Introduction Hi Guys, Today we are taking a look at the fairly recently released DAC/Amp combo unit from iFi, the Neo iDSD 2. I reviewed the first Neo iDSD a couple of years ago, so I was looking forward to hearing how the second incarnation had changed and how it stacked up compared to its predecessor. For the rest of this review, I’ll refer to the unit as the Neo 2. The Neo 2 has some big changes in comparison to the Neo 1, but in terms of looks, it is fairly similar. It can be used either horizontally or vertically, which is handy for tight...

Introduction Hi Guys, Today we are talking about the current Flagship headphones from ZMF, the Caldera. This is ZMF’s first entirely in-house designed and built planar magnetic headphone, and although ZMF has become mostly known for their high impedance dynamic driver headphones, the company’s roots are in providing modifications of Fostex T50 planar magnetics. Sadly, I’ve never actually heard any of ZMF’s older T50 modifications, but they had a bit of a cult following and there are still many people using them out there to this very day. Thankfully...

Hi Guys, Today we are taking a look at a new product from iFi Audio, the iDSD Diablo 2. This is the most recent iteration in their Micro iDSD lineup, of which I am a long-term fan. The Micro iDSD lineup has always offered a great set of features and performance for their price point, making them a default recommendation for anyone looking for a great transportable headphone DAC/Amp combo unit. The new Diablo 2 has a couple of different features that are new for the Micro iDSD lineup, whilst it is lacking some of the features others have (similar to...

Introduction Hi Guys, Today we are taking a look at the most recent flagship planar magnetic headphones from Giant in the space, the LCD-5 from Audeze. Audeze made their name as part of the early planar magnetic headphone resurgence about a decade and a half ago with headphones like the LCD-1, and original LCD-2. Since then, in terms of flagship headphones from Audeze, we have seen the LCD-3, LCD-4, and LCD-5. I have owned the LCD-3 and LCD-4 long term and was really interested in what the LCD-5 was like as it was such a massive departure from both...

Introduction Today we are taking a look at a very interesting headphone from Audeze. Now, the immediate assumption is that if a headphone is an Audeze, it’s a Planar Magnetic. In this case, however, The CRBN is an electrostatic pair of headphones, Audezes first foray into this product category. The CRBN, and more specifically their driver technology, is slightly different from traditional electrostatic headphones and is derived from a driver that Audeze made for use in MRI machines. This meant that no metal could be used within the driver’s makeup...

Introduction Hi Guys, Today we are taking a look at a new true wireless set of earphones from Hifiman, the Svanar Wireless. Hifiman recently released their new top-of-the-line earphones, simply called the Svanar, which are a replacement for their RE2000 Gold earphones which were released around the same time as the Susvara headphones (2017.) I enjoyed and bought both the RE2000 Gold, and RE2000 Silver, and was curious what the new Svanar TWS might bring to the table in terms of performance whilst being an entirely different product category (wired...

Hi Guys, Today we are taking a look at a product that is a first for me, from a company called EarMen. EarMen is a Chicago/Serbia based affordable portable audio based sub company of Auris Audio, a maker of high end tube gear. The piece of gear in question is called the Angel, a portable DAC/Amp combo unit. I have a fair amount of experience with pieces of equipment similar to this, particularly from iFi Audio, so I was really interested to see what EarMens take on the product type would turn out like. The Angel itself is a fully balanced unit...

Hi Guys, Today we are taking a look at the top of the Zen Range DAC from iFi. Anyone who reads this blog or my posts knows I’m a fan of iFi’s products, especially at the more affordable end of the product spectrum. I think they offer a lot of sound for the money, and usually strike a good balance between a very agreeable tonality and technical performance when compared to other options of the market in a similar price range. The Zen range originally consisted of one product line, but has since become a three tier product range. You have the most...

Hi guys, Today we are taking a look at a product which is a bit of a change of pace, an interesting pair of IEMs from Audeze called the Euclid. In traditional Audeze fashion, these feature a planar magnetic driver, similar to their open back LCDi4, iSINE, and LCD-i3 siblings. Now, in the past I have owned Audezes LCD-i4 open backed IEMs, which were more of a miniature headphone, than a true IEM. Having had a good experience with their sound quality, I was curious if Audeze had managed to capture some of their sound in a closed back model. For all...

Hi Guys, Today we are talking about the Schiit Audio Yggdrasil “OG”/A2/Unison DAC. There are three different versions of the Yggdrasil currently available, and various permutations over time with different USB solutions and analog boards etc…The three current versions are the “Less is more” “More is less” and “OG.” The “OG” is the original DAC chip configuration, with the second generation (A2) analog boards, and also includes Schiits proprietary USB solution, which is called “Unison.” I have not heard either the “Less is more” or “More is less”...

Hi Guys, Today we are having a look at Hifimans Shangri-La Jr. headphone system. Having recently had the opportunity to spend some time with their senior version of this headphone, I was really looking forward to hearing the differences between the two, how they matched up to each other, and if the Jr. version was able to capture some of the magic that the Sr.’s had. The Sr. are still the best technically performing pair of headphones that I have personally heard, so in that respect the Jr. certainly had a lot to live up to, though obviously at the...

Hi Guys, Today we are finishing up my set of reviews of Stax Headphones current Lambda series. The L300, L500mk2, and the subject of todays review, the L700mk2. The L700mk2, which I will just refer to as the L700 for the rest of this review, is the top of the current Lambda range. In terms of pricing it splits the difference between the L500mk2 at $830USD, the first headphone in the Omega Range, the SR007mk2, at $2205USD, coming in at an MSRP of $1649USD. This makes it comparable to headphones like the Hifiman Arya, and others, in the sort of “not...

Hi Guy, Today we are taking a look at what is probably the smallest piece of gear I have ever reviewed, the iFi Audio GObar. The GObar is what typically gets called a USB Dongle DAC/Amp nowadays. I’ve spent time with a few of these types of devices over the years, but it seems that in the last two years or so the availability of options on the market has absolutely exploded. It seems to be the case nowadays, especially from so called “Chi-Fi” companies, that they all have at least one product of this type in their line up. This type of product and...

Hi Guys, Today we are talking about Stax Headphones entry level pair of headphones, the SR-L300 (which I will refer to as the L300 for the rest of this review.) This is Stax’s most affordable model, clocking in at $455USD MSRP. Having spent some time with their mid tier lambda model recently, the L500mk2, I was really looking forward to seeing how the L300 would differ, and if it would offer up a good amount of the L500mk2’s sound for half the price. Let’s dig in to see how it fared. The first thing that strikes you about the L300 is its unusual...

Hi Guys, Today we are talking about Stax Headphones new flagship model, the SR-X9000. For the rest of this review, I’ll just refer to it as the X9000. The X9000 is the very long anticipated replacement for the SR009 and SR009S, the previous flagships from Stax. With such a long history and such a dedicated cult following, a new flagship from Stax is a big deal, at least in terms of the headphone hobby. I remember people speculating what would be next ,even back in 2014/2015, and now today, in 2022 we have the X9000. The X9000 was released back in...

Hi Guys, Today we are taking a look at iFi Audio’s recently released update to their flagship all in one DAC/Amp, the Pro iDSD Signature. For the rest of this review, I will refer to it as the iDSD Sig. I reviewed the original Pro iDSD about two years ago, and really did quite enjoy it, and all the capabilities it contained. The new signature model is honestly not that different in terms of features, being more of a refinement of the overall concept, rather than a brand new product. In this sense, the new signature model feels like the obvious...

Hi Guys, Today we are talking about an entry level, or should I say closer to entry level headphone from Stax Headphones of Japan. The L500mk2, which I will simply refer to as the L500 for the rest of this review. This is the middle of the road headphone in Stax Lambda line up, retailing currently at $830USD. The Lambda line up has existed in one form or another since the 1980s, always featuring the distinctive square housing. I think this is perhaps the most commonly thought of shape and design when people mention Stax headphones. Like their Omega...

Hi Guys, Today we are talking about a very interesting headphone from Hong Kong, made by the company ES-Lab. ES Lab started out repairing old Stax headphones, and doing DIY work, eventually leading to the release of their ES1a headphone, their take on the Stax Sigma, and most recently their recreation of Sony’s legendary R10. The ES1a is styled after the original Stax Omega from the 1990s, but all in black, with gold screws. Although the looks are very similar, the sound between the original Omega and the ES1a is supposedly somewhat different...

Hi Guys, Today we are talking about the Hifiman Flagship, the Shangri-La Senior. For this review, I am only talking about the headphone, not the headphone and amp combination, which retails for $50,000USD. This is Hifimans “Statement” headphone/amp combination, and represents what they feel is their best effort at a high end headphone. The headphone on its own retails for $18,000USD, and is an electrostatic headphone. This means that should you have a suitable electrostatic amplifier, it can be used with the headphone only Shangri-La. Based on the...

T+A Solitaire P Hi All, Today we are taking a look at T+A (Theory and Application) of Germany’s flagship headphones, the Solitaire P. This is a headphone I have been incredibly interested in since its release back in early 2020. Since its release, T+A have also followed up with the Solitaire PSE, which retails at roughly half of the price of the Solitaire P. I hope I can get ears on a pair of those someday as well, as the Solitaire P itself is an incredibly compelling headphone overall. The Solitaire P, which for the rest of this review I will...