iFi currently produces three portable USB DAC dongles. The entry level, iFi Go link, the regular sized iFi Go bar and its limited edition, the iFi Go bar/Gold edition which is now sold out. The brand new addition to the family is the iFi Go bar Kensei which incorporates all the extra technical features that were to be found in the Gold edition plus a few more. Technical stuff The DAC section of the GO bar Kensei uses a powerful 16-core XMOS micro controller to process the audio data received at the USB input and ensure a perfect partnership with...

Lavricables Lavricables is a Latvia based company that was created back in 2012 as a hobby. To ensure the highest quality of their products they use pure silver which is the best conductor available nowadays. Silver is also known for its neutrality, resolution and soundstage openness. Moreover, braided solid core cable geometry allows to eliminate radio frequencies and electromagnetic interferences and with increased number of cores skin effect is also minimized on high frequencies. Currently they make cables for headphones and earphones, as well...

Kiwi Ears is a relatively new brand formed around a team with great experience in designing and tuning earphones for some very popular brands. Their aim is to produce earphones that are both suitable for critical music listening and professional use while keeping a friendly price policy. Kiwi Ears Quintet The Kiwi Ears Quintet is a hybrid earphone that utilizes a unique combination of four different types of drivers. One diamond-like carbon dynamic (DLC) driver, two balanced armature (BA) drivers, one planar magnetic driver, and one piezoelectric...

The MS1 Galaxy is the entry level earphone of the timeless Hidizs Mermaid series which includes many successful earphones like the MS3 and MS5. The MS1 has been part of the Hidizs catalog for almost 5 years now, it was first released back in 2019 with the name MS1 Mermaid, and subsequently upgraded to the Rainbow version. This new, Galaxy version, represents an attempt to bring Hi-Fi level materials and technology to a wider audience, making it a true value-for-money option. Technical stuff The MS1 Galaxy, features a customized 10.2mm...

Simgot is a premier manufacturer of earphones with a focus on delivering superior audio fidelity, cutting-edge design, and unparalleled user experience. Simgot earphones are known and well regarded by many audiophiles. You can read my previous Simgot reviews here. The Simgot EA1000 is an upgraded version of the Simgot EA2000, so while the latter is the company's flagship model, the former utilizes more recent, cutting-edge technology. Simgot has code-named the EA1000 as “Fermat's Last Theorem”, you can read the philosophy behind this decision here...

Burson Audio is an established audio manufacturer from Australia that is known for their excellent sounding DAC/amp combo units, like the Playmate 2, the Conductor and the Soloist. What people might not know is that Burson Audio was one of the first companies in the audio industry who argued against using IC op-amps on the audio signal path. Thus they have designed and introduced their own op-amps that are made with discrete components. The famous Burson supreme sound op-amps that after 20 years of continuous research and development have now reached...

The K9 is FiiO's mid-range all-in-one desktop DAC and headphone amplifier. A model smartly positioned midway between the more expensive FiiO K9 PRO ESS and the less expensive FiiO K7. The FiiO K9 was originally released featuring dual ES9068AS DAC chips and THX AAA 788+ amplifiers. Variety is always welcomed so FiiO has decided to introduce a version with an AKM DAC chip thus the FiiO K9 AKM was born. The AKM version is $30 more expensive than the ESS. Technical stuff The only difference between the FiiO K9 AKM and the K9 is in the DAC chip which...

The DX260 is iBasso’s new mid-range digital audio player (DAP), the successor of the much acclaimed and multi-awarded DX240. For the DX260, iBasso decided to abandon the modular amp-card system, so unlike the DX240 or DX320, you can't swap amplifier modules to tailor the sound signature to your liking. The DX260 might not be modular anymore but it is the first DAP to feature an easy removable back cover that allows for total battery access, making battery replacement by the user an easy task. Technical stuff The iBasso DX260 is the first DAP on the...

Night Oblivion Audio is a new brand exclusively distributed by Penon Audio. Their first born product is an earphone named Butastur. Butastur is a genus of prey birds that consists of four species. One of their main habitats is North and South China so that might explain the naming of the earphone. The Butastur is a collaboration between Night Oblivion Audio and a community member who contributed in the final tuning. Technical stuff The Butastur is a full balanced armature earphone with 10 drivers per side with the following configuration: 2...

Intro Goldenwave is a boutique audio manufacturer from China that was recently bought by HIFIMAN. The first two products born out of this collaboration are the Prelude headphone amplifier and the Serenade DAC/amp. The Prelude used to be a DAC/amp when it was produced under the Goldenwave brand name but now HIFIMAN has stripped it out of its DAC, offering it as a standalone headphone amplifier and kept the Serenade as the DAC/amp combo unit. When the Serenade was produced by Goldenwave it featured a ES9038PRO DAC chip that is now substituted with...

BGVP is a pro headset brand founded in 2015 and the subordinate brand of Dongguan Nengjiang technology limited company which is located in ChangPing Town, Dongguan City. BGVP mainly produces and customizes various high-end HIFI earbuds, earphones and other electronic products. In the process of development, BGVP has never forgotten to master the core technology capabilities, independent research, development and sales. BGVP is committed to providing high-quality HIFI headsets for consumers around the world. The brand produces various highly acclaimed...

The KA17 is FiiO's latest portable USB DAC dongle and their current flagship product dethroning FiiO KA5. It KA17 features the latest design pattern that was introduced with the KA13 but keeps the OLED screen of the KA5 while it also blends KA13’s desktop mode switch with an additional USB type-C power supply port as is inherited by the FiiO Q7 and M17. In case that you are not familiar with FiiO's USB DAC dongles, their catalog now consists of the following models from the most budget to the more premium: FiiO KA1 (now replaced by the FiiO KA11)...

Aune Audio is a well known audio brand from China that has been developing desktop and portable audio products such as DACs, digital transports, music players and headphone amplifiers. Their catalog also includes an earphone, the Jasper but no headphones. Well, until now because Aune Audio have finally released their first full sized headphone, the Aune AR5000. Aune AR5000 The AR5000 features a large, 50mm open-back dynamic driver unit with an innovative structure. The multi-layer distributed (MLD) diaphragm balances rigidity and damping, further...

Rose Technics Do you know Rose Technics? The truth is that I didn't know them until HiFiGo contacted to suggest a review of their latest creation, the RT5000, an all-in-one unit combining a DAC, a headphone amplifier and a preamp under the same hood. Visiting their website we can learn that Rose Technics is a Chi-Fi brand that was established back in 2012 with the goal to deliver unparalleled original sound reproduction through intelligent technology and meticulous manufacturing. Sounds familiar? Their catalog consists of audiophile in-ear monitors...

The FiiO JH5 is a product of FiiO's sister company, Jade Audio which focuses on high performance to cost ratio and build quality, providing audiophiles with affordable yet high quality devices to listen with. The JH5 is a hybrid earphone with 1 dynamic and 4 BA drivers per side with an acoustic design that borrows elements from FiiO's high-end IEMs such as the FiiO FH9 and FH7. The goal is that of presenting music from genres as diverse as classical to pop all in a high-fidelity manner. At the heart of the JH5 is a 10mm carbon-based dynamic driver...

Kiwi Ears Forteza Review The Kiwi Ears Forteza is a hybrid, 1BA and 2DD, in-ear monitor that retails for $59. Yes, you have read it right, one balanced armature and two dynamic drivers and not the opposite. The Forteza uses one high-mid balanced armature, one 10mm mid-range dynamic and 10mm bass dynamic drivers. This unique combination fulfills a full sound from 20Hz to 20kHz. The drivers are carefully implemented with the aid of a three-way passive crossover system that is tuned for a rich and lush sound signature. All three drivers are in-house...

The Hidizs SD2 is a portable USB DAC dongle without a cable that directly plugs in a host USB type-C port and delivers audio in a 3.5mm headphone output. The Hidizs SD2 not only supports in-line control but also features a high-definition microphone. Plugging it in enables SD2 to convert microphone audio streams to 24-bit, 48 kHz, ensuring clear voice transmission. The Hidizs SD2 is equipped with the brand new ES9270 DAC chip by ESS that features a patented 32-bit HyperStreamII QUAD DACTM architecture. The chip supports PCM up to 384kHz/DSD128...

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...