For the audiophile gaming or on the go, Sennheiser's HD620S closed-back headphones offer a sanctuary. Forget noisy environments – HD620S's deliver pristine sound that rivals open-back designs. Immerse yourself in rich details, dynamic audio, and Sennheiser's remarkably spacious soundstage, all without sacrificing isolation. Its sub-bass boost not only adds excitement, but benefits low-level listening, ensuring low-frequency extension even when listening soft.  "For a closed-back headphone in this price range, the spaciousness, airiness and openness are just remarkable" to Headfonia. Headfonics says it "thoroughly belongs in the same class as the HD600". "HD 620S will serve up audiophile-quality sound wherever you are" adds Forbes. HD620S's wide, open soundstage thanks to angled drivers, a rarity for closed-back headphones. Sennheiser's bass is present and powerful, yet remains well-balanced. Every detail shines through with ultra-low distortion across the frequency range. [See Product Desc. For More] Vocals are reproduced faithfully, intended to allow you to hone in on detail in that specific band. HD620S's driver delivers exceptional impulse response, ensuring the music attacks and decays with accuracy. The core of the HD620S is a custom-made 42mm driver, crafted in Sennheiser's cutting-edge facility in Tullamore, Ireland.  This driver builds on the smooth, effortless sound of the open-back 600 series, adding a touch of modern airiness for a balanced soundscape with clear highs and deep, detailed bass. Sennheiser's thin and light 150ohm aluminum voice coil delivers crisp transients and instrument decays, resulting in impactful dynamics throughout HD620S's entire frequency range – a win for audiophiles and gamers who crave rich sonic detail. The HD620S boasts a legendary design known for its exceptional comfort, a favourite among audiophiles, gamers, and streamers alike. Its metal accents are not just for aesthetics. The steel backplate effectively isolates sound, minimising internal reflections that can muddle your audio. Sennheiser's cleverly angled baffle promotes airflow, mimicking the behaviour of open-back headphones and recreating the expansive soundstage of a high-end speaker setup in a perfectly tuned room. HD620S's immersive experience places you right in the heart of the action, whether you're enjoying a rare live recording or an intense online multiplayer battle. The trade-off between open and closed-back headphones is a familiar one for audiophiles. Open-back designs offer a more natural sound and wider soundstage, but leak sound and provide little isolation. Closed-back headphones excel at blocking out external noise but often come at the cost of a more "boxy" sound. Use these with any portable source available – anything as small as iBasso Audio's DC03 Pro that swings voltage will drive the HD620S. Step up to the desk with iFi Audio's hip-dac 3 and ZEN DAC V3. And Sennheiser's 150ohms will even suit high output impedance and suspect voltage sources in the studio, providing an accurate response. HD620S represents a breakthrough, achieving the spacious soundstage desired by audiophiles without the drawbacks of typical closed-back headphones. Check out the rest of Sennheiser's releases here, or our other headphones here.

The best step up in iFi Audio's ladder exists as Zen DAC V3. Now sporting a USB-C data and power input that sees Head-Fi's favourite desktop entry-level 4.4mm DAC/amp compatible with every modern source, Zen DAC V3 can be used virtually everywhere.  Headfonia pays Zen DAC V3 a compliment by saying it stands out in 2025, while Headfonics echoes praise about its all-in-one capabilities. Audiophile-Heaven rate it too. Audio Taking power off a laptop was easy for iFi in the past, but it now works even more flexibly being powered by your portables in smartphones and tablets. [See Product Desc. For More] Take the featherweight Zen DAC V3 off its optional 5V external DC power supply in the morning and stuff it into your pouch to bring along with you ... for whenever you might need iFi's great, balanced 4.4mm sound in a rush.  You'll be set up in no time on whatever surface you choose to – or need to – listen on with Zen DAC V3. Convenience and fidelity from an actual analog potentiometer volume control means more power ... more power to you, the listener. Driving classics from Audio-Technica, Sony and Sennheiser right up to boutique ZMF Headphones whenever, whereever, is exactly what iFi had in mind. If you'd like an even smaller footprint and earphones are your daily drivers, then hip-dac 3 could also be the way to go here. Also check out iFi's other hits here, and all our other desktop DAC/amps here.

TrueX™ 3-Way Crossover  CORE™ and PHAT™ Technology  Hybrid BA + Custom Tuned DD Design Forged Carbon Composite Faceplates Anodized AL6061 Aluminium Shell Exclusive 25.5AWG Neptune in 4 Wire Configuration OE Interchangeable Plugs w/3.5mm and 4.4mm Heads Hand-Crafted in Singapore The Titan is Symphonium Audio's response to the question, "What Makes a Great Basshead IEM?". Crafted to deliver a thrilling, rumbling bass experience without compromising clarity in the treble, Titan boasts a smooth sound signature with an assertive, enveloping bass presence. With its powerful subbass, Titan delivers impactful lows that elevate tracks to new heights.But Titan isn't just about bass; it's about achieving a perfect balance across the entire frequency spectrum. Titan maintains accurate mids and highs without overly emphasizing either to compensate for the bass quantity. The result is a sound signature that is smooth, immersive, and undeniably addictive.

The winning combination. The Combine from Nobunaga Labs is a first, basic hybrid cable mixing pure copper and silver straight-up.  Beyond the materials, this Nobunaga entry cable really sits at a sweet spot as it combines the V-shaped natures of its Inspire and Supreme siblings.  Without being as over-bearing as Inspire's energetic and zealous emphasis, Nobunaga invite you to bask in the gentle benefits this bargain yields with your IEMs. Combine's sweetness and sophistication never become as diffuse as Supreme though, allowing it to occupy its own special place in Nobunaga's line perfectly. Apply its traits to IEMs that perhaps risk being too strident in the upper-midrange with vocals or guitars. Combine will immediately yield more space, blackness of background and perceived dynamic range.  Apply Nobunaga's latest cost-effective star to IEMs many more times its price, indeed. Also explore their vast myriad of other sound signatures here, or check out our other cables here.

Acoustune's gold standard now lies in the pure silver ACT47 module found aboard its HS2000 MKIII flagship. This single-dynamic driver marvel pushes the boundaries of Myrinx technology, the brand's renowned driver material. Paired with a silver ACT47 chamber and ARX500 cable, the HS2000 MKIII delivers unmatched sonic performance. A decade ago, Acoustune stunned the audio world with Myrinx, a revolutionary driver material. The HS2000 MKIII showcases its pinnacle: a diaphragm made from medical-grade polymer biomaterial, topped with a Japanese-made beryllium thin film dome. The pure silver ACT47 chamber meticulously extends high frequencies, creating an even richer soundscape. [See Product Desc. For More] Completing the audio symphony is the meticulously designed ARX500 cable. This 8-core hybrid masterpiece blends silver-coated OFC and ultra-fine OFC wires, meticulously enhanced by Pentaconn Ear connectors. High-precision metal components throughout the cable ensure sonic harmony and a touch of luxury. This revolutionary earphone breaks new ground with its cutting-edge technologies and materials. Acoustune's unique combination, previously impossible due to production challenges, offers smooth, linear sound reproduction with rich, controlled bass. The highly rigid metal dome eliminates unwanted resonance, ensuring precision that rivals a perfectly synced orchestra. The HS2000 MKIII's innovative housing allows effortless switching of the included ACT47 chamber with future options, upgrades and compatible legacy chambers. Discover how its technology trickles down into the rest of Acoustune's range here, or view our other IEMs here. 

A pair of peaks in just the right places. PW Audio's Athena is on the warpath against boredom, injecting just the right amount of upper-mid spice to give sizzle to an otherwise neutral presentation. Those with IEMs packing big stages and wanting a little more involvement will rally around PW Audio's new Goddess of War. Athena – a limited-edition release – promises to keep things accurate but never strays into becoming too safe. An energetic and direct-sounding PW Audio offering that also injects a small bump in the bass, Athena owes its sound to its new copper construction. Part of PW Audio's Vanquish series, Athena adopted the construction principles of the seven-section tube series, but now features a specially treated alloy. Within the wire, seven cores are intricately twisted to enhance the speed of information transmission compared to straight wires, resulting in reduced signal loss. Athena's conductors undergo deoxidisation and compression, compressing the core to a diameter of 0.9mm or less. PW Audio's compression significantly diminishes the crystalline cross-section, nearly eliminating it. This, in turn, elevates the current transfer rate, and by tightening the twisted pattern, it further enhances transmission speed, sound clarity, and minimises noise. Check out the rest of PW Audio's builds here, and all our other cables here. 

--- SOLD! --- HiBy Music get better and better with every release. And so is the case with Yvain, their new entry-level earphone that exceeds expectations by being technologically innovative. "The HiBy Yvain is a meticulously crafted IEM that delivers a balanced and engaging sonic experience" says MOONSTAR Reviews. Boasting the heart of a lion and equipped with four balanced armatures, Yvain doesn't operate these in the conventional manner. Two of these drivers are tasked with delivering the complete frequency spectrum. Specifically designed to harmonise with Yvain's dedicated bass woofers and treble tweeters, these two balanced armatures are strategically positioned. HiBy employs an all-pass filter for these dual full-range drivers, enhancing their support at Yvain's crossover points.  Irrespective of the crossover slope's steepness, the phase is preserved thanks to the consistent frequency response of the unifying balanced armatures. Yvain's tandem balanced armatures act as a pivotal element, seamlessly connecting the entire audio presentation and facilitating precise time alignment. Check out how HiBy's thinking outside of the box translate to their music player releases here, or view our other IEMs here.

The success of a proof of concept is determined by how long an idea can endure and evolve over time – and iFi Audio's USB-C, battery-powered hip-dac 3 excels in both aspects, marking the third iteration in a long line of portable 4.4mm DAC/amps. 5 ⭐ followed from What Hi-Fi?. Headfonics say hip-dac 3 is the best iteration yet. It went right onto Headfonia's Recommended Buys list. It's top rated on Hifi Pig as well as Audiophile-Heaven, and ichos-reviews praised its timbre. As we move into 2023 and the modern age, the hip-dac 3 introduces USB-C digital input, making it compatible with various phones and cables, offering even greater flexibility for connecting to Apple iPhones, Android devices, tablets, and laptops. [See Product Desc. For More] With its hip-flask size, the hip-dac 3 seamlessly integrates with your devices without compromising its portable sound quality. Its onboard battery not only preserves your source device's power but also ensures a clean and quiet power supply that robustly supports the hip-dac 3's amplifier. Furthermore, iFi's analog volume control consistently maintains a superior signal-to-noise ratio at all listening levels, surpassing conventional digital controls.  The third evolution of iFi's portable powerhouse also reaches a new peak in parts quality. It now incorporates new metal film resistors in the analog stage, and the decoding process, powered by a trademark Burr-Brown DAC, achieves even greater precision thanks to a new low phase noise crystal oscillator. Indeed, hip-dac 3 provides a remarkable taste of high-end audio. Explore the rest of iFi's innovations here, or browse our collection of DACs and amplifiers for more options here.

There's nothing like Enleum's HPA-23RM on the market. As if being one of the only current-source headphone amplifiers on the market isn't enough, HPA-23RM also operates without negative feedback and features a relay-based variable gain volume control in a portable, battery-powered package. Chae Soo-in was never one to design something to please every member of the masses, but the HPA-23RM is possibly the closest he's come to doing so for Head-Fi.  Soundnews handed it their unequivocal Gold Award. "Compaction without sonic degradation is really hard work" said 6Moons but Enleum aced it! Headphone Guru says it packs serious punch driving Susvara. Part-Time Audiophile give it their "highest recommendation" as a Reviewers Choice. The Ear says it's "in a league of its own". hear.audio feels they are well worth their premiums. Enleum's current-source technology infuses musical notes and textures with microdynamic zeal and a charged portrayal, associated with the finest Class A designs. It offers ample extension at the frequency extremes and, at the macrodynamic level, delivers scale and stage. Flat impedance headphones such as HiFiMANs, HEDD Audio's Heddphone 2, the ZMF Headphones Caldera and Final Audio's D7000 will thank Enleum. HPA-23RM is the first resurgence of a current-source amplifier since the days Bakoon International rebranded as Enleum. [See Product Desc. For More] And in addition to the HPA-23RM's current-source output, Chae has designed a completely separate circuit and output that functions as the kind of voltage source found in 99 per cent of other amps, intended for use with your Focals, Fostexs and earphones. In this portable Enleum are therefore two entirely different headphone outputs that allow you to mix and match between what sounds best with your transducers, and act as an empowerer for all your flagship sources. 3.5mm or RCA line-in from any of Cayin Audio's N7 and HiBy Music's RS6 or RS8, for fireworks at your desktop or on your travels. But if you are familiar with Enleum and Bakoon, you'll immediately gravitate toward its specialised trademark: the current-source output on 1/4". While there may be temptations to draw quick and easy comparisons to current-mode amplification found in products like Mass-Kobo and Questyle Audio, Enleum's current-source amplification is entirely unique and mutually contradictory. Working in a way that keeps output current levels constant at all times, even as impedance and voltage fluctuate, the HPA-23RM aims to address a perennial problem – that headphones and earphones induce distortion in amplifiers because they are not simple resistive loads, but rather have complex, frequency-dependent, inductive and capacitive components. However, with the HPA-23RM aiming to eliminate distortion by driving headphones as a constant current source, you experience much greater linearity, hearing an output that faithfully reproduces what was received at the source: the input. Reduction in the effects of backward electromotive force from headphone drivers results in a cleaner sound. With greater linearity and a more accurate final product, negative feedback, typically employed to correct glaring errors, can be eliminated in the HPA-23RM. Enleum's circuit transmits the signal faster and can be kept simpler with far less transient intermodulation distortion arising from feedback. Single-ended operation emphasises even-order harmonics over odd ones, granting a natural portrayal of music that never once sounds artificial. Enleum's JET2 sliding bias scheme intelligently monitors the operating conditions of the discrete devices that make up HPA-23RM's circuit/s, ensuring that transistors operate linearly biased against their current sources in single-ended operation, without generating excessive heat from full Class A. This is a thoughtful addition for a portable product. Listeners can enjoy these innovations with both the current-source and 3.5mm voltage-source outputs on the HPA-23RM. If you aren't into art nouveau and aren't ready to embrace Enleum's current-source output, stick with the conventional voltage-source output that has defined gain amplifiers for nearly all of history. Your ears would certainly benefit from experimenting with either circuit, each completely separate from the other. Some of your gear would certainly thank you, especially those that gravitate towards the low output impedance typical of a voltage source, like Focal's Utopia and IEMs. These transducers also particularly crave a low noise floor. HPA-23RM's precise relay-based discrete resistor volume control provides just that – but not in the way you think. Rather than attenuating signal levels, it's a variable gain volume control that leaves the fragile input signal untouched. Instead, it changes the total amount of gain that's applied to the signal, with only the necessary amount used and never incurring the consequence of detrimental noise from an excess. Variable gain is possible only because HPA-23RM is a zero-feedback design. Enleum's volume control is ideal for preserving the signal-to-noise ratio and the true dynamic range of your music. And a fully-regulated 18650 battery power supply, operating at 1.2MHz, similarly ensures a quiet performance. HPA-23RM is thus a tour de force that demonstrates how mature Enleum has become, offering users abundant choices between two completely different circuits in one chassis – each on par with the other in terms of quality, with only synergy defining your final choice. Look up all of Enleum's gear here, or view our other amplifiers here.

Madoo Type 821

Please contact us for other terminations.

It had to be Cayin. From those who gave Head-Fi the first Android-based R2R DAP, and the first similar discrete resistor DAC/amp dongle, comes N7. This all-to-DSD flagship music player is a fitting celebration of Cayin Audio's 30th anniversary. Built of 128 individual resistors and original DSP work carried on a FPGA, the fully-balanced, differential, 1-bit discrete DAC in N7 is proprietary Cayin through and through. It's "the kind of DAP that invigorates your listening experience with headgear that perhaps over time you have gotten a bit blasé about" praised Headfonics. "Cayin is putting the bar very high for themselves and the competition" added Headfonia. Twister6 wrote home about N7 after he adopted it as his daily driver for "flagship-level performance". It's a flagship bargain to eCoustics. ichos-reviews envies "the lucky owner with many hours of pure musical bliss". Cayin doesn't differentiate between CD rips, Hi-Res downloads and Spotify, Tidal or Apple Music streaming. The Android 12, Google Play Store N7 converts all your normal PCM playback into DSD.  All formats are then passed as DSD through N7's precise 1-bit decode, before signal flows on to a balanced 4.4mm discrete transistor headphone amplifier biased into Class A. [See Product Desc. For More] Caiyin's latest innovation combines the best of digital and analog technology to emerge totally unique and apart from an increasingly mature market. N7's corporeal, physical and tangible sound is unmatched by any other DAP. N7 doesn't just sound surprisingly non-digital: it's utterly realistic and true to life. Natural and chock full of resolution, Cayin's landmark release stands apart by presenting music in a spectacular yet totally even-handed way bottom to top. Cayin returns to Sony's Scarlet Book SACD revolution of the 1990s and elevates that conversion philosophy with modern hardware plus a proprietary DSP trick or two. N7's highlight is its 1-bit decoder, drawing inspiration from the Philips and Marantz DSD DACs of yore. N7 converts all PCM files to octo-rate DSD first via DSP logic, while letting native DSD material flow on to the 128 discrete resistors in its fully-balanced DAC – in actuality a simple analog low-pass filter. There's zero error at the point of conversion in a 1-bit DAC. There, Cayin relies on Pulse-Density Modulation (PDM)'s total accuracy, and sheer ease of decoding. The pitch for DSD's 1-bit conversion is digital at its simplest and closest point to analog – level represented only either as a 1 or a 0, switching on or off. To achieve analog, the bitstream is simply low-pass filtered. Cayin's all-to-DSD discrete DAC is accurate ... and also elegant, breakthrough and historic in personal audio. It draws inspiration from the illustrious halls of Hi-Fi, where each EMM Labs, Nagra Audio, Playback Designs and PS Audio 1-bit DAC release has been greeted with accolades and fanfare. N7's discrete proprietary tech immediately differentiates itself from commercial DAC chips, where IC packages are often too small to perform an ideal 1-bit conversion. N7 also avoids the errors of dynamic element matching inherent to 2-7 bit delta-sigma decoders. The delicate analog voltage waveform painstakingly decoded from DSD in N7 is precious. Cayin's R&D, invested building their own DAC, pays off as the fragile small-signal goes on to be handled by a similar discrete bipolar transistor gain stage. This design is more than up to the task of preserving the signal – mere op-amp ICs need not apply. Instead of wasting their DAC development efforts by entrusting the analog job to commercial ICs, Cayin's labour of love continued into its discrete, differential, analog stage for common-mode rejection. N7's driver section counts on all the benefits that come with a discrete bipolar design – low voltage noise, low open-loop gain and the resultantly lower negative feedback necessary, high slew rates and unity gain stability. This accurate linearity means that whatever entered N7's DAC as digital, comes out exactly the same in analog. There's a reason N7 portrays elements within the soundstage with such solidity, the aural images it generates so convincingly rendered – its small signal post-conversion is of the highest quality, and inherently stable without going into oscillation caused by too much gain product. The utmost attention is paid throughout. The results of which can be fed out as a line or pre-amp voltage to a downstream amp such as Cayin's C9ii and iBasso Audio's PB5 tube/solid-state hybrid portable amplifier. The decoded analog goes through a four-channel analog volume control before reaching the Class A discrete output amp, facilitating that very special 1-bit discrete DSD decode and importantly preserving your music's true dynamic range resolution. N7's high rails see operating voltages for its power section rise above 10 volts, the linearity of discrete transistors assured as a result. Cayin's discrete headphone amplifier can be operated in Class AB or an optimal Class A, for sonic tweaking with your favourite earphones and headphones.  Differentiating itself from even other flagships that cling to op-amp layouts seeking THX-certification but with inordinate amounts of gain and feedforward/feedback, Cayin's linearity remains excellent already in the open-loop, owing to its high operating voltages and bias. Those ensure individual transistors are working in optimum condition. Distortion and noise are kept low, without resorting to the excessive use of negative feedback. Cayin designed a true-balanced differential amplifier to further improve N7's linearity, and you can count on common-mode rejection at its best whenever you plug in via 4.4mm preserving its resolution. It's an output stage that's direct-coupled to improve low-frequency performance, and N7 audibly plumbs the lowest bass depths. With the extension down low, phase reproduction in the audible human hearing range for taut, hard-hitting and life-like dynamics is excellent. At the tip of the power stage's spear, unconventionally large 5 ampere output transistors ensure excellent current-handling for good reason, to reap the full benefit of N7's separately regulated power supplies for analog and digital sections. Capable of following the impedances of the Empire Ears Raven, Odin and Legend Evo down low, Cayin's 30-year tradition building amplifiers that provide actual power as proper voltage sources into halving resistances continues with N7. You'll want to exploit all of N7's technical feats by getting as much of your music aboard. So Cayin built in the futuristic Snapdragon 665 SOC and 4GB of RAM to run Android 12 perfectly. A 9,000mAh battery supplies up to 10 hours of use. Stream 16X Tidal MQA and full Hi-Res Lossless Apple Music at full bit and sample rates with Cayin's Direct Transport Audio OS that bypasses detrimental Android sample-rate conversion. And voilà: there ends the list of exploits as long as Cayin's illustrious history that the discrete 1-bit DSD decoding, Class A N7 brings to market – ready to take on the next 10 years. Also look how Cayin intend to define a new era via their entire catalogue here, or view our other music players here.

The AT2020USB-X is a reimagining of the popular AT2020USB+ microphone. The AT2020USB-X was specially designed to meet the needs of content creators, making it the best microphone for streaming, podcasting, recording music, gaming and video recording. This Audio-Technica microphone offers the critically acclaimed, award-winning sound of the original AT2020 with the convenience of a plug-and-play USB-C operation with a custom desk stand.// FEATURES- Smooth, extended frequency response ideally suited for podcasting, home studio recording, field recording, voiceover, and on-stage use- Built-in headphone jack allows you to directly monitor from your microphone- Soft-touch capacitive mute button on body to quickly and silently mute audio at the microphone- High-resolution AD convertor with 24-Bit/96 kHz sampling rate for extremely clear, natural sound reproduction.- The two-state LED indicator ring lights blue when powered and lights red when muted- Directional pickup minimizes background noise- Accessories Included: Custom desk stand, USB-C to USB-A cable with USB-A to USB-C adapter.// IN THE BOX- AT2020USB-X Microphone- Desktop stand (AT8702)- 3/8"-16 to 5/8"-27 threaded adapter- USB cable (2.0 m (6.6'), USB Type-C - USB Type-A)- USB conversion adapter (USB-Type-A to USB Type-C)

A new decade demands a new Utopia. Focal's 2022 flagship reinvents itself six years after its inception, bringing to bear a new pure beryllium dynamic driver to lead the way forward again. Utopia 2022's famous 40mm M-shaped beryllium dome is coupled to the most open honeycomb grille acoustic enclosure seen yet on a Focal headphone for greater bass authority, a richer mid-range, and spacious presentation. “They are a true reference component worthy of the finest system" to The Absolute Sound. Headfonics say it's "truly worthy of being called a high-end flagship". 5 ⭐ from What Hi-Fi? was a given. Headphonesty "can offer no higher praise". Focal take home an eCoustics trophy for France. Utopia 2022 is a "slam dunk" for Part-Time Audiophile who make it a Reviewers Choice. Ultimate resolution and dynamics show up as minimum expectations again. But the sense of headstage and space Utopia 2022 gains is something to behold – even at the summit of this golden age in personal audio. Focal therefore decisively carve another place of prominence at the top of Head-Fi again. 2022 extends the legacy of Utopia with another truly legendary in line, mixing the best of the old with the promise of the new. [See Product Desc. For More] Clear MG first gave us a taste of the gains an ultra-open Focal earcup could yield. Listeners imagined what such a new frame might be capable of were Utopia's original beryllium driver mounted. Now, Utopia 2022 tangibly shows up the answer to our dreams – wilder than we dared hope – comprehensively exceeding any preconception or expectation we held. Headphone Guru writes "Utopia 2022 is a significant upgrade". Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity call this the one to rule them all. "They are truly magical" to TechHive. Audioholics cites an evolved tuning compared to its Utopia predecessor from 2016 and praised this version of perfection. SoundStage! praised a flawless portrayal of the frequencies that matter. Focal don't know how to build a better dynamic driver than out of signature pure beryllium, and their choice is vindicated. Utopia's beryllium driver is built as a trademark M-shaped dome for great structural rigidity, perfect for rendering the lowest, deepest bass.  Beryllium's hardness also yields excellent air acceleration properties and Utopia propels micro-dynamics with an uncanny realism that leaves listeners in spellbound disbelief. A drastically more open honeycomb grille encourages airflow in tandem, for expanded macro-dynamics. Contrary to many other metals, beryllium is both rigid yet extremely self-damped. Utopia's 40mm diameter is small enough to climb up in frequency without cone or modal break-up, always moving as a perfect piston. Distortion is therefore amazingly low at all frequencies. A micron-thick suspension allows massive, linear driver excursion for rendition of bass waves. Focal's new acoustically open frame supplies plenty of air volume for Utopia to plumb deeper than before. A copper-aluminium alloy former-less voice coil is suspended in the air gap of Utopia's magnet array capable of nearly two tesla. The copper element shorts inductance in the voice coil, maintaining a flatter impedance through the frequency range. And while one of the benefits of aluminium is suppressing eddy currents in the magnetic flux, another is in high reliability.  Focal certainly designed Utopia for ultimate performance – and long-term reliability while pushing the limits of personal audio. It'll rule over your collection of flagships for years to come. Future-proofing also happens in performance, with Utopia 2022's ceiling pushing much higher than its predecessor. Proof is how Focal's latest brainchild scales ever better with the myriad of the very best headphone sources now. Listening via the dCS Data Conversion Systems Lina is otherworldly. While Cayin Audio's HA-300B MK. II and Feliks Audio's Envy cannot but entice tube advocates. An excellent three-metre 4-pin XLR stock cable comes packaged. But the 4.4mm upgrade via PlusSound's X6 and X8 will entice with opportunities abounding for use with Cayin Audio's C9ii, HiBy Music's FD5, R8II and RS8, or iBasso Audio's D16 and PB5. Cabling in Singapore silver is also achieved by Twilight from Ares Audio.  At the end of the day, enough reading – time to start experiencing the new heights of Head-Fi that Utopia 2022 heralds. Certainly work your way up to this moment by browsing the rest of Focal's difference-makers here, or our other headphones here.

PlusSound's six-core X6 is here as the affordable flagship braid for your IEMs and headphones. Proof that the ultimate signal path can both be abundant in conductor surface area and still malleable, draping beautifully, PlusSound's X6 is there to demonstrate your best transducers can still benefit from these special geometry cables proudly made in the USA. The extra cross-sectional area of X6 means gains on this PlusSound are audible – an immediately better conduit for detail to flow compared to normal four-wire braids. Greater grunt is apparent in the low-end with a beautiful mid-range and treble delicacy to boot, never tipping over the finely-judged tonal balances of ZMF Headphones. [See Product Desc. For More] X6 adds two additional wires onto PlusSound's Exo series to create an exotic six-wire cable with custom designed UPOCC strands protected by durable and flexible polyethylene outer insulation. These are braided to provide better quality sound, while reducing low range and interference noises. Type 6 Litz wires will prevent electrical anomalies such as skin effect and proximity effect. In addition, PlusSound prevent oxidation by applying a special enamel coating to individually insulate every strand, for long-lasting sound quality and appearance. The multiple proprietary dampening cores function to reduce vibration – keeping conductivity constant throughout for the best quality sound. All wires are cryogenically treated to strengthen the structure of the wires for maximum durability and performance. PlusSound construct X6 with the highest quality components make this the very best performing and quality interchangeable cable on the market. To hear what else they're capable of, check out PlusSound's other builds here, or view all our other cables here. 

If there was one headphone that could give you a helping of the entire HIFIMAN experience, it would be Sundara. It's the quintessential HIFIMAN experience, on top of being one of the most important planar-magnetic headphones to surface in the last decade. Sundara's significance has been cemented thanks to its two-micron thick diaphragm, for excellent accuracy in the mids and treble. [See Product Desc. For More] Christened NEO supernano Diaphragm by HIFIMAN, Sundara promises bass that extends flat downwards – a customary planar-magnetic benefit, even at this price.  Reducing driver mass also allows HIFIMAN to produce lightning-quick reaction times and transients higher in frequency, aiding reproduction of detail and soundstage cues. Sundara's distortion is always kept low under the control of HIFIMAN's magnet array, making this a versatile reference listen that could be all you ever need. MOONSTAR Reviews hailed it for its "natural, detailed and spacious presentation" at its price. SoundGuys gave it their Editors Choice award. See that Sundara's properly driven by Questyle Audio's M12 and CMA18P current-mode amplifiers; the latter together with iBasso Audio's 4.4mm CB17. Or, view our other offerings from HIFIMAN here, and our other headphones here.

KITO EarpadsWe recommend changing your earpads yearly for hygiene reasons.+ Black+ Protein Leather+ Fits the SONY WH-1000XM3// Check out the full range of KITO Earpads here.

No. 10 is OCC copper, but PW Audio have managed to inject a silver-like level of upper frequency energy and detail in this build. Such differentiation to No. 5 is appreciated, because here is a cable that alternates perfectly with its sibling in PW's line. No. 10's greater detail isn't achieved at the expense of the smooth, toe-tapping addictiveness that defines Peter Wong's creations. Vocals still remain sweet, and bass goes deep serving as a foundation for its open, soaring highs. See what you can further achieve with actual silver with Silver Liars, or view the rest of our PW Audio cables here, and our other cables here.

This is the endgame. First TimeS cements PW Audio Founder Peter Wong's unofficial title as Copper Magician. After researching a new type of copper for nine months, First TimeS was born. Released as the pinnacle of what audio's longest-standing conductor can achieve, the notion of First TimeS is undisputedly romantic. When was the last time you were impressed by your music. Nay, when was the last time you were impressed by a copper cable – First TimeS is here to be the last-time endgame, the fit-all copper cable flagship that elevates every listening experience. Liquid midranges and effortless bass extension are a given. Transients and dynamics are reproduced with a deft touch, with instruments and vocals presented 3D as if you were there immersed, Live. The realism and effortlessness from First TimeS has to be heard to be believed. Twister6 lauded its "high level of micro-detail retrieval, noticeable improvement in the perception of soundstage width and 3D imaging". A conclusion you'll similarly come to, listening to First TimeS with your favourite Empire Ears Odin flagship. Also view the rest of our PW Audio cables here, or our other cables here.

Adding scale and stage to Feliks Audio's impressive Echo II is Elise. Tube character abounds but never enough to take away the life-like realism of actual music in this OTL amplifier in single-ended triode format, based on the 6SN7 driver stalwart. You'll struggle to dispute Elise's quality at portraying an orchestral piece of work, or its magic synergy with Audio-Technica, Sennheiser or ZMF Headphones. Give it one listen, or many. Rarely will a single piece of gear fit as many sources, genres or set-ups. [See Product Desc. For More] Its mids are liquid and forward, great to address any flaws still present in your flagship cans. Warm, natural and wholesome even harmonic sound dominates – a direct result of Elise's single-ended Class A topology. The holy grail of all bias schemes isn't undertaken lightly, and new current sources ensure Feliks Audio's classic single-ended triode amplifier runs stably fully biased at all output levels. This is a decidedly low-distortion affair in an inherently linear amplifier given high tube operating voltages and current. Transconductance increasing with bias current is optimal. And while tube imaging, emotiveness and liquidity is de facto, Elise always sounds natural and fully transparent. Indeed, despite its mid-range vivacity, a massive audio bandwidth is guaranteed given its output transformer-less OTL construction. Literally nothing separates you from your music. Pairs of 6SN7 and NOS 6N13S tubes power your headphones directly, without any chunk of iron in the signal path.  Elise champions frequency extension – the fast, deep bass and airy, open highs from the best OTL associations to perfect phase reproduction and respectable damping factor – therefore. Long tube operating lifespans come courtesy of improved thermal management and more efficient passive cooling driving up to 60 per cent lower operating temperatures in the incumbant, versus its predecessor. Really, it's never only about the parts, and Elise is further proof boasting a new tube cathode heater and power supply design derived from the flagship Euforia. Great design nous gives a premium, Polish-built amplifier the platform to perform quietly and transparently.  Whether you go up or down, you'll be served browsing the rest of Feliks Audio's offerings here, or all our other DAC & amp options here.

Final Audio launched E4000 with no particular sound ranges emphasised. This, together with Final's commitment to detailed sound expression, results in realistic sound that sounds as if it were being played right in front of you. Compared to E2000 and E3000, a purer, subtler sound was achieved in which tones were more naturally blended together with a believable sense of warmth. Find the rest of Final's Audio's extensive range here, or shop our other IEMs here.

The hybrid formula has been repeated over and over, so it's remarkable how Oriolus blazed the trail they did with the Traillii JP. This 12-driver, electrostatic and balanced armature UIEM commands the statement, flagship, segment. Transparency is easy to achieve this day, but Traillii JP delivers a whole other X-factor – enough to make the niche its own. A whole, out-of-head, experience awaits. The air, separation and soundstage belies the physics of an IEM. Traillii JP delivers sound that appears as if it's coming beyond the confines of its shell. [See Product Desc. For More] Perhaps it's apt that Oriolus is inspired by the avian maroon oriole species. Traillii JP's sound is free as a bird, in the most acoustically transparent presentation known in Head-Fi – more so than even fabled electrostatic earspeakers, in which the cup enclosure can still be heard, if ever so subtly. Traillii JP breaks boundaries, and the four electrostatic tweeters have something to do with it. Supported by a 21ohm crossover that will work off anything, excellent SPL is derived from the comparatively insensitive Sonion ESTs. That promises abundant treble quantity, and beyond, quality. The ESTs supply a treble presence that is ever-so-sweet, immersing you within the soundscape. Imaging is as you'd expect, with PW Audio 1960 4W cabling bringing you the cable maker's famed soundstage and image precision. It's a theatre effect unheard in IEMs, and Traillii JP's rumbling sub-bass does nothing to hurt that out-of-head presentation. Subtle impact and rumble is judged in the perfect quantity, and the most intricate bore design ensures the crossover delivers all frequencies to your ears in perfect phase and harmony. Cohesiveness is Traillii JP's strongest suit, and it has to be heard to be believed. Once exposed, you'll never go back, and you'll never tire of it either – Headfonics attested it "really shocked me for a long while, and soon became my favourite IEM". About Audio lauded its gigantic staging and endgame performance. Twister6 were drawn to Traillii JP's "quad-EST highs [that] are very natural and still airy and resolving ... on top of that you get a big holographic soundstage", but over time couldn't help but refer to the performance of this status symbol as a whole, the sum of its 12 drivers bass to treble. Please write to crew@zeppelinandco.com for enquiries on pricing and design in South-East Asia. Zeppelin & Co. is an authorised regional dealer of Oriolus Japan, and recognised for all your support needs. Also browse the other IEMs from Oriolus Japan here, or our other earphones here.

Made to order, Lead time 2-3 weeks from order.

Benchmark have furthered their long line of Digital-to-Analog Converters with the DAC3. Stereophile commented that DAC3 was evidence that "science works". Enough, clearly, for this bargain in high-end audio to take the magazine's Product of the Year 2018. That elevates this pro audio powerhouse further in the minds of home Hi-Fi enthusiasts, and it's no surprise that Benchmark's sonic transparency and muscular, dynamic plus honest delivery fit any genre of music thrown at it. Five ⭐ came easily from What Hi-Fi?. [See Product Desc. For More] The Absolute Sound praise DAC3 in full-system context alongside the HPA4 and LA4 line controls. Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity used an entire system alongside the AHB2 power amp to declare "Benchmark provides a textbook case of how good (read: superb) things can come in small packages".  You'll also be able to see everything from Benchmark here and all our other DAC & amp options here.

Bringing THX-patented AAA technology to headphone amplification, Benchmark released their HPA4 as a statement product to take the personal audio world by storm. Personal audio enthusiasts have been able to count upon household name Benchmark's engineering prowess, says AudioScienceReview. It's an approach to engineering The Ear note can be heard in their listening. [See Product Desc. For More] A 256-step relay volume control additionally brings one of the market's most sophisticated line stages to headphone enthusiasts. Stereophile's Herb Reichert thanks this statement piece for helping "this old triode-tube lover to first acknowledge, then accept, and finally enjoy a new type of engagement, one that satisfied my engineering mind and my audiophile lust to look and listen into the hidden nooks and distant corners of every recording". The Absolute Sound praise HPA4 in full-system context alongside Benchmark's DAC3. Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity used an entire system with the AHB2 power amp to declare "Benchmark provides a textbook case of how good (read: superb) things can come in small packages".  Write to us about a demo in your own stereo set-up at home, or view the pre-amp-only version of HPA4, the LA4, here. You'll also be able to see everything from Benchmark here and all our other DAC & amp options here.

~1 week turnaround time, check with us for a more exact quote