Who are Just Audio?

Just Audio is the brain child of Justin Harris, an experienced electronics/embedded software engineer with a love of Music and Hi Fi, whom previously has worked professionally in the mobile/wireless devices product creation domain. His passion is infectious, he obviously relishes the chance to talk about his ideas, electronics in general and getting the very best out of Hi Fi gear. Justin has worked for some of the mobile phone manufacturing giants, you may even have some kit he was involved in already.
“This all started with designing some functionality to incorporate into my modified Quad 405 power amplifiers, to enable standby and best in class audio detection and wake-up functionality, with the intention to make this in such a way that it could be retro-fitted without making a mess of the existing internals. ”

It was a desire to get the very best of his own Hi Fi kit which lead to the ground up designs for the uHA-120 and now it’s Class A big brother the AHA-120.

In 2009 he decided to start his own company. “The main theme originally was modularity and utilisation of surface mount technology to enable making the modules small enough to fit in tight spaces. I wanted to make operation seem natural and intuitive to the end-user and perform better than other implementations that I’d experienced myself.”
Having such a strong engineering background seems to have provided Justin with an understanding that  individuality, through modularity and customisation, will develop products with the end user always in mind. It can take a long time to find the bit of kit which has all the required abilities and compliments existing headphones or source. By understanding the wants and needs of the enthusiast he hopes to be able to bridge these difficult gaps for customers whilst keeping an eye on the shifting sands of the audiophile landscape.

“By early 2010 We had started to think along the lines of making a complete product that could be tested to the relevant standards. We had already built up a library of components and a capability to produce electronics modules. I’d been studying on various audio amplifier topologies and experimenting with my own Hi-Fi system at home, attaining both measurable and perceivable improvements. I’d also been looking at headphone amplification projects and products out of passing interest for some time and had already built my own headphone amp for use when I was working at the office. The idea occurred too me, why not use the technological advances to make a pocket sized headphone amplifier more akin to the standard one would expect from a respectable desktop amplifier. Of course, the idea of creating a pocket sized amp isn’t new, but we noticed that everyone in this market seemed to be just using an operational amplifier or some form of dedicated amplifier IC combination. Coming more from a Hi-Fi power amplifier interest area, we felt that using a commercial IC would never provide the same level of audio quality as a carefully crafted discrete circuit, so I set about building some prototypes of more discrete topologies usually found in larger power amplifiers. A few months later we had determined most of the system level components (battery, charging, connectors, volume control pot), along with a hybrid class AB topology that we had built in enough flexibility to fine tune and provide what I felt is a more High Fidelity sound, yet able to operate from a low voltage power source.”

With a direction that many enthusiasts will recognise Justin is still committed to customisation and the minor adjustments that provide the best possible performance. So far he has carried out many mods working closely with customers requirements. Several such projects have seen him build a range of Studio quality cabling and adding mods to hardware which have helped  him shape the future direction of the Just Audio range and additional services. More about Justin’s big plans for the future of Just Audio and functionality upgrades (which will be available for existing Just Audio amp owners too) later on.

AHA-120 Put To The Test

Having a Pair of  the truly excellent Beyerdynamic 600ohm Tesla T1 Headphones at my disposal, Justin suggested he send me the Just Audio Class A AHA-120 to test. Quite a few manufacturers have products in this small niche market, some fail to deliver improved sound quality or improved player usability with hard to power headphones, Justin expects the AHA-120 will be a great match to the T1’s. I have been using the excellent iBasso D10 with headphones regularly and also other acclaimed portable amps for some time now, this will be the first proper portable test with the Beyer T1’s.

Many audiophiles believe that class A gives the best sound quality with its absence of crossover distortion and reduced harmonic distortion. Class A amplifiers are typically more linear and less complex than other types, but they are very inefficient. This type of amplifier is perfect though for driving sensitive low distortion headphones where the listener wants the very best audio quality, without the massive electricity bill potential of a full sized class A HiFi system at home! Operating in class A means that the amplifier is always passing current through upper and lower sections of the electronics even when there is no signal, negating any artifacts as a result of the transistors turning off and back on again during the amplification process. The Amp arrives in it’s plain box  - usually an exciting sign. Inside the box there is bubble wrapped AHA-120, a mini usb cable and four self adhesive stick on feet. Inside the bubble wrap bag with the amp is a silica gel sachet, included to prevent any moisture in the air from condensing and damaging the product. Removing the amp from the bubble wrap bag it becomes clear that extruded aluminium case is flawless with a soft anodised finish, and ultra fine print on both the front and rear panels. The company logo on the front panel is in colour and the serial number on the rear panel is engraved, which is a nice touch. The version I have is a product sample and is already burned in.

I can’t resist turning the large volume knob, switching the unit on revealing two things - a warm Amber glow from the LED and the silky smoothness with which the volume turns. The Aluminium case with soft anodised finish is solid and picking it up the unit weighs neither more nor less than expected - it is a little large though compared to most portable amps (26mm x 80mm x126mm, the uHA-120 is much smaller - 23mm x 52mm x 85mm) but still has a very small footprint when used as a desktop amp. Print work is detailed is flawless with all controls well labelled, panel fixings appear to be stainless steel. At the front, right to left, you have the chunky volume knob with accompanying Amber on/off LED, next the 3.5mm output then the input and finally a five-way selector nob for impedance matching your headphones. This feature is probably more accurately described as class A biasing level, most users would like to match current setting to  their headphones, this is simplified by just providing a selector for selecting the amount of bias needed to maintain class A operation for a given headphone impedance. Without this feature the battery would apparently only last around 18 hours whereas now you can get up to 60 hours of battery operation when driving 600 ohm headphones. Round the back there is an engraved serial number, USB charging socket and red to Green Charge LED and two small charging operation switches for charging management with other USB devices. The AHA-120 contains a Vishay P11 potentiometer mounted on a solid ground plain PCB, low ESR Capacitors, Burr Brown Opamp to provide a FET input stage and Alps switches. The flat front panel sockets feel rather nice and connection seems very solid and reliable with a very positive feel to the connection.

The first device I connect to the AHA-120 is my iPod touch via an iBasso CB07 pure Oxy sealed LOD cable, I plug in the Beyer T1’s and turn the five-way switch to 600. Firing up the first lossless track, Radiohead - Pyramid Song, I am instantly impressed with the balance of weight and air, there is an instant feeling of synergy between amp and headphones.  As the song unfolds I find myself closing my eyes and feeling my way around the stereo image. There is real texture to the sound which is vivid, heavy and fluid - detail is is apparent but subtle giving structure and very accurate movement to each instrument. The piano in this track is distractingly pretty and I am already excited to try plenty of other favourite music. There is a ton of headroom and I never get the white marker on the volume control much past 12 o’ clock.The iPod touch is surprisingly charged twice in two days before the amps lithium polymer battery runs flat, which I had not expected at all. It isn’t the best I’ve heard from the T1’s, but the iPod is the most likely culprit and I will put that to the test next. After a decent couple of hours with this initial setup I connect the AHA-120 to the analogue outs on a broadcast quality sound card (running .WAVs from a Mac Book Pro) and revisit the first track I heard. Within seconds I’m glaring at my iPod and shaking my head in disappointment as if it had just kicked a football through my kitchen window. This shows the pairing has real merit, as inferior sources are often shown up by a great headphone/amp combination. The sound is more lush with even more realistic texture and structure, solid and powerful but lighter, quicker. I run through a few classical favourites (this is, to date, the best I have heard Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No2) and the first bad thing I think is when I realise that I have to give the amp back. It follows me everywhere with the iPod touch, great results with Ultrasone Pro 900, Beyer DT770 and DT880, Sennheiser HD650 and HD600 and fantastic in 32ohm mode with my Grado 325is, until sadly it has to go back. Just Audio have a balanced configuration ,using two AHA-120, which includes either balanced XLR or Jack output into the amps and a HD650 balanced cable. Justin expects Beyer T1 and Sennheiser HD800 users will be interested in a cable mod or replacement cable to use this configuration too.

The AHA-120 is very accurate but has a lush warmth which adds to its very real sound. It seemed to encourage the already super clean Beyer T1’s to find convincing sculptural depth in some quite difficult recordings. As promised Just Audio seem to have built a portable Class A which can contribute the power and finesse needed for high impedance, flagship model headphones.

Future Just Audio Projects

Just Audio have some exciting projects under way. They are currently designing a very forward thinking DAC which may be modular, new Balanced operation cables are available now with more cable variants to come and Balanced amps may eventually appear. Due to customer demand some iPod modifications may be added to their service repertoire and customisation of Just Audio amps will continue to be carried out for the best possible operation with specific headphones. Thanks to Justin for talking to me, the loan of the AHA-120 and for the use of the Photos.

Just Audio at Head-fi Meet

Just Audio will be attending the London Head-fi meet where you can try the AHA-120 and uHA-120 for yourself and pick Justin’s brain about his approach to Audio Design. He will be there with another of our favourite HiFi people, Mark Dolbear who will have the latest HiFiMan HE-5LE and HE-6 and Schiit Audio amps on display and for you to try.

More Information

More information on the full range of Just Audio Products can be found here.

Who is Fanny Wang?

Fanny Wang is an imaginary eastern lady who wants everybody to enjoy her headphones. The brand is being fronted by attractive young women (the Fanny Wang Girlz) who seem to have been very well trained in demonstrating the headphones, seen at January’s CES Show, talking to the public about what to expect from a headphone.

If you think they look a bit familiar, that’s because they are! Fanny Wang is the brainchild of Tim Hickman and David Adam, who after making some of the best known iPhone cases and accessories around with their Hard Candy brand, decided to research what the public at large wanted from audio accessories. After looking at the ultra successful Monster Beats by Dre range, they thought that although Monster had made headway in opening up better sounds to the mass market, they had also got some important details really wrong.

For the On-Ear Wang (yes that is what their first headphone is called!) they consulted the original Engineer and Sound designer behind the Monster Beats and asked him to come up with a sound that was more natural, neutral and better suited to the serious music fanatic. Before audiophiles scoff at this idea, the titanium drivers found inside the On-Ear Wangs is inspired by the Denon AH-D2000! This I think was aimed at fixing the most common critique of the Monster Beats - For most they are simply too bass heavy and therefore struggle with Rock, Classical and Jazz.

For their design they took their cue from the Beats and attempted a sturdier more comfortable frame with a fun finish similar to the popular designs of their iPhone, iPod and Mac accessories. Another factor that is generally backed up by the popular opinions of Audio enthusiasts was that the main thrust of the Monster Beats marketing is a little misleading.  Slogans like “… hear music how artists intend you to - like you’re in a studio” and “People are not hearing all of the music” are a very bold claim for bass heavy noise cancellers especially when actual studio headphones can be bought at half the price. The Fanny Wang Brand is attempting a less bombastic and more fun approach with another crucial difference - price! The aim seems to be realistic sound at a realistic price.

Sound

There is an obvious attempt to bridge the gap between the fashion headphone market and the audiophile serious listener, it seems like this balance is achieved quite well. I cannot see the on-ear Wang joining the Grado SR-325is or the Ultrasone Edition 8 as an audiophile classic but I have to admit, as a less than serious audio manufacturer, they have made a great sounding headphone! Bass is present but not dominating, the mids are clean and clear and there is also plenty of detail with an impressive sound stage for a closed back headphone. Complex stereo imaging does not seem to bother them too much and these easy to drive on ears have a comfy warm feel which is not tiring at all. The audio is provided by custom paired 40mm titanium drivers and the On-Ear Wangs are supplied with a “Custom high-fashion dust bag” don’t you know.

Duo Jack

Taking social media to the next level, apparently. Fanny Wang’s Duo Jack (patent pending) means a friend can “Jack in” sharing music through this interesting 3.5mm output addition to the cable. The Duo Jack comes standard with every set of Fanny Wang On-Ear Headphones.

Tri Fold Design

Perfect for travelling the sturdy tri-fold design makes Fanny Wang headphones easy fit into a bag. Although on-ear, they are still a decent size so this is a welcome feature.

Rock Your Wangs?

With a controversial start, bumping legal heads with Monster Beats, this brand may at first seem like a copy of an existing idea - the trouble with that assessment is, when compared, the On-Ear Wang feels a bit more substantial, has comfort improvements and most importantly sounds considerably better. The pricey fashion headphone may be Monster Cables creation but being first to market is not normally a guarantee of quality. As most musicians know the first take is not always the best - sometimes you have to relax and have a bit of fun before the real magic happens. One thing is certain though, fashion headphones are growing up and they want to be taken seriously - but not too seriously.

More Information

For more information on Fanny Wangs range please visit the HiFi Headphones store.

ACS have completely redesigned their T1 triple driver Custom In Ear Monitor for 2010, below is our review of this exciting new earphone.

At the top end is a combined unit providing specific drivers for the highs and mids engineered into a single unit with an ultra-compact crossover optimising the response for each, this is then combined with a clear and powerful bass driver to deliver rich and full-bodied bottom end. All driver builds are hand-made and individually tested by the technicians in Banbury to ensure that each configuration is a perfect fit.

Using carefully selected drivers from Knowles Electronics the T1 utilises a combined unit with independent high and mid-range speakers to give the optimum definition, clarity and punch without being overbearing. Next to this, the T1 engages the biggest bass driver in the range providing rich, smooth and deep bass that perfectly compliments its partner drivers. The finishing touches to the T1’s sound are applied by two acoustic filters giving a smooth and balanced signature.

Fit and flexibility

The shape of your ear canal changes with the movement of your jaw and having a flexible earpiece not only gives you the obvious benefits of greater comfort but also helps to maintain a more consistent seal, particularly during vocal performances. Not only that, but using a softer compound means that your monitors warm to body temperature more quickly giving you complete comfort, flexibility and isolation in just a few minutes.

Tailored from top to bottom

Making sure that the right cable is used to deliver your sound is as important as every other aspect in the design of in ear monitors so ACS make sure they are just as well thought out. Starting with the best conductive core they then add kevlar threads for strength and flexibility, each cable is sheathed with a special finish that reduces the transmission of friction noise to the earpieces so there’s as little interference as possible. The cable is then clamped at the Y divide with a custom pressed lengthened binder to give it extra strength where you need it most. Finally, each cable is finished with a custom moulded right-angled plug offering high levels of resilience as well as quality with a gold-plated 3.5mm connector and iPhone compatible shoulder design.

All in the detail

It’s the finishing touches that make every pair of hand-made monitors completely unique from a choice of cable colours to a selection of bespoke silicone finishes. Every monitor can be laser etched with lettering or logo of your choice and is supplied in a customised rugged case to ensure your monitors are protected wherever you might travel.

Your ears on file…

ACS has introduced of a new state of the art scanning technology that means all customers that order custom made hearing protection and in-ear monitoring products from ACS will have their ear shape on file at ACS for up to 4 years. The device will scan the impressions and save as a file on the database so customers can order new products or replacements instantly without the need to have new impressions taken. What’s more, this service will not cost customers anything extra on top of the standard product charge!

The scanning service began on May 1st 2010 so will only apply to customers that ordered thereafter.

ACS T1 Custom IEM Review

What do you get for your money?

Options - Silicone and cable colour
Audiologist appointment for impressions
Ear impressions kept on file
Personalised options - Engraved name / logo
Excellent hardcase

Comfort - Soft silicone helps make the T1 incredibly comfortable, though not immediately. In the first few minutes after insertion they feel weird and intrusive, however this sensation quickly evaporates and within the half hour they feel like a part of your body. Eventually when you remove them it is as if you have lost a finger.

Sound

The ACS T1 reproduces each section of the audio spectrum with subtlety and confident definition. The isolation provided by the medical grade silicon is second to none so nothing gets between you and the music. I gave the T1’s a good 50 hours burn in time which made a significant difference from new.

Bass - There is weight and texture in their reproduction of the bottom end, providing the sensation that the bass notes really move with emotion, that kick drums punch the chest, and that kettle drums and low toms feel full but don’t linger. Bass is felt as tough and visceral in nature, articulate and involving. It is continually enjoyable that they describe so much detail in the lower register - whilst being beefy and solid there is no flab to trim here.

Midrange - A sweet spot here, forward and detailed in their presentation of this part of frequency spectrum, the midrange is a wide powerful backdrop against which the treble is layered carefully over the top. Vocals are sweet, dry and emotional, guitars and strings impressive and never woody, pianos feel real, and horns are particularly vivid without becoming oppressive. I initially worried this power would become fatiguing, but actually the balance is really good and listening compulsive so I really don’t want to remove them from my ears. Make no mistake - the T1’s faithfully reproduce every detail and go about it very boldly.

Treble - Immediately noticeable were the slightly rolled-off highs. The T1’s reproduce treble frequencies faithfully and they do not feel recessed - but some tracks which are normally painfully bright were really tamed. I’m not sure how this is achieved without total relegation of the treble frequencies to the background but there is something very clever at work here. Cymbals and high-hats still cut through and articulate well without becoming harsh and overbearing. To my ears this felt odd at first, I like music bright but I could not detect a loss in detail. As I listened further this initial subjective impression faded as I just really started enjoying the music.

The new ACS T1 is an impressive piece of sonic engineering. With it’s chunky but measured bass, a revealing and solid midrange coupled with a detailed and delicate top end you get the impression the technicians listened to a lot of IEM’s and a lot of peoples criticisms of them. Nothing here feels overcooked and there is no sense that you are missing anything either, the longer I listen the more impressed I become. There is excitement and finesse here in measures that scream musicality.

Stereo imaging - The other point worth mentioning is that they image about as well as I’ve ever heard from any IEM. The music pans through the corridor of Left to Right without stutter, there is a natural ease which stops you from questioning the position of a sound, thereby preventing distraction. The T1’s provide each instrument with it’s own space without completely isolating elements and preventing detailed harmonic interaction. Everything sounds highly intimate and emotional without resorting to the sort of fireworks which detract from the music itself.

Professional application - The first job that the T1’s were invited on was the recording of a live performance music video for a seven piece soul band. I knew it would be a noisy affair as the video part would mean a lot of extra people in the room. There was to be no audience which I initially was pleased with - later I realised the T1’s isolation was so good it wouldn’t have mattered how many screaming folks filled the venue. I took a pair of HD 25’s and some Beyer DT100’s but never touched either, I’m not sure I’ll even pack them in the future. I’ve since rehearsed drums with them and will not be playing using anything else.

Who uses ACS Customs? - Well quite a lot of musicians as you might expect, Pendulum, Pink Floyd, U2, Lily Allen, The Prodigy, Paulo Nutini, Radiohead, Stephen Fry, Ash, Basement Jaxx, Muse, Ladyhawke, The Futureheads, Super Furry Animals, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and lots of other people - I’m sure you get the idea.

Overall - So whether you are purchasing T1’s as a pro audio monitoring tool or an extremely high end headphone, can you be confident that this is £650 well spent? I think this type of purchase isn’t about a product being perfect (for this we would surely all need our own laboratory), it is more about the elimination of imperfection. What ACS have done is to take a wish list common to both the audiophile and the musician of what is necessary, of what is desirable and what is inexcusable to include in an contemporary IEM and worked very hard to balance these elements with clinical precision. Whilst using the T1’s a colleague recently asked me “What do you think of your new monitors?”, over mouthing the words as he knew I couldn’t really hear him. “Yeah! They’re perfect” I shouted back without thinking.

More Information

To read more about the ACS T1 Custom IEM or the rest of the ACS custom range please visit the HiFi Headphones web store.

Delivered in it’s aluminium flight case the Beyerdynamic T1 is hand crafted in Germany and it shows - they have a solid industrial beauty that exudes high end build quality. The coils are hand wound as a machine is not capable of the necessary dexterity to achieve Beyer’s exacting standards.

Behind the detailed mesh grilles on the beautifully finished aluminium and plastic earcups, the drivers are fitted to the front angled back towards the ear. The diaphragms are made of two-ply foil, which features low moving mass and good inherent self-damping.  The Beyerdynamic T1’s skill is a very low-mass diaphragm in a very dense magnetic field of 1.2 Tesla. The result is a crisp, fast and transparent sound with low distortion (quoted at 0.05 per cent).

These completely redesigned transducers achieve values of over one Tesla (a unit of measurement for magnetic flux density). The increased efficiency also leaves the T1 with greater power reserves for dynamic, undistorted sound and nearly lossless conversion of electric signals into sound waves. The extremely lightweight 600 Ohm voice coil provides transparency and perfect impulse fidelity.

Beyerdynamic A1 Amplifier

The perfect partner to the T1, with its unique intelligent-circuit concept the Beyerdynamic A1 is capable of reproducing an amazingly wide frequency range which stretches way above human perception. Underneath the large front-panel-mounted aluminium volume control is a high grade ALPS-potentiometer for smooth volume adjustment. This is just part of the attention to detail that ranges from the outer unit construction to its quality integral components - use of a generously-dimensioned toroidal core transformer, plus a combination of carefully selected components allows even the highest-impedance headphones to be driven flawlessly over the entire frequency range.

Our Impressions

We felt the sound was fluid and natural, there is a fast sense of detail that is crisp and precise without being fatiguing. The headphones themselves are surprisingly light and in typical Beyer style really comfy. The Beyerdynamic T1’s give a lush wide soundstage with excellent instrument separation drawing you into the recording, the stereo image being nothing short of 3D. The focus here is in the highly detailed treble and midrange but the bass is warm, deep and well pronounced giving the overall sound superb transparency, weight and authority. Joining the big boys, the T1 must be auditioned alongside Grado’s GS1000 and Denon D7000 before you make your ultimate headphone purchase.

More Information

For more information on the Beyerdynamic T1 and the rest of Beyerdynamics Headphones range please check out the HiFi Headphones web store.

Designed by Swiss hearing device manufacturer Phonak, the Audéo PFE is a lightweight earphone that fits comfortably in the ear and thanks to a high quality balanced armature driver delivers crystal clear sound.

Below is a summary of the some of the reviews this excellent earphone has collected:

Audéo PFE Review at CNET.com

Review Summary:

The Phonak Audeo Perfect Fit Earphones are an excellent choice for anyone looking for clear and balanced audio, a secure and comfortable fit, and a useful array of extras. All in all, they’re a great value for the money.

Read the full review of the Audéo PFE at CNET.com

Phonak Audéo PFE Review at Anythingbutipod.com

Review highlights:

…better treble than the Shure SE530, better midrange than the q-Jays, and a decent soundstage for an IEM. They are definitely worth their price.

Read the full Audeo PFE review at Anythingbutipod.

More Information

For more information on the Phonak range of headphones and in particular the Audéo PFE please visit the HiFi Headphones store.

The SoundMAGIC PL30 is an IEM (In Ear Monitor) style earphone with an over ear cable fit system and innovative bass control switch.  The PL30 is priced to compete directly with earphones like the Sennheiser CX300-II, Denon AH-C351 and Ultimate Ears Metro.fi 220.

SoundMAGIC earphones are a relatively new addition to the line-up at HiFi Headphones.  We originally took on the brand after trying out some samples sent directly from SoundMAGIC.  Our initial sceptisism about the fact SoundMAGIC earphones are relatively low cost was soon turned into surprise by the excellent sound and sturdy build quality.  Passing the earphones round the office we quickly decided that the PL11 and PL30 models would be the first we would stock.

The PL30 was the earphone that got SoundMAGIC recognised as a serious contender in the highly competitive in-ear earphone market.  This earphone has been designed entirely by SoundMAGIC engineers and is totally unique to the brand.

This is a review of the some of the attributes of the SoundMAGIC PL30 in ear sound isolating earphone.

What You Get

The first nice surprise when opening the SoundMAGIC PL30 is that you get lots of accessories included.  The following items are included:

• High quality travel case made from high impact fibre material (very similar to Shure supplied earphone cases).
• Many different types of ear tips, including small/medium/large silicone tips, double flange tips and foam tips (harder than Comply Foam, but worth a try).
• 1x pair of silicone over the ear cable guides (for keeping the cable on your ear while running)
• Soft silicone cable wrap for safe storage of the earphone cabling.

It’s great to see a manufacturer really thinking about how the earphones are going to fit in the ear and also considering what is needed to keep earphones safe during every day use.

SoundMAGIC PL30 Package

Comfort and Fit

The PL30 features pro-style over ear cabling (to reduce microphonic cable noise and to provide a secure fit.

Initially the SoundMAGIC PL30’s over ear fit system can take some getting used to if you’v never worn an earphone with this design before.  With the PL30 the cable is designed to run up over the ear and secured at the back of the neck with the sliding cable tensioner.  It sounds complicated, but it’s dead easy with a bit of practice.

I found the fit easier with the PL30 than with earphones like Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3/Super.fi 5 Pro.  The PL30’s earphone body is much smaller than these other designs and I found it simple to get the earphone snug in the entrance to the ear after just a couple of attempts.

Comfort is very good with the PL30.  I found the medium sized silicone ear tips worked OK straight out of the box, but the supplied dual flange ear tips gave me a better seal.  I also tried a pair of Comply Foam T-400 tips that I normally use with my Sennheiser IE8’s and they worked very well with the PL30.  As with all in-ear sound isolating earphones, if you do not get a good seal in the ear then the bass will be seriously lacking.  Get the seal right with the PL30 and it’s unlikely you will be disappointed by the punch of the bass.

Sound Quality

The SoundMAGIC PL30 offers a very well balanced sound, with good kick at the bass end, a forward midrange and good clarity in the higher frequencies.  If anything the lower midrange is a little too forward for my liking, but overall the balance is excellent.

Bass punch is superb and nicely defined.  Much better than the bloated and muddy bass you will find in many entry level earphones.  While this earphone is no bass monster it does represent lower frequency sounds very solidly and I found it very enjoyable listening to tracks with big basslines.  The bass response can be altered by tweaking the bass control rotating switch - I preferred the flat bass setting over the bass boost setting.

Sound stage and separation is something that is immediately striking about the PL30 - you can easily locate different sounds and instruments in the music, without it being analytical.  The PL30 is a very enjoyable listen and presents sounds in a very musical way.

Sound quality is far better than you might expect from an earphone costing less than £40.

Review Summary

For:

• Brilliant sound quality for the price, with excellent clarity and good separation of notes.
• Nearly zero cable microphonic noise and secure fit make the PL30 ideal for running or the gym.
• Well made cabling with good strain relief.

Against:

• Cabling can get tangled due to rubberized coating.

More Information

For more SoundMAGIC earphones and a selection of other earphones please visit HiFi Headphones.

We were recently asked to review a selection of headphones suitable for home Hi-Fi listening by Shortlist (a popular mens lifestyle magazine).

Below is the selection of headphones we offered with the review we gave:

High End Headphones

Grado SR325is Review

Open back on-ear headphones. Retro design.  Excellent sound with brilliant detail and clarity.  SR325is has won many awards.  Very efficient headphone voice coils (low impedance) means it can be driven by pretty much any device (even the humble iPod) and does not need a dedicated headphone amplifier.  Hi-Fi speakers of similar quality would cost thousands.  Hand made by Grado in Brooklyn New York.  Grado has been in business since 1953, making turntable cartridges.

Mid Range Headphones

Audio Technica ATH-AD700 Review

Open back over ear headphones.  Very comfortable over ear design perfect for long listening sessions.  Midrange and high end treble clarity is exceptional.  Japanese brand with pro-audio pedigree (also make studio headphones and microphones).

Beyerdynamic DT770

Closed back over ear headphones.  Very powerful bass response (ideal for gaming and movies).  Replaceable parts (cable and ear pads) make it possible to service the headphone.  Beyerdynamic headphones are used throughout the BBC (look at photos on Radio 1 website).  Made in Germany.

Entry Level Headphones

Shure SRH240 Review

Closed back over ear headphones.  Closed back design ensures good isolation from noise and also means you don’t annoy people sitting nearby.  Good bass response and high degree of accuracy.  Coiled, detachable cable (can be replaced).  Shure is a pro-audio manufacturer of monitoring earphones and microphones.

More Information

For a full range of home listening headphones and many other high quality headphones and earphones, please visit us at HiFi Headphones.

The SoundMAGIC PL11 has pushed the boundaries of what can be expected from an entry level in-ear isolating earphone.  For less than the cost of a Playstation game the PL11 offers high end audio clarity, with enough low end power to satisfy the biggest bass-head.

Looking and feeling like an earphone that comes from one of the established brands, the SoundMAGIC PL11 is a newcomer that deserves a second look.

Sceptical At First

Before we received samples of the SoundMAGIC range to try out we were sceptical about the way they would sound and even more doubtful about build quality.

How wrong we were!  Like the rest of the SoundMAGIC range, the PL11 is very well made and sounds like an earphone with a much higher price tag.  Holding the earphones in your hand you would be mistaken for thinking they are manufactured by one of the well established earphone brands.

SoundMAGIC PL11 with included accessories

Built To Last

With cabling and strain relief that has obviously been thought about by someone who understands how earphones are going to be used, the PL11 is built to a similar specification as high quality brands like Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic.

Here at the HiFi Headphones store we have a pretty good idea how well a headphone or earphone is going to last by looking at the strain relief on the cabling.  Over 90% of faulty returns we receive are caused by cabling faults.  In our opinion the PL11 is an earphone we are not going to see returned often.

The SoundMAGIC PL11 has high quality cabling with a rubberized finish for extra durability.  The strain relief is also well thought through, with highly flexible support where the cable enters the earphone body and at the jack plug.

How Do They Sound?

Most importantly, does the SoundMAGIC PL11 sound any good?  Yes, the PL11 sounds superb!  When we first received samples I spent a week listening to the PL11 on my walk to and from the office.   The sound is immediately appealing as there is plenty of warmth at the bottom end and the trebles are well balanced and clear.

The obvious comparison that is going to be made is with the Sennheiser CX300-II.  In many ways the SoundMAGIC PL11 is very similar to the CX300-II, with plenty of bass and a clear high end.  Just like the CX300-II, the PL11 has a slightly recessed midrange, which actually helps reduce long term listening fatigue.

Many headphone brands, including high end headphone manufacturer Grado, are known to drop the midrange frequency response slightly to provide a more enjoyable listening experience.  The reason for this is that the human ear resonates at 2.9Khz, making it particularly sensitive to mid-range treble notes.  If the headphone or earphone is less responsive around this frequency then the ear tires less quickly and you can enjoy your music for longer.

Summary

The SoundMAGIC PL11 is an earphone that is a very enjoyable listen.  Good bass response and a superb degree of resolution at higher freqencies make the PL11 an earphone to be reckoned with.

The sound is similar in some respects to the highly regarded Sennheiser CX300-II and beats the Sennheiser hands down on price.

Good build quality rounds off a well thought out earphone package that we are happy to recommend.

More Information

For the full range of SoundMAGIC Earphones and many other high quality brands please visit the HiFi Headphones store.

Klipsch Image X10

This earphone review is based on a long term listening test, involving over a month wearing the Klipsch Image X10 and Sleek Audio SA6 earphones on my walk to/from the office (a journey of half an hour each way).

During the review I listened to a good variety of music, from heavy rock, such as System Of A Down and Queens Of The Stone Age, to electronic beats, such as LCD Sound System and and Underworld, with some more easy going vocal and guitar music, such as Beth Orton and José González.

Earphone fit and comfort

Both the Klipsch Image X10 and Sleek Audio SA6 are far more comfortable than the older dual driver design earphones, such as the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro and Shure SE420, due to their much smaller size. The ultra-small single driver designs mean that it’s far less fiddly to get the earphones in your ear and once they are in you can forget about them.

The Klipsch X10 earphone body is particularly miniature and is very unobtrusive once fitted in the ear. The Klipsch earphones are so lightweight and comfortable that I found no discomfort when wearing them for an hour or more listening sessions. I did find the Klipsch silicone ear gels caused a very ‘full’ sensation in the ear that was a little disconcerting at first, but I soon became accustomed to the feel of the earphone in my ear.

Sleek Audio SA6

The Sleek Audio SA6 has a slightly taller earphone body than the Klipsch X10, but the SA6’s tapered design means that the fit is excellent in my ears and the flanged silicone ear gels provided an excellent seal. The fact that the SA6 ear gels are flanged mean that the SA6 seal in my ears a little more comfortably and securely than the Klipsch Image X10’s.

Both earphones benefited from using Comply Foam ear tips. The Sleek Audio SA6 in particular benefited from an increase in bass response and long term wearing comfort when fitted with Comply Foam ear tips.

Sound Quality

The Klipsch Image X10’s sound amazing when you first try them. The bass response is very strong and accurate and the high trebles are very present. This makes for an overall very pleasing sound that instantly sounds good with most styles of music.

The Klipsch Image X10 does seem to emphasise the bass and high treble notes, leaving the mid trebles quite lacking. The Klipsch sounds great with many rock and electronic music tracks, but strings, guitars and female vocals are especially disappointing. For example, listening to Beth Orton “She Cries Your Name” the strings and guitars were severely lacking in presence. Beth’s voice came through loud and clear (her voice is quite deep), as well as the bassline, but the beautiful drifting strings and delicate acoustic guitar notes were very recessed.

The Sleek Audio SA6 is a very involving and lively earphone with a sound that reminds me in some respects of Grado full size Hi-Fi headphones. The SA6’s sound stage is excellent and it’s very easy to pick out detail in good quality recordings. The fact that the bass and treble can be tuned to suit your equipment and listening tastes is such a great feature. I opted for the bass+ and treble++ tuning, which gives a very big sound.

While the SA6’s bass is not as clearly defined as the Klipsch Image, with the bass+ port fitted to the SA6 and ensuring the earphones were well sealed meant there is plenty of bass to keep me satisfied.

Summary

Choosing between these two earphones is difficult. They both sound superb and fit easily and comfortably. The Klipsch Image X10’s excellent low frequency reproduction makes it a very enjoyable earphone for listening to bass heavy rock and electronic music. The Sleek Audio SA6’s mid-range detail and clarity makes it extremely satisfying to listen to vocals, acoustic guitar and electronica.

Overall the Sleek Audio SA6 has a more balanced and satisfying sound than the Klipsch Image X10. The immediate wow factor of the Klipsch Image bass response soon wears off and over the long term I chose the SA6 more often for daily listening. This combined with the fact that the SA6 can be tuned to suit your listening tastes makes the SA6 a great choice for the portable audio perfectionist.

The in-ear fit is excellent with both the Klipsch Image X10 and Sleek Audio SA6 due to the miniature single driver designs. Both can be worn for long listening sessions without discomfort.

While the Klipsch Image X10 sounds great when you first try them out, the SA6 is the definite winner when you listen for extended periods. The recessed mid trebles of the Klipsch Image X10 become really frustrating when listening to female vocals and acoustic guitar. I love the energetic delivery of the Sleek Audio SA6.

More Information

For more information on the Klipsch Image X10, the Sleek Audio SA6 and many more earphones and headphones visit the HiFi Headphones store.

If you travel often by aeroplane or long distance train and you have a passion for music it’s likely you’ve considered (or maybe already own) a pair of active noise cancelling headphones. The clever electronics in these headphones does an excellent job of removing the low frequency boom of aircraft engines, train air conditioning and any other consistent rumbling noises. While some feel the addition of this electronics interferes with the quality of audio reproduction, there is no doubt that the technology is impressive and very effective at reducing low frequency noise.

Visit the HiFi Headphones online store for a closer look at the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7

What about Bose?

The obvious choice for many when it comes to noise cancelling headphones is the Bose range. The Bose Quiet Comfort noise cancelling headphones have long been regarded as the standard by which other noise cancelling headphones should be measured. This domination of the market has meant that Bose has been able to justify a hefty price tag for their superior technology.

In recent years manufacturers such as Sennheiser, Panasonic and others have to some degree caught up with Bose, but many feel Bose still have the upper hand with their noise cancelling technology..

Audio-Technica’s ATH-ANC7’s headphones are well and truly aimed to challenge the position of Bose.

ATH-ANC7 Quietpoint Overview

Upon opening the box the ANC7’s are immediately impressive, with excellent build quality and a comfortable fit on most ears. The headphone ear cups have a rather handy pivoting link to the headband that means they can be folded 90 degrees for convenient storage of the headset. Also included with the headphones is a useful airline connection adapter, the single AAA battery needed to power the active electronics and a practical carry case to protect your headphones.

Audio-Technica’s ATH-ANC7 Quietpoint noise cancelling headphones come in a full size headset package with sealed (or closed) ear cups to help reduce high frequency noise from leaking in, while the active electronics handle the suppression of low frequency noise. The ear cups do not completely enclose the ears, but instead rest on the outer ear with soft pads that mould to fit comfortably on most ears.

Clever Cable Design

The headphone connection cable design of the ANC7’s is worth a mention. The convenient 1.6 metre cable is terminated with a full size 6.35mm (1/4”) jack at the source end and a 3.5mm (1/8”) mini jack at the headphone end. While the length is perfect for using with a portable music player on the move, the use of standard connectors means the cable can be easily replaced with a longer item for other applications such as home or office listening. The ANC7’s can also be used without the cable attached to just perform noise cancelling duties – handy if you are looking to get some sleep on a long flight.

How Do They Sound?

The quality of audio reproduction is excellent. The sealed ear cup headphone design means there is very little bass leakage and the lower frequency response is very strong. Moving through the mid-range and high frequencies the sound is pure and crisp and very accurate.

The closed back design does give the sound an enclosed character, which owners of good quality open back headphones may find immediately noticeable. The difference between open and closed back headphones can be compared to listening to a band in a large open concert hall and then hearing the same band playing a small intimate venue – it’s just different. There is no doubt that the ANC7’s close back design does change the character of the sound, but without the sealed ear cups the listener would be disturbed by high frequency external noise.

The active noise reduction technology of the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7’s is very impressive. Low frequency external noise is dramatically reduced, while still managing to maintain excellent quality audio reproduction.

More Information

Visit the HiFi Headphones online store for a closer look at the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 Quietpoint Noise Cancelling Headphones.

For more information on how noise cancelling headphones work see our Noise Cancelling Headphones Buyer’s Guide.

If you’ve decided you like in-ear sound isolating earphones it’s quite likely that you have come across the Shure SE range. This round-up is a brief review summary of Shure’s range of ear canal headphones.

Shure have a long heritage of designing microphones and earphones for the professional audio industry. Shure’s build quality is normally excellent, you get good value for money and their headphones come with a reassuring 2 year Shure warranty. Shure’s previous range of ear canal headphones (EC2 and EC3) were generally very well regarded and the SE range is the evolutionary next step.

So let’s see what they have to offer…

Shure SE110 and SE210 - entry level

Currently the entry level in-ear headphone is the Shure SE110 sound isolating earphone. The SE110 is a very worthwhile upgrade from standard iPod headphones. You will be able to hear detail in your music that you simply could not hear before. Saying that the SE110 does lack the bass punch that many listeners expect when upgrading to a more ‘expensive’ pair of headphones.

Shure SE110

The Shure SE210 earphone adds another layer of definition and a small amount more bass response than the SE110. For the modest difference in price it really is worth upgrading to the SE210’s.

Shure SE210

Both the SE110 and SE210 earphones are very sensitive and you may find that you have to watch the volume levels. For example when listening to an iPod Nano I found that anywhere over half volume is too much for extended periods. With the standard iPod headphones I regularly listened upto 75% volume. This is partly due to the fact that they are sound isolating and your music is not competing with the sounds around you, but is also due to the sensitivity of the headphones. It’s unlikely you will want a headphone amp with either the Shure SE110’s or SE210 headphones.

Shure SE310 - midrange

The Shure SE310 earphone is still just a single armature driver design, but the sonic clarity is absolutely spot on. The single speaker design gives the SE310 the advantage that it’s smaller than it’s bigger brothers (the SE420 and SE530). This mid-range offering from Shure has quite a bit of competition, including the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro, but holds it’s own with the best of them.

Shure SE310

While the SE range are ideal iPod headphones you will only really get the best from your headphones when listening to uncompressed (e.g. AAC and FLAC) digital music. If you try listening to poor quality, low bitrate MP3’s you may be disappointed by all the sonic artefacts you can hear in your music, e.g. normally resulting in a ‘crunchy’ sound. If uncompressed audio is not possible then 192Kbps is really a minimum when listening with good quality in ear sound isolating headphones.

Shure SE420 - audiophile quality with twin micro-speakers

This is the first in Shure’s range to introduce the idea of more than one driver within the earphone, much like a multi-way speaker. The Shure SE420 earphone utilizes a dual armature driver, with the lows driven by one driver and the high frequencies driven by another dedicated speaker. The result is an extra clean punch to the bass and a slightly more accurate response across the board than the single driver SE310. Compared to the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro the SE420’s bass response is stronger and overall slightly warmer sounding. If your preference is for clean and accurate response then you may prefer the UE 5 Pro.

Shure SE420

Shure SE530 - top of the range

The flagship in-ear-monitor from Shure is currently the spectacular Shure SE530 earphone. Whilst not cheap, this headphone really is the pinnacle of consumer ear canal headphone technology. The earphone utilizes three tiny micro-drivers, just like a three way HiFi speaker. The end result is an extremely accurate, dynamic earphone with deep, powerful bass response.

The fact that the Shure SE530 headphone contains three speakers does increase the size a little, but the earphone is very comfortable to wear for long periods and is as easy to fit as the other Shure models.

Shure SE530

The bottom line is that the SE530 is one of the best in-ear headphones you will find. The SE530’s sound absolutely stunning, with accurate response across the full frequency range and when called for a deep powerful bass response.