An all-Sonion model hybrid of balanced armatures and electrostats, CP32E is a comprehensive introduction to Canpur's house sound at entry-level price. Please refer to the artwork guide here. The deftness, sweetness and softness of transients that sets Canpur's flagship CP622B apart is on full-show. But CP32E – built with three balanced armatures and dual electrostatic tweeters – packs plenty of its own identity in a forward mid-range. Canpur's magic with vocals shows up with CP32E's mids, providing a memorable experience as you revisit your favourite singer-songwriters. Fatigue-free, CP32E can also be built as a universal earphone. View the rest of Canpur's range here, or our other IEMs here.

An all-Sonion model hybrid of balanced armatures and electrostats, CP32E is a comprehensive introduction to Canpur's house sound at entry-level price. The deftness, sweetness and softness of transients that sets Canpur's flagship CP622B apart is on full-show. But CP32E – built with three balanced armatures and dual electrostatic tweeters – packs plenty of its own identity in a forward mid-range. Canpur's magic with vocals shows up with CP32E's mids, providing a memorable experience as you revisit your favourite singer-songwriters. Fatigue-free, CP32E can also be built as a custom earphone. View the rest of Canpur's range here, or our other IEMs here.

A beautiful blank canvas. Canpur's mid-tier CPBA7 earphone is an entertaining, lush revisit to the term neutral. Please refer to the artwork guide here. Never boring and ever-reliable, CPBA7's seven balanced armatures enables it to do justice by any genre you throw at it. Here's an IEM that works for you, and not the other way around. From rediscovering your music, from metal to classical, or rolling cables to explore different sounds, CPBA7 promises to replay everything back just the way it was made. Canpur can also build CPBA7 as a universal earphone which you can share the experience of around. View the rest of their range here, or our other IEMs here.

A beautiful blank canvas. Canpur's mid-tier CPBA7 earphone is an entertaining, lush revisit to the term neutral. Never boring and ever-reliable, CPBA7's seven balanced armatures enables it to do justice by any genre you throw at it. Here's an IEM that works for you, and not the other way around. From rediscovering your music, from metal to classical, or rolling cables to explore different sounds, CPBA7 promises to replay everything back just the way it was made. Canpur can also build CPBA7 as a custom earphone which you can share the experience of around. View the rest of their range here, or our other IEMs here.

When one's identity is as rock-solid and well-defined as Vision Ears, you don't change it – you work at bettering it. Such is the case with their VE10 flagship earphone, celebrating 10 years of history through 10 drivers. It's already on Headfonia's Recommended Buys list, and a fitting celebration for Vision Ears to Twister6. It's a roaring success on The Headphone List. The next chapter in the journey of Amin, Marcel & Oliver unfolds with the VE10, maintaining the beloved smooth yet reference tonality cherished by Vision Ears fans. However, this edition introduces the highest level of resolution, presence, and substance ever achieved in a Vision Ears IEM. Crafted as a hybrid 10-driver flagship, the VE10 boasts a CNC-machined housing made of anodised aluminium. This material was chosen to accommodate a sophisticated internal acoustic network, featuring a physical low-pass filter for its 8mm dynamic driver. It shows up in VE10's sound, with a bass that lays down a visceral experience for the foundation of this Vision Ears' down-sloping reference tuning. Handling the mid and high frequencies are nine balanced armatures, including a horn-loaded tweeter that imparts a renewed, vibrant sparkle to the treble, delivering the most apparent resolution in any Vision Ears IEM to date. [See Product Desc. For More] Indeed, embedded within the VE10 is the hallmark of the VE line of earphones: a trusted and true sound embraced by studio professionals, musicians and audiophiles alike. Yet, it never strays into sterility, always providing the immersive experience that the latter crave. The precision remains unwavering in the VE10, even with the introduction of a dynamic driver. While the air's movement adds extra thump to the lows, it crucially maintains the fast, expertly-integrated bass that has long symbolised all Vision Ears monitors. In fact, Vision Ears centre the whole VE10 experience around this driver, marking the debut of a dynamic transducer in a VE series IEM with a physical, robust presence that literally shakes the earth around. Capable of great pistonic excursion, speed and high Q factor, the lessons this new dynamic driver learnt from Elysium and EXT are evident in VE10. The 8mm diameter of the dynamic driver enables it to ascend in frequency without encountering cone or modal break-up, facilitating a seamless handover and crossover to the VE10's nine balanced armatures higher up. Its low-order shallow roll-off means this dynamic driver achieves greater phase coherence than BA alternatives. This handover is aided by an intricate internal structure featuring an acoustic low-pass filter for VE10's dynamic driver. Remaining true to their practice of utilising sound tubes but optimising geometry for minimal turbulence and distortion to rival the best tube-less designs, Vision Ears showcase their pedigree with the abundance of drivers akin to a mini-choir producing the tonal density they've made their own. The incorporation of a horn for the VE10's tweeter is a novel implementation of a classic approach. Placing this acoustic amplifier at the output serves to boost the SPL from a balanced armature that moves relatively little air. This design choice ensures that the VE10 doesn't excessively strain its tweeter for volume, operating it in a cleaner and more elegant manner. Rather than succumbing to an exuberance of new technology, Vision Ears adheres to their established sound. VE10 employs these tools as mere aids to create VE's most articulate release to date, but as means to an end, rather than the end itself. The VE10 embodies the ethos of hard work and innovation that defines Vision Ears, making a clear statement that they are here to stay. It positions itself as a testament to enduring quality, laying the foundation for another successful decade. Check out the road that Vision Ears took to the VE10 here, or view our other IEMs here.

Below iDSD Diablo 2's futuristic exterior and the promise of new, wonderful technologies like xMEMS and wireless Bluetooth 5.4 aptX™ Lossless input is a tried-and-true iFi Audio product that is ready to deliver today. The heights the proven platform that was the original iDSD Diablo gets taken to the rafters with its further optimised circuit and boutique parts overflowing from Diablo 2's red, race car chassis. [See Product Desc. For More] iFi's usual custom operational amplifiers show up here in a design that boasts more careful application of local negative feedback, rather than the more standard global variety. By using sparing error correction, iDSD Diablo 2 veers from the glare and harshness of cheaper solid-state designs caused by transient intermodulation distortion, with the signal from its Burr-Brown DAC still being clean and precise throughout. Purewave, the name coined for the direct-coupled analogue circuit developed for iFi by Hi-Fi and Parasound legend John Curl, ensures a fully balanced, differential signal path produces minimal distortion and up to 120 dB of signal-to-noise ratio.  Such performance is possible also due a high 15 volt operating voltage – a number much more akin to desktop amplifiers – that expands headroom and circuit linearity in tandem with Diablo 2's local, carefully applied, negative feedback. That precision gets backed by even more power: nearly five watts stands ready to drive any headphone load, including a HEDDphone 2 GT. Accessorisation fitting for the premium status of this red arrow is included, not least a carrying pouch that'll accomodate iFi's low-noise iPower DC charger and a 4.4mm balanced line-out cable to dual XLR cables, to feed a desktop amplifier. Check out the rest of iFi's gear here, and our other portable DAC/amps here.

A new flagship future for Craft Ears. Jedrek Nowicki took the battle against distortion in Ominium and replaced bandwidth-limited balanced armatures where ever he could. That leads us to his first tube-less, planar-magnetic, seven-driver tri-brid.  Ear Fidelity give Omnium a standing ovation. Everyday Listening "commend Craft Ears on their creation which deserves my highest recommendation for those valuing all-around transparency". Craft Ears' "implementation of the planar driver in the Omnium is as good as it gets" says Headfonia. "Omnium clearly belongs at the high-end IEM table ... a performance rich in detail, neutral in tone, and delightfully immersive in its presentation", said Headfonics. At the heart of the Ominium experience lies a planar-magnetic driver, representing the culmination of Craft Ears' relentless efforts. RDU dual-supertweeters from Knowles also feature. This tri-brid masterpiece comprises a 10mm planar driver for the mids, flanked by a dynamic driver and five balanced armatures. Complying with modern definitions of neutral, Ominium not only impresses with its technical prowess but also its remarkable naturalness of timbre thanks to its low distortion levels. [See Product Desc. For More] The standout feature is undoubtedly its midrange, where the planar driver shines by delivering exceptional resolution and emotional engagement. Exceptionally spacious, the black canvas Omnium puts forth is matched by a deep sub-bass authority and highs that never grow fatiguing. Craft Ears has truly harnessed the power of their drivers to render each frequency range with exceptional realism and precision, to make Ominium's 10mm planar-magnetic mid-range driver the star of the show. Despite its large surface area, Craft Ears' planar unit remains under the precise control of its magnetic array, resulting in instantaneous and effortless transient responses. This is made possible by the planar driver's resistance to modal break-up, and its thin vibrating surface requires minimal excursion to move copious amounts of air. Omnium's planar promises a unique combination of presence and articulation that balanced armature counterparts struggle to achieve. As planar-magnetic drivers gain prominence in multi-driver setups, Craft Ears has made a significant contribution, defining a new era for its flagships. Ominium's strengths are not just attributed to its planar driver but the result of a harmonious ensemble. A robust 9.2mm dynamic driver takes care of the lows, capitalising on the technology's excellent excursion capabilities particularly with its liquid-silicone rubber surround. Capable of great pistonic motion, this driver is ideal for producing long bass waves that descend in frequency and reverberate giving Ominium's lower registers great presence. In the upper frequency range, five balanced armatures take over as the planar mid driver becomes directional and tapers off. These specialised tweeters exhibit minimal distortion, enabling Craft Ears to maintain their signature clean, airy, and refined treble performance in their latest creation. Aurum, equipped with five balanced armatures, incorporates the Space Expansion System (SES™) 3.0, featuring a precisely calculated and computer-modeled horn structure at the output. That only makes its four modern Knowles supertweeters – in dual RDU BA format – yet more potent. SES™ 3.0 acts as an acoustic amplifier, naturally boosting the balanced armatures' sound pressure level without subjecting them to distortion. Nowicki's acoustic innovations evolved another step to incorporate a tube-less design and 3D-printed chassis introduce minimal artifacts, ensuring playback that's true to the recording. Additionally, Craft Ears integrated specialised waveguides to optimise sound delivery, further enhancing the Ominium experience. This work in the time domain for the perfect arrival of frequencies at your ear would mean nothing without Craft Ears' most advanced crossover yet.  Nowicki's six-way crossover is able to incorporate shallow, low-order transitions in the bass and mids – no doubt aided by the wide bandwidth attributed to Omnium's dynamic and planar drivers – for far more accurate phase-response. Seven drivers are brought together by a crossover that works as a resistive load, maintaining a flatter impedance throughout the frequency range for a consistent response with more sources, whether mobile phone or high output impedance music player. Naturally, Omnium will sound best via a dedicated source. So look no further than Questyle Audio's M12i and M15i plus Cayin Audio's RU7 dongles and iBasso Audio's DC Elite, before taking that up to discrete amplifier music players like HiBy Music's R6 III and R6 Pro II. For those wanting to move beyond mere proficiency and instead be held spellbound by their music, the other flagships from Craft Ears await here. Otherwise, browse the rest of our IEMs here.

Hear the power of Bose's next-gen QuietComfort® QC Headphones, now with a best-in-class combination of adjustable noise-cancelling performance and premium comfort, plus proprietary acoustic technology for deep, clear audio. QC Headphones comes with exclusive Bose technologies, like TriPort acoustic architecture and volume-optimised Active EQ, to produce everything in high fidelity. Multipoint Bluetooth 5.1 also gets added. The proprietary TriPort design vents the earcups to add depth and fullness — all without increasing their size. [See Product Desc. For More] So you get better sound from this featherweight QC Headphone that's smaller, lighter, and more comfortable. Plus, volume-optimised Active EQ boosts highs and lows to maintain the same high-fidelity performance no matter how loud or soft you listen. Bass stays consistent when you turn down the volume and the music is still clear when you turn it up. That's all configurable via the Bose Music app, which works alongside six tiny microphones hidden in the earcups to continuously measure, compare, and react to outside noise. That noise is then cancelled with an opposite signal, resulting in fewer distractions – and more of your music. Up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge means you'll be tuned into your audio for longer. And a glass-filled nylon plus custom cast metal build means your Bose survives the elements longer. Also check out the rest of Bose's builds that incorporate all that technology here, or our other Bluetooth headphones here.

The earpads sport soft, breathable Alcantara on the facing and inner surfaces with faux leather tracing the perimeter. Relative to the stock pads, there’s a roughly 2mm increase in pad width that provides a larger contact surface with the head.The new-developed mounting rings which are glued firmly can provide great engagement, attaching with a “click”. Overall comfort is improved, offering a bit more earcup volume for wider ears and the sound is smoother, more balanced and more pleasing without excessive changes.Check out the full YAXI range, or KITO as alternatives.

Taking cues from the renowned BP40 professional broadcast microphone, the new AT2040USB microphone features a dynamic design for excellent voice capture with added USB functionality. Combining the broadcast-quality performance of the AT2040 dynamic podcast microphone with plug-and-play USB functionality makes this the ideal microphone for podcasters, streamers, and other content creators to achieve professional results. Ensuring a natural frequency response with rich, powerful lows and crystal-clear studio sound, this dynamic microphone also touts its quality with a highly directional, hypercardioid pick up pattern that helps eliminate common ambient noise, like the hum of a computer fan. With a narrower pickup angle than a cardioid design, the AT2040USB provides focused vocal capture, which is ideal and super effective for creators and gamers who stream and chat with followers. Additionally, the microphone’s robust metal body includes an integrated shock mount to minimize unwanted noise and vibration, while its internal pop filter protects against harsh spoken sounds.The AT2040USB is equipped with a built-in headphone jack for real-time audio monitoring with no delay. It also features a quick muting function, with the silent touch-sensitive capacitive mute button to quickly and easily mute audio at the microphone. A two-state LED indicator ring displays a blue light when the mic is on and ready to capture audio and indicates red when it is muted.// FEATURES- Multistage foam mesh windscreen- Integrated shock mount- Built-in headphone jack with high-output amplifier and volume control- Mix control- Silent soft-touch mute buttonwith light indicator- High-resolution AD convertor with 24-Bit/96 kHz sampling rate- Switchable low-cut filter- Professional-grade metal body- Mounting clamp and USB-C to USB-A cable (with USB-A to USB-C adapter)included- For added noise, shock, and vibration cancellation that may be transmitted through a mic stand, boom, or mount, users can purchase the AT8458a shock mount separately// SPECIFICATIONS- Element: Dynamic- Polar Pattern: Hypercardioid- Frequency Response: 80Hz - 16,000Hz- Low Frequency Roll Off: 80Hz, 18dB/octave- Power Requirements: USB Power (5V DC)- Bit Depth: 16 bit / 24 bit- Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz/ 48 kHz/ 88.2 kHz/ 96 kHz- Controls: Headphone level control, Mix control, Low cut, Mute- Weight: 600h- Dimentions: 145.3mm long, 52mm maximum body diameter- Output connector: USB Type-C- Headphone Output: 77W (at 1kHz, 1% THD, 32 Ohms)- Headphone Jack: 3.5mm stereo mini-jack// IN THE BOX- AT2040USB Microphone- AT8487 mounting clamp- 5/8”-27 to 3/8”-16 threaded adapter- USB cable (about 2.0 m (6.6'), USB Type-C to USB Type-A)- USB conversion adapter (USB-Type-A to USB Type-C)

Named after “NARUKAMI”, this headphone amplifier/pre-amplifier, “HPA-KG NARU” has been carefully crafted to capture the intricate details and emotional depth of sound, offering a unique, refined, and natural listening experience. NARUKAMI intertwines the majesty of nature with human innovation, combining Audio-Technica's expertise - over 60 years of pursuing the purest analog sound – with the transcendent aesthetics of KUROGAKI, an ancient wood treasured by Japanese nobles and literati with a rare, ink wash painting-like pattern.  “HPA-KG NARU” is not just a headphone amplifier; it also serves as a preamplifier with output functionality. It can drive power amplifiers using the signal from the output transformer driven by TA-300B vacuum tubes, making it suitable for use as a preamplifier for speakers. To accompany the amplifier, a limited-edition NARUKAMI Headphones “AW-KG NARU” has been exclusively designed with the same KUROGAKI wood housing as the amplifier, featuring specially tuned sound characteristics. Each set comes with a custom-made headphone cable, ensuring an exceptional listening experience. The output transformer features a headphone matching circuit with three impedance positions, allowing users to choose the impedance that best suits their headphones' characteristics and desired sound quality. The amplifier also features a convenient volume balance control knob, allowing users to adjust the volume balance between the left and right channels according to their individual preferences and requirements, and provides a 4.4mm XLR 4-pin balanced headphone socket, as well as a 6.3mm single-ended headphone socket, ensuring true versatility. The circuit design incorporates the use of the finest components available. This includes: Lundahl's LL1532 input transformer. Custom-made Lundahl Amorphous Core Silver Wire Output Transformer LL2765AgAM, offering extremely low magnetic hysteresis loss, high saturation magnetic flux density, and excellent frequency response. High-quality TAKATSUKI TA-300B vacuum tubes handcrafted in Japan, carefully selected specifically for headphone amplifiers for robust driving power and high-quality sound. AmTrans's premium audio aluminum shell resistor with exceptional heat dissipation properties. Custom-designed power transformer for independent power supply to L/R channels by Someya Denshi. SRPP circuit with rare JJ ECC83S-gold vacuum tubes, providing a rich and flavorful sound.

Sequels are usually no good, unless it's The Godfather Part II and now HEDDPhone 2 by HEDD Audio. That's now several headphones, several HEDDPhones and another Air Motion Transformer (AMT) flagship from those who first introduced the concept in 2020. The beauty of a velocity-based driver, rather than the standard pressure-based type, is only half the story with HEDDPhone 2. With a pleated driver surface area up to three times larger than contemporary dynamic, planar or electrostatic headphones, HEDD's second coming is a benchmark of transparency and audio purity. As the detail-oriented, studio truth to its HEDDPhone 2 GT contemporary, HEDDPhone 2 goes right on Headfonia's Recommended Buys list. Headfonics praise a "flatter more muscular sound signature", and Ear Fidelity are impressed. 5 ⭐ arrives from The Ear. Sound On Sound rate it an improvement across the board. [See Product Desc. For More] One of Hi-Fi speakers' most important technologies, the quality promised by an AMT tweeter has always been unquestioned, and HEDD made a full-range, full frequency response one possible with Variable Velocity Transform (VVT) in their first HEDDPhone. Now, HEDDPhone 2 adds practicality with its build and design. 25 percent lighter than its predecessor, a patent-pending HEDDband smart strap system allows height, width, curvature and even the clamping pressure to be tweaked to individual head shape for a complete earpad seal – all with HEDDPhone 2 still built entirely in Berlin, Germany. HEDD already impressed Head-Fi with the pioneering spirit of the AMT's creator, Oskar Heil, when releasing the first HEDDPhone. Now, bringing the HEDDPhone 2 up to 2023 standards of audio quality is an improved driver that sounds better and yet sheds weight. Rather than moving back and forth as a pressure-type transducer (like 99 per cent of conventional driver technology on the market), HEDDPhone 2's AMT is pleated with magnetic force acting to laterally squeeze air out of the driver's folds as an accordion would – according it the tag of being a velocity-based transducer. That allows air to accelerate towards the ear up to four times faster than a beryllium or diamond dynamic driver of huge rigidity and excursion might. But without the cost, or distortion associated. The AMT's ability to reproduce sound as it was recorded is unrivalled in speakers, and now in headphones. HEDD's VVT technology varies the fold lengths to aid this AMT in producing low frequencies below this tweeter technology's typical threshold of 3Khz, for high-quality, fast and accurate bass. That's an upgraded AMT driver that still retains all of its old spatial advantages, namely excellent horizontal dispersion. Because of that, HEDDPhone 2 produces real depth and a sound that truly sounds like it's coming from outside of the head – perhaps most fulfilling the claim that it's almost like listening to true speakers. And as if it was scarcely imaginable that HEDDPhone's sound could be improved, what's most exciting is that HEDDPhone 2 is built of carbon fibre and magnesium, to yield a 25 per cent weight reduction. Coming in at 550 grams, HEDD's next major upgrade comes in the form of the HEDDband – lighter in construction, yet stronger and more ergonomic. Built to be adjusted on two axes, the vertical dimension sees owners able to adjust wearing height and curvature via a patent-pending belt secured system. The horizontal dimension also sees width and therefore clamping pressure customisable. So much thought has gone into turning HEDDPhone 2 not just into HEDD's most complete product, but one of Head-Fi's barometers of affordable quality made to last with every last detail considered. German-style. Built in Berlin, HEDDPhone 2 comes with a five-year warranty against manufacturer defects. Its accessorisation is something else too. Spare earpads, two cables – one balanced 4.4mm, another 1/4" – and 4.4mm-to-4-pin-XLR adapter all come neatly packed in a travel case so that studio professionals and audiophiles alike may bring HEDDPhone 2 to work and to play in equal measure. Reasonably easy to drive for decent amplification, HEDDPhone 2's AMT is now 2dB more sensitive at 89dB/W. Portable behemoths like Cayin Audio's C9ii, Enleum's HPA-23RM and iBasso Audio's PB5 are plenty up to the task. Desktop power will truly unleash this AMT, though. Think of Cayin's iHA-8 or Questyle Audio's CMA18 for that purpose. While HEDDPhone 2's flat impedance make HA-6A, HA-300B MK. II and Feliks Audio's Envy all transformer tube amplifier candidates. There is no ceiling to HEDDPhone's sound quality, and a step up to the Lina – one of the best synergies with dCS Data Conversion Systems' statement headphone amplification system – or Soul 170HA in no way overawes HEDD's flagship. The future is AMT, and the future is now with HEDDPhone 2.  After you check yours out, proceed to explore HEDD's other HEDDPhone concepts here, or view all our other headphones here.

***Made to order, ~1 week turnaround time Conductor: 7N OCC Copper Geometry: Shielded Litz Sleeve: Ultrasoft PVC True Gauge: 25.6 AWG (2-wire), 22.6 AWG (4-wire) Resistance (Including Connectors): 0.17Ω (2-wire), 0.08Ω (4-wire) Solder: Custom Silver Blend Default length: 1.2m (Inquire for other lengths) Inquire for other connectors/terminations

Designed for the HS2000MX MK2, this ACT07 (German silver, copper alloy and Jadeite) module uses the "10mm Myrinx WS driver" configuration elements from the ACT03 and ACT04. This is Acoustune's first attempt to use stone materials in the housing.While utilising the traditional vibrating diaphragm material "Myrinx" thatAcoustune has been using, adjustments to the coating material and optimisation of themagnetic circuit are made to accommodate the newly adopted stone material, Jadeite in the baffle section. It maintains the tuning that provides thicknessin the vocal range while enhancing the low-frequency presence.

Designed for the HS2000MX MK2, this ACT06 (German silver, copper alloy and white jade) module uses the "10mm Myrinx WS driver" configuration elements from the ACT03 and ACT04. This is Acoustune's first attempt to use stone materials in the housing. While utilising the traditional vibrating diaphragm material "Myrinx" thatAcoustune has been using, adjustments to the coating material and optimisation of themagnetic circuit are made to accommodate the newly adopted stone material, white jade while maintaining the same diaphragm shape. The acoustic characteristics are tuned to provide thickness in the vocal range.

The newly remastered EAH-AZ40M2 redefine superior audio with next-gen upgrades in a compact design• A 6mm driver delivers great sound quality thanks to Technics’ 55 years of sound experience.• New Active Noise Cancelling Technology and superior sound in a compact and lightweight design.• Bluetooth® Multipoint Connection allows simultaneous connection to three devices.• Beamforming technology delivers clear conversations.Today, Technics announced the launch of its new compact and lightweight earbuds, the EAH-AZ40M2. Joining the recently released EAH-AZ80 and EAH-AZ60M2, the EAH-AZ40M2 complete the brand’s True Wireless portfolio, offering superb sound quality with the addition of Active Noise Cancelling Technology and unparalleledcomfort for home, work and travel.

Mini in name, but mega in intention. Matrix Audio's Mini-I 4 lands as a streaming DAC built upon the latest ES9039 chip. Yet its true headline act is the addition of a HDMI ARC input. Small in size and price-tag, it's Mini-I 4's home-theatre ambitions that extend massively. Boost the sound from your smart TV and projector affordably with Matrix's dedicated HDMI ARC capability around back. That promise to raise sound quality to match the stunning visuals from today's flagship TVs isn't made lightly. Matrix leverage their close relationship with ESS Technology to build in the exciting ES9039Q2M DAC – a surprise at this price. ES9039Q2M's patented Hyperstream pulse-width modulation technology from ESS is already a one-up on standard chip delta-sigma modulation. "Hitting a lot of key network streaming needs", Headfonics write "it won’t be a chokepoint in setting up a good home audio system offering both a pleasing technical performance and a beautiful design". And for Sennheiser and ZMF Headphones aficionados wanting a powerful balanced 4.4mm headphone output, check out Mini-I Pro 4 here! [See Product Desc. For More] Little wonder, then, that listeners are rushing to get their music decoded by Mini-I 4. Matrix make it easy. In addition to HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) for TVs, the usual streaming suspect of Gigabit Ethernet connectivity comes standard in typical Matrix style. At the source Mini-I 4 accepts audio data from your router, putting its Roon Ready status at your disposal or its growing, diversifying Matrix MA Remote OS – most lately adding the HIGHRESAUDIO streaming service to Tidal and Qobuz. The freeware of your choice may be used too, with first-choices Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect and UPnP/DLNA augmented with Apple AirPlay 2. With a new, modern quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 CPU keeping things ticking over, Mini-I 4 runs smoothly no matter how intensive streaming inputs get. Digital gets turned over to Matrix's FPGA running proprietary code that re-clocks and de-jitters the data stream, before feeding pristine I2S to Mini-I 4's ES9039Q2M. Running on ESS' most advanced Hyperstream IV architecture, the futuristic stereo ES9039Q2M brings five new digital filters – many with low in-band ripple – to the party for new flavours to music reproduction. This DAC chip packs enough computational horsepower to run its 8x oversampling process in just two passes thus minimising rounding errors – an upgrade on other attempts that use a concatenation of three stacked 2x oversampling passes which compound errors. ES9039Q2M is an exercise in sonic purity, and outputs analog in current to a current-to-voltage I/V converter. That ensures small-signal is of highest quality to begin with, as conversion errors manifest as a DC offset that's easy to filter out – not more sinister total harmonic distortion. The voicing of Mini-I 4 is thus under Matrix's full control with their tuning of said I/V stage, and grants up to 127 dB of signal-to-noise ratio. This final DAC analog product can be output via XLR or RCA on the rear to an AV receiver or downstream amplifier. Because while you can choose to run Mini-I 4 beyond arm's length using Roon Remote, the stock MA Remote software, and Tidal Connect, Matrix add a 3.46 inch LCD touch screen for anyone keen to take advantage of this DAC in a desktop setting. Double tap to wake the screen, and swipe left and right to access a myriad of features at the lift of a finger. With HDMI ARC one of so many ways to input music into Mini-I 4, and an assortment of high-quality sonic outputs out, Matrix have a humbly-sized and priced winner on their hands that can accompany you on many a musical journey. Also view Mini-I 4 Pro for Wi-Fi connectivity, an included remote control and a balanced 4.4mm headphone amplifier here, Matrix's other flagships here, and all our other DAC/amps here.

PRO: there's really only one way to describe the Clear MG Pro. This outstandingly detailed, coloured yet correct, magnesium maestro certainly earns that tag with the way it wraps all your favourite Focal headphones into one. By combining the bass levels and soundstage of Clear MG with the forward, engaging mids of Clear and a hint of the transient speed and detail of Utopia, Clear MG Pro possibly could summarise Focal in a single headphone nutshell. The revelatory 40mm M-shaped magnesium driver that Focal introduced for its mid-line Clear MG facilitates all of the above, approximating the performance of headphones beyond its price tier. [See Product Desc. For More] Clear MG Pro is almost too good to be true, yet there it is. By combining many of the best aspects of each Focal classic that has passed, it's on a clear route to success. Sound On Sound rates this Focal highly. Clear OG is the clear reference here. But Clear MG Pro even surpasses Head-Fi's GOAT by granting better cohesion between those famous mids and the flanking bass and treble ranges, being holistically more complete as a flagship claim. That's partly empowered by the use of magnesium to build Focal's famous M-shaped inverted dome. By being even lighter than beryllium, together with a driver suspension that's super pliant and a magnet that can produce more than one tesla of force, this magnesium grants Clear MG Pro transient speed and detail without harshness. Built to be extremely pistonic in motion, the maximum potential travel of the driver gives Clear MG Pro's bass great low-frequency presence, speed and dynamics. These are traits that remain as frequencies rise. Focal's humble 40mm driver dimensions and the superb damping qualities of magnesium mean movement stays pistonic and doesn't deteriorate into harsh modal break-up up top. Treble detail stays inherently warm and natural. Clear MG Pro's portrayal of air and soundstage is aided by a M-shaped honeycomb grille protecting the correspondingly built driver that's exceptionally open. This frame allows even more delivery of high-frequency detail and extension. Two single-ended cables and a spare pair of pads come packed neatly in Focal's hard travel carrying case. But audiophiles will want to upgrade Clear MG Pro to any number of 4.4mm cables – the likes of Advance TPC and Inspire from Nobunaga Labs and Tago Studio yielding improvements to sound quality that do Focal justice. The improvement offered by 4.4mm balanced cables will also enable owners to pair Clear MG Pro with a source of consummate quality, taking advantage of its portable friendly trait so any of Cayin Audio's RU7, HiBy Music's R6 III, R6 Pro II and R8II, plus iBasso Audio's DC07 Pro and DX180 can be used. While you're looking up Clear MG Pro, also be sure to check out the bronze-tinted chestnut Clear MG with included 4-pin XLR cable here, our other Focals here, and all our headphones here.

The overachieving ZEN Stream was just the beginning for iFi Audio. Their NEO Stream digital audio streamer does it all – digital and analog outputs, with the one-of-a-kind advantage provided by iFi’s optical LAN input. iFi's new streaming hub counts itself as the only other mainstream digital audio streamer apart from Sonore to feature an optical LAN input. Stereophile writes "NEO Stream punches way above its retail price, bringing complex high-end audio down to earth". Headfonics raved about it. Given light energy is the only way to completely isolate a system galvanically, with no electric potential between points, NEO Stream's optical LAN input is a class above its peers, and indeed punches way above its weight. Indeed, you can confidently insert the NEO Stream into nearly any high-end, top-dollar system, knowing it will perform admirably without hindering flagship DACs from manufacturers like Denafrips, Holo Audio, or Matrix Audio. [See Product Desc. For More] The I2S and AES/EBU outputs around back effortlessly transmit digital signals to your system through iFi's Roon Ready and Signalyst HQPlayer NAA modes. Alternatively, you can bypass a downstream DAC entirely and utilise the NEO Stream's balanced line output. But let's start at the source. NEO Stream includes an OptiBox and the relevant cables to connect to the gigabit ethernet output from your router. Once done, iFi's OptiBox hooks up to NEO Stream and acts as an intermediary to completely block parasitic noise from your home's modem with its galvanic isolation. Files up to DSD512 and PCM 768Khz are transmitted this way without bandwidth limitation. The transfer of digital data between NEO Stream and your DAC is regulated by iFi's GMT femto-precision clock and intelligent memory buffer. GMT ensures your digital transmission between router, NEO Stream and DAC stays jitter-free, with designer Thorsten Loesch describing it to 6Moons as "intelligently and dynamically controlling the clock that drives the DAC chips and streams data from the memory buffer ... not a secondary PLL ... entirely new concept that completely blocks jitter". NEO Stream isn't a run-of-the-mill streamer then, but rather applies iFi's proprietary technology and techniques to stand apart from others. Excellent phase-noise performance and low-jitter are key when transmitting I2S over HDMI, with the bit, master and word clocks derived more accurately than ever. This is particularly important when using one of Signalyst HQPlayer's oversampling reconstruction filters with a Denafrips or Holo Audio NOS DAC, as timing accuracy becomes crucial, and even minor variances can have a significant impact. NEO Stream is reflective of iFi's drive never to settle, coming up with original solutions at the digital input and output that makes these newcomers to streamers appear like veterans, delivering results not yet seen before at this price, availability or common use. Also view iFi's other products here, or our other desktop devices here.

Mini in name, but mega in intention. Matrix Audio's Mini-I Pro 4 lands as a streaming DAC, pre-amp and 4.4mm headphone amp built upon the latest ES9039 chip. Yet its true headline act is the addition of a HDMI ARC input. Small in size and price-tag, it's Mini-I Pro 4's home-theatre ambitions that extend massively. Boost the sound from your smart TV and projector affordably with Matrix's dedicated HDMI ARC capability around back. That promise to raise sound quality to match the stunning visuals from today's flagship TVs isn't made lightly. Matrix leverage their close relationship with ESS Technology to build in the exciting ES9039Q2M DAC – a surprise at this price. Headfonia and Audiophile-Heaven have already placed Mini-I Pro 4 in their Halls of Fame. The patented Hyperstream pulse-width modulation technology from ESS is already a one-up on standard chip delta-sigma modulation, and now enters its fourth iteration with ES9039Q2M pushing nigh inaudible high-order distortion levels post-conversion further down. "Hitting a lot of key network streaming needs", Headfonics write "it won’t be a chokepoint in setting up a good home audio system offering both a pleasing technical performance and a beautiful design". [See Product Desc. For More] Little wonder, then, that listeners are rushing to get their music decoded by Mini-I Pro 4. Matrix make it easy. In addition to HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) for TVs, the usual streaming suspects of Gigabit Ethernet and 2.4/5Ghz Wi-Fi connectivity come standard in typical Matrix style. At the source Mini-I Pro 4 accepts audio data from any of its Ethernet or Wi-Fi inputs, putting its Roon Ready status at your disposal or its growing, diversifying Matrix MA Remote OS – most lately adding the HIGHRESAUDIO streaming service to Tidal and Qobuz. The freeware of your choice may be used too, with first-choices Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect and UPnP/DLNA augmented with Apple AirPlay 2. With a new, modern quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 CPU keeping things ticking over, Mini-I Pro 4 runs smoothly no matter how intensive streaming inputs get. Digital gets turned over to Matrix's FPGA running proprietary code that re-clocks and de-jitters the data stream, before feeding pristine I2S to Mini-I Pro 4's ES9039Q2M. Running on ESS' most advanced Hyperstream IV architecture, the futuristic stereo ES9039Q2M brings five new digital filters – many with low in-band ripple – to the party for new flavours to music reproduction. This DAC chip packs enough computational horsepower to run its 8x oversampling process in just two passes thus minimising rounding errors – an upgrade on other attempts that use a concatenation of three stacked 2x oversampling passes which compound errors. ES9039Q2M is an exercise in sonic purity, and outputs analog in current to a current-to-voltage I/V converter. That ensures small-signal is of highest quality to begin with, as conversion errors manifest as a DC offset that's easy to filter out – not more sinister total harmonic distortion. The voicing of Mini-I Pro 4 is thus under Matrix's full control with their tuning of said I/V stage, and grants up to 127 dB of signal-to-noise ratio. This final DAC analog product can be output via XLR or RCA on the rear to an AV receiver or downstream amplifier – or through a 4.4mm high output impedance headphone amplifier that will delight Sennheiser and ZMF Headphones owners. Because while you can choose to run Mini-I Pro 4 beyond arm's length using Roon Remote, the stock MA Remote software, and Tidal Connect, Matrix add a 3.46 inch LCD touch screen for anyone keen to take advantage of this DAC in a desktop setting. Double tap to wake the screen, and swipe left and right to access a myriad of features at the lift of a finger while listening to its balanced headphone amp that can output over 2 watts. With HDMI ARC one of so many ways to input music into Mini-I Pro 4, and an assortment of high-quality sonic outputs out, Matrix have a humbly-sized and priced winner on their hands that can accompany you on many a musical journey. Also view Matrix's flagships here, or all our other DAC/amps here.

Costs go down on T3-03, but quality stays up because Tago Studio just don't cut corners with sound. Their flagship wooden T3-01 headphone gets brought to a more affordable point with plastic earcups – in a move that enables many more yet to access studio-quality sound. But T3-03 isn't just a clone, with its own identity firmly established with new pleather earpads bringing voices to the fore of the experience. Still the deep bass and sparkly treble that so defined T3-03's elder sibling remains present, such that this entry-level offering is a wonderful gateway experiencing music at an extremely high quality. [See Product Desc. For More] T3-03's driver is capable for moving the copious amount of air required to reproduce a deep, rumbling and impactful sub-bass. And shallow earpads push vocals and mid-range instruments right to the fore, for perfect clarity. It continues to move as a piston, without cone or modal break-up, even as frequencies rise owing to its humble proportions.  Tago Studio's resulting lack of distortion is audible, and as key to content creators accurately judging what's on their tracks as you enjoying the tunes they make for your enjoyment – as the artist intended. That's further helped by T3-03's voice coil kept thin and light by a 70ohm impedance. Inertia is low and Tago's driver reacts instantly to the smallest voltage impulses. Indeed, it's a 70ohm load that's simultaneously easy to drive for any partnering amplifier, such that a studio console, mixer or tube amplifier with varying output impedance mates comfortably with suitable damping factor. Apart from frequency response being less prone to variation from impedance mismatch, T3-03's easy load means many modern bridge-tied load outputs on music players won't grind their gears pushing into inordinately low impedances – small power supplies and output stages producing less in the way of distortion and noise as a result. T3-03 will make for a happy result running from iBasso Audio's DC07 Pro and DX180, but high output impedance, imperfect voltage sources from FiiO and Shanling will not be tested untowardly either – music players from the latter both having enough mettle to push Tago very satisfactorily.  Clearly, there are infinite ways to enjoy the Tago Studio exciting accuracy, with infinite satisfaction following in the studio, at home or on the go. Check out the rest of Japan's best studio releases here, or view our other headphones here.

You've been brought to believe earphones can sound larger than they really are. And Tago Studio actually deliver on such a claim, with T3-02. This hybrid wood-metal construction IEM manages to entertain with its accuracy – a truly fine line to walk in Head-Fi. Tuned in reference to Tago's T3-01 headphone, T3-02's 10mm driver plumbs the deepest bass with a sense of mid-range space and treble sparkle that hint at IEMs many times more expensive. T3-02 is an earphone that studio pros and content creators are meant to trust ... and so, therefore, should you. [See Product Desc. For More] It's that delightful emphasis at the frequency extremes that makes T3-02 particularly exciting news and listening for audiophiles. But that U-shaped approach also morphs to a flat line at quieter listening, granting the impression of exciting accuracy and neutrality. Indeed, Tago Studio exploit the Fletcher-Munson effect to good effect here, compensating where bass and treble extremes fall off at low volumes with T3-02's loudness contour. Quiet listening won't hinder professionals from experiencing a flat frequency response. Nor will it stunt the natural dynamic movements inherent to your precious music – T3-02 is just adept at reproducing smaller details. And when you turn the music up, Tago Studio built in a driver and acoustics that keeps every note and imaging cue tidily arranged, befitting the recording when sonics are brought to SPL life. Ignore T3-02's entry price. Its driver excursion is responsible for moving the copious amount of air required to reproduce a deep, rumbling and impactful sub-bass.  Expert implementation involves Tago building the driver and acoustic cavity separate from the rest of the IEM housing – the latter already overbuilt from natural maple and tough metal to dampen quality-adverse vibrations and protect from accidental drops. It's a proud symbol of unyielding Tago quality, regardless of price and size. T3-02's resulting lack of distortion is audible, and as key to content creators accurately judging what's on their tracks as you enjoying the tunes they make for your enjoyment – as the artist intended. This Tago IEM will make for a happy result running from any of our portable DAC/amps such as Cayin Audio's RU6 and RU7, HiBy Music's FC6, iBasso Audio's DC04 Pro plus Questyle Audio's M12. Clearly, there are infinite ways to enjoy Tago Studio's exciting accuracy, with infinite satisfaction following in the studio, at home or on the go. Check out the rest of Japan's best studio releases here, or view our other headphones here.

Nostalgia Audio are kings of rich musicality, and Camelot is their castle. Hugely ambitious when coming to power, the tri-brid Camelot's greatest conquest was taking 10 drivers and getting them to perform as one. Two dynamic drivers, four balanced armatures and four electrostatic tweeters are combined in a 3D-printed chamber and made to perform anything you behest. Camelot was the best IEM one of Headfonia tried in 2022. Its versatility is unparalleled because its rich tone – Nostalgia Audio's greatest strength – is apparent as it flatters anything it plays back.  It's clear to see how Nostalgia Audio came to become one of Hong Kong's greatest homegrown products, in a real breakthrough that will keep you enchanted throughout your time together. View Nostalgia Audio's other releases here, and our whole catalogue of IEMs here.

Championing the Nostalgia Audio line-up, the Tesseract is the latest flagship (2023) featuring 10 Balanced Armature drivers and 6 Sonion latest Electrostatic drivers. The Tesseract has 5-way crossover design, 2 BA for low, 2 BA for low-mid, 4 BA for mid, 2BA for high and 6 EST for ultra high frequencies. Low-Pass Labyrinth technology has been added into our Tesseract to enhance low frequencies performance.Nostalgia Audio pursued the full packaging for their flagship, housing a big soundstage with airy finesse that speaks of Nostalgia's idea of perfection.Recommended testing: Ibasso DC04Pro, Ibasso DC06.  

Divinus quickly became one of the most popular brands of eartips after the introduction of the Velvet range. These tips are aptly named because of the velvet feel to touch, and they are specially developed over a research period of three years. Most importantly and impressively, the Divinus tips are soft, delicate and dust-proof.

With Atrium, it's all possible. Atrium Closed follows closely in another advertisement of what the Atrium Damping System (ADS) can do for ZMF Headphones. Following on a year after the titular Atrium which opened up new possibilities for ZMF, Atrium Closed is a worthy sequel. This closed-back flagship promises isolation and arguably Head-Fi's biggest sub-bass response, yet still exhibits the huge soundstage that defines its open counterpart. This soundstage was a result of ADS granting ZMF tuning potential of Atrium Closed, in particular diffuse field control, through segmented airflow. Headfonics hails it as the complete headphone with "power and body on the low end ... for a closed-back it sounds spacious". It landed on Headfonia's Recommended Buys list. Zach Mehrbach diffuses the airflow on each side of Atrium Closed's 50mm biocellulose driver. With separate cavities around a diffuser within this ZMF's cup, an exciting, vast and unforgettable sound is achieved – all behind the isolation of closed earcups. [See Product Desc. For More] All this tuning potential in earcup acoustics extends to Atrium Closed's owners with new Caldera earpads the stock options. Their special fluted, tapered, horn-shaped design take on the form of acoustic amplifiers. Indeed, Atrium Closed won Part-Time Audiophile's Reviewers Choice award. Leather or suede directly contribute to which frequencies you choose to enhance, making Atrium Closed such a pleasure because ADS makes it so versatile. Atrium grants ZMF full control over a soundscape, with internal cavity design challenging the physical limits of linear full-range reproduction in closed-backs like never before. The latest acoustic design innovations show up audibly with Atrium Closed. That vast soundstage is granted by gradual diffusion through multi-weighted materials and zoned sonic diffusion behind and around Atrium Closed's driver. Acoustic dampers work closely together with driver mounting position for optimal diffusion effects, allowing ZMF to introduce greater perceived soundstage width and depth.  ADS is now complete with fluted, horn-like, Caldera pads – leather versions expressing a disposition to deep, impactful, pounding and immersive sub-bass; suede material, very reminiscent of how the Harman Curve dictates a mid-range should become emphasised.  Indeed, this frequency manipulation of the patented Atrium Damping perfectly illustrates how far up the R&D ladder ZMF have come. Starting with biocellulose, stiff and lightweight as a diaphragm material, this fibre also promises excellent damping. Biocellulose allows ZMF to keep the large 50mm driver under control at all times even as frequencies rise, averting any harsh intermodulation due to cone modal break-up. The Atrium system then works hand in hand with the driver, allowing ZMF to choose how little or much back-wave damping is needed from the negative impulses of the driver, which back waves they had to keep, and which they want to get rid of, for the optimal acoustic headphone system. An incredible amount of fine-tuning takes place selecting distances within the cup and damping material for optimal airflow, an ongoing process before ZMF deem each variant ready to release to the public. Atrium Closed brings everything ZMF owners have loved about their existing open-backed models into an isolated model. It adds a new dimension of sound that ramps up the technicalities, spatial reproduction and low-frequency engagement, while retaining the natural biocellulose mid-range timbre that audiophiles dream of. Also view the rest of ZMF's collection that built up to this moment here, or our other headphones here.