A classic evolved: Sennheiser's HD650 rolled out six years after its predecessor, the HD600, and went on to earn its own cult status.  The new millenium saw a rise in genres of electronic music and Sennheiser scored in its response with this warmer, bassier cousin to the HD600. This became one of the most important models in Head-Fi ever to have been released, justifying its place in the headphone history books. [See Product Desc. For More] Innerfidelity's Tyll Hertsens brings the social studies for one of the hobby's most important headphones. Check out the rest of Sennheiser's legendary line-up here, or view our other open-back headphone options here as well as the amplifiers to drive them here. // Most customers test the HD650 alongside the HD600, and the HD660s. // Care tip: We recommend changing earpads every year or two for hygiene reasons. Check out the KITO or YAXI range if you need to freshen the headphones up. Bad smelling headphones aren't cool.  // For added headband comfort: Check out the DEKONI Nuggets.

The AET07 range is designed for wide-range clarity, giving an immediately noticeable space extension to your IEMs. They are soft and comfortable to wear, and a top favourite amongst our customers. Available in multiple colours, sold as single pairs. If you would like more bass focus on your IEMs, you might want to consider the AET08.

LEPIC is a brand by DIGNIS with a new design language. Keeping pace with modern living and music lovers who care enough to go wired, the DAC Pocket is made to answer a specific use-case of a dac-dongle. Why use a Dac-Dongle? Visit us to find out more on how to improve your on-the-go sound quality for music, podcasts, etc.

YAXI is the Sony of earpads. Four lettered Japanese brand names is our thing, especially when they make earpads for legacy headphones such as the Koss Porta Pro, and Grados.Fit Chart:KossPortaPro, SportaPro, KSC75, KSC35, KPH30iSennheiserPXC300, PX-200-II

We've seen lots of faces turn blue, pink, purple, green from trying to detach a cable from IEMs with MMCX connection. Corners of shirts were pulled, fingers getting dented from pure brute force. Nails broken- but agony's over when the colour of genius is yellow, yellow like these little helpful clips so you retain your composure during an extreme cable test launch event, or when you're braids shopping. Why do we spend time writing about a wee clip like this? We don't know, but we hope you enjoyed reading about it. #wesodrama

Cayin Audio were R2R pioneers in a smart music player, but the advent of the R2R RU6 USB-C DAC/amp dongle establishes them as masters of the fully-discrete resistor DAC topology in portable audio. Entering 2022, this is all it takes to achieve the buttery, natural and resolving sound, plus imaging depth, R2R is known for. Building a discrete R2R DAC in N6II/R01 had already been no mean feat. Yet to have gone one further, and implemented a 4.4mm DAC dongle for Android, iPads and laptops is a most ambitious step for R2R. It's worth it to Headfonics who cite RU6's "analog" approach, and the innovation extending to its volume control is lauded by Headfonia. [See Product Desc. For More] It gets harder every time it gets smaller, so RU6 marks Cayin as masters showcasing how they can make it work. Descended from R01, RU6's boasts a chain of 96 0.1% precision, temperature stable, resistors. That imparts a fidelity to mobile audio not yet experienced. Over 200 mW of balanced power gets most earphones and headphones loud, on the move. ecoustics say RU6 "is not only very unique but also one of the best of its kind". Everyday Listening rates "RU6’s wide stage and analogue-like note presentation granting it one of the sweetest and most euphonic sounds I’ve encountered". After thorough comparisons with other options, Twister6 qualifies RU6 as capable of replacing entry-level music players. Prime Audio Reviews confirms it differentiates itself from other DAC/amps, and it's Ear Fidelity's Best Portable DAC of 2021. Your music will be decoded up and down RU6's 24-bit ladder of individual resistors, crammed into its thumb-sized chassis over two separate six-layer PCBs. The actual R2R ladder DAC is kept apart from signal processing to lower noise. We pay attention when Cayin implement RU6 ala typical R2R – with a NOS (non-oversampling) mode. That's double the feat because the precision demanded goes up. Amidst minimal digital filtering, R2R's analog-like goodness gets delivered unmolested to your ears. Lovers of reference sound need not fret, however, with RU6's ability to switch from NOS to oversampling mode for the cleanest possible result. That scrubs any last distortion and artifacts beyond the audible human hearing range, leaving you to just enjoy your music, naturally, via one more Cayin innovation yet. That precision is backed up by a low-power, fully analog, volume control solution. A series resistor operates with shunts as voltage dividers in tandem with relays, to maintain near-perfect resolution of your music and a signal-to-noise ratio of over 110 dB. A totally novel volume solution has made this a feat for a USB-powered dongle DAC; let alone a R2R one.  Take all 30g of the RU6 built from CNC aluminium with you in your pocket, bundled with a USB-C cable as stock for all your mobile devices, with additional leather cases and Lightning-to-USB-C cable (not MFI-certified) sold separately.  Also check out the rest of Cayin's releases here, or view our other DAC/amps here.

Everyone needs one. We picked the top quality compressed wood with our favourite finishes in Walnut, Zebra & Ashwood and made them in a regular omega shape, or a 2-piece X cross stand for you to tuck the cable away in the middle. What do our customers think:1. Stax customers prefer the X-stand so the cable rests in the cradle.2. Classic walnut omega is a perpetual favourite.3. Zebra pops the colour on your headphones if they're plain in design. It's the classic finishing piece to your desktop set up, and a perfect gift for a friend's birthday or Christmas, or anything, really. 

Additional cushioning on headbands has never hurt anyone. Velcro around your original headband for extra protection against wear and tear, and also comfort during your long hours of listening.  ***All pad sales are final. No returns, refunds, or exchanges.

Sennheiser celebrate the turn of the decade ready to build a new legacy with the HD560S. Affordable open-back headphones now have a new face fronting excellence.  HD560S lovers will delight in its superb detail retrieval excelling in reproducing details in strings and other acoustic instruments in pristine recordings. StereoNET praise it to "someone looking for clean, no-nonsense sound without breaking the bank". [See Product Desc. For More] Spatially, angled drivers with EAR (Ergonomic Acoustic Refinement) technology from Sennheiser create a realistic portrayal of stage rarely heard in open-back headphones at price point. Its 120ohm impedance makes HD560S a great match for any integrated amplifier's headphone outputs, ruling out source impedance mismatches. Headfonia says its "balance is impressive and the longer you listen to this headphone, the better it gets", adding it to his list of Recommended Buys. This is unfussy reference listening that'll bring out the most of the recordings you want pristinely rendered – this here stands up to all scrutiny. View all of Sennheiser's other offerings here, or check out all our other headphones here.

  ***Switchless version of the Viento-R ***Please take a moment read through the following guidelines regarding Hidition orders with us. Take a look at our artwork guide here. The model that captures the most unawares: Hidition's Viento may not be the most glamorous, but it's proof that how you use four balanced armature drivers, and not how many you have, is what leads to final sound quality. Seemingly unfailing in all aspects, Viento's customisable nature is yet another surprise up its sleeve... Viento can be made to order in custom (CIEM) form. You can also explore the rest of Zepp's Hidition range or view our other universal (UIEM) options here.   / Photography by Zepp Crew.===+ All Hidition UIEMs are built to order as design can be customised.+ Price indicated does not include artwork fees.+ For appointments on ear-impressions taking or to consult on your artwork, click here to reach the crew.

LEPIC is a brand by DIGNIS for non-leather goods. Starting with the JUKEBOX this year(2024), this case will keep your earphones dry, clean, smelling great, and house it with this anti-lock, anti-shock box. Air-control sheet, antibacterial qualities, deodorising abilities all in one case. The Jukebox has also been tested up to 100,000 times of usage, so there is no need to replace the air-control sheet, for those who are concerned. Fits most CIEMs and IEMs* up to 8core wires. *For irregular shaped IEMs and non-standard cables, please try at the store before purchase as product is non-refundable.

The ATH-R70x is Audio-Technica's first pair of open-back reference professional headphones and feature specially designed drivers and acoustically transparent housings fashioned from aluminum honeycomb mesh. These headphones provide an accurate and natural open-back sound. When you're done with this hit, view the rest of Audio-Technica's line-up here, or browse our other headphones here.

What a statement Bluetooth like Bathys Dune is. Through it Focal invites anyone, to listen anywhere. In clear and obvious style. Focal's trademark M-shaped aluminium-magnesium dynamic driver brings you flagship sound on the go. 5 ⭐ came from What Hi-Fi? because "the success of Focal's first effort" isn't surprising. Headfonics say Bathys "represents a serious upgrade on consumer headphone choices from the likes of Sony and Bose", something Digital Trends second.  Wired writes Bathys is Bluetooth "even staunch audio nerds can enjoy". Superb acoustics on the part of Focal's know-how are a given, and the warm, rich and detailed fidelity of Bathys breaks new ground for a portable headphone of its size – wired or unwired. However, what makes Bathys truly compelling is its range of noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.1, Qualcomm® aptX™ Adaptive and app-controlled EQ. [See Product Desc. For More] Its name comes from the French word ‘bathyscaphe’, the first submarine exploration vehicle. And Bathys is the embodiment of calm, depth and absolute silence. It's already scooped up TechHive's Editors Choice award, and is ecoustics' favourite noise-cancelling headphone for 2022. Audioholics says Bathys "takes its place among the top sound quality-focused wireless headphones available", and gave it a Product of the Year award. Stuff slapped 5 ⭐ on this Bluetooth beast too. Audiophile-Heaven lauds Bathys. At the cutting edge of tech, but dressed up in finery as a finished product like only Focal can. Blurring the lines between lifestyle and audiophilia has become typical from France's masters of savoir faire. Bathys is proof that Focal has mastered that.  The Bathys design comes inherited from Focal’s open and closed-back audiophile headphones such as Clear MG and Radiance. The earcup grilles repeat Focal’s design language, highly aesthetic curves drawing attention to the company's prestigious logo symbolising style, luxury and belief in better. A white back-lit system beneath the logo may be activated if desired, for an understated, chic effect. Another standout feature of Bathys is its elegant and timeless black-silver colourway, for effortless sophistication. Indeed, this wireless Focal is something you want to be seen with, but also to hear. The comparisons to its bigger audiophile siblings visually are apt, but so are they sonically. Bathys promises a big chunk of Focal fidelity on the move, its M-shaped aluminium-magnesium drivers among the most audiophile-grade mounted in a wireless headphone before.  This driver's stiffness, light weight and damping not only promises you a warm, immersive and authoritative presentation of music in stock tuning. It's also fine ground for EQ to be implemented – and Bathys comes together with EQ pre-sets for listeners to select via the Focal & Naim control app for iOS and Android. Not only does Bathys sound excellent – it can be made yours truly, too, when you select your favourite sound signature.  aptX™ Adaptive ensures wireless transmission stability in most conditions.  Focal added a Silent mode of cancellation optimised for trips with high background noise but let's you switch to a Soft mode to aid concentration at work, while Transparency mode enables you to stay connected to your surroundings. And a USB-C cable gives you the listener the final ability to access Bathys' 24/192 DAC via a computer or phone, when seeking uncompromised fidelity. The sense of completeness in Bathys' package promises that form and function have truly met. Despite its humble entry into the world of Focal, Bathys is in fact one of Focal's proudest Head-Fi releases. And there is much more to explore from Focal for those seeking ever-greater levels of wired sound quality here, and you can also browse all of our Bluetooth headphones here. 

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

Final Audio's ZE3000 takes its name from its wired namesake's E3000, the brand's most widely recognised wired earphones. It's "a perfect companion for long listens without any fatigue" to Headfonics. Headfonia welcomed this wireless wonder, and Major HiFi gave it a Gold Award. ZE3000's sweet, intense vocal emphasis follows its owner where ever they may go. Overcoming the issues of distortion levels and space constraints in each earbud were carried out in typically novel Final manner. [See Product Desc. For More] f-Core for Wireless is what ZE3000's 6mm dynamic driver has been christened, its ability to act as if it was a much wider radiating surface a particular breakthrough. ZE3000 also brings f-LINK Damping System to bear, optimising the pressure in the acoustic space inside the earbuds housing to create a sound equivalent to wired earphones without the need for external vents. This makes it possible to properly control the low frequencies and reproduce vocals simultaneously, both issues that have been traditionally difficult to achieve with true wireless earbuds. The usual TWS paraphernalia accompanies ZE3000 here, with Final adding Qualcomm aptX, aptX Adaptive and IPX4 water resistance so it keeps up fully with the times on connectivity and function. Also view the rest of Final's offerings here, or our other wireless options here.

  ***Switchless version of the Viento-R ***Please take a moment read through the following guidelines regarding Hidition orders with us. Take a look at our artwork guide here. The model that captures the most unawares: Hidition's Viento may not be the most glamorous, but it's proof that how you use four balanced armature drivers, and not how many you have, is what leads to final sound quality. Seemingly unfailing in all aspects, Viento's customisable nature is yet another surprise up its sleeve... Please email crew@zeppelinandco.com for lookbooks and impressions taking. Viento can also be bought in universal (UIEM) form. Otherwise, explore the rest of Zepp's Hidition range or view our other custom (CIEM) options here. / Photography by Zepp Crew.===+ Price indicated does not include artwork fees.+ For appointments on ear-impressions taking or to consult on your artwork, click here to reach the crew.

HiBy Music's new Android 12 R4 discrete Class A music player is just such an example, being whatever you want it to be – a pocket rocket compact travel companion or beginner DAP.  We've seen this before: just HiBy pushing the boundaries of what's capable at the very top, but also at the bottom. Built on four low-power consumption ESS Technology DACs and two dedicated word clocks, pocket rockets like R4 – at this price – were what Head-Fi used to dream about. Able to decode streams off Spotify, Hi-Res Lossless Apple Music, Tidal and whatever you could download from HiBy's open Android Google Play Store, R4 is an affordable audiophile's dream. It goes right onto Headfonia's Recommended Buys list and into Audiophile-Heaven's Hall of Fame. It punches above its weight to Headfonics. "R4 punches well above its weight, while elevating music playback and user experience beyond anything else I’ve personally used in this price range" says The Headphone List. That fidelity flows on to be translated into difficult, committed audiophile IEM loads too. Eschewing the de rigueur op-amps that you've gotten blaissé about – the ones that other manufacturers fit even into their mid-tier players – HiBy asks you to choose R4's superior discrete Class A output stage instead. [See Product Desc. For More] For an entry-level player, working with high open-loop performance before feedback is applied is no mean feat ... not to mention being able to handle considerable current and provide actual power into low-impedance IEMs. Distortion always remains low when you're listening, helped by its amplifier's Class A operation. 16 output transistors are fully biased to achieve their most linear open-loop operation, ensuring an accurate reproduction of your music without the excessive use of negative feedback.  This means that the increasingly low impedances of modern IEMs will be dealt with adequately. R4's output devices are truly capable of handling current and outputting up to 525 milliwatts of power – it's not a player that will lose composure dealing with loads from Empire Ears and Vision Ears. Picking this HiBy up quickly on the go does not mean sacrificing fidelity. Using op-amps would have been too easy, and HiBy firmly stick by their discrete amplification guns even at R4's price of entry. It's a level of detail that's paid off in natural, accurate sound, reproducing the detail its quad of ESS ES9018C2M DACs are capable of. The attention paid to R4's digital decode extends beyond its DACs, its FPGA and dual crystal oscillators – it's in HiBy's desire to split its quad array of chips into two pairs. One pair decodes PCM, and the other DSD. By recognising the completely different requirements in decoding each format, R4 keeps impressing us below the surface. Specially configuring a pair of its DACs, and their ensuing analog low-pass filters (LPF), means HiBy are in a much better position to bypass DSD's problems and decode the format purely. R4's DSD decode path benefits greatly from its LPF's stronger rejection of ultrasonic noise, in particular preventing single-rate DSD64's noise problems from contaminating the subsequent signal path. HiBy might have gone in all in on the consumer market with R4, but that never stopped these innovators from respecting their audiophile roots. It then backs up that distortion and noise performance with all the luxuries that a modern music lover counts on. Android 12 and Google Play Store's apps run smoothly thanks to a Snapdragon 665 CPU, for up to 11 hours on a single charge. Seasoned audiophiles needing a compact and rugged travel companion will not find themselves missing their reference DAPs very much at all, given how high R4 gets you up the tree in performance. Similarly, newcomers will be treated to the full audio experience very quickly – and in painless financial manner. If you've graduated from R4, be sure to check out HiBy's other marvels here too, or view all our other music players here.

Technics crystalised what it demanded from a flagship TWS in AZ60M2, and fully realised its dreams with the LDAC release of AZ80. A 10mm aluminium driver works as advertised in delivering superb bass performance that's top in quality and quantity. Here's a technological marvel that shows Head-Fi how far Bluetooth has come. Technics know-how working with the acoustics of its large driver sees them bring an acoustic control chamber and a harmoniser for bass punch, and a low-distortion expansive soundstage. AZ80 is a Bluetooth flagship from the future, packed with Bluetooth 5.3 granting it Multipoint connection to three devices simultaneously. Together with JustMyVoice™ microphone pick-up technology, Technics set you up with yet another productivity monster. [See Product Desc. For More] Far from being all about work, though, Technics rock hard too. A 10mm aluminium free-edge dynamic driver brings its enhanced stiffness to move extra air down in the low frequencies, in pistonic manner. LDAC and an IPX4 rating take you outdoors with confidence. Technics build on that by turning their most affordable TWS option into a work-from-home facilitator, adding eight mics and wind noise reduction managed by JustMyVoice™ DSP that isolates and amplifies words while minimising surrounding disturbances. Enjoy an audible upgrade to your homeworking set-up with EAH-AZ80, or browse the other releases from Technics here and our other Bluetooth options here.

The Best Naming Award goes to ZMF Headphones in 2020! Every ZMF owner with Zepp gets the Pilot Pad, and sometimes they get it for other headphones too, but there were some that did not fit. Well, not anymore. Read what ZMF Headphones had to say about it:  "We designed the Co-Pilot to make your headphones feel weightless and it’s true! When the Co-Pilot is attached, your headphones feel like they're floating! Compared to the original Pilot Pad, the Co-Pilot offers more surface area, larger foam pads, and two-sided Velcro attachment with a thinner, sleeker profile. This design will work with headphone bands that range from 1.95in (48mm) wide and 0.1in (2.5mm) thick to 1in (25.4mm) wide and 0.5in (12.2mm) thick. The total area allotted for headband attachment is 2in (50.8mm). The Co-Pilot was designed to work with most headphones, but it’s not guaranteed to work for every headphone. If you’re one the fence, the Co-Pilot is the safer choice regarding fit." ===All pad sales are final. No returns, refunds, or exchanges for hygiene reasons. 

Designed and made for STAX, but loved by all headphone owners. Toss the cover on to minimise dust or dirt settling on the earspeakers. Complete the STAX look with a HPS-2 STAX stand, or pick one of our walnut finish headphone stands here.

An utterly modern device, GO blu reflects iFi Audio's understanding of new-age listeners. This Bluetooth 5.1, LDAC and aptX HD receiver is also a balanced 4.4mm amplifier, giving you all the power you need with a battery life of up to 10 hours. And, it's as small as your AirTag. How iFi stuffed in its balanced circuit, Qualcomm QCC 5100 Bluetooth receiver and outboard Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chip is a closely guarded secret they won't be telling anyone in a hurry. [See Product Desc. For More] Convenience aside, GO blu is a genuinely audiophile design with boutique parts and an attention to circuit detail – including direct coupling – that belies its use cases and form factor. Headfonia puts this iFi through its paces, and it won this race. Just like What Hi-Fi? awarded GO blu 5 ⭐ and an Applause Award followed from StereoNET. Headfonics love "it's appropriately named a pocket rocket because that’s what it is". MOONSTAR Reviews echoes that praise. That's proven in iFi's USB-C socket that doubles as charging input and wired DAC input, if you'd like the ultimate in pocket fidelity. Enjoy it to its maximum via the 4.4mm cable supplied with Audio-Technica's MSR7b – or at home with any one of iBasso Audio's SR2 or Focals via a CB17 cord. See what more iFi can do in larger form factors here, or view our other portable DAC/amps here.

ANIMA name dropping reads like this: ACOUSTUNE, Taku Inoue, Hidekazku Tanaka, Koiwai Kotori, Azumi Waki, Fukuhara Ayaka, etc. If you're looking to cut the wires but not your love for Acoustune, here's Acoustune's sub-brand, ANIMA. Customise your sound with EQ/DSP presets tuned by Taku Inoue, Hidekazku Tanaka and Koiwai Kotori and choose notification voices voiced by Azumi Waki, Fukuhara Ayaka and more with Anima Studio app content updates. Voted as the most "kawaiiii" wireless earbuds in Zepp, all that's left to do now is to tell us Shiro (White) or Kuro (Black) when you pick up yours.

YAXI does it best when it comes to earpads, and we're so glad they did this for the Grado favourites:  SR80e, classic SR325e, limited edition Hemp, or the new GW100. Most users prefer them for comfort and quality. Go Fanta Grape for a bit of fun, or keep it classic with black.

The AET08 model is designed for emphasis on bass, marked "bass reverb" on the package. They are soft and comfortable to wear, and a top favourite amongst our customers. Available in multiple colours, sold as single pairs. If you would like your IEMs to open up in soundstage and clarity, you might want to consider the AET07.

KITO EarpadsWe recommend changing your earpads yearly for hygiene reasons.+ Black+ Velour+ Fits HD600, HD650, HD660S// Check out the full range of KITO Earpads here.   / Photography by Zepp Crew.

Representing a generational leap in Nightjar Acoustics performance, Singularity is the cumulation of years of development on single dynamic driver earphones. Nightjar's 10mm Timbre+ dynamic driver let's listeners experience massive bass along with natural midrange and treble timbre. These two characteristics that usually oppose each other are balanced to perfection with Singularity and projected onto Singularity's expansive and dimensional soundscape. Embrace the entrancing pull of Singularity as it takes dynamic driver earphones to a whole new level of excellence. [See Product Desc. For More] Nightjar's proprietary method of driver design for Timbre+ allows Singularity to achieve a leap in performance without the usual metallic, lean or bright tuning usually required to achieve a high level of technical capability in a single DD. Singularity achieves this through a meticulously designed diaphragm, drive assembly and internal chamber. Nightjar's bespoke solution optimises airflow while balancing the moving mass and magnetic flux of the driver to achieve a technical yet natural presentation, with robust bass performance and properly extended highs. Said-acoustic know-how has been dubbed CAthedral – a custom chambering solution meticulously crafted to deliver a vast and natural soundstage that feels remarkably authentic, boasting impressive intricacy and layering. Unlike most IEMs, Singularity ensures an exceptional emphasis on stage depth, taking your listening experience to the next level. Check out Nightjar's other releases including their cables here, or view our other IEMs here.

With a large-diameter bore, Acoustune's new reference eartips now comes improved fit and sound isolation while maintaining the wide-range clarity and balance of the earphones themslves.// SPECIFICATIONS- Inner nozzle diameter - 4.5mm- XS size: 8.9mm (height), 10mm (width)- S size: 8.9mm (height), 11mm (width)- M size: 9.2mm (height), 12mm (width)- L size: 9.2mm (height), 13mm (width)- XL size: 9.2mm (height), 14mm (width)

Just as intriguing in profile as the original Elysian Acoustics Labs flagship, Annihilator 2023 has reigned for a long time. If the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog, he did it avoid being annihilated. Annihilator 2023 was immediately added to Headfonia's Recommended Buys list. Fast, nimble, dynamic so it would never be caught stagnant with lethargy, or over romanticised with long decays to create haze and daze. This is a triple hybrid housing a single Foster DD for bass, four balanced armature drivers for mids, and two electrostatic (EST) drivers for the treble. The speed, the air, the details and transparency are ready for your Stravinskys, Vivaldis, Rage against the Machine, or whichever suits your fancy.  A dry finish that was never safe to start with, but definitely a memorable profile in our line up.