***Brand new stock***Last piece to go***Full warranty availableGive all your music the DSD treatment, says D16. Built of individual resistors, capacitors and code carried on FPGA-Master 2, this all-to-DSD DAC/amp christened 'Taipan' packs DSP approaching -174dB of THD as iBasso Audio's most original, proprietary piece of work to date. iBasso’s USB-input DAC/amp eschews off-the-shelf DAC chips. D16 doesn't differentiate between CD rips, Hi-Res downloads and Spotify, Tidal or Apple Music streaming. It upconverts all your normal PCM material into DSD before decoding your digital to analog. All formats are passed as DSD through D16’s 1-bit decode. Without irony, D16 will yield the most improvement to collectors of SACD-rip, DSD64 files. As a heavily-upsampling DAC, iBasso take the honours for the first Head-Fi product to target and remove DSD64's terrible ultrasonic noise problems. Twister6 praises "a portable audio solution to deliver flagship-level performance with a neutral sound tuning and a natural analog tonality" before becoming a dynamic duo with PB5. It's landed on Headfonia's Recommended Buys list and in Audiophile-Heaven's Hall of Fame. Its strengths are comprehensively laid out by Headfonics and MOONSTAR Reviews. Buy this as the greatest gift for the SACD collector in your life, then. Following decoding, the pristine analog is kept totally intact by iBasso's now-familiar discrete stepped resistor analog volume control, before D16's Super Class A output stage pushes your flagship earphones and headphones. [See Product Desc. For More] iBasso build a 1-bit DSD DAC into D16 because there's zero error at the point of conversion. There, D16 relies on the total accuracy of DSD's 1-bit conversion to analog, taking advantage of DSD's sheer ease of decoding to boot. 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. But there's work D16 needs to do first, preparing incoming DSD and certainly PCM data from your smart devices over USB, coaxial or optical inputs to emerge as the best possible 1-bit digital stream for conversion. How D16 alleviates said white noise issues of DSD64 – indeed, of any inherent problems to single-rate material be it DSD's noise or PCM's steep digital filtering, intersample overs and digital pre-emphasis – is that it applies heavy oversampling to incoming data.  iBasso's DSP oversamples data to huge bit depth and sample rates synchronous to their new FPGA-Master 2 generating I2S. The new multibit data running many times DSD's base 2.8Mhz rate is then put through a Pulse-Width Modulated (PWM) process in preparation for 1-bit decoding.  iBasso treats each of D16's 32 0.1% resistors per DAC phase as individual entities, operating them at very specific moments in the time domain. Ordinarily that might spell chaos co-ordinating a total count of 128 individual DAC elements, but it's iBasso's FPGA-Master 2 that grants a firm grip of how each resistor-capacitor low-pass filter outputs in the time and frequency domain. The result of the entirety of 128 DAC elements outputting at phased intervals leads to a coherent, continuous waveform with finer stairsteps in time. That captures more detail in your music and reduces errors, decoding your music back more accurately to the original waveform. D16's PWM DSP pre-stage addresses the problems of conventional noise-shaped digital's inconsistent rise and fall edges at the frequency level, with adjustments made to facilitate more accurate, predictable switching. This approach results in a reduction of errors by avoiding intersymbol interference. Notably, non-linearities arising from rise and fall mismatches do not manifest as total harmonic distortion. iBasso's PWM DSP does not produce harmonic errors that vary with digital output levels. A digital volume control with large coefficients is also added here to trim levels and add datastream width. This high bit and sample rate headroom is free from overload issues when it is eventually brought back down to the required 1-bit DSD signal for low-pass filtered conversion – but now at a bandwidth of 49Mhz, moving DSD's white noise issues far, far out of the audible band. iBasso's discrete proprietary tech immediately differentiates itself from commercial DAC chips, where IC packages are often too small to perform an ideal 1-bit DSD conversion. D16 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 D16 is precious. iBasso's R&D, invested building their own DAC, pays off as the fragile small-signal goes on to be volume adjusted by the same discrete resistor attenuator of DX320 Max TI fame. Said stepped attenuator preserves the resolution of D16 at any listening level. It's that that enables it to play it delicately into your flagship earphones for enjoyment at realistically lower volume levels. Because, it's easy to play it loud, but everyone knows it's in playing back tiny sounds that is the litmus test of a powerhouse capable of outputting as much volume as D16. Without resting on past laurels to increase and decrease both signal and noise levels together at the same time – as only an analog volume control can – iBasso went for the jugular here. After years of work, Head-Fi's analog specialists have once again applied their own, proprietary, stepped analog volume control here to great effect. Transparent at any volume setting down low as much as up high, with virtually perfect +/-0.1dB channel-matching, this iBasso behemoth exposes detail buried deep around the noise floor of your music. So begins D16's fully-balanced, true differential analog circuit that runs at a massive 13 volt operating voltage for linear open-loop operation. Its power stage is fully discrete and boasts buffers capable of outputting more amperes of current than is needed in reality. Said power stage is another call for iBasso's Super Class A to appear. Current mirrors ensure D16's push-pull operation works without crossover distortion, yielding Class A-like performance at all power output levels. That makes for extremely linear open-loop operation before negative feedback is applied ... yet mostly avoids the heat and inefficiency typically associated with Class A designs. Certainly, the quality of D16's power is not discussion, and will reproduce the fidelity of its 1-bit DAC – a milestone in iBasso's history – into your full-sized transducers of choice via your laptop or desktop's USB in your office, or your smartphone on business travels. With superb damping factor as a voltage source, enough standing bias current and signal-to-noise performance to follow today's flagship IEM impedance down low, you know PB5 will be even more in its element pushing TOTL headphones. Everything from Focal to a Fostex and Rosson Audio Designs plus Yamaha and ZMF Headphones is applicable. If you want to free yourself from USB's tether, check out the rest of iBasso's self-contained Android music players here, or view all our other DAC/amps here.

There is a lot of Chi-Fi, but there's few which achieve the integrity from research, engineering, finish, sound tuning, ergonomic fit like Ikko Audio have achieved with their launches – the latest being OH1S Gems. Audiophile-Heaven says it mixes musicality and detail perfectly. [See Product Desc. For More] They've made the cut in our selection more than once, and time and again they've proven to be worthy. After the success of the flatter-tuned OH1 and the spacious sub-bassy OH10, they've combined these two separates entities sonically into a single shell – the OH1S. Another hybrid of a single dynamic driver and a balanced armature, Ikko have newly tuned the acoustic chambers within compact shells for the debut of Separating Vector Acoustics System (SVAS) to the world. Despite being fresh on the scene, the Gems have already made quite the impression on TechPowerUp and Major HiFi, the latter for "rich details and textures". Drop by to test this MMCX in-ear-monitor, check out the other products by Ikko here, or get yourself one day.

***Brand new stock condition***Full warranty availableiBasso Audio imagined tube magic in DX320 Max TI, and so conceived PB5 'Osprey' – losing the ROHM DACs, but gaining you two Korg Nutubes for a 4.4mm balanced tube/solid-state hybrid portable amplifier. Indeed, PB5's output stage should appear very familiar to fans of DX320 Max TI, packing iBasso's expertly designed, proprietary discrete stepped resistor volume control, Super Class A output stage and an over-the-top, clean power supply of six separate batteries. It goes right onto Headfonia's Recommended Buys list. It is Headfonics' "favourite portable amplifier I have had the pleasure to review". Twister6 praises PB5's "analog texture with bigger soundstage expansion" before becoming a dynamic duo with D16. It's in Audiophile-Heaven's Hall of Fame. While DX320 Max TI is a distant memory, its PB5 descendant could arguably ascend to greater heights.  As a fully analog product PB5 grant you the ability to line-in via today's amazing DAP sources ... while retaining the other aspects that went so far in defining iBasso's greatest flagship DAP. And adding tubes. Head-Fi now finds itself blessed with accessible opportunity. DX320 Max TI was more than a product but the birth of the super portable concept that has more applications than one. PB5 is such an example, iBasso's gift to the masses helping listeners enjoy the vast majority of DX320 Max TI solid-state output stage plus tube magic and – whisper it quietly – perhaps even surpass it with a high-performance DAC/DAP source of your choice. [See Product Desc. For More] Whisper it quietly, indeed. PB5 works near-silently because iBasso's stepped resistor analog volume control shows up where it could be most crucial – in their first battery-powered tube and solid-state hybrid amplifier. Said stepped attenuator preserves the resolution of your best DAP sources in the presence of Nutubes that may not otherwise share the same noise performance as the rest of PB5's carefully assembled transistor circuit.  Before that begins to sound like a problem, the gains from inserting Nutubes into PB5's (read: mini DX320 Max TI's) signal path far outweigh any cons. Beyond granting the kind of natural, spacious and effortless sonics tubes are known for, Korg's fluorescent 6P1 dual triodes pay dividends on the circuit design front too. READ ALSO The benefits of adding input tubes to a circuit As triodes, Korg's 6P1s provide iBasso access to an all-important square law transfer function for wide operating conditions. With tubes – audio's long-established ideal input device – now working differentially in balanced push-pull configuration to receive signal from your 4.4mm source, iBasso's proprietary stepped resistor attenuator takes charge of volume. Additionally counting on common-mode rejection, it's this proprietary volume control that enables PB5 to play it delicately into your flagship earphones for enjoyment at realistically lower volume levels. Because, it's easy to play it loud, but everyone knows it's in playing back tiny sounds that is the litmus test of a hybrid tube/solid-state amp capable of outputting as much SPL as PB5. Transparent at any volume setting down low as much as up high, with virtually perfect +/-0.1dB channel-matching, this iBasso tubed behemoth exposes detail buried deep around the noise floor of your music. So begins the rest PB5's fully-balanced, true differential solid-state circuit whose push-pull operation produces odd harmonic distortion that dovetails perfectly with the naturalness of its Nutubes. Built with individual transistors of iBasso's choosing allows great control over PB5's tuning, while an immense operating voltage over 16 volts grants an innately linear open-loop circuit, with substantially less negative feedback, to be fashioned. At the tip of PB5's spear are buffers capable of outputting more amperes of current than is needed in reality, while keeping output impedance near zero. Said power stage is another call for iBasso's Super Class A to appear.  Current mirrors ensure PB5's push-pull operation works without crossover distortion, yielding Class A-like performance at all power output levels. That makes for extremely linear open-loop operation before negative feedback is applied ... yet mostly avoids the heat and inefficiency typically associated with Class A designs. With superb damping factor as a voltage source, enough standing bias current and signal-to-noise performance to follow today's flagship IEM impedance down low, you still know PB5 will be even more in its element pushing TOTL headphones. That's especially when you consider its six separate batteries providing clean, independent power to each critical section of PB5's circuit. Everything from Focal to a Fostex and Rosson Audio Designs plus Yamaha and ZMF Headphones is applicable. Flexibility is the operative word here and sources like Cayin Audio's N7, iBasso's own DX260 plus HiBy Music's RS6, R8II and RS8 will be queuing up to lend their signal to PB5. PB5 is the perfect segway to add tubes to your portable flagship sources, but it's so much more. Through Osprey's stepped attenuator volume control and Super Class A output stage, DX320 Max TI's spirit lives on. Check out the rest of iBasso's sources for PB5 here, or view our other DAC/amps here.

--- SOLD! --- A special deal for a special IEM, Empire Ears' flagship IEM, the Odin. It is in mint condition, with no difference to a new set. Warranty: One year from the date of purchase.   

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.

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*Note: -50% off regular price, no warrantyCertified Fresh! from Rosson Audio Design is MPL-0 – Alex Rosson's renowned planar-magnetic headphone formula in its most affordable handcrafted iteration to date, as excellent-sounding as every last one. It starred for being distinctly different on Headfonics. Rosson Audio had been an outlet for both the professional sound engineer and artist in former Audeze Co-Founder Rosson's life ... and RAD-0 had grown to encompass both endeavours.  But, when not conceptualising, hand-pouring and labouring to produce RAD-0's acrylic cups, instead replacing them with American maple wood construction – costs came down, and affordability went up. [See Product Desc. For More] MPL-0 now is charged with the decree of bringing Rosson Audio's signature warm, transparent sound – packing a tad more mid-range pep, bite and spice – to the wider masses. A warm soundstage emanates from MPL-0 and halos around with unforced ease with an approach many commentators have compared to Audeze's hallmark pre-fazored designs. MPL-0's acoustic enclosure is different to that of RAD-0's – an opportunity for Rosson to implement even more intricate tensioning and dampening techniques to this maple build for sonics that punch way above its price. No sonic compromises have been taken, with Rosson's customary 66mm planar-magnetic diaphragm under the control of 11 N52 magnets made in California, USA, showing up for the task here. And the quiet, softly-spoken maple wood rings exude an air of ease and effortlessness, harnessing the ikigai of Rosson's life inside. There's not an excess of factors to think about, leaving your mind at rest and ease just picking up, plugging into HiBy Music's R6 III or iBasso Audio's DX240, and relaxing. But for those of you seeking to be even more stimulated and inspired by some of the most avant-garde headphone art, make Rosson Audio's collection of unique RAD-0 builds your next stop here, or our other headphones here. 

How can something as painstakingly made as CAL.1H be anything other than a labour of love by Altiat. Aumkar Chandan's concept of work well done, work done proudly, is an open-back unibody aluminium headphone precision CNC-machined. There is a pride of ownership in CAL.1H – few other $700 headphones can boast of being coated in automative spray paint. Available in five different colours, flair always follows Altiat. CAL.1H's visual spectacle gives way to sound as colourful as the Mumbai coastline where it's made. Strong bass impact and a detailed pinch of upper-mid sizzle are tied together in a liquid presentation. All the ingredients that are crucial to rendering one of the most complex performances – an unaccompanied tabla ensemble – are on full show. 50mm dynamic drivers made with a PET material infill bring Chandan's talent at tuning – honed at sister company Kaldas Research – to Altiat, giving CAL.1H an exciting yet tastefully accurate response you can count on. [See Product Desc. For More] PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is prized as a driver material by Altiat owing to its workability. Using it for its damping properties in a stiff outer sandwich membrane, Chandan was able to bring a big 50mm driver to bear and stave off the onset of modal break-up as frequencies rise.  There's a cohesiveness and maturity to sonics that sets CAL.1H apart. Those seeking an upgrade on HIFIMAN's Sundara should look at Altiat before they step on to the bigger Audio-Technica ADX-5000, Focal Clear MG and Sony MDR-Z1R. For price and performance CAL.1H fills a necessary hole in Head-Fi, and Altiat is a very important calling for Chandan to fulfil. That it balances function with form with such aplomb is only testament to the talent of its creator. View Altiat's other headphones here, or our other open-back headphones here.

Meticulously perfected, each earpiece features two dynamic drivers meticulously orchestrated to deliver performance at an entry price, enriched with resonant bass notes. A 10mm driver handles lows before handing over to a 7.8mm counterpart that is more fluent at producing high frequencies without modal break-up. A 3D-printed acoustic chamber blends the output of both drivers into one cohesive performance. Perfect working condition with the following accessories included: - 1 set of treble and bass eartips (missing M-size) - Soft pouch Warranty: 3-months

--- SOLD! --- Hyla's natural CE-5 successor proves to be the TE-5B (Bass). A mellowed, refined follow-up with a midrange that comes to the fore, Hyla's fans will find reason to embrace the TE-5B (Bass) as an alternative to sit alongside their CE-5s, or an upgrade. The TE-5B is often tested alongside its treble-favouring sister, TE-5T. An old classic looking for a new owner. Who will it be? 

--- SOLD! --- Taking Hyla's classic CE-5 as a platform and upping the excitement and immediacy of the midrange and treble regions, the TE-5T (Treble) was born. Vocals come to the fore, cymbals sizzle, and resolution subtle yet sublime. An old classic. 

The Valkyrie will always be cherished as the first tri-brid from Empire Ears, and with the rest of the range being upgraded to triple driver status Founders Dean and Jack Vang likewise gave this pioneer the Mark II treatment.

--- SOLD! --- Cayin's flagship N8ii, this tube or solid-state flagship music player plays with a deftness of touch to dynamics, realistic distances and imaging, plus a soundstage bathed in a gentle light that is at the same time detailed but never fatiguing. This B-stock variant is more than 30% off, in full working condition.  Warranty: Full one year from the date of purchase.

A perfect solution for consumers who wish to stream music via their DAC without streaming support.  Complete with box and in full working condition, the only item missing is the ethernet cable. Warranty Provided: One year from the date of purchase. 

--- 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.

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FAudio visually blinged out the limited-edition Mezzo. But this 7th anniversary flagship release's strongest trait is likewise its subtlety. Wonderful frequency response evenness and TOTL resolution are perfectly judged – a perfect opportunity for you to bring three tuning switches to bear. Headfonics hailed Mezzo's limited-edition magnificence.  If you've heard what FAudio could do with one driver in Dark Sky then imagine what they could do with four in Mezzo. The traditional hybrid configuration of a dynamic driver in tandem with a balanced armature shows up. In Mezzo, that's backed by a full-range balanced armature and a piezoelectric tweeter. [See Product Desc. For More] Gorgeous softness, delicacy and space show up in even-handed fashion owing to Mezzo's holistic approach to driver implementation. But turn up individual switches to boost bass, mids and treble, and you have an excitable flagship that can be tuned to your exact preferences. Mezzo's solid bass foundation built upon the success that was the Major's dynamic driver. The 10mm unit is integrated into FAudio's patented Triple Built-In Acoustic Chamber (TBAC), which controls airflow thanks to three special cavities. A crossover hands over to Mezzo's balanced armature for mids and highs – the latter supplemented by a piezoelectric tweeter wrought from a crystal coupled to a diaphragm capable of producing very fast vibrations demanded of treble extending beyond the human hearing region. Mezzo's final trick is a balanced armature tagged to an all-pass filter to back each driver up at their crossover points. No matter how steep a crossover slope is – particularly when switches are active – phase is preserved by the flat frequency response of this unifying balanced armature. Said full-range BA helps tie together the whole presentation cohesively and enables precise time alignment. The supplied cable represents Mezzo's ethos of balance – called Tone Master Shield, it adopts a golden ratio structure of silver-plated copper wires of various thickness. But for those wanting to live life further on the edge with FAudio's latest and greatest, opt for the Vision cable upgrade from Nobunaga Labs. Meanwhile, browse all of FAudio's other releases here, or our other earphones here.

--- SOLD! --- iBasso Audio have shown Head-Fi what the entry-level DX170 and flagship DX320 are capable of. And it's been left to the DX240 to act as the crossroads of them all, bringing together all the best traits of iBasso's DAP prowess into one single device.  DX240 is so good, in fact, it displaces DX300 on Headfonia's Recommended Buy list and joined its big sibling there on Audiophile-Heaven. DX240's owners are entitled to three free amp card endplates and a matching leather case worth $149, while the upgrade to Amp8 MKII updates capabilities further! [See Product Desc. For More] Revitalising the popular form factor that the original genre-defining DX200 and DX220 packed, the DX240 is another cumulation of the progress iBasso have made. With stock Amp1 MKIII, this versatile player promises an abundance of transparency and plenty of involvement through a liquid mid-range, particularly with female vocals. ESS Technology's ES9038Pro top-dog – outputting in current to a proper I/V stage for best distortion characteristics – arrives as the decoding backbone. The refinements made around this DAC chip bring DX240 into portable audio's future.  Trickling down from the DX320, a FPGA acts as a clock and data master, presenting raw I2S for the ES9038Pro in the cleanest, quietest and most precise manner. Joining those are the Snapdragon 660 CPU, along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.  Headfonics say DX240 lands with real purpose in the world of modern music players. Major HiFi met "really no setbacks to this device whatsoever". MOONSTAR Reviews says DX240 delivers sonically, and in terms of usability. "Every dollar works out completely" to Audio-PH.  Twister6 found this iBasso a jack of all trades and master of them all too. Full Google Play Services and Android 11 usability is a breeze when viewed through DX240's 1080p screen. Play up to DSD512, 16X Tidal MQA and full Hi-Res Lossless Apple Music online or offline – entirely bit-perfect through iBasso's bypass of Android sample-rate conversion. Truly, DX320 miniaturised desktop DAC/amps – and DX240 miniaturised DX320. With a palm-and-pocket-friendly form factor, DX240 is reminiscent of DX170 – but with added amp card modules. Amps1 through 8, developed for iBasso's DX2xx line, are compatible here, so your collection of cards will find a new lease of life. At the same time, enjoy the new Amp8 MKII, developed for and only for the DX240. But really, iBasso's DX240 is a new lease of life for the entire music player category, balancing fidelity, power, portability and access in one stroke. Bravo – also shop iBasso's other releases here, or all our other music players here.

  --- SOLD! --- The sweetest take on what four drivers can sound like. Craft Four is the model that shot Craft Ears to fame, with its delicacy, detail and a very emotive mid-range. Lovers of the guitars and male or female voices will not get over this performance in a hurry. Craft Four lands at a perfect sweet spot, the Goldilocks of all IEMs that just sounds right whatever your mood or genre fix at current moment. Its four balanced armatures are celebrated around Head-Fi for a W-shaped portrayal with equal, energetic, emphasis of each key region. [See Product Desc. For More] Headfonia rates it a "terrific first CIEM", with earphonia adding its "rich low-end" and "intimate staging with solid musicality" was worthy of mention. It competes very well for less money to Headfonics, thanks to "a refined and sibilant free vocal delivery, with articulate percussion". The Headphone List concurs "Craft Four represents outstanding value and is best suited for those wanting a balanced, musical earphone with smooth, prominent vocals and airy highs". ***Listed price covers basic colours. Please consult crew for details.***Additional fees may apply depending on choice of design.  Craft Four is a low-impedance IEM that will excel when driven by Questyle Audio's current-mode M12, and is also available in custom (CIEM) form. Otherwise, explore the rest of Zepp's Craft Ears range here or view our other universal (UIEM) options here.

YD01 is the stuff of dreams, wielding the magic material that is beryllium. Fantasy's beryllium-plated dynamic driver offers credibility to the idea of a Cayin Audio chain: capably built by the same manufacturer from start to finish, source into IEM.  Cue all associations with beryllium – Fantasy is resolute about its portrayal of detail, with forceful and taut dynamics – and there's still more than meets the eye. [See Product Desc. For More] Chambering affairs in a two-way cavity and magnet structure means airflow in the shell is controlled more precisely, as your music flows from the big, composite diaphragm. The higher magnetic flux as a result allows more linear excursion. Fantasy boasts power, and more importantly, control. Its 10mm driver starts with a sandwich driver core of biocellulose, a paper-like fiber prized in audio for its effective damping at higher frequencies. This surface is then coated with beryllium for the metal's stiffness, lightness and air acceleration properties. That means Fantasy's driver material combination helps it move as a perfect piston over all frequencies up to and above its working range, keeping distortion down due to cone and modal break-up as frequencies rise. It's a truly full-range driver, producing bass all the way to a treble waveform perfectly and accurately. Headfonics were the first to hail it for its "beautiful upper midrange and amazing depth of field". Twister6 were struck by Fantasy's "max clarity and resolution with the min coloration and distortion of the sound". In Everyday Listening's simple terms, it's "out of this world". Fantasy is built in every way as a flagship IEM. Both Advance and Supreme cables from Nobunaga Labs improve this in various ways, as does the myriad of stock tips included. Hear it through a thorough collection of our music players here, browse Cayin's other releases here, or check out all our other earphones here.

--- SOLD! --- HiBy Music's R8 release comes as a sign of assurance, a bid at challenging for the top of the DAP market. If you've found a niche make it yours, and HiBy's uber-powerful Android 9 and MQA 16X player is a showcase of electronics engineering brilliance. [See Product Desc. For More] R8's dual AKM4497s bring out the best of your online and offline Tidal MQA files, with a headphone amplifier Turbo Mode that puts out desktop amplifier leagues of power to drive Sennheiser and ZMF Headphones with ease. Here is a DAP that's all about the big experience. Such as the biggest, most speaker-like performance from Sennheiser's HD800S driven 4.4mm balanced: two strong tower images playing from in front of you. Even desktop amplifiers struggle to portray the same cues in spatial depth with this headphone legend, certainly never matching full-size stereo listening...until now. R8 leapt onto Headfonia's 'Recommended Buys' list for its supremacy in powering virtually all manner of headphones, being elevated to a 'Best of 2020' award given it's no small task for a portable device. Yet Twister6 hailed HiBy for giving us a flagship music player not all about brute force, but beautiful sound as well. This all led to Headfonics proclaiming R8 the most complete DAP on the market at time of writing. For the music player that does it all comes with a full suite of accessories including its own premium leather-bound carry box and exclusive Dignis case in tow. It's an unboxing experience to behold. Porta Fi called it – HiBy nailed it with R8. Now at Zepp, whet your appetites with the rest of HiBy's releases here first, or browse our other music players here.

HEDDphone breaks new ground in Singapore, bringing the benefits of Air Motion Transformer (AMT) technology right next to your ears, with no loss of detail or dynamics to the room. READ NOW The BIG HEDDphone interview with CEO Freddy Knop ecoustics have proven a novel driver technology can go up against the other big boys. This pioneer in personal audio quickly made its way onto Headfonia's list of 'Best Buys', earning a 'Recommended Buy' and 'Best of 2020' award in the process. [See Product Desc. For More] Headfonics sum up that HEDDphone "is not a planar sound, neither dynamic nor electrostatic, but it successfully mixes some of the best traits of each to paint a massive presentation, huge depth, and wonderful clarity". Actually, Ear Fidelity highly recommended it after an in-depth comparison with run-of-the-mill planar brands. SoundStage! were "pleasantly surprised that HEDD Audio could produce such versatile and good-sounding headphones in their first try". The Headphone List concluded HEDDphone is a "highly ambitious product whose meticulous realisation equally rewards in real-world performance as in theoretical design". Indeed, HEDDphone earned an Editors' Choice Award on Part-Time Audiophile for "its sound is rich and delightful". The measurements corroborate this for Headphone Guru to call them "an outstanding tour de force" with "such a transparent and true-to-life listening experience". Stereophile's Herb Reichert found its pairing with Feliks Audio's Euforia amplifier particularly enriching. Clearly, Heinz Electrodynamic Designs (HEDD) utilised their expertise in speaker tweeter design to perfectly execute this transducer technology in headphones for the first time ever. After this, don't forget to check out all our other open-back headphones here, along with the amplification to drive them with aplomb.

Bose raise the bar yet further as noise-cancelling headphone market leaders with the HP700. With the best noise-cancelling ability seen – or heard – yet, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support, Bose Augmented Reality (AR) and 20 hours of battery life give you wonderful audio with total comfort, practicality and style. Check out all of Bose's industry-leading products here, or view our other wireless gear here.

--- SOLD! ---Dita Audio's Fealty offers all the resolution their signature single dynamic drivers can eke out but adds a hint of warmth and emotion to the experience ideal for a prolonged listen. For those seeking ultimate transparency, look no further than Fealty's sibling, the Fidelity. Also check out the rest of Dita's work here, or browse our other IEMs here.

--- SOLD! ---

--- SOLD! --- Power hasn't come in a more potent package than Cayin Audio's little desktop iHA-6. Up to seven watts per channel promises to drive every headphone with aplomb, including HiFiMAN's notorious HE-6, Arya and Susvara, plus all Dan Clark Audio FKA MrSpeakers. [See Product Desc. For More] With the ability to improve based on the quality of sources, building blocks for a fantastic desktop rig begins from the iHA-6, said John Grandberg for Innerfidelity. Its 95 per cent discrete design counts on modern power FETs to push some serious power into any pair of cans – this is not an overstatement. Power is not to be confused for loudness here. You'll be able to benefit from the inherent low internal gain typical of any Cayin discrete circuit to drive both the Focal Stellia and HE-6, plus everything in between, in the optimal range of iHA-6's volume control. For anyone familiar with what that means, it's a big deal. You'll also be able to see everything from Cayin here and all our other DAC & amp options here.

Should we greet a company that builds cables for other IEMs with surprise, when they approach the summit with their own IEM release? If there were expectations, then they certainly had not been as great as Allegro – PlusSound's flagship tri-brid IEM that's their take on what 12 drivers can really do. Headfonics awarded nearly full marks after being taken by surprise by Allegro's performance. Twister6 praised a flawless first execution. This is PlusSound at the forefront of high-end personal audio, moving to the centre of your consideration with dual dynamic drivers in push-pull isobaric configuration, six balanced armatures and four electrostatic tweeters coaxially mounted in Allegro's nozzle. Allegro's supporting cast is stellar. A crossover that's a work of art keeps her drivers ticking over as one sound and quietly showcases PlusSound's pedigree as an IEM builder. A sleeping giant, now awakened, launching a flagship that packs a bass that excites, an accurate, articulate and natural mid-range, and no shortage of treble extension. And cables are brilliant as expected, with choice of Copper+ or Hybrid+ premium 2-in-1 shield coax type litz connecting you to sources that highlight the vast technical ability Allegro is capable of. [See Product Desc. For More] Cayin Audio's N8ii and HiBy Music's RS8 are naturally worthy of feeding Allegro. But part of PlusSound's brilliance here was designing a crossover that operates at a virtually flat 10ohm impedance and electrical phase, while granting their first flagship 112dB/mW of sensitivity.  Allegro will always be a powerhouse that scales based on source quality, but as a fairly benign load all listeners will enjoy excellent sound from more humble DAC/amps and music players.  Indeed, said crossover is the platform to perform for Allegro's drivers. PlusSound's low-order network feeds both dynamic driver bass and electrostatic treble sections. Their slow frequency roll-off slopes ensure accurate phase reproduction and maximum cohesion in their assigned audible band. And these simpler, lower-order signal paths utilise fewer components such that the crossover saps as little power as possible, ensuring maximum transparency, dynamics and detail reach the bass and treble units. Allegro's dual dynamic drivers, operating in push-pull isobaric fashion, are more than capable of keeping up with the extended range they operate in. Both stiff yet well-damped as they rise higher in frequency, these large 10mm drivers are mounted in a 3D-printed acoustic enclosure with a massive rear vent. That aids decompression out of phase, lowering air resistance within their chamber for greater excursion and better drive. PlusSound similarly mounted Allegro's electrostat tweeters where they would have maximum effectiveness. Placed coaxially against the IEM spout for the best directivity, their wide-frequency bandwidth extends up into the ether. Their low-order crossover sees these Sonion electrets enjoy the best sensitivity and power-to-SPL conversion, for audibly excellent dynamic ability. In between are six mid-range balanced armature drivers, this time working under high-order slopes to keep them in their ideal range of reproduction to avoid unduly taxing them. All 12 drivers are masterfully placed in Allegro's shell for maximum frequency and time-domain performance connected by Copper XS, an in-house designed cryogenically-treated Type 6 UP-OCC wire with proprietary insulation. PlusSound's attention to detail extended to their accessorisation, with custom-designed silicone eartips for ideal acoustics beyond the shell showcasing the technical potential of Allegro. And PlusSound's flagship Exo Copper+/Hybrid+ cables are included for the perfect signal path to source, placing their secondary twisted litz wire bundle used as the core and unique silver shielding to reduce EMI for listening not plagued by interference.  Allegro packs quality inside and out. Its polished, anodised, cryogenically-treated aluminum faceplate, body and nozzle carved from seven-axis CNC, and rhodium-plated tellurium copper 2-pin connectors, guarantee PlusSound's flagship will be as life-proof as its sound is timeless. Proudly carry Allegro in PlusSound's leather storage case cum IEM display stand whether you listen on the go or at home. Such is her performance that you'll never want it to leave your side. Because if you were surprised by PlusSound's entry into the high-end IEM arena, then that shock extends to the IEM clinic they just put on after over two years of research & development. While you're enjoying Allegro, explore how you can cable up your other transducers with PlusSound here, or view our other favourite IEMs here.