Two years have elapsed since I first touched the MH40. My opinions about it haven't changed. Or, the degree to which they have changed is unimpressive. I appreciate its measured, but obvious homage to vintage aesthetic. But, the MH40's utilitarian and forward-thinking design decisions -- e.g., its magnetic earpad fasteners and daisy-chaining cable system -- are truly laudable. And they are obvious baby steps on the way to the MW60, which is a modern masterpiece of use-driven design.
Read moreReview: Radius Wn3 HP-TWF31
The TWF31 is both amazingly capable, and amazingly hamstrung. It delivers one of the most natural sound stages this side of 2,1 channel near field audio. It outputs a cleaner, more extended sound than its forebears. Its upper midrange should be clear enough for all but extreme treble heads. Finally, acclimatising to its signature takes just minutes; the original TWF11 took hours.
Read moreFinal Audio Pandora Hope VI - No Hope
Barun C recognises a Pandora Hope VI-shaped hole when he sees one. And so recognising one in me, tentatively, politely, he PM’d me with an offer I couldn’t refuse- the end product of which is today’s wrap-up article. Tomorrow, Pandora Hope VI returns to its heartful master.
Read moreJYRAB: Ocharaku Akazakura Plus Review
The only current earphone review more encyclopedic than Brooko's review of the FLC8S is Just your random audio blog's review of Ocharaku's Akazakura Plus. It's harder to follow, and nowhere near as well shot, but it goes into terrible detail about the technology powering one of today's uniquest earphones from one of today's uniquest manufacturers.
Read moreHeadfi: Brooko's encyclopedic FLC 8S review
Sit back. Relax. Grab a cup of coffee and a cut of brownie. Brooko's Head-fi FLC Technology FLC 8S review is worthy of the annals of Anandtech's OSX reviews. Even the disclaimer is meaty. It takes three trackpad swipes in OSX to get to the bottom from the top, so make sure your cup is large and your cut even larger.
Read moreoreo cables: ortofon's ec7s x ec8s
Ultrasone IQ and ortofon ec8s
Closely mirroring the fit and finish of their e-Q7/8 series flagship earphones, ortofon’s latest production, a pair of MMCX cabless, are beautiful, if awkward. Beautiful in that they look, and feel, like first-party offerings. They are slim, comfy, mostly free of touch noise, and, aside from the lack of a neck cinch, great for use out and about because they lack spiny memory wire. Awkward in that ortofon don’t sell earphones compatible with them; if you want them, you’ll have to attach them to another maker’s earphone.
Read moreinstant ohmage: Jays new q-Jays
The original q-Jays was toyish, and, as evidenced by myriad cable breakages, ill-prepared for portable use. But because it salamandered into even the smallest ear, it was marvellously comfy. Its size, fit, and signal clarity bowled over many earphone lovers. Today’s q-Jays is nothing more, and nothing less than a brilliant, iterative upgrade to the original.
Read moreHow big is the Lear NS-U1 earphone?
In my Headfonia review I wended on about the fit issues I experienced with the LEAR NS-U1 earphone, most of which are due to its immense size. I hope that the above photograph illustrates just how big it is.
Read moreA little about insertion angles
"Thousands of ears fondled, thousands more scanned”, should read the marketing blurb of every high-end earphone. Most assuredly, it isn’t all about sound.
Read moreA wide angle on Ocharaku's Sakura Plus
Ocharaku’s skin is showing its Grado. In four years, Ocharaku have released about as many earphones, all of which have evolved at a snail’s pace. Not Grado GR-series little, but close. Flat4, for instance, has kept the same shape, swapping metal for wood, and vice versa. For nut lovers, a great-sounding acorn branched away from the main family.
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