Headphones & Audiophile
Headphone and hi-fi reviews, measurements, new gear, deals, vinyl and value for money for discerning listeners.
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This reading list brings together items from the sources selected for Headphones & Audiophile. Open each item at its original source for the complete article, episode or video. This is a selection of current coverage, not a complete archive.
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The Watercooler Headphone Edition – TOUR THREAD (see second post for active tours)
The Watercooler Headphone Edition – TOUR THREADWelcome! We now have a headphones tour thread. Similar to the Watercooler tour thread for portable audio, this thread will facilitate tours of full-size headphone demos for community members interested in demoing headphones and/or providing feedback. Spoiler: Eligibility Who is eligible? The tours are offered for active Head-Fi community members. To be eligible to
For those of us with multiple headphones, which ones are you listening with now?
I am using my Koss PortaPro's right now.
Heavy Metal Haven! The headbangers home for IEMs, HP, Music, and all things heavy!
HEAVY METAL HAVEN!! A thread designed by a headbanger for headbangers to discuss and share the very best IEM's, headphones, gear, and music for heavy metal and hard rock! I'm your host, @FreeWheelinAudioLuv2 (Charlie), and all are welcome! Let me start with sharing my top 30 BEST sets for metal in my opinion, and I'm sharing some of my favorite metal albums that are currently available on Bandcamp. Feel free to share your favorite MUSIC, gear, and... Read more
Looking for people with odd DACs to break a free Mac player before its 1.0
Hi all. I've been building a free, open-source (GPL-3.0) music player for macOS called Vespertine, and I'd like it to fail on your hardware now rather than on launch day in November. What it's for: surround and hi-res collections. Multichannel FLAC, extracted SACD tracks, DTS CDs, TrueHD and DTS-HD MA share one library with your stereo albums, and play as head-tracked Spatial Audio on AirPods or folded down on a stereo DAC. It switches the DAC to each track's native rate and depth, plays... Read more
Unlock Your Headphones: Introducing the UP Play & UP Play Max
Introducing the UP Play & The UP Play MAX Southport, UK: iFi audio are proud to unveil their most compact and portable Bluetooth transmitter yet – the UP Play. The UP Play offers an instant upgrade for the Bluetooth capabilities of any device, with a range of codecs and features for music, gaming and productivity. Use the built-in microphone with Qualcomm cVc noise suppression technology to takecrystal-clear calls and chat in-game, lose yourself in... Read more
Hugo TT 2 by Chord Electronics - The Official Thread
The world’s most advanced Table Top DAC, preamp and headphone amp just got better. In every way! Hello, Hugo TT 2. Hugo TT 2 has been radically redesigned from the ground up, not only with beautiful new casework by Chief Designer, John Franks, but with 5x the processing power of the original Hugo TT and double that of the multi-award-winning Hugo 2. Hugo TT 2... Read more
Grell Audio OAE2 Audiophile Headphones
Seeing that it is official, time for its own thread. Grell Audio "OAE2" Jermo K said: We'll launch first beginning of December in Germany and Austria, and follow up with the UK and the rest of continental Europe in the following weeks depending on local demand. Click to expand... https://en.grellaudio.com/ JFYI...to Quo
Diamond-Coated Nano-Diaphragm Open-Back Planar Over-Ear Headphones FIIO FT15 is Now Officially Launched!
Diamond-Coated Nano-Diaphragm Planar Over-Ear Headphones FIIO FT15 is Now Officially Launched! Generational thinness: 800nm ultra-thin diaphragm—86.7% thinner than the previous generation—for instant response and a refined, pure sonic foundation. Pioneering coating: Proprietary full-face diamond coating delivers outstanding rigidity and acoustic performance, with frequency response extending to 40kHz. Expansive soundstage: 101mm large drivers... Read more
What do you look for in an iOS music player for your own music library?
Hey everyone, I've been exploring what makes a good music-listening experience on iOS, especially for people who have their own lossless music libraries and use headphones or IEMs. I'm curious what players people here use and what you feel is missing from the current options. Things like EQ flexibility, bit-perfect playback, ReplayGain, external DAC support, and transparency about the audio signal path are particularly interesting to me. I've also been working on an iOS music player... Read more
DX340 iBasso developed Discrete DAC, ***AMP19 JUST out and shipping!
Headfinics Review of the DX340 and the AMP16. Be sure and read as there is a lot of information that can be helpful! ***. https://headfonics.com/ibasso-dx340-review/. *** Issue Feedback Instrucitons DX340 and other DX models with the Feedback Option: 1. Can the DX340 power on when the DX340 is not connected to a charger? If so, the battery is not loose. 2. Does the green charge icon constantly show on the screen? If so, that means the DX340 is charging. 3. Does it... Read more
Viva Egoista 845 SET Tube amplifier 10K Headphone Masterpiece
The Viva Egolista is a 845 SET triode amplifier designed and made in Italy. Amedeo Schembri has been making world class tube amps for speakers. The 15W Egolista can be finished in any automotive paint finish and is available for custom order. The 10K price make this one if the most expensive amplifiers for headphones manufactured. The 845 tubes are unique legendary triodes that are designed and available in speaker amp designs and used here in this headphone only... Read more
Loewe luxury Headphones
Loewe now manufactures luxury headphones ... costing around 100,000 euros. Who developed the headphone component, Loewe itself or was it purchased from another supplier? Has anyone here had the opportunity to listen to them? https://www.loewe.tv/int/en/loewe/audio/headphone https://www.loewe.tv/int/en/audio/headphone/noir-rainbow/2758897 https://www.loewe.tv/int/en/audio/headphone/noir-rainbow/2758897#product-gallery
Cayin HA-300MK3 TOTL Third-Generation Transformer-Coupled Direct Heated Triode Class A Tube Headphone / Speaker Amplifier
Cayin HA-300MK3 The Cayin HA-300 MK3 represents the third-generation evolution of Cayin’s 300B headphone amplifier platform, refining both circuit architecture and industrial design. Building upon the acclaimed MK2, the MK3 introduces a fully upgraded wide-bandwidth transformer system, improved power delivery topology, and enhanced compatibility with headphones—from sensitive IEMs to demanding high-impedance full-size designs. At its core, the HA-300 MK3 remains a purist... Read more
[FiiO BTR17/BTR7] True Lossless Bluetooth, Portable Bluetooth DAC and Headphone Amplifier BTR17 Is Officially Released!
One picture to learn about BTR7 Where to buy: The BTR7 is available on our AliExpress Official Store. Click the link below to take it home right away. Aliexpress link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004473518477.html Worldwide Sales agents: https://www.fiio.com/wheretobuy FiiO BTR7 FAQ, Video page: https://www.fiio.com/btr7_faq FiiO BTR7 Firmware download page: Click here How to upgrade the BTR7: Click here THX... R
Pictures metaphoring the sound of your headphones
HD 800: HD600: HD650 A picture is better than a thousand words. This post was adapted from a chinese website. Using words to describe sound is not accurate and too personal. I think using pictures are much better way to express the feeling of sound, more strait forward and vivid, easy to understand.
High-end headphone amp with a true power-amp / bypass mode?
I’m looking for a high-end headphone amplifier that can function as a true headphone power amp, and I’d love to hear some recommendations. My main preamp is a Naim NAC 252 + SuperCap DR, and I’d really like to take advantage of the 252 rather than running the signal through another preamp/volume stage inside the headphone amplifier. Ideally, the system would be: DAC / Source → Naim NAC 252 → Headphone Power Amp → Headphones So what I’m really looking for is a... Read more
Introducing Shanling Q2 - Stylish Compact Portable Hi-Fi Player
Return of our stylish line of compact portable players Find all Shanling Q2 details on our website: https://en.shanling.com/product/500 Shanling Q2 is a follow-up to our older Q1 portable Hi-Res music player. Combining modern Hi-Fi designs into a smaller player that opts for a simpler and rounder design. Perfectly combining a stylish look with Audio performance. Inspired by traditional music players, Q2 features a touch wheel controller, used alongside the 2-inch... Read more
New to IEMs looking for recommendations that have “speaker like” qualities
Pretty new to the ever changing IEM game and am looking for recs for engaging and fast sounding earphones that have qualities that resemble a good pair of speakers. Currently running with the Z1r and Meze alba. While I like both, they don’t have that wow factor for me that good speakers have. Trying to keep the budget under $2000
Geshelli Torc DAC - modular flagship dac
This dac went on sale tonight for black friday, it appears to be the spiritual successor to their Dayzee dac, but is super modular with replaceable DAC CHIP cards, opamps and even Input Socket cards. I'm super excited for the possibility of a geshelli R2R dac card or perhaps dac cards with super high end sc-cut oxco chips in the future It's available in black, red or silver with a choice of button LED ring colors.. I wish they had a photo of the red case. I went with the "safe" choice of... Read more
All new LAiV Crescendo VERSE: DAC + Pre + Amp all-in-one!
LAiV has just launched the VERSE, debutting the first in the Crescendo series that seeks to create more affordable and compact audio solutions. VERSE is a compact all-in-one solution combining a high-performance LAiV R-2R DAC, a discrete output buffered preamplifier, and a fully discrete headphone amplifier. This news came unexpected as they kept VERSE in the dark only until 2 weeks ago! The VERSE is certainly welcome in a world of... Read more
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