Torque Audio t096z IEM Review                   Intro: Founded in 2012, Torque’s first product releases hit the market this year, releasing a variety of interesting premium customizable headphones. Their three new exciting modular products, the $179.95 t103z IEMs, the $329.95 t096z IEMs, and the $399.95 t402v full-sized headphones that can swap between on-ear and over-ear fits.   Disclaimer: I received a touring review unit from Torque. Details can be found HERE. These are just my personal subjective opinions. Your experience may vary!  ...

HE-400S Review     Intro: Founded in 2007 by Dr. Fang, Hifiman is a Chinese audio company with products ranging from headphones, IEMs, dedicated audio players, amplifiers, and dacs. Particularly renowned for their planar magnetic headphones, Hifiman was responsible for the planar magnetic revival with their HE-5 release in 2009 jump-starting a renewed interest in this technology. They have quite a lot of expertise with planar magnetic transducers with their discontinued planar magnetic models (HE-5, HE-5LE, HE-4, HE-400, and HE-500) still...

Aune X1S desktop dac/amplifier Review       Intro: Established in 2004, Aune is a Chinese company based in Wuhan that focuses on audiophile external components. Aune is part of HiFiDIY.net, which is one of the largest Chinese audiophile communities (similar to head-fi.org community with enthusiasts chatting on forums). Their focus is crafting feature-packed products with high-end sound and unique designs at an affordable price point. They have an unorthodox vision, making unique products such as the newly released B1 ($199 fully discrete...

MrSpeakers Ether Review       Intro: Founded by Dan Clark in 2012, MrSpeakers is an American audio company based in San Diego, California. An avid hobbyist always tinkering, Mr. Clark studied electrical engineering at Swarthmore College and gained recognition in the high-end audio industry for his work on commercial loudspeaker designs. MrSpeakers was born during Dan’s personal quest to create his own ideal pair of closed headphones. Specializing in providing modifications to the closed-back planar magnetic Fostex T50RP*, MrSpeakers released...

Alpha & Delta AD01 IEM Review     Intro: Lend Me UR Ears is a Singaporean audio retailer that sells high-quality but affordable budget gear. Offering international shipping to the USA and Canada, they are the official retailer for a wide range of brands and started producing their own in-house products under the Alpha & Delta brand name. The Alpha & Delta brand is the result of Lend Me UR ear collaboration with an unspecified Chinese manufacturer. The Alpha & Delta AD01 in-ear headphones are their first product launch.     Tech: The Alpha...

Final Audio Heaven VII IEM Review Fully balanced single armature in-ear monitors     Intro: Founded by Kanemori Takai in 1974, Final Audio is a diverse audio company based in Japan with a history of designing products from moving coil cartridges, turntables, amplifiers, speakers, and headphones. Their current headphone product line-up includes the Pandora Hope series (full-sized over-ears using a dynamic driver with a balanced armature driver), Sonorous series (full-sized dynamic driver over-ears) Piano Forte and Adagio series (single dynamic...

Cayin C5DAC Review       Intro: Founded in 1993, Zhuhai Spark Electronics Equipment Company is a high-end audio equipment manufacturer based in Guangdong, China. They release their own gear under the Cayin brand name. Well-versed in amplifier design, they have a large product line-up ranging for a few hundred dollars to the $1,000+ price point.   Their newest product is the Cayin C5DAC, which is based on their popular C5 standalone portable amplifier. The C5 portable amplifier is very popular in among the head-fi community and is currently...

Cozoy Astrapi Review       Intro: Cozoy Ltd. is a relatively new company that was founded in 2014 and based in China. Their current product portfolio only includes their recently released Cozoy Astrapi portable dac/amplifier. CTC Audio is their official distributor for the United States and Canada. Link here: http://www.ctcaudio.com/products/cozoy-astrapi-dac-amplifier.   I was very interested in purchasing a Cozoy Astrapi for my portable needs and contacted CTC Audio with some questions. CTC Audio was kind enough to supply me with a loaner...

Aune B1 portable headphone amplifier Review     Intro: Focusing on achieving high quality sound at a competitive price point while utilizing premium materials and uniquely eye-catching aesthetics, Aune is a Chinese company based in Wuhan specializing in high-end audio equipment. Founded in 2004, Aune is the brand of the largest Chinese audio technology community, http://hifidiy.net/. Aune’s current product line-up include the Aune S16 (desktop usb dac at $699), T1 Mk2 (desktop usb tube dac with a solid state amplifier at $229), the X1 Pro...

AKG K7xx Massdrop 1st Edition Headphone Review:     Intro:     The new AKG K7xx is the result of a joint venture between AKG and Massdrop. Based on the limited 65th anniversary edition of the K702 released in 2012, the AKG K7xx is made by AKG and specially configured by Massdrop. They are a Massdrop-exclusive item and not currently available from AKG.   Fun Fact: A total of 6,000 AKG K7xx 1st Edition headphones were produced. All the 1st Edition models have been already sold, and no more 1st Edition drops will occur. No official...

Stoner Acoutics UD110v2 Review ***Note: this product is no longer available for purchase from Stoner Acoustics and has been replaced by the UD120***   Stoner Acoutics was started by a Malaysian audiophile/engineer who designs and builds his own dacs. His products chronologically were the UD100, UD110, UD110v2, and now currently the UD120.   The UD110v2 is one the of most inexpensive stand-alone asynchronous USB dacs you can find at only $59 (including S&H to the United States). It uses the highly rated PCM5102A dac chip, which is the same one...

Oppo PM-3 Review:   Intro: Specializing in high end blu-ray players, Oppo Digital is a relatively new player in the planar magnetic headphone niche, comprised mainly of Audeze and Hifiman (along with some Fostex T50RP modders & Fostex reexploring the tech with their new open TH500). In 2014, Oppo released the PM-1 as their flagship and the more affordable PM-2 with the same sound but less premium materials to much acclaim in this community. Their focus on a stylish design built with luxurious premium materials with an easy to enjoy, easy to...