A few days ago, I posted in the Grado Fan Club an idea that sums up these cans as succinctly as possible:

"Grados are the only cans I've ever heard that seem like they are designed to make you forget you're wearing headphones. Everything else I've ever listened to has some sort of coloration in a way that sounds unnatural or reminds me that it's been digitally enhanced through bass boost or treble peak. My RS1s are a perfect example. First cans out of 50 or 60 that to me sound exactly like sitting in a jazz club. Positioning, timbre, separation, balance. It's all there.

Are Grados the most comfortable? No. Most aesthetically pleasing? No. Although the RS1s are damn sexy. But they do one thing really well which is to me, exactly what all headphone manufacturers should strive for: Reproducing real musical experience."
 

The RS1is present recordings in a way that doesn't sound like someone else's interpretation of what a given recording sounds like. They reproduce instruments in a way that makes me feel like that instrument is in the same room as I: no special effects or EQ. Just bass. And just guitar. And just drums. And just Norah Jones (for example). 

If you need more information regarding the specifics of the bass, mids, and treble, read up on the other reviews. I listen to a lot of music, both in quantity and variety. I'm a classically trained multi-instrumental musician and I have played in several collegiate and professional groups ranging from jazz combos to string orchestras. I consider myself qualified to say that I know what musical instruments are supposed to sound like. The RS1is from Grado capture instruments just like the are - no extra fluff, padding, or color. Many thanks to Grado Labs for putting in the time and research to bring us these cans. 

 

The I+ from Little Dot is an excellent tube hybrid that offers much more than its sub-$150 price tag would suggest.
 
This is the first piece of head-fi equipment that I've owned twice. Bought one from a fellow Alabamian head-fier a couple months ago and had it for a little more than a month before deciding to sell as my "best" pair of cans weren't benefitting as much from amping. Within a week of the sale, I missed the LD too much and pulled the trigger on a new one! (Oh well, you live and you learn).
 
I purchased the I+ after reading up on how well it pairs with Grados, my flavor of choice. And let me tell you, it certainly performs brilliantly!
 
1st: Price: Inexpensive. These can be purchased from Little Dot's webstore for ~$140 shipped to North America and currently from Amazon for ~$120 with Prime shipping. For a hybrid tube amp with tube/opamp roll-ability, excellent sound and sturdy construction, why keep looking? This is it!
 
2nd: Design: Simple. 1/4" plug, volume pot, RCA inputs, and power supply. That's what you get. All sturdily built and thoughtfully implemented. While we're on the topic, the thick aluminum frame of the I+ feels great and hasn't shown any signs of component failure or weakness. The board is assembled very well and when I open it up to change the opamp, I don't feel afraid to touch the I+'s innards. Ain't nothin' goin' nowhere. The volume pot also turns very smoothly, the tube sockets are of sound quality, and the included power supply doesn't make me feel like LD tried to cut corners.
 
3rd: Sound: Natural. Since the I+ is a hybrid, the syrupy smoothness a.k.a. "tubeyness" is tempered with the detail and resolution of solid state technology. IMHO the LD is the amp equivalent of the Colorfly C3's sound: organic, musical, and neither so flat that it sounds boring nor so fun as to seem artificial. The best is yet to come however - you can roll tubes. AND opamps. 
 
Options for tailoring your sound are virtually endless. Thanks to its interchangeable jumper capabilities, the I+ accepts tubes from the EF91, EF92, and EF95 families (not to mention others that may have to be adapted). That's plenty of tubes! From the punchy detail of the Voskhod 6ZH1P-EV to the buttery smoothness of the Tung Sol 6AK5, sound signatures are easily changed just by swapping tubes. The circuitry within also makes the I+ very quiet (as in noise floor) and it will warm tubes rather quickly. Opamps are also swappable, any DIP8 will fit (along with any that will fit onto a dual-to-mono adapter), so yet again, sound-tailoring is easy and abundant. So whether you're a vinyl junkie yearning for the super smooth tube sound of yesteryear or a digital wizard who likes the ultra modern edge of solid state, you can modify the SQ of this little amp quickly and easily to your taste. 
 
As far as cons go, there aren't any real issues, just a few shortcomings that I may as well mention. 1. This is not the most powerful amp in the world. It will power all but the most hungry cans so, if you have THE MOST HUNGRY CANS, you may want to keep looking. 2. Opening the chassis to swap jumpers or opamps is a little inconvenient. Just to swap one or two pieces of plastic, I have to remove all 8 screws. Not hard to do, but the screws that hold the base to the upper half are tiny and sometimes hard to re-screw. Not to mention they are a part of the ground circuit, so if you lose one, you may open your amp up to noise. EDIT: Don't know why this didn't dawn on me, but I could just loosen the lower 2 screws on each side to open the amp up... Whoops!
 
So overall, the LD I+ is an excellent choice for those looking to get tube capability with plenty of variety available for tube/opamp rolling. The sub-$150 price tag makes this amp very affordable and the quality design makes operation very easy. I certainly recommend!
 
P.S. It plays wonderfully well with Grados. Enjoying Kind of Blue with my 325is as I finish this review!

The CX 215 is a budget IEM from Senn that sounds surprisingly decent. 
 
I bought mine secondhand so I won't be commenting on accessories or packaging. I can however tell you that these guys hold their own in a budget IEM market where the Brainwavz Delta and JVC FX40 receive most of the hype.
 
Build/Form Factor
They're about the same size as the FX40. Plastic housing with good strain reliefs and yes, like the manufacturer says, the indentions on the housing do make it a little easier to twist into getting a good seal. The cable is nothing to write home about. It's a thin rubber that terminates to a nice right-angle plug. The cable does feel flimsy and is pretty microphonic. Luckily, they do lend themselves to being worn cable-up so running with them is no longer a bother.
 
SQ
The CXs ironically enough, sound like a junior version of the SE215. Overall signature is a touch warm, with a tiny mid-bass boost and slightly recessed upper mids. 
 
- Bass is full and sometimes a little rounded. It reaches deep enough for the 320MP3 my Clip+ is playing. Doesn't drown out the mids and certainly isn't a basshead IEM. 
 
- Mids are a touch recessed, although not enough to be considered V-shaped. They're still quite clear and present.
 
- Treble is a little rolled off, but not to where I'm wanting more. Let's just say that I dont' think I'll ever experience sibilance-induced fatigue from these guys.
 
Separation/Soundstage
Both are above average. I think it's better than both the Delta and FX40. I can hear everything clearly and effortlessly. 
 
So all in all, it's like I mentioned previously. If Senn were to make a budget version of the SE215 then... oh wait... they have. It's called the CX215.

It's just like the title says - the Colorfly C3 is everything that a portable music player should be. Almost.
 
Build Quality/Form Factor
Excellent. Fits nicely in the hand and has a nice heft to it. Metal back and sides complement the glass face well. The screen is rather small and the text on said screen is also small. (Think Clip+).

SQ
Probably the best native/unaltered sound quality I've heard out of a DAP. That includes iPod 5.5, Sansa Fuze V1, Sansa Clip+, and the DX50. It's so musical and organic. There is no hiss or RF interference, even with sensitive IEMs. The SQ out of the C3 is what really made me realize how low the priority was for the iPod's sound quality. Colorfly's offering blows even the Wolfson-toting iPod Video out of the water. 
 
- Bass is controlled and full. Never bleeds or intrudes into other frequencies. 
 
- Mids are lush and rich and nicely-framed.
 
- Treble is clean and detailed although never sibilant. 
 
Note: The EQ is limited in variety. No five-band EQ here. Just a short list of presets that sound pretty comparable to most presets I've heard from other portable offerings. 
 
UI
This is where the 'almost' comes in. First, the button layout, like most Chinese/Japanese DAPs I've encountered is a little funky. Like buttons (volume, forward/back) are oriented diagonally from each other. When will they realize that this layout is not going to catch on?! Also, the touch sensitivity of said buttons is a bit finicky. You've got to press dead center to elicit a response. 
 
The interface is what keeps the C3 from getting 5 stars from me. It's just... meh. The inverted scrolling controls take some getting used to, as does the native directory sorting (folders are sorted by Date Modified rather than alphabetically). Also, because the screen is so small, you can only view a few lines of text on any give screen. This makes scrolling through lists or menus more tedious than it should be.
 
Overall
The C3 is what portable DAPs should be modeled after. First and foremost, it's geared to do one thing and one thing only: play music at a better-than-average level. And it does. The sound is incredibly musical and detailed - much more than a sub $100 DAP ought to. There are no 'audiophile' sound tailoring options like 12-band EQ or gain adjustment, but honestly if you're considering this player you probably aren't listening to $800+ IEMS or planars anyway. Battery life is great, memory is expandable to 64gb, and If the UI could be improved just a touch, I think this DAP would garner higher honors than it already does.
 
If you're looking for a no-frills DAP that sounds great out of the box without a need for external amping or DAC, look no further than the C3 from Colorfly.

The PX 100s are certainly a supra-aural can to be reckoned with. If they were about $20 cheaper, they'd beat all of the Koss offerings for best value in portable headphones.
 
The bass: thick and meaty without being muddy. Works as well with Jay-Z as it does for the LSO. Even though it is solid, it never feels congested. There's enough space to make it feel natural.
 
Mids: Just slightly behind the bass. Still nice and rich with good clarity. Guitars and male vocals sound quite natural without any sense of artificiality.
 
Treble: Very clear without sibilance. Very forgiving yet still quite detailed. Better than any other sub $100 portable can I've heard.
 
Soundstage: Best I've heard from a sub $100 portable. Whether coming from my DX50, iPod 5.5 or C3, the sense of space presented here is quite refreshing. 
 
Imaging/Separation: Right on par with the soundstage. Certainly above average, although never to the point of seeming "fake" or "enhanced."
 
Overall, the PX100s are getting more head-time than any of my Grados save the 225s. They are worth every penny, especially if you can pick one up second-hand. The folding design makes them easy to carry in pocket and their light enough that they can be worn for hours at a time. Isolation is quite good, although not to the point where your life would be in danger when you cross the street. If there's a better portable solution for this price, I haven't found it. Certainly recommended!

iBasso has set the standard for balance between price and performance with the DX50. This DAP is like a stockier, more sturdy version of an iPod.
 
With better SQ.
And USB OTG.
And Line-Out.
 
With regards to appearance it's a nice piece of hardware. The brushed metal case looks great and is rather scratch-resistant in my experience. I was wary of the three button layout AND touchscreen, but after getting used to it, I think its a great design. I can use the touch screen to navigate, adjust EQ, and create/manage playlists. Then after I put the 50 back into my pocket the three buttons make it very easy to play/pause and skip/restart already playing tracks. The other buttons are also easy to use without having to lay eyes on the player. These include volume, gain, power, and hold buttons.
 
With regards to the sound quality, it's just great. The sound has changed slightly and improved over time thanks to the steady firmware updates provided by iBasso, however, in general a rather neutral and sometimes bright presentation has remained. The soundstage is very good and I've yet to hear a better detail retrieval from a DAP. Something to note: the slightly north of neutral presentation makes an excellent pairing with slightly warm headphones. Dsnuts put it best when he said that the DX50 - a slightly bright DAP - pairs well with warmish headphones/IEMs while the Fiio X3 - a warm DAP - pairs best with slightly bright headphones/IEMs. It also bears mentioning that the 50 has  three adjustable gain settings. The most sensitive IEMs will hiss on the LO setting (have you found a standalone DAP that doesn't!?), but overall the gains provide excellent power. I used the HI gain setting to power my HD600s and never once thought that the device couldn't handle it.
 
That being said, an amp does ENHANCE the already great SQ. I pair mine with the neutral Arrow 4G which lowers the noise floor for my IEMs and opens the soundstage width and depth. Also, the EQ tailoring options on the 4G sound better to me than the native EQ adjustments on the DX50.
 
The battery life on LO gain is around 14-16 hours and obvisouly, will change depending on audio file quality and gain setting. 
 
One of my favorite things about this DAP is its USB OTG feature. I'll gladly take this capability over USB DAC function (which I'm told won't be available for the DX50). It gives me the option to hook up any portable USB storage device and let the DX50 browse/play audio files. So. When I go on road trips, I bring my 128gb jump drive and that's all the music I could ever need! No more carrying around multiple MicroSD cards!
 
The qualms I have with the DX50 are few. 1. The native EQ settings don't do much. There are preset settings and the individual frequency bands can be adjusted. However, when I adjust them, I barely hear a difference. New FW has fixed this. 2. The included accessories could be better. I'm sure that the minimal packaging/accessories keeps the price down on this device, but a decent silicone case or cover would be great, along with some sort of user manual. It also bears mentioning that the UI which some people find quirky to say the least, it just fine. It has steadily improved over the course of this DAPs life and continues to get better. It's a UI based in Android and is very intuitive and easy to use. Much better than the X3's design. 
 
Overall this DAP from iBasso is highly recommended. It is around the same price as a 160GB IPC, however, it offers better SQ, virtually limitless storage space thanks to USB OTG, and a better DAC/Amp implementation. 

Finally! A solid performer from Brainwavz in both SQ and price! The Delta's lead time has been a bother for those of us who pre-ordered, however, rest assured the wait is worth it. There are plenty of budget bracket IEMs out there (believe me, I've heard a lot of them) and these are among the best. 
 
Out of the box, the red and white color scheme certainly is eye-catching, along with the aluminum housing. They have solid strain reliefs, sturdy cable, and metal housing. No durability issues on the horizon here. The included tips will do the trick, however, replacements may be tricky as they have a very large nozzle. I was a little disappointed in the fact that they didn't come with a case, but for $20 what can you expect?
 
Upon first listen, I was less than impressed, however, they've grown on me. A lot. First impression consisted of a decent midrange surrounded by thin bass and lackluster treble extension. To be fair, I gave them a little time with my DX50 and I'm certainly glad I did.
 
The treble has extended much more, making me feel much better about the potential detail retrieval. They certainly aren't trebly enough to ever be considered sibilant, but they offer enough extension that I don't consciously want more. 
 
The mids remind me of a diet RE400 (actually, come to think of it, the whole package reminds me of a diet RE400...). They're filled out nicely without being too aggressive or recessed. [cue Forrest Gump]. That's all I have to say about that.
 
The bass has improved with mental burn-in. I wouldn't say it offers a lot of slam but its presence is there when called for. I can enjoy Mingus equally as well as Macklemore. Granted there isn't a ton of sub bass, but the extension is plenty for a $20 IEM. 
 
It also bears mentioning that the soundstage on these guys is impressive. The first time I realized that they deserved more attention was upon listening to a live Brubeck recording. As the upright solo started, I was looking over my shoulder to locate the sound of something I thought was behind me! That's not exaggeration. Perhaps the large nozzle helps with this, but the Delta's positioning and sense of space is good. Period.
 
The only aspect in which I'd like to see a change is the color scheme. Yes the red and white is cool and little different. But honest if the red OR white was changed to black, I think they'd be a lot easier on the eyes.
 
Overall this is an excellent budget IEM from Brainwavz that has earned a spot in my lineup over a handful of others that cost twice as much.

I took a chance on this amp after selling my Aune T1. Found it on eBay and was unable to find any other literature describing it outside of the eBay description.
 
As far the unit performs as a whole, I'm mostly impressed. It powers my HD650s easily (never have to turn past 9 or 10 oclock). The sound is clean and authoritative without being overly aggressive or bright. It certainly fills out the body of my woodied SR225i's. Compared to the T1 (which I haven't had for more than a month), the SG200 certainly has more power. Also, I distinctly remember comparing the T1 to my Magni/Modi stack and thinking how similar they sounded. Similarly on the bright side. Not the case here. I'd say the SG200 is perhaps a touch warm of neutral? Just a touch. Still very clear and musical. 
 
The SG is also different from the T1 in that it is a tube amp with DAC as opposed to a tube DAC with amp circuit. I'm not very educated when it comes to the technical expectations of such things, but it seems like maybe tube rolling with a tube amp would color the sound more than tube rolling the DAC portion? Correct me if I'm wrong. 
 
In that vein, it has responded well to tube rolling! It takes any tube from the 12AT7 family. I've been alternating between Amperex Orange PQ, Sylvania GTE, and Psvane TII that was included with purchase. 
 
Granted the differences are not huge, here are some thoughts:
 
Amperex
Very warm and a little mid-centric. Most fluid presentation. Sounds best with rock, jazz, and a lot of my classical music. Doesn't give the most separation or extreme hi/low frequencies, but its a solid all-rounder.
 
Sylvania
Probably my favorite. It has a V shaped presentation to me. Good bass impact and nicely extended highs. Soundstage and separation is best with this tube. Not as smooth as Amperex but that's not to say that it's unpleasant by any stretch.
 
Psvane
This was advertised as an upgrade tube just like the 6922 for the T1. It sounds more like the Sylvania just... less. Almost like a diet version. Slightly less separation. Less extended in the low and high end. If I wasn't interested in trying other tubes, I probably wouldn't see anything needing improvement with this guy.
 
The only qualm I have with the amp (other than 100% of the literature being in Chinese) is that tube rolling is a PITA! I had to remove screws on both front and back faceplate just to remove the plexiglass cover to reach the tube. Even though upgrading/rolling tubes is advertised as a plus for this product, the practicality of doing so certainly wasn't achieved. Its doable - as long as you REALLY want to do it.
 
Otherwise this guy has been a nice little addition to the small desktop setup. Its easy to use: just plug and go. Has  1/4" and 1/8" plugs, smooth volume knob, RCA in/out and a DAC only function if you want it.

I'll admit that I was a skeptic at first. My go to universals for the last 4 months have been the GR07 BEs. They hit way above their price point so I haven't really been looking for an upgrade. A few weeks ago I came into a pair of Sony MDR 7550s which were traded for the H200s more out of boredom than interest. Well, the H200s surprised me.
 
I've been A/Bing them against the BEs for the last week and the T Peos have finally won out. Even though their soundstage is pretty minimal, the payoff in clarity and SQ is more than enough to make up for it.
 
Here's the rundown:
 
Treble: Very detailed (think TF10), a touch rolled off at the extremes, prone to mild sibilance, but this is related more to tip choice and source quality.
 
Mids: Very smooth and upfront. Not Grado upfront, but not as recessed as most V-shaped sigs. Very fun.
 
Bass: Nice mid bass and a medium extension. Sub bass is present, more felt than heard. Once again, very fun and versatile.
 
The only qualms I have about these guys are the occasional driver flex, smallish soundstage, and microphonics. Hopefully an upgraded cable will help with microphonics and soundstage.
 
Here's to being pleasantly suprised!
 
EDIT: The price of 0 I paid was because they were traded.

It's just like the title says: these are the priceerformance sweet-spot of the Grado line. 
 
I've owned/auditioned the SR60i, MS1, MS2i, and now the 225i and these are the ones I'm keeping.
 
The slightly warm sound does most things well:
Bass is textured, however, some may find it thin. I find it a touch warm of analytical - in other words - fun.
Mids are addictive. Very forward (Grado - duh), but not so much that the other freq ranges are belittled. Female vocals and guitar solos sound great.
Treble is certainly better than the 325/MS2 treble of terror - detailed yet forgiving. Electronic music and classical recordings alike show details wonderfully, however, have yet to become sibilant. 
 
My FLAC recordings of artists ranging from Bill Frisell to Biz Markie, John Mayer to Joey Badass, George Szell to George Thorogood, all sound great. The soundstage certainly isn't huge, however, the great instrument separation and sense of left/right makes up for it.
 
I'll be recabling at some point, as the huge cable is the only real downside to the 225s. The L cushes aren't great but I prefer them to the flats and G cushes. Perhaps I'll give em a bath to soften em up! 
 
Btw, I highly recommend the tape mod on the L cushes for a little extra bass for those who may be worried about not getting their fix. It is by no means a basshead mod, but certainly adds a little extra bump in the proverbial trunk.

I had the GR07s for a few months before I got the BEs secondhand. I loved the GR07 sound and if I had to nitpick and find one thing to improve upon it would be their slightly dry bass range. 
 
Well. Problem solved.
 
The BEs are are incredible IEM. They retain the all-too-raved-about sound of the Mk II but add a touch of mid-bass to make those modern hip hop, electronic, dance recordings even more fun.
 
It bears mentioning that the BE is by no means a basshead IEM. There is simply a small boost in the lower mid bass that adds a little in the low end. I couldn't ask for more. I'm very glad I found a pair before they are discontinued.
 
Thanks VSonic. Bio-cellulose does it again!

Just like the title says: What Makes Them So Good? They Don't Do Anything Wrong
 
The W4s aren't going to blow you away with their treble shimmer or uber-deep bass nor their silky smooth mids. Their just-warm-of-neutral signature isn't going to make you break into song and dance at every available opportunity. 
 
What they will do, however, is everything, pretty dang well. It's like shotgunshane says "The W4’s are supremely balanced and natural.  No one frequency intrudes on another.  Detail retrieval is unparalleled.  They are very smooth and coherent.  The funny thing is you may not like them when you first put them in because there is no WOW factor.  Once you get over that initial disappointment, they seemingly get better and better. The best compliment is to say they do nothing wrong."
 
The clarity and balance is the best I've heard (granted I've never dropped over $300 for IEMs). They are equally adept at handling the glockenspiel and flute in Holst as they are at navigating the iconic sub-bass from James Blake.
 
The accessories are satisfying and the case works very well. It bears mentioning that the cables are the best stock cables I've seen. The braid is great and their strain reliefs don't make me scared to run with them.
 
If you're looking for multi-armature IEMs that hit the middle ground between super-neutral and ultra-fun, I can't recommend the W4s enough. 

The M50 is without question, an excellent studio headphone that really strikes a great price/performance ratio.
 
The bass extends quite well and is never overbearing. 
 
Mids are present and very articulate. 
 
The trebles are the biggest surprise in that they, IMO, are balanced wonderfully relative to the other frequencies. I haven't found myself wanting more clarity or sparkle yet!
 
The fact that the M50s are just as useful with my iPod as they are in a studio makes them very versatile and a great buy. If you can pick up used for around $100, I'd recommend pulling the trigger. 
 
The only negative about which I'll comment is that the pads, like many say, can make things uncomfortable after long sessions. The pleather is just low quality and can make ears hot or sweaty depending on how long the session is.
 
If you're interested in upgrading your Beats or Skullcandies, look no further. The ATH M50 will retain the fun sound sig while boosting clarity and overall depth for a very budget-friendly price.

If there are better sounding headphones in this bracket, they sure aren't available to the public yet! The KSC75s just might represent the apex before the downslope of diminishing returns.
 
The sound: Very fun and engaging all-purpose sound. The bass is certainly present, although far from basshead territory, the mids are maybe a little recessed, but they sound just great all the same, and the treble extends nicely without a trace of sibilance or harshness. 
 
Design: Probably the only downside to these guys. The driver covers look super-cheap and the earclips make these the most uncomfortable cans I've ever used. Granted they do get more comfortable as they loosen up. I however, would recommend to anyone who experiences discomfort (which will most likely be anyone with ears) buying a  partsexpress headband to use with the 75s. Super easy to install and totally relieves all of the discomfort.
 
Value: Like I even need to go here. For under $20 you can purchase earphones that rival in sound quality, IEMs and on-ears in the $75-$150 range. When's the last time you saw a frequency response of 15-25k Hz for phones that cost less than $100 brand new!? Such a great deal! At the very least everybody should try these just once. I was able to pick up mine for $5 a pair as they were recently put on clearance at a local office supply store! Two pairs of $100 sound earphones for $11 including tax.
 
It should  be mentioned that the 75s don't come with any accessories like 1/4" adapter or case, but honestly if you need a case, you can find something cheap.
 
If you need some beaters that are gym-ready, office-ready, or just walk-around ready, look no further. Plus they won't break the bank! Kudos to Koss!

The 90s have taken a while to grow on me. I found a deal for the L2s (champagne accents and cable) on AMZ Warehouse and pulled the trigger after becoming interested in JVC's dual-driver design.
 
Out of the package I was less than impressed. Granted I was coming from the GR07s, I still wasn't exactly thrilled with the sounds these produced both unamped and through my cMoy. They were the most microphonic thing I've ever used and other than a solid bass presence and surprisingly detailed highs (but not particularly extensive), they weren't anything to write home about. 
 
So I let em burn. (in)
 
Whether burn-in is a psychological or physical phenomenon is up to you but I have noticed enough of a difference to overturn my initial impressions completely. I hear a little more bass extension, especially on the upright Bill Evans Trio, the trebs and mids seem to be clearer, and well, the microphonics aren't going to be cured by burn-in but wearing them over ear is actually quite easy and microphonic-free. 
 
These guys regularly compete with the GR07s for iPod play time and they are a wonderful complement to the more analytical sound of the VSonics.
 
If you want a unique set of IEMs that won't break the bank I would strongly suggest you look at the FXT90s.

Sansa has a winner in the Clip +. I'm listening to FLAC files as I write this review and I can't stop laughing because of how much I got for how little I paid. This is a great little device.
 
The Clip is TINY. I didn't realize how small it was until it was delivered in the padded envelopes in which I used to get baseball cards. 
 
The design is just great. The efficient button-layout is intuitive and makes navigation a breeze, the clip is great for my shirt or pocket, and the easy-to-read screen gives me just enough information to do what I want: listen to music. 
 
With a 32gb SD card ($20) I can give the Clip more capacity than a 30 gig iPod. This makes loading up my FLAC and MP3 320 files painless since I don't have to pick and choose which songs are worthy and which aren't.
 
The sound coming from this device is just fine. Obviously for under $50 you can't expect this thing to blow you away with SQ but the GR07s and FXT90s I use sound as good as ever, especially when I run them through a cMoy or E5 first. 
 
Have I mentioned that this is Rockbox-able? That fact alone is just icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned. For the super-low price, I would buy this player with an SD card and very contently use the native UI. However, after Rockboxing, I'm now able to customize EQs, change display information, and increase the battery life to boot! Will the super value never stop?!
 
All in all, I think if you are interested in a pocket-sized setup for way less than $100 with options and features often reserved for more expensive players, you can't go wrong with the Clip +. Cheers. 

The XBA 3s are some of the clearest-sounding in-ears I've ever heard. Granted that list is rather short... but that's neither here nor there! 
 
The triple-armature setup is known for providing accuracy rather than "fun" by many, and this is no exception. The trebs and mids are very well-defined and separated, but not overpowering. The bass leaves something to be desired, mostly in quantity rather than quality. The mid bass is present but blended more than defined IMO. I can get a little more sub-bass with my cMoy but playing from an iPod doesn't do it for me.
 
These guys come with several pairs of tips, carrying case, ear tool, and shirt clip.
 
As usual Sony does not disappoint. This is my first pair of triples and I'm very happy. Especially since I got a great deal. Looking forward to discovering new things in my music in the future!

Even though I'm pretty sure everyone gets the gist on these, I'll drop a few words anyway.
 
I purchased a gently used model of the 120gb 6th generation over the 80gb 5th or 6th generation for a few reasons:
 
1. For most iPod-ready headphones, the 6th generation (and newer) 120 and 160gb are those that are compatible. On two separate occasions, I was told by manufacturers that the 80 gb from the first 6th generation run would not work with my iDevice inline controls. 
 
2. Battery life. The only iPod ever to claim a better battery life than this one is the 160 from the 6.0 generation (this could be considered 6.1).
 
3. Space. I will never need more space than this. 160 is just too much. Yes my library is slightly larger than 120gb and growing, however, I don't need all of my music with me all the time. It's not like I'll listen to all of it!
 
4. UI. Like this needs explaining. I've never seen an interface as easy to understand and navigate at this. Not to mention this gen. has Genius and VoiceOver. Touch screens are nice, but they eat up battery and cannot be navigated without looking. Guess who can? Classic!
 
I've read several posts about how the 5.5 gen iPod sounds better with its Wolfson chip and whatnot. I can't tell. I did a side by side with identical headphones and songs and couldn't hear a difference. This is a portable music device designed for compressed audio files. Period. The cans will make the biggest difference anyway!
 
All in all, I certainly recommend. 

I purchased these upon recommendation of a friend who has never led me wrong. And he hasn't with the ES700s.
 
These imports make me wonder what else is going on across the Pacific! The sound is very accurate, yet fun enough to plug into an iPod. Bass is very controlled and deep, surprising amount of sub bass for this price level. The mids are present but not forward and the trebles were surprisingly available. Listening to high quality rock and jazz recordings made a great impression.
 
The build quality is excellent - as per usual for AT. The headband is comfortable and light, however, the pads are an inconvenient size. They obviously aren't big enough to be over-ear but they are a little too big IMO for on-ear. Can be a little fatiguing after a while depending on ear size. I've read several threads about changing out the pads that seem to quell these issues. 
 
Overall, these were a great introduction to what is going on at Audio Technica for me. If you can find a pair stateside, I recommend them.

This was an impulse buy that turned out well for me! I was very pleasantly suprised by the sound these are able to produce. They have a fairly open soundstage, which provides a nice separation. The bass is abundant but not overpowering, the mids are present and if any frequency is recessed, it is the trebles. This isn't to say they aren't there or sound bad, they're just the least obvious.
 
These cans are a little bulky, upon looking in the mirror I look like I'm ready to pilot a fighter from Star Wars. They are pretty comfortable, plush pads and soft head band take care of that. And the detachable cable relieves any build issues I had.
 
Overall for less than $100 these guys will not disappoint. If you need a set of cans that will make desktop or home theater listening enjoyable on a budget, give these some serious consideration.