For larger (1200 x 800) images, click any picture (the above photo is one of FiiO's stock images - credit to them for the fine photography) INTRODUCTION   I'm pretty much a cable agnostic. I don't believe in magic – I do believe in measurable changes, and do believe they can affect the sound to a certain extent. But the stuff they change can be measured, and as long as we don't try to look for something that's not really there, then I have no issues. I'm usually a sceptic regarding some of the claims that cables can make – and experimenting has...

For larger (1200 x 800) images, click any picture (the above photo is one of FiiO's stock images - credit to them for the fine photography) INTRODUCTION   I'm pretty much a cable agnostic. I don't believe in magic – I do believe in measurable changes, and do believe they can affect the sound to a certain extent. But the stuff they change can be measured, and as long as we don't try to look for something that's not really there, then I have no issues. I'm usually a sceptic regarding some of the claims that cables can make – and experimenting has...

For larger views of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images   INTRODUCTION If you'd asked me my thoughts on ear-buds a few years ago – I would probably have turned up my nose a little, and my thoughts would have been cast back to the cheap buds you'd get with your MP3 player. Even when Apple started with their first ear-buds, they were lacking bass and nothing to really write home about. All that changed when I was introduced to Venture Electronics ear-bud range (Monk, Asura and Zen), and I learned just how good a properly...

For larger (1200 x 800) images, click any picture INTRODUCTION   A lot of you will see the style and information with this review as being pretty similar to the one I did on the AM2 and AM5. And the reality is that a lot of the physical aspects are very much the same. So for similarity I can't do much about it. I can assure you however that I performed the same testing, and the same comparisons I've done previously. I reviewed FiiO's TOTL Android based touch screen DAP – the X7 – in early November 2015, the AM2 module in February 2016, and the AM5...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION   Firstly I want to thank a local NZ Head-Fier (AudioDHD) for allowing me to spend some time with his QT5. Scott I owe you.   Its been my practise not to review any IEMs I regard as truly awful – as usually any hype they get will die down as more people review them and the inconsistencies or issues become noticed. I'll usually alert the manufacturer, give them feedback, and return the goods. It happens rarely. This review in an exception.  ...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION Firstly I want to shout out to Mark (Head-Fier d marc0) for working with Ken Ball from ALO/Campfire for making this tour possible, and also for inviting me. Secondly I’d like to thank Ken once again for letting the tour go ahead. So far I've managed to review the Campfire Orion (which I thought was a spectacular IEM), and I've also heard prototypes of the Andromeda (hopefully I'll get the chance to hear the final version at some stage). I chose...

For larger views of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images   INTRODUCTION   The FLC8S was one of those IEMs which burst onto the scene with practically no warning, and before I knew it, had become very popular with a very loyal and vocal fan base. I wanted to try them for the purposes of a review (to see if the tuning did indeed live up to the hype) – but I've had a policy of not soliciting review samples for a while now (preferring vendors to approach me). Some may think this strange, but in my own way I find it easier to...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION   My first experience with T-Peos was a couple of years ago, when I had the chance to review their (at the time) new budget based triple hybrid IEM – the Altone 200. The Altone 200 set a new benchmark for me in sonic signature – especially at the introductory price (at the time) of USD 125.00 – an incredible value. In fact I was so impressed that I actually purchased the Altone from T-Peos and they remain one of my favourites even to this day...

For larger views of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION   Following the successful launch of the initial Trinity range on Kickstarter, Bob (Trinity's CEO and lead designer) received a lot of calls for a sport suitable IEM. So even before the initial campaign ended, he was designing a new model using the original Delta hybrid configuration of their own dynamic driver paired with a custom tuned BA. This time it was placed in a more ergonomic chamber and a waterproof coating was added along with a shorter third...

For larger views of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION   I've been working with Trinity (Trinity Audio Engineering) for almost a couple of years now. I don't get paid, but I do get listened to, and it has given me the opportunity to be part of the development process. Basically I try the new prototypes, give my feedback, and then it is up to Bob (the man who is the brains behind Trinity's product range) who ultimately makes the decisions on how to proceed – and whether to incorporate our feedback (myself...

For larger views of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION   I've had the pleasure of listening to most of DUNU Topsound's hybrid earphones (DN1000, 2000 and 2000J), and also their Titan series (1, 3 and 5), and the thing that has always struck me with DUNU has been the quality of their products, and the innovation in their design. So when Vivian first started talking about producing a multi-driver hybrid statement line (2002, 3001 and 4001), I was naturally curious. So far I've really liked most of their...

For larger views of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION As a hobbyist reviewer, the one thing I've noticed with virtually all the manufacturers I've dealt with is a huge passion for what they do, and also a desire for continual improvement. I've been dealing with Lee from Venture Electronics for a bit over a year, and have so far had the pleasure of reviewing VE's Zen, Zen2 and Asura2 ear-buds and Runabout amplifier. I also have in my possession (and in my long review queue) the Monk and Monk Plus ear-buds...

For larger (1200 x 800) images, click any picture INTRODUCTION   The RM1 is a very small and quite versatile Blue-tooth controller unit. This one came out of the “blue” a little – although I can see the reason for FiiO developing it as a natural accompaniment to the X7 with its wireless capability. So let's skip the usual preamble and get down to the specifics – how well does it work, and is it worth your investment.   ABOUT FIIO By now, most Head-Fi members should know about the FiiO Electronics Company. If you don’t, here’s a very short...

For larger images (1200 x 800 - please click any photo) INTRODUCTION   Brainwavz is a company that has a good name at the lower end of the price market when it comes to portable audio, and they've specialised particularly in the $20 - $100 end of the market, offering many choices which should give options to suit most people's budget and individual preference. I’ve previously had both good and bad experiences with their headphones / IEMs – I previously reviewed and owned their B2 IEMs and HM5 headphones, and I have fond memories of both as stellar...

For larger (1200 x 800) images, click any picture INTRODUCTION   A lot of you will see the style and information with this review as being pretty similar to the one I did on the AM2. And the reality is that a lot of the physical aspects are very much the same. So for similarity I can't do much about it. I can assure you however that I performed the same testing, and the same comparisons I've done previously. I reviewed FiiO's TOTL Android based touch screen DAP – the X7 – in early November, and the AM2 module in February.   For my full review of...

For larger views of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION This is going to be a long review – I'll get that out up front. My time with the U6 has been a journey, and I need to cover quite a bit of it – because without understanding that journey, you won't really get a proper understanding of how much my feelings toward the U6 have changed over time. Preamble As a bit of a preamble, I had an accident with my hearing about 17 years ago. I'd always had pretty good hearing, and even back then I wouldn't...

For larger views of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION As a hobbyist reviewer, the one thing I've noticed with virtually all the manufacturers I've dealt with is a huge passion for what they do, and also a desire for continual improvement. I've been dealing with Lee from Venture Electronics for a bit over a year, and have so far had the pleasure of reviewing VE's Zen, Zen2 ear-buds and Runabout amplifier. I also have in my possession (and in my long review queue) the Monk and Monk Plus ear-buds, the...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION Playing around with the FiiO A1 over the last few weeks has taken me back a few years to when I first joined Head-Fi. My first amplifier back then was the FiiO E7, and naturally I was hugely proud of my new stack (iPod Gen 4 > lineout > E7).  And I marvelled at the changes – the increased clarity, detail, and soundstage! Over the years, I’ve come to realise that the perceived benefits at the time were mostly because I wasn’t volume matching at the...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION I’d never heard of the PerfectSound brand, and to be honest I still wouldn’t know about them until George from Gear Best contacted me about reviewing a headphone.  We duly arranged for me to be sent a pair, and they arrived in the first week of March.   I hadn’t done any prior research on them, so I guess I was a little surprised when I saw the M100 in person – I guess it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Anyway – I had a quick listen and then...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION Firstly I want to shout out to Mark (Head-Fier d marc0) for working with Ken Ball from ALO/Campfire for making this tour possible, and also for inviting me. Secondly I’d like to thank Ken for making this possible. I know you’re getting exposure for your product range mate – but it is a wonderful thing to give us this opportunity. There were a lot of ways I could tackle this introduction, but I thought I’d take you all on a bit of a different...