Headphones & Audiophile

• TThe ecoustics podcast2026-10-13Audio✓ Read

  Nobody Told the CD It Was Dead: Physical Media Is Surging Again and Streaming Can’t Kill It

  CDs were supposed to be finished, vinyl was supposed to be a fad, and streaming was supposed to make owning music unnecessary. The latest RIAA numbers tell a very different story. In this episode, eCoustics Editor-in-Chief Ian White joins Podcast Editor and Producer Mitch Anderson to unpack why U.S. CD revenue surged 58.6% in the first half of 2026, vinyl revenue climbed another 17.7%, and physical music revenue overall jumped 25.9%.

  TPlay audio
• HHeadphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org2026-10-13✓ Read

  Amp for hedd d1

  Hi everyone, I own the hedd d1 and I'm currently using them with a WiiM Ultra, a Topping DX3 Pro+, and a FiiO K13 R2R. I really love these headphones, but they sound a bit too bright with the Topping, especially at moderately high volumes. On the other hand, the FiiO feels like a better pairing tonally, but the headphones seem to lose dynamics and detail. For now, I would like to use the WiiM Ultra as a dac and add a dedicated amp that can deliver detail and precision while smoothing out the... Read more

  H
• AAudio Science Review (ASR) Forum2026-10-13✓ Read

  Is the "audiophile measurement mafia" to blame for the hi-fi market being flooded with systems that lack audiophile dynamic range?

  Actual reproduced dynamics is an underrated variable among audiophiles. Among audiophiles knowledgeable in the psychology of sound perception, there is a consensus that an audiophile-system should be able to handle brief peaks exceeding 120 dB without audible distortion. Such peaks do not cause hearing damage, provided they are very short and do not significantly exceed the 120 dB level. Older cinema sound systems were often capable of reaching 120 dB, except in the lowest bass frequencies... Read more

  A

Know a source we’re missing? Tell us about it