In DARKO's weekly indexing of the audio world, he turns to knobs. And this week he hobs up to Aurender's:
Read moreThe Cypher Labs C6iem
Carbon fibre back plate or no, the C6iem is a striking earphone. It's part Formula 1, part prototype, part FitEar tribute. Its metal sound-bore cap fits well. Its glue, its edges, it finish: all bespoke. The countersunk cable jacks will keep your wires stable. That's good.
Read moreHeadfonia: Oppo HA-2 - 2007 All Over Again
Well, after long last, I've finished my review of the Oppo HA-2 for Headfonia. It's a great DAC/amp that has the following quirks:
- AK100-level output noise
- confusing in/out for DAC users on the run
But those are mere niggles. The HA-2 is an amazing piece of portable equipment with a great DAC. It should challenge the status quo on both ends of the price spectrum. It should leave an iPhone-like mark on the industry.
Substance or style? Master & Dynamic MH40 headphones
Johnny Darko's latest review is a good one of a good headphone- of a headphone that is one of my favourites. The MH40 is lush, comfy, and full of innovative tech. John says sums up with the following:
“Right out of the gate, this New York headphone company shows how righteous headphone dynamics are possible from a sealed design, even with an iPod touch as source. That Master & Dynamic manage all of this AND have their headphones look so handsome is one heck of an achievement - the MH40 prove beyond reasonable doubt that substance and style don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”
Source: Master & Dynamic MH40 headphones review
And by all means, read my thoughts on the MH40, both at OHM and at headfonia, and if you have the time, read Master & Dynamic's vision for the headphones.
Engineers at Neil Young’s company admit doubts on music player
While this article is now a couple months, it is no less relevant. This quote from Monty Montgomery sums up everything of import regarding hi-res music:
““Neil is advocating for good sound, and I think that is a noble and good thing that will benefit people,” Montgomery says. “I just object to where science is being misrepresented.””
He explains the ridiculous 16-bit 'stair step' graphs we are now used to seeing:
“Nonsense, says Montgomery, who explains that the samples actually serve as plot points that are used by music software to draw continuous, analog-form waves. CD-quality files are more than enough to generate smooth waves for all frequencies detectable by human ears, he adds.”
QUICK THOUGHTS: CUSTOM ART MUSIC TWO, REVISITED
In a follow-up to shotgunshane's excellent review, Mr. T. explains why the Custom Art Music Two remains a great choice.
“Overall, for the price, overall sound quality, and available features, the Music Two is a great quality product from Custom Art. Many high-end aficionados have now gone for the upscale Harmony 8 and (treble-boosted) 8 Pro flagship models, but the Music Two is still a very good option as a “midrange” model, though it’s actually priced well under most midrange price tags.”
shotgunshane reviews the ortofon e-Q8
shotgunshane's views on the ortofon e-Q8 VS the Final Audio VII are spot-on:
“The e-q8 has better bandwidth (extension at both ends), slightly fuller note weight and quite frankly the best distortion guitars I think I’ve heard on an iem. This may be THE iem to own for rock and metal.
The only area in sound the heaven VII beats the e-q8 is with that FAD magical reverb. Pianos are fantastic on the heaven and more lifelike due to reverb imo. The keys’ notes linger so beautifully and tastefully.
If I mostly listened to pianists, I’d have to look hard at the FAD line up. But I’m a rock-n-roll kind of guy and the e-q8 is excellent in guitar tone, timbre, grit and bite.”
He continues later:
“So... I liked the loaner set so much I ordered my own pair tonight from Dimitri. The e-q8 is easily the best single armature I’ve heard.”
Right on, shane. If you can drive them properly, the e-Q8 is one of the top two or three single-driver earphones on the planet.
His thoughts, among others, can be read in the ortofon eQ-8 headfi thread.
And here is my review of them at Headfonia.
Yours truly at Musica Acoustics's YT talking Earsonics Velvet
Dimitri Trush invited me and my newly discovered extra chin to talk Earsonics Velvet, which I recently reviewed at Headfonia. If you're a DJ, you might be able to keep up with Dimitri's cuts.
Thank you Musica Acoustics.
A little more about the Ultrasone IQ and IQ Pro
Thanks to me finally knocking out a review of the Ultrasone IQ and IQ Pro, the time is right to call out reviews of the IQ, mine included, that both nailed it and failed it. The other review that I would like to point out was written by the almost-always-trustworthy Ljokerl of The Headphone List.
Read moreThe MyST IzoPhones-60
The poor Japan Post man must have a hernia by now. I'm nearly on my second. The IzoPhones-30 are heavy, solid things that say tank more so than the 50mm Jupiter 3. They've got the same rough-and-tumble finish: blemishes here, clamping power there, industrial design run completely amuck.
Read more