Greetings everyone...after an involuntary hiatus, I'm doing something headphone-related...tonight's literally the first night in...nearly 2 months I've put on headphones (DCA Aeon 2c at the moment)...

I'm going to give you my summary notes first, then wax poetic afterwards...

• Source: Tidal FLAC/MQA via Roon w/DSP + upsampling to 768kHz, Mac Mini Roon Core v1.8
• MacBook Pro (Intel 2020), Roon v1.8, USB-C > USB-A, iFi iSilencer+, USB-A > USB-C cable
• DAC/amp: Questyle CMA Fifteen (USB-C input) > 4.4mm or 6.35mm output, standard bias, low gain
  • Literally doubled the dimensions and realism of the soundstage on DCA Aeon 2c (compared to Matrix mini-I Pro 3, which is no slouch at its price point).
  • Extremely transparent, detailed, and effortlessly organic
  • Brings incredible bass control and speed to the Meze 99 Noir, which I previously was not the biggest fan of with other pairings (iFi Diablo is alright, a touch sterile, Matrix mini-I Pro 3 was pretty good with some of the DAC filters, but CMA Fifteen is audibly better
  • Fifteen + 99 Noir is about as good as the Noir can get IMO, awesome speed and tonality
  • Roon Crossfeed with Jan Meier’s settings is absolutely ****ing awesome and fun w/99 Noir
  • Beyerdynamic DT770 80-ohm sound flat, lifeless, garbage…only good for monitoring/mixing, even with Roon’s crossfeed
  • Apos Caspian pairs exceptionally well, big stage, good imaging, good tonality, speed is fairly good (limited by the headphone’s driver), nice sub bass rumble, detailed but gentle treble
  • Aeon 2 c: extremely crisp and hyper detailed/extreme separation with good stage, but doesn’t have the low-end gravity and slam of a dynamic like the Caspian while being technically superior, huge, deep stage, intense and rich layering, no harshness or distortion
  • Pairs well with pretty much everything in my collection
  • Ether Flow 1.1 is marvelously balanced and lively
  • Roon DSP Settings: Headroom Management -6dB, upsampling to 768kHz PCM for everything except for DSD (native), precise minimum phase filter
  • Digital input does not automatically slave to the input that is providing signal (e.g., starting a USB-input signal while the DAC input is on optical)
  • HD6XX was sublime with huge stage depth and width and clarity
  • No need to use high bias with most headphones
  • Front panel is not overly cluttered, but the left side where all the bit rate and source indicators are, can be slightly busy when glancing at it. Toggle switches are nice but might be vulnerable to being bent or snapped off if you take the unit with you on a business trip for use at your hotel or otherwise packing it up and moving it around (happened to my Schiit Saga). Recessed hp outputs are quite nice and firmly and precisely accept cable terminations. Volume pot is nice and smooth with an appropriate amount of resistance that prevents rapid spikes in volume and gives you finer precision in volume control. Remote functions as advertised and is nothing special.
  • Back of the unit is nicely organized, with digital inputs grouped together on the left as you look at the back panel, then the single-ended analog input (sadly no XLR, but that would not have fit in the chassis I suspect), and then the analog outputs grouping, SE and Bal, with preamp output level and volume control switches. Finally, at the right of the back panel as you look at it you will find the Bluetooth antenna and the standard IEC power cable port. On the underside of the unit there are 4 recessed slider switches to adjust gain with, I left them in Low the whole time. The top of the unit is devoid of features, save for 8 chassis screws along the front and rear top edges of the DAC. The entire finish is a smooth and refined matte black, but it does pick up fingerprints and smudges a little bit, but it’s not horrible like gloss or semi-gloss finishes can be. The underside of the unit has 4 circular feet containing high density rubber, which in combination with the THICC 10mm chassis wall thickness help to isolate the electronics from vibrations and other undesirable interference.
  • Worth mentioning is the “output protection function” that the Fifteen boasts. Questyle claims that if the Fifteen fails for any reason it will automatically stop output to headphones or speakers to protect everything downstream.
  • Measurements…yeah they matter, and in this case Questyle did it right by not simply going by the components’ specifications, but actually measured the performance of the entire unit properly using industry-standard testing equipment. This means that the performance figures they quote on their website are actually what you will get, not the theoretical performance as stated by a chip manufacturer.
  • Power output is stupendous at 765mW @ 300 ohms and 2 watts @ 32 ohms balanced, and single-ended is no slouch with 188mW @ 300 ohms and 1.5 watts at 32 ohms.
  • Both optical and coaxial input support up to 192kHz/24-bit PCM audio
  • USB-C and USB-B inputs support up to PCM 768kHz/32-bit audio, DSD Native up to 512, DOP DSD up to 256, and is a Full/Core MQA Decoder. USB inputs support mobile/OTG devices such as Android and iOS-based devices (with appropriate cabling and adapters of course). Bluetooth input supports SBC, AAC, and the LDAC codecs, with the highest bit rate supported being 96Khz/24-bit, 990kps/909kps.

Ok, now the audiophile tomfoolery...

Holy ****. I love this DAC. I love this amp. I would buy TWO if I could. One for desktop headphone use (duh lol), and one for my home stereo, in which it performed flawlessly and brought a level of detail, finesse, depth, and richness no DAC I've tried to date can do in my system. It's even awesome for gaming (yup, tried that too, stereo and headphone).

Did I mention you can throw the thing in a backpack with your laptop and a power strip and jam out high def at Starbucks? (yes, I've been that guy once or twice hehe).

But yeah, other than the minor quibbles I've listed, it's near perfect. Like someone actually put thought into what the end user would not only find useful but enjoyable.

Now...let's get it in WHITE!

Moondrop S8 IEM Review

All listening was done with the S8s powered by the Chord Mojo DAC, fed Tidal Hifi track from my iPhone.

Overview:

First, the Moondrop Blessing 2 redefined what an IEM could do. Stunning tonality, stage, and just very good all around. The Moondrop S8 improves significantly on the sound signature and sound quality of the Blessing 2, delivering a pleasing experience that’s suitable for all genres and listening habits. Combine this with wonderfully comfortable fit in the ears and build quality, the S8 has easily earned itself a place on my list of IEMs that I will eventually own.

Treble:

The treble is something I had to think about at length. It’s very airy and spacious, detailed, and well-extended, but stops a hair short of being truly “bright” whilst retaining energy. There isn’t the crispness of the beryllium coated dynamic driver in the Fiio FD1 (one of my other favorite IEMs), but there’s more detail and the treble is utterly smooth without a hint of harshness or sibilance. Instruments that traditionally have very shrill tones and can be irritating to the ears, such as higher-pitched brass, string, and woodwind instruments, as well as synthesized tones, are delivered with incredibly soaring extension, all without inducing listening fatigue.

Midrange:

The S8s’ present the midrange with a density, fullness, and level of detail that is frankly on the level of floor standing speakers (JMLab Chorus 715 are my reference). Lower octave electric guitars have incredible crunch and growl to them while remaining clear and well-articulated, and Valkyria by Follow The Cipher’s guitars are wonderfully dense and clean. Female and male vocals are neither forward or recessed, but rather are placed where they are supposed to be depending on what each track calls for.

Mid bass:

Mid bass is something that is rarely well done in both full-sized headphones as well as IEMs of various driver configurations and tunings. I’m happy to report that the S8 delivers mid bass that’s appropriately impactful and powerful and enriches the lower midrange rather than oddly coloring and distorting it. The note-to-note articulation is especially precise and detailed, even on tracks such as Monsoon from Enemy AC130 Above, which has a preponderance of double bass pedaling, heavy lower midrange electric guitars, as well as intense mid and sub bass lines.

Sub bass:

Well-tuned subwoofer in your head. No joke. The sub bass is palpable when called for, extremely quick and detailed, and doesn’t induce any uncomfortable increase in pressure on the ear drums. The sub bass fills the stage evenly and is a perfect backdrop to the midrange and treble. God from Code: Pandorum is a soul-punching, growling sub bass experience that the S8s’ handle without distortion whatsoever, delivering authoritative bass that rivals flagship dynamic driver headphones such as the Fostex Purplehearts.



Soundstage and Imaging:

When I first put the S8’s in and hit play, I was stunned. Instead of the typical “inside the head” kind of presentation most IEMs bring to the table, I actually perceived the stage as being truly in front of me with real depth and pinpoint imaging. When tracks call for sounds around the head, they’re placed accurately and they make sense, something that none of the other IEMs I’ve tried to date do very well (even the Moondrop Blessing 2 struggles with this at times). Each element in the music is layered perfectly, being clear and distinct without overwhelming or coloring other elements in the track. This results in guttural vocals in metal songs being incredibly clear and intelligible as well as outright fun and toe-tapping double bass pedaling.

Tonality:

Perfect, just perfect. There’s none of the weird BA upper midrange and treble coloration that can make high hats, snare drums, and female vocals sound unnatural. Piano notes in particular are striking, if one takes a listen to Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown,” the fine distinction between pianissimo, piano, and mezzoforte/forte notes is well rendered and emotionally stirring. Male vocals such as those in Ma fin est mon commencement from Guillaume de Machaut have appropriate weight, air, and decay.

Comfort and Quality:

The S8s’ are marvelously comfortable, owing to the semi-custom and slightly smaller-than-average molded housing. They seat deeply, so small tips that are very comfortable are required.
I was expecting an 8-BA per side IEM to have much larger shells, but it’s a credit to Moondrop’s R&D team that they pulled off such a fantastic IEM in a small form factor. The build quality is undeniably premium, with the resin shells having a soft, luxurious feel to them with perfect fittings and seams.

Conclusion:

While their price tag may give some pause, you absolutely get your money’s worth in the S8s. An experience that comes very close to a high-end, 2-channel stereo system, with no listening fatigue or discomfort from long-term wear. The included cable is of good quality, though lacks the luxury feel that a product at this price point commands. The zippered, soft-touch leather carry case is one of the best I’ve come across to date, and the zipper is of high quality and will not fail under repeated use.

A heartful thank you to Dave and the Moondrop team for providing me with this opportunity to review their products!

Moondrop Blessing 2 IEM review



Introduction:

I would like to thank Dave from Moondrop for reaching out to me regarding the review tour, and trusting me with not just one, but two IEMs, the latter of which shall be covered in a different review. I had both IEMs for one week, so I spent 3 days with the Blessing 2, and 4 days with the other IEM, the Moondrop S8.

I did all my listening with the Blessing 2’s powered by the Chord Mojo DAC, fed Tidal Hifi quality lossless tracks from my iPhone X using a quality USB cable and the Apple USB Adapter. I put my phone in airplane mode during listening to eliminate any possible noise from cell/wifi/Bluetooth signals.

I listened to a wide variety of songs, from various metal subgenres, EDM, classical, pop, rap, R&B, and some various acoustic genres. Notable tracks include “Crystal Eyes” – Arixis, “BFG Division” – Mick Gordon, “As The Seasons Turn” – The Luna Sequence, “Dangerous Woman” – Ariana Grande, “The Lonely Road” – CR Smith, “Canon in D” – Pachbel.

Treble:

The treble response of the Blessing 2’s is very well extended but shies just away from being “bright.” There are no unusual or fatiguing peaks or valleys in the response, even on tracks I know to be very harsh and sibilant. The treble of the B2’s is almost smooth to a fault but will deliver bite and precision when properly amped and called for.

Midrange:

The midrange is rich, detailed, and accurate. Male and female vocals are equivalent in their placing, electric guitars have appropriate crunch and detail within that crunch, vocals and higher octave instruments (think brass and woodwinds) never sound harsh or distorted.

Mid-bass:

Like a medium-rare steak with all the trimmings. It’s seriously that good and is a shining example of what mid-bass in an IEM should sound like. It’s natural, with power when called for in a song, but otherwise does not intrude into the lower midrange or echo needlessly.

Sub-Bass:

Arguably neutral-sounding despite the Harman-esque tuning, the sub bass experience is well articulated without being boomy or creating too much pressure on the eardrums. There’s ample rumble for EDM genres and enough detail to satisfy the purists.

Tonality:

When I first hit play, the tonality of the B2’s shocked me. It was like listening to my home stereo, which is no slouch at an MSRP of roughly $3,000 USD, and features JM Lab Chorus 715 floor-standing speakers as the mains. The 715’s are neutral and detailed speakers with natural, realistic tonality, and I’m very happy to report the tonality of the Blessing 2’s is equally organic and realistic. Piano sounds like piano. Violin like violin. Synthesizer like synth. Ad infinitum.

Soundstage and Imaging:

HUGE. WAY deep, in front of your face kind of presentation. There’s still some Left/Right direct imaging, but it’s never irritating, and the entire presentation is cohesive and solid. The imaging is very precise and never bounces around weirdly.

Comfort:

With the right size tips (small for me) the Blessing 2’s fit like a glove. The insertion is rather deep, hence the need for smaller tips, but once in place properly, they are wonderfully comfortable, and your ears adjust to the fit in 15-30 minutes (your experience may vary).

Quality:

Top notch, rock solid build quality all around, on both the IEMs themselves, the stock cable, and the zippered, soft-touch leather carry case. My only gripe with the cable is that it’s kind of microphonic, and for a $350 USD IEM this shouldn’t be an issue.

Conclusion:

This could easily be my daily driver, if I can stop spending my free money on stereo stuff…the pairing with the Chord Mojo was a match made in heaven (especially since you can get a Mojo on the used market for around $300 USD or less sometimes). They’re never fatiguing in fit or in sound character, pleasing across multiple genres, and well enough made to withstand many years of use.

Moondrop Illumination Review



Overview

First, thank you to David and the Moondrop Team for their review samples over the past few months. I have previously reviewed the Blessing 2 and S8 from them, and currently have the Illumination and Solis in for review, the latter of which will be covered in a separate review.

When I first put the Illumination’s into my ears and pressed play (iPhone > Chord Mojo), the midrange tonality sounded wonky at first, so I put them away and instead spent a lot of time with the Solis. Now I’ve come back to the Illumination and I’m pretty sure the wonky midrange was just my hearing or congestion at the time and not truly representative of the IEMs tonality.

The Illumination is Moondrop’s reference single dynamic driver IEM. I’m a fan of well-done single DD’s such as the Fiio FD1 as they typically provide good bass response along with good midrange and treble, and without the crossover issues of hybrid IEMs. Its tuning is mostly neutral and is well balanced in presentation. Detail is exceptionally good as to be expected in a TOTL IEM and tonality is accurate. I haven’t encountered any listening fatigue with them which is another important thing to look for in a kilobuck IEM.

Something I found out rather quickly with the Illuminations is that they are NOT forgiving of poorly mastered and compressed tracks. For example, popular pop songs from the 90’s and 2000’s “loudness wars” sound absolutely horrible on the Illuminations while being tolerable on lower resolution IEMs and headphones.

For this review I ran the Illumination primarily from my Chord Mojo (PC+Roon+Tidal Lossless > Chord Mojo > IEM or iPhone+Roon+Tidal Lossless > Chord Mojo > IEM) as well as from the Shangling UP4 Bluetooth DAC.

Treble

The Illumination’s treble response is extremely high energy and intensely detailed. It stops just shy of truly bright and does not irritate the ears at all. There is precise, fine detail in cymbals as well as a good sense of air and space in synthesized sounds and vocals.

Midrange

Midrange with the Illumination is mostly neutral with a little bit of warmth in the lower registers. Male vocals have rich texture and body to them, and female vocals are similar, as well as being presented without sibilance. The vocal presentation is forward but not so much that it is “in your face.” There is no loss of detail when the music becomes busy with numerous elements and the positioning of each musical element is maintained.

Bass

Bass response on the Illumination is firmly in the realm of neutral. Mid bass control is excellent with minimal bleed into the lower midrange (and what little bleed there is hardly colors the sound at all). Sub bass is rendered with authority and extends quite low and has very good texture and realism. Bass heads will not be pleased with the neutrality of the Illumination but will appreciate the quality of the bass, even if it lacks in quantity for them. Those of us who appreciate a neutral or tamer bass response should find the Illumination’s performance in this department to be exceptionally good. The speed of the bass is exceptionally good, on par with my JMLab Chorus 715 floor standing speakers, which is freakishly good. Rapid and intense double bass pedals and cello plucking comes through crystal clear without any muddiness.

Soundstage and Imaging

These aspects are where I feel the Illumination could have done better, but I also have a preference for a massive soundstage (all dimensions) as well as laser-precise imaging. When it comes to imaging the Illuminations do a very good job with left-right panning and vertical placement. The soundstage is more intimate than distant, mainly centered in the head but without the music sounding like its coming directly into your ears. The center image is solid, and the other musical elements are placed accurately around the stage. Of note is the bass presentation, which is completely homogenous and impossible to tell whether it comes from left or right, it’s simply “there.”

Fit, Finish, and Comfort

The build quality and finish of the Illuminations is nothing short of superb. The driver shell halves mate together evenly and tightly, as does the nozzle. The cable is of excellent quality and the included carry case is a wonderful soft-touch leather with a high quality zipper and textured accents.

Conclusion

While the Illumination was not entirely to my tastes, I did appreciate the resolution it offered along with the intense accuracy it brings to the rendering of the recording. I was actually able to differentiate between different masters of the same song from different streaming services (Tidal and Qobuz) and this IEM is definitely for you if you desire something that shows the true nature of the recording.

Jade II Review



Pros:

Excellent detail retrieval, separation, and resolution. Light weight, comfortable for long periods, zero sibilance even on tracks with lots of female vocals and harsher treble. You can always hear everything without having to focus overly hard on a given aspect of the music. Vocals are extremely natural and detailed in nature. Sometimes the presentation is very musical in character but other times it’s clinical and dead. Volume knob on the amp has a very nice, solid click as you turn it. Build quality between the amp and headphones is appropriate for the price range. Articulation of busy vocals is exceptionally good “J’s” by We Are The Flesh has very sibilant and congested sounding rhyming in it and the Jade handles it well. Micro details (tiny percussion and syntheziser notes)

Mostly suitable for acoustic genres and those without much low end past upper/mid bass.

Cons:

Cost. Amp size and weight, the amp isn’t quite something you’d put on display either. No remote control (unacceptable for the price point) Stock non-removable cable feels kinda cheap (not appropriate for the price point). Bass extension is “there” but quantity is pathetic. Bass quality is pretty good, especially in the midbass, but it’s impossible to hear and enjoy without a perfectly quiet listening environment or unless the track has a preponderance of bass. Even when paired with a warm DAC like the Modi 3 the bass quantity is simply not there past midbass. Soundstage is similar to the HD 58X, it’s tiny as ****. Imaging is subpar for the price point. Any sense of “air” is firmly inside the head, with zero soundstage extension beyond the head. Absolutely no bass slam at all. Even unsuitable for classical music as there is no true authority to the low end (which bass cellos and pipe organs require).

iFi iDSD Neo DAC Review

Introduction:

I am quite happy and grateful to have been included in iFi’s USA Review Tour for their recently released iDSD Neo fully balanced DAC and headphone amplifier. I’ve always been a fan of Burr-Brown-based DAC designs ever since I bought a Yamaha AVR back in 2009 that sported a very nice Burr-Brown DAC that was unusually high tier for the product class. That natural sense of space, tonality, and detail is intoxicating, and I was curious to see if the Neo offered a similar experience.

My reference DAC is a Chord Mojo, which I use both in my home stereo and with headphones and IEMs. It has a wonderfully holographic, smooth, and detailed sound to it (despite it measuring audibly neutral) and pairs really well with everything I currently have. I also have a Monoprice Monolith THX 788 DAC and headphone amp which is incredibly linear and clean, although sterile sounding compared to the Chord.

I have actually been on the hunt for a DAC to replace my Mojo as a dedicated home stereo DAC, and previously had been considering upgrading to a Chord Qutest and obtaining one for demo. When the opportunity to review the Neo came along, I jumped on it, curious both to try an iFi product for the first time as well as a dedicated Burr-Brown DAC design.

All tracks were streamed from Tidal and Qobuz via Roon with non-destructive volume leveling enabled. MQA was enabled through Roon and the Neo for Tidal tracks that were encoded as such. At this time, I will declare that it is my opinion, based on a lot of recent and older evidence, that MQA is a lossy format and is inferior to FLAC. I won’t go so far as to say that I can hear the differences between FLAC and MQA-equivalent songs, but if the math says it’s lossy, then it’s lossy. I do appreciate that MQA can deliver very high quality files over 4G networks faster than Qobuz delivers their FLAC files, but that’s the nature of compression making a file smaller.

Unboxing and Accessories:

The Neo comes fairly well-equipped out of the box. You get the DAC, which can be mounted horizontally or vertically with the included, matching aluminum stand; an iFi switching power supply; USB A to USB B cable; RCA cable; port protector for the optical jack; remote control; and ¼” to 1/8” headphone jack adapter; and instruction booklet. The product arrives in a sturdy white cardboard box with thin cardboard sleeve over it. Opening the box reveals the DAC encased in thick foam lining and 3 partitioned small cardboard boxes underneath that contain all the accessories. This was a great way to package and present the product, although I would have liked to see an optical and coaxial cable as those are inputs available on the Neo.

Home stereo DAC Performance:
For reference purposes, this is my current stereo system used for evaluation:

Power Conditioner: Panamax M-5100 PM (main system), Monster HTS 1600 (sub and networking equipment and Roon Core)

Source: Roon Core over ethernet to Bluesound Node 2i stream
DAC: iFi iDSD Neo fed via optical from the Node

Preamp: Schiit Saga (2017 model) w/Shughuang Treasure CV-181 tube, fed via RCA

Power Amp: Crown XLS 2502, fed via RCA

Speakers: JMLab/Focal Chorus 715’s

Subwoofer: Rel T/5i

Acoustic Treatment: Acoustic Panels behind mains and at first reflection point on left wall, Sub-Dude II subwoofer isolation platform.

Interconnects: various brands

Speaker Cables: Pine Tree Audio custom 14 AWG quad braid OFC terminated with rhodium banana clips

The difference between the Mojo and the Neo was a bit startling at first and made me unsure that was I was hearing was real and not expectation bias. Instead of sitting and listening critically right away, I put on one of my favorite playlists and just let the music play in the background at a comfortable volume (around 55-60dB). I did this to let my brain adjust to any perceived differences in the sound presentation as well as to calm some of my own bias down.

The first thing I consistently noticed was that notes, all notes, were more immediate and crisply defined. The starting synth loops in Cyran’s Get Wild (Qobuz, 44.1/16 FLAC) when played through my system with the Mojo as DAC have longer decay and tend to blur together just a little bit. With the Neo, these beginning notes had clear definition between each other, with a clearly audible, yet momentary, gap between each note as it decayed and echoed.

The second change that was consistent was that bass notes exhibited this same kind of definition that I noticed in the upper midrange/low treble synth loops. A good example of this is the rolling bass and percussion lines in the latter half of Darren Styles Switch (Tidal, 44.1/16 FLAC). Rapid and playful double bass and synth bass notes hammer away with speed and authority whilst not coloring the lower midrange or treble’s airiness.

Third, the depth, width, and layering of the soundstage improved. The Mojo is a more intimate sounding DAC overall whereas the Neo is spacious, impressively detailed, and places and holds each musical element in the stage firmly. This is evident while listening to UnSun’s Time (Qobuz 44.1/16 FLAC). This track (the entire album actually) is very well composed and arranged but suffers from compression that tends to flatten the soundstage out and kills the airiness in the female vocals and other treble. With the Neo, this compression is still noticeable but far less so. The straining, guttural bass guitar comes through with great expression, Anna Stefanowicz’s voice soars and echoes, and the complementing harmonies and melodies in the leading and backing guitars, synths, and percussion flow together with ample separation.

Headphone Use Performance:

I didn’t spend a terribly large amount of time using the Neo as a headphone amp because I do the majority of my listening on my stereo these days. I did cycle through the V-Moda M-100 Crossfades (with XL pads), Beyerdynamic DT 7700 (80 ohm), and DCA Ether Flows on the Neo. Pairing the V-Moda’s with the Neo resulted in the single best experience I’ve had with these tanky, bass-cannon headphones. Bass was deep, articulate, with very little bleed into the midrange, with a reasonably large soundstage for a closed-back can, and the treble had a sparkle and refinement that the Mojo simply doesn’t bring to the M-100’s. The DT 770’s were not a good pairing however, as they sounded sterile without body or richness. The best pairing was surprisingly the Ether Flows. The soundstage was utterly massive and truly outside my head, with pinpoint details, rich, impactful bass, and artfully rendered midrange. Massively superior to pairing the Flows with the Chord Mojo.

Final Thoughts:

As a DAC alone, the Neo is superb and offers performance that justifies its price tag. The inclusion of wireless connectivity is a benefit for those audiophiles who prefer these solutions (even though I do not personally), and the design and ability to mount horizontally or vertically was a very thoughtful inclusion into the design of the product. Unfortunately, the headphone amp is just not up to snuff. While offering adequate power for most high sensitivity and low impedance headphones and IEMs, when paired with something more demanding and refined, such as the Ether Flow, the Neo’s headphone amp stage is seemingly lackluster compared to similar offerings.

All in all, the iFi iDSD Neo is a fantastic device with some shortcomings that can be easily overlooked if all you’re looking for is a killer DAC with a sexy appearance.

Hey everyone, this is going to be my first review so go easy on me hehe...
 
First off I'd like to say that I am still in the early stages of being an audiophile, I don't have any lossless sources yet and I have yet to get a really nice pairs of cans but I'm working towards it. As such this review is going to be geared a bit more towards the casual listener and not the serious audiophile who doesn't shy away from dropping $400 on a pair of headphones. I hope this will be helpful to some people as they research and do comparison shopping. Everything I say is strictly my opinion and not law. I think Spotify Extreme quality is fairly representative of what the very large majority of music listeners will have in terms of quality...but of course Lossless is always the way to go if you can!
 
I am going to cover Build and Comfort first, then go into Gaming and Musical performance, and then summarize it all at the end.
 
Cans: Microsoft Xbox One Armed Forces Edition Stereo Headset, $60 at my local Wal-Mart
Source: Xbox One with various games, LG G3 with Spotify Premium (320k Ogg Vorbis, no EQ)
 
Build and Comfort:
 
So these are mostly plastic with decent quality foam earcups. The headband is adjustable and the ear cups pivot a little bit on their hinges but don't swivel or fold flat. These are also HUGE headphones! Forget about sleeping with them on though if I have my pillow just right I can lay down and listen to them comfortably. The foam is actually quite nice and doesn't heat up or get sweaty which is really great for long listening or gaming sessions. The boom microphone is on the left side and actually folds up into the headband so that you can have it out of the way when you don't need it. Overall they're fairly sturdy but I'm not gonna try to sit on them or anything like that hehe. They don't have a whole lot of clamping force (which I personally like) so if you shake your head around you can dislodge them. Being circumaural they completely cover your ears and the earcups are generous enough in size to where most people will be able to fit their ears inside without any pinching or folding.
 
 
Gaming Performance:
 
Any gamer knows (regardless of platform) that sound is important. Being able to not only communicate with your teammates but also hear what's going on around you can make the difference betweeen winning and losing. As both a US Marine veteran and a semi-serious gamer I know all to well how critical it is to be able to accurately determine where gunfire, voices, and other environmental effects are coming from. The Xbox One Stereo Headset does a pretty dang good job of this. While it isn't true surround sound (such headsets run around $250 USD or more) the "faux surround" is actually well done and extremely useful. The first time I heard a grenade fall next to me while playing Battlefield 4 I instantly knew exactly where it was. And when I hear gunfire I can very accurately tell if it's behind me, above me, below me, and about how far away it is. Audio chat is very clear and not harsh, explosions command authority without sounding painful (though they will make you jump!) and gunfire actually sounds realistic (which was one of the gripes I've had with Turtle Beach headsets...their audio accuracy is less than acceptable IMO). For those gamers who aren't willing or ready to drop the money on a true 5.1 or 7.1 headset these are definitely a nice option that will not disappoint.
 
Musical Performance:
 
Ok so now for the stuff we really care about: music! :-D Everything I listened to was downloaded from Spotify Premium in their "Extreme Quality", which is Ogg Vorbis 320k bit rate. Not a bad format but still a touch lossy so keep that in mind. That being said, with these cans I doubt you'll really notice a difference between a good lossy format and lossless unless you've got golden ears.
 
Some of the tracks I listened to:
 
Symphony No 5 - Beethoven
The Messiah, Halleujah Chorus - Handel
Terror In The House of Hubris - Lamb of God
Nippon - Lamb of God
Storm the Sorrow - Epica
Nemo - Nightwish
Dei Walkure - Richard Wagner
Tocotta & Fugue in D Minor - Bach
Bad (feat Vassy) - David Guetta/Showtek/Vassy
Someone Like You - Adelle
I Will Not Bow - Breaking Benjamin
Call A Marine  - Toby Keith
 
What was good: the sound was well balanced! Unlike my previous set of headphones (Sol Republic Tracks) and Beats headphones there is no disgusting mid-bass hump that suppresses the mids and drowns out the highs. Bass was appropriate to each track, instruments rendered pretty accurately, vocals were distinct (with a couple exceptions) and these headphones handled very fast, aggressive music excellently well given their price tag and intended use. I was pleased when the fast and brutal double bass pedals in Lamb of God's Nippon actually came through clearly and that Beethoven's 5th Symphony was rendered quite beautifully. Percussion instruments, cymbals, and stringed instruments weren't too bright or harsh and had a little texture to them which was also nice. Brutal dubstep and EDM bass lines were authoritative and distinct without being fatiguing or getting muddy. Crazy electric guitar shreds were clear and exciting, and acoustic instruments were lively and intimate.
 
What wasn't so good: While these headphones handle most music fairly well they aren't without their struggles. The choir on in Handel's Messiah suffered from a lot of reverberations and the soprano vocals kind of smushed together on really high notes. The alto's, tenor's, and basses rendered acceptably though. I also wouldn't choose these to listen to piano on for the most part (individual recordings may vary). Bass heads might like these if they're not looking for extremely pronounced sub-bass so keep that in mind as you read and listen. A notable example of this are the pipe organs in Toccata & Fugue in D Minor; while the organ notes were beautiful the low notes lacked the soul shaking authority they so demand. Also the wide soundstage might not be appealing to some people as most of the tracks I listened to either sounded like they were on a stage or concert hall, or in a club. I guess you could describe the imaging like a sphere with your head in the middle...some tracks will render as if they're inside your head while others will have a very "3D" or "surround" effect to them. If I had to explain why this is it would be because these are primarily meant to be gaming headphones, reproducing the sounds of a virtual world around you. But that doesn't mean the sound is bad or unenjoyable it's just your personal preference.
 
Summary:  All things considered these aren't a shabby pair of cans. They handle gaming environmentals extremely well, reproduce most music well, and are even fantastic for cell phone calls! I've spent hours on the phone with family and friends using these and everyone has said that the audio quality coming from me is perfect! I would go so far as to say that the sound staeg and musical qulaity of these are so close to the high end Beats headphones that you're better off buying these rather than Beats (if that's what you're considering). I'd also (personally) prefer these over the Bose TriPorts (which I used to own) although the TriPorts had a more intimate sound stage. All in all Microsoft put the attention in to the right areas when they designed these headphones and I'd heartily recommend them to anyone who wants a gaming head set as well as a pretty nice sounding pair of cans.