If you're a fan of custom IEMs and dig really cool projects, you owe it to yourself to check out Cymbacavum's latest article about the Japanese DIY CIEM underworld.
Cypher Labs giving away one DUET headphone amplifier
Just log in to your Facebook account and shed a bit of privacy. A couple of clicks later and, luck's your lady. Giveaway details are here. Like Cypher Labs' Facebook page for the latest news.
Headfonia's Cypher Labs DUET review
Despite being published 12 days ago, Ω missed this excellent writeup. Overall, Headfonia agrees with Ω: DUET is a fabulous amp for IEMs. Our opinions divaricate on the point of DUET's performance with headphones. This is Headfonia's take:
“So in case you are wondering: overall the Duet is not the same sounding as the recently released resolving, spacious and dynamic Theorem. Yes the Duet is quiet and doesn’t have any minor issues and if you want a very clear sound and bass and mid range focus and can live with the smaller sound, the Duet is for you. For IEMs the choice is easy, the strong points of the Duet make your IEM extra good as most of the better monitors aren’t necessarily tuned with a focus on bass. For full size headphones the Duet can be a great match if your headphone can use a bit of bass and mid range focus.”
The Theorem 720 has a sound signature that more closely resembles the ALO Rx MKIII-B+. For any number of earphones/headphones, that is a good thing. It is muscular and detailed. But so is the DUET. In fact, the DUET sports a lower noise floor and slightly better stereo image when driving high-current loads. That makes it a better amp for both your Audeze headphones and your low-Ω IEMs.
Ω's review is coming soon. While it will ooze sincerity, it will be almost complete ohmage. This is Cypher Labs' first nearly flawless product. 720 may have amazed me with its resolution and stand-up stereo image, but DUET sacrifices very little in delivering better across-the-board performance in addition to better management of circuit noise.
Effusive though the above paragraph may be, I believe it is important to point out that performance-wise, DUET has no Cypher Labs equal. Sound reviews are, by nature, subjective. Actual performance isn't.
Computer Audiophile: CES 2014 in pictures
This compact Computer Audiophile CES 2014 matome is just what the audiophile doctor ordered. CA covers: wireless serves, portable amps, mono block power amps, speakers, DACs and more, in 135 photographs. Reviews are expected.
Ω's spot in the Head-Fi sun: ohmage to the ALO Rx MKIII-B+
It is always an honour to have anything put up on Head-Fi. I'm extremely glad it was the Rx MKIII-B+, which is now my favourite Rx, one of a very few portable amps that can do it all. The original instant ohmage is here.
New Cypher Labs AlgoRhythm Duet images up
Duet with a single-entry balanced Beyerdynamic DT880/600Ω.
These were taken for Ω's upcoming review of this remarkable portable headphone amplifier that has me running back and forth between it, the ALO Audio Rx MKIII-B+, and the Vorzüge PURE II. The short: DUET is a marvel of control, speed, and good liquidy sound.
For more information about the Cypher Labs AlgoRhythm Duet, hit up Cypher Labs.
Check out Ω's Facebook page for more images.
NOTE: Somehow, this advertising photographer messed up whilst shooting for review. His Sony a7r somehow crept into JPEG mode and got locked into Kelvin 5300 white balance before he packed his studio up for the Headphone Book 2014 shoot. Good enough for a review, but bugger that.
6 free [Windows] software every audiophile should download
“Exact Audio Copy, or EAC as the cool kids say, is the Swiss Army Knife of CD ripping, copying, and burning. The goal of this program, as the name suggests, is to rip audio from a CD without adulterating the file. It does this through jitter correction and read error detection...”
Each entry is carefully detailed, and for free software, packaged and 'sold' to the reader. Recommended for the new entrant to Computer audiophilia. Great spot by @headfonia.
Antelope Audio Zodiac Platinum DSD DAC/Headphone Amp
Debuted at CES 2014, the next top-flight Zodiac looks to pack in more hi-tech wizardry than the original Ultima VII did. Damn. If the low noise floor and rich sound of the original entry-level Zodiac are anything to go by (and I'm sure they are), Platinum could be quite an excellent DAC for pretty much all your listening needs.
ohm was left unimpressed only by the headphone-output of the entry-level Zodiac Silver. Output impedance was too high, and overall output power was comparatively low. Otherwise, the Zodiac completely and utterly rocked. Lots of hopes riding on the new Platinum.
The Zodiac Platinum press release can be found here.
Head-Fi's growing list of Hi-Res music download sites
The Head-Fi Hi-Res list has been updated constantly since 2011. And until this morning, whilst waiting for the morning drizzle, I checked ohm's twitter feed. It was CypherLabs that pointed it out. Many thanks. Now it's time to grab Arcade Fire's latest, if it is to be grabbed anywhere.
Goodbye 2013: A JPuddy mix
ohm's always late. JPuddy never is. Check out his great au revoir to the year we recently drank into oblivion.
NOTE: I take great pride in cultivating talented friends. JPuddy's been mixing trance since the early 2000's. Oh, and he bought an Edirol USB interface from me for 60$ that may have started him on his mixing rampage. At least I like to think so.