First, I’d like to thank Audrey and the folks at Brainwavz for providing me a sample of the S0 for review.   This is only the second Brainwavz earphone I’ve had the pleasure to audition, the first being the Brainwavz S5, a new earphone from the headphone and earphone maker that has produced quite a few different products over the years. The S0 is a step down from the S5, retailing for half the price while still promising premium sound and build quality. So, does the S0 measure up in what is still one of the most hotly contested price brackets in...

First, I’d like to thank Audrey and the folks at Brainwavz and MP4 Nation for providing a sample of the S5 for review.   It was late last month when I received a message from the folks at Brainwavz on Head-Fi, asking if I’d like to review their latest earphone, the S5. I said yes, not knowing at the time that I was soon to play a part in one of the biggest grassroots marketing blitzes I’ve ever seen in the world of portable audio. I was one of possibly dozens of reviewers selected to voice an opinion on the S5, so I would imagine they have quite a...

  I was fortunate enough to be picked for the review tour for HiFiMan’s latest planar magnetic headphone, the HE-400i, billed as an improvement over the outgoing HE-400 model, and slotting in at $500, $100 more than the HE-400.   The HE-400i arrived in sizeable, leather appointed box, much improved from the simple paper box the HE-400 was packaged in. Right off the bat, my expectations were raised in the best way possible and when I opened up that box, I was greeted with a much classier setup than that of the HE-400. I knew then I was in for an...

  I’d like to thank John Seaber and the folks at JDS Labs for the C5D loaner unit.   Accessories The C5D ships with a 1.5 foot USB mini-B cable, a set of four rubber stick-on feet and an instruction manual. A Spartan lineup, to be sure, but it gets the job done. Design and Build Quality Identical to the C5 in shape and size, though with a couple of added features, including a switch around back to allow the C5D to charge from a connected USB source or run strictly from battery power and a two-stage bass boost switch on the front with two boost...

  Thanks to the folks at HiFiMan for sending me a sample of their latest IEM to review.   Well, let’s get right to it. This is HiFiMan’s in ear monitor flagship, the RE-600 “Songbird”. Replacing the previous flagships, the RE-262 and RE-272, the RE-600 has some big shoes to fill, and with a $399 price tag attached, higher than either of its predecessors, it’s certainly got its work cut out for it. So, does the RE-600 live up to its lofty expectations and earn its keep? Read on to find out.   Packaging I’ve been skipping this part of my reviews...

  First, I’d like to thank the folks at HiFiMan for providing a sample of the HM-700 for review.   Anyone who knows HiFiMan knows they’re no stranger to portable audio players. They’re well known for their high end and very expensive HM-801, HM-601 and most recently, their HM-901 portable audio players, geared toward the most discerning audiophiles, with high quality DACs, and modular amplifier cards, in case the stock amplifier isn’t good enough. All of these players cost hundreds of dollars, with the highest end HM-901 costing some $1,000.  ...

  Somewhere around 2012, following the departure from longtime OEM Foster, Denon found itself in the tricky position of having to rebuild its headphone line from the ashes of its well-received audiophile headphones, the D2000, D5000 and D7000. This was, and still is, also a time in which the market of “high end” audiophile headphones was being reshaped and swiftly dominated by the ever-present Beats by Dre headphone line, instantly recognizable by its trademark lowercase “b” logo and glossy exteriors and famous literally for being famous...

  First, I’d like to thank the folks at Narmoo for providing a sample of their R1M earphones for review.   In recent years, the IEM market has sort of exploded, seeing a number of established players making a go of things and a number of impressive upstarts, often aiming for the top by attacking the bottom, releasing high performing earphones for low prices. Enter Narmoo, a company I’d never heard of until an e-mail showed up in my inbox. I have before me their entry level offering, the R1M, an earphones that should appear somewhat familiar to...

  First, I’d like to thank the folks at NuForce for providing a sample of the revised NE-700M earphones for review.   NuForce is a company I first came into contact with when I reviewed pre-production samples of their upcoming NE-700X, a replacement for their popular and outgoing NE-7M earphones. I thought the NE-700X was a pretty good deal for the asking price and now, a couple of years later (has it really been that long?) I have before me a new and improved version of the NE-700M, a variant of the NE-700X featuring a one button remote and...

  First, I’d like to thank John Seaber at JDS Labs for the C5 review sample.   The JDS Labs C5 is the second generation portable amplifier designed by JDS Labs itself (replacing the outgoing C421) and is claimed by its creators to deliver “reference level performance”.   So does it deliver on its lofty claims or will it fall by the wayside? Read on to find out. Design and Build Quality Built with machined aluminum, the C5 is a very solid portable amplifier that feels like it could take quite a few knocks and keep going like a champ. The...

  I'd to thank the folks at T-PEOS for sending me a sample of the H200 for review.   The promise of the hybrid earphone is to offer a best of “both worlds” solution between the two most common types of earphone transducers, dynamic (moving coil) drivers and balanced armatures, offering the clarity and precision of balanced armatures with the natural resonance and, well, dynamic bass a dynamic driver can provide. One of the earliest consumer hybrids was the Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 EB, an earphone that, while not without its faults, was proof...

  The evolution of the E5 portable amplifier that served as my very first portable amplifier before I eventually returned it in favor of the CMoyBB (and because the volume rocker broke), the Fiio E6 is, in some ways, little more than a sidegrade or de-evolution from the E5 as a total product. For instance, the E6 is now clad in shiny black plastic rather than the metal and plastic housing of the E5 and also lacks the sturdy metal clip of the E5, instead opting for a transparent plastic clip which, frankly, isn’t as good. In terms of sound...

Introduction First off, I’d like to thank the kind folks at Audio-Technica for providing a review sample of the CKS1000   Yes, this is it, the final and entry into the Solid Bass lineup, the most expensive and (hopefully) best sounding CKS earphone of them all. Retailing for $250, the CKS1000 is far beyond what many would consider “impulse buy” territory and entered the realm of a rather significant investment. It also runs against some significant competition at this price point so it will have to offer a competitively detailed quality of sound...

Introduction First off, I’d like to thank the folks at Audio-Technica for providing a review sample of the CKS99. Up for review is the mid-range entry into the Solid Bass line of in ear monitors from Audio-Technica, the CKS99. So, without further ado, let’s get right to it, shall we?   Accessories: The CKS99 comes with four pairs of silicone eartips, a set of manuals and a leather carrying case.   Design and Build Quality: The housings of the CKS99 are plastic and similar to the CKS77 but feature a few nicer accents to differentiate it from...

Introduction First, I’d like to thank the folks at DUNU for selecting me to review the DN-23 Landmine IEMs.   DUNU is no stranger to me, as I’ve reviewed quite a few of their products in the past. Now, I have DUNU’s latest release, the DN-23 Landmine. At $80, it slots in below DUNU’s DN-19 Tai-Chi flagship and above the also recently released DN-22 Detonator. So, does the Landmine measure up or is it a dud? Read on to find out.   Accessories: 10 pairs of silicone eartips (Sony Hybrid clones, standard spherical and one pair of biflanges), a...

Introduction First off, I’d like to thank the folks at Audio-Technica once again for providing a review sample of the CKS77.   Having reviewed the Solid Bass line of portable headphones, naturally, my next stop would be the Solid Bass line of earphones. This time, I’m starting with the CKS77 in ears, not the cheapest or lowest end Solid Bass earphones but on the lower end compared to the CKS99 and CKS1000. So, does the CKS77 measure up? Read on to find out.     Accessories: The CKS77 comes with four pairs of silicone eartips, a set of...

  The VSD1 is the latest in a rather long line of budget in ear monitors including the VC02, GR99, GR02 and others that promises high quality sound for around $50 or so. While I haven’t had the opportunity to hear any of VSONIC’s other budget offerings, I was quite impressed with the GR07 Bass Edition I purchased and reviewed some time ago. When the opportunity to review the VSD1 presented itself, I was happy to do so. So, does the VSD1 live up to the lofty expectations surrounding it? Read on to find out.     Accessories: The VSD1...

Introduction First off, I’d like to thank the folks at Audio-Technica for the sample of the WS99 for review.   Here it is, the pinnacle of Audio-Technica’s “Solid Bass” line of portable headphones, the WS99. Arriving in a big, audacious black box, the WS99 makes its presence known with its sharp (literally) aluminum accents, its large but not heavy construction and promises of excellent bass and sound quality. Jumping into the premium price bracket, with an MSRP of $250, sending it into direct competition with the Beats by Dre Studios, the...

Introduction I’d like to thank the folks at iFi Audio and Avatar Acoustics for the review sample.   iFi Audio is something of a newcomer in the mainstream consumer audio market, but one that has had its roots firmly planted in the professional audio industry for years, British firm Abbingdon Music Research, which produces a range of audiophile grade (read: expensive) sources, amplifiers and whatnot. iFi Audio was created with the promise of offering top quality products at much lower prices and has created a number of products since their...

Introduction First off, I’d like to thank the folks at Audio-Technica for the sample of the WS77 for review.   Yes, I’ve been on something of a roll recently with Audio-Technica headphones. First the WS55, then the Pro700MK2 and now the next entry into the Solid Bass portable headphone line, the WS77, which slots in between the WS55 and WS99 as the mid-range option in their lineup. Having heard the WS55 and finding it good but unrefined, can the WS77 outshine its sibling and offer a more compelling option to those looking for a portable...