Many thanks to Brainwavz for the review sample of Brainwavz Omega! Brainwavz Omega is budget IEM from Brainwavz, similarly priced to Brainwavz Jive. Unfortunately I don't have Brainwavz Jive to be compared with, but I will compare it with other IEMs in the similar price category.   Product webpage: http://www.brainwavzaudio.com/products/omega-iem-noise-isolating-earphones-with-microphone-remote   Quite often people ask my recommendation for budget IEM. And I'm glad I've seen sound quality improvement in the last few years on budget IEMs...

Many thanks to Brainwavz for the Brainwavz S3 review sample! There are already some other reviews about Brainwavz S3, so I will make this review concise.     Brainwavz S3 utilizes single 8 mm dynamic driver with 16 ohms nominal impedance, in full metal housing for over the ear design. But I find that the design can also be worn straight down without any problem. The metal housing though pretty light but feels solid with good build quality. Left and Right markings are clearly printed on the earphone metal housing. The 4.5 mm nozzle size ensures...

This is only the summary part of an in-depth review of this headphone amplifier. Please visit this link for a more in-depth review (comparisons, features, measurement, and tube rolling) of AT-HA22TUBE: Audio-Technica AT-HA22TUBE In-Depth Review       It was during last year (2014) Audio-Technica event in Singapore, that I had the opportunity to audition the AT-HA22TUBE headphone amplifier. Tested it with a few headphones, I was quite impressed with the sound signature. Few months later, I get a unit for myself. I've started drafting this review...

I would like to thank Creative Singapore for the loan of Creative Aurvana Live 2 demo sample! http://sg.creative.com/p/headphones-headsets/creative-aurvana-live2       Launched in 2013, Creative Aurvana Live! 2 is a matured model that is still going strong competing with other models in this price category. There are around 10 reviews here in Head-Fi, so Aurvana Live! 2 that often called as CAL2 needs no more introduction, and I will try to write this review short and concise.         Summary: Estimated Sound Quality: 4/5 Very Good...

Many thanks to Venture Electronics for the VE Monk review sample! Product website: http://eng.52ve.cn/product.php?cm_id=205   I haven't been using earbud for quite a long time since my favourite Sony MDR-E888 died many years ago. A few months back I had a chat with Head-Fi'er @RedJohn456. From there I came to know about Venture Electronics. Thanks buddy! In general, IEM might still be the preferable option due to the better noise isolation and generally better sound quality. But in some circumstances, earbud is quite useful especially...

Many thanks to RHA for RHA T20 Tour Program! The T20 unit in this review is demo unit from the RHA T20 Tour Program: http://www.head-fi.org/t/770875/rha-t20-tour-program-reviewers-wanted Product webpage: http://www.rha-audio.com/us/t20.html   Usually I need at least a month to properly review an earphone, this time I only had more than a week to review it, so not going to be a detailed review, but I'll do my best. I was the 3rd in the sequence, and the other 2 reviewers before me already burnt-in the T20 for a total of approximately 4...

Thanks to Cayin to organize a review tour program for Cayin C5 DAC! I've given around 2 weeks to use and observe the quality of the C5 DAC. Usually I would need a minimum of 1 month to do a proper review of a DAC, so I hope within the short period I would be able to cover all the the important aspects of the C5 DAC.   http://en.cayin.cn/product_view.asp?id=791   Some background of CAYIN model naming is explained here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/768094/new-portable-cayin-spark-c5-dac-amp-released-may-2015/15#post_11650004         Summary of...

Many thanks to Brainwavz for the BLU-100 review sample! http://brainwavzaudio.com/blu100.html       Brainwavz BLU-100 is a Bluetooth earphone compatible with Bluetooth version 4.0 with aptX for lower latency and better quality audio. Looking at the size of BLU-100 that is approximately about the same size as UE TripleFi 10, and knowing that it houses a rechargeable battery, Bluetooth receiver, DAC, headphone amplifier, and an 8mm dynamic driver, I didn't expect much of its performance. After fully charged the battery, paired it with my...

First of all, big thanks to Lend Me UR Ears (LMUE) for the review sample of Alpha & Delta AD01! Alpha & Delta is LMUE house brand, and AD01 is their first product.   http://www.lendmeurears.com/alpha-delta-ad01-black/         Through my journey in head-fi world, I've heard of IEMs that are technically superior but lacking of the subjective musical enjoyment. On the other hand, there are IEMs that may not sound technically outstanding, but musically pleasing, and highly enjoyable. Alpha & Delta AD01 is leaning more to the later, while still...

This review is the summary section of Yulong DA8II in-depth review here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/779702/yulong-da8ii-in-depth-review   Please visit the above thread for more information.       Many thanks to Yulong and Qubes Audio Singapore for the loan of Yulong DA8ii demo unit! I had the demo unit for more than a month for proper review and comparison with other desktop DACs.   http://www.yulongaudio.com/en/product_detail.asp?pid=48       I have the previous model, Yulong DA8 for more almost 2 years now, and it has been one of my...

Many Thanks to Fiio for the review sample! I`ve been a Fiio user for some time. Currently I have Fiio X3 (1st gen) and Fiio E12DIY amp. Also had Fiio X5 before, and I reviewed Fiio X1 a while ago. So far my experiences with Fiio products have been positive.   Review sections: Summary, Pros & Cons, Suggestions for improvement. Sound Quality & Comparisons. Features & Measurements.           Summary Design wise, Fiio X3 2nd gen looks closer to Fiio X1, and very different from the older Fiio X3. The heart of the player is DAC chip...

This review is a summary section of In-Depth Review I posted here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/765004/audio-technica-ath-r70x-in-depth-review-impressions Please visit the link above for more information.     Many thanks to Audio-Technica Singapore for the demo set loan of ATH-R70x! By the time i post this review, i have had it with me for about a month.   http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/headphones/f39784ce643a82e6/index.html           I was quite surprise of how light ATH-R70x was when I took it out of the box. Lighter than other...

DUNU Titan 1 is a unique semi-open IEM. The shell is made of durable metal, and the 13.5 mm dynamic driver diaphragm is titanium-coated. It’s designed to be worn straight down, but still possible to loop the cable over the ear to reduce microphonics (mechanical cable noise when the IEM cable moves around and rubbing shirt or other object). BIG thanks to DUNU for the review sample! I have used it for almost 3 months, when posting this review, and have no issue with the quality so far. Titan 1 build quality is very good, and the durability...

    This is the introduction & summary part of my detail review of Sound Blaster X7. The link to the detail review is here: Creative Sound Blaster X7 - Detailed Review & Impressions     The detail review consist of 5 sections: Introduction and Summary Sound Quality Op-Amp Rolling Control Panel Features & Measurements       Sound Blaster X7 is an impressive multi-platform, all-in-one solution for music, movie, and gaming. As a USB DAC, X7 works with most of today's operating system, Windows, Mac OS, and newer version of Android, & iOS...

Thanks to Brainwavz for the review samples of the HM5 pleather and velour earpads replacement!       These replacement earpads are meant for Brainwavz HM5 headphone, but Brainwavz told me, size wise, they are compatible with other headphones from other brands, such as Audio-Technica ATH-M50 and the variant. I tried, the earpads, size wise also compatible with ATH-MSR7.   I don't have Brainwavz HM5 headphone, so I will test it with ATH-M50LE and ATH-MSR7.         Sorry the color of the pleather pad is rather off on the pictures. The...

First of all, a very Big Thanks to Audio-Technica Singapore for the loan of the demo unit of ATH-W1000Z, The Maestoso!   Website: http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/headphones/6664e5258c491bd1/index.html         ATH-W1000Z, the Maestoso, is the 11th generation of Audio-Technica's W Series. It shares some similarities with the predecessor, ATH-W1000X, the Grandioso, the 10th generation of Audio-Technica's W Series. Similar 53 mm driver size, similar range of frequency response, similar maximum input power, and also similarly priced. For those...

Last October 2014, Audio Technica Singapore informed me about their plan for their new products launch. When we met, i had the chance to test the new ATH-MSR7. Connected it to my iBasso DX90, I was immediately impressed with it. Sounds good looks good. Probably one of the best looking AT headphone from modern design perspective, MSR7 is simply gorgeous and elegant. The housing is made of a mix of aluminum and magnesium, and some plastic parts. Build quality is excellent with premium feel. MSR7 is available in 3 colors, Black, Gunmetal, and Red for...

    Brainwavz AP001 surely has the cute factor, from its small size and unique contemporary design. But that's for the look. As for features, we might wonder, why Brainwavz designed a headphone amplifier with no volume control, and 'always ON' bass enhancement. Honestly, though AP001 sounds fun and enjoyable, I would rate it 2 stars if I have to review it as a headphone amplifier, due to the missing of volume control and the 'always ON' bass enhancement feature. But from the beginning, I don't see AP001 as a headphone amplifier, but as headphone...

Thanks Brainwavz for the review sample of Brainwavz S0!         Designed to be the little brother of Brainwavz S5, Brainwavz S0 uses single 9 mm dynamic driver that is slightly smaller than the 10 mm driver in Brainwavz S5. At about half the price of the S5, thanks to Brainwavz, the sound quality of S0 is much more than half of the sound quality of S5.       In this review, I will use S5 as a reference for comparison.       Smaller than S5, S0 also has full metal body which is sleek and durable. Unlike S5 that is designed to be...

    Simply music. That summarizes this review of Fiio X1.   At $99.- Fiio is offering a very affordable high resolution (24 bit / 192 kHz) player to the market. At this price, many might question of the sound quality. Thanks to Fiio, they don't set the sound quality of X1 at the sub $100 bracket. There is nothing cheap with the sound quality of Fiio X1. On a blind test, I doubt any experience reviewer or audiophile will guess that it is a sound quality from a $99 player. X1 sound quality is simply beyond its $99 price tag. Kudos to Fiio!  ...