listen to, even with EDM and modern pop/rock music. The bass reaches really low in best planar tradition. They are easier to drive than other Hifiman headphones but if you want them to sound their best, then use a proper powerful amp and a good DAC, these headphones deserve them. You get used to the signature of these headphones. I still would prefer the bass of the LCD-2 for pure enjoyment but could happily live with this headphone for…well forever? Just $899 hmmmm……. So it’s neutral but can reach very low, well textured and planar magnetic fast! 

Mid-range:

Compared to the LCD-2 you have a bit more mids, the exact right amount. Vocals sound lovely female or male. Instruments come out where and when you expect them to, brilliant. String instruments are full of power and energy - brass has timbre you haven't’ heard before.

Treble:

Details, details, details. Lots of detail in the treble, you hear everything but it’s not forcing it on you. It’s not a clinical headphone. It has all the detail but still giving you a musical experience that is not fatiguing. It has air around it and from wha tI can judge it’s very natural (for a lack of a better word).

Sound Stage and instruments separation:

 
Coming from the LCD-2 on a single ended cable I couldn’t help but saying a loud WOW. Music surrounds you. You are taking a bath in your music. While other headphones like the ATH-M50, HD-25 etc. are playing everything between your ears, this headphone just wraps around you, near and far and plays it all beautifully to give you goosebumps. The soundstage is not artificially large - it’s just right. Enough width and depth, you can pinpoint instruments in space.
 
 
Pros & Cons

Pros:

1. One of the lightest planar magnetic headphone i the world
2. extremely comfortable
3. replaceable cable and ear-pads
4. high quality cable (unlike some other Hifimans)
5. high build quality

Cons:

1. disappointing accessories (headphone with cable, box, that’s it)
2. with a tad more bass it would be the most amazing headphone ever

 
 Rating

1. Comfort                       9/10
2. Sound Quality             9/10
3. Design                        8/10
4. Durability                    8/10
5. Value for Money         10/10

 
Conclusion:
 
Is it silly to call a $899 headphone a bargain? Probably. I would still call it that. This headphone is really something you will enjoy for a very long time. Pair it with a good amp play some high-resolution content and just forget the world around you… It’s a worthy successor of the HE-500 and slots in nicely behind the HE-6. But it’s so much more accessible. While the flagship HE-6 needs an insanely powerful amplifier (and your own nuclear power plant to supply the power) to sound its best, this headphone is surprisingly easy to drive. My Gloveaudio A1 or Cayin C5 could drive it properly. Using a Violectric V200 or Gustard H10, Schiit Lyr or Asgard, Fiio E12 and you are set. Going balanced does get you a tad more soundstage but it’s not needed. I had a Plussoundaudio Dionysian Series Custom Balanced cable lying around from my HE-400 and while there is an improvement - it’s not as dramatic as with other headphones. The stock cable is very nice (and VERY well made). It has high quality connectors, the massive plug is from Neutric.
 
If you want to experience the pleasures of planar magnetic technology go and don’t settle for second place headphones. Go in all the way on this one. 
 
I am very sad that I have to return the review headphone to samma3a.com again but I am very thankful to have experienced this headphone.
 
I have not heard a better headphone in this price range (list price). 
 
You have been warned - don’t listen to this headphone - trust me, you WILL spend $899 after you do. 
 
EDIT: I ended up buying this headphone - it left such a great impression that I had to own it. Now a lot of other headphones have to go
 
 
 
 
 

REVIEW:
 
Equipment used:
Headphones: HD650, AH-D600, LCD2, T90, HA-FX850, UE900s, Momentum, ATH-M50x, Ostry KC06A, RE-400
Firmware: 1.0
 
Music used:
From Royskopp to Amber Rubarth, Diana Krall to Apoptygma Berzerk, Tom Jones to Sphongle, Yello to Camouflage, mostly FLACs 24/96 or 16/44.1 - some mp3 320kbps, some AAC 256kbps
Depending on headphone high or low gain - no EQ
 
Disclaimer: I received the Fiio X3II review unit from www.samma3a.com the local distributor of Fiio products. I have to return the unit, so there is no financial interest. I am not affiliated with Fiio or Samma3a.com Though I really highly appreciate what these guys are doing for the audiophiles in the region!! Thank you so much for letting me test and review this player. I had so much fun doing it!!
 
When I review DAPs I tend to use an input switcher and play the same song on both players, volume matched by ear and switch back and forth. Then I do some extensive listening with the unit and different headphones.

TL;DR

 
Buy it - you won’t get anything better for this price.
Now, the longer version:

Packaging & Accessories

In short it consists of USB charging/data cable, 3.5mm to RCA COAX digital out cable, one spare screen protector in the box, one already fitted on device, pattern stickers (??) in three different designs, warranty card and quick start guide. It also comes already packed into a silicon sleeve/case that is much better than the one from the X3 1st gen.
 
      
 
 
        
 

 
 

Technical Highlights

DAC Chip: CS4398, Amp: OPA1642+LMH6643
Ouput: 224mW into 16 Ohm, 200mW into 32 Ohm, 24mW into 300 Ohm
Output impedance: 0.2
Headphone out, Digital (COAX) out (switchable to line out), 2inch 320x240 pixel colour display, 1 mSD card slot for up to 128GB cards.
 

Size comparisons & Input switcher

      
 
       
 
AK100Mk2, X3II, Gloveaudio A1, X5 (with Cayin C5 and stacking kit HS6)
 

User Interface and Build Quality

As it has been mentioned before, I keep this part short as well. THe build quality is very good, solid, nothing squeeks, buttons and ports have no play and feel solid. The scroll wheel is much improved over the scroll wheel of the X5, it seems to have less feel and locks in you movements more reliably, however sometimes a “click” or turn is ignored.
 
The case really appeals to me and it’s a device that you will enjoy to hold and handle. It loses quite some appeal when put in the silicon protection case. It’s a shame that you wont’ see much of this nice device when using that case.
 
The User Interface is already known from the X5 and X1 and has slight variations to it. Overall it’s pretty straight forward and easy to master once you get the hang of it.
 
What I particularly like about Fiio players is that you have still dedicated buttons for many functions. You have volume buttons, play/pause/select and a FFWD, RWD (long press) buttons that skip forward and backward with a short press. Makes blind use at night or in the pocket easier.
 
I tested the device with Firmware 1.0 which will be the release Firmware - it was released on the 2nd day of my review and I didn’t revisit the sound tests I made with FW 0.22.
 
Overall the UI has only a few little quirks and is pretty well thought through.
 
The Deep Sleep mode is a very helpful feature and the battery seems to go on forever!
 

Sound Quality Comparisons

General

I was genuinely impressed how well the X3II drives my HD650, T90 high impedance headphones. Not bad at all for such a small DAP. NAtive DSD support in this price range is pretty crazy as well. For the comparisons below I used the Fiio HS2 Headphone Output switcher. I pitched the X3II against a single competitor every time.

Compared to X3 1st gen (from memory)

Since I sold the X3 a few month back this comparison is of course to be taken with a huge grain of salt.
 
Main differences:

1. larger soundstage
2. mids and highs crisper
3. more detailed across the frequency range

Compared to iBasso DX50

This was a difficult one. I have sold my X3 and kept the DX50 since for me the sound quality and usability was better with the DX50. Until now. Fiio has now reached and in some areas surpassed the DX50. There is a tad more bass impact with the X3II, in the mids and treble both are quite similar and the soundstage is now (FW 1.8 on DX50) pretty similar too.
 
Both players offer some great value for money, overall the X3II now feels like the more modern and advanced player - even though the DX50 has a touch screen.And it also sounds a tad better in everything compared to the DX50 to my ears, the same way the original X3 sounded a tad inferior in everything before...tables have turned.
 

 

Compared to AK100Mk2

The AK100Mk2 is my goto player when I don’t want any bulk. It runs Firmware 2.41 and is the blue special edition that was released exclusively in Japan December 2014. I love this little beauty. However, at a price around $420 depending on the exchange rate, it has only slight advantages in sound quality over the X3II - the X3II shows what’s possible for $199.
 
The AK100mk2 had the same amount of details but slammed the bass a bit harder and more precise, it also had a slight advantage in the soundstage.
 

 

Compared to AK100 & Gloveaudio A1

The Gloveaudio basically degrades the AK100 to a pure transport, it uses it’s own DAC and balanced amp. Unsurprisingly this combo is a level above the X3II - bass impact, layering and detail is way better, it’s more musical, has better grip on the headphones and controls them somewhat with ease, where the X3II was doing a good job but reaching it’s potential. Plus the background is dark dark dark, black hole dark. Lots of clean power. A brilliant device. CEntrance - this is amazing!!
 

 

Compared to Fiio X5

This was surprising. It seems that the design brief for the technical team was: Make the new X3II sound like the X5 for half the money. And they succeeded mostly.
 
I felt the X3II to have a slightly larger soundstage (!!) and shockingly similar in overall sound quality and signature. The X5 still has the upper hand in power handling and drives the headphones with ease where the X3II reaches its limits. So there is still a slight advantage for the X5 in regards to detail retrieval, clarity, musicality and fun.
 
Once I added the Cayin C5 amp to the X5, the soundstage opened up, more depth and width appeared and the music was more impactful. So in order to beat the X3II not only marginal but clearly, it needs help.
 

 

Line Out & Digital Out

For me this is an important function. I use the AUX line in in my car - and I use the digital out at home if I want to listen to music on my LCD2s via my DACMini CX or my Crack in the office. It’s also great if you want to try other gear with your own music without the hassle. Usually it’s easier for me to connect the Player to the DAC (Modi2Uber or DACMini) then use line out into the amps, so no unplugging of the whole setup, changing RCA to RCA - 3.5mm cable etc.
 
So, the digital out is “only” COAX but works extremely well. It’s digital, bits reach the DAC - nothing else to report….
 
Line out is important. I liked the DX50 for the ability to change the volume output on the line out as well. That helped match it better to some car stereos.
 

DAC use on a Computer

I didn’t try with a Windows machine as I currently prefer my Macs, especially when it comes to audio, the X3II is plug and play and I can just select bitperfect transport 24/192 in the menu - no driver to install, it just works out of the box. Like the X3 and X5 before the X3II - great job Fiio for making this so easy. Sound quality is as expected the same as if playing tracks from the memory card.

Conclusion

The X3II is amazing. It drove high impedance headphones like the T90 and HD650 well, has a very low noise floor with IEMs, sounds superb, works as a DAC/Amp on your PC/Mac, With the advancements in sound quality, I don’t see a competitor in its price range.
 
Everything has been improved from the X3 - and the performance is now VERY close to the X5. The only omission is that the player has no more internal memory.
 
For the recommended sales price, this device is a huge hit and I am sure Fiio will sell them by the boatload - hands down - a full recommendation from my side. 5 stars

 
THANKS to www.samma3a.com and @Mazen4samma3a for the review loaner!

Only short review from me.
 
Since the "The Wirecutter" claimed these would be the best IEMs under $100 I had to try them when I saw them for $49 on a very special sale.
 
They are fantastic allrounders, the bass is pronounced a tad bloated maybe, but pleasurable to listen to, clarity, pretty decent miss and good details in the highs make this headphone a steal for the money.
 
I didn't think that beyerdynamic made good in ears after a quite mediocre one I tried some time ago. However, with this one they have hit the sweet spot of sound quality for money. I tested them with an AK100 Mk2 and a Fiio X5 (also stacked with C5D).
 
For $100 I am not sure if it's the best deal you can get, for a substantial discount though you hardly find anything comparable with 2years warranty and service centers all around the world.

Just a quick review.
 
A local dealer closed his shop and sold off his Beyerdynamic stock for very attractive prices. I couldn't help and purchased a T50p and a DT 880 Premium from him.
 
I never owned a Beyerdynamic before, but Sennheiser, Ultrasone, Shure, Ultimate Ears, Koss etc. and finally wanted to find out if the "Beyer" sound is something for me. 
 
In short: yes it is and I can highly recommend these headphones to everyone who looks for a all in one headphone. It's engaging, fun, crisp and detailed and has a nice soundstage. And it has a very nice sounding bass. 
 
I am running them on various DACs and Amps but my preferred combination is a Griffin Powerwave as DAC (yeah it's old but I love it's sound) into a Schiit Valhalla.
 
For me, it's close to perfect actually.