https://store.thinksound.com/
 

 
 
I would like to give a hearty thanks to Thinksound's Aaron Fournier for reaching out to me for this review. I was provided with a review sample of the ON2 to provide my thoughts about his newest creations. The ON2 MS02 and the Rain3.
 
First a bit about thinksound.
 
"Thinksound headphones are assembled primarily from renewable, recyclable resources like wood and aluminum, and feature PVC-free cables . The packaging is made from recycled materials. The design eliminates the typical plastic bubble normally associated with headphones and small electronics packaging that are bad for the environment and often hard to open."
 
On a personal note this is very cool that a manufacturer cares enough about environmental impact to use materials that are sustainable and recyclable. I think when we all go out and purchase a phone we never think about just how much material a manufacturer has to use to create your headphone but I would imagine there is quite a bit of waste involved and probably not so good for the environment so big thumbs up from me for having this business model.
 
Now onto my thoughts about these headphones.
 
Like many of you when you open a new box that has your new headphones in it. It is the very first listen that can have an immediate impact on how your perceive your brand new phone and I am no different. What you get out of the box is the phones a cloth bag and in it has 2 very nice clothed cables. This is what comes in the box.
 
+Hand crafted natural wood cups for accurate music production
+Two 4.5' long detachable cables. 1 with mic and 1 without
+Single button microphone +call/music control for mobile communication
+Compatible with IPhone, Android and more.
+5Hz-22Hz Freq response
+3.5mm steel reinforced gold plated plug for increased clarity.
+Passive noise isolation minimized ambient sounds
+Kevlar reinforced, tangle resistant fabric cable
+Memory foam pads for maximum comfort
+Flexible metal headband with comfortable faux leather overlay
+Storage pouch
+2 year limited warranty.
 
Build wise these things look and feel absolutely solid. The pads were actually off the cups on open box and a little assembly is required by the user to put that pads in place. The pads are on a small frame that have slots that protrude to fit the cups. It is as easy as pushing the pads into place and turning the pads firmly onto the cups. Once this is done I was ready to hear these. The only previous headphones I have heard from Thinksound was the Rain2 and another in ear Aaron was responsible for called an IEB6 micro driver earphones.  Both these earphones had their merits but what I was hearing from the ON2 right from the get go was a surprise. 
 
First thought that came to my mind was how clear and agile the sound was. I tested out a few tracks connected to my Pono and then proceeded to throw these on the burn in station. I periodically checked in on them and the one positive bit of change I could detect was the only one that I was concerned about. From open box the treble has a bit of grain a touch of rawness on open listen which I was hoping would go away with some brisk drum n bass and that is exactly what happened. That initial bit of grain now turned into treble detail. 
 
When out doors and walking about in a crowd these things isolate perhaps a bit too well. I can't hear a darn thing outside when my music is playing and that is a good thing. Passive noise isolation is excellent on these.  Actually out of all my portable headphones fullsized or on ear. These actually have the best isolation by far.  One way I test isolation and sound leakage is if the sound leaks out if I close the cups together while burning in. Sound leakage is at a very minimum if at all. Meaning yes you can have your woodie at a library!
 
Now back to the sound.
Sound signature wise these have a monitor like tuning meaning the balance is there with clear emphasis on treble and a tight refined full bass end. Where these shine from most of your monitor type sound profile is that the mids absolutely shine on these and was not an afterthought. Not too forward and not laid back, just right. Wood housing lends to some of the best timbre for music and these have it in spades. Vocal nuances and range has emphasis you can't hear in lesser on ears, instruments has excellent transparency and imagery. Drums have power, rawness with a perfect amount of pitch and speed. Treble shimmer and timbre lends to the overall clear, cool tonality of the sound definition of lower to upper trebles. Some may find the treble to be a touch unforgiving and a bit hard at times as there is no perceived treble roll of.  Clarity is in all parts of the sound including the treble so this might add to the perception of brightness but to me there is a clear difference here in that the ON2s emit clear treble vs being peaky. A control that I have not heard on any of the other Thinksound products to date. I think the treble could use a touch more refinement here but for what it has it is excellent extended treble and goes perfectly with this monitor sound on the go. Mid bass emphasis is very appropriate for this sound signature and it is not shy on the bass end. Neutrality be damned the bass will punch you in the face and let you know your listening to your favorite bass tracks,.which to me is what you want on the go.  Sub bass absolutely brings it for the low end that rumbles your ear lobes.  Sound balancing is excellent on these even with a touch of mid bass emphasis and treble sparkle nothing sounds out of line. As small as these headphones are measuring 2 and 3/4 inches at the cups/pads. They have a large and in charge sound that are tuned to let you enjoy your favorites anywhere you deemed them worthy to go.
 
In a word. These simply sound superb, any where at any time.
 
The catch on these? They are on ears. Meaning yes you have to have them on your ears and not over them. They do have a pillow like feel to the pads on these and the thick lipped padding with memory foam does feel comfortable after initial light clamp. I suppose if your the type that absolutely hate on ears than I suppose no amount of sound quality can influence you but for what it is I can't think of too many smallish portable cans that have the SQ of the ON2. 
 
There are out of your head moments on these headphones with well recorded tracks that let you know your hearing some very nicely tuned headphones. Nature of smallish closed headphones is that they will take a hit on sound stage. However, the imagery is so well done here you quickly forget this sound is coming from a small portable can.
 
Rated at 50 ohms, the ON2s are easy to drive either using my phone or out of my Pono, Fiio X3ii. They all drive the ON2 with blazing not good for you volumes. Using the micd cord on my LG phone It does exactly what it was meant to do with solid vocal clarity. 
 
Last words;
 
Walking out with the ON2s on with my X3ii in my pocket.  I can't hear a single word the wife is saying to me while I am doing yard work with the sweet vocals of Donny Hathaway. Life is good.

 
 
Disclamer.
 
I provided these Sony Z5 for myself just for the sheer sound of it. These were not given to me for any type of review. I am writing these impressions of these works of art due to the sheer wickedness of it. And the fact it is a damn shame how there is not ONE single review of these masterworks by Sony here on Headfi.
 
This being said let me get into some history of why I think these are the bomb diggity earphones you kinda over looked.  Sony has had a long run with in house designs that were for the most part successful around world made possible by enthusiasts who are fans of that Sony sound. Sony has always had a part in my audio fan fare be it various cassette walkmans discmans daps and their sound design in headphones and earphones. Being of fan of previous efforts by Sony be it my XBA-3 to the XB90EX and more recently the XBA-H3.  I had a chance to hear these earphones in a used form. From first listen I knew right there these had to be in my life.
 
​SPECS
 
Hybrid 3 Way closed back design
 
16mm Liquid crystal Dynamic Driver
 
Magnesium Super Tweeter
 
Freq response 3-40,000 Hz
 
Three size Sony Foam Hybrid  tips
 
Four size Silicon Hybrid tip
 
Two detachable cables. Single and balanced
 
Clip and Carry case
 

Package for the price is kinda skimpy to be honest. Add this to the fact that only standard ofc copper cables are included in this package. For the price Sony should have included their MUC-M12SM1 upgraded cable. I will most definitely get an upgraded cable for my pair but for now this review is solely based on what I got in the box.
 
 
Build

 
Here in lies my biggest beef with these earphones. The MMCX connectors here are sketchy. Maybe Sony purposefully designed these earphones with the most weakest form of connectors there can be. To make you baby your earphones.  Basically due to the MMCX connectors on these you have to treat these earphones as careful as it gets. I have absolute zero confidence that someone who wraps some earphones around their hands and throws said earphones in their pockets to carry out with them on a walk will make these last more than a few months of use before said connectors give out. It is a damn shame that one of the most important aspects of connected cables got an oversight in design by Sony. If these didn't sound like they do I would have not gotten these simply due to this particular connection on the Z5s.
 
A stern warning. Gotta treat these right. Never ever let your kids or cousin borrow your Z5s. There is a very good chance you will get them back with a loose connection.
The package is standard fair by Sony if not kinda boring for the high MSRP of $700? For this price and the fact that these are Sonys current flagship earphones,  I know Sony can do better with the package and that connector.
 
On a side note the Z5 now has been around for over a year so street prices on these hover around $500 or less. Some can be bought for $350-$450 for a used pair. My own experience has shown me these are one set of earphones you want to buy completely new if you can.
 
 
Sound

 
But then there was the sound. To me these have something that so many earphones just can't produce. Actual large wide sound stage.
 
 

 
 
Sony has always impressed me with how they can capture some sound magic in their sounds. Music flows on a large and in charge sound canvas that spreads across your hearing senses and you will hear instruments and micro details from what seems to be across the room. The stage is one of the widest I have ever heard for any earphone. Feel the air is one way to describe it.
 
.It will put you in the music as much as possible.
 

 

To take full advantage of these earphones they sound splendid enough in single mode but it is in balanced mode using their balanced cable that brings the sound of these to a level that is unsurpassed in what it achieves. It is as close to the full room audio set up as it gets in this mode and I will touch more upon balanced sound a bit more later.
 
Sony has been fine tuning and honing their skills at the hybrid earphone game since the introduction of the XBA H series.  Integrating proprietary BA tech and their liquid crystal dynamic driver in newer form of housing made of sturdy but light magnesium. The housing is more compact over the H3 which allows for more firmer secure insertion in the ears. Not to mention better comfort..The  luxurious magnesium housing encompasses one full range BA, a magnesium super tweeter, and a liquid crystal dynamic driver.
 
A bit gimmicky? Nope sound resonance is cut down to nothing. As a result this full bore sound has some of the best dimensional imagery I have ever heard on speakers put in the ears. Or any speakers for that matter. Then the sound was tuned and tweaked to perfection which means one of the purest reproduction of your music based on what you feed the Sony Z5. Sound resolution and refinements abound. It is the type of non fatiguing large and in charge sound that is so good, so refined. You will hate me for getting you interested in these as now your gonna have to go spend that hard earned cash to hear what these are about. Is it neutral? Nope.
 
Neutrality to me is kinda on the boring  to be completely honest.  I like me some skinny sound on occasions however if neutral dry sound reproduction is what your looking for from Sony's flagship hybrids. These are not it. Now if you like your sound with a 15inch sub bass box in the room with some of the best smooth 3 dimensional butt shaking groundbreaking liquid sound for your ears then continue to read on.
 
Magnesium Super Tweeter? 
Sony be using some interesting material here. Don't know the science that went into what they created for the tweeter BA but let me just say I have never heard treble refinement quite like the Z5s. Silky fully controlled treble I have not heard in too many phones the Z5 is the example of how to do treble that comes with detail that exposes all that is in a recording without assaulting your ear drums with sharpness. Some might hear the treble as being a bit reserved. Na I don't think so.

Transparency in the treble has a refinement that stays away from annoying peaks and ear piercing grain of any type. Detail is effortless in the treble that extends beyond ones hearing but is so much in charge it truly sounds and is tuned like a high end tweeter in the ears.  One of the best if not the best refined treble I have ever heard.
 
Full Range BA
The seemless sound integration of BAs in earphones to me the one common is how good the mid range is on most BA earphones.  The real sound tweeks seem to come with how the treble and bass is integrated with the mids to give the overall picture of the sound in hybrids. The SonyZ5 brings to the sound the absolute best of what a well integrated BA should sound like.
 
Forward mid ranges give up a bit of stage for intimacy in the mids. Neutral mids come flat with a bit wider stage but end up sounding more flat in the imagery.  The mid range of the Z5 can be described as a step back from the bass but is in no way overshadowed by the bass in any way or form.  Is there is bass hump? Sure but is so refined it sounds just like a full on 2.1 speaker set up in a large acoustically positioned room. In single mode the mid range seems a bit more reserved and is more forward in the mix when using balanced cables.
 
The reason why I mention that in balanced mode it truly sounds end game is due to the fact that this does not simulate surround sound but actually pulls it off. You get the full meal deal in sound.  Out of my Pono balanced out.  I am surrounded by music in every direction. It has to be heard to be believed. Every sound and part of the tune lives in a 3D space that is all around me and not just heard with your standard speakers.  No artificial coloring or flavors here. Just the pure surround. A bit mind blowing on first? You bet.
 
Back to the mids of the Z5.  To me it sounds complete deep and dimensional for the large sound these have. Much like the treble and the bass the mids have refinement for days. Sound projection is out of this planet good on these. The mids encompass a truly lush warm sound that is layered in a way that you can " Feel the air." The lack of any extra resonance in the sound throws the sound into a pureness that portray the tune to its full degree. Black space is off the chain good on these. If you want sound separation and a dimensional feel to your music. Give the Z5 a try especially in balanced mode.
 
Crystal Liquid Dynamic?
Sounds high tech. All I can say is these produce some of the best bass I have ever heard. Forget just for earphones. We are talking about the bring it bass. That nasty low lo bass. That low end rumble seldom heard or reached in any earphone.  The bass here is much more refined over the previous XBA H3 or most earphones for that matter.  This bad mamma bass has no room for weak hearted. "Its too bassy." guys.  Again go take a good listen to a full room set up. Get that image in your hearing senses how the bass is integrated into that sound.
 
Then take a good listen to the Z5. Now your understanding what Sony has done with these earphones. Bass notes give weight to your tunes and if done well seamlessly it gives a level of music enjoyment that will make every other earphone you own sound like weak sauce.
 
Accept that my bass is better than yours. The Z5 has that layered texture rumble you want that is surprisingly quick for how full the low end is.  It is that room filling bass that reminds you what is sounds like in a live venue. It is one of Sony's true trump cards for Sony dynamic technology. 
 
And if you think just because these have that nasty bass these aren't audiophile enough for you. What is the chance that these will reproduce your orchestral and symphonic tracks like you have never heard before?  Yes my friends these actually are more capable than you would imagine. Don't hate just because it has bass. Love it because it sounds better than yours.
 
Balanced cable
So these have them snazzy balanced cables that hook directly to my Pono player I recently purchased. The Pono is an excellent dap by the way. It was actually out of need just to hear what the fuss was about regarding these earphones in balanced mode.
 
On first listen it was kinda mind blowing. The sound aspects I was talking about here previously I am talking mostly about single ended mode. So all you have to do is multiply that by 2X and you can kinda understand how it would sound in balanced mode. So my balanced cables are pretty much permanently on the Z5s from that point on.
 
So in the end these earphones have been kinda occupying my hearing time since I got them. Are they the bees knees when it comes to sound? Not particularly but heck I have yet to hear this encompassing sound done this well in anything. Is it worth your hard earned cash to give these a go? Absolutely. 

I would like to first give a hearty thanks to Jyri of NuForce for giving me an opportunity for sampling these marvelous earphones. I have seen NuForce emerge though the years as a premiere audio manufacturer and with the change to the new parent company Optoma the question came about to if these guys will continue the excellence of NuForce audio design.
 
The consumer audio market now a days is a buzz with the latest earphone designs capturing the collective imagination of what makes better audio for what we hear. These new earphones encompass a lot of newer design by NuForce and I feel they have achieved something that is truly special in the earphone realm.  So lets take a look as what I feel is NuForce's new bench mark in earphone design.
 
This is what you get at a package.

Some highlights:
 
- Newly designed, Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers
-Acoustically calculated, vibration free Lexan earpiece
-NuForce Linear-Phase crossover, seamless driver integration
-Two replaceable cables: Mic'd OFC and non mic'd silver plated OFC copper
-Comply foam tips, 6 pairs of  S,M,L silicone tips
-Custom otterbox like foam lined water/dust proof clear plastic case
-Inner case for tips, cables, and tips.
 
Specs:
 
-4 BA driver per shell
-Max sound output- 122dB
-impeance - 32 Ohms
-Max input power 2mW
-Freq response 10-40KHz
-Sensitivity 124dB
 

 
Package
 
The overall package is actually pretty standard fair for a higher end earphone. I think the win here is that these come with 2 nice cables. No need to look for an aftermarket cable with this package. The many earphones I have owned in the past I found myself needing to replace the cable for higher end one just to get that little bit of extra sonics out of the eaphones. Not so with this package. The 2 cables is an excellent idea as you can use the mic'd version for on the go use with your phones. I really like the non mic'd version pictured here.

 
This cord is not only hearty but also has a much welcomed L plug. The Mic'd cord is nice as well but is a bit springy and holds more memory.  I have no doubt these will last a long time on the earphones. Connecting the cord needs a solid push to get flush onto the ear pieces themselves. The clear plastic case is pretty slick and the included foam lining has some slots for the ear pieces . The inner smaller case is only large enough to carry the cords, clip, adapter and tips. Carrying your HEM8 in this manner is nice but will make for a bulky package. I would have liked to see a smaller carry case or a nice pouch included for every day use.  The not so good with this package is the tip selection. Just standard, in fact the one negative and something NuForce should pay attention to more so in the future is in fact their included tips.

I think just about everyone that loves them some nice sounding earphones have a box of earphone tips they have amassed throughout their audio journey. All you have to do when reading any of the earphone threads is to see how many guys try this tip or that tip just to get that right fit/sound for them. Earphone tips makes a difference in sound it is the very first mod that guys will do  to optimize the sound for them. Some of the better earphone packages I have owned includes more tips than you could possibly choose but to me that tells me the manufacturer is thinking of what tips might work for you.
 
NuForce has included some Comply tips that fit the narrow nozzle of the HEM8 perfectly and some may like the sound from the Complys but for me I was a bit underwhelmed with not only the Complys but also their included silicones. The Silicone tips have a narrow opening which lines up with the narrow nozzle. To my ears the narrow opening of these tips actually restrict and hold back some of the dynamics of the earphones. Earphone veterans will know what I am talking about here but the very first thing I try is using wider bore tips to see if the sonics expand in my ears. I will get to this aspect more later. Now onto the sound.
 
SOUND:

 
I am gonna tell everyone that reads my reviews that I am 100% a burn in fanatic. Yes I am nuts about burn in, for good reason. There is and always will be a debate if burn in is needed for BA earphones. Many guys will see me as crazy when I say. Not only do dynamic earphones and headphone need burn in but so does BA earphones. Through my own experience all my BA earphone sounded much better after running music through the earphones. Every single one. No they do not sound the same from open box listen to when I get done with the burn in. BA burn in is a bit different from hybrid or dynamic earphone burn in. BAs don't need hard thumping bass mixed with colored noise. Nope BAs are much more simpler. They just need music run through them and that is it.
 
I took notes of how these HEM8 sounded out of the box. They actually sounded horrible out of the box. I was looking at my Son who was doing his homework across from my computer hooked up to my Centrance mini dac when I took the very first listen, completely perplexed. The upper frequencies were weird, somewhat neutered which made vocals sound nasal and unnatural. It didn't take long for the treble to start blooming. It took exactly 5 tunes actually. Then the sound opened within the hour of listening. The mids and bass started to open up as well.  On open listen the sound was warm and kinda not so coherent. But that all changed in a hurry.
 
The fist hour of listen. I found myself thinking how bad it sounded to how fantastic. The clarity was on point. The mids was fantastic, layered and complete, I remember the bass being a bit bigger than how I hear the bass now but all the aspects of a complete sound was there. I kept on listening for another hour through a wide range of genres. In the end the first listen was a quick turn around from horrible to fantastic.
 
A weeks worth of listening/ burn in and now I have a good understanding of their sonics.  I read many a reviews on the threads and some have a love hate relationship with BA earphones. Some say it is unnatural, some say more digital sounding, many hate the bass, hence the increasing popularity of hybrids. For me I care about engaging, natural sound. If it sounds right, there must have been some nice design involved. On 2nd day of listen I found myself drawn to the imaging of the earphones.
 
IMAGING:
One of the strong suits of BA based earphones done right. Well recorded tracks just pop with imaging. These earphone bring out not only detail in your tracks but image them so well. Yes they sound holographic. You can shut your eyes and drift away to vocals, strings, guitars and drums. Precision is also the strong suit of these earphones. These passed all my test tracks with ease in this regard. Live recordings capture the atmosphere perfectly, you can tell where vocals and instruments are placed in the recording. Every emphasis in the drum stroke, pitch tone and macro detail of the high notes are represented with fantastic detail.
 
VOCAL CLARITY:
Vocal clarity, the height and depth of vocals are represented with the utmost authority. On the 3rd day of listen I felt the mids of the earphones was a touch more expansive and even more dynamic than the previous day of listen. I ran a test album with well recorded female vocals from Aretha Franklin to Norah Jones to Alison Krauss.  Yes I was smiling from ear to ear when I went through track after track and not only did vocals shine on these but you can hear the emotion in the vocal performance, every breath that was captured.  Even better were male vocals. I don't think I have heard the sweet vocals of Smoky Robinson as good as I have heard on these. To me if vocals sound unnatural than I will give the phones a pass. Not only were vocal performances excellent but the imaging of the instruments in the back ground each had their own space to shine with the vocals. 
 
CLARITY:
NuForce choice of included cables are excellent. It makes no sense to have all this technical detail on producing this state of the art sound and not have the right cables to optimize that sound. Clarity is the end result. Macro details on your favorite tracks are easily heard on these. And while some might think it takes an analytical sound to get the details correct. NuForce house tuning has come along and showed me you can have your cake and eat it too. These phones have the clarity detail of top analytical sounds but also has a very musical tilt to the house tuning. NuForce to me has always been about fantastic full blown mids. This is true in just about every earphone and or amp I have ever heard from the company and these are no different. The mids of the HEM8 is their strong suit.  Full bodied and agile the center bands of the HEM8 are top notch. Every sound and nuance is where it should be, perhaps done better than a lot of earphones I have heard. Many phones have a compressed mid band that limit vocal and instrument range. Not so with these. The stage of the earphones are average for width but what make these stand out is the height and depth of the sounds. As tall and deep as the recording calls for. Depending on the tip selection.( Will get to this a bit later.) Due to the quality of how the stage is set in your ears the best word to describe the sound scope of the HEM8 is engaging. Full blown mids mean more quality mid section complete with all the music detail you want but ends up sounding intimate which is not a bad thing.
 
Using stock tips the stage is decidedly average/ medium in width and depth. With a simple wide bore tip mod much more expansive.
 
Tip Mod:



The stock nozzle of the HEM8 is about 2mm which is very narrow. In fact on this picture you can see the end of the nozzle at the center of the tip. I did this same tip mod with NuForce previous flagship the Primo 8s with great results. Considering these HEM8s are actually physically smaller than the Primo 8 I did the same mod but with even greater results.
 
Stock sound using the stock tips is definitely worthy of your attention but with this easy tip mod it brings the sound of the HEM8 into another level of sound. It is very similar to how a phone sounds when you add an amp to your source. So the mod is very simple. Using the smallest included silicone tip I put the tip on backwards on the nozzle of the HEM8 you can see on the first picture. Then I installed one of my JVC Spiral Dot on top of the now thicker nozzle of the HEM8. I am now able to use much wider bore tips. The results.
 
MIND BLOWING.
 
In fact it was after this little mod that I felt the tip selection both the silicone and the Complys were limited in optimizing the sound in the ears. It is tough to hear these earphones using the stock tips after this configuration. This mod basically expands the high quality sonics of the HEM8 into every direction. If you have never tip rolled with any of your earphones before I encourage every single person reading this review about these earphones to give this a try with your HEM earphones.  I feel this little mod is pretty substantial. It definitely gives the user another take on the great sound of the HEM8.
 
Treble and Bass:
 
It is no secret that treble is a concern for BA fans.  The treble frequencies of the HEM8 are done very nicely here. The treble went from being muted to peaky and then settled down to how I hear them now. There was at one point slight graininess on the upper frequencies but has now turned into an accurate detailed cohesive treble that has no issues picking up the upper detail. The HEM8s will show sibilance in recordings that have them but at the same time does not enhance it. Compared to the Primo 8 which was a warm sounding earphone due to some treble roll off.  The one aspect about an update to the Primo8 was in fact the treble. Treble region is not overly bright or overly enhance. To my ears it has the right amount of energy, attack and relevance to your tune. An earphone with not enough treble energy is kinda boring. While treble is not neutral here it has just enough energy to bring out the top end with every detail you would expect in a complete sound. Sparkle and shimmer without being overboard. What not to like.
 
Bass on the HEM8 is also done very well for a BA based phone. Bass to me is very important to an overall sound. The rhythm and heart beat of the tune your listening to has certain emphasis it is trying to portray and be it hip hop, EDM, Jazz to rock. Bass notes while not the strong suit of the BA based earphone these have been tuned the right way. They do have some mid bass emphasis but is a bit north of neutral but for good measure. The bass is clean tight accurate and agile. Metal guys will love the sheer speed of the bass here. Where the Bass end falters a bit is in the lowest of the lows. I did not expect the HEM8 to have a strong sub bass and I was right. The sub bass region starts to roll off around 40hz down and this means sub bass on some tunes can sound a bit soft. Still defined and textured well but a touch soft. This is to be expected for BA phones and here is where I will suggest to NuForce something they should consider. The treble and mids of the HEM8 with a micro HD dynamic for your next earphone? 
 
In the end:
 
I am encouraged with the direction of NuForce's newest offerings. The ultimate question comes up when reviewing any earphone. Are these worth your hard earned cash? The answer my friends is and astounding YES. Out of all my earphones I have heard these encompass the best of BA technology yet tuned to be absolutely engaging and musical. That makes for a fantastic listening experience. Sure it takes a bit of fiddling with the tips to achieve how I am hearing these but the foundation and quality of the sound is on point.
 
Comparos:
 
A​gainst the Primo 8: first off the HEM8 is much more efficient than the Primo8. Higher volumes from the same level of power on all sources tested. Which means the HEM8 is much easier to drive. AB testing has the HEM8 being more fuller and more engaging in the mid ranges. Mids have more reach it seems and imagery of the HEM8 is better than the Primo 8. Primo 8 seems more flatter sounding and not as dimensional. Treble also has better definition on the HEM8. Bass is about equal on both. Physically the HEM8 is smaller than the Primo8 which is not that large to begin with. The HEM8 is more tear dropped shape vs the slightly larger oval football like shape of the Primo 8 making the HEM8 much more comfortable and will fit more peoples ears much better. Winner here is the HEM 8.
 
Against the DN2000J: The mids of the DN2000J is much more leaner here vs the HEM8 and even the Primo8 and also has some brighter and a bit more treble emphasis over the HEM8. Efficiency is similar to the HEM8. I love the sound of my DN2000J but after getting used to how full and engaging the mids of the HEM8s are the mids of the DN2000J just takes a step back for me. Bass is awesome on the DN2000J and here is where the Dunu earphones win. The titanium coated dynamic bass driver of the DN2000J absolutely shines on the earphones. Otherwise the HEM8 not only has just a good of resolution as the DN2000J but has a much fuller more richer sound over the DN2000J. Winner again HEM8
 
Against the ATH- IM03 w/ upgraded cable. These are one of ATs finest BA earphones on the market. The IM03s are the closest to the sonics of the HEM8 but once again, imagery and fullness is not quite HEM8 level. Sound tuning is the closest out of the 3 I compared to here. Maybe on stock form the sound signature might be even closer to each other. Treble is not as emphasized on the IM03 as the HEM8 so the overall tone is a bit warmer on the IM03. Bass wise these are very close to emphasis, punch and extension with the IM03 having just a touch more sub bass but very similar in bass emphasis. To my surprise the HEM8 is also more efficient over the IM03. Imagery wins on the HEM8. Comfort wise there is no comparison. The IM03 has a much larger squarish housing shape that will not be comfortable for smaller ears. Winner again HEM8.
 
 
And with that I leave you one image.
 


Oh yes! These get my highest recommendation. Absolutely fantastic sounding earphones!

 
The Echobox Finder X1. Currently on sale at indegogo for the awesome low price of $79.  I was given a review copy of the Finder X1 for my take on them. Thanks goes out to Gilly87 for the review sample. 
 
Onto the review. Every year I have seen some crazy phones for the prices and as of late it seems manufacturers are always trying to outdo the other for the most bang for buck cost effective earphone they can make. To me it really don't matter if the phones cost $10 or $1000. If it has IT. It has IT. The sound is what I truly care about and does this earphones have IT? 
 
I have known Gilly87 for a while on the threads as a member of headfi and someone I have had thread chatter with. It was surprising to me when he contacted me to try out these crazy iems his cohorts have made called the Finder X1.
 
Sure I am always game for hearing something new. Something exciting. I have had these earphones for approximately a months worth of time. In that time I have had the pleasure of 1st) giving them a nice long burn in process. 2) Figuring out what filters and tips works best for me. 3) And finally absolutely being impressed with the design, the build and ultimately the sound of the Finder X1.
 
BURN IN?
So here we go again. Why do these need burn in? Well for one the cord is made out of a silver plated copper cable. Believe in burn in or not. Every single silver coated cable I own out of box does in fact make the phone your listening to sound bright. Which adds to an already thin proprietary highly detailed 9.2mm PEEK (polyether etherketone) driver. Whatever this material is, sonically they share some characteristics with titanium treated drivers to my ears. And yes every single one of my silver coated cables I own sounded much better the more I used them. Much like the other earphones that have stiff diaphragms these had a markedly sharp/bright tone out of the box.
 
I threw the Finder X1 onto my burn in station and just let them get the beat down they deserve for a week straight. Beyond that I gave them an extra week. Then they have been listened to every day since. I have to admit the more and more I listened to them the more I admired how good Echobox's first earphone efforts are.
 
I think by now people have read about the build quality of these earphone but to hold them in your hands and feel how sturdy these are in person is another matter. I honestly think these will and could last a life time of listening to them. I am of the camp that actually treat each earphone like they are the last pair of earphones I own. I don't ever recall having one short out on me out of the 100s I have owned or auditioned. So I am not about to treat these any differently but if there was one earphone that can last a long time it will be the Finder X1.
 
Now these do have some bad microphonics if worn straight down. Microphonics will be gone once worn over the ear however.
 
SOUND:
For everyone that buys these from the indegogo page I ask you to be patient with their sound and you must absolutely burn them in. I noticed when I was burning them in the sound for me would go from being sharp to acceptable to sharp again and then clean again, there seemed to be variations of the brightness during break in. I noticed this due to all the different tips I was trying. It would sound great one night and then bad the next. I must have used my entire box of tips trying this and that. In the end it was my JVC Spiral dot tips that won a permanent place on the Finder X1 nozzles.  These come with 3 different tip filters that change the emphasis ever so slightly toward. Red=Treble. Silver=Balanced. Black=warm, bass oriented. 
 
The metal work on these earphones are top notch. The housing and the filter caps are made of titanium and are finely machined so you know these filters will last a very long time as long as you don't loose them filter caps I suppose. If I have one complaint to Echobox it would be how these were mounted in the box they came in. I found myself breaking up the box the filters were set in due to how deep they were placed in the display. They sit on some foam and it was actually difficult to take out the filters from the box. Sharp tools are actually needed to take out the filters from the box. You guys can design a top notch original housing design for the Finder X1 but flounder on how to actually place the filters in the display box? Small complaint but I am one of those guys that actually keep the packages earphones come in. This is the first time I can recall that I actually had to destroy a part of the box just to get at some filters. I would have rather they came in a little plastic pouch in the case.
 
Back to the sound. These have a neutrally tuned U shape sound to them but with the one aspect of sound that absolutely makes them a winner. Transparency. These have some wicked detail to their sound. Something that I am not used to for a single dynamic at this price range these are going for. I have heard some micro HD earphones  that come close but not done quite like the Finder X1. The detail of the phones at times throw out a holographic like imaging that not many earphones can do. These have an enthusiast tuning. Not a consumer one which is very welcomed to my ears.
 
However this amount of transparency and detail will come at a cost. I can see guys that are sensitive to brighter, cleaner sounding earphones not being a fan of these earphones. These sound best at low to medium volume levels which in the long run is better for your hearing. These will and can sound fatiguing at higher volume levels due to the high levels of clarity and detail they have. The sound field and stage of the earphones extend beyond the small housing these come in.

 
The medium sized sound stage has pure quality to it with good amount of depth to the sounds.  Back ground instruments come in as clear as I have ever heard them with distinction and at the correct position to the vocals. Treble emphasis and extension is one of their strong suits but again I can see guys that are fatigued by treble emphasis not being a fan of these. For me I am a stickler for detail in my treble and these have it in spades. There is not a detail or nuance from your tracks you will not hear on these.  Makes for an energetic sound with supreme attack and speed in the treble. 
 
I think if I had one reservation about the sound it would be the mids. The mids do take a back seat to the treble emphasis on the Finder X1. (Challenge to the Echobox team.) I don't find the mids to be the weak point of the sound, on the contrary the mids have a neutral clarity that works with this sound signature however a slight increase and fullness in the mid range could in fact make these sound more engaging than they already are. The slight recession in the mid range is off set by the overall clean and clear definition of the mid range bands. I think if you like your mids to be crisp and defined your gonna like how the mids are on the Finder X1.
 
As clear as the treble and mid bands are it is the bass that made me a huge fan of these earphones. There is some magic on the thin membranes Echobox is using for drivers here. Bass is quick and snappy. Overall I would say tonality is on the brighter side of neutral but when that bass kicks in it will throw a smile on your face. These lean more on accurate bass that digs deep into the soul of the tune as it was intended. Using the black filter the low end warmth off sets the brightness of the treble emphasis. The tight speedy bass end makes quick work of speed metal to the low end rumble of hip hops greatest. There is not a low end note rumble, tone, texture or pitch your gonna miss with the Finder X1 in the bass area. Which again makes me appreciate their ability to do so at the cost these are going for.
 
In the end.
A few things that could actually help this particular sound. If your gonna go for an enthusiast signature. Go for an even greater stage and depth using possibly a larger housing/venting design. I know one of the key aspects and why people will like the Finder X1 is in fact due to their smaller housing design. On one hand I applaud the fact how original this design is. Sure it is made of titanium and will last a life time of listening. However with this sound signature you guys are going for I would like to see a follow up with even more stage and depth even if the tuning was exactly the same. I would like to actually see a treble taming filter for next round too for guys that don't like their treble as forward as these emit. The mids could use a bit more separation, fullness and depth. That bass? I wouldn't change a thing.  Keep on keeping on I think for a first time effort from Echobox. These will be a big success.
 
For the guys that have put in your $79 for a pair. Give these the time they deserve. Try all your sources and tips to find the best sounding Finder X1 for you, and as always happy listening.

 
The NuForce NE750 is the sibling of the NE800m. Both based on the Titanium coated 8.6mm diaphragm with a housing made of light weight aluminum. Frequency response of 20 Hz- 20 KHz, impedance of 16 Ohms and 113 db sensitivity. I was given a review sample for my take on these earphones as well as the NE800m.
 
Both earphones have basically the same type of build and the same included case and tips with the NE800m having some extras in the way of 2 pairs of Comply tips. As far as included accessories goes. It is pretty standard fare. The small coin purse like included case is a bit on the small as it is barely big enough to carry the earphones and some extra tips. Tips choice are your standard silicone 2 small, 2 medium and 2 large tips that I have never once used during this entire process of analyzing the sound of these earphones.
 
( A small note to all manufacturers. Include some large bore tips with your earphones always. Large bore tips always expand the sound of the intended sound and does not restrict the sound like many of the standard included tips do. Tips do make a difference for your earphones.  More variety the better in my honest opinion when it comes to tips.)
 
Isolation on both earphones are decent enough with music that drown out a good 70-80% of street noise. So passive isolation is above average. This with the included mic that I have used for phone calls on my Android phone works great when needed. The cord on both the phones are exactly the same. Both have a sweat proof/water proof coating that is a bit rubbery and soft at the same time. It does cause a bit of a noodling I like to call it but not terrible.  I read some of the online reviews complaining about the build of these earphones and I have to say I kinda agree with some of them. But then again I treat each earphone I have be it cheapos to more expensive ones with the utmost care. I have never in my life broke an earphone. I can see how if one was not so careful the cord could potentially snap and or cause a short. 
 
Onto the Ne750m. It has taken me a while to come around to the new NuForce phones as both of these earphones come to you absolutely raw and sound like it from the get go. I mentioned on the Ne800m thread about how much these need a burn in and this turned out to be true for both earphones. Though for some reason the Ne750 actually sounded much better from open listen than the Ne800m.
 
 
SOUND:  
Both these earphones have a street tuning,  Both lean more toward a consumer friendly sound signature with more than enough technical ability to make your music sound complete and full from any source your using them from. I don't know about you guys but I kinda prefer having a bigger bolder sound when out and about. I don't listen to classical or most of my jazz when out. I am more metal, rock, pop, edm, vocal and hip hop listening when out and about so these earphones fit perfectly for the type of music I listen to when out in public. 
 
Street tuning means they have emphasized bass. But then again I have never heard a NuForce earphone that didn't have an emphasis on the low notes. The Primo 8 comes the closest to an true audiophile grade sound these guys have made but even then the house sound comes through with them having plenty of solid quality bass. These are no exception. The Ne800m having a bit more lush and fuller sound with a bit more definition than the Ne750 overall and does make them a bit higher end in the sound corner. The Ne750 however in my opinion is actually the better value.
 
Here is why. Both again have a similar big sound but the Ne750 is the less colored of the two earphones. In fact one of the experiments that I did when I had both of these earphones on constant burn in mode was which one was I grabbing to listen to most. It was believe it or not the Ne750m.
 
The Ne750 in comparison to the Ne800 has a bit lesser bass emphasis. If I was a guessing man I would say roughly 5db bass boost vs the 7dbs or so on the Ne800. There fore sounds a bit more balanced overall. The treble also has just a bit more emphasis further balancing the sound of the Ne750 over it's bigger brother the Ne800.
 
Both these earphones do not have anything fatiguing as far as sound goes. Well that is unless you are not a fan of full bodied bass. I would say these are not bass headphones but with a few dbs tweek on the low end or the first click of bass boost on your portable amp. These can easily head there. Especially the NE800m. They both hit them low notes with solid impact reaches deep with authority. Bass quality is solid with the Ne750 sounding a touch bit faster than the Ne800 due to the lesser emphasis in the mid bass region.
 
The mids of these phones are done very well with the Ne800 having some of the best mids in the business for dynamic earphones. The instrument and vocal projection on them phones can sound holographic. The Ne750 while it does not have that same lush projection of the brother actually has very good depth, positioning of sound for instruments and vocals. Overall the mids are balanced very well on both earphones and take just a small step back from the bass emphasis.  The mids of both phones are where I find NuForce truly shine. Even the old Ne700 had some of the better mids for single dynamics. The sound stage of both phones are similar in that they have an  average width of sound but has very good depth of sound which helps with that fuller sound these project.
 
Both female and male vocals sound complete with male vocals showing a touch more dynamic range over female vocals which could be due to the slight lower mid emphasis of these phones. Vocals in general sound smooth organic and overall the way these Ne750s are tuned does not have any sibilance of any type. Where the Ne750 sound a touch better for my ears over the Ne850 is in the treble area.  Don't know if it is materials coming through but I found the treble of the Ne750m to have a touch more sparkle and a bit more emphasis over the Ne800 again making them sound a touch more balanced over the bigger brother. A bit more agile in sound, better balanced and overall just as engaging so the value of the Ne750m makes them a winner over the Ne800m.
 
In the END 
Amazon has these for $82. At this price I think these are very competitive in their price range, sound great for their intended use and has the type of sound that let you enjoy your music on the go with decent isolation and a mic. For guys that didn't like how the Dunu Titan 1s have poor isolation. These might be your answer. These might not be the phones you grab when you want to kick it at your desktop but they do a heck of a job out and about. 
 
Thanks to Jyri for his infinite patience with the burn in process and for these review samples.
  

Thanks to Jyri of Nuforce for the review sample. 
 
I have been around headfi reading everyones reviews and threads like many of you.. I have to say we got some of the craziest good and some not so good enthusiasts around here. Regardless, everyone adds to the discoveries and it seems with every new year there are newer and exciting advancements in our hobby. I like to thank the guys that keep it real on the threads.
 
Now onto a little review of these NE800m. 
 
Build
The build of the NE800m is I would say about average in quality. The cord looks solid and is covered with a soft rubbery type coating. It is supple but does have a noodling. Attached to a mic for use on smart phones. People on the other side of the conversation gets good clarity as far as my vocals go.Cord is a bit on the thin/smaller side. I would expect a more heartier cord for street use. Comes with a smaller pouch. 2 pairs of complys, 3 pairs standard silicone tips. Which make the packaging about average.
 
Now onto the sound.
The sound of the NE800m was crafted for a more richer tone, deep full sound including a solid emphasis on bass.  More elevated in the mid bass band which drops off in the sub a bit but surprising low end rumble. Vocals show good range and emotion. A bit of a warming to non bass guys. This sound signature got big bold bass. But manages to do a good job having solid clarity throughout the mid bands which leads me to their best trait. For me it is clearly the Mids of these earphones that I truly enjoy.
 
True confession: I burned these things in silly and the sheer sound transformation will make anyone a believer.  I started a thread based on these and soon to be a review of the NE750. The aluminum housed little brother of the NE800.  I recently read a review posted on Amazon reviews of a guy that probably heard the same thing I heard out of box on these. Mud does not describe what I was hearing. lol. Anyway I did at one point thought Nuforce folk must have really dropped off the deep end. You can read more about what I wrote to Jyri when I was burning them in. (WARNING) Burn these in. I don't care if you believe in burning in or not. http://www.head-fi.org/t/781582/the-new-nuforce-ne800m-titanium-for-your-vocals-carbon-fiber-in-your-space-brass-for-your-bass-a-review#post_11930776
 
Strengths of the sound is that these are actually very good for a street tuned sound. The coloration of the phones make them sound engaging on the go without using a amp. They sound even better using daps with some power or using a small portable amp. These have what I would consider a borderline bass head levels of bass. Good or Bad. That is your call but for the type of musical presentation these have they do make for hours of fatigue free full sound on the go. Titanium coated phones have great definition on all the ones that I own and heard. These are no exception. Stage has a good amount of width to depth ratio. While I have heard wider earphones, for a fuller musical presentation the imaging and sound positioning is solid.  These are anti analytical yet they have enough technical merits and has a solid stereo depth of sound space and positioning.  The treble is non fatiguing due to a bit of treble roll off which is a hallmark of Nuforce sound. Smoother treble presence with good vocal clarity, range, emotion, texture becomes one of it's strong suits as well.
 
Weakness of sound. Bass I would have liked to be a bit less elevated. Treble should have a bit more shimmer/upper treble. Nuforce need to come out with a hybrid. You gotta be a dedicated crazy man to keep blasting your burn in tracks in order to actually hear these correct. There could be some variation of how the drivers burn in for others. There seem to be phones out of box that might sound close to their intended signature. Even then I highly recommend burn in. Bass was not that tight on open listen lets just put it that way.
 
Overall. For their current price. Guys that want a fun sound signature on the go. Vocals on these cans envelope your senses and gives much roomy low end tone to tunes that call for it with vigor.  Surprising low end rumble and power.  Wanting a smooth full engaging fun sound experience these are worth trying out.(B.O.A.B.I)  I do feel their NE750s are a bit of a better value and I will get to that one later. But the one thing the NE800 has over the NE750 is the vocal projection and range of the NE800. 
 
(But Only After Burning In!)  

Specifications:
Driver: Titanium Diaphgram Dynamic Driver 13mm
Sensitivity: 90+- 2dB
Reproduction Frequency: 20Hz-30kHz
Cable Length: 1.2m
Plug: 3.5mm Stere Mini
Weight: 18g
Comes With:
1 x Titan 1 Earbuds
1 x Carrying bag for storage
1 x 3.5mm to 6.3mm gold adapter
1 x Gold plated 3.5mm plug and rigid alloy splitter
Paste

 I would like to give a shout out to Vivian and Dunu-Topsound team for giving me an opportunity to review these earphones. It took me a while to get these properly burned in but was definitely fun to hear them along the way. Dunu does recommend that owners of the Titan 1 burn in the earphones for roughly 200 hours. I will get into what this does for the sound later but for now I have to agree 100% on this. These actually sounded fantastic out of the box. You can certainly hear their potential and their sound signature but to really get the Titan 1 Dunu wants you to hear. You have to remember these drivers have a titanium coating that make the drivers very stiff. Perhaps only second in stiffness to the carbon nanotubes JVC uses. 
 
Dish type earphones are my forte and got me started a while ago with the MP8320 and various Audio Technicas  that use this design but these here Titan 1s to me was a complete surprise in many ways. I always thought Audio Technica's dish style earphones were always among the best in the category but these have come along to say otherwise. I applaud audio manufacturers that come out with something new. Something exciting in the much crowded field of earphone design. However design is one aspect that works only if the sound follows suit and these here earphones does just this. To me 2015 so far has been all about raising the bar. What do you get for that magic $100 plus number now a days?
 
First there was Zero Audio's DuoZA earphones with their large but light pill like housing using dual drivers that is one of the best sounds for the money hands down. Then these Titans 1 was getting some attention. I can say with certainty not only does the Titan 1 hang with the DuoZA but does a few things better. I am a fan of both these earphones as they both have raised the bar on what to expect for your money. Both have a different tuning/sound of course and there for I honestly think both are worthy of your collection.
 
So lets start the read. I would like to start with the design of the earphones and what you get in the package.

 
Out of the box the Titan 1 gets a good arrangement of earphone tips, 1/4in stereo adapter, shirt clip, nice plastic case and very nice looking metal dish type earphone.

 
The all metal housing has a very quality feel and build to them. In fact here is where the Titan 1 gets the thumbs up. The solid design of these earphones is quality. It would not surprise me one bit if these earphones lasted longer than your average earphone. The cord is a solid rubberized and while it does transmit some microphonics it is no more than average in the external noise category. For guys looking for absolute quiet, microphonics free sound these will not work for you. These are more of a semi open design than anything closed in but this is the trade off for the sound these have. These earphones are not a large earphone by any means. They are about the size of your average earbud actually without the thick foam covering. So while these certainly look nice and fit easy enough for your average ear shape, how does this design lead to a better sound?
 

 
On first listen soon after I took these pics these had a clarity and a proper stage for earphones that I immediately appreciated. Nothing bothers me more than earphones that have that in your head stage and muddiness in sound. The first thing that caught my attention was how deep the treble sounded. A little bit harsh on open listen but I had a feeling burn in would help the treble get proper. And proper it has gotten. I mentioned earlier that there are a few sound traits that I feel the Titan 1 does better and while the treble extension and detail can be debatable regarding both of these earphones. These have a sizzle and shine in the treble region that not too many earphones can do. Looking at the treble and bass enhancement of these earphones due to the titanium coating.
 

 
So what does this optimized difference do for these earphones? The raised treble and bass regions are right. However what one needs to know is that this doesn't mean harsher,sharper and a  peaky fatiguing treble with a bloated or bigger bass. The Titan 1s are described to be V shaped in sound, however after the longer extended burn in Dunu recommends, I can say it is more of a U shape in sound than a V. Treble for being "enhanced," I am finding a non fatiguing controlled treble range that clearly has some of the best depth, attack, shimmer and decay among single dynamics. I would have kept my GR07 if the treble was more like it is on the Titan 1s. 
 
One of the best way to hear micro details in the treble region is how high hats are portrayed. Flat and one note these are not.High hat rides for jazz or rock music takes on a dimension that makes it seem like you are hearing BA levels of detail for the highs. Natural reverb from the drum kit which lesser earphones just do not portray is easily heard on these earphones. So it went from a somewhat strident with potential for a true treble greatness that actually went there with the burn in. As of today I am not hearing any grain or stridency at all in the treble region.
 
Basically what the 200 hours of your time burning these earphones does is tighten the Titan 1s sound. The treble region as well as the bass while the mids actually fill out and come a bit more forward because the treble and the bass tightens and refines a bit more than on open box. I remember when I first heard the Titan 1 the center band of the mid section did seem a bit more reserved than the upper and lower regions. Today I am not hearing this reservation and this has helped out in the imagery of the earphones which is spot on by the way. One of the strong suits of these earphones how good the imagery is. Well recorded music with layers of sound that should be in a particular area of the recording are portrayed with ease on these earphones. The ability of the treble region on these earphones made me realize just how important treble is to the overall sound an earphone portrays. The treble lends to the overall clarity and tonality of the sound and while these earphones have a tonality that leans more toward neutrality another aspect that separates these earphones is the full bodied bass region. 
 
Bass to me is just as important to the overall sound while the mids portray most of what we hear in an particular tune the bass end of these earphones can be described as enhanced. But not in the way we associate, enhancement. When you guys read that these have extra bass. Does Sonys XB sound comes to mind? Bass is enhanced in the way that the treble is enhanced. The bass has tightness, speedy attack, well textured and comes warm and full bodied. Which if you think about it we got a mostly neutrally toned earphone in sound,  regarding the mids, while the treble has that shimmer and precision that adds to the clarity. The bass end has its own set of dynamics. Not only does it keep up with the rest of the sound. From memory every single titanium coated phone I have heard the bass had a HD quality to them. These are no exception. Bass that is enhanced in a recording be it for hip hop or pop music to rock  these let you know the low end was enhanced in the recording. Lesser bass enhanced earphones the bass region is always there meaning you get bloat when your music does not need that extra bass. You can tell the quality of the low end of these as music with no low end enhancement has. No low end enhancement. The ability of the bass end makes the sound of the Titan 1 versatile and has the type of bass that I would consider very solid quality. Sure there will be guys that say it is a bit much for a true neutral sound. I don't think Dunu was going for a true neutral sound from the get go. The ability of the warm agile bass lends to most types of music and stays away from other frequencies of sound.
 
So what I am hearing from the Titan 1s is something that single dynamics do not really do, a clearer distinction for the treble, the mids and the bass. 3 separate tonalities. Bell like clarity for treble, neutral spot on imagery rich, clear mid section and a full bodied warm low end with great ability.  How many single dynamics have you heard that can do this?
 
The mids of these earphones while taking a bit of a step back from the enhancement of the treble and the bass region is actually done very well. What makes or breaks a sound is how clear the mids are and the mid bands of these earphones not only have the clarity that is set throughout the overall sound but the imagery and depth of the mids are excellent. Vocals have distinct clarity in the region and while male vocals could use a bit more fullness, vocal and instruments natural reverb and depth is heard much like the treble region. Sound balance is key in stage perception and to me these have a wider stage perception and a bit if extra clarity due to the mids taking a bit of a step back from the treble and the bass. A truly balanced earphone will not get you what the Titan 1 does. If the mids were more forward in the mix here perhaps the clarity, perceived stage and imagery might suffer a bit.
 
In the end, the duoZAs are actually the better balanced earphone and actually has the larger stage to do it, requiring a larger stage to do this.  But the Titan 1s has a one of kind shimmer in the treble region that make the duoZA sound a bit reserved in comparison. A warm full bodied quality bass end and imagery that is among the best for a single dynamic easily in the price range. Do I recommend the Titan 1s? Considering these earphones have handed the CKM series of earphones from AT their collective arses in sound. Considering this is one of the best sounds for the price. Absolutely..

This little slick device is the first DAC/Amp developed by Encore Design. This little DAC/Amp is the size of a packet of gum yet has a big full clean sound that turns your on board audio from your PC, MAC, IPAD, Android and other portable devices into a high fidelity music playing source for your favorite headphone or earphone. I was provided with a review sample and it has been very enjoyable to say the least to fully understand the device and what it does best..Play your music to the fullest.
 
This design of the little device is slick in has a very solid feel and look to it.

Input: USB 1.1, 2.0 compatible                                             
Native Bit Rate: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz, 24-bit                                           
Dynamic Range: 90 dB                                             
S/N Ratio: 102 dB                                          
THD+N: 0.008%                                             
Headphone Output: 80 mW x 2 @ 16-Ohm                                         
Power: USB Bus Powered, 80 mA/5V                                    
Dimensions: 70 x 40 x 16 mm                                    
Included Accessory: OTG USB cable 15 cm
 
Currently on sale on Amazon for $100. This little DAC has the ability to turn your lame onboard sound into something to get excited about. Owning several similar devices, Meridian Explorer, Geek Out, uDAC-3. I can honestly say this DAC easily puts up a fight with my Meridian Explorer and won't back down from the well received Geek Out. Making them a fantastic value and worth owning for enthusiast that want and easy plug n play device for your music library.
 
I put the mDAC through its paces with plenty of burn in time and use. It has roughly 3 weeks of straight run in time and is now at 100% sound capacity. The refinement in the sound of this DAC is definitely worth paying attention to. I would say this DAC is easily comparable with the best that I own. 
 

 
 
The mDAC provides a clean, clear, and concise sound that bodes really well with full bodied musical headphones such as my SRH1540 and Fidelio X1. Overall sound and tonality has a neutral tilt with perhaps one of the cleanest sounds I have heard for a source. Fans of micro detail and clarity in their music will love the sound of the mDAC. Music plays with a transparency and stage that is more representative of more full fledged Dacs/Amps. Sound value clearly jumps off for me. However over the time I have used this mDAC it was clearly evident that it is not so good for my more sensitive iems. My Doppios and Thinksound Rain2s sound more bright than usual as there is clearly a impedance mismatch using the mDAC. My less sensitive iems however did extremely well. Sony XBA-H3, CKR9, CKR10, IM03 and my FX850 all sounded terrific using the mDAC.
 
Highs mids and lows are all of equal weight and presence with a slight tilt toward the bass end. While not truly boosted the extra clarity of the mDAC makes your drum and bass hits come through with a bit less authority over the Geek Out and about equal footing to the Meridian Explorer in the low registers. Vocal clarity depth and instrument separation is excellent here for the price asked on the mDAC. All these aspects clearly gives a window into high end sound without the crazy price tag.
 
The impedance output is very similar to the Meridian Explorer which also has slight mismatching with more sensitive iems. In a comparison to my other portable dac/amps. The mDAC is the easiest to use out of the ones I mentioned earlier with each dac having it's own set of pros and cons. Compared to the uDAC-3. The mDAC is clearly an evolution from the uDAC-3 with less coloration and a more neutral sound signature with a wider stage over the uDAC-3. In comparison to the Meridian Explorer. It is even less coloration of sound over the ME and is actually the more neutral sounding source of the two. The ME sound however is a classic and one that is based on the Meridian house sound. I would say the ME is more enjoyable with more neutral type headphones and earphones. The mDAC is the opposite in that it is more enjoyable with more full bodied headphones. The mDAC is less smooth sounding a touch brighter in tonality but is actually the more cleaner sounding source out of the two. Compared to the Geek out. They both have a very similar stage but the Geek Out has the .47Ohm out that bodes extremely well for highly sensitive earphones. However using full sized headphones sound per sound I found the mDAC to be just as engaging if not more so using my Cans and most of my earphones.
 

 
 
The sound quality of the mDAC is very excellent and one that will play well with most if not all genres of music. Not just music but I find the mDAC excellent for all media. Gaming and movies have never sounded better. The clear and concise sounding mDAC does your games and movies justice. Forget about your lame on board sound this is the way to go for your media on the go. This is a clear gateway to better sound and for the asking price a very excellent value.

I remember browsing the ebay like many of you guys do to see what is out there in portable amplifier land and this one caught my attention because for one it looked very nice and second it posted some specs that also caught my attention. Now that I have had this for 4 weeks of constant use I figured it was about time I let the community know how this portable amplifier fares.
 
SPECS:
Cayin C5 Stylish Portable HIFI Audio Headphone Amplifier
Technical characteristics:
1 dedicated high-performance audio op amp OPA134 and LME49600 buffer composed of dedicated headphone amplifier, low noise, driving strong.
2 Japanese original ALPS volume potentiometer, durable and reliable, to ensure quality.
3 built-perfect protection circuit, with the midpoint of drift, switch machine noise cancellation function, the output using relay protection,full protection of the amplifier and headphones.
4 can be used as a mobile power source to charge other mobile devices.
5 aluminum shell, effectively shielding interference.
6. subjective listening experience
 
Technical Parameters:
Rated output power: 800mW + 800mW (32Ω load)
SNR: ≥101dB (A-weighted)
Life time: about 12 hours (32Ω load)
Frequency response: 20Hz-100kHz (± 1dB)
Sensitivity: ≤500mV (gain H)
Charge limit voltage: 12.6V
Charging time: about 4 hours (off state, the use of DC5V / 2A charger)
Total Harmonic Distortion: ≤0.02% (1kHz)
Lithium battery capacity: 1000mAh / 11.1V
Size: 136x63x15mm
Weight: about 185g
 
American TI company specializing in Hi-Fi Headphone Power Driver IC
German company's top Hi-Fi WIMA capacitors
Japan's top ALPS Hi-Fi level potentiometer
Japan's Fujitsu's top-level Hi-Fi relay
 
BUILD:
 
The amp in person is very nice looking with it's golden colored aluminum and cream colored plastic on the top and bottom. It kinda has a retro look to it and definitely stands out among portable amplifiers in looks however the build is just average on the C5. My biggest problem is the top portion of the amp which has a black plastic covering that covers the volume dial, input and output jacks. I discovered early on that the plastic was too thick for the jacks therefore was cutting out my music. I do think this is more of an isolated case but there is some potential for issues. Cayin folk seem to have fixed this particular problem and they were nice enough to offer a replacement for my C5. Which I gladly took advantage of. Currently waiting on the replacement. I first tried to fix the issue by making larger cut outs where the input and output jacks are but I am still having the same issues.So I now use the amp without the flimsy black covering on top. I seem to have less cut out issues while it still occurs on occasion so I am looking forward to the replacement of this unit. But problems aside it is the ability and the sound of the amp that has gotten my attention.

 
SOUND:
 
I was immediately impressed on open listen of the C5. This is what I wrote on open listen.
 
Aha guys..I don't need to compare this amp to my 2Stepdance or my ICAN...I am using my L2 for my initial listen.. This thing sounds unbelievable..One of the best sounding amps out of the box I have ever heard. This thing sounds better than the way it looks. The stereo field is layered beyond normal amplification to the point where it is holographic..Sound stage is already impressive out of my L2 but using this amp. Music is coming at me from all direction very similar to how the 3D enhance feature works on the ICAN. But the crazy thing is the C5 don't have this enhance feature. Very natural..It is not a sterile neutral type sound but much more musical and fluid sounding amp. More organic than clinical..The lushness of vocals and crispness of instruments simply sound stupendous, world class .This is easily on par with my ICAN. I think the bass could be slightly better. And this is without the bass boost.. Bass boost adds fullness to the lower end but is done tastefully here. No overblown mess. Without it the bass is reference sounding. No bass boost needed. Power for days. I am just using low gain with so much power room on tap. It is going to be interesting to see what cans this thing drives as it can reach blaring volumes on the quick.. I will have more to write when I get some hours on this amp but I can safely say. This amp is more than worth the money spent on it.  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED..I can see this amp quickly becoming very popular around here..Can't wait to put some time on this amp.
 
The sound is decidedly mature, grand in scale, smoothness showered with clean detail.  The sound is expanded in height, width, depth..If your waiting for me to say this amp sucks..Nope..What I am going to say is. This is one of the best sounding amps I have ever heard..Will give your expensive desktop amp a run for sounds and probably has more power. Lol. I thought my ICAN was the best amp purchase of this year I have made. I have to rethink this.
 
AFTER BURN IN/ MORE USE

 
The sound of the unit has refined even more so. While the underlying musicality of the amplifier is still very present the sound has tightened up overall and now has a much more transparent quality to the sound. In comparison to open listen the bass has settled and tightened. This had a very positive effect on the bass boost which is around 4-5dbs of bass which is very welcomed when using more neutral signature phones like the Zero Audio Doppios..
 
NOISE / BASS BOOST:
 
My Doppios are a 12 Ohm sensitive dual BA iem that has one of the best neutral signatures for any phone I own. The noise floor is very quiet, if not dead silent using the Doppios. I like using the Doppios to test out a signature of an amp or it's bass boost. To me with the addition of bass boost, the added dbs of bass makes the Doppios sound world class in refinement, more fuller sounding, while not loosing a single sliver of detail of the music. This clearly shows that bass boost was done tastefully here and actually adds to the enjoyment level of the Doppios on the amp.. Using something like the XBA-H3 or FX850 which already has a healthy dose of bass as a part of their sound make up need no bass boost at all but it is good to know that the bass boost is actually useful for earphones that can use a bit of boost down low. It adds to the fullness of the sound as well as the low end and sounds very natural and not overly cooked. Bass boost is done well here. Adding bass boost to the H3 brings the sub bass to semi bass head levels which is a blast for hip hop and edm.
 
I have used the C5 using a variety of cans and earphones. The Shure SRH1540, Philips Fidelio L2, Fidelio X1, ATH AD900X, Sennheiser HD595, ATH-CKR10, ATH-CKR9, JVC FX850, Nuforce Primo 8, ZA singolos, Doppios to name a few and all of them work exceedingly well with this amp. All on low gain. High gain is reserved for more power hungry cans which I own none of.
 
AMP COMPARISONS:
 
Vs ICAN Micro, I touched on a few comparisons on the initial thoughts but with some head to head comparisons the C5 has clearly shown me that it is punching above the price payed for the amp. On open listen I thought it had more than a few similarities to my Micro ICAN. The way the amp portrays stage in particular is very similar..The ICAN is a higher end desktop amp that has gotten plenty of attention on headfi and is my reference amp for all things amping. While not the very best amp in the world it is to me a very high end sounding amplifier and does have a reference clean large layered sound with plenty of power on tap. I went into the C5 purchase thinking there will be no way the C5 will be like my ICAN. I was floored when I first heard the C5 because it did in deed remind me of the feeling I get when I listen to the ICAN. On head to head listen the ICAN does have a bit more transparency and has the edge when it comes to clarity and refinement but the C5 is very close. The C5 does have a bit more bass emphasis while the ICAN is more linear in the bass region making it sound a touch more neutral in presentation. The way the ICAN and the C5 project sound in all direction is what I find the most similar. Sound separation in the sound field is another aspect that is of similar quality. I was all too happy to hear how high end the C5 was in comparison to my ICAN. Sure the ICAN is still my best amp but it is how close the C5 comes to it that I am over joyed about. This ability on the go? Are you kidding? Not to mention it has the power to drive just about any can or earphone with clean power.
 
Vs 2Stepdance..This was my first portable amp that truly brought high end fidelity to my portable sources. My good buddy DannyBai sold this to me a while ago and I always have a feeling like he regretted selling it to me. In any case long story short I wanted to eventually help find an amp to replace his 2Stepdance that he sold to me and I can say without a doubt the C5 did this nicely. The 2Stepdance is an impressive amp because of not only it's sound fidelity but also due to its clean wide open type nature of sound. It has the widest stage of any amp I own. The sound separation is something wicked with this amp. Compared to the C5 the staging is a bit wider on the 2Stepdance but sounds thinner in the mids. These amps are in many ways similar to the nature of closed, semi open and open cans. I would say the 2Stepdance is more like an open can in that it just spreads out the sounds. Classical, instrumental, Jazz will all benefit from such an amp because of how it lends to the type of music. The C5 in comparison is like a semi open Can. It has the ability to have an equal sense of stage but also has a more fuller thicker sound to it.. The 2Stepdance sounds like your hearing music on the first balcony a wide picture of your music.. The C5 is more like the front row..Mids I find the most different in presentation. The notes in the C5 are fuller and encompass a more in your face type sound than a "step" back from the music presentation of the 2Stepdance. The difference in sound presentation is different from each other yet both are very enjoyable depending how you like your music. Instrumentals and big bands on the 2Stepdance is ideal while music with vocals, ambient and more aggressive music in nature like rock metal, edm will certainly love the C5 more so.
I find the ICAN being in the middle of these 2 presentations. The C5 is more musical, fuller sounding while the 2Stepdance is more precision driven that leans more on stage and sound separation.
 
Vs NFB-5 For guys that own any of the specialized OPAs configurations of the NFB amp dacs. I can confirm my C5 is more like the MOON OPA that is an option for many of their amp dacs..The C5 sounds more like the MOON opa in many ways. Fuller more immersive note with a full bass end that makes the MOON OPA a favorite among enthusiasts. The C5 is like a portable MOON OPA on roids. The C5 is not a clinical sounding amp but has the technicality,power and ability  with the right source and headphone combination to absolutely sound stunning. The nature of the sound is based on immersion because of it's bold full sound. The amp section of my NFB-5 using the MOON Opa gives a romantic type sound presentation and I suppose the C5 can be that way with your music. The C5 has greater stage presence than the amp portion of the NFB-5 and that was a big surprise to me. Both are identical in how it presents the sound but with it's larger more spacious sound the C5 was a pleasant surprise here.
 
VERDICT:
 
While the build could be better and the battery life longer as it lasts in real world test more closer to 10 hours vs the 12 that was stated on the description. I am willing to overlook the minor flaws of the amp simply because the amp delivers where it counts for an AMP. The sound. The fidelity of the amp is very close to the best amps I own and can more than hold it's own against my best amp in the ICAN. It can drive just about any phone you own with more than enough power on the go. It can charge your Iphone or smartphone too but haven't tried this feature. It has a sound that is extremely enjoyable and versatile. For the money payed. Yes it gets a hearty thumbs up from me. I have it attached to my DX90 almost all the time now a days as the player by itself is no push over but with the amp it takes the clean dual sabre dac chips on the DX90 to a new level. A sign of a good amp. I am very encouraged with the Cayin C5 and very much recommend the amp for guys that want to take their sources with the added bliss of true high fidelity added with a stupid amount of power on the go. This sound is a marvel and the cost is very aggressive for the level of sonics. Very nice product Cayin. Now try n fix the minor flaws for the next one and you will have a fan for life. Thanks for reading and as always happy listening.
 

 
First off I would like to thank Brainwavz for sending me a pair for review..I think there has been enough written about these for most of you guys to know what they are generally about. I burned them in real good and started to really listen to them about a week ago and it has occurred to me that this sound is perhaps Brainwavz best I have heard to date. These do a lot right when it comes to build, sound and usability but how do they really stack up to the current crop of $100 earphones.? These actually have hung in there with the best that I have in the price range but have one sound trait to them that is holding them back from greatness in my opinion.
 
I tested the S5 using most of my sources and they seem to sound best with more than your stock player meaning while they are efficient and sound great from a simple source they do sound markedly better with more power..Before I get into the sound aspect of these earphones as much as I wanted to really love the sound there was one aspect that was holding them back for me..I am not as picky of an enthusiast as some around these parts but I do gravitate toward proper. I Love a solid sound be it from a cheapo like a SHE-3580 or something more substantial like the FX850.
 
Throughout the years I have seen a gradual change in what we consider is a nice phone in the $100 range. I think if these came out several years ago guys would be clamoring to get a hold of these and as they are they are actually pretty solid performers in the $100 category. However the one aspect that happens for the sound of these earphones is in the one flaw that for some reason keeps on rearing it's ugliness to me every time. I want to so love this sound and to be honest out of my ICAN it is 95% sonic euphoria. Great stage sound presence that actually sounds much more expensive than the given monetary value. However even with one of my most musical of sources the sound flaw comes through yet once again..What is that flaw you might ask? More on this later.
 
So I would like to applaud Brainwavz for continuing to go back to their drawing board to constantly reinvent the earphone sound for their company..With the Brainwavz S5 I can sense a progression of their house sound in the S5s. And they are so close to coming out with something what I would consider special in the earphone realm for the money. Everything what I would consider a good earphone is there. The build for one is of a solid quality. I can see these earphones lasting for a long while with it's solid noodle cord construction. Seeing some of the other reviews there was a few complaints about the noodle cord and how microphonic it can get. True however it becomes a non issue when worn over the ears as I tend to do wearing them outdoors. Using the S5 while cutting the lawn it worked perfectly for out door use. I can see these being a solid choice for active people but only when worn over the ears. Comfort wise, there is no awkward shape on the earphone or any substantial bulk so they sit comfortably either worn down or over ears. Isolation is actually decent using complys. I would say average for in ears and they don't seem to leak if at all so good for using around silent areas.
 
The group of accessories is standard Brainwavz fair which is actually a good range of tips and one of the best cases for earphones..I must say I absolutely love Brainwavz cases. The tips? Well they are just standard though there was a pair of complys and a pair of triple flange and double flange tips. The more tip variety the better is what I say to manufacturers.  So while the stock tip choices are good I ended up using my UE tips. A much wider bored tips that I have counted on to give the best sound for many if not most of my earphones. Now to the important aspect of these earphones. The SOUND.

 
SOUND
The S5s sound is a middle ground of good technical ability, enthusiast treble emphasis and consumer oriented bass emphasis..The bass is not of much concern as Brainwavz seems to know how to tune the low end from my experiences with their in ears. It is right smack in the middle from a neutral to basshead levels here and I can see either camps complaining it might have too much or too little depending on what you think is the right amount of bass. So a middle ground is not a bad thing when wanting to tune a phone for the masses. Overall It is more of a consumer oriented sound but with good imaging and clarity more than analytical type tuning. The mids are actually done well here and the mids seem to shine more so with good amping. It is not as forward as I would have liked but it certainly is not in the background of sound either, what is there the imaging and clarity is good in the region. Instruments and vocals are centered nicely on the sound. The stage for in ears is a bit above average and has enough depth to be satisfactory and does not sound closed in or narrow. While not spectacular in the stage arena it does enough to have good separation and show good layering of sound all around.
 
It is for me the lower treble, upper mids region that has a bit of extra emphasis in the region that is the thorn on the side of the sound on the S5. It is not bad per se. Not like the older CKN70 treble emphasis or some of the older CKM earphones from Audio Technica.. I think what bugs me about the sound is that you hear most of your tunes and actually get lost in the sound and then you land on a forward recorded vocal track and. There it is.. Fairly smooth, coherent, solid sound. Until you hear the SSSSSSsss. CHH.TTT.
The upper treble has a bit too much sheen and start to loose out in resolution of nicer more capable in ears. The irritating factor is that this is barely noticeable on most tracks. But it will be some of your favorite recordings I would say 90% of them will be sibilant free.Out of nowhere .. SSSSsss. Chh. I think you guys get the idea..The funny thing is I am actually not too sensitive to sharper treble. But lately I have discovered for me at least it makes a world of difference when fine tuning a sound.  Sound refinement means refinement in all regions and I get why the sound was tuned this way. I get that Brainwavz wanted to incorporate some shimmer in the treble region. Shimmer it has a plenty, perhaps a touch too much but the gamble here is vocal performance is affected.
 

 
As I am listening to this combo now it sound utterly fantastic..To this I say it is so close..I think the price is correct on the S5 but being this close to something real special. I would like to encourage Brainwavz in treble refinement. It was the lack of treble refinement or the lack there of on the Brainwavz R3 that held those back as well..Somehow I have faith that future iterations will incorporate more refinement and get better and better..As they are these are fine for the price and is more of a casual listening earphone more so than a critically listening one..But they are so close.
 
Thanks for taking the time to check out my thoughts on the Brainwavz S5.. 

 Nuforce primo 8 http://primo8.nuforce.com/ 
 
I remember reading a while back about these from HeadphoneAddict's thread and was intrigued right away. I messaged a few friends about these as thought it would be nice to try these out and so I managed to wrangle a pair from Nuforce to write this review and I am so happy I did..I would like to fist publicly thank Wolfgang0119 formerly of Nuforce for reaching out to me for my views regarding various Nuforce gears and phones.
 
Little over a week ago I got a brand new box containing the Primo 8 and it was like unwrapping a Christmas gift on Christmas morning as I knew what contained inside the box.
 

 
"Isn't She Lovely" Stevie Wonder..
 
Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderful
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love..
 
This very tune was going through my head as I was opening up this package..This presentation would make anyone giddy of anticipation of what lies inside the beautifully anodized blue color inside them shells. The attention to detail in this box opening was clearly apparent. An all leather pouch..Various tips, including complys, velvet cleaning cloth, cleaning tool, airplane adapter, 1/4inch adapter but most of all these wonderful looking earphones the Primo 8.
 
 
reading HeadphoneAddicts thread about these I did have some high expectations on the sounds and I did what every person would have done in this situation. I plugged them in immediately to my Ibasso DX90..Only to be met with a somewhat underwhelming sound. I remember messaging my friends about how disappointed I was on initial listen but I am not a person that judges a sound on open listen..I think I was more impressed with my FX850 and IM03 on open listen than these to be honest but again I refuse to let open box impression weigh in anything regarding the actual sound of these so I kept on listening to them. That evening I did realize this sound was not going to be a one night impression type of sound. I will have to learn about what it is I am listening to and started to realize they were opening up while I was listening to them more and more.
 

 
FR 18hz-22Khz
Imp 38Ohm
Sensitivity 118 db
Max Power 5 mW
 

 
With 4 BAs in a patent pending three way phase coherent crossover design with perfect linear phase performance per housing, using proprietary 7X silver wire w/outer layer copper wire using a Kevlar silk core..Nuforce is pulling all the stops on this design from the housing down to the cable and I kept on thinking to myself.. This sound should have grabbed me by the jugulars but no that wasn't how I felt listening to them. I was just not hearing what the big deal was. How can all this tech and design fall to the way side..Yet they continued to sound more coherent and I was starting to hear layers of music. I realized that the sound at that moment was not to their full potential..Then I grabbed for my box of tips.

 

 
Here lies the issue with these for me. The nozzle is very narrow and so are the tips. I initially tried the complys that was already on the primo8 only to take them off immediately. Above the picture to the left are the supplied silicone tips and you can see the size of the small sound hole/ nozzle end of the tips. The tips to the right are my beloved JVC FX850 tips aka Sprial Dots. I will get to those later but for now I settled on the silicone tips provided.
 
Initial impression of the sound out of the provided silicones was much better over the Complys. Immediate thoughts of the Vmoda M-80 crept into my head as I kept on listening to these with the silicones for several hours. Cycling through all my test tracks..Clarity was there. Speed is very excellent, detail was clearly apparent.. Vocals was brought out in full and had great presence.. Layering of music was also very apparent at this stage. So potential for a higher end sound was there. But something was off to my ears. Upon more listening it was the treble while extended nicely was behind the mids a bit and I thought maybe this was what Nuforce meant by fatigue free listening.
 
At this point my expectations was that these would beat out my other neutral in ears the ZA Doppios and ATH-IM03 in the treble arena but I found it actually lacking in comparison to both..I am a fan of fatigue free listening but this was somewhat unexpected.  The sound FR initially was very similar to the fatigue free Vmoda M-80 with a forward mid signature and neutral bass presentation.To be fair these already left the portable cans from Vmoda behind in imagery and detail in the mids but that treble area kept nagging at me.  The more I listened the more this was apparent. I left them on my burn in station as I resumed my every day life for a week straight.. Listening in on them when I got a chance..
 
I got used to the sound more and more and started to understand more the abilities and the sound quality I was hearing yet at the end of the weeks worth of burn in.. That treble was still somewhat behind the mids in sound..Most of my box of tips did not fit the narrow longer nozzle of these earphones so tip rolling proved to be a bit of a challenge. A week later I finally had a chance to sit down with them and try something I have been thinking all week about.. Somehow fitting my Spiral Dot tips onto this nozzle.. I had to do it.
 

 
Standard tips to the left, Spiral Dots to the right.. Made by JVC has been a revelation to me as they are simply one of if not the best silicone tips on the market and well worth the $15-$18 price tag to get a 3 set pair from Amazon japan..Highly recommended for guys that own more than a few earphones. Tip rolling is all about optimization of provided sound using your own tips from your left over collection of tips or in this case using these much wider bore spiral dot tips. So far I use the spiral dots the most out of all my tips simply because these open up the sounds and gives the best clarity and detail to just about every phone I have used them on.  But here lies the problem. How was I going to get these much wider bored Spiral Dots on that narrow nozzle. This is how I did it.
 

 
So this is the smallest stock silicone tips provided with the Primo 8. I usually just throw all the small and extra small tips together and give them away as I have no use for them but in this case these provided exactly what I needed.. What you guys are seeing is the tips applied backwards onto the nozzle and this is what you get.
 

 
So I folded the cap sleeve of the tips backwards onto the earphones base leaving a thicker half of the nozzle and a much thicker stem to put on another more wider tip on there. The great thing is there was no cutting or modification on my part. I just simply put the tips on backwards and this was the result..The back end of the small tip nozzle sit absolutely flush with the sound nozzle of the Primo 8 so it doesn't extend the sound nozzle but just widens it.
 

 
Then I throw on the the Spiral Dots on top of this configuration and it looks like this.
 

 

 
Notice just how much space we are dealing with here? Compared to the stock tip configuration? 3X the diameter space with proper depth spacing so the sound channels to your ears correctly. With fingers crossed I tried the Spiral tips on the Primo 8.
 
Sound with spiral dots:
 
That treble that was a bit laid back is now fully realized and even with the mids.  Bass end now has more authority and punch, the lowest of sub bass notes come through with ease. Much better sense of spacial cues and extension on both ends while taking nothing away from the fantabulous mids of these earphones. I am now hearing their full potential firing off on all directions. This sound is now finally realized. It is exactly what Nuforce was meant to create to my ears now. Clarity and depth is even more improved with a wider bore configuration as the sound now expands in my ears. More layering and spacing of sound improved. The balance improved while providing more authority in all regions of the sound..
 
To me this is how I imagined the Primo8s..This sound is exactly how I expected they would sound like from reading reviews and impressions from tomscy2000 and a_recording aka Lachlan..The sound main attraction is the full bore wide open mid section that does mids 100% to full capacity. Even on NuForces cheaper earphones mids has been one aspect of their house tuning that is never overlooked so I expected the mids to be in full bloom and they are in deed. Vocal performance is exemplary from these in ears and has some of the speediest bass I have ever heard. 3D special qualities about this sound is all about little things that add up to a higher end sound to my ears. Finally realized with the Spiral dots. For guys that own the Primo8s. Throw on a much wider bore tip and use the smallest provided tips fit backwards for a new take on the Primo8. I am very certain it will surprise you guys in a good way..
 
Bass end of the Primo 8 I find fantastic for this sound. I would say it is above neutral in presentation and has an exact amount of punch layering and low sub bass to do even Hip hop correct. Which actually surprised me as I was thinking these might be bass light but to my surprise the dual bass BAs are in sync like the rest of the BAs to give you exactly what the recording has for bass..Sure the bass end is not colored like my H3 or FX850 but very satisfactory none the less. I would not have expected any less from Nuforce in the bass arena..
 
So previously it was Treble <Mids>=Bass. Now it is Treble=mids=Bass=+space+depth+clarity.. I noticed because of the added energy of the treble region, tonality is less leaning toward warm and much more neutral better even balanced across the board. Overall much better sounding to my ears.. And you get the best Nuforce sound I have ever heard.. 
Trying various daps and amps these sound much better when amped with more power so try out your amps with these as they will expand accordingly..
 
I would like to conclude by saying I think Nuforce has got a real hit on their hands and even without my tip rolling experiment these are worthy of the price for admission but please try out this tip experiment for the absolute best resolution from the Primo8. I think it does everything NuForce claims it does but now even better. Thanks for spending the time to read over this review and as always Happy listening.
 

 
Firstly I would like to thank Wofgang0119 @ Nuforce for the review sample..More info can be found here
 
The ICON dac has been burned in for over 200 hours and tested with my Samsung HDTV, Denon receiver, Sony CD and Bluray players, Panasonic cassette dec, Ibasso DX50 and Fiio X3, my Media laptop, Shure SRH1540, Fidelio X1, Sony XBA-H3, AD900X.
 
I remember the first time I really fell head over heels for a sound. It was my High school days during the 80s it was my Panasonic Shockwave Cassette player


This player to me was the proverbial Bomb! That big bass and that full sound was all I needed to take me to another level in sound. But truth be told compared to the sound of today's equipment these don't sound all that good but case in point I got the ICON DAC and even on open box trial it was clearly evident to my ears that I was dealing with a very nice sounding DAC..I will get to the sound later but I will run down the merits of the ICON DAC...
 
Build
The ICON DAC  measures H 6” (15.24 cm) X W 1” (2.54 cm) X D 4.5” (11.43 cm) and weighs in at 1 lbs..It has a solid all aluminum build that one would expect from Nuforce. I am happy to report the build gets a solid A in construction and form factor. The ICON DAC was made to be used vertically so it comes with a thick rubber base that was provided.. Though this is one of my complaints about the whole package. While this works just fine for putting the ICON DAC into place. The actual holder has too much give and with a slight tug in one direction or the other the DAC itself can easily be tipped over. I think the holder needs to be more stiff with less give way. Maybe a hybrid plastic rubber footing would be better. Which leads me to my other minor complaint. The first night I tried the ICON on my PC I was excited to give it a go so I had it on my desk next to my PC and in my haste to plug in the ICON, I went straight for the wall somehow thinking it would have been long enough cord to make it there. Nope, it slammed onto the hardwood floor..So unknowingly I actually tested the build quality of the DAC. It survived the fall with no issues whatsoever. The cord is approximately 4 ft short. Just barely long enough to be connected to the wall but barely..4ft longer and it would have been perfect..Yes I am nit picking as these 2 were the only real faults of the player..Now to the good stuff.
 
Usability
To me a source is one that should be versatile as well have the sound quality to be worth the investment..The ICON succeeds in both of these fronts. I used the ICON as a pre amp between my TV and Denon receiver..Threw on Judge Dredd Blueray and Oh my the sound out of the subs was clearly THX in quality and impact. The power of the ICON was clearly evident..Rumble of the JVC Subs connected to the receiver shook the room with an earth quake like rumble.. Sound out of the ICON through speakers is clean dimensional, balanced and has that low impact that I appreciate from Nuforce sound tuning..Connected to my Sony CD player the room came alive with an invigorating full sound that kept me looking deep into my CD collection..The power of the ICON was undeniable. It supplied that extra juice that most sources just can't touch. I can definitely appreciate that raw power.  I think my NFB-5 is the only other source that can drive with similar ability to the ICON but all my others just don't hang..Connected to my media PC is where the sound qualities of the ICON was evaluated as well as my portable sources DX50 and X3 both connected to the 3.5 in on the back of the ICON.
 

 
Sound
I noticed one thing about Nuforce tuning..Each manufacturer has a "house sound" they like that is used for their various gears and the house tuning for Nuforce is clearly in full strength on the ICON. To my ears there are some similarities of how this source was tuned to the U-DAC-3 but obviously at a higher level in power and sound quality.. There are also similarities to the NE-700X earphones in sound to these sources as well.. What they all share is that full range sound and bass that is to die for..The abilities of the ICON in full force is very much in line with my own personal preference in sound signature. I would call myself a complete head.. Not a treble head or mid head or bass head.. A total head.. It is too much to ask to have all that your music has to be in full force? That is in fact what you get with this sound..Going from the DX50 by itself using my SRH1540 and then connected to the ICON. The difference is massive. It goes from the good performer to a full blown out sound that leaves one slack jawed.. There is more than just a little jump in performance. It is clearly audible. The stage and depth increases. Vocals a touch more forward and lush, bass has more texture, weight, treble is clean and more refined. I would say the overall tonality is a touch over neutral leaning toward warmth with a more musical tilt vs an analytical sound. Which is in line with my own sonic preference. A musical deep wide sound in approach and presentation. I notice vocals have amazing clarity and instruments have solid weight and definition..Using my Fidelio X1..That stage that depth..I found myself listening to my X1s till the wee hours of night enjoying every minute of the session..
 
That BASS.!!.
The detail of the sound is not only exemplary of a nicer tuned DAC but. That BASS!!. Using my XBA-H3 in ears the bass is in full bloom..While it is not the same effect as my JVC subs, for earphones these in ears house some of the largest dynamic drivers for a hybrid earphone that does bass when in conjunction with the ICON just flows them low notes. I am not talking about that bloated messiness stuff. I am talking about fully textured and layered real bass that digs deep into your soul.  It is the very essence of synergy on steroids. Authority with the best quality I have heard for low notes from a source easily.. It isn't just the low notes but the entire sound.Just when I think this synergy is the best using my H3s..Here come my SRH1540. I am simply blown away by what the ICON is doing for all my in ears and headphones. That lushness of sound using the SRH1540 connected to the ICON has brought the sound of the SRH1540 to another level..Now it is not all peachy with all my gears..I recently acquired a fantastic pair of in ears called the Zero Audio Doppios..These are a brand new dual BA in ears that while sound amazing on a simple source. It's 12 ohm sensitivity is a miss match for the ICON and was the only in ears that sounded terrible using the ICON. Minus this all my headphones from the AD900X to the SRH1540 all sound better than they ever have..
 
Conclusion
Nuforce got it going on. I have a new found respect for Wolfgang and company at Nuforce..To say I am enjoying the ICON DAC is an understatement. I kinda knew it was going to be better than the U-DAC-3 but I had no idea just by how much..The ICON easily hand my Audinst MX2, its lunch and dinner for similar functionality with much more power and engaging sound.. While I have been happy with my Meridian Explorer I have to admit I much prefer this sound tuning over the ME..Now the only real competition the ICON has was my NFB-5 and while I love the sound out of the NFB-5 It is simply too big to lug around. In comparison. The form factor and power of the ICON is much more ideal. Simple to use. Simple to play with it's plug n play functionality..Versatility and sound quality that merge into a powerful soild form factor..Fantastic job by the sound gurus at Nuforce..

The new uDAC-3 was a surprise to me in several ways.. But let me start by stating where I stand for my own preference in sound and usability for sources I own.. Many of you guys know me for my discovery thread and we have many an open discussion about the latest and greatest gears, mostly earphones and the like on the thread. I think guys on the thread know me well enough to understand I like to spot light phones and gears that simply perform. To me it is not worth the effort of posting an impression or doing a review if a gear in question if it don't have the 2 main things that are extremely important to myself and friends on the thread. That is sound quality. Second of importance is value. In the sea of great and not so great gears that are on the threads I find value in gears to be something that clearly performs over and above the price point for purchase. If it don't have it then it isn't worth mentioning simple as that. With that being said. Introducing the new Nuforce uDAC-3.


The first surprise to me was the size.. It comes in a nice package with instructions/ Warranty and a micro usb cable included.. Decidedly this device is made for ease of use. A simple plug and play dac/amp.

Features:

1. Discrete asynchronous USB audio receiver and D/A converter stages
2. Direct-Stream Digital (DSD) decoding capability
3. Coaxial S/PDIF output
4. Double jitter-reduction mechanism at data level and at over-sampling filter stage
5. High voltage 2V analog output
6. A linear TOCOS volume control for improved channel tracking at low listening levels
7. No capacitors in any of the audio signal paths
8. USB-powered, no external power supply required
9. Headphones impedances between 16 and 300-Ohms are suitable for use with Icon uDAC-3  

 
I have seen older pics of the Nuforce uDAC-2 and I always thought they were larger dacs for some reason. But opening the package I got this little thing.


Yes that is the uDAC-3 on top of my over sized NFB-5. To give you guys a better idea of the smallness of the dac here is another one for comparison sake.


Small is the new big. I suppose we all can equate to having a large box form for Dac Amps that may or may not equate to a big full blown sound when it comes to sources.. The uDAC-3..Proved to me otherwise..For testing purposes I threw on the uDAC-3 on my main burning station laptop which has my Audinst MX2 pumping my DnB music for burn in for all sorts of earphones and headphones I use. On first listen I grabbed for my Fidelio X1. And it brought a smile to my face immediately. I didn't expect the sound out of this little unit to have the richness I immediately heard. I didn't expect the sound to be so smooth and enjoyable with solid detail and clarity right out of the box. I didn't expect the bass end to have the fullness I can only associate with higher end sources. I ended up listening for a good two hours of my music. The sound is simply fantastic. Doing more than justice for Dave Brubeck to Metallica to Armin Van Burren everything I was listening to.
 
Burn in. I know this community is split when it comes to breaking in equipment but I am of the camp that not only believe in burn in but I have a permanent break/burn in station in my home. And to this point. Out of box the the highs did seem a touch bright and not as controlled in the region as I would have liked so while I heard the potential from open box, to really let me hear how the uDAC-3 performed with the X1 and my music. I knew the unit needed some break in.. 3 days and nights of full break in and today I feel they have adequate enough run time for them to show me what they are all about in sound.
 
This impression of the uDAC-3 will be based on the simplest and easiest way to use the uDAC-3 and that is with it connected to my main media laptop filled with most of my music. Which consist mostly of standard high quality MP3 and lossless Flac files playing through MediaMonkey. Using a variety of in ears and headphones I have on hand I spent the greater part of the day just listening to how my music sounded and comparing the sound to my other Dac Amps.
 
On very first listen I switched from the Audinst MX2 and to be honest I expected a bit of a downgrade in sound quality but how surprised was I when not only was it not a downgrade but actually had the better more involving midrange and bass end. This was out of the box.. To put this in perspective. I equate the SQ of the MX2 to be of the O2/ODac combo in performance level. So this was a big surprise right off the bat. Don't know if I was expecting just an decent $100 dac that sounded good enough. But this little unit was showing me it was more than capable with hanging with higher end Dacs in sound..
 
I recently had the opportunity to review Nuforce's new NE-700X Iem http://www.head-fi.org/t/672193/review-the-new-and-improved-nuforce-ne-700m-ne-650m#post_9611289. I find it very interesting that these uDAC-3 is like the source version of the NE-700M in sound. A higher end version I would like to add. What I mean is. I am hearing similarities in how these different sound gears are tuned..The uDAC-3 at it's heart has rich deep mids with a fuller than neutral bass end. In how the NE-700 is tuned it is similar in this regard..So while the overall performance is not as neutral as lets say my MX2 or Meridian Explorer in sound quality, I am in the camp where deep mids and a full bass end with a 3D type rendering of sound is a good thing. Which is why I hold my NFB-5 as my all time favorite source out of all my gears..How does the uDAC-3 hold up to it in sound? Keep reading.  The overall sound has a touch of warmth to it with a richness and texture that is not as evident on my much more expensive MX2.
 
The overall sound is a deeper fuller one and with clarity and detail in the dynamics of the sound that one would not equate with this little cost coming from this little box.. The sound that is coming out of this little dac is much better than I thought could come out of something so small. It clearly exhibits a quality sound tuning from Nuforce. While the sound is more colored over a neutral presentation for a source in that the sound has more thickness than more neutral sounding sources. The amp portion coming into play perhaps. It is not so overly cooked that it makes anything you listen to sound off or different in any way. Just more of your music to love. Every bit of that musical thickness is textured, smooth and on the cross streets of  lushvile way and absolute engaging.. The popular belief for most might be that higher end sound means neutrality but for me neutrality can go south in a hurry if not done correctly. I know many like to dab into higher grade amps to throw some coloration and stage in their neutral sounding sources but what Nuforce has done is thrown down the proverbial jack of all sound on this little unit. Musical coloration on one hand yet neutral enough to satisfy guys that stick to it for reference. It simply sounds fantastic!. I kinda like my music with some richness thicker and deeper vs a skinny and flat presentation. All detail and no meat and that don't make Stan Getz to sound better. But that is just me. I think if I was to nit pic I would say it could use a bit more stage and even more depth to throw this sound into another tier all together..The only other source I have that has deeper, wider and a more holographic 3D rendering of sound is my NFB-5. It is of a similar coloration and sound presentation but in overdrive. Using the moon opa. Back to the uDAC-3
 

 
Cassandra Wilson Strange fruit the depth of sound and her deep vocals with them bass strings playing with my senses made me realize just how solid the sound is on the uDAC-3. In a direct comparison to the MX2. Details in tunes are similarly comparable but the mids are not as deep as the uDAC-3 nor is the bass end have the same authority. The MX2 does have more of a neutral tilt in sound as a source and does show a bit more stage over the uDAC-3. I noticed after the burn in of the uDAC-3 the mids sound deeper and more fleshed out, the bass end a touch tighter, the highs have equal footing over the overall sound but do exhibit a touch of cut off at the upper most extremes..Highs take a touch step back from the deepness in the mids but this makes for hours of non fatiguing listen. The overall sound is very satisfying and does no have me nit picking details in string instruments and as well as vocals are all very well represented in the sound. exceptionally so. Detail in faster Jazz pieces passes with flying colors. Listening to Stan Getz 
I can clearly make out high hat notes with the perfect amount of reverb and depth. Each instrument has distinction. I ended up listening to Stan Getz Artistry of Stan Getz entire album while doing this review. While I meant to hear just one tune. But no, one tune is simply not enough.
 
Vocals just absolutely shine on the uDAC-3.

 
Rather spectacularly. It is awesome to hear such detail and range in vocal performances. So what was interesting was just how much I was enjoying the sound of this little unit with much more expensive gear sitting right next to it..Next up was a comparison with my Meridian Explorer..


As small as the Meridian Explorer is the uDAC is actually smaller and is about the same size as the cheapest dac I own. The Ele..Now here is where the buck stops right? The uDAC-3 cost about a 1/3rd of the Meridian Explorer.. The ME has had some mixed views among headfiers because of the initial batch issues with high impedance out. The ME I own is a revised version which fixed this issue.. In comparison the ME does have an overall better resolving sound especially in the treble, however does the ME sound $200 more in SQ? Absolutely not. In fact. They both exhibit similar resolution of sound for depth of music and while the highs are not as resolving as the ME. The uDAC-3 more than hold their own in this department. The bass end is almost a draw with the uDAC-3 with a touch more impact, The ME emphasizing a bit more deeper low end. One would figure for something that cost this much more it would be an absolute slam dunk but to be completely honest..I think the uDAC-3 is comparable in sound here as well..The overall sound of the uDAC-3 is a bit more rounded vs the ME.
 
And lastly but not least. A comparison to my NFB-5..I suppose this little comparison is not a fair one but what amazes me to no end is just how good the uDAC-3 sounds in comparison to the best of what I own.. I don't know if you guys are keeping tally but I am comparing the sound of the uDAC-3 to Dacs that cost considerably more. Much more.. In fact I don't know if I should be happy or angry to the fact that this little unit sounds so damn good in comparison.. Oh yea and here is another shocker. I also own both the Fiio X3 and the DX50. As good as both of these Daps are.. Both of them don't sound as good as the little uDAC-3 connected to my laptop playing Flacs. They both are excellent in performance and come close but are not quite to the sound level of the uDAC-3..The uDAC-3 sound is like a mix of both the X3 and the DX50 in sound. The stage and detail level of the DX50 with the depth and bass end of the Fiio X3..
 
Connected via RCA out. I hooked up the uDAC-3 to my Denon AVR-1601 receiver to see if nuForce is telling it like it is when it comes to these units being able to hook up to receivers..And these do sound just as good as my Sony RCDW500Z in sound playing out of my laptop..So this little unit is showing me that it is more than a one trick deal. Makes for easy pairing for speakers and receivers alike for and easy media player hook up..And one other claim I had to test was the ability to play games using the uDAC-3.
 

Surprised again. Not only did the uDAC-3 sound absolutely stunning with Bioshock Infinate but I now find myself wanting to try it with my Alienware MX17 for BF3. Will report back with more details about directional cues and sound. But for what it was worth. I wasn't missing my Titanium HD on my gaming rig one bit using the uDAC-3..I Found myself playing for a good hour when I was testing out the sound on this game using my Asus gaming laptop..Absolutely spectacular sound using the uDAC-3. Directional cues was excellent as well using the X1.
 
So in closing I would like to give some big props to NuForce for a compelling product that deserves some praise. The pros of a solid sound quality and ease of use clearly out weigh any cons that I can see or hear. Unfortunately I was not able to try out the DSD playback feature of the uDAC-3 which I apologize for and will get around to doing so when time permits and driver issues are fixed.. I rate the sound quality to clearly be above the monetary value of the cost. I am happy to report. NuForce absolutely got the 2 main things I look for in all my gears..Sound quality and value. This little unit has a big full blown sound.The sound quality easily hangs with higher end and more expensive gear. At the cost Nuforce is asking for the unit. It is a worthy unit. It easily rivals listening enjoyment of my Audinst MX2, Meridian Explorer, and to a lesser extent my NFB-5. Absolutely fantastic for media play and can be easily hooked up to complete a full media sound library..Great job NuForce and I look foward to even more progress in the realm of sound.. The NuForce uDAC-3 is simply a capable and enjoyable sounding unit. Regardless of price or size.
 

I had way too much fun writing this review. I will have more to add to the review on the uDAC-3 thread..Thanks to all those that read and as always. Happy listening.