Alright, here goes. I have been on a slow, meandering journey through hi-fi that has seen me slowly start to climb that ladder that costs you your wallet.
 
Up to now I've been used a Sandisk Clip Zip (Rockboxed) and an ipod classic (rockboxed) running through a LOD cable into a Fiio E7. I was very satisfied with the sound from both of these units, running both with FLAC's ripped from CD's.
 
Cue the neverending need to upgrade and a strong desire to dip my toes into the world of hi-res audio. I quickly homed in on the Fiio X3 and the iBasso DX50. Subscribing to both unit's threads on head-fi allowed me to get a fix on the quirks and qualities of both units.
 
I took a punt on a seventh batch DX50 having been won over the by the looks and some user's claiming superior sound quality over the Fiio X3.
 
I will be honest, I was a little anxious as there have been a lot of forum members complaining about units crashing, dodgy firmware and other nightmare stories.
 
So, the unit arrives and I eagerly unwrap it. Initial thoughts, the box is nothing special, I really could care less, it will be in the attic never to be seen again.
 
The packaged extras are okay, a velvety pouch that is a bit blah, a screen protector, USB cable/charger and a nice mini-jack to co-ax cable.
 
So, the unit itself is a thing of beauty indeed, a sleek burnished black which looks very stealth and understated. The shape is roughly the same as mobile phone, albeit with slightly more angular edges. Really nice build here, no play or issues with it at all.
 
The touch screen is clear, responsive (maybe a little too sensitive) and the operating menus are clearly laid out and easy to navigate (handy, as there isn't a manual!).
 
I bunged in a micro SD card full of FLAC files and fired this baby up, sound's were courtesy of my KEF M500's.
 
I had some hi-res files but thought it only fair to listen to the same FLACs I used on my previous players to see if there was a detectable difference.
 
In short, the difference is night and day.
 
I found that the soundstage was waaaay more expansive with the DX50, really nice separation. What further blew my little mind was I could actually feel the height of the instruments, something I had previously dismissed as mere wishful thinking but no, it is definitely there. Linkin Park blasting away and the drum rolls seem to have height to them, weird but there.
 
Listening to the War of the Worlds is pretty much a reference for me as I grew up with this album, Richard Burtons opening speech now has little sharp intakes of breath at the end of each line, never heard that before.
 
I will be blunt here, I have had no issues with the UI, I am running firmware 1.2.2 and the sound is mesmerising, very clear, excellent detail retrieval but with enough PRAT to make the experience emotionally involving, not clinical at all.
 
I expected some buggy little unit that would misbehave but this has not been the case. Maybe I got lucky, I don't know.
 
Anyway, to break it down here is my impressions on individual sounds
 
BASS -
 
A deep, slamming and impactful bass that never grows muddy or poorly defined. The bass is also very well controlled with no bleed into the mids. The KEF's are a neutral phone which I think suits the DX50 really well, I own a pair of Sennheiser Momentums that sound a little congested compared to the KEF's. The bass is of such clarity that you can feel the pounding throughout your head and, with the KEF's anyway, it almost has that impact you get from speakers, forceful and bright.
 
MIDS -
 
Utterly lush, musically engaging, emotional, stirring. Crystal clear and so revealing of detail that the layers of sound on a busy track almost become overwhelming. Quite simply stunning
 
HIGHS -
 
Well rendered with a nice brightness that never strays into sibilance or becomes fatiguing. Excellent
 
SOUNDSTAGE -
 
Very open with excellent separation, the aforementioned height is also there, I just love the stage here. I am hearing separation in track which was never revealed to me with previous players. What more can you ask for?
 
OVERALL -
 
At this price, simply stunning. You can pick up an ipod for about the same and this thing launches it out of the water. The options with the co-ax cable and line out are not be underestimated, I use this player through the aux-in on my Marantz stereo and it sounds lovely, the line out is really clean and pure.
 
I won't say the forums have been overstating the UI quirkiness, if your player is screwy then so be it, but mine works fine and I am really, really pleased with it.

Sennheiser is one of the old players when it comes to high-end headphones and their top tier products are rightly recognized as world class. Rightly so, the Sennheiser heritage produces quality, refined products that excite the listener.
I have been looking for a new set of cans for a while, and although I have been tempted by other brands I always come back to Sennheiser as I know the quality is there.
So, having done my research I finally homed in on the Momentums. Before I continue lets clear up a couple of points, firstly, these are are branded as circumaural, which means the cups don't touch your ears but, rather, entirely enclose them. This is not quite the case, unless you have small ears. These are more on-ear (supra-aural) rather than over-ear. Secondly, these have are ridiculously easy to drive, they come in at 18 ohms, which is similar to many earbud or IEM's so you will have no problems running these with your portable DAP without an amp.
Okay, firstly the packaging. One word, sumptuous, the box is very thick card and has a hinged lid, a red ribbon prevents it opening past 90 degrees. There is die-cut foam inside, cradling the headphone carry case. There is also a card envelope built in to the foam which contains product literature.
Once you get the cans out of the box the first ting that hits you is the carry case. This is semi-hard and custom made for the Momentums. I have read complaints regarding the case being too big but it is custom-made and I don't really see how it could be any smaller. Personally I have no issues with the size.
Inside the carry case, you of course find the cans, there is also a small recess with a velcro'ed lid that holds the cable attached to the phones, spare cable and a 6.5mm adaptor jack.
The cables included are both 3.5mm, one has a controller for making voice calls with a compatible iphone and the other is a bog standard cable. The iphone cable has an interesting jack that can be bent to 90 degrees or left straight (or any position in between). A nice feature.
The cables themselves are red and rubbery feeling, they complement the red stitching beautifully and microphonics are almost non-existent.
Okay, the cans themselves, these need to be seen and felt and smelt to be believed, very high end materials here, the headband is brushed steel with a satin finish, the leather pad is thin and has red stitching to contrast the leather. The cans are some kind of injection moulded plastic with glass in them and have a very tactile feel. The earpads are just lovely, fine black leather that cradles the ear without making it too hot. Basically, you won't be embarrassed walking around with these on, they look amazing.
what about the sound? Well this is where Sennheiser has scored a slam-dunk. The sound is stunning. I have given mine about 20 hours burn-in and have been really impressed with the quality of the sound.
I use FLAC files on a rockboxed Sansa clip-zip and have been really, really happy with the sound.
If I could describe the sound in a short phrase it would be analytical but warm and forgiving. A bit contradictory I know but there you are.
BASS - this is not a basshead set of cans, but the bass is present, polite and thumping without overwhelming. I would not consider the bass to be watery or tame, it has impact but does not drown out the other frequencies.
MIDS - Oh baby, this is where the momentums excel, mids are just lovely, sparkly, and fast. Rock and vocals are handled with aplomb and given centre-stage. Very luscious and defined, everything from dance to classic to metal is handled with speed and confidence. Gorgeous
Highs - the highs are rendered very well too, there is no sibilance and no fatigue, very well mannered and rendered with precision but they do not pierce at all.
SOUNDSTAGE - being enclosed cans these offer an intimate soundstage which is not congested and allows you to locate instruments.
OVERALL - I have been walking around with a smile on my face listening to my music with the Momentums, they are really stunning and worth the asking price. I have been particularly impressed with how they render drums, you can really feel the impact of the sticks and they are lively, warm and full of detail. I noticed this when listening to Linkin Park and Grizzly Bear, they have life and impact way beyond what my previous set-up offered.
If you are serious about headphones and are willing to shell out big bucks on inferior brands like Bose, Beats etc then go ahead, be a marketing victim. But, if you actually want world class sound, high end build quality and a listening experience I guarantee will put a huge grin on your face take a long look at these.
The Momentums are one of the most 'sorted' set of cans Sennheiser has ever made, they are highly regarded on forums populated by fussy audiophiles and they are an absolute treat.
Recommended.
****** I have been using these a lot since getting them a week ago and they are still impressing me with every piece of music I put through them. I have found they excel at layered electronic music like Orbital, Lemonjelly, FSOL etc. They handle the sweeps and analogue sounds with accuracy and warmth, the new Orbital album, Wonky, has come alive with these cans, the first song has layers of soundbites of different voices and the Momentums pick out each voice clearly. A genuinely impressive and high end set of cans with a warmth and sound signature that is becoming more attractive the more I listen to them *********

KEF are a speaker manufacturer of the old heritage, stuffy hi-fi systems with mortgage level speakers. As has been the case with many audio manufacturers, the headphone sector is where it is hot right now and everyone (KEF included) are wanting a piece of the pie.
This is KEF's first stab at a headphone, and very good it is too.
Price point if around the £250 mark which puts it up against the benchmark in this area, the Sennheiser Momentum, themselves an amazing headphone that turns audiophile heads.
So, what does your money get you? Firstly, the KEF is well packaged, the box has a magnetic-closure opening flap that gives info on the cans. Open the box up and the cans are encased neatly in their lovely zip-up, semi-hard case. A previous reviewer compared the case as being like a large sunglasses case, a fair and accurate comparison. Everything feels pretty high grade at this point but one detail lets it down, the case sits in a cheapo plastic tray within the box. The Momentums rest in regal fashion in a die cut foam interior, probably more expensive to make but so sweet looking.
Anyway, nothing to freak out about, the cans themselves are the main attraction here, not the box. So, inside the zip-up case we have the cans themselves, two flat tangle-free cables (one with microphone and volume switch for iphone use), a 6.5mm adaptor and an in-flight adaptor. The package all fits in the case very neatly.
The cans themselves are very nice looking, made from brushed aluminum and black pleather. Opening removing them from the case the smart hinges unfold and the cans pop into place. The headband has friction adjustability but the even the smallest setting is pretty big, my noggin is by no means tiny and I barely need to adjust it from minimum to get a good fit.
The headband is well padded, maybe a little slick as it can move on the head a wee bit if you rock out too hard. Other reviews have mentioned that the KEF's don't sit too snugly on the head and I have to agree, the headbands' slippery feel and the fact that the cans don't grip your head that tightly make it a little wobbly at times. However, if you find the sweet spot on your head they sit not too bad.
The speaker units are very unique here, they are hinged within the aluminum surround and swivel slightly, the speakers themselves are pleather coated and sit on the ear. The padding on the ear consist of pleather covered memory foam and they are supremely comfortable on-ear. You don't get that closed in feel and the cans offer pretty good sound isolation, a pretty unique and well thought out combination of features.
The cable attaches to the rear of the left unit and is tucked out of the way, again a welcome and well thought out feature.
Okay, so what about the sound? Well, I was both excited and disappointed upon plugging these in. Let me explain.
I am firmly in the Sennheiser camp, I have used their products for years and love them. KEF come from a different angle, they make high end speakers and their technology has obviously filtered into these cans. Immediate impressions upon first listen were that the detail was there but not the sparkle.
As I burnt the cans in and listened to them extensively I began to realise that these cans are good, very good indeed. What makes them different is that they have a fairly flat response curve throughout the bass, mid and treble frequencies. There seems to be very little apparent flavour added to the sound, a move that is brave and leaves little room for error. Lesser cans will usually add bass hump to give the impression of better sound reproduction. KEF are going out on a limb by adding little to no flavour to the EQ of these cans, this seems to offer an all or nothing experience. Either the cans are excellent or they will suck, there is not middle ground here.
Initially my thoughts were that they sucked, they sounded flat and lacked sparkle, however, I am a firm believer of the burning-in of headphones so wasn't ready to judge them straight out of the box. After a good twenty hours of listening they seem to have opened up a good deal and a bit of life has come into them.
I am waffling here so lets get in to specifics. For listening I use the following lineage
ipod classic > rockboxed > Fiio amp from dock out > FLAC files
Sandisk Sansa Clip > rockboxed > FLAC files
As I type this review I am listening to the War of the Worlds on my Sandisk player. Detail retrieval is amazing, I can hear notes and weird alien purrs that have not been apparent before, even with my Momentums. There is no bias to the sound, the bass is tight and well rendered, mids are beautifully detailed and there is not a hint of sibilance to the treble. An involving and emotionally well rendered listening experience.
It seems to me that the voice coil in these cans is something to behold, the surety and presentation of the notes in the music is something that is so confident and assured that it takes some getting used to. As my ears overcome this lack of EQ bias I find myself reaching for these cans more and more. I am a bit of a detail monster, I love hearing the same passage of music on successively better equipment and hearing more and more from the original recording. The KEF's deliver on this in spades.
Next up on the listening list is Imagine Dragons - It's Time. Thoughts are that the vocals are badass, the singer sort of spits his words out and you can hear this with the KEF's, the strings are well rendered, the bass is tight without dominating. Again the feeling of slight flatness comes across, each section of the song is well presented and nothing is pushed forward, the sensation is slightly strange. But then the chorus kicks in and somehow you are drawn in by the notes.
Johnny Cash - Hurt - is up next. Guitar notes are lush and sweet, the vocals have amazing detail, the echo-less whispered Cash vocals that seem to be a signature of the American Recordings series are are just brilliant. The building sibilance in the notes can be detected very early in this piece. Beautiful, just amazing, a song that draws tears and the KEF's will have you pulled in.
Mumford and Sons - Awake My Soul - wow! Detail, nice echo to the vocals, strings are just wow. Yes. Bass sends shivers down the spine. Yeah!
Hurts - Miracle - again brilliant. A busy, complex piece that is well presented with no dubiety as to the place of each instrument in the mix.
Throughout my listening sessions with these cans I find myself consistently impressed with two things. First, the aforementioned detail retrieval and confident presentation, secondly, the soundstage is fairly expansive for cans with suck small drivers. This is an area that certainly outshines the Momentums by a considerable margin. I believe the soundstage is due, in no small part, to the earpads, they offer good sound isolation but don't feel enclosed and sealed like the Momentums, they are getting near open backed cans in soundstage width and depth without the concomitant issue of sound leakage and isolation. A very interesting and well engineered aspect of these cans.
So, what do I think about these cans? Well, the flat response takes some getting used to, having been so used to flavoured EQ it feels initially quite flat but, once you get used to the way these cans present their music you begin to understand how bloody good they are. The voice coil is very high end, the detail presented here is just fabulous. More vocal and string oriented pieces seem to be the forte of these cans. Everything is tight, well defined and just begs to be paired with good source material.
I would highly recommend using better than MP3 files on these cans or you may be disappointed, the detail retrieval is such that any lossy format will be exposed for what it is. FLAC files simply shine through these cans.
If you like your cans able to play busy, complex pieces of music with effortless ease, consummate style and a mature, grown-up presentation then gives these an audition.
I am tempted to throw an extra star up there as this is really is a high end package, the only niggle is the slight wobble of the cans on the head. The flat response is not a fault, more an observation and certainly nothing that can be held against KEF.
A brilliant and intoxicating pair of headphones.