Flux Lab Acoustics Flux Lab Acoustics is a Ukrainian company dedicated to the design and manufacturing of high-end audio products. The company is well regarded in the audiophile community and their portfolio includes many successful and well awarded products, like the Flux FCN-10 or the FA-12 headphone amplifiers. Their products are famous for combining excellent sonic performance and build quality at very reasonable prices. The Russian invasion of Ukraine ruined their business and Flux Lab Acoustics was forced to cease production. Thankfully none...

The iFi iDSD Diablo 2 is the successor of the original iFi iDSD Diablo which was one of the most powerful, battery powered portable DAC/amps in the market. This updated version of the product adds several new features as we are going to find out later on. Technical highlights The Diablo 2 is a battery powered DAC/amp that can be used at home and mobile. The DAC chip used is a Burr-Brown True Native chipset that offers ‘bit-perfect’ decoding. An XMOS 16-Core chip processes the audio data received via the USB and S/PDIF digital inputs while a GMT...

Introduction The Burson Playmate 2 is a compact sized, all-in-one DAC and headphone amplifier, representing a significant evolution from its predecessor, merging aesthetics with high-end functionality. The Playmate 2 is equipped with a single ES9038Q2M DAC chip and Xmos USB input, supporting high-resolution audio formats up to 32bit/768kHz PCM and DSD512. The unit is compatible with Android, Windows and Mac operating systems. The discrete headphone amplifier of the Playmate 2 is operating in pure class-A and offers 3W/16Ω with two gain levels for...

The Nova is the latest addition in Truthear’s catalog. A hybrid in-ear monitor consisting of 1DD and 4BA per side with a three way crossover. NOVA uses a 10mm diameter specialized dynamic driver to take charge of the bass and a composite full-frequency dual balanced armature driver which is responsible for mids and part of trebles. It is combined with a custom composite double balanced armature driver that is responsible for the trebles, further improving the bandwidth while matching the sensitivity of the mid-high frequency composite driver. Nova...

FiiO is a brand with great expertise in the field of in-ear monitors. Their extensive collection includes many models with various driver configurations and price tags. From the entry level 1DD FiiO JD3 to their previous flagship, the 1DD+6BA FiiO FH9. Yes, you have read that correctly, their previous flagship because the new one is the FiiO FX15. The first tribrid earphone by FiiO to include electrostatic drivers. Technical The FiiO FX15 is an 1DD, 1BA and 4 electrostatic drivers, tribrid earphone, the first such made by FiiO. For the low...

Introduction Drop has made some excellent collaborations during the past ten or so years and produced many, award winning, headphone amplifiers but all of them were solid state or tube hybrids. Thus Drop + xDuoo TA-84 is their first, all-tube headphone amplifier with an OTL topology. Technical highlights The amplifier is a collaboration between Drop and the Chinese manufacturer xDuoo who has a great expertise in the field of tube amplifiers. Drop + xDuoo TA-84 utilizes Output Transformerless (OTL) topology to manage signal without a transformer...

AUNE Yuki The Aune Yuki is a portable USB DAC/amp with a detachable type-C cable and two headphone outputs, one 3.5mm and one 4.4mm balanced. The Yuki is equipped with dual CS43198 DAC chips in a balanced configuration with two independent channels for better dynamics and separation. The uniqueness of the Yuki is that Aune has opted for a discrete headphone amplifier instead of using ready made op-amps. It is a 4-way balanced, headphone amplifier circuit with 4x4 transistors to drive the output. A total of 16 transistors that require a specially...

The S15 is the successor of the popular S12 PRO earphone. An updated version that features a third generation, 14.8mm planar dual chamber driver. To ensure smooth transitions between the octaves, LETSHUOER S15 employs a dual acoustic tube structure with filter crossover scheme. Furthermore, a 6mm passive filtering module outside the planar driver, which uses the in-house developed R-Sonic Dynamic Harmonic Technology, is used for positive filtering of sound energy through proprietary filters. Non Audio stuff The earshells of the S15 are made from...

The R7 was FiiO's first all-in-one desktop device to combine a DAC, a headphone amplifier, a preamplifier and a media streamer with an LCD touch screen under the same hood. A multifunction, compact sized, device with multiple digital and analog connections and all the benefits of using the Android operating system exactly like you do in a DAP. The FiiO R9, which builds on the success of the R7, is the new flagship media streamer with many updates over the R7. Technical highlights Gone is the single ES9068AS DAC decoder of the R7, the R9 features...

Intro Everyone who is streaming music should be familiar with the Volumio OS as it is one of the most popular and widespread operating systems with thousands of installations in various streamers. Not only is it free to download and install but it is also used by many well known audio manufacturers as the basis for developing their own software. Volumio Primo Volumio is the company behind the Volumio OS and what most people don't know is that they also make their own streaming audio devices. Volumio uses sophisticated hardware with high quality...

The FiiO FT5 is a full sized, open back planar magnetic headphone with a 90mm large-sized driver unit. This driver adopts a 6um ultra-thin diaphragm with a precisely crafted micron-plated aluminum silver alloy voice coil. The driver is produced using a nanoscale-level coating process for enhanced sound reproduction. Technical specifications Non Audio stuff There is no plastic used in the FiiO FT5, the whole frame, the headband and the ear-cups are made from aluminum - magnesium alloy. The self-adjusting headband has an extra leatherette floating...

The Sivga Nightingale is a planar magnetic earphone with a single 14.5mm, dual magnetic, driver. The dual magnetic field rectangular array structure features exceptional transmission sensitivity and impressive transient response. It leverages magnetic mechanics to thoughtfully pair two sets of high-performance rare earth iron boron magnets, resulting in a significant boost in efficiency compared to standard configurations. Non Audio Stuff The ear-shells are made from aluminum-magnesium alloy with a solid wooden faceplate that is hand polished to...

The Arya is one of the most famous HIFIMAN headphones and the first step towards the company's higher-end models. The Arya was first introduced back in 2018 and since then underwent two revisions, the V2 around 2020 and recently was equipped with the stealth magnets to become the Arya Stealth. The Arya Organic uses the stealth magnets system but its diaphragm is thinner than the one found in the Arya Stealth. Non Audio stuff The Arya Organic is identical looking to the Stealth version except for the outside perimeter of the ear-cups that has a...

The EM6L is the successor and an updated version of the much renowned SIMGOT EM5. It is a hybrid earphone which combines an 8mm, custom-designed, high-polymer diaphragm, dual-cavity dynamic driver to handle mid-to-low frequencies and two sets of balanced armature drivers to take charge of the mid-to-high and high frequencies. With meticulously set crossover points and precise tuning techniques the SIMGOT EM6L has been designed and tuned to adhere to the H-2019 Target Curve. Non audio stuff The ear-shells of the EM6L combine a black resin-compound...

The Ananda Nano is the latest version of the popular HIFIMAN headphones, following the success of the Ananda in 2018. It retains the stealth magnets from the previous models, but now features a thinner diaphragm based on the renowned Susvara design. This new diaphragm offers improved sound quality with lower distortion, faster response, and enhanced dynamics and details. For those unfamiliar with the HIFIMAN Stealth magnets, they have a unique shape that allows sound waves to pass through without causing any interference. This innovative design...

ISN NEO 5 Review ISN Audio is an earphones brand exclusive to Penon Audio with many successful products like the ISN H30 and their flagship, the ISN EST50. The ISN NEO 5 is a new hybrid earphone with 5 drivers per side. A 10mm dynamic driver for the low frequencies and 4 Knowles BA drivers for the mids and the highs. Non Audio Stuff The ISN NEO 5 ear-shells are made from medical grade resin in a semi-transparent purple color. They are anatomically shaped with a custom-like design following the natural curves or the ear. The ear-shells are...

iFi NEO iDSD 2 The iFi NEO iDSD 2 is the upgraded version of the NEO iDSD, which received a lot of praise but had a few small problems. The NEO iDSD 2 comes with a bunch of new features and improvements compared to its predecessor. This versatile device can be used in three different ways. Firstly, it can be connected to headphones as a Head-Fi DAC/Amp, providing an excellent audio experience. Secondly, it can function as a pure DAC when paired with integrated amplifiers. Lastly, it can serve as a DAC/Preamp for active speakers and power...

Aune Audio S17 Pro The Aune S17 Pro is a pure Class A headphone amplifier that is completely discrete and balanced. It utilizes twin JFET, a type of transistor known for its high input impedance and warm sound similar to a vacuum tube. This makes it perfect for a headphone amplifier. In the final output stage, the S17 Pro employs two pairs of output transistors per phase arranged in parallel. With a total of 16 output transistors, it can deliver a maximum power output of 7.5W per channel. Full technical specifications The Aune S17 Pro comes with...

HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite The Zeus Elite has undergone enhancements and advancements compared to its predecessor, the Zeus. One notable improvement is the incorporation of a 50mm long-stroke layered diaphragm, consisting of two layers of inert composite film sheets held together by a layer of acoustic adhesive. This arrangement ensures stability for the membrane. Additionally, the diaphragm is complemented by an ultralight Japanese Daichi CCAW premium voice coil. This sandwich configuration guarantees a more consistent distribution of vibrations...

SMSL D6S SMSL is a well-known audio brand from China that specializes in designing amplifiers, headphone amplifiers, and DACs. They are known for being fast and among the first in the industry to use the newest DAC chips in their products. One of their products, the SMSL D6S, is a standalone DAC that features the brand new ESS ES9039Q2M DAC chip. This chip is an updated version of the widely used ES9038Q2M found in many DACs worldwide. The upgraded ES9039Q2M chip utilizes the HyperStream IV architecture, which improves performance compared to the...