Author Archives: John

Astell and Kern AK100 Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC from Astell and Kern, the AK100 is now available to be purchased on our website.

Uncompromising high-fidelity music playback at your fingertips: the Astell and Kern AK100 is the pinnacle of modern portable audio playback. Capable of Studio Mastering Quality sound, this portable player offers high-definition lossless music playback well beyond the realms of standard CD quality.

With the Astell&Kern AK100 listeners can enjoy music as it was intended to be heard with all it’s details and subtleties. Equipped with high-quality Wolfson DAC chip, the AK100 offers the highest levels of signal-to-noise ratio and lowest level of harmonic distortion for a highly detailed and realistic sound experience. The Astell&Kern AK100 can also be used as an external DAC via the Optical In/Out function.

The Astell&Kern AK100 is capable of playing all lossless music files offering high-definition music playback. Lossless music files are larger than standard music files and require more storage space. Astell&Kern AK100 carries an on-board memory of 32GB with additional dual micro SD card slots, making the internal memory expandable to 96GB.

An intuitive and responsive touch screen interface combined with traditional control buttons makes using the AK100 fast and easy. The user interface of the Astell&Kern focuses on quickly searching for and listening to songs. Housed in a robust case of black-anodized aluminium with a hairline finish, the AK100 represents a deep and defined craftsmanship

Features

Portable high-fidelity audio system with Mastering Quality Sound (MQS) playback
Up to 24bit/192kHz playback of high resolution audio files
Lossless playback for  WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, APE, MP3, AAC, WMA and OGG music formats
Meets 100% of Hi-Fi audio specifications
Equipped with high-performance WOLFSON DAC chip
Optical DAC function for PC and MAC
Dual Micro SD card slot supports up to 96GB of total memory
User Interface with intuitive touch screen and control buttons
Digital volume control wheel with traditional analogue feel
Solid machined aluminium casing

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Astell&Kern AK100 Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC

Astell and Kern AK120 Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC from Astell and Kern, the AK120 is now available to be purchased on our website.

The Astell and Kern AK120 plays any music format with high-fidelity Mastering Quality Sound (MQS). Lossless music files no longer need to be confined to big set-ups with this portable audio system. Feel the phenomenal realism of high-definition lossless music through 24bit/192kHz sound processing that cannot be heard through a standard CD.

The incorporated Wolfson WM8740 digital-to-analogue converter chip is the world’s best performing high resolution DAC chip. Equipped with two DAC chips the AK120 independently separates the left and right channels and offer true dual-monaural audio with wide soundstage and full-bodied audio. Astell&Kern AK120 can also be used as an external DAC via USB or Optical In function.

To playback 24bit/192kHz files, it is essential for the Astell&Kern to have high-capacity memory. Astell&Kern AK120 carries an on-board memory of 64GB with additional dual micro SD card slots supporting up to 64GB of memory in each slot , making the internal memory expandable to 192GB.

Intuitive and responsive, the touch screen interface combined with integrated hardware control buttons makes using the AK120 fast and easy. The user interface of the Astell&Kern focuses on quickly searching for and listening to songs. The curved design of the volume wheel guard provides additional protection to the volume wheel.

Features

  • Portable high-fidelity audio system with Mastering Quality Sound (MQS) playback
  • Up to 24bit/192kHz playback of high resolution audio files
  • Lossless playback for WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, APE, MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG and DSD music formats
  • Meets 100% of Hi-Fi audio specifications
  • Equipped two high-performance Wolfson WM8740 24bit 192kHz DACs in a dual-mono configuration
  • USB / Optical DAC function for PC and MAC
  • Dual Micro SD card slot supports up to 192GB of total memory
  • User Interface with intuitive touch screen and control buttons
  • Digital volume control wheel with traditional analogue feel
  • Volume wheel guard provides protection
  • Elegant design and sturdy build, housed in a brushed aluminium case

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Astell&Kern AK120 Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC

Musical Fidelity MF-100 Open-Back On-Ear Headphones

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Open-Back On-Ear Headphone from Musical Fidelity, the MF-100 is now available to be purchased on our website.

Musical Fidelity’s MF-100 headphones were designed to make a beautiful lifelike sound. They are light, comfortable and durable making long listening sessions a pleasure. Musical Fidelity’s award winning design team identified and focused on several critical areas to achieve our aims of natural lifelike sound, lightness and comfort, and durability.

Musical Fidelity’s MF-100 drive units have been designed from the ground up to give a flat and wide frequency response with low distortion. This enables the MF-100 headphones to offer a completely natural, stress free sound so you can hear exactly what the artist intended to create.

With subtle leather earpads are crafted from a combination of fine materials and refined design the MF-100 headphones create maximum comfort. At the same time they give excellent sound isolation. Your music doesn’t disturb anybody and vice versa. The ergonomically designed earpad forms an excellent seal which ensures deep powerful and clear bass. Specially designed transparent fabric has been used for the centre of the earpad.

Every part of the MF-100 is made of high quality materials which enhance the durability, tactile sensations and sound quality.

  • Completely natural, stress free sound
  • Drivers offer a flat and wide frequency response with low distortion
  • Light, comfortable and durable design for long listening sessions
  • Ergonomically designed earpad forms an optimal seal
  • Specially designed earpad with transparent fabric
  • Cable incorporates in-line mic/mute control for Smartphones

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Musical Fidelity MF-100 Open-Back On-Ear Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Headphones

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Open Back Audiophile Headphone from Audio-Technica, the ATH-AD700X is now available to be purchased on our website.

With overhauled looks and improved driver performance the ATH-AD700X represent Audio Technica’s latest revision of the acclaimed AD700. The soft and relaxed sound, with deep resonating bass and extended vocal projection offers a completely natural listening experience.

As with the predecessor, the AD700X incorporate a lightweight honeycomb aluminium casing, allowing these open-air headphones to produce no sense of pressure on the ears, resulting in a completely natural sensation. Newly designed 53mm drivers with bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils deliver spacious sound with superior highs and mids.

The included flexible raised-fabric earpads of the AD700X are also exceedingly comfortable and guarantee fatigue-free listening. Self-adjusting wing supports automatically adjust to your head size for easy-wearing listening comfort. A straight cord at the left earpiece terminates to a mini plug with included 6.35mm adapter.

  • Newly designed 53mm drivers reproduce clear treble and midrange
  • Bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils for superior power handling
  • Full open-air type headphones produce no sense of pressure on the ears
  • Lightweight aluminium honeycomb casing with excellent acoustic properties
  • Self-adjusting 3D Wing Support provides a comfortable listening experience
  • Flexible raised-fabric earpads offer excellent wearing comfort and durability
  • Highly conductive OFC single-sided cord with elastic TPE sheath to prevent tangles
  • Gold-plated stereo 3.5mm connector with 6.35mm adapter

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Headphone

RHA MA750 Premium In-Ear Sound Isolating Earphones – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Premium In-Ear Sound Isolating Earphone from RHA, the RHA-MA750 is now available to be purchased on our website.

Using RHA’s aerophonic design, the MA750 is constructed from individually machined stainless steel components. The handmade drivers and over-ear design ensures remarkable sound reproduction and a comfortable, noise isolating fit.

Precise, balanced and articulate sound reproduction with a great depth of soundstage. The RHA MA750 drivers have been designed to deliver a clear and natural sound. With high levels of spatial separation and distance, the MA750s are capable of reproducing audio with exceptional power and precision. The 303F grade stainless steel construction together with the right silicone eartip ensures extended wearing comfort with excellent sound isolating properties.

The aerophonic design used by the RHA MA750 earphones was inspired by the airflow system and acoustic properties of a trumpet’s bell. The RHA team inverted the traditional shape to create headphones capable of channelling the sound naturally, allowing air to progress unobstructed and unforced from the driver to the ear.

RHA are confident with the superior standard of build and audio quality of the MA750 and offer a full 3-year warranty on all parts.

  • Handmade steel drivers for precise, balanced and articulate sound
  • Extended wearing comfort with excellent sound isolation
  • Selection of dual density silicone, double flange silicone and memory foam eartips
  • Premium carry case and stainless steel eartip holder
  • Contoured, over-ear cable supports
  • Full 3-year warranty on all parts

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy RHA MA750 Premium In-Ear Sound Isolating Earphones

Fostex TH600 Premium Closed Back Reference Headphones – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Premium Closed Back Reference Headphone from Fostex, the TH-600 is now available to be purchased on our website.

Introducing the latest addition to the highly acclaimed Fostex high-end headphone line: TH-600. With reputable bio-dynamic diaphragm drivers, Tesla magnetic flux circuit and magnesium die-cast housing the TH-600 delivers supreme audio reproduction. Special textured earpads and headband made of soft ‘Idemitsu Grancuir’ material offers a comfortable listening experience.

The TH-600 features Fostex’s renowned bio-dynamic 50mm diaphragm and powerful 1 Tesla magnetic circuit as well as the magnesium die-cast housing to deliver supreme audio reproduction. With unique bio-dynamic diaphragm the TH-600 offers rich lows, natural mid range and smooth highs.

Fostex TH600 headphones incorporate an innovative Piezo sheet inside the housing for dispersion of resonance as well as high damping treatment. Thin vacuum sputtered nickel electrodes produce extremely low current leakage and low magnetic permeability.

Earpads and headband of the TH600 are made of ‘Idemitsu Grancuir’ material with comfortable textured protein combination derived from egg, which is 60% lighter than genuine leather.

  • 50mm driver units with 1 Tesla (1000 gauss) magnetic circuit
  • Superior audio reproduction with low distortion and wide dynamic range
  • Bio-dynamic diaphragm that offers rich lows, natural mid range and smooth highs
  • Light-weight and highly rigid magnesium die-cast used for the housing material
  • Piezo sheet inside the housing for dispersion of resonance as well as high damping treatment
  • Earpads and headband made of ‘Idemitsu Grancuir’ material

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Fostex TH-600 Premium Closed Back Reference Headphones

KEF M200 In-Ear Sound Isolating Clip-On Earphones

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KEF M200 In-Ear Sound Isolating Clip-On Earphones

KEF M200 Premium In-Ear Sound Isolating Clip-On HiFi Earphones. Taking on over 50 years experience in speaker design, KEF have re-created their celebrated full size speaker sound and made it portable with the M200 earphones. With KEF’s unique Dual Dynamic Driver technology the M200 offers detailed and engagingly natural sound with tight and controlled bass.

Two dedicated dynamic drivers cleverly placed in the housing combine in two separate chambers to funnel detailed, engagingly natural sound into the ear canal. With a 5.5mm driver devoted to the mid and high frequencies and a dedicated 10mm driver for the bass region, the M200 captures the natural an integrate sounds of live performances. As the drivers encased in a lightweight aluminium housing the M200 offers a tight and resonance-free bass performance.

KEF’s high performance audio cable incorporates an in-line microphone and remote for iPhone and Apple devices, smartphones, computers and other mobile devices. Included in the package of the M200 is a flight adapter, a protective case for storage and three pairs of silicone eartips.

To ensure the perfect fit, the secure arm of frame folds to the shape of the ear while the ergonomic shell the and soft silicone eartips create a tight acoustical seal for an undiluted and private listening.

  • Unique Dual Dynamic Driver technology
  • Detailed and engagingly natural sound across the frequency range
  • Light aluminium housing for tight, resonance-free bass
  • Secure Arm folds to shape of ear for secure fit
  • Ergonomic shell and soft silicone eartips form tight acoustic seal
  • High performance audio cable (1.2m) with gold plated 3.5mm jack
  • Compatible with smartphones, computers and other mobile devices
  • In-line microphone and remote for iPhone and other Apple products
  • Flight adapter, protective pouch and three pairs of silicone eartips

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy KEF M200 Premium In-Ear Sound Isolating Clip-On HiFi Earphones

KEF M500 Closed Back Apple Compatible Headphones – Announcement

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KEF M500 Closed Back Apple Compatible Headphones

Taking the celebrated KEF M500 Closed Back Apple Compatible Headphones sound to the streets, the M500 headphones offer balanced and natural sound with intense clarity and detail united with comfortable design and Smartphone compatibility.

KEF M500 headphones incorporate fine-tuned 40mm neodymium drivers that deliver an extended high definition frequency response. Precise driver alignment in the acoustic chamber optimises clarity, dynamics and bass performance. Special acoustic sealing rings in the earcups allows for full isolation from external sounds while minimising sound leakage to the outside maintaining a private listening experience.

With KEF’s unique multi-directional Smart Hinge that make sure the earcups are positioned perfectly. Breathable memory foam earpads, lightweight design and comfortable headband together make the M500 a pleasure to wear, even for extended listening sessions.

KEF’s high performance audio cable incorporates an in-line microphone and remote for iPhone and other Apple devices, smartphones, computers and other mobile devices. To make sure the headphones are protected when not in use, KEF include an elegant storage case that matches the M500 design and build quality.

  • Neodymium driver tuned to deliver full range high definition response
  • Acoustic chamber is precisely positioned to optimise clarity, dynamics and bass
  • Copper-clad aluminium wire voice coil improves response to enhance musical subtleties and detail
  • Precision engineered in aluminium alloy lightweight frame
  • Multi-directional Smart Hinge on frame conforms to head shape
  • Memory foam earpads mould to the shape of the ear
  • Breathable earpad material maximises bass performance and comfort
  • Acoustic sealing ring isolates from external noise and minimises sound leakage
  • In-line microphone and remote for iPhone and other Apple products
  • Smartly designed matching case included

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy KEF M500 Closed Back Foldable Apple Compatible HiFi Headphones

Beyerdynamic T51p Portable Closed-Back Headphones – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Portable Beyerdynamic T51p Portable Closed-Back Headphones , the T51p is now available to be purchased on our website.

Beyerdynamic Tesla T51p Premium Portable Closed-Back Hi-Fi Headphones. Building on the award winning T50p, the new T51p with improved drivers deliver in an inspiring way. A particularly deep bass response and transparent, clear highs are apparent from the T51p due to the common properties that make all Tesla headphones so special: high efficiency and low distortion.

With its metal fully-adjustable headband and swivelling earcups the T51p fits perfectly on your head and confirms Beyerdynamic’s long-established reputation for producing headphones with excellent wearing comfort. The earpads made of super-soft synthetic leather fit the contour of the outer ear thanks to its memory foam filling.

Thanks to the swivelling earcups the T51p folds up compactly and fits in the included rugged nylon carry case. A high-quality 6.35mm adaptor is included for listening on premium hi-fi equipment or headphone amplifiers, an airplane adaptor is also included so you can enjoy a superior experience of in-flight entertainment.

  • New and improved version of Award-winning T50p
  • Clear, powerful sound across the entire frequency range
  • Tesla technology with high efficiency and low distortion
  • Closed design isolates external noise very effectively
  • Fully-adjustable metal headband and swivelling earcups
  • Earpads made of super-soft synthetic leather and memory foam
  • High-quality 6.35mm adapter and flight adapter included
  • MADE IN GERMANY

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Beyerdynamic Tesla T51p Premium Portable Closed-Back Headphones

Cypher Labs Theorem 720 DAC – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new DAC & Portable Headphone Amplifier from Cypher Labs, the Theorem 720 is now available to be purchased on our website.

Cypher Labs latest creation, Theorem 720 DAC combines a fully integrated high-quality headphone amplifier with a high-end digital-to-analogue converter for PC, Apple and Android devices.

Delivering clean, high quality audio from iPod, iPhone, Mac or PC, the Theorem 720 DAC offers asynchronous conversion of the USB output, not only a pass through of the line-out. Two headphone outputs support single ended or balanced set-ups while a line level analogue output caters for connection to amplifiers or powered speakers. Volume gain settings optimised for all headphone types make the Theorem capable of driving even very demanding headphones with ease.

The large capacity replaceable Li-polymer battery charges Apple devices while playing up to 18 hours with a fast re-charge time of 4 hours. The battery features AC switching that is totally isolated for a clean power delivery.

  • Headphone amplifier and digital-to-analogue converter in one unit
  • Delivers uncompressed, high quality audio from iPod, iPhone, Mac or PC
  • High resolution audio up to 24bit / 192kHz
  • High-end AKM 24 bit DAC model 4396
  • Automatically detects computers or Apple Devices
  • Two headphone outputs support single ended and balanced set-ups
  • Line level analogue output to connect to amplifiers, powered speakers or home audio equipment
  • Volume gain settings optimised for all headphone types
  • Large capacity replaceable battery charges Apple devices while playing up to 18 hours
  • Fast re-charge time of 4 hours
  • Precision machined all aluminium enclosure for maximum durability
  • Lightweight and compact

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Cypher Labs Theorem 720 DAC & Portable Headphone Amplifier

FiiO X3 Lossless Portable DAP & DAC – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Digital Audio Player & DAC from FiiO, the X3 is now available to be purchased on our website.

FiiO X3 Portable Digital Audio Player with Lossless Music File Playback and DAC Functionality. One device for all your lossless music, the FiiO X3 plays the five main types of lossless music including APE, FLAC, ALAC, WMA and WAV up to 192kHz/24bit. With incorporated professional DAC chip, inbuilt headphone amplifier, hardware based bass and treble adjustments and 10 hours playback time in a light-weight portable form factor, the X3 is the most versatile high-definition portable music player available.

Different from other consumer music players and smart phones, the X3 does not use the DAC function of its main controller chip; instead, for the best sound effect, it adopts the professional WOLFSON DAC chip WM8740. Instead of using software to achieve bass and treble adjustment, the FiiO X3 uses an adjustable hardware circuit, resulting in more natural sound without influencing other frequencies.

The FiiO X3 is well furnished with multiple output ports which include headphone, lineout and coaxial digital output. Moreover, it also can be regarded as a digital turntable and invites more powerful DAC implementation to improve the sound experience by connecting to audio decode through its coaxial digital output.

  • Most versatile high-definition portable music player available
  • Lossless playback for APE/FLAC/ALAC/WMA/WAV music formats
  • Supports digital master copy source at 192kHz/24bit
  • Employs high-performance WOLFSON DAC chip
  • Can be used as standalone digital-to-analogue converter
  • Main controller amplifier chip achieves A-Class amplification
  • Adjustable hardware based bass and treble adjustments
  • Master control committed exclusively to music
  • 8GB internal memory capacity with 64GB memory upgrade capability
  • Outputs include headphone out, line-out and coaxial digital out
  • 10 hours playback time with standard USB smart charging

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy FiiO X3 Lossless Portable Digital Audio Player & DAC

Do I Need A Headphone Amp?

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What’s the point of a headphone amplifier?

Not sure whether to buy a headphone amplifier? This article will inform you of the benefits of adding an amplifier to your existing setup, or buying an amplifier with your new headphones.

When you’re buying some new headphones it’s always good to think about what your source will be; whether it’s an iPhone, Laptop, DAP (Digital Audio Player), your home HiFi or a bit of everything, figure out which has the lowest output and if it can drive your chosen headphone. So if you use a mobile phone as your main source and you’ve decided on some Earsonics SM64 earphones which are very hard to drive, you will need a headphone amp to add some extra power so you can get the most from your new purchase.

There are plenty of headphones designed to be used with mobile phones and other low powered portable devices; these headphones generally have low impedance (up to 32ohm) and high sensitivity (95db and over) so they are very easy to drive. This doesn’t mean that you won’t benefit from an amp; not only do amps add extra power but they can also change the sound by improving sound stage, separation and depending on the amp add warmth or brightness.

Another benefit of getting a headphone amp is that some of them have EQ settings on them, so you can adjust the amount of bass you want depending on what you’re listening to.

If you have decided to go for a headphone amp you now need to decide which one to go for, there are many to choose from and they go for anything between £20 and £1500. Amps can be split into two main groups, portable and desktop. If you are going for a portable amp then you could go for something like the FiiO E11 which is powerful enough to drive most portable headphones, it is a good size and has two EQ settings. If you require more power then you could go for the FiiO E12 or the Just Audio UHA-120. Both of these amps can drive most headphones and they will also improve the sound quality, with the Just Audio being slightly warmer than the E12. For the harder to drive headphones there is the Just Audio AHA-120. This amp has adjustable gain settings and is class A, this provides a less distorted, more accurate sound.

If you only use your headphones at home then you should go for a desktop amplifier as they are generally more powerful. There is a much larger range of desktop amplifiers and you really should know what headphone you will be using before choosing the amp, for example if your headphones have a warm/bassy sound then it’s a good idea to go for a brighter/detailed amplifier. This also works the other way around; a warm sounding amp will compliment bright headphones and balance the sound out.

If you have any questions about choosing the right amplifier then give us a call at Hifi Headphones on 01903 768 910 or you can send an email to support@hifiheadphones.co.uk – we will be more than happy to help.

FiiO X3 Digital Audio Player – Mini Review

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I was excited about trying the  FiiO X3 Digital Audio Player, as the high quality portable music player has become very popular, and until now the other contenders have been quite pricey – I was not disappointed! Out of the box you get a USB cable, coaxial phono to mini jack adapter, a couple of screen protectors and a neat silicone protective cover. The player comes with 8GB internal storage and you can increase that with an extra 64GB micro SD card – that would give you 72GB of storage!!

The player itself is lightweight and very easy to use, the buttons are well placed on the front and the menu is easy to navigate. The X3 has a coaxial output and a line out – this allows you to use an external amplifier. Another great feature of the X3 is that with the new patch, available to download from the FiiO site, you can use the X3 as a stand alone USB DAC for your computer. The X3 can support the main music formats –  APE, FLAC, ALAC, WMA, WAV – this includes the Apples lossless codec; so all of you Apple users out there will be able to use your existing library of music. It’s hard to believe that you get all of this for only £159… And we haven’t even got to the sound quality yet!

I decided to test the X3 with the Earsonics SM64 and the HifiMAN HE-400 as they are both hard to drive and I wanted to see just what the player could do, turns out it’s a little beast! With the player set to high gain it drove both the SM64 and HE-400 effortlessly – the volume was just over 50% and it was more than enough. The sound quality you get is clear and crisp, separation is superb and combined with the powerful amp there is no distortion – not surprising as the X3 uses the same Wolfson DAC as the Astell & Kern AK100 which is currently priced at over 3 ½ times the price of the X3! When listening to albums the X3 has the option of gapless payback which can be turned on in the ‘Player Settings’ menu – you will need to select the album through the ‘Category’ menu to achieve this.

It was very easy to set the X3 up as a USB DAC with my PC. Once I followed the online instructions to update the players firmware the next step was to install the driver onto my PC; this was also easy as FiiO supply straight forward instructions to do this. The main screen on the X3 changes once it is plugged into the PC and you have a simple control panel where you can adjust the volume, bass, treble, gain settings and balance.

To sum up, I honestly can’t find any reason not to buy the X3 if you are in the market for a high quality player – at this price it is even worth buying purely as a USB DAC.

Earsonics SM64 Earphones – Mini Review

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First Impressions

On first holding the box containing the Earsonics SM64 Earphones, I picked up on the ‘no-frills’ design of the packaging, which is something I appreciate. Opening the box it’s great that you don’t have to rip anything open or work out a packaging puzzle to get to the good stuff. Inside you get an instruction card, a rigid carry case, a selection of tips (2 x double flanged pairs and 2 x Comply isolation pairs) and a small cleaning tool. The earphones come with a replaceable braided cable that feels very well built and flexible – very similar to the Westone cables. The cable has a tough right-angled jack plug and the yoke is of equal quality, this is very reassuring as they are generally the most fragile parts of an earphone.

Sound Quality

The first thing to mention is that the SM64 needs an amplifier! They are high impedance and they have fairly low sensitivity, this makes them tough to drive so I wouldn’t recommend that they be used straight off a portable player unless you know it has a powerful headphone amplifier. Once you have your amp hooked up you need to pick the right eartips – as with any earphone if the tips are too small you will lose the lower frequencies for a paper thin sound or if the tips are too big then the sound will be muffled. I found that thelarger Comply tips suited me perfectly, and once that was sorted I could really enjoy these amazing earphones. You hear everything so clearly and with punch, also the soundstage is superb – you can really pinpoint where each sound is coming from. I tend to find high end earphones either flat and analytical, too aggressive in the higher frequencies or too smooth. These have great clarity without being analytical or harsh, the upper mids really cut through and the bass is tight but also full (if that even makes sense).

In Use

I listen to quite a mix of music and the SM64 did them all justice – With rock music the snare drum really cuts through and you get a nice wash on the cymbals. The bass is clear and tight, guitars (generally in stereo) are well separated. Softer music like acoustic tracks sound great! The guitar strings sound natural and you hear the reverb trail off till the very end, also the vocals are forward without any harshness. These earphones also work with electronic music but they might not be for everyone. I’m not a fan of big bass, I prefer the bass to be tight and accurate – even on bass heavy music. So if you’re looking for a lot of bass then these may not be for you, but if you appreciate bass quality then you’ll be happy.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an earphone with a balanced and neutral sound then these are a great choice! The bass is tight, mids cut through without being too harsh and the highs extend very well and naturally. Thereplaceable braided cable is flexible and well built, there is very little to no micro-phonics and the built in ear guides supply extra support and comfort. The supplied carry case is tough and not too big, and the ear tip selection should suit all users. One possible downside to these earphones is the amount of power they require, you will need a dedicated headphone amplifier to get the best out of them – one with plenty of power.

The equipment I used for the testing was:

To DAC or not to DAC – an introduction to Digital-to-Analogue converters

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So you’ve spent time looking for your your new headphones or you already have a pair that you are very happy with, now it’s time to further improve your audio experience.So,To DAC or not to DAC.  The obvious route to go could be to buy or upgrade your headphone amplifier. Whether you are listening through a CD player, mobile phone, portable music player or a computer adding a good headphone amplifier to the chain can do wonders. Something that a lot of people overlook though is using a DAC. With the amount of great quality amplifier/DAC combos out there, most of the time it’s worth going this route.

What a DAC does is to take the digital data, whether it’s an MP3 or movie audio and convert that into an analogue signal so your headphones can pick it up and you can hear the files. The better the DAC, the better the conversion and therefore better sound quality. So if you have a great pair of headphones but a weak DAC, the headphones will only play audio as good as the DAC is putting out – an important part of the chain.

The most common use of a DAC is if you use a computer, all computers have built in DACs (soundcard) but unless you know that you have a particularly good one the quality won’t be great. Even using a cheaper DAC such as the FiiO E17 will greatly improve the sound quality coming from your computer. The reason you would go for a better DAC is if you play high quality audio files (WAV, AIFF, Lossless etc.) and you have a top of the range pair of headphones, this is where the quality of the DAC really shows.

You can either get a stand alone DAC or an amp/DAC combo, which one you get will be based on your intended setup. If you want to use your headphones with a computer and you don’t already have an amplifier then an amp/DAC combo would be ideal, and if you use a laptop then one of the portable sized units are great as you can even use them on the move. If you mainly use your iPhone/iPod then you could get a dedicated amp/DAC combo for iDevices such as the Fostex HP-P1 or the Cypher Labs Theorem 720 this will bypass the devices internal DAC and amplifier so all of the processing will be done by the Fostex. There is a stand alone alternative with the Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo -dB and -r, but you would also need to have a headphone amplifier for this to work.

Essentially any digital audio device can benefit from upgrading the DAC, now depending on the device you use you will need the right sort of DAC – but there will be something out there for you. If you have any questions about this subject then please feel free to call us, we will be more than happy to help.

Please check out our youtube video DACs, Sample Rates and how to use Audio Files