Firstly I would like to thank Kinera for sending me this sample for review, these received over 50hrs of burn-in.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.



Gear Used:
HP Laptop > iFi Nano iDSD BL > Earbud
iBasso DX200 / Audio Opus #2 > Earbud

Build Quality and Accessories:
As these were a limited edition item, they did not come in any retail packaging. They came in their carry case only.

The earbuds are well built using strong plastics, and a colour changing, glittery finish. The jack is hand soldered, and has a high quality jack with my name engraved on it, the cable itself is a 4-core cable that is plain black but very soft and comfortable in use. There is a metal y-split but no chin slider.

They come with a carry case and some foam covers that make them more comfortable and also sound slightly better. There is a black pair of foams, a pair where one is blue and one is red, and another pair with an opening in the middle which again changes the sound slightly.



Comfort:
It has been a long time since I last used earbuds, and it is a bit odd wearing them again, but once in place they stay secure and are comfortable to listen to for long periods of time. They are perfect for using when you don’t want to be fully isolated from the outside world. This does mean they leak a fair amount if you listen at louder volumes.



Sound:
These little earbuds are not very sensitive, and due to this need a fair amount of power to sound their best. I found them to work very well out of the iFi Nano iDSD BL personally.
I also preferred the sound of the earbuds with the included foam covers attached, as they became a little thin sounding without them.

Lows: Now the bass doesn’t have bottomless extension and huge sub-bass, but it does have control and a certain amount of punch. What I have found with these is that they focus on an accurate bass representation. The bass is not lacking but it isn’t boosted like a few IEM’s I have used. The bass actually has excellent articulation and presentation, but outside noise will take this away quite quickly.

Mids: The midrange is slightly forward on these, and is not a warm lush presentation; instead it brings a clear and crisp tone. This is not to say the midrange is dry and devoid of body, it still has a slight smooth tone to it, but it does have good power and is well detailed. The layering in the midrange is superb; you can easily hear different vocal and guitar tracks in songs. The upper midrange to treble transition is smooth and without sibilance.

Highs: The highs on these are very well presented; they are not pushed back but have good directional cues and great imaging. The highs have good impact but it does roll off a little early in terms of extension, lacking in that final bit of air up top. The highs are not splashy or uncontrolled, they are smooth and accurate.

The soundstage from these earbuds is actually very impressive, with good width and ok height, there are out of head moments to be had for sure. Separation is a strong point of these, easily picking apart complex mixes.



Conclusion: These unfortunately were a limited run of earbuds from Kinera, and are not available for purchase. It is a shame, as they sound very good; the sound is on the balanced to mid forward side with excellent clarity and detail retrieval. They need a fair amount of power to reach their full potential but when powered properly they offer a spacious and well separated sound. Some may find them lacking in a little bit of body, but once you get used to the sound, they offer an engaging and smooth sound.

Sound Perfection Rating: 8/10 (A great earbud with excellent clarity, but lacking a tiny bit of body)

Firstly I would like to thank Paul at iBasso for sending me this sample to review; this has had well over 200hrs of burn-in before reviewing.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used: DX200 > Symphones V8 build / Custom Art FIBAE3 / Cleartune VS-2 / 64 Audio U6 and more.



Tech Specs:
http://ibasso.com/cp_xq_dy.php?id=4898

Main Features
- Dual SABRE ES9028PRO DAC Chips.
- Bit for Bit Playback Support up to 32bit/384 kHz.
- Support of Native DSD up to 512x.
- XMOS USB Receiver with Thesycon USB Audio Driver, Easy to use USB DAC.
- Dual Accusilicon Ultra Low Phase Noise Femtosecond Oscillators.
- 4.2" IPS Screen (768*1280) with Capacitive Touch Panel, Bonded by OCA.
- Mini Optical Output and Mini Coaxial Output. - 8-core CPU. - 2GB LPDDR3. - 64G of Internal Memory. - 5G WiFi and Bluetooth4.0.
- Patented User Exchangeable AMP Card.
- Three Physical Buttons (Previous, Play/Pauses, Next)
- 150-Steps Digital Volume Control.
- Audio Formats Supported: APE, FLAC,WAV, WMA, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, OGG, MP3, DFF, DSF, DXD.
- Support for M3U Playlist
- 4400mAh 3.8V Li-Polymer battery (Play time varies depends on volume, music type, and AMP card)

Specifications
2.5mm Balanced Output:
Output voltage 6Vrms Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz -0.16dB Signal to Noise Ratio:125dB Crosstalk: -122dB THD+N: < 0.0002%, -114dB (64O@3Vrms)
3.5mm HP Output:
Output voltage 3Vrms Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz -0.16dB Signal to Noise Ratio:122dB Crosstalk: -118dB THD+N: < 0.00032%,-110dB (32O@1.8Vrms)
Lineout:
Output voltage 3Vrms Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz -0.16dB Signal to Noise Ratio:122dB THD+N: < 0.00025%,-112dB Screen Size: 4.2inch 768*1280 Battery Capacity: 4400mAh
Case Dimension: 5.1L x 2.7W x 0.77H (inch) 128.5L x 69W x 19.5H (mm)
Weight: 240g or 8.5oz



Packaging, Build quality and Accessories:
The iBasso DX200 comes in a fairly big, 3 piece card box. Once you remove the outer sleeve that only has the model number printed on it, you will find an inner black box that slides apart. One this inner box there is a picture of the DAP on the front, along with the model number but still no specs anywhere on the box. You will find the player neatly placed in an inner foam tray, lift this tray up and you will find the accessories. The box is very well built and feels solid, and fitting of the price of the DX200.

The DX200 is superbly built, one of the best I have come across, the casing is all metal and the front houses the touch screen. On the top you have the power button and USB-C socket for charging and file transfer, much better than normal Micro-USB. You also have an optical/coax output on the top so you can use it as a transport with an external DAC. On the right you have playback controls and the volume knob which is protected via a small metal cover. The volume control has defined steps and is tight with no play; the playback buttons also feel very good. On the left you have the MicroSD slot for your memory card and on the bottom (AMP1) you have a 3.5mm line out, a 3.5mm headphone out and a 2.5mm balanced out.

The DX200 comes with the AMP1 module as stock; a big selling point are the interchangeable amp modules so you will see there are 2 small screws on either side of the device to remove the amp section. The screen is big and bright, it comes with a screen protector already installed. This player does not have a user replaceable battery, but apart from that, it is very well built. The sockets on the amp module are tight and everything feels very well put together.



Accessory wise you get a lovely brown leather case that fits perfectly, apart from a slight overhang that makes the volume knob slightly harder to reach (not a huge issue as it’s still easy to operate). You also get a quick start guide, a fabric coated and well built USB cable, a burn-in cable that plugs into the 2.5mm balanced socket. This means you can leave the player burning-in for the recommended 200hrs without headphones attached, you also get a 3.5mm to coax cable so you can use the DX200 with an external DAC. Overall a very good amount of accessories, the case is especially nice. All you need is a MicroSD with your music on it, a pair of headphones and you are good to go.

Features and UI:
The DX200 has interchangeable amp modules; different modules have different outputs as well as slight differences in sound signature. It uses dual DAC’s and the signal is fully balanced within, using ESS9028PRO chips. It has an XMOS USB receiver and can be used as an external DAC with a PC/MAC, it also has changeable digital filters. The DX200 fully supports gapless playback, along with being able to make playlists. There is a high and low gain option, WiFi, Bluetooth, EQ and channel balance settings. To be honest the difference between DAC filters is so subtle I’m not sure I can hear a huge difference between them. However it is always good to see things like this available to fine tune the sound.

The DX200 runs on Android, there are 2 running modes, regular Android or Mango player mode.
In Mango mode, it is a stripped down music player based interface with the basic folders and categories (Artist, Track, Album etc...). The main screen is the playback screen offering the track name, artist, album artwork and bit rate. Swipe to the left and you will find the settings, swipe to the right and you will find the categories for finding your music. Mango mode works really well if you just want to use the DX200 as a player for locally stored music, this is the mode I use it in the most. Unfortunately you cannot use Bluetooth when used in Mango mode; this is one thing I would like to change.



In regular Android mode you have all the standard Android settings, a home screen and you can install APK files once you have loaded them onto the player. This means you can choose to use the stock Mango player app, or install your preferred Android music player app (Neutron, Hiby etc...). The DX200 supports streaming services as it has WiFi and these work very well (tested with Spotify and Qobuz). In Android mode you might not have the play services but it is a snappy device and handles most apps with ease. This is the mode to use if you want to use streaming services, Bluetooth or just want to use a different music player app. I find the Mango app to be very easy to find your way around and use.

Whichever way you use this player, it is intuitive and snappy, battery life is stated at 8-10 hours and with my usage this has been quite accurate. Unfortunately the player does not automatically go into a deep sleep mode, so setting the auto-off is a good idea to save battery.



Sound:
My main reference point is my Audio Opus #2 player, which I am very familiar with and enjoy a lot.

The DX200 stock is a true reference player in many ways, the Amp1 module really tries to be neutral and flat without colouration. To be honest it can come across as a little cold sometimes, and portrays everything in a very crisp and detailed manner. To my ears there is not a lack of warmth, but there is no added body to the sound. Transient response is superb, it is one of the quicker sounding players out there, and I also find the DX200 does not accentuate the soundstage.
The Opus #2 sounds ever so slightly fuller than the DX200, with a wider soundstage and a more refined portrayal of micro details.

The DX200 works well with all IEM’s and also easy to drive headphones, it has power to spare most of the time, and even does a respectable job at driving the HiFiMan HE-500. There is nothing missing from the DX200 sound, the bass extends with ease but remains tight and controlled at all times, the midrange is open and crystal clear, the highs are not masked or recessed. The DX200 comes across as an analytical and detailed player that is a bit more intimate and up-front sounding than the more laid back Opus #2.

Micro details are easily heard, and the DX200 easily separates more complex mixes, the output impedance is low which means it works wonderfully with low impedance multi BA IEM’s. The wonderful thing about the DX200 is you have a real reference sounding player with the Amp1 module, but if you want to tailor the sound a little you can swap out the amp module to a different one that suits your needs better.



Conclusion: The DX200 is in all accounts a high end DAP, full of functionality and plenty of audio based tweaks in the firmware. The sound does not disappoint in its stock form if you want a more analytical and reference sound. With the interchangeable amp modules there are multiple output connectors and also sound signatures. Overall the DX200 delivers a lot for the money, and is a very good buy if you are in the market for a sub £1000 DAP. The interface offers either a pure DAP, or a full Android mode, perfect for those that want to either focus on locally stored music vs those who want to be able to stream and use other apps.

Sound Perfection Rating: 9/10 (reference sounding, modular DAP that is a pleasure to use)

Firstly I would like to thank Accutone for sending me this sample to review; these have had well over 100hrs of burn-in before reviewing.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used: Audio Opus #2 / iBasso DX200 > S2 (Comply tips)
HP Laptop > JDS Labs OL DAC > O2 Amp > S2



Tech Specs:
1 x 10mm dynamic driver + 1 x Knowles balanced armature driver
MMCX cable
https://www.audio.accutone.com/studio-s2
MSRP: $339.00

Packaging, Build quality and Accessories:
The S2 comes in a nice little card box that has a plastic outer sleeve that has a picture of the monitors on it. Once you remove this sleeve you can fold open a magnetic flap and see the IEM’s through a plastic window, with the accessories below. The box is sleek and small, and looks very good, and if more than fitting for the price. The IEM’s are held in a foam insert, with the cable held in a compartment underneath this. Overall neat and professional looking packaging from Accutone.

The build quality is very good, the housings are a 2-piece plastic design screwed together, and they feel lightweight but also durable. The plastics feel good, on the end of the nozzle there is a lip to keep the tips on tight. The one thing that worries me is the paper wax filter; this comes off easily and could do with having some better glue hold it in place. The MMCX connectors are tight and providing you don’t change cables all the time they should last. The cable itself is soft and rubbery, with good relief on all ends, and they have a short section of mouldable memory wire, one thing missing from the cable is a cinch.

Accessory wise you get a fairly standard semi-hard clamshell case, a soft velvet pouch, a set of M size comply T-200 tips and S, M and L single flange silicone tips. This isn’t a huge amount of accessories, but they include the essentials.



Comfort, Isolation and Driver flex:
With comply tips these fit nice and tight, and also fairly deep but they still stick out of my ears at a funny angle, this is due to the angle of the nozzle. Once inserted they are comfortable to wear, and the cable is ergonomic. If it weren’t for the odd angle of the nozzle these would look a lot sleeker in use.

With Comply tips they isolate fairly well, they are vented so there is a certain amount of outside noise that leaks in and they do not isolate anywhere near as well as a fully sealed unit, but they are fine for most general usage.

Driver flex for me was only an issue when using silicone tips, and it was fairly bad, so I recommend sticking with Comply foam tips.



Sound:
Split into the usual categories with a conclusion at the end. The below is written using Comply tips which I found tames the slightly exuberant treble, but also makes the lows a bit fuller.

Lows: With the dynamic driver taking care of the lows these are very dynamic and have a v-shaped sound signature with boosted bass and treble. The lows extend deep with ease, and are also very full and punchy. They do dominate the sound a little and slightly overshadow the lower mids. Saying that, the lows are fairly well controlled and can keep up with most genres, their ability to articulate bass guitars is very impressive. If you enjoy EDM these also work well really bringing out the impact and fun bass in tracks.

Mids: The mids are pushed back a little in the mix lacking in bite and aggression, they fall short a little if you want a more neutral midrange. There is still a good amount of detail in the midrange, and separation and air are very good. Female vocals sound a little better due to a bit more clarity in the upper midrange, and they are not as recessed as male vocals. If the bass was toned down a little it would let the midrange shine through a little better, as the detail and tonality is there. EQ can really help these.

Highs: The highs are nice and sparkly, and with Comply tips never too harsh or bright. They have the right amount of presence, cymbals crash with power and the highs extend with ease without becoming splashy. The highs are well defined and I wouldn’t really change anything here, but some may find the highs borderline bright. The thing about the highs is that they sound real, like when you go to see live music they are right there and audible but well separated from the rest of the sound.

Soundstage is wider than average with excellent layering, but the bass does make the overall sound full rather than airy. Instrument separation is good overall, but again the fullness down low does make the sound quite thick overall.



EQ really goes miles on these, due to not really needing to boost signals you don’t run into issues of distortion. I found around a -8dB cut at 32Hz, -6 at 63Hz, -4 at 125Hz and -2 at 250Hz brings the bass under control and allows vocal to shine through.
Once EQ’d you get superb detail retrieval in the midrange. This also means that for most tastes you can tune how much bass you want without ever having to boost it, as it is there in stock form.

Cables:
iBasso CB13: The CB13 is a very soft and ergonomic cable, that fits the S2 very well and also compliments the sound in my opinion. Without EQ the lows are still full but they are much tighter suffering from slightly less bloat; however they are still a little overwhelming. The midrange is not quite as full, and it is still recessed, but there is a little extra air and detail. The highs are surprisingly not piercing and are actually toned down a little. This cable tightens up the sound a little, and widens the soundstage without making them sound thin or piercing.



Comparison:
Vs Clear Tune VS2:
These 2 monitors are tuned very differently, with the VS2 having a more neutral and slightly mid forward sound that focuses on air and detail. The VS2 does not extend as low, or as high, but does have a much better balance across the spectrum. The Accutone S2 is all about fun, with its bouncy V shaped sound signature that lacks presence in the midrange.

Conclusion: The Accutone S2 is not a reference monitor, it is a fun and engaging IEM that sounds best when used with comply tips to tone down the slightly over the top treble. The build quality is good, the fit is comfortable but they look a little odd in my small ears. The S2 are undeniably fun, and those who enjoy a V shaped sound signature will really enjoy these, they lack a little control and refinement but do have very good detail retrieval.

Sound Perfection Rating: 7/10 (full and fun but a little uncontrolled at times)

Firstly I would like to thank Mark from Electromod for lending me these for review. They are a demo unit and have been well used.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided on loan for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used:
HP Laptop > Curious USB > Keces S3 > Balanced cable to Ether Flow



https://www.electromod.co.uk/mrspeakers/headphones/ether-flow/

Build Quality and Accessories:
These didn’t come in their retail box as they are on loan, so I will start with the build quality. The build is excellent; the headband is made from NiTinol memory metal and is extremely light but strong. The headband strap is leather, the cups are aluminium and the whole build is metal/leather and extremely well put together. These headphones are built to last, even the cable is much better than most standard cables, along with being shorter and more manageable.

The Ether Flow come with a leather carry case and a cable, that is it. But then again, what else do you really need?

Comfort and Isolation:
The Ether Flow have very thick and plush angled leather ear pads that feel great on your head, the leather headband strap also distributes the weight evenly and they end up being a comfortable headphones for extended periods of time. Ok they do have some weight to them, so after a while you will notice them, but the way the weight is distributed is excellent.

The Ether Flow are an open headphone, but they do have layers of felt that mean they don’t leak quite as much as a fully open driver, and it also means they block out very quiet outside noises.



Sound:
Split into the usual categories, with a conclusion at the end.

Lows: The lows on the Ether flow are fairly full but never becoming overbearing, they stay well controlled and also extended with excellent sub-bass rumble when needed. They have excellent punch when it comes to dynamics, and can really hit hard with great impact when needed. Due to being planars they also carry great speed, and adapt well to different genres. During faster metal tracks they keep up with ease, yet can flesh out the sound during slower acoustic tracks. With faster tracks the bass does an excellent job of layering and not becoming congested, bass guitars are well defined and articulate whilst being separate from the impact of kick drums. Overall the bass is slightly on the fuller side, but is very well behaved.

Mids: There is a slight lower midrange rise which brings out male vocals nicely, but female vocals don’t quite have as intimate a presentation. Imaging is strong in the midrange, having nicely centred vocals and well separated guitar lines. Male vocals are up front, nuanced and have good bite, but female vocals sit a little farther back in the mix. This is not to say they are lacking, just not quite as forward. The midrange has good tonal balance, leaning slightly towards a more euphoric sound but without sacrificing detail. The upper midrange is rather conservative, and this means there is no hint of sibilance.

Highs: The highs are excellent on the Ether Flow, true treble heads will crave a tiny bit more presence but the quality here is outstanding. They are always present in the mix, and the spatial accuracy of the highs is very good. You can pinpoint where instruments are in the mix very easily, what I enjoy is the natural tone of the highs. They are not artificially boosted and are far from metallic sounding, coming across with a very natural tone. The thing about the Ether Flow is they are not the most open sounding headphones but there is excellent imaging and coherency. The highs might not have extreme energy or sparkle, but they do extend well and the Ether Flow is far from a dark sounding headphone.

The soundstage is not huge, in some ways they are like the Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation, having more focus on accurate imaging over a boosted soundstage. There is still plenty of air around instruments, and everything is very well layered and separated.



Conclusion: I really enjoy the Ether Flow with a lot of the rock music I listen to; they have great but controlled impact, a detailed midrange and well extended highs. They are well balanced with a little added impact, the sound is dynamic and fun and they are a great all rounder if you have the money.

Sound Perfection Rating: 9/10 (expensive but very fun to listen to)

Plussound Exo Copper
Type 6 Litz UPOCC Copper
http://www.plussoundaudio.com/customcables/inearmonitor.html

Used with my Audio Opus #2 / iBasso DX200 DAP's / Objective2 amp and my Inearz P350 custom monitors / 64 Audio U6 / Noble Sage / Clear Tune VS-2



Packaging, Build quality and Ergonomics:
The Exo comes in a nice black Plussound box with the company logo on the front, open this up and the cable is sealed in a plastic bag along with a business card and a couple of rubber amp straps. The packaging is more than just a standard bag with a cable in, and feels quite premium for the price. Well presented and very professional, great packaging here.

The Exo cable is superbly built with a very even braid, solid metal connectors and y-split with excellent strain relief on all parts. It feels like a very well built cable that will last a long time but also looks superb. There are no flaws whatsoever in the build.

This cable has no memory wire which to me is a plus, the heat shrink is angled so you know which way they go though. The cable is supple and very comfortable in use; the y-split is fairly big but lightweight. One thing that could be improved is the chin slider; it is not very tight and tends to slide down on its own. But overall the cable is the perfect balanced between cable thickness and ergonomics, being a little stiffer than the Effect Audio offerings. No cable noise was detected when using this cable.





Sound:
The Exo Copper is one of Plussounds more affordable models, but don’t let this fool you. The cable uses litz copper and is one of the cleaner sounding copper cables out there. Firstly the soundstage is improved being wider and having more air between instruments, this also improves instrument separation and everything is a little more defined within the soundstage.

Bass tones are slightly fuller than most stock cables, digging deeper with better definition, one thing that stands out is kick drums are backed up with better body but there is no hint of bloat anywhere. The midrange gets an extra bit of air around instruments, increasing separation and everything sounds a little crisper. The highs are not boosted, instead just like the midrange they gain a bit of extra definition and air, extending with ease. This cable is slightly full bodied but with extra air and definition bringing out extra detail in your IEM’s.

So the Plussound Exo Copper is a slightly full sounding, but very detailed and open copper cable. It is not a full as the Atlas Zeno IEM, but provides better air and separation and it is not bright which means it pairs well with most IEM’s. I have been enjoying the Exo a lot with the Clear Tune VS-2 monitors.

Firstly I would like to thank Simgot for sending me this sample to review, they received over 100hrs of burn-in before reviewing.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.



Tech Specs:

• Sensitivity: 101dB / mW
• Impedance: 16Ω
• Frequency response range: 15-40000Hz
• Wearing: In-ear
• Headset Type: Wired
• Microphone: No
• Plug diameter: 3.5mm
• Headphone Plug Type: Straight Type
• Cable length: 1.35m
• MSRP: $149

Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The EN700 Pro comes in similar packaging as the EN700 Bass, a very nice black box with an outer sleeve that has info and specs. Slide this off and you have a 2 part box that is made of thick card and feels quite premium for the price. Lift off the lid and you are presented with the IEM’s held in a foam inlay, with the case below which holds the accessories. The cable is below the top section of hard foam, all in all excellent packaging and one that feels more premium than the price would suggest.

Build quality is superb, the housings are metal and smooth with no sharp edges, the 2-pin connectors are tight and the cable is one of the nicest stock cables I have used. There is excellent strain relief on all parts and a cable cinch, overall the build quality is superb and they are definitely built to last.



Accessory wise you get a nice little hard carry case which is perfect for storing the IEM’s in, along with 2 sets of single flange tips. The core on the tips is different with one adding a little extra bass, and one favouring detail and neutrality. This is a nice little way of tuning the sound, along with the replaceable cable of course. Also included is a small cleaning tool and a Velcro cable wrap. Overall a full set of accessories and I found the stock tips to be fine for getting a good seal and fit.



Comfort, Isolation, Driver flex and Cable noise:
The EN700 Pro is super ergonomic, with a relatively shallow insertion depth and curved housing; it is easy to get a secure fit that stays put. The included tips work very well, however you can also experiment with other tips should you wish. The cable is soft and flexible not pulling them out of place, if I had one complaint; the rubber moulds of the ear guides are a little too long.

Isolation is not this IEM’s strong point, they isolate enough for general out and about use, but would not be the best for noisy commutes. They are vented and let in a moderate amount of outside noise.

Driver flex has never been an issue with these, neither has cable noise.



Sound:
Split into the usual categories, for this review I used the neutral tips, the bass tips add a couple of extra dB’s of bass that some will like.

Lows: The lows on the EN700 Pro are of superb quality at this price, they have excellent energy and extension without any added bloat. The lows have a softer more delicate approach rather than going all out with the dynamic punch, however there is still enough punch to make them engaging. The kick has excellent body to it, and they never sound flat or boring. What I really like is the way the lows add the right amount of body to the sound without taking away detail or masking the midrange. The lows are very articulate and dynamic, and very well balanced in quantity.

Mids: The midrange is largely clean and clear, there is a slight emphasis towards the upper mids but male vocals still sound excellent on these. Female vocals have a sharper edge to them over male vocals, and sound a little leaner with better detail retrieval. The transition from lows to mids is soft and has a smoother quality to it, making them very coherent and far from analytical. The softer transition means they have an effortlessly smooth sound, but one that is still very tonally correct. Layering and separation in the midrange is excellent, with plenty of air between instruments but never sounding detached.

Highs: The highs are well presented but not in your face or fatiguing, they have very good air and spatial cues are easy to pick out up top. The highs are never dominating however they are well balanced with the rest of the sound. They are well balanced and offer up a good level of detail, as well as extending well. Here again the tonality comes into play and cymbals never sound splashy or metallic, they sound quite natural.

The soundstage is open and spacious with good width; instrument separation is also excellent with air between instruments.



Vs EN700 Bass:

The EN700 Bass has an even smoother sound, with a little more warmth down low, the EN700 Pro just sound crisper and more detailed throughout with a very similar sound that focuses on correct tonality and timbre.
Overall the EN700 Pro is a more refined and better balanced sounding IEM over the EN700 Bass, but the EN700 Bass is still an excellent IEM.

Conclusion: The EN700 Pro really shows what Simgot are capable of, a coherent, smooth yet balanced IEM for $150. It’s a tonally correct IEM with no glaring flaws, it may not have the last word in micro detail retrieval, but there is nothing that stops it being an excellent IEM for the price. I am a huge fan of the Simgot sound, and the EN700 Pro is such an easy recommendation. If you want bright sparkly treble, you might want to look elsewhere, the same if you want big boosted bass. But if you want a well balanced, natural and effortless sounding IEM, you won't find better at this price point.

Sound Perfection Rating: 9.5/10 (Such an easy to listen to, detailed and natural sounding IEM for $150)

Firstly I would like to thank Clear Tune for sending me this sample, these received well over 50hrs of burn-in and no differences were noted.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used:
iBasso DX200 Amp1 > VS-2
Audio Opus #2 > VS-2



Tech Specs:
Input Sensitivity: 110dB-SPL @ 1mw
Freq Response: 20 Hz to 15.5 kHz
Speaker: Dual Balanced Armature
Impedance : 20 ohm @ 1 kHz
Noise Isolation: -26dB
Input Connector: 1/8 (3.5mm)
MSRP: $399.99
https://cleartunemonitors.com/VintageSeries/VS-2.php

Packaging, Build quality and Accessories:
The VS-2 come in a nice little box that looks like a vintage guitar amp, there is a plastic window on the front allowing you to see the IEM’s and some on the sides to show you the tip selection. Also on the sides is info about the IEM’s. I really like the box, it looks great and everything is held tightly in place inside by a foam insert.



The IEM’s are very well built, the main housing is tough plastic and the faceplate uses real metal chrome. The cable uses the standard 2-pin connector, which personally I find to be far superior to MMCX connectors. The IEM’s are very well finished with no faults or blemishes, the cable included is fairly standard but does not use mouldable memory wire, it has the increasingly more common pre-moulded soft rubber which again personally I prefer over regular memory wire. The y-split is metal and the jack has excellent strain relief, and it is a 4-core cable instead of the more common 3-core. Overall they are very well built and I can see them lasting a long time with some care.

Accessory wise you get quite a few bits, first off pre-attached are some bi-flange tips, but also included are S, M and L tips in regular silicone and foam. You also get a slightly larger than usual carry case, with foam that has cut-outs for both monitors, cable and wax cleaning tool/jack adaptor. As you may have guessed, you do get the jack adaptor and cleaning tool too, so all in all everything you need is included.



Comfort and Isolation:
The VS-2 are very light, and very ergonomic which means that they are extremely comfortable once you have found the right tips. The included foam tips are a little denser than Comply, which in turn does not affect the sound as much as Comply tips do. I found myself using foam tips for a secure fit and also better sound from the VS-2. Once in I could wear them for hours with no issues.

Isolation is excellent due to the fully sealed housing and good insertion depth, I had no issues using them for regular day to day use, and they would be excellent for commuting.



Sound:
The VS-2 sound a little too bright for my tastes with the silicone tips, so this review is based on using the included foam tips. Split into the usual categories with a conclusion at the end:

Lows: The VS-2 has a more reserved approach to bass response, favouring accuracy over quantity. The lows have good presence and punch, but are not the most prominent part of the sound, taking a bit of a backseat. The lows do roll-off a little early, lacking that final bit of sub-bass, but then again these are not aimed at those looking for heavy bass. They still handle EDM well but the speed and control are highlights here. There is lots of detail to be retrieved from the lows however, and they never even touch the midrange.

Mids: The mids are the highlight of these IEM's, offering up a heavily detailed and clean reproduction of the midrange. Vocals are free from any added warmth from the bass, and have plenty of air around them. Both male and female vocals sound equally good, guitars are well separated and everything just cuts through with incredible accuracy. The midrange is intimate offering a real insight into the emotion of the music you are listening to, and I am really impressed with the amount of detail being delivered through these. These are very resolving.

Highs: The treble certainly doesn't take a back seat, offering up excellent presence without fatigue though. The spatial cues from the treble are very accurate; the whole soundstage is very accurate, allowing you to pinpoint the cymbals and other instruments. The highs extend well, only rolling off at the very extreme like the lows. Again like the midrange, the highs are very well separated and airy, and also resolving, allowing plenty of detail to shine through. There is no splashiness or metallic tinge to the highs, they are just very accurate and not peaky or annoying.

Instrument separation is excellent; it is so easy to pick out separate instruments in the mix. The soundstage is wider and deeper than most IEM's, but the midrange always stays up front. I really like their presentation with intimate mids and everything coming in from a nice black background.



Comparison:
Vs Noble Sage:
Now this is the main 2 driver BA IEM I have to compare these to, and they are placed at quite different prices. The Noble has bigger bass but it is still well controlled, the VS-2 is leaner but more accurate. The Sage extends lower and higher on each end, and the overall sound is a bit fuller and more fun yet still very detailed. Both have sparkly highs, I find the Sage to be a bit more resolving and separated though. The VS-2 is more comfortable and can still bring out plenty of detail, but the soundstage is smaller and the extension is a bit more limited.
To be honest, whilst the Sage are a step up in sound, I find myself reaching for the VS-2 more often due to the better fit and ease of use.



Vs Accutone S2:
This is a hybrid model price at $305 currently, and has quite a different approach to the sound. The S2 has very full and punchy lows, that come from the dynamic driver, so yes they sound more dynamic but also a little too full at times. The VS-2 is more accurate, the S2 is more fun and v-shaped overall. The S2 has a slightly muffled and recessed midrange, whereas the VS-2 is slightly mid centric with a focus on detail retrieval. The highs on both are well extended but the VS-2 has better control and tone, and ultimately is the better balanced IEM overall. However the S2 will appeal to those wanting a more fun, v-shaped signature IEM.

Conclusion: The more I listened to these, the more they grew on me. They don't have overblown bass, but have speed and accuracy on their side. They are not a smooth and laid back sounding IEM, they offer up an exceptionally detailed and complete sound for the price and amount of drivers. I really like this tuning, and believe Clear Tune have done a superb job getting a lot out of these 2 drivers. If you like a slightly mid forward, highly detailed and accurate sound, these should be high on your list.

Sound Perfection Rating: 8.5/10 (a little pricey, but the sound is very detailed for the price)

Firstly I would like to thank Keces and Arthur from their USA distributor for arranging this sample for me to review.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

** My camera is being repaired, so excuse the phone photos. These will be updated once my DSLR is back.

Gear Used: HP Laptop > Curious USB Cable > Keces S3 > German Maestro GMP400 / Ether Flow / Symphones V8 build

HP Laptop > JDS Labs OL DAC > S3 > German Maestro GMP400 / Ether Flow / Symphones V8 build



Tech Specs:
http://keces-audio-usa.com/products/S-3
1. High Quality Toroidal Power Transformer.
2. High-performance DAC-ESS ES9026PRO.
3. USB DAC: PCM 32 bit/384kHz and DSD DSD64(DoP)/DSD128 (DoP) DSD64/DSD128/DSD256 (ASIO Native).
4. COAXIAL/OPTICAL DAC: PCM 24 bit/192kHz and DSD DSD64(DoP).
5. Placed Balanced/Unbalanced Headphone output: Max Output Power 2000mW + 2000mW@32ohms.
6. Placed RCA/XLR Input/Output interface: Could be a Preamplifier.
7. Volume Control System: 128 step attenuator. Accurate control volume to achieve left/right channel balanced.
8. Isolation circuit: Completely separates the grounding of the digital and analog sections.
9. Volume/Source/Sampling display using OLED has excellent visibility.
10. The 4mm thickness of the aluminum chassis to effective to blocks EMI/RFI interference.
11. The full-metal body realizes both vibration control and elegant style in an A4-size body that enables placement on a desktop to be a PC HIFI system or to be a small stereo system.

Headphone Output:
- XLR_4PIN: SNR: >-120db 20Hz-20kHz A-Weighting.
- THD+N: <0.00115% at 1kHz A-Weighting at 300ohms 100mW.
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz (+0dB/-0.09dB).
- Output Impedance: 0.6ohms.
- 2000mW at 32ohms at THD+N=0.1%.
- 1200mW at 300ohms at THD+N=0.1%.
- 650mW at 600ohms at THD+N=0.1%.
- 6.35mm: SNR: >-108db 20Hz-20kHz A-Weighting.
- THD+N: <0.0015% at 1kHz A-Weighting at 300ohms 100mW.
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz (+0dB/-0.09dB).
- Output Impedance: 0.6ohms.
- 1200mW at 32ohms at THD+N=0.1%.
- 350mW at 300ohms at THD+N=0.1%.
- 175mW at 600ohms at THD+N=0.1%.

MSRP: $1299.95

Packaging, Build quality and Accessories:
The S3 came in a large brown box, with Keces embossed in gold on the outside; this was the shipping and main box. Once you open the box you will find the S3 held tightly in carboard inserts also wrapped in foam to keep it safe. In a separate small box you will find the power cable and remote. The box is nothing fancy, but it is sturdy and protects the unit perfectly during shipping.

Accessory wise all you get is the power cable, USB cable and a remote; to be honest nothing else is really needed for this device.

Build quality is superb, the full aluminium chassis is thick and hefty keeping the unit cool in use too, the inputs and outputs all use high quality sockets. The volume control feels very nice and the switches on the front are all very secure. The remote is also aluminium and feels very well made. No issues with the build quality, it feels like a premium product.



Features:
Firstly you have a 128 stepped volume control, you can hear the click of the relays inside on every step, and it is easy to fine tune the volume. I really like the stepped volume control, a feature of a lot of high end products.

This amp is designed for full-size headphones, and is not a good match for IEM’s, this does not bother me as most IEM’s do not require this kind of amplification.

The S3 can be used as a pre-amp for power amplifiers (like the Keces S125), or as a pure DAC if you set the volume to max when in pre-amp mode. There are balanced and single ended analogue outputs and inputs, along with USB, Optical and Coaxial digital inputs. This makes the S3 a very versatile device that will fit into any system.

The front screen shows you the input, sample rate, volume and gain setting, a quick press on the volume knob changes input and there are two switches on the front. One for high/low gain and another for headphone/pre-amp mode.



Sound:
I have been using the S3 as my main DAC/Amp for a couple of weeks now and will try and sum it up as best I can. First off the DAC is an ESS Sabre DAC, which some people associate with slightly harsh highs; I can assure you this is a well implemented ESS DAC Chip though. There is no Sabre glare with the S3, but it is not lacking in extension or presence in any part of the frequency range.

I have been using my German Maestro GMP400 out of the single ended output, and the Ether Flow out of the balanced output. The GMP400 really scale up with good amplification, the S3 brings out so much detail in recordings but also the GMP400 likes the power and never sound thin or overly bright with the S3 (which they can with lower powered amps). With both headphones I never needed high gain, on the GMP400 I was at about 50-60 volume, and with the Ether Flow around 10-20. The balanced output is quite powerful and won’t have issues driving 99% of headphones out there.

The S3 has an effortless sound to it, never sounding strained or lacking in dynamics, it can deliver thunderous bass with ease and without sounding muddy. Transient response is excellent (headphone dependent too). It has no issues driving the Ether Flow to ear damaging levels, and never falters with them. The S3 delivers a full bodied and tonally balanced sound, that is easy to listen to but at the same time there is so much detail. Micro detail is all there, soundstage is not artificially boosted however it is very well layered and separated.



Even when driving low impedance loads like my Symphones V8 build, there is a sense of ease to the sound, it flows without restraint or added flavour. The sound is very linear but not boring and dry, never lacking in impact. This is where my Objective 2 amp falls behind. It sounds a bit too dry sometimes, lacking in dynamics that only higher end amps provide.

Using the S3 as a DAC only, you get a very detailed and linear sound that has excellent resolution, micro detail and layering. The quality of the DAC output really is impressive, very open and airy but again without harshness.

Using the S3 as an amp only again reveals what the amp section can do on its own, feed it a good signal and it sings with its effortless sound. I was worried the sound would be a little enthusiastic up top due to the LM49720 op-amps I saw in the picture, but this amp shows that implementation really is key to any component. There is no harshness but there is excellent clarity and layering. Notes have a very natural tone to them with excellent decay that just trails off into a black background.



Conclusion: The S3 is a do it all device like the Oppo HA-1, but without Bluetooth and a fancy screen. The sound really is quite astonishing when coming from something that is lower end or more coloured. It has the capability to be neutral but not boring. In my personal opinion I find the Questyle CMA400i to be more reference sounding than the S3, but then on the other hand the S3 isn’t as smooth as the Sennheiser HDV820 which is a little too laid back.

The S3 is engaging, effortless, dynamic and powerful. Yes there are amps that can output more pure wattage at this price, but few offer the flexibility of the S3, let alone have as good a DAC section.

The S3 is an easy recommendation if you are looking for an all in one desktop solution. It really does nothing wrong, it sounds superb whatever you use it for. The Keces S3 keeps me wanting to listen to more music, and at the end of the day that’s what it is all about.

Sound Perfection Rating: 9.5/10 (I really struggle to find any faults with this unit, I’ll take 0.5 away for not being suitable for IEM’s)

Firstly I would like to thank Ultrasone for loaning me this sample for review, these have had over 50hrs of burn-in before reviewing.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided on loan for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used:
Opus #2 > Edition 8 EX
HP Laptop > Curious USB Cable > JDS Labs OL DAC > Desktop Objective 2 > Edition 8 EX



Tech Specs:

• Impedance: 30 Ohm
• Driver/Driver size: Mylar/Titan, 40mm
• Magnet: NdFeB
• Frequency range: 6 - 42000 Hz
• SPL: 96 dB
• Weight (excl. cord): 260g
• MSRP: $2199.00

http://www.ultrasone.audio/en/products/editions/ultrasone-edition-8ex

Packaging, Build quality and Accessories:
The Edition 8 EX come in a sleek matte black box, with a picture of the headphones on the front, and detailed info and specifications on the back. The box looks great, and is easy to open. Inside you will find the carry case, which is where you will find the headphones and accessories.

The build quality is simply stunning, flawless in every way. The cups are a work of art, the earpads and headband pad are made of genuine leather, and you can see the CNC machining marks on the inner extender arms. Everything is superbly finished and put together; you won’t find a fault on them. The cable is detachable and uses Lemo connectors. Talking about cables, both are 4-core braided and well relived on every section. The connectors going into the headphones look fantastic and these headphones are built to last, they use a magnetic system to hold the pads on.



Accessory wise you get an excellent hard case with pre-cut foam inside for the headphones to sit in, along with 2 cables. You get a short portable cable that terminates in a 3.5mm jack; you also get a longer home cable that terminates in a 6.3mm jack. Overall everything you need really, I can’t see anything else being needed.

Comfort and Isolation:
The Edition 8 EX are quite tight when fresh out of the box, but the pads do soften up a bit and become a lot more comfortable. The earpads have ample space and depth inside, fully enclosing your ears, and the headband is a good shape. The headband has just enough padding, a little more would not go amiss though. They are surprisingly lightweight also considering the materials used, so they are comfortable for a couple of hours, more and your ears may get a little hot.



Isolation is about average for a full-size closed back headphone, they do muffle outside noise but do not black as much as your average pair of IEM’s. They do not leak outwards being fully closed, so you won’t have to worry about annoying people around you.

Sound:
Split into the usual categories with a conclusion at the end.

Lows: The bass one the Edition 8 EX is quite prominent, and they do lean towards the warmer side of sound. They do not have a lot of impact but there is a mid-bass hump that adds a bit of bloom to the lows. They sound better with more electronic music, as the emphasis on certain bass notes makes real instruments sound a little odd sometimes. Listening to tracks from Leftfield – Leftism you get very convincing directional sound and the bass is full and textured. So these work well with more electronic oriented music over heavier rock in my opinion. The extension is very good and they easily follow bass beats in tracks, just the mid-bass emphasis is a little too much for my tastes.

Mids: The midrange is pushed just behind the mids and highs in terms of presence but they have good detail retrieval. There is a little added body from the lows, making them sound a little smooth, but you can still pick out plenty of detail. The upper midrange is slightly lifted in comparison to the lower midrange, bringing out a little more bite in vocals and guitars. They are not sibilant in the upper midrange, yet still have good energy in the lower treble. Female vocals sound a little better than male vocals, due to the dip in the lower mids slightly masking some details. Softer artists like Lucy Rose sound very good on these.

Highs: The treble is very well placed in the mix, not becoming too hot and bright but still having good energy to prevent the Edition 8 EX from sounding too dark. Initial cymbal crashes are audible and they extend well, but the positioning within the soundstage is what stands out. There is good air, but the highs get pushed back in the mix a little too much when things get busy. Overall the highs are well presented and keep them from sounding dull, but don’t quite sparkle as effortlessly as you would expect.



Soundstage is very good, their S-Logic® EX working very well to make a very immersive sound. The imaging is even better than the soundstage and you can easily pick out the position of instruments in the recording.

Conclusion: Based on sound to price performance, the Edition 8 EX are not necessarily the best bang for buck, for the price I would expect better sound quality with more refinement. However the imaging and soundstage for a closed back model is very impressive, the whole package and build just scream quality and you have a luxury item.



These can be used out and about and you will definitely notice what you are wearing. I think these are one of those luxury products that may not be the best in terms of audiophile sound quality, but excel in looks and feel. The sound is not bad, there is a mid-bass hump that introduces some bass bloom and resonance, but the midrange is mostly clean and detailed, and the highs well presented with good energy.

Sound Perfection Rating: 7/10 (Look and feel superb, sound won’t be for everyone)

Firstly I would like to thank Earnine for sending me this sample to review, they have been used for well over 100hrs.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used: Audio Opus #2 > Earnine EN120 Small tips



Tech Specs:
Driver Unit:
Proprietary BA
Sound pressure level:
104 dB
Frequency Response:
20 Hz to 20 KHz
Impedance:
22 Ω
Cable:
Twisted cable 1.2 m
Plug
3.5mm gold-plated 3 pole L-shaped plug

Packaging, Build quality and Accessories:
The EN120 come in a very simple small card box with a plastic tray holding the IEM's in place inside. At the bottom of the packaging, you will find the eartips, on the front there is a flap, there are some details about the IEM and specifications. Under this front flap you will also find a plastic window which shows off the IEM's inside. Overall the packaging is nothing special but for this price I really cannot complain.

The build quality is superb, the housings are polished metal and very well finished, the cable is the twisted type which is supple and feels strong. There is good strain relief on all parts, and the 3.5mm jack is angled with a metal housing too. These feel more expensive than they are, and are built to last.

Accessory wise these don't come with much, all you get is some extra silicone single flange tips, so they come with Medium pre installed, and come with some S and L tips. I would have liked them to include a pouch, but I also understand this may have raised the overall cost (and you can buy a cheap case online).



Comfort, Isolation and Cable Noise:
The EN120 is small and smooth, which means they fit really easily into most ears. The included tips are of good quality, but I also found Final tips to work very well with these; you can use these with a deep or shallow insertion depth. I found them to be light, and very comfortable for long periods of time, the cable can be used straight down, or over the ear.

Isolation is excellent, the housing is sealed and uses a single balanced armature, perfect for everyday use and also most commutes. I would even be happy using these on a flight, they really isolate very well with the right tips.

Cable noise is slightly present when used straight down, but not an issue at all. Using them with the cable behind your ears gets rid of the tiny amount of cable noise so there are no issues here at all.



Sound:
Split into the usual categories with a conclusion at the end.

Lows: The EN120 leans towards the more neutral side of sound but they are far from lacking down low. For a single balanced armature driver the lows are surprisingly full and articulate, lacking only on the absolute extension front. Being a balanced armature driver the lows hit tight and fast being able to keep up with the fastest of tracks, bass guitars are fairly prominent and easy to follow too. The lows stay well separated from the midrange not adding any added body allowing instruments in the midrange to shine. Yes these will not appeal to bass heads but those looking for a slightly warm but accurate low end should definitely give these a shot, they are certainly not lacking down low that's for sure.

Mids: The midrange leans towards a slightly drier tone but is very detailed and crisp, fine detail shines through with ease and the midrange is never recessed. Electric guitars have excellent crunch to them during heavier rock tracks, and there is good separation and air. There is no sibilance in the upper midrange with a smooth transition into the treble range. The midrange is incredibly well detailed and open for this price, and they are not too clinical or cold. They have good tonality to them without any major peaks or dips, listening to Radiohead you can hear every nuance in the midrange, all excellently separated.

Highs: Again like the lows, very good quantity and positioning, only lacking in the absolute extension department but they do not drop off too early or sound flat and muted. The highs have good clarity and are never pushed too far back in the mix, always audible and in good quality. The highs are great quality too, I find a lot of the budget offerings around to have either splashy undefined highs, or artificially boosted highs to give the feel of quality. These do neither of those, instead offering excellent layering and definition up top, you can easily distinguish between different cymbals. The initial impact is there without a painful peak, and then they extend nicely without a sharp roll-off, it is also easy to pick out where the cymbals are placed in the recording with accurate spatial cues.

The soundstage and separation are unrivaled at this price point, the width and air around instruments is superb and rivals IEM's costing over twice as much. Everything is accurate and easy to hear, yet still cohesive, simply sublime for the price.



Conclusion: I keep forgetting these only cost around $50, they simply punch way above their weight. The sound is full yet balanced with superb detail retrieval and PRAT; you really do think you are listening to a far more expensive pair of headphones when you have these in. Yes the extension on both ends is ever so slightly limited, but I can easily forget about that when the build quality and comfort are excellent, and they sound this good. Bullet For My Valentine - Tears Don't Fall is simply incredible through these, I can wholeheartedly recommend these IEM's and I look forward to new models from Earnine. Now please Earnine, start selling these in other countries, people are really missing out on some excellent budget IEM's.


Sound Perfection Rating: 9/10 (Superb value for money if you are looking for a precise and balanced sound)

This cable has been used in my main reference system for a few weeks now with plenty of hours of use.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used: HP Laptop > USB cable > JDS Labs OL DAC > Head “n” HiFi Desktop O2 amp > German Maestro GMP400 / Grado SR60e Wood / Noble Sage



Info:
http://www.curiouscables.com/our-story.html

Packaging and Build quality:
The Curious USB cable comes in a nice little black cardbox, with a bright yellow brand sticker on the top. Inside you will find the cable loosely coiled and held like this by a little Velcro strap, also included is a little thank you card stating the differences you may hear with the Curious cable. I like the simple packaging; it’s attractive and serves its purpose.

The cable is extremely well built, with tight connectors on each end and excellent strain relief. The cable is quite stiff so careful placement is key, the 5v power line is external and gently coils around the rest of the cable. It is a well built cable that should last a long time.

Do cables make a difference?
This debate is for the end reader to decide, I am a believer in small differences in cables, and that synergy is also important. USB cable differences I believe are smaller than analogue cable differences, but YMMV.

http://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/why-usb-cables-can-make-a-difference/



Sound:
Now I am a little sceptical about digital cable differences, but having a reliable connection is important and I do understand that there are benefits to having the power and signal cables separated. Most people will say that all a USB cable does is send 1s and 0s and providing they arrive without many errors, all cables will sound the same.

This cable is not going to turn your terrible sounding system into a great sounding system. That is not what it is meant to do. It does however to my ears bring a slight enhancement over a standard monoprice cable. The most noticeable difference to me was the lows, they gained a little more body and depth to them sounding more accurate and articulate. The highs with the stock monoprice cable are a little sharper and the sound is a little more fatiguing, a little more artificial and strained.

Vocals came across smoother with the curious cable; everything seemed more natural and better balanced. Bass guitars sound fuller with more defined notes, the soundstage is deeper and more holographic, instruments sound more realistic. The highs extend more effortlessly with again better tone to them, no metallic tinge and never becoming splashy.

The Curious cable sounds more dynamic, and less 2D than the stock monoprice cable. It is more enjoyable and easier to listen to, the monoprice cable just sounds a bit flat and boring in comparison.
These differences are not night and day, but I tested with various tracks and it was more noticeable on some over others.



Conclusion: Take what you want from my review, believe me or not, I honestly believe there is a small difference in the sound. Separation is increased, the sound is more natural and notes are better defined with more body to them (monoprice sounds flat in comparison). The sound is more articulate and dynamic in my opinion, whether or not this is worth the price only you can answer this, but I will say it’s a great cable.

Sound Perfection Rating: 10/10 (well built and to me brings a degree of better sound)

Firstly I would like to thank Musicteck for arranging this loan unit. These have had well over 100hrs of burn-in.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided on loan for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used: Audio Opus #2 > ME-1
HP Laptop > JDS Labs OL-DAC > Head “n” HiFi Desktop O2 > ME-1



Tech Specs:
https://www.facebook.com/UniqueMelodyIEM/
https://twitter.com/uniquemelodyiem
https://shop.musicteck.com/products/me-1-by-unique-melody

Impedance: 23.1 Ω
Diaphragm Diameter: 18.5 mm
Magnet Type: Dual-Layer High Strength Neodymium
Shell: 3D Printed Medical Grade Acrylic with CNC Finish Connector Type: 2-Pin Protruding Connector
Cable: 6N Single Crystal Copper
Cable Termination: 3.5 mm Headphone Jack

Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
The ME-1 come in a premium wood box, there is a black card sleeve around this wooden box that has the brand name embossed on it. Open the wood box and you are greeted by the silicone case, inside this you will find the IEM's. Underneath the top layer of foam you will find the other case filled with the rest of the accessories. The box looks great and is fitting of this kind of product.

The build quality is superb, no visual flaws with the main shell seamlessly flowing into the larger faceplate. The grill on the faceplate does flax a little so when inserting it is best to only use pressure around the edges of the faceplate. The nozzle is plastic and quite wide, the cable is soft and supple with memory wire around the ear. All connectors have good strain relief and that cable is a mix of copper and silver. The connectors for the cable are 2-pin, but they are the type that protrudes a little, rather than being recessed or flush. Most 2-pin cables will still work well but do stick out a little farther. Overall the ME-1 are superbly finished and well made.



Accessory wise you get a good selection, first off you get foam tips in S, M and L sizes, along with silicone tips in XS, S, M and L. You get two carry cases, one is a soft neoprene type case with various compartments, and the other is a silicone case which has an integrated cable tidy. There is a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adaptor included along with an airplane adaptor. So a great array of accessories and most people should be able to get a good fit (wide bore means Symbio W hybrid tips fit well).



Comfort and Isolation:
The ME-1 are quite a large and heavy IEM, however the ergonomics are excellent. The fit inside the ear is the right depth for me anyway, yes they do stick out a little with their large faceplate however once you find the right tips you can get a secure fit that is comfortable over long periods of time.

One bit I personally don't like is the memory wire, however I have never been much of a fan of stiff memory wire. I find it doesn't help keep IEM's in place for me and is just a little awkward to get the right shape.

These are not built to isolate, they are fully open back, which means they leak sound in and out, they are not designed to be the perfect commuting IEM, however use in quiet environments allows these to shine.



Sound:
Split into the usual categories with a conclusion at the end. The below is based on using silicone tips.

Lows: Let’s start off with the sub-bass, which is wonderfully extended and present but without adding too much body. The mid-bass has a slight dip meaning they don't punch the hardest or with a lot of authority but it makes them sound very well controlled. The bass blends nicely to the track playing, but always retains good quality and a full body without affecting the midrange. Those looking for bass head IEM's should shy away, but those that want a tighter more accurate sound with sub-bass presence over mid-bass punch will be satisfied.

Mids: The midrange is smooth and detailed, with excellent space and air around vocal tracks and guitars. There is a slight recess in the upper midrange which makes some vocals sound a bit unnatural, yet certain guitar notes really stand out (Dance Gavin Dance – I’m Down with Brown Tone). The lower midrange is slightly up front and quite aggressive presenting good detail but layering is where they are superb. There are parts of the midrange that are excellent, but others that just don’t sound tonally correct.

Highs: The highs have good impact and clarity maintaining energy and sparkle even when tracks get a bit busier. They are well separated and also positioned spatially; imaging in the treble is very accurate however the midrange focus is not as good. The highs don’t suffer from sibilance, are not strident and very well presented. They are just right in terms of presence but don’t become fatiguing and have excellent tonality and clarity.



The soundstage is open and wide, with excellent layering and separation, the width is more impressive than the depth (sometimes you forget they are IEM’s and sound more like full size headphones). Separation is very good yet they have a fuller sound, they don’t become congested through faster tracks.

Pairing: Now the ME-1 sounded superb out of the Opus #2 but had excellent synergy with my Objective 2 amplifier, they do benefit from good amplification even though they are relatively easy to drive.



Comparison vs 64 Audio U6 (M20 module):
The U6 is smoother overall and has excellent sub-bass extension like the ME-1, however the U6 has a thicker bass presentation with a bit more punch to it. The ME-1 sound more detailed and better separated in the midrange, but the U6 is smoother and more tonally accurate. The treble is where these differ the most, with the ME-1 having excellent air and presence, the U6 are a bit too polite, lack the impact and sparkle of the ME-1 and take a slight backseat in the mix. It is hard for me to say which I personally prefer, as both are superb IEM’s that are quite different, but ultimately I really enjoy the sound of the U6 and do not need to EQ them.

Vs HiFiMan RE800:
The RE800 are more dynamic in the bass regarding punch but both have a similar tuning down low with good sub-bass presence, control and articulation. The midrange on the RE800 is more linear with a slight tilt towards the upper midrange, but with a similar amount of detail as the ME-1 (both crystal clear). Both have airy treble and good presentation, the RE800 has quite a big peak around 7 kHz that can cause some fatigue to some users. Both have good soundstage but the ME-1 wins here being more open and airy (at the expense of isolation). Both benefit from EQ so this comparison is more down to preference rather than there being a straight winner.



Conclusion: The ME-1 is certainly a competent planar IEM, the sub-bass presence is excellent but the mid-bass is lacking a bit of dynamic punch. The lower midrange is slightly boosted giving certain male vocals the edge; however the upper midrange is a little recessed and leaves some female vocals sounding a bit unnatural. The highs are detailed and well presented and as a whole are a good IEM. Some small EQ tweaks can improve these, and if you get the chance to audition them I suggest you do so.

There is plenty of detail on offer with a nice wide soundstage and I can see these becoming quite popular, as a little EQ really goes miles with these, and they do a lot right.

Sound Perfection Rating: 8/10 (upper midrange needs a little improvement, but plenty of detail and a wide soundstage makes these a good buy)

Firstly I would like to thank Burson Audio for selecting me as the first member of the UK tour, I made sure to give the unit plenty of hours of play before the final review.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided on loan for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used: HP Laptop > Curious USB cable > Play (V6 Vivid and Classic op-amps) > German Maestro GMP400 / Ultrasone Edition 8 EX and others...



Tech specs:
Extensive info can be found on the product page: https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/play/

Pricing:
Play Basic - NE5532 X 3, NE5543 X 2 - $299

Play with V5i - V5i-Dual X 3, V5i-Single X 2 - $399*

Play with V5 - V5-Dual X 3, V5-Single X 2 - $475*

Play with V6 Vivid - V6-Vivid-Dual X 3, V6-Vivid-Single X 2 - $549*

Play with V6 Classic - V6-Classic-Dual X 3, V6-Classic-Single X 2 - $549*

*All models above the Basic come with the remote. Prices include shipping and are in USD.

Build quality and Accessories:
As this is part of a tour, it did not come in retail packaging I don’t think, as it came in a clear plastic box. The unit itself is quite industrial looking, with an all black chassis that feels hefty and solid. On the front you have the volume knob, LED volume numbers, 6.3mm headphone output and also a 3.5mm microphone input. On the back you have the regular power input, a power input for jumpers from a PC PSU if you want to mount it in your PC, RCA outputs and a USB input. Everything is extremely well finished and put together with tight sockets and minimal play.

Accessory wise you get a USB cable, remote control and RCA cables. This is a tour unit so additional V6 Classic op-amps are included, the V6 Vivid are pre-installed in this unit. With the retail version you get a panel for the back of your PC with RCA jumpers so you can still use the pre-amp output whilst mounted in a PC.



Features:
This Amp/DAC is aimed at those who want the best sound out of their PC, hence why Burson made it the size it is, so you can mount it in a PC case. It also has a dedicated microphone input, which is again aimed at gamers, and provides a high quality microphone input.

I will be using the Play as a regular Amp/DAC with headphones for music playback. Now the Play is a full class A amp (runs warm) with built in DAC, it has no analogue inputs to allow you to only use the amp section. It also only has USB input, which is a shame as an optical port would have made it even better.

Now this Amp/DAC can output a lot of power, so should be able to drive most headphones out there with ease. It also has RCA outputs so you can use it as a DAC/Pre-amp, the RCA volume is changed with the knob and is not a fixed line-out.



You get a remote control which allows you to control volume along with muting the device; you can also mute it by pressing the volume knob in. The volume control is digital and has 99 steps, the gain is fairly high, as is the output impedance (8 Ohms) so it is really made for full-size headphones and not sensitive IEM’s.

One major feature of the Play is the ability to roll op-amps with ease; the unit comes with a hex key to open it up and allows you easy access to change the op-amps. Also the circuit is designed to get the most out of Bursons own series of op-amps.



Sound:
V6 Vivid:
The Burson play leans more to the fun side of sound with the Vivid op-amps, not being a purely reference amp. It has plenty of power and punch yet also finesse; the finer details are not smeared or hidden. It is a dynamic and punchy sounding amp, allowing you to hear excellent detail without sounding overly harsh. Separation is excellent and the soundstage is very enveloping allowing you to easily pinpoint instruments within the soundstage.

There is never any sense that you are missing out on anything in the recording, there is plenty of air around instruments without sounding detached. With the V6 Vivid the sound is transparent but not strictly flat and neutral, it doesn’t want to be either. It wants you to enjoy the music without trying to analyse it.

As I said with the V6 Vivid it is a more dynamic and punchy sound, more direct and fun adding a little bottom end presence which works wonders with my GMP400’s.



V6 Classic:
With the V6 Classic vocals are upfront and intimate, you get a bit more of an intimate sound with a bit less air but you get a little extra smoothness. Again the details are there, but not as up front and exciting as the Vivid, the sound is a little more laid back but intimate. The bass is smoother and has less visceral punch, instead stays more in line with the recording. Vocals are the focus here.

I find the V6 Classic to sound more linear and balanced but with a little added smoothness, the soundstage is still wide but instruments have a softer edge to them, the highs are not as exciting but still extend effortlessly.

I find the V6 Classic to be less exciting but more towards my preferred sound, it has a very detailed and well balanced sound with a hint of smoothness, they work well with all genres and sound excellent.

Microphone input: The input works really well and is excellent quality, no issues here and an excellent feature for gamers: https://vocaroo.com/i/s0pisjvHvJpL



Conclusion:
Well what can I say; it does what it says on the tin but with added functionality that other DAC/Amps do not offer for this price. The amp section is extremely powerful and can be tuned with different op-amps and offers an excellent platform for people looking to test various op-amp configurations. It has a microphone input on the front for gamers, and can be neatly mounted in a PC tower.

With the V6 Vivid op-amps you get a very dynamic and crisp sound that is extremely fun to listen to, with the V6 Classic op-amps you get a more neutral sound but still with a hint of smoothness and intimacy that is more in line with my personal preferences.

The Burson play really is an excellent DAC/Amp, that is versatile and works really well with most full-size headphones. For the price it is a highly recommended product for those looking for a desktop DAC/Amp. I personally would have liked to have seen optical and analogue inputs, but I suppose you can’t have everything.

Sound Perfection Rating: 9/10 (no analogue or optical inputs)

Effect Audio Eros II

UPOCC Litz Copper / Silver Hybrid - 26awg
https://www.effectaudio.com/iem-premium-series/eros-ii.html

Used with my Audio Opus #2 DAP / Objective2 amp and my Inearz P350 custom monitors / 64 Audio U6 / Noble Sage



Packaging, Build quality and Ergonomics:
The Eros II comes in an excellent little white box, with the company logo on the front. The cable is carefully wound around a foam insert. The box is very simple but elegant, I like it.

The cable is very well built, as is to be expected from most custom cable companies. The 2.5mm balanced jack is sturdy, but there is no strain relief on that end. The cable has a tight round 4 core braid, a slim y-split but again no strain relief. You get a section of molded cable that acts as memory wire, without the metal insert, which is excellent and the 2-pin connectors look great. All the connectors and the y-split have the Effect audio label on them which is a nice touch, and the cable feels well built, even with the lack of strain relief.

Ergonomics are truly excellent, I thought the cable was going to be slightly stiff by the looks of it, but once it is in your hands it really is very supple, with an almost rubbery texture. This means cable noise is minimal, and it is a very comfortable cable to use. The memory wire is excellent as it doesn’t use the convention stiff piece of wire. Overall no ergonomic issues, Effect cables are possibly the most comfortable cables I have used.




Sound:
The Eros II is a special cable, it is special in the way that is will pair wonderfully with pretty much any IEM out there and sound excellent. Interestingly Effect have decided to use the copper strands for the positive signal and the silver strands for the negative. This creates a cable that is extremly well textured and layered, one that has warmth and body down low, yet also crystal clear highs.

The Eros II is a beautifully balanced cable, that does not aim to change the sound of your IEM's in general, what is does is open up the sound and allow you to hear details more clearly.

It is smooth, refined and enjoyable, it widens the soundstage and creates a better sense of air and space between notes and instruments. It is crystal clear not smoothing over details, yet it is not harsh in its portrayal. When using the Eros II it gets out of the way and allows you to enjoy the IEM's you are using with better depth and layering.

If you are looking for warmer lows, or brighter highs from a cable, the Eros II is not it. But if you like the sound of your IEM's and want to improve the sound and bring it up another level in refinement, separation and layering the Eros II is superb.

Firstly I would like to thank Violectic USA for sorting out a loan unit for me to review.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided on loan for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used: HP Laptop / Audio Opus #2 > JDS Labs EL DAC > HPA V281 > HiFiMan Susvara / HE-6, German Maestro GMP400 and Grado SR60e Wood cups.



Tech Specs:
http://violectric-usa.com/hpa-v281
MSRP: $2,349.95 (basic version without DAC or upgraded volume pot)

Packaging, Build Quality and Accessories:
Well the HPA-V281 comes in quite a boring card box; it is very well packaged though and well protected during shipping. The box really isn’t anything special here but I really don’t mind as the money has gone into designing an incredible amp and not on luxurious extras.

The build quality is quintessentially German, very robust and definitely substance over style. It is an industrial looking amp that feels like it will survive forever. A hefty all metal build, with excellent quality sockets and a stepped volume knob finishes off this excellent amplifier. Nothing on it feels like a second thought, or feels cheap, everything has weight to it. No issues at all with the build quality here, but the looks may divide opinion.

Accessory wise all you get is a power lead, nothing else. Again this is a high end amplifier so I am guessing you already have interconnects for this amp.



Features:
The V281 is fully balanced with XLR input and a 4-pin XLR headphone output, along with 2 6.3mm single ended outputs. This version is the amp only version but it can be ordered with a DAC module too, along with upgraded volume pots.
There are multiple inputs which you select with a button on the front panel; there is a Mute button and a Head button which allows you to toggle between headphone amp and pre-amp for other devices. On the top right you have a balance knob, which is sure to help those with imbalanced hearing.
There is a pair of XLR and RCA outputs for using the V281 as a pre-amp, and some gain DIP switches (-12, -6, 0, +6, +12).
Feature packed and easy to use, I found myself using it with the gain set at 0dB.



Sound:
This amp is actually very hard to sum up as it does what it is built to do. You get what it says on the tin, it amplifies the signal with minimal change to my ears, it does not have an upfront and aggressive sound, yet it isn’t soft and laid back. I would say there is the smallest hint of smoothness to it however this really is only slight.

What is most impressive is the driving power on tap; this thing can drive any dynamic and planar headphone out there in my opinion. Testing with the Susvara I only had it on 0dB gain and it powers them with ease. Controlling the large diaphragm and recreating a very wide and effortless sound. You cannot tune the sound like you can with a tube amp, but you get the assurance that you are pretty much getting all you can out of a set of headphones.

Equally at home driving easier to drive headphones, Grados have never sounded better due to the low output impedance not messing with the sound like a tube amp can.
I am very impressed with this amp, it may not have the features of the iFi Audio Pro iCan, but it is simple sturdy and has insane amounts of power on tap for all headphones out there.



As I said, it is very hard to sum this amp up, as unfortunately I don’t have any high end amps on hand to compare it to. It just does what it sets out to do with excellent results, detailed, airy yet smooth without any artificial tone to it. Everything you put into this amp comes out with a natural tonality and superb layering, nothing sounds strained or grainy.

Conclusion: This is one of those products that gets out of the way and lets you enjoy the music, it doesn’t throw details at you, and yet it doesn’t veil them either. It is superbly transparent, with a smooth and natural delivery. This amp can power any headphone you throw at it and bring out the best in them without the hassle of having to try and find synergistic tube combinations.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy tubes for tuning the sound, however the V281 just works and is natural and neutral allowing you to hear the tone of your headphones and not the amp.

Sound Perfection Rating: 10/10 (A true TOTL amp, natural sound and powerful output)

Disclaimer: This cable was sent from the manufacturer for review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

This cable was used with my Inearz P350 CIEM's, 64 Audio U6 and Noble Sage.

Lavricables Reference
4 cores of AWG28 (0.33mm ⌀) solid silver 6N purity wire
http://www.lavricables.com/cables/reference-silver-1964-ears-adel-a10-u10-a12-u12-upgrade-cable/



Packaging, Build Quality, and Ergonomics:
The Reference cable comes in a nice little velvet pouch; there is no other packaging to speak of. Lavricables are very well priced and less on packaging means more savings to the end user, I am not that bothered about the lack of fancy retail box.

The cable is very well built, the braid is very even and the connectors are all very well put together, the connectors cannot be opened, they are sealed with glue. The y-split is a simple piece of heatshrink and there is a chin slider, included are some light and flexible rubber ear guides. The cable has good strain relief, with an extra strand of wire internally where there is more stress to help prevent the cable from breaking. Overall I really like the build of the cable, and providing you don’t stress it much it should last a long time.

Ergonomics are not this cables strength, but that is because it uses a single strand of solid pure silver cable so you expect it to be a little stiff and also to transmit noise. It is not as bad as I was expecting, but it does retain its shape if coiled for any length of time and is a little noisy when it hits against things. The ear guides help lower the noise, but I prefer to use the cable without them.





Sound:
To start off with the Reference cable does not sound thin, the bass does not disappear but what happens is really impressive. The bass becomes tighter, more responsive but still full bodied and articulate. This is not a cable that is thin or harsh; the lows still slam and punch with excellent power, body and extension.

The midrange becomes sharper with finer details being easier to pick out, there is extra air around notes and the sound is less congested in faster passages. Electric guitars in rock music have a sharper edge and become a bit more aggressive and crisp.

The highs gain some extra presence and seem to extend a little more effortlessly, however there is not even a hint of glare or harshness. There is a better sense of air up top with slightly more natural tonality.

This cable does not totally transform the sound of your IEM’s, but it pairs best with IEM’s that have a slightly warmer sound. This cable tightens up the lows, adds additional air to the whole sound and there is improved separation and definition. The treble gets a slight boost without any harshness, if you could get this sound from a stranded cable, it would be high up in my list of recommendations.

This cable is a more up front, energetic and engaging yet still airy, it is not a lush laid back sounding cable so careful pairing is key. Lavricables offer some excellent sounding cables, at very reasonable prices, but they are best suited to home systems where you won’t be moving around a lot.

Firstly I would like to thank Head "n" Hifi for sending me this kit to review, they are an EU based company specialising in providing Objective2 amplifier kits and prebuilt amps/DACs.

I was provided with the kit version of the Objective2 amp with add-ons to make it a desktop version.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.



Specs:
All can be found here: http://www.headnhifi.com/
And here: http://nwavguy.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/o2-headphone-amp.html

Build:
Now a big part of this review was to document the build, so here goes. Firstly the outer casings and components are all excellent and everything went together smoothly, if you are quick you could have this amp built in about 3 hours. I took my time, and it was a very easy and enjoyable build, I followed this very handy guide: https://thomashunter.name/blog/assembling-the-o2-headphone-amplifier-kit/

I will point out a couple of the resistors have changed colours so I used my trusty multi-meter and it was smooth building. I did brush the board with flux before starting just to aid the solder flow, and washed it thoroughly with alcohol afterwards, this ensures nice clean solder joints.

Head "n" Hifi provide the guide to installing the RCA inputs and outputs too which I used:http://www.headnhifi.com/rubishcontainer/How to - Desktop Kit V2.01.pdf

First it is best to install the smallest components, such as resistors and diodes, then move on to the bigger components. It is easier to show with pictures (I did not need to install the DC socket on the board as it is mounted on the rear of mine, but did so to fill up the holes on the board).

Build quality is excellent, this obviously depends on the person who put the amp together and their soldering skills but it was all very easy to assemble. One of the great things about getting the kit is the possibility to set your personal gain settings. As I am using it with a JDS Labs OL DAC, I opted for 0/+4dB gain, as I want to be able to use it with IEM’s and full size headphones.







Features:
Now the desktop version has a couple more features than the standard, you get a rear mounted DC socket for the power, and also RCA inputs and outputs. The RCA outputs are muted when you plug headphones in. On the front you have the power button, gain button, volume knob, 6.3mm headphone output and 3.5mm input. Overall the layout is much neater than the standard Objective2 that has everything on the front panel.







Sound:
Now a lot has been said on the Objective2, and it continues to be a very popular amp. I still recommend it a lot to people entering the hobby looking for a good first amp. What I really enjoy about my new Objective 2 is the desktop configuration, I can have it neatly stacked with my OL DAC with RCA’s on the back and a neat little reference desktop setup.

This amp does what it says on the tin, it amplifies the signal without adding any real flavour of its own; it is not a nice warm laid back flattering amp. It is well known the Objective2 is not the most powerful amp when it comes to pure output current, but it will drive most headphones out there with relative ease.

I have been using it with sensitive IEM’s, Grados, German Maestro GMP400’s (need high gain) and it lets you hear the headphones and not the amp. This amp is not about synergy, it lets you hear the sound of your headphones without colouring them, and for reference purposes it is excellent.

People who think this amp sounds bright, are just used to a warmer sounding amp, this amp does not enhance any part of the frequency range. As I said this makes it an excellent reference amp, but paired with my Grado SR60e in wood cups, it is a really enjoyable desktop amp. It even sounds great with my GMP400’s, but I do prefer the slightly laid back sound of my tube amp for those.









Conclusion: This amp was a fun project to build up; it gives you a real sense of achievement to see it fully built and sounding excellent on your desk. I love the way it stacks with the OL DAC from JDS Labs, it is an awesome stack that I thoroughly enjoy (however I do need to change the green LED on the DAC). Head "n" Hifi are a great company to deal with and if you are in the EU buying from them means no import tax, they are responsive to emails and a pleasure to deal with. They provide the full kit and it would be the perfect first DIY amp for many people. If you don’t feel that adventurous they offer fully built amps too.

Again if you use it within its limits it is the perfect all round amp, it won’t power the more hungry planar headphones out there, but powers anything from sensitive IEM’s to the Beyerdynamic T1 and Sennheiser HD800.


Sound Perfection Rating: 10/10 (cannot go wrong with an O2 amp, especially a desktop version)

Firstly I would like to thank Kinera and Penon audio for this sample, these received over 50hrs of burn-in before reviewing and no differences were noted.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used:
Audio Opus #2 > H3 (Final tips)
HP Laptop > JDS Labs EL-DAC > HeadnHifi O2 amp > H3 (Final tips)



Tech specs:

• Driver： 2BA+1D
• Impedance： 48Ω
• Frequency Response： 20-20000HZ
• Sensitivity： 101DB
• L&R Channel Balance Sensitivity： <2DB
• Max Input Power： 10mW
• Cable Length: 1.2meter
• Wire Material： 6n single crystal copper silver-plated
• Plug material： 3.5mm golden plated
• Earphone interface: 2-pin (0.78mm )
• MSRP: $99

Packaging, Accessories and Build quality:
The Kinera H3 come in a lovely textured high quality black card box, with the name Kinera and model H3 embossed in gold on the top. Open the magnetic flap are you will find the carry case and jack adaptors held in a foam inlay. The box is simple yet feels excellent for the price and I really like the simplicity of it.

Accessory wise you get a clamshell carry case, a 3.5 to 6.3mm adaptor, airplane adaptor and 3 sizes of tips in 2 different types. You get S, M and L single flange tips, one type is similar to Sony hybrid tips, and the other has a stiffer blue core and also stiffer silicone. You also get a little velcro cable tidy and a thank you card from Kinera, along with a small manual. Overall everything you need is included.



Build quality is very good, the finish of the shells looks great with no major imperfections, the cable is soft and supple (really good cable) and is detachable. The cable has good strain relief, there is no stiff memory wire on these, instead it is a soft section of pre moulded rubber. I really like the look and finish, the nozzle however does not have a lip, so make sure to use the stock tips or others that are quite tight on the nozzle (Final Audio tips work very well). Overall I have no issues with the build quality, pictures show them off better anyway.

Comfort, Isolation and Driver flex:
The H3 is designed similar to a custom IEM and due to its lightweight construction fit very comfortably in my small ears, and do not protrude very far out of your ear. They are quite slim and once you get a good fit you can wear them for hours without pain. They are some of the most comfortable IEM’s I have used and are really easy to get a good fit with due to the angle of the nozzle.

Isolation is fairly average, this is due to a fairly shallow fit type and also the housing is vented due to the dynamic driver inside. They are still easily suitable for most everyday use, but if you are planning on using them in very loud environments there are other IEM’s that will isolate better.



Driver flex is present up initial insertion, but the drivers quickly return to normal and the driver flex isn’t as bad as some other headphones out there.

Sound:
Split into the usual categories with a conclusion at the end:

Lows: The H3 is a triple hybrid design and lets the dynamic driver handle the lows, the dynamic driver in these definitely has good punch and extends nicely into the sub-bass with minimal roll-off. The bass has good impact and is definitely a little on the fun side of neutral, bass guitar lines have good separation and articulation, kick drums have air to back them up and it’s a nice full bass presentation. The lows can handle EDM to heavy metal with ease; I’m quite impressed by their control. To be honest at this price range I think it’ll be quite hard to find headphones that handle metalcore as well as these.

Mids: The mids are a little laid back compared to the rest of the frequency response, giving these a mild V shaped signature, but they are quite crisp and have good detail retrieval. Nothing really stands out in the midrange, both male and female vocals are handled quite well, there isn’t really any added warmth from the lows but the upper mids are perhaps a slight bit thin and on the drier side. They seem to avoid most sibilance and there is quite a bit of air around the notes in the midrange, separation is quite impressive. They could do with being a tiny bit more forward in the mix when things get busy.

Highs: Now I am a fan of good treble and these certainly offer the quantity I enjoy, these do lean towards a slightly bright top end occasionally sounding a little overemphasised. A lot of this does depend on the recording though, feed them well recorded tracks and the highs will sound well defined, they are not laid back or dark sounding. The good thing is that if you find the highs to be a little on the hot side, tip rolling can help tame them (especially foam tips). There is plenty of sparkle and energy up top, but sometimes they are a little splashy. There is a little too much energy sometimes and cymbal crashes do sound a little odd due to excess energy at 7kHz.

Instrument separation is good overall; there is good air around each instrument.
Soundstage is not huge; it is slightly wider than usual with out of head experiences to be had. The imaging however is very good, especially with complex drum tracks.



Comparison:
Simgot EN700 Bass:
The Simgot EN700 Bass is a good comparison as they are around the same price, the Simgot also feel very well built but the standard version has a fixed cable. So Kinera wins here with a longer lasting design. Both are very comfortable IEM’s, the H3 is lighter so is more comfortable for long periods of time.

Sound wise the EN700 Bass has a more organic and natural tone to it, with a smoother sound signature. It is full bodied and very enjoyable; the H3 is far more exciting and has better top end resolution. I find the EN700 Bass to be quite polite and have excellent separation and resolution, the H3 can come across a little more fatiguing but there is more going on with better detail retrieval.

Both are fantastic for the price, the H3 is quicker and more nimble, offering a more direct and engaging sound. The EN700 Bass is slightly laid back and more natural sounding, so which you prefer will be based on your preferences.



Conclusion: For $99 these are a very promising IEM from Kinera, with a fun borderline bright sound. They have a very slight V shaped sound signature, but the mids are not badly recessed. The lows are full but also very well controlled; the midrange is crisp and clear and the highs shimmer and sparkle with plenty of presence. These are an exciting and fun IEM and not for those that are very treble sensitive. I have found them to work very well with complex rock music, and the lows can really keep up. Tonally wise they are a little bit lean, but tips influence the sound a lot. Overall I really like these, Kinera have done a really good job, and considering the price these are fantastic value.


Sound Perfection Rating: 7.5/10 (Highs can be a little hot, but the overall sound is highly enjoyable)

Firstly I would like to thank Brannan at Noble for sending me this sample for review, these have had well over 100hrs of burn-in and no differences were noted.

*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings.

Gear Used:
Audio Opus #2 > Sage (red core tips)
HP Laptop > JDS Labs OL DAC > HeadnHifi O2 > Sage (red core tips)



Tech specs:
· 2 proprietary balanced armature drivers manufactured by Knowles© per side
· Updated Noble universal form factor and geometry featuring precision machined aluminum faceplates
· Sensitive enough for use with smartphones as well as portable amps and DAPs
· Hand-assembled and matched
· Detachable cable with industry standard 2-pin configuration (0.78 mm diameter)
· MSRP: $599

Packaging, Build quality and Accessories:
The Noble Sage come in Nobles new retail packaging, which looks superb. You get a picture of the IEM’s on the outside, with info on the back, slide off this outer sleeve and you are presented with a textured and substantial card box. On the top the brand name Noble is embossed, open the top and you are presented with a round plastic case, and next to it a Pelican case. The IEM’s are in an anti-static bag within the pelican case, the whole package feels very premium and looks great, I am a big fan of the new retail packaging.



Build quality is excellent, the finish of the IEM’s themselves is flawless with expertly machined faceplates and smooth plastic inner housings. They fit together nice and flush with no anomalies, and in person look fantastic. The bright green colour denotes the model, they may not be discreet in their colouring but they look excellent in person. The 2-pin sockets are nice and tight and the included cable has excellent strain relief and feels sturdy.

Accessory wise you get quite a lot, which is excellent. First off you get 2 cases and a pouch, one case is a round plastic one with a screw on lid, the other a pelican 1010 case both will protect your IEM’s on the go easily. Along with the cases you get some stickers, a pair of Noble branded amp straps, a karabiner for the pelican case, a wax cleaning tool and a variety of tips. You get 2 types of single flange silicone tips, some with a stiffer red bore, others with a more flexible blue core, 2 sizes of foam tips and 3 sizes of bi-flange tips. Plenty of accessories included and all you need to get started.



Comfort, Isolation and Cable noise:
The Sage are not a slim and discreet but the housing shape fits nicely in the ear, they do not sit flush and stick out a bit but once you find the right tips you get a comfy and secure fit with no issues. I found them to be very comfy for long listening once you settle on the right tips. The cable is really comfortable and soft, with moulded ear guides instead of stiff memory wire.

Isolation is good, more than good enough for daily use and they would be fine when used in noisy places.

Cable noise is not an issue with these as the cable is soft and routes up and over your ear.



Sound:
Split into the usual categories with a conclusion at the end.

Lows: Noble market these as well balanced with a slight boost down low, and that is exactly how I hear them. They have a tiny bit of added impact and body without becoming muddy or thick sounding. These have excellently controlled lows that have excellent punch when required, during rock tracks you can feel and hear the kick of kick drums, and the separation and layering down low is truly impressive. Bass guitars sound articulate and effortless, then if you put on some EDM low pulsating bass beats still shine through. The bass doesn’t encroach on the midrange, staying well controlled but having excellent body; they have the speed and agility to handle metal, as well as the extension and punch to really make EDM music come alive.

Mids: The midrange I was expecting to be slightly recessed but it isn’t, it is instead perfectly well balanced in the mix with detail shining through. The one thing I have found is that these handle both male and female vocals without any emphasis on either. They both come across with effortless tone and clarity, the bass really does not interfere with the midrange at all. Layering in the midrange is very good too, with each individual track in the recording being easily separated. As I stated earlier I was expecting a mild V shaped signature, and was pleasantly surprised at how good the midrange is on the Sage. The midrange never sounds thin and clinical, instead it has a slight smoothness to it, and there is also no upper midrange peak that induces sibilance. I am impressed by the smooth transition from mids to highs without losing out on the initial treble impact.

Highs: The highs sit just right on these, they are not too hot but they are also not dulled or diluted by the rest of the sound. The placement of the highs is good within the soundstage too, making it easy to pinpoint the positioning of the sounds. If I had one little gripe it would be that the highs are a little on the smoother side. The highs are quite transparent in the way that they change a bit depending on the recording for example on well recorded tracks them definitely become more detailed and effortless. The highs never become irritating or bright; they have just the right mix of presence, detail and smoothness to avoid fatigue without becoming dark.



The soundstage is not huge on these but it is good in width, the height is what stands out more though. Then again they are designed to be engaging and really fun to listen to so a super wide soundstage is not needed. imaging is excellent with a superbly well focused centre image and everything coming in from around it.

The separation is where these impress, although the soundstage isn’t excellent the air and separation within it is brilliant, with each instrument being easy to distinguish and pick out in the mix.
Coherency is not something I tend to mention as most IEM’s are now quite coherent, but coherency and the blend between lows, mids and highs is superb.

Comparisons:
Hifiman RE800:
The Hifiman have a more dynamic sound (dynamic driver) and also more treble presence but do suffer from a bit of an upper midrange/lower treble peak which can become fatiguing. The Noble are better built but not as comfortable, and the Noble are a little less engaging but are much better balanced across the frequency range without as many dips and peaks. The Sage is fuller, the RE800 is leaner but both have excellent separation and are both quite engaging IEM’s. With the ability to roll cables easily and the amount of accessories the Noble come with I would be more inclined to recommend them over the RE800.

64 Audio U6 (M20 module):
Now this isn’t a totally fair comparison as there is a bit of a price difference, but I thought I would included it anyway. So to start off with both have a fuller bodied sound but the Sage are more exciting and in your face whereas the U6 are more laid back and smoother. Upon first listen the Sage impresses a little more due to the exciting sound and more pronounced treble, but after some time with the U6 you realise that they are superbly refined and well textured. The U6 has a very wide soundstage in comparison, and their bass punch is more dynamic with a little extra sub-bass presence. The Sage is a little less refined overall and doesn’t quite match the layering and micro detail retrieval of the U6, however it does have a much more engaging sound signature. On this one the U6 has the upper hand in technicalities and can be tuned with modules and cables, however the Sage is more exciting and fun to listen to, some might find the U6 a little too boring and both are excellent IEM’s.



Cable pairing:
Now I know cables are a tricky subject but I am a believer in small changes between cables, and that finding the right cable to suit your needs is key (synergy). To be honest the stock cable is really good on these anyway and there is no real need to change it.

Effect Audio Ares II:
The Ares II gives the lows a little more bloom and body and the soundstage widens a little, treble response has a little more initial impact but extension feels a little cut-off. The sound tonally becomes a bit richer but still retains excellent separation, toms sound excellent with the Ares II. I found the lows to be a little too full for my liking with the Ares II but some will like this pairing.

Effect Audio Eros II:
The Eros II is one of my favourite current cables, what I like about it is that it doesn’t add too much flavour to the sound of the IEM’s. The bass still retains the body and articulation of the stock configuration but increases treble detail and also separation and soundstage are improved. The Eros II and Sage are an excellent pairing if you want to keep the stock fullness down low but want a little extra depth and detail.

Lavricables Reference Pure Silver:
Not the most ergonomic cable due to it being made out of solid core silver, but sound wise an excellent match for the Sage if you want a more neutral sound. This cable really tightens up the bass but without taking away extension. The midrange is largely unaffected but the highs now have extra impact and are a little better defined. Overall this cable takes away some of the fun that the Sage are built to deliver, but brings out a little extra sparkle up top and tightens up the bass response, I personally like this pairing but some might find the extra sparkle a little too much.

Toxic Cables Viper SPC (home-made):
The Viper adds some extra presence in the treble region without affecting the bass as much as the Lavricables Reference. The bass still has excellent punch and articulation, with the full body that the stock configuration has. The Viper just adds some more sparkle up top along with only slightly enhanced separation. This pairing is excellent if you want a little added sparkle without affecting the rest of the sound much.



Conclusion: The Sage is an easy recommendation at its price point, purely due to versatility. It does all genres quite well and is excellent as an everyday IEM. It has a more engaging sound signature that is well balanced from lows to highs with a little added body down low. They really don’t do anything wrong and are very easy to like, they will appeal to a lot of people. The performance they have squeezed out of 2 BA drivers is even more impressive, extension is good on both ends and the midrange is just really clean and enjoyable. This is definitely a case of implementation over quantity of drivers. My first Noble and I hope not my last as they clearly know what they are doing.


Sound Perfection Rating: 9/10 (Excellent musical IEM's that will appeal to many people)

Firstly I would like to thank Burson for this sample; I recently reviewed their V5i op-amps and was approached to review their new Cable+ Pro. Many out there are not believers in cables, but this is not just an analogue interconnect, it is an active buffer too. The cable has had more than 100hrs of burn-in, I couldn’t detect any real differences.

Gear Used: Chord Hugo > Burson Cable+ Pro > Feliks Audio Espressivo > HD800s (for A/B testing between another cable).
Now I use it in my home system and use it between my JDS Labs OL DAC and my Marantz PM-5005 which has the tape-out connected to my headphone amp.



Tech Specs:
Can be found on their website: https://www.bursonaudio.com/products/cable-plus-pro/
MSRP: $199

Packaging and Build quality:
The Cable+ Pro comes in a thin plastic box with the model on the front and some info on the back, the box really is nothing luxurious but then again once you have plugged the cables in you won’t need it. It protects the cable during shipping and holds the contents securely; inside you have the cable, micro USB cable and power supply.

The cable is superbly built with Canare cable and connectors, the active buffer is fully discrete and housed in a brushed aluminium shell with a simple micro USB input on the side. There is an LED that will let you know it is on. The cable is very well made and I see no issues with the build quality.

Just make sure you connect it the right way around as it is directional, and also to connect it to the mains power before powering on your equipment.



What it does:
Now Burson claim this cable is good for preventing impedance mismatching between components, now I personally did not know this was much of an issue.

Now there will be plenty of purists who will argue that putting extra circuitry in the signal path is going to degrade SQ, but I would let them hear this cable and tell me otherwise.

Here is what Burson have to say on the matter:

“Does this problem exist in audiophile systems?
Absolutely! Audiophile components come in much greater varieties when compared to those in pro-audio. Battery vs linear vs switching power supply designs, tube vs solid-state designs, discrete vs IC designs. Each has very different output impedance. This variety results in widespread impedance mismatch and it often exists between the source component and the preamp or integrated amplifier.
Many audiophiles are not aware that the performance gap between what they hear in the dealership demo and what they hear at home after the purchase is a direct result of impedance mismatching between the new machine and the rest of their system.

So why is it hardly ever mentioned?
Because no one in the HiFi industry, from manufacturers to dealers to established magazines want to talk about this problem. Imagine how many people (consumers) will be discouraged from this hobby if they knew how difficult it is to find two pieces of perfectly matched equipment? Furthermore, no manufacturer wants to publish a list of what matches and what doesn’t with each of their products. This industry, like any other, must simplify its message to keep its valued customers.”



Sound:
Now I did some A/B tests with this cable and a nice pair of Chord cables interconnects, it was impossible to volume match due to the slightly louder signal of the Cable+ Pro due to the buffer. The Cable+ Pro does not try to change the sound really, which in my opinion is a good thing. What I did notice was slightly better soundstage and imaging, and also the sound had better separation. The bass, midrange and treble didn’t exactly gain any added presence, however I felt like the presentation was more effortless, dynamic and with a hint of fullness to the sound.

Now these differences are not night and day, but are more easily audible than swapping out regular analogue interconnects. I found when switching back to the Chord cables that the music sounded a little lifeless and not as vivid, as if the dynamic range was reduced.

Conclusion: For the $199 price, this cable offers more improvement than upgrading to a pair of $199 analogue interconnects, and solves the issue of impedance mismatching, so what’s not to like. The build quality is top notch and there really are audible differences which I found to be beneficial.

Sound Perfection Rating: 10/10 (brings audible change with no snake oil)