Click any image for larger (1200 x 800) version  INTRODUCTION Warning – completely subjective views below    I enjoy the second order harmonic distortion from tubes. Very early on when I was getting back into audio, I had the chance to test and review a PortaTube tube based portable amp, and I loved it. It had plenty of power, very good resolution, and a rich tonality which was mesmerising - but without losing any detail. Anyone who knows me well will recognise that the one thing I don’t particularly like is warmth and darkness (i.e. bassy, overly...

Click any image for larger (1200 x 800) version  INTRODUCTION Choosing a portable or transportable set-up can be a daunting choice – especially for anyone new to the audio game.  Do I need an amp?  What are the improvements I can expect? Are there advantages over having a DAC/amp combo? Does spending a lot more guarantee me good sound? What am I missing out on? It can be a minefield with many differing opinions, and a lot of different subjective opinions.   In tandem with that is the many opinions tendered on what adding a new amp or amp/DAC can...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION I’ve loved Sennheiser products for a long time now. The very first headphone I owned was a pair of Sennheiser eh250, and by the time I finished with them (many years later), they only needed a new pair of pads, and I passed them onto a friend (who as far as I know still uses them). I’ve owned 3 pairs of HD600s (latest pair will never be sold – I was always trying to search for something better, but I’ve come to the realisation that for what they...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing a lot of triple hybrids over the last few years, and was heavily involved in the reviews and tours when products like the Altone200 and Dunu DN-1000 captured the enthusiasts attention with triple hybrids appearing for the first time at sub $200.  Since then we’ve seen some absolutely excellent triple hybrids in the 250-350 bracket including Fidue’s A83, Dunu’s DN2000 and 2000J, and recently the FLC8S. The idea...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION The last twelve months have been a journey of discovery for me with wireless technology getting better, and the ease of mobility with music (and no cables) slowly coming to fruition. I haven’t tried a lot of wireless gear so far, and my brief forays with wireless ear or headphones has been with the Brainwavz Blu100 IEM, Axgio Sprint IEM, and more recently the Ausdom M05 Bluetooth headphone.  I’m not an expert – but I know what I like, and while...

For larger (1200 x 800) images, click any picture INTRODUCTION This is going to be a pretty short review by my standards (do I hear you letting a sigh of relief?).  I reviewed FiiO's TOTL Android based touch screen DAP – the X7 – in early November. At the time I gave it a 4/5 (80%), mainly due to the early firmware version, and some missing features in the UI. If I was to review the X7 today, my only con, or issue, would be the battery life.  I’ve got used to the size, and the latest updates (now at firmware version 1.8) have improved the X7 to the...

To view images fill size (1200 x 800), simply click any image in the review   INTRODUCTION For many newcomers to portable audio, especially in this community, Fiio has been a good choice for their portable audio players, and also their amps and DACs.  They have a very good range of product from entry point through to top of the line.  Many of their players also have their own DACs, and for a lot of users will also double as desktop equipment – for our laptops, PCs, etc.   But the issue with this has often been twofold: Generally when we’re...

  The L5 Pro was provided to me gratis as a review sample.  I have made it clear to L&P that I still regard any product they send me as their sole property and available for return any time at their request. But I thank them for the ability to continue use of the L5 Pro – both for follow up comparisons and also for my own personal use.   INTRODUCTION I’ve been reviewer on Head-Fi for some time now, and one of the distinct advantages I’ve had is being able to listen to, and compare, equipment that would normally be beyond my frugal budget...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION My introduction to DUNU Topsound (almost two years ago) was with their triple hybrid DN-1000, which rapidly became a hit with Head-Fi buyers, and was one of the first triple hybrid IEMs to show that top quality could be achieved at an affordable price. Since then DUNU has been a consistent performer, releasing a string of very good IEMs, including the exceptional DN2000J, and extremely well regarded Titan. Their latest releases have been the...

For larger images (1200 x 800 - simply click the image) INTRODUCTION   For many newcomers, choosing an amp or amp/DAC is a minefield given the many options and price points available now. Coupled with that is the many opinions tendered on what adding a new amp or amp/DAC can bring to the table in terms of clarity! details! soundstage! As I’ve gained a lot more experience, and (more importantly) tested more, I’ve come to realise that many of the differences I thought I’d previously heard are pretty subtle, and mostly occur because I wasn’t volume...

For larger (1200 x 800) views, click any image INTRODUCTION I’ve spent a little time with Lee from Venture Electronics over the last few months, emailing backwards and forwards, and really getting coming to understand who VE is and what their philosophy is. But first let’s step back a little and look at how I came to be reviewing the Zen V2 today.   I’d heard a little about the VE Zen previously on the forums, and it had been one to pique my interest – especially when I read the initial reviews. So when my friend Tamal (RedJohn456) contacted me...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION The one piece of gear I’d been extremely interested in, but still hadn’t found, is a decent portable wireless headphone or earphone.  I’ve tried some decent sounding earphones over the last year, but they’ve all had issues – with either Bluetooth cut-outs, or battery life, or comfort, or sonics.   So when I started seeing comments about a new player in the market, I approached Ausdom, to ask if it would be possible to get one of their units for...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION Brainwavz is a well-established manufacturer of headphones in the value for money category – offering many different options (especially for IEMs) that suit almost anyone’s sonic preferences. 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 performers when they were introduced. I’ve also sampled and...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION My introduction to DUNU Topsound (almost two years ago) was with their triple hybrid DN-1000, which rapidly became a hit with Head-Fi buyers, and was one of the first triple hybrid IEMs to show that top quality could be achieved at an affordable price. Since then DUNU has been a consistent performer, releasing a string of very good IEMs, including the exceptional DN2000J, and extremely well regarded Titan. I’ve used this introduction before...

For larger images (1200 x 800), click individual photos INTRODUCTION My journey through Head-Fi has been interesting, and in my early days I was pretty naïve about what an amplifier did (wow – gotta amp everything - the increase in clarity, details, soundstage!) Over time, as I gained more knowledge, experimented and (more importantly) tested, I began to realise that those benefits I was sure I heard, had mostly come about by simply turning the volume up.  And with the amps I was using, I wasn’t volume matching when comparing.  Once I actually...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION Brainwavz is a well-established manufacturer of headphones in the value for money category – offering many different options (especially for IEMs) that suit almost anyone’s sonic preferences. 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 performers when they were introduced. I’ve also sampled and...

For larger images - please click individual photos INTRODUCTION I’m spoilt for choice with the DAPs I have – owning the Fiio X1, X5, X3ii, and having access to review samples for the X5ii, L&P5, L5 Pro.  I’ve used them all (a lot) over the last couple of years – and up until now, the X3ii has been my main go to portable DAP for daily use. In the last couple of months though, I’ve been fortunate to be able to put the L5 Pro and now the new Fiio X7 through their paces.   I’ve been using Fiio audio equipment for close to four years now (amps, DACs ...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION I’d heard a little about the VE Zen previously on the forums, and it had been one to pique my interest given the glowing reviews it has received as a top of the line earbud. I have to be reasonably careful about what I actually buy (mortgage and growing family), so I was hoping there would be an Australasian tour at some stage so I’d have a chance to hear and review them. Then out of the blue my friend Tamal (RedJohn456) contacted me with an...

For larger views of any of the photos (1200 x 800) - please click on the individual images INTRODUCTION My introduction to Alclair was back in March this year, when I won 2nd prize in a competition hosted by iFi Audio, in association with Alclair, Music Direct and Native DSD Music. Part of that prize was a pair of Alclair Curve IEMs – and I reviewed them HERE.  My recommendations to Alclair based on the original Curve were: To look at expanding the accessory package Retune the drivers to remove some of the mid-bass, and lift the upper mid-range...

For larger (1200x800) images, simply click any photo INTRODUCTION When I first came to Head-Fi I was naturally curious about portable amps. When I got my first one (the old E7) I was blown away – the increase in clarity, details, soundstage! Then over time, as I read more, experimented more, and (more importantly) tested more, I can to realise that those benefits I was sure I heard, had mostly come about by simply turning the volume up.  And with the portable amps I was using, I wasn’t volume matching when comparing.  Once I actually started...