As an early owner/lover of the Atrio, the new single-driver G10 has me all up in a tizzy. Unfortunately, Future Sonics's copywriters appear to have been culled from the AP and a failed personality cult. Here's what they say about the G10:
Read moreThe Ocharaku Flat-4 KAEDE Type II
Because I have some drinking to get to, I'll keep this short. Here's a copy/paste job from my latest review at Headfonia:
Read moreComply Custom Wraps Review
If getting "the most out of your CIEMs" involves custom wraps, your earphones do not properly fit your ears. Before investing in silly wax-magnet wraps like Comply's Custom Wraps, get a re-fit.
“I mainly became interested in Comply’s Custom Wraps after I struggled to maintain a consistent seal with my CIEMs. I was finding that before using them I would have to adjust the CIEMs multiple times over the course of an hour and that the balance between Left and Right seemed off - particularly with the bass presence and extension of the trebles. Applying the Custom Wraps provided an immediate remedy and became worth their weight in gold! Now with the Custom Wraps I don’t need to alter my CIEMs at all so I’m a very very happy man. I do have to say that using the Custom Wraps does come with one caveat. This is that the sonic performance does slightly change. Whilst the bass becomes much more rounded and powerful, its attack becomes moderately slower, and this attack descriptive stands the same for the trebles along with a slightly reduced treble extension. On the other hand the sonic improvement to the instrument separation/staging is certainly desired and you just have to weigh up what you want from your CIEMs. Personally I feel that the Custom Wraps have made my life a lot easier and have heightened the performance of the CIEMs in question so I’m a very happy man.”
Edd Harris's essay about a product whose only utility applies to poorly-fitting custom-fit earphones, deserves to have been written by Joseph Heller.
Source: Comply Custom Wraps Review
Bullshit to the limit: CNET on the Cowon Plenue M
Here's an actual paragraph from Steve Guttenberg's review of the Cowon Plenue M:
With my Audeze EL-8 headphones the sound was big, warm, and inviting. Bluegrass diva Gillian Welch's vocals, banjo, and guitar were fully present and transparent, but the sound was definitely not thin or too lean, so acoustic instruments sounded like themselves. Switching over to the more expensive and bulkier Hifiman HM-901 music player the sound was slightly clearer, with better resolution, and the bass had a touch more oomph with the Audeze and Oppo 'phones. Curiously, with Sony MDR 7520 headphones the two players sounded more alike, but I preferred the HM-901's user-interface. I also used the Plenue M as a desktop USB digital converter/headphone amplifier. I didn't have a Cowon Plenue 1 player on hand to compare with the 'M player.
Read moreA new cable believer feat. Linum cables
The old skeptic in me would have dodged Linum’s Fujiya Avic booth. But thanks in large part to Linum’s booth, that old crotchet sort of bit it(1).
Read moreEpisode 024 - A new cable Believer
Head-Fi admin, Steven Segall disciple, and deadpan YouTube audiophile gear reviewer, Amos Barnett, returns to co-host OHM AIR post-hoc Fujiya Avic's latest headphone show. We talk Linum cables, the demise of lightning/thunderbolt, sucky interfaces, a modern iron maiden, garrotting with Aurisonics's cables, and a custom earphone I reckon is destined to become the gold standard for trance fans.
Relevant links:
1. Satolex DH291-D1 hi-res USB headphones
2. Linum cables
3. iron maiden
4. the modern iron maiden, aka Onkyo's HA300
7. iFi Retro
8. FitEar Aya
9. RHA T20
10. A new cable believer feat. Linum cables
Be sure to check out Amos Barnett's YouTube channel.
And subscribe to OHM AIR via Sound Cloud and via iTunes.
On the Oppo PM-3: "Never discount the effects of physiology"
Headfier, Armaegis, has just published the newest review of Oppo's fantastic PM-3 headphone, with a heavy proviso:
“There’s something in the sound that bugs me. The sound is smooth and clean, but lacks clarity? no that’s the wrong word. Everything sounds... a bit wet. String and metallic percussive sounds lack shimmer and air (probably that treble dip). I guess I could say it sounds polite, but this changes when I use it on the go.
I really like it as a portable; seal and comfort improves a lot with slight movement and the PM-3 settles in without that puckering feeling. In this state the sound is really good. The midrange is still nice and clean, but bass has more energy, and that top end no longer has the wet feeling. Never discount the effects of physiology guys, especially with sealed headphones.”
Armaegis's PM-3 review is well-worth the read, especially as the PM-3's pads aren't easily user-replaceable, and may, or may not, fit your physiological needs.
Episode 023 - Life after Head-Fi
Dale Thorn is back to discuss life after Head-Fi, armature VS dynamic drivers, Star Trek, the amazing and effortless ability of Sennheiser to capture the market for ten year stints, and much, much more.
NOTE: we had multiple connection issues, and I had a cough. Apologies all around.
Relevant Links:
1. Shure SH940 VS Sennheiser HD800:
headfonics.com/2011/08/shure-srh…-hd800-is-he-mad/
And:
dalethorn.com/Headphone_Shure_Srh940_Review.txt
2. Campfire Audio Lyra:
ohm-image.net/opinion/audiophile…ampfire-audio-lyra
3. Final Audio Pandora HOPE VI:
final-audio-design.com/en/archives/1981
4. USB-C and the new MacBook:
store.apple.com/us/buy-mac/macbook
5. Puro Headphones:
purosound.com/bt2200/
Be sure to check out www.dalethorn.com
and...
subscribe to OHM AIR here or on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/ohm-a…id963009170?mt=2
A Rare Luxury: In Ear Space reviews the Heir Audio 10.A
This crotchety prick believes that no review is worth reading that isn't first worth looking at. And while Sonny Trigg's use of bad words curls my nose hairs, his latest pictures are worth the price of admission. And that is a rare luxury in the me-too-crowded review world.
“A Rare Luxury:
Looking at these shiny blue earphones, they look like some rich fancy, jewellery. They don’t come cheap but for some people, a pretty enough product warrants that. But this is one of the rare few that nails every category, from comfort, to build, all the way to the sweet, sweet sound its reproduces and for that reason, it is a great buy and whole hearted recommendation from myself. And before I go, yes I did fall completely head over heels with these and yes I have an emotional connection with this that I don’t have with any other monitor, perhaps.”
The Campfire Audio Lyra
Knocking back 200mm of chilled Glenfiddich didn't exactly help me catch the heavily-stylised C in the Campfire Audio logo. Still, to a pleasant inebriate, Ampfire Audio, even in its boorish, techy way, worked. But I've been straightened out. There's a C there. Which makes a lot more sense for a brand out of the flannel-wearing Oregonians.
Read more