This was the perfect self-compliment. Empire Ears saw all they had done with their first flagship quad-brid earphone, and saw it was good. They named it Raven. Symbolising wisdom, knowledge, power and magic in Norse mythology. Stocks arrive October 2023. That's apt about this 12-driver bone conduction, dynamic driver, balanced armature and electrostatic hybrid. Raven serves Odin in Norse mythology – even being emblazoned with the "eye of Odin" symbol on its stainless steel faceplate – but in truth the TOTL Empire Ears now answers to no one but itself.  Symbolically one of the most intelligent beings in the animal kingdom Raven proves that it's not about the parts that are used, but rather how they're used that counts. Raven is one brainiac bird whose articulation exceeds all else in Head-Fi. Cavernous space, detail and resolution define its effortless presentation, supported by a tuning tastefully propped up in the low-end for a way at doing justice with all genres of music. [See Product Desc. For More] Arguably the most novel bone conduction implementation ever, Empire Ears gift Raven one of Head-Fi's most futuristic transducers ever, alongside other tried and tested technologies for incredible results beyond 2023. Weapon X (W10) makes its appearance again here. After finding great success on its debut with Legend Evo, this Empire Ears bone conduction driver complements the air conduction of its supporting cast, giving you sound you can feel as much as you hear. W10 employs a Japanese-made pure copper voice coil optimised for accuracy in frequency and transient response, with extreme attention paid to its linearity, ultra low distortion and efficient heat dissipation. Empire Ears managed to harness even more of the awesome power of W10 in Raven with a Harmonic Resonance Core (HRC) built below its 316L stainless steel faceplate. The purpose-built HRC reverberates to W10's beat, culminating within an internal polymer basin that holds the plate. This arrangement, boosted by the metal plate, elevates the effect of bone conduction. W10's vibrations manifest tangibly, enriching the bass and treble with unprecedented depth, extension, and clarity, and thereby unifying the Raven's entire performance. It aids in the resonance, amplification, and dispersion of sound waves, synergising with other elements to achieve a distinctive sound signature and optimise Raven's acoustic performance. W10's earth-shaking performance indeed amplifies the performance of the premium dynamic driver, balanced armature and electrostatic components Empire Ears chose for Raven. With one bone conductor performing for so many drivers, the SPL demands on the other cast members was lessened – Raven's effortless presentation is empowered by the minimal distortion of drivers being over-taxed. Dual Weapon 9+ dynamic woofers for low-frequencies can stick to their assigned range without needing to overcompensate as they get propped up by W10. And Raven's balanced armatures and electostatics particularly benefit as the reduced need to produce SPL leads to less distortion and an edge-less body to their detail. Raven is a show of Empire Ears maturity and is possible also because of the state of maturity the Head-Fi ecosystem is at. DAC/amp and music player sources show up in abundance to drive Raven's very difficult 2ohm load. It starts as simply as Questyle Audio's M15, with this super dongle's current-mode amplifier ever happier as a voltage source the more it detects a dead short. And the potent output devices of HiBy Music's Class A entry R5II and R6III are more than up to the task despite their budget status. Of course, those wanting a more consummate source of premium quality can turn to iBasso Audio's DX320 with its high 8 volt operating rails, while the Raven's way with detail will only be on full show through DX320 MAX TI's proprietary stepped attenuator. Tubes enter the picture through Cayin Audio's N8ii and N30LE. And then there are the discrete DAC music players which output plenty of juice. Cayin's DSD N7 with its 5 ampere output devices, and HiBy's R2R RS8 with inductor power supply and large, paralleled transistors, promise natural tone, gravitas, soundstage and imaging for audio fireworks.  Because Raven is the party that brings all of Head-Fi together; and also every Empire Ears technology – synX crossovers, EIVEC II electrostats, ARC anti-resonance compound, tri-port exhaust vents – under one roof. Whet your appetites for Raven with every other Empire Ears release here, or view all our other earphones here.

So hot, it's Crimson hot. Symphonium Audio's latest flagship earphone is also their greatest, distilling everything they've learned from Meteor to Helios into one gem of performance and fit. How Symphonium could cram all that detail and performance into something as pint-sized as Crimson is a wonder to behold. After all, parts are inexpensive, whereas labour, innovation, original R&D, resourcefulness in making the most of what's available, love and passion for engineering, aren't. By optimising the acoustic architecture around drivers – tweaking crossovers, bore lengths, and chassis layout – Crimson emerges as the Symphonium of our dreams. [See Product Desc. For More] Indeed, its flat mid-range to treble transition comes courtesy of greater pinna gain, exhibiting a frequency response you can trust, incredible detail, and hyper-realistic live dynamics. Best of all, Crimson's fit is a dream come true. As a successor, and immediate upgrade, to Helios, Crimson answers all of its predecessor's critics. A flat frequency response transition from 1Khz up to 4Khz enhances the perception of more accurate, present mids. Despite Symphonium's increased pinna compensation and the eschewing of a more diffuse, distant soundstage, Crimson suffers no shortage of spatial technicalities. It renders images with solid, tangible outlines on a vast and black background.  It's amazing how so much soundstage was crammed into such a small shell – the other improvement Symphonium are likely to be greeted with much cheer for. With a critical re-arrangement of components within Crimson's cavity not only for sonic gains through Phase Harmony Attenuation Technology (PHAT), but also wearability, the best-fitting Symphonium yet can be worn by virtually all ears. What's left is pure performance distilled from miniature high-grade T6 heat-treated AL6061 aluminium alloy shells, housing Symphonium's trademark flat impedance technology that ensures Crimson's performance remains consistent with inconsistent voltage sources. Still, it bears to juice the low impedances of Crimson well for best performance. To that end, Questyle Audio's M15 DAC/amp is a mainstay, while HiBy Music's partnership with Symphonium has been explored at length with any of the former's discrete output stage music players. Check out the path that led to Crimson with Symphonium's first releases here, or view our other IEMs here.

Sequels are usually no good, unless it's The Godfather Part II and now HEDDPhone 2 by HEDD Audio. That's now two headphones, two HEDDPhones and another Air Motion Transformer (AMT) flagship from those who first introduced the concept in 2020. Stock arrives in October 2023. The beauty of a velocity-based driver, rather than the standard pressure-based type, is only half the story with HEDDPhone 2. With a pleated driver surface area up to three times larger than a contemporary dynamic, planar or electrostatic headphones, HEDD's second coming is a benchmark of transparency and audio purity. One of Hi-Fi speakers' most important technologies, the quality promised by an AMT tweeter has always been unquestioned, and HEDD made a full-range, full frequency response one possible with Variable Velocity Transform (VVT) in their first HEDDPhone. Now, HEDDPhone 2 adds practicality with its build and design. 25 percent lighter than its predecessor, a patent-pending HEDDband smart strap system allows height, width, curvature and even the clamping pressure to be tweaked to individual head shape for a complete earpad seal – all with HEDDPhone 2 still built entirely in Berlin, Germany. [See Product Desc. For More] HEDD already impressed Head-Fi with the pioneering spirit of the AMT's creator, Oskar Heil, when releasing the first HEDDPhone. Now, bringing the HEDDPhone 2 up to 2023 standards of audio quality is an improved driver that sounds better and yet sheds weight. Rather than moving back and forth as a pressure-type transducer (like 99 per cent of conventional driver technology on the market), HEDDPhone 2's AMT is pleated with magnetic force acting to laterally squeeze air out of the driver's folds as an accordion would – according it the tag of being a velocity-based transducer. That allows air to accelerate towards the ear up to four times faster than a beryllium or diamond dynamic driver of huge rigidity and excursion might. But without the cost, or distortion associated. The AMT's ability to reproduce sound as it was recorded is unrivalled in speakers, and now in headphones. HEDD's VVT technology varies the fold lengths to aid this AMT in producing low frequencies below this tweeter technology's typical threshold of 3Khz, for high-quality, fast and accurate bass. That's an upgraded AMT driver that still retains all of its old spatial advantages, namely excellent horizontal dispersion. Because of that, HEDDPhone 2 produces real depth and a sound that truly sounds like it's coming from outside of the head – perhaps most fulfilling the claim that it's almost like listening to true speakers. And as if it was scarcely imaginable that HEDDPhone's sound could be improved, what's most exciting is that HEDDPhone 2 is built of carbon fibre and magnesium, to yield a 25 per cent weight reduction. Coming in at 550 grams, HEDD's next major upgrade comes in the form of the HEDDband – lighter in construction, yet stronger and more ergonomic. Built to be adjusted on two axes, the vertical dimension sees owners able to adjust wearing height and curvature via a patent-pending belt secured system. The horizontal dimension also sees width and therefore clamping pressure customisable. So much thought has gone into turning HEDDPhone 2 not just into HEDD's most complete product, but one of Head-Fi's barometers of affordable quality made to last with every last detail considered. German-style. Built in Berlin, HEDDPhone 2 comes with a five-year warranty against manufacturer defects. Its accessorisation is something else too. Spare earpads, two cables – one balanced 4.4mm, another 1/4" – and 4.4mm-to-4-pin-XLR adapter all come neatly packed in a travel case so that studio professionals and audiophiles alike may bring HEDDPhone 2 to work and to play in equal measure. Reasonably easy to drive for decent amplification, HEDDPhone 2's AMT is now 2dB more sensitive at 89dB/W. Portable behemoths like Cayin Audio's C9, Enleum's HPA-23RM, iBasso Audio's DX320 MAX TI and Lotoo's Mjolnir are plenty up to the task. Desktop power will truly unleash this AMT, though. Think of Cayin's iHA-6 or Questyle Audio's CMA15 for that purpose. While HEDDPhone 2's flat impedance make HA-6A, HA-300B MK. II and Feliks Audio's Envy all transformer tube amplifier candidates. There is no ceiling to HEDDPhone's sound quality, and a step up to the Lina – one of the best synergies with dCS Data Conversion Systems' statement headphone amplification system – in no way overawes HEDD's flagship. The future is AMT, and the future is now with HEDDPhone 2.  After you check yours out, get psyched with all the accolades that landed on HEDD Audio's doorstep with their original HEDDPhone release here, or view all our other headphones 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, this successor to Bakoon 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! 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 D8000 Pro will thank Enleum. 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. [See Product Desc. For More] 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.

Sony's WF-1000XM5 features cutting-edge technology to deliver premium sound, and the best noise-cancelling Bluetooth true-wireless performance on the market. This Sony has already received 5 ⭐ on What Hi-Fi?. CNET rates them near perfect. Harnessing LDAC, real-time audio processors and high-performance mics power WF-1000XM5's specially-designed 8.4mm Dynamic Driver X that gets an upsize for wide frequency reproduction, deep bass and clear vocals. Sony's flagship noise-canceling buds are designed to immerse you in a sound so good, it feels like you’re in the studio with your favourite artists. The WF-1000XM5 headphones raise the bar for distraction-free listening and clarity. [See Product Desc. For More] It's noise-cancelling taken to another level with two proprietary processors that cancel more external noise than ever, dual feedback microphones and noise isolation eartips. Three microphones on each earbud improve low-frequency cancellation performance. This is Sony's biggest-ever step forward in noise canceling, resulting in ambient sound captured even more accurately so you can enjoy one of our purest sounds. Exclusively developed by Sony, the Integrated Processor V2 unlocks the full potential of WF-1000XM5's HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN2e. This unique combination of technology controls the six microphones across both ears to deliver unprecedented noise-cancelling quality that can be adapted to provide the best performance for your environment. Leveraging the 24/96Khz resolution that LDAC can transfer, WF-1000XM5 brings you Hi-Res Audio Wireless made possible with Sony's 24-bit audio processing and high-performance amplification and Sony's upsized 8.4mm Dynamic Driver X with a new diaphragm structure that enhances clarity, and adapts better to noise-cancellation at low-frequencies. The latter is a team-effort with Sony's Edge-AI DSP that doesn't even require the best music files for awesome sound. DSEE Extreme™ upscales compressed YouTube or streamed music in real-time.  WF-1000XM5 dynamically recognises each song's instrumentation, musical genre and individual elements, and restores high-range sound lost in compression. Sony ensure you hear everything, and you're heard every time. Noise reduction algorithms developed with AI suppress ambient noise, so your speech on calls aren't muffled even in noisy situations. Advanced one conduction sensors pick up the vibration of your voice directly from your skull bones, helping WF-1000XM5 isolate your speech from ambient sounds and background noise, for clear calls in even loud environments. Precise Voice Pickup technology facilitates Sony's noise reduction algorithm that was developed with AI machine learning using more than 500 million voice samples to suppress ambient noise, increasing accuracy and extracting your voice clearly in various environments. A wind noise-reduction structure and a mesh wrap in the microphone lastly minimises noise during calls, so you can be heard clearly in windy conditions. This usability is complete with Bluetooth Multipoint connectivity meaning WF-1000XM5 can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously so, when a call comes in, your headphones can automatically connect to the right one. You can also get hands-free help by saying “Ok Google” or “Alexa” to activate your preferred voice assistant. Sony give you up to eight hours of charge on your WF-1000XM5 and they can store another 16 hours in the included charging case for a total of up to 24 hours of listening every time you leave the house. And, for your convenience, a three-minute quick charge will give you up to 60 minutes of play. When you do switch earphones, do so to one of Sony's other Bluetooth models, audiophile IEMs and music players here, or check out all our other wireless buds here.

30 years in audio feels like a lifetime, and the N30LE AKM AK4499EQ hybrid tube/solid-state flagship music player is a fitting milestone of Cayin Audio's anniversary in Head-Fi. Like Cayin's line flagship N8ii DAP but on steroids, the 300 Nutube-built N30LE give their two prized, rare and out-of-print AKM AK4499EQ DACs from 2019 each the CNC-machined titanium-steel alloy platform to shine upon. N30LE counts on a Hyper Mode that runs maximum Class A bias and operating voltage together, made possible by a power supply built upon an instantaneous EDLC ultracapacitor, to surround said AK4499EQs with an analog stage that is a true statement of Cayin's circuit expertise. With their unrivalled experience working with Korg's Nutubes, N30LE's third-generation 6P1 tube circuit within can be operated with two flavours of sound by adjusting the negative feedback around them – a "Modern" setting emphasising speed and transparency, and "Classic" operation with more warmth and romance. [See Product Desc. For More] Cayin placed these tubes in the voltage gain stage once again, where they will exert the most positive influence on N30LE's final sonics. It's the first and the last time Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)’s legacy four-channel AK4499EQs will be leashed to Nutubes, marking an historic moment. High quality, linear open-loop small signal from Korg's low-capacitance, high-bandwidth Nutubes running on high operating voltages then feeds a potent discrete solid-state power stage that drives your headphones. Hyper Mode ups the entire operating voltage in the circuit, with a 470mF Electric Double Layer Ultracapacitor (EDLC) capable of discharging DC instantaneously to help reproduce the huge, sudden transients of musical notes into difficult loads.  N30LE's high-voltage rails see operating voltages for its power section rise above 7 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 N30LE'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 N30LE 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 output transistors ensure excellent current-handling for good reason, to reap the full benefit of N30LE's overbuilt power supplies for analog and digital sections. Unfazed driving even the punishing low impedances of Raven, Odin and Legend Evo from Empire Ears, plus the Vision Ears EXT, Subtonic Audio's Storm, Focals, Fostexs and Rosson Audio Designs, Cayin's 30-year tradition building amplifiers that provide actual power as proper voltage sources into halving resistances continues with N30LE. You'll want to exploit all of N30LE's technical feats by getting as much of your music aboard. So Cayin built in the futuristic Snapdragon 665 SOC and 8GB of RAM to run Android 12 perfectly. A 12,570mAh battery supplies up to 10 hours of use. Stream Hi-Res Lossless Tidal and Apple Music at full bit and sample rates with Cayin's Direct Transport Audio OS that bypasses detrimental Android sample-rate conversion. And in this way, N30LE ensures not just that Cayin's 30th anniversary year keeps getting better, but it also gives AKM's cherished AK4499EQs a fitting farewell as they pass on into history. Celebrate Cayin's milestone more by checking out their other gear here, or view all our other DAPs here.

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.

PRO: there's really only one way to describe the Clear MG Pro. This outstandingly detailed, coloured yet correct, magnesium maestro certainly earns that tag with the way it wraps all your favourite Focal headphones into one. By combining the bass levels and soundstage of Clear MG with the forward, engaging mids of Clear and a hint of the transient speed and detail of Utopia, Clear MG Pro possibly could summarise Focal in a single headphone nutshell. The revelatory 40mm M-shaped magnesium driver that Focal introduced for its mid-line Clear MG facilitates all of the above, approximating the performance of headphones beyond its price tier. [See Product Desc. For More] Clear MG Pro is almost too good to be true, yet there it is. By combining many of the best aspects of each Focal classic that has passed, it's on a clear route to success. Sound On Sound rates this Focal highly. Clear OG is the clear reference here. But Clear MG Pro even surpasses Head-Fi's GOAT by granting better cohesion between those famous mids and the flanking bass and treble ranges, being holistically more complete as a flagship claim. That's partly empowered by the use of magnesium to build Focal's famous M-shaped inverted dome. By being even lighter than beryllium, together with a driver suspension that's super pliant and a magnet that can produce more than one tesla of force, this magnesium grants Clear MG Pro transient speed and detail without harshness. Built to be extremely pistonic in motion, the maximum potential travel of the driver gives Clear MG Pro's bass great low-frequency presence, speed and dynamics. These are traits that remain as frequencies rise. Focal's humble 40mm driver dimensions and the superb damping qualities of magnesium mean movement stays pistonic and doesn't deteriorate into harsh modal break-up up top. Treble detail stays inherently warm and natural. Clear MG Pro's portrayal of air and soundstage is aided by a M-shaped honeycomb grille protecting the correspondingly built driver that's exceptionally open. This frame allows even more delivery of high-frequency detail and extension. Two single-ended cables and a spare pair of pads come packed neatly in Focal's hard travel carrying case. But audiophiles will want to upgrade Clear MG Pro to any number of 4.4mm cables – the likes of Advance TPC and Inspire from Nobunaga Labs and Tago Studio yielding improvements to sound quality that do Focal justice. The improvement offered by 4.4mm balanced cables will also enable owners to pair Clear MG Pro with a source of consummate quality, taking advantage of its portable friendly trait so any of Cayin Audio's RU7, HiBy Music's R6 III and R6 Pro II, plus iBasso Audio's DC04 Pro and DX240 can be used. While you're looking up Clear MG Pro, also be sure to check out the bronze-tinted chestnut Clear MG with included 4-pin XLR cable here, our other Focals here, and all our headphones here.

The only limit set for Lotoo had been size, but now they've roundly conquered that with Mjolnir. Limited to only 600 units made worldwide. The ultimate Lotoo ever built is a trans-portable 4-pin XLR and 4.4mm music player and DAC/amp powered by a super battery unit. Capable of outputting up to 2.5 watts of power per channel, Mjolnir is built on AKM's final units of AK4499EQ DACs. Mjolnir gives its prized, rare and out-of-print AK4499EQ chip from 2019 an all-metal, CNC-machined platform to shine upon. Robust power supplies comprised of six 21700 battery cells means this Lotoo monolith works on an operating voltage of 20 volts.  That, coupled with its silent noise floor and up to 134dB of dynamic range delivering fidelity, means Mjolnir performs about any way you want it. That means it'll drive the Empire Ears Raven and Oriolus Traillii JP, up to Focal's Utopia, ZMF Headphones' Atrium Closed and Caldera plus HEDD Audio's HEDDPhone 2 equally well. [See Product Desc. For More] It's wonderful that Lotoo provided Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM)'s AK4499EQ zenith the time capsule needed to transport this legendary chip forward for the enjoyment of future audiophiles.  With Mjolnir built on Lotoo's LTOS custom user interface, this uber-flagship DAP adds its own value with a digital subsystem – consisting of Lotoo's tried-and-true NXP i.MX 6ULL and Analog Devices Blackfin DSP processor sub-system carrying proprietary code that generates clocking and audio data I2S for its AK4499EQ. Marking Lotoo's return to current-output DACs for the first time since 2014 when Texas Instruments' (TI) PCM1792 appeared in Paw Gold, Mjolnir's four-channel AK4499EQ outputs analog to a current-to-voltage I/V stage where D/A conversion errors manifest as a DC offset that is easy to filter out – instead of more sinister total harmonic distortion. The desire for purity is mirrored in Lotoo's construction of Mjolnir. Multi-layer PCBs and a 3mm thick metal locked-in shield for the audio circuit, down to individual screws fashioned from 304 and 316 stainless steel and a CNC chassis built to surpress quality-averse vibrations, are testament to Lotoo's attention to detail. Mjolnir's pristine small signal gets fed to its power stage consisting of eight TI LME49600 buffers – the first and only time Head-Fi has seen these parts implemented in such a topology – making up an incredibly powerful paralleled quad-mono balanced output stage capable of 5 total watts. With Mjolnir's 20 volt battery power rails running closer to each LME49600's power supply requirement, each op-amp already acts linearly in the open-loop before mandatory feedback is added. Dynamics are unhindered regardless of load complexity – undoubtedly bolstered by LME49600's incredible slew-rate spec. The negative feedback finally applied as the cherry on the cake sees Mjolnir achieve up to an incredible 130dB dynamic range via 4.4mm or 4-pin XLR headphone outs, or 134dB via dual 3-pin XLR line-outs. Indeed, Lotoo built Mjolnir to function perfectly as a DAC too, its Wi-Fi undergoing Roon testing and certification, with DLNA readiness meaning use with UPnP software is also possible. Digital outputs into your Hi-Fi system's DAC also sees Mjolnir execute transport duties via AES/EBU, S/PDIF RCA and optical. So here is Lotoo with Mjolnir proudly asking whether your all-in-one system even hubs, building the ultimate all-in-one to end every argument against it. Check out Lotoo's other devices here, or view our other DAPs here.

This semi-open piece is Letshouer's latest fun project for those newly inducted into the world of in-ear-monitors (IEM).  Three dynamic drivers + single passive radiator in-ear monitor HIFI earphones. Four-way Acoustic Tubes, Two-way Crossover Circuit. Semi Open Faceplate Design, A Fusion Of Metal And Resin. The drivers are connected to the dual-pin receptacle via a flexible printed circuit (FPC) crossover board. Joint Effort With HeyGear, The Leading 3D-Printing Supplier Four cores of 216-strands, 0.05mm in diameter silver plated copper cable.  DZ4 comes with a standard 3.5mm single-ended plug, featuring a standard 0.78mm dual-pin design. High precision in 3D Printed chassis production to meet ergonomic principles. CNC-milled anodized aluminum casing with semi-open design. Its outstanding sound performance brings exceptional adaptability and compatibility, catering to various usage scenarios from music reproduction, gaming, to basic monitoring needs.

Now in ready stock, and on demo. Elysian Acoustic Labs aptly named their six balanced armature driver Diva 2023, because of the way she sings and sparkles for every genre. It goes onto Headfonia's Recommended Buys list. Far from being just one size fits all though, a tunable bass switch allows users to select between three levels of bass for the best synergy with their music and listening preferences.

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

At the start of the trilogy brought to you by Tago Studio is T3-01. This wooden closed-back portable headphone manages to entertain with its accuracy – a truly fine line to walk in Head-Fi. Silk-coated dynamic drivers sitting below maple wood cups plumb the deepest bass with a sense of mid-range space and treble sparkle that hint at products many times more expensive. T3-01 is a headphone that studio pros and content creators are meant to trust ... and so, therefore, should you. [See Product Desc. For More] It's that delightful emphasis at the frequency extremes that makes T3-01 particularly exciting news and listening for audiophiles. But that U-shaped approach also morphs to a flat line at quieter listening, granting the impression of exciting accuracy and neutrality. Indeed, Tago Studio exploits the Fletcher-Munson effect to good effect here, compensating where bass and treble extremes fall off at low volumes with T3-01's loudness contour. Quiet listening won't hinder professionals from experiencing a flat frequency response. Nor will it stunt the natural dynamic movements inherent to your precious music – T3-01 is just apt at reproducing smaller detail. And when you turn the music up, Tago Studio built in a driver and acoustics that keeps every note and imaging cue tidily arranged, befitting the recording when sonics are brought to SPL life. Ignore T3-01's entry price. A silk protein-coated 40mm driver – jointly developed with Gunma Prefectural Textile Industrial Lab – is key to reproducing the inherent warmth in music.  T3-01's driver excursion is responsible for moving the copious amount of air required to reproduce a deep, rumbling and impactful sub-bass. It continues to move as a piston, without cone or modal break-up, even as frequencies rise owing to its humble proportions. Tago Studio's resulting lack of distortion is audible, and as key to content creators accurately judging what's on their tracks as you enjoying the tunes they make for your enjoyment – as the artist intended. That's further helped by T3-01's voice coil kept thin and light by a 70ohm impedance. Inertia is low and Tago's driver reacts instantly to the smallest voltage impulses. This is a 70ohm load that's simultaneously easy to drive for any partnering amplifier, such that a studio console, mixer or tube amplifier with varying output impedance mates comfortably with suitable damping factor. Apart from frequency response being less prone to variation from impedance mismatch, T3-01's easy load means many modern bridge-tied load outputs on music players won't grind their gears pushing into inordinately low impedances – small power supplies and output stages producing less in the way of distortion and noise as a result. T3-01 will make for a happy result running from iBasso Audio's DC04 Pro and DX170, but high output impedance, imperfect voltage sources from FiiO and Shanling will not be tested untowardly either – music players from the latter both having enough mettle to push Tago very satisfactorily.  Clearly, there are infinite ways to enjoy Tago Studio's exciting accuracy, with infinite satisfaction following in the studio, at home or on the go. Check out the rest of Japan's best studio releases here, or view our other headphones here.

iFi Audio's hotly-anticipated GO pod turns your prized wired earphones wireless! These Bluetooth adapters fill a niche to make your flagships even more convenient, and better sounding than before. Stock arrives end-July 2023. Never has Bluetooth promised to be this flexible and high-quality. From the makers of the acclaimed GO blu comes wearable Bluetooth DAC/headphone amps that you can attach to MMCX and 2-pin IEMs – dispensing with those messy cables in the process.  And praise has been pouring in for iFi. Headfonia place GO pod on their Recommended Buys list. Headfonics found it wanting for nothing. GO pod gets highly recommended on Ear Fidelity. And John Grandberg writes "nobody else has so far managed to execute the idea to such a high standard" on Darko.Audio. Twister6 compares them to wired sound quality. [See Product Desc. For More] iFi's headline act is how GO pod is the first device in the world to support Hi-Res transmission of 24/96kHz audio, with LDAC, Qualcomm® aptX™ Adaptive and Snapdragon Sound codecs built on the Bluetooth 5.2 standard. That's possible with iFi separating the Bluetooth receiver, DAC and amp modules even in the featherweight, space-limited GO pods.  Qualcomm’s top-tier QCC5144 receiver maxes out Bluetooth quality, and that data stream gets sent to a separate Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC for no-compromise decoding.  It's not just about the GO pod's fidelity, but also its ability to deliver that signal as pristinely as possible into IEM impedances that have been steadily dropping. Despite its miniature battery power supply, this iFi is rated into loads as low as 16ohms – right after USB DAC/amp dongles, GO pod is the very next credible DAP replacement. Indeed, Bluetooth just got serious. Naturally you'd want to get these attached to as many as your prized IEMs as possible. And in addition to stock MMCX and 2-pin attachments, Pentaconn Ear, T2 IPX and A2DC GO pod connectors are sold separately.  Even GO pod's charging case reeks of iFi's attention to detail. With each storage compartment roomy enough to accommodate the largest CIEMs, there's also a 1,500mAh battery that's large enough to offer up to 35 hours of play time. Check out all of iFi Audio's gear here, or all our other wireless equipment here.

Sony have done it again. On the back of a long list of professional monitoring legends MDR-7506, MDR-CD900ST and MDR-M1ST comes MDR-MV1. This open-back Pro debutant comes in to set a standard at its price for pros and pleasure. Stock arrives in early June 2023. Like the best Sonys that have come before, MDR-MV1 takes advantage of its open-back earcups for accurate reproduction of the spatial information on your favourite recordings.  Sony's carefully tuned open-back acoustic structure supports mixing and mastering of both spatial and stereo sounds with High-Resolution Audio capability. [See Product Desc. For More] Through multiple rounds of simulation and prototyping with MDR-MV1's 40mm dynamic driver, Sony derived a low-distortion, high-compliance diaphragm shape with corrugation. An acoustic resistor is used over as large an area as possible to eliminate spatial resonance, for optimal control of airflow in front of and at the back of the driver. MDR-MV1's open-back structure with rear ducts realises sufficient volume and quick and tight low-range reproduction while maintaining the separation between the mid-range and low range. Reflected sound inside these affordable open-back Sonys is reduced, lowering user fatigue and increasing accuracy. In this way this critical listening specialist realises natural and rich bass reproduction without undue colouration for total enjoyment. Use with iFi Audio's Zen DAC V2 on your desk, plus iBasso Audio's DC03 Pro and Questyle Audio's M15 on the go. Also check out the rest of Sony's range here, as well as our other headphones here.

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

1-bit, multiple possibilities. After the debut of Head-Fi's first discrete 1-bit, all-to-DSD, music player in N7, Cayin Audio have miniaturised the technology further in RU7. This latest novel 4.4mm USB DAC/amp from innovators Cayin therefore promises to upsize your enjoyment of music with the same decoding topology that saw N7 greeted with aplomb. Built of 128 individual resistors, RU7 converts all your normal PCM playback – via CD rips, Hi-Res downloads and Spotify, Tidal or Apple Music streaming – into DSD before decoding to analog. Its size is proof that no task is too big for Cayin. Outputting in 4.4mm, RU7 is Cayin's perfect complement to the PCM, R2R, RU6. Headfonics says RU7 is "the best of the lot". Headfonia elected this mini DSD masterpiece to its Recommended Buys list. eCoustics add "it's the best dongle DAC we’ve tried yet". "RU7 continues the company’s hot streak of breaking new ground in DAC design ... 1-bit DAC in the RU7 is even more impressive than the R2R DAC [in RU6]" says The Headphone List. To Twister6 and ichos-reviews, RU7 even challenges DAPs. Bringing up to 400 milliwatts power to bear, the goodness of an all-to-DSD approach to decoding can be heard with all manner of portable Head-Fi. [See Product Desc. For More] All audio formats are passed as DSD through RU7's precise 1-bit decode. Cayin returns to Sony's Scarlet Book SACD revolution of the 1990s and elevates that conversion philosophy with modern mobile dongle hardware. RU7's highlight is its 1-bit decoder, converting all PCM files to quad-rate DSD first via DSP logic, while letting native DSD material flow on to the 128 discrete resistors in its 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, PS Audio and of course, N7's, 1-bit DAC release has been greeted with accolades and fanfare. RU7'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. RU7 also avoids the errors of dynamic element matching inherent to 2-7 bit delta-sigma decoders. The decoded analog goes through Cayin's specially designed resistor-based analog volume control for perfect channel matching at any level – facilitating that very special 1-bit discrete DSD decode and importantly preserving your music's true dynamic range resolution. 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 feat possible on a USB-powered dongle DAC. Cayin differentiates RU7 from RU6 in offering the former a line-out option whereby the volume control is bypassed for a fixed voltage out, perfect for listening into motor stereo systems as well as handy and portable personal speakers.  Meanwhile, RU7's 400mW output power is doubled compared to RU6's, such that this DSD DAC is capable of transferring all its forward-thinking fidelity into your prized transducers. Never fear for leaving your reference gear behind for Cayin's latest and greatest every-day carry.  There ends the list of exploits worthy of celebrating Cayin's 30th anniversary in arguably more ambitious a way than even N7 offered. Check out the rest of Cayin's gear here, or view our other USB dongle DACs here.

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

Mark Levinson release No. 5909 to win over the masses, arming their flagship Bluetooth headphone with the most prominent tuning curve widely accepted – Dr. Sean Olive's Harman Curve.  Allied with the acoustic know-how from Samsung's Harman International, No. 5909 is a Hi-Fi statement that will enchant you on your travels. No. 5909's 40mm beryllium-coated drivers promise traditional Hi-Fi fidelity that's made relevant in the portable age with Bluetooth 5.1, LDAC and aptX™ Adaptive usability. Mark Levinson's consideration for the modern audiophile extends to offering three levels of noise-cancelling. What Hi-Fi? rightfully award No. 5909 5 ⭐, and audiophile cred from Headfonics follows suit. [See Product Desc. For More] With the advantages of beryllium, one of audio's most coveted materials at hand, Mark Levinson set out to build a statement flagship with all the speed, transparency, scale and dynamics in the world. No. 5909's driver starts with a sandwich driver core of softer material to offer effective damping at higher frequencies, this surface being coated with beryllium for the metal's stiffness, lightness and air acceleration properties. That means Mark Levinson's driver moves as a perfect piston over all frequencies up to and above its working range – and its small 40mm size just helps further keeping distortion down by staving off cone and modal break-up. Mark Levinson's prowess in building the ideal full-range, pistonic, driver ensures the Harman Curve is brought to life in realism, and quality. No. 5909's sound profile has been expertly tuned to an acoustic response curve that achieved the highest subjective scoring across listening tests. Such quality is preserved even as you venture into noisy environments. The battery provides up to 30 hours of active noise-cancellation – comprising three levels that adapt bas