Hey there audio addicts! If you stopped by CanJam London 2019 you may have seen the Hifiheadphones crew around the Campfire Audio and 64 Audio tables. A few of us also took some time to conduct some on-site interviews! We’ve compiled them here for your enjoyment, so take a look at some of our favourite faces from the world of audio. Check back for each new interview!
The World’s Best Custom IEMs: Vlad Belonozhko and 64 Audio
Used by some of the world’s foremost musical luminaries (Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lauryn Hill, etc) and renowned by audiophiles, 64 Audio has blazed a trail straight to the top. Our good friend Vlad Belonozhko spent some time with us at CanJam 2019 discussing the benefits of staying true to your vision, and knowing when to branch out.
How to Get A Perfect Ear Impression: Gisele Flower, Aid2Hearing
Our interview series continues with Gisele Flower, one of the UK’s premier independent audiologists and the titan behind Aid2Hearing. Gisele is entrusted with the ears of some of the world’s favourite artists, including Stormzy, Jessie J, Sam Smith, and the Spice Girls. Here, she gives us an inside look at her process and tips for getting the best possible impression, whether it be for hearing aids, ear plugs, or custom IEMs for rocking out onstage.
How to Create a DIY Headphone Company: Alex Hyland, Hyland Headphones
Our friend Alex Hyland of Hyland Headphones let us grab him for a few minutes to discuss headphone modding, DIY headphone making, and running his own headphone empire. Ever wanted to make your own headphones? Have a listen to Alex’s advice on getting started and making a name for himself in the world of high end audiophile headphones.
The Granddaddy of All Custom IEMs: Michelle Dailey, Westone Audio
Michelle Dailey of Westone Audio fame gave us a great rundown of the future of Westone’s custom IEMs, Bluetooth earphones, and the success of the Westone W80. Westone are the world’s foremost experts on in-ear audio science, pioneering IEMs and hearing aids.
Fashion Forward Fun with Focal Audio: Megane Montabonel
Our final video from CanJam 2019 features Megane Montabonel from Focal, who describes the breadth of Focal’s expertise as well as the newer products they’ve introduced to the world of audiophilia. Focal headphones are, as always, available to try in our demo room, so get in touch to book a time slot!
We’re giving away a set of Lyper Tek Tevi True Wireless earphones! To win, you must be following us on Instagram (click here or follow us @hifiheadphonesuk on Instagram), comment as prescribed on the contest post, and like the post.
CONTEST TERMS, RULES AND REGULATIONS
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Instagram’s Terms of Service must be adhered to at all times. Breach of these terms will result in the entrant’s disqualification.
Hifiheadphones’ Terms and Conditions must be adhered to at all times. Breach of these terms will result in the entrant’s disqualification.
Hifiheadphones are solely responsible for the content, facilitation, and fulfillment of this contest.
Neither Instagram nor any of their affiliates or subsidiaries are involved in any way with this competition or with Hifiheadphones.
CONTEST PROCEDURE
To be entered into consideration to win, users must complete BOTH:
Leave a comment as prescribed by the contest post on Instagram.
Like the comment post on Instagram.
Contest will commence with this video going live and will terminate on 30/07/2019.
On the 31st of July, a winner will be randomly selected out of all entrants who have completed all requirements. Only one entry will be accepted per user. Should no entrants fulfill the requirements, no winner will be selected.
Winner will be publically acknowledged by one or more of the following: Instagram post, newsletter email, or another method of our choosing.
Winner will be given instructions to claim their prize via the Hifiheadphones Instagram account.
DATA USAGE
Only personal data collected for use will be the shipping information of the winner in order to send prize. No other entrants will have personal information stored.
Shipping details will remain in our sales system as per data protection laws, to be used for the express purpose of providing prize to winning entrant.
No third party software will be utilized to influence results.
Greetings, headphone enthusiasts! Is there anything better than cracking open a fresh new bit of audio kit? We propose that there is not.
That’s why we’re gathering all our new unboxing videos under one roof, for those times when you just want to curl up with a good bit of vicarious audio product consumption.
Let us know if you have a suggestion for a future unboxing! We want to open everything we can get our grubby hands on.
We’re running a giveaway to coincide with the release of our new video on hi res audio! To enter, watch our giveaway videoand make sure you’re subscribed to the Hifiheadphones YouTube channel. Then, follow the instructions in the video. Best of luck!
CONTEST TERMS, RULES AND REGULATIONS
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
YouTube’s Community Guidelines must be followed and adhered to at all times. Violation of these terms at any time will result in entrant’s disqualification.
YouTube’s Terms of Service must be adhered to at all times. Violation of the ToS will result in entrant’s disqualification.
Hifiheadphones’ Terms and Conditions must be adhered to at all times. Breach of these terms will result in the entrant’s disqualification.
Hifiheadphones are solely responsible for the content, facilitation, and fulfillment of this contest.
Neither YouTube nor any of their affiliates or subsidiaries are involved in any way with this competition or with Hifiheadphones.
CONTEST PROCEDURE
To be entered into consideration to win, users must complete BOTH:
Be subscribed to the Hifiheadphones YouTube channel
Leave a comment as prescribed by the content of this video.
Contest will commence with this video going live and will terminate on 30/06/2019.
After this date, winner will be randomly selected out of all entrants who have completed both requirements. Only one entry will be accepted per user. Should no entrants fulfill both requirements, no winner will be selected.
Winner will be publically acknowledged by one or more of the following: YouTube comment, in-video acknowledgement, newsletter email.
Winner will be given instructions to claim their prize via the Hifiheadphones YouTube account.
DATA USAGE
Only personal data collected for use will be the shipping information of the winner in order to send prize. No other entrants will have personal information stored.
Shipping details will remain in our sales system as per data protection laws, to be used for the express purpose of providing prize to winning entrant.
No third party software will be utilized to aggregate winner, nor to influence results.
The newest release from Campfire Audio comes in the form of the Campfire Audio IO, a garnet-coloured IEM with dual balanced armature drivers. The IO features a detachable silver-plated copper cable with smoky tangle-resistant jacket and updated Beryllium copper MMCX connectors. You can also expect the array of accessories you expect from Campfire Audio.
Campfire Audio Polaris (2019 Edition)
Campfire have updated the legendary Polaris IEM for 2019, aptly titled… yes, you guessed it: the Polaris 2019 Edition. Campfire kept the basic setup of the dual drivers, but everything else has been reworked from the floor up, including the drivers themselves.
Campfire Audio Andromeda
Campfire’s iconic green anodized IEMs, the Andromeda, have gotten a few tweaks for spring 2019, including a cable update, fresh new accessories, and a change to the connectors. Also given a boost is the earhook design which sees Campfire rid itself of the memory wire previously housed in the cable itself.
Etymotic ER2-XR
The Etymotic ER2-XR extended response in-ear isolating earphones deliver Etymotic’s iconic passive isolation to block out up to 35dB of background noise. This means you won’t have to blast the volume to appreciate the ER2-XR’s full bass response and detailed sound.
Etymotic ER2-SE
These guys look similar to their cousins, but the ER2-SE is a powerful flat-response in-ear perfect for studio professionals. It’s called the ‘Studio Edition’ for a reason! No range is altered, giving a crystal clear representation of the original sound.
Oriveti OH300
Oriveti is dropping two shiny new IEMs, the first of which is the Oriveti OH300. These triple driver IEMs give a beautiful clear, balanced, neutral sound and look incredibly sleek and impressive. Probably the IEMs Batman would own, if he needed to hear crystal clear audio of himself delivering brutal one-liners.
Oriveti OH500
The Oriveti OH500 houses five drivers (quad balanced, single dynamic) within its gorgeous resin exterior. With those, you get an unfailingly smooth response with some strong low end. Their handcrafted cable of eight-strand braided silver plated wire is second to none, but still detachable for your convenience.
Our picks for the best over ear headphones – open back and closed back
We know how important it is to find the best headphones for you; whether they are for your smartphone, music player, laptop or hi-fi system.
Here you can see the best of the best full size headphones to buy in 2019, 2020 and beyond.
BEST CLOSED BACK HEADPHONES
1. Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO – £125
Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro
The Beyerdynamic DT770 creates a spacial soundstage more akin to an open-back headphone, and delivers full bass with accurate highs and mids. What’s more, these are profoundly comfortable.
The HD820 is Sennheiser’s first closed back audiophile headphone release and it promises to be quite special. Based on the same design as the HD800S, the HD820 uses Gorilla Glass as its transducer cover and the curved shape of it allows the sound waves to reflect to an absorber – resulting in minimal resistance and creating an open sound that you would normally expect from an open backed headphone.
Focal headphones are not only known for their excellent sound quality – they also look stunning. And the Stellia is no different. The finest materials have been used to create this closed back headphone, including a Beryllium dome electrodynamic driver. With a unique finish, inspired by the colours of cognac and mocha – the Focal Stellia looks as good as it sounds.
The Ether 2 have a great sense of neutrality, at the same time they offer an enjoyable listening experience and they never sound analytical. There is a hint of added body that creates a smooth listening experience that can be enjoyed for hours on end.
The unique construction of the Empyrean was designed with the shape of the human ear in mind. As a result, they enjoy a greater degree of imaging than you’re likely to find anywhere else. Each Empyrean is hand crafted to exacting detail, and that level of precision is not only visible, but audible.
The planar magnetic magnificence of the Final D8000 creates a listening experience without parallel. The unique construction, including a damping system (the same used in condenser microphones) allowing for a sound that surpasses the abilities of most planar magnetic and dynamic equipment. This requires a dedication to exacting detail you can only see in Final.
The B&W PX is the ultimate portable headphone. With the latest aptX HD Bluetooth technology, wireless sound quality is of the highest level. Providing a very well balanced sound with tight bass – bass heads may want to look elsewhere – crystal clear clarity and superb soundstage. The PX also has adaptive noise cancelling and uses six microphones to help block out external sounds – allowing you to focus on the music. Along with the advanced technology – the PX has superb build quality and comfort – making them our go to recommendation for wireless headphones.
Audeze have created a superb all rounder in the Mobius. Whether music, films or gaming is your thing – the Audeze Mobius does it all extremely well. Inside the housings are planar magnetic drivers, providing sound quality that even the audiophiles out there will appreciate. Then the 3D emulation technology delivers a superb surround sound experience, perfect for watching films or playing Fortnite and thanks to the integrated head tracking – you’ll hear sound effects as if they’re really there.
Our pick of the Best Sports Headphones – Earphones, On Ear, Wireless and True Wireless
We know how important it is to find the best headphones for you; whether they are for your smartphone, music player, laptop or hi-fi system.
So we’ve gathered our picks for the best of the best for active/sports headphones you can buy!
BEST SPORTS HEADPHONES UNDER £50
1. SoundMAGIC P22BT – £39.99
SoundMAGIC P22BT
The SoundMAGIC P22BT is suspiciously low-priced for a bluetooth model, but exceeds all expectations. Watch out this summer however, as wearing these constantly may affect your suntan.
The guts of the E11C paired with the power of Bluetooth 5.0 make this earphone a real contender for a budget price. Automatic smartphone controls give you even more freedom from your device while on the go. They claim an absolutely massive battery life as well.
Optoma has enjoyed tremendous success recently with its BE Sport3 model; it’s an earphone which has a remarkably solid build quality and reliability, however Optoma has gone one better with additional sweat and water resistance rated at IPX5 – this means that aside from general moisture resistance, we can have a musical duel with water pistols and suffer no lasting consequences.
Between their purported 16-hour battery life between charges (representing 4 hours of continuous play) and their ipx5 water resistance rating, the Optoma NuForce BE Free5 is a steal at just under £100. Their graphene diaphragm drivers allow for less energy consumption, while their ergonomic design means they won’t fall out constantly while you’re on the move.
Between Sennheiser sound and build quality, six hours of battery life, and the ability to quick charge, what more could you ask for in a sport headphone? Splash and sweat resistance, you say? Well, guess what? The CX Sport comes through once more.
The Empyrean is a luxury item, and it certainly looks the part. The CNC machined main body with an intricate pattern on the grills all look the part, the headband is carbon fibre and the comfort strap is leather. All this comes together to make the Empyrean stand out as a unique yet beautiful pair of headphones.
Build quality is superb, everything is expertly put together and the fit and finish of every part is flawless. The headband adjustment is smooth yet tight, the cable uses mini 4-pin XLR connectors, everything is built to such a high standard on the Empyrean. The great thing is that every part can be serviced by Meze, so these should be supported parts wise for many years to come.
Accessory wise you get an aluminium carry case that is styled like a briefcase, it is a bit extravagant but a nice change from what you get with most high-end headphones. Also included is the standard cable, and an extra pair of earpads (Leather and Alcantara are included) which gives you a slight level of sound tuning ability.
Comfort:
The Empyrean are not the lightest headphones on the market, but the depth of the pads and the headband design all contribute to making these one of the most comfortable headphones around. The headband strap evenly distributes the weight, whilst the earpads are deep and well cushioned to prevent your ears from touching the driver. I prefer the comfort and sound of the Alcantara pads, as the Leather ones can get a little hot after a while.
Bass: The bass on the Empyrean comes out of nowhere, they have a very black background and the bass is akin to having a very well-integrated subwoofer in a stereo system. It has incredible depth and power, but it never overpowers the sound, punching when called for but the extension is what is most impressive. The lows extend so effortlessly, yet they always remain tight and controlled. They have a big sound that has a slight emphasis on the lows, giving a fuller overall sound, but they don’t ever sound dark of bass heavy.
Midrange: Whilst sitting slightly behind the bass in quantity, they never come across veiled or recessed. They are just a little more relaxed whilst still having a great sense of space and separation. The layering in the midrange is superb, allowing you to hear every intricacy in the recording with ease. The thing with the Empyrean is they allow a lot of insight into the quality of the recording, yet never push anything too forward to make you analyse the sound. They are first and foremost for the enjoyment of listening. There is perhaps a tiny bit of added body in the lower midrange, and a slight recess in the upper midrange to avoid any sibilance, and to let them have a smooth transition into the treble region.
Treble: The treble on these is always present and extends with ease yet it never tries to grab your attention. These are maybe a little too safe up top for some, but this means that you still get all the information and detail you could need from the recording without worrying about harshness or sharp peaks. Coming from a personal preference I wouldn’t mind a tiny bit more presence, but at the same time I never feel that I’m missing out on anything with these. Well extended with plenty of detail and excellent tonality, but maybe a tiny bit reserved for some tastes.
The soundstage is a standout quality of these, they manage to sound incredibly open yet accurate at placing instruments within the soundstage.
Conclusion:
It is so hard to sum up the Empyrean, they are definitely some of the best headphones I have heard in a while. They have a good hi-fi setup type of sound with fullness that doesn’t affect the rest of the sound. They are just enjoyable, airy, effortless and ultimately a pleasure to listen to.
So… here’s the thing. We all love headphones, and we all love getting them for less money. And trying to navigate all the chaotic savings on Black Friday can be pretty intimidating. So we thought: why not just… keep the doors open longer?
It’s baaa-aaaack! We thought long and hard about it decided to keep the savings available until Friday at midnight, to give you a more relaxed pace for what is often a serious, intimate purchase. So get in touch, come visit us in our demo room, or just give yourself time to mull it over- we know buying a headphone is a process! And we’re here to help.
23/11/2018-26/11/2018
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the BLACK FRIDAY MEGA SALE! From this very moment until Cyber Monday night at midnight, all of our Black Friday sales are live and kicking. Absolutely everything in our entire Black Friday 2018 category is reduced for the next four days!
We will be in today (Friday) and Monday (Monday) to help if you’d like to call in and chat or ask questions. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch! We don’t bite!
22/11/2018
Today we’re changing things up a little! We’ve been offering up selected items from each brand these past two weeks, but today we’ve only got one spectacular item on offer: today we’re reducing price on the fabulous Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Gen Special Black Edition!
Beyerdynamic was founded in 1924, and if you know the brand you know they’ve been changing the game on top-grade personal audio since then. The T1 2nd Generation is a semi-open back headphone with an incredibly spacious soundstage, and a detachable cable. By all accounts it is a worthy successor to its legendary older sibling, but with a sleek black makeover and updated materials. Not only is this sale limited to 1000 units worldwide, FOREVER, but this sale is even more limited. Get your hands on it while you can!
21/11/2018
It’s a big day, and one that we’re really excited about. If you were holding out, now’s the time to reconsider, because today is the day we drop our Campfire Audio sale.
Campfire Audio began as a series of experimentations with different materials, drawing on experiences in personal audio to create something new and essential for audiophiles. These profoundly unique, exquisite headphones and IEMs deliver truly singular experiences in sound, owing to their masterful craftsmanship. If you’re interested but would like more information, feel free to get in touch with us. We love to talk about them! Like our other sales, this will end at midnight, so be sure to act quickly if you want to take advantage!
20/11/2018
We’re back and ready to rock, so let’s move things along with our next sale: it’s over to our friends at Shanling!
Founded in 1988, Shanling first produced its first item: an amplifier. Since then, Shanling’s commitment to independent research and development has allowed them to blaze unique trails in personal audio. The M-series players, specifically, have broken the mold with their intuitive interfaces and compact sizes. If you’re looking for a really high-quality player and DAC, you can’t go wrong with a Shanling, and today’s the perfect day to upgrade! Our Shanling sale will end at midnight!
19/11/2018
Happy Monday, savings lovers! We hope you’ve had a great weekend full of mirth and merriment, and maybe also some headphone savings. To ease us back into the swing of things, we thought we’d skip back to one of our previous sales- today we’re going to drop the price once again on Westone!
As before, these discounts will only last until midnight, so jump to our sale page and make sure you get what you need before time runs out!
16/11/2018-18/11/2018
Happy Friday! We hope you’ve been having fun so far- we know we have! To round off our first week of wheeling and dealing, we’re excited to show off our first weekend-long sale. It’s not the last sale, but it’s certainly the Final sale.
The beautiful craftsmanship and high-quality audio are the hallmarks of today’s brand, Final. Originally established in 1974 by Kanemori Takai, Final have skyrocketed to become synonymous with beauty, finesse, and precision. Their gorgeous Heaven series feature balanced armature drivers and unique sound signatures between models, keeping Final’s foot firmly in the door of the world’s greatest. These will be back to normal at midnight on Sunday night, so act quickly!
15/11/2018
Good morning, everyone! We’re back bright and early to introduce our next day of Black Friday discounts. Have you had a good night’s sleep? A nice breakfast? Some damn fine coffee? We need you energised for what we’ve got planned today- it’s time for Flare day!
Flare have been pursuing their visionary goal for five years now- founder Davies Roberts’s ambition to produce distortion-free personal audio products drives Flare’s innovation. They draw inspiration from their experience in the music industry, giving them a strong sense of the issues that need to be resolved. We’ve got a ton of good stuff from Flare for you today, so get crackin’! They poof at midnight!
14/11/2018
Another day, another brand! Today we’re offering up our next discounts in our three-week Black Friday sales event- that’s right! It’s Fidue day!
Fidue, helmed by lead engineer and designer Benny Tan (20 years of experience!), are masters of the craft of delicately tuned IEMs. They strive to reproduce sound accurately and clearly, maintaining detail and neutrality. We have several gorgeous models on offer today, so take a good look! You have until midnight!
13/11/2018
Welcome back! We hope you’ve had a good night’s sleep to recover from those bargains. But there’s no time to waste! We’re back for day two of our Black Friday sales with our second big beautiful brand highlight: Westone!
Westone are quick to point out that they are the world’s largest manufacturer of custom ear pieces, and there’s good reason why- they’ve been around since 1959, so they’ve had plenty of time to sink their teeth into the market. Their IEMs are legendary, and they’ve been around long enough to innovate by leaps and bounds over the evolution of personal audio.
Get on this deal before midnight, because the wheel must keep turning!
12/11/2018
Good morning, everyone! It’s our first day of our three weeks of Black Friday savings, and we’re kicking things off with our first fantastic brand highlight. First out of the gate, it’s the fabulous SoundMAGIC!
SoundMAGIC were founded in 2005 by Tony Xu, and have made a big impression on the personal electronics scene since then. They may be the underdog, butSoundMAGIC are never afraid to take the fight directly to their more well-known competitors. The flagship E-series receives consistent accolades from critics and consumers alike, with the E10C receiving consecutive years’ recognition by What Hifi? as an outstanding in-ear under a certain price. SoundMAGIC has plenty of momentum moving into the future, so make sure to keep them on your radar!
06/11/2018
Here’s the deal about Black Friday: we’re not content to just offer one day of great deals. This year, we’re gearing up to deliver three weeks of savings centered around our big Black Friday Mega Sale. Starting next week (12/11/2018), we will be highlighting brands to do different sales each day!
We’ll be keeping you up to date with what’s on offer across these dates, so check back here for a daily update starting the 12th. You can also keep up with what’s going on via our mailing list and social media.
The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation is a true masterpiece of audio engineering. A marked improvement over the already stunning Beyerdynamic T1, the T1 2nd Generation features:
A detachable cable
Leatherette headband
Lower price point
Upgraded drivers
Greater clarity and detail
Strong, responsive bass
They have had a very warm reception from the critics, and rightfully so: the T1 2nd Generation takes everything noteworthy about the T1 and then improves.
We’ve got exclusive access to these stunning, limited-run headphones and they’re available to preorder now. You won’t be able to get these anywhere else in Europe- just through us.
These are incredibly limited edition, so don’t miss your chance to own these little stunners. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Here’s what people have to say about the T1 2nd Generation:
“If you were after a pair of top-class pair of headphones without spending thousands, these – along with Sennheiser’s HD800Ses – would be our top recommendations.”
“The sound is lusher and fuller than most at the price, which will either seal the deal or be a turn-off, depending on your taste. But that’s the quandary when buying an ‘ultimate’ set like this – you’re not just buying headphones but, hopefully, a music partner you’ll live with for years.”
The family is getting bigger- we’re expecting a new bundle of joy to our homestead in the coming weeks, and to celebrate, we thought we’d do a brief overview of the impressive in-ears on offer from these chemically-conscious can constructors.
What is the deal with Periodic Audio, anyway?
As the name might imply, Periodic Audio deal in high-end equipment with a twist- they specialize in highlighting the performance of elements on the periodic table as facets of their design technology. For example, their earphone range features diaphragms hewn from varying materials.
Periodic‘s motto is ‘Portable audio excellence’, which gives some insight into the brand’s style. You won’t find flashy cases or an abundance of accessories- they prefer to focus all their attention on the IEMs and let the sound speak for itself.
What will we be offering?
The Mg IEM
These bad boys feature a majority-magnesium content alloy in the diaphragm and Periodic advise they feature a bright, clear top end that would help cut through the noise in loud and busy settings.
The Ti IEM
You may have guessed, if you paid attention in chem class- these IEMs feature a 100% titanium foil for the diaphragm. Periodicfigure this is their best model for aggressive, fun music- it’s got great responsiveness and strong bass and treble- but perhaps not the most reference-style.
The Be IEM
Anyone get the last one? Well done at home if you guessed beryllium- they boast a 100% pure beryllium foil diaphragm to produce a sound with fun, strong bass and an impressive array of sonic detail.
Get Nerdy
Want a closer look into the science of Periodic‘s range? Luckily, they’ve got you covered. Each IEM has a full guide to what makes it tick, complete with measurements, readouts, and charts to show impedance and other factors. If you want to know specifically, down to the molecule what you can expect from each IEM, you ought to have a field day here.
So, that’s our glimpse into the future for the day. We’ll be shouting at the top of our lungs about it when these are available, so be sure to keep an ear out. And, as always, feel free to get in touch if you’d like to come visit us for a demo. And bring your chemistry set!
BONUS:
Q: Which genre sounds best on Periodic Audio‘s unique IEMs?
Good afternoon, you beautiful autumn people. We’re thrilled and excited to reveal the winner of our Halloween competition giveaway, who will receive a SoundMAGIC E11C for their efforts.
So, without further ado-
A big, huge congratulations to…
Steve!
We will be getting in touch to send out your shiny new E11C by the end of the day. Congratulations and many thanks for the laugh!
(15/10/2018) Welcome to autumn!
We wanted to do something to get in the spirit for Halloween, so we thought we’d add a little something special to somebody’s treat bag this season.
Here’s the deal: we want to see how you get into the season. Send us a picture of your Halloween flare (not to be confused with Halloween Flares, unless you’ve done something really cool to your Jet 1s, in which case- absolutely send us that!). This could be a picture of decorations, of some autumn foliage or spooky fog, of you in your costume– anything that captures the spirit!
We’ll decide the winner based entirely on our own subjective, arbitrary criteria and feature the winning photo on our blog (with a runner-up or two possibly included if we can’t keep them to ourselves).
Down to the important stuff- we’ll hook the winner up with a pair of our newest releases- The SoundMAGIC E11C!
You have until midnight on November 1st to get your submissions in- meaning you’ve got all Halloween day to take great pictures- and email your submissions to contest@hifiheadphones.co.uk.
The Rules:
Submit as many pictures as you’d like! This isn’t a random raffle, but having a backup can never hurt!
You must be subscribed to our mailing list to win- feel free to get in touch if you aren’t sure if you’re subscribed, and we can check for you!
Hifiheadphones may possibly use any and all images submitted- this includes on our blog, social media, mailouts, and on hifiheadphones.co.uk. Please let us know at the time of submission if you have any problems or issues with this.
Our personal judgment is final- and completely arbitrary. Our internal team will vote on the winners.
We will announce the winner via blog post and accompanying email on the 2nd of November, and will contact the winner directly.
Your submission must be your own intellectual property– sending in screenshots of Stranger Things or Nightmare on Elm Street is going to get your entry thrown out.
Please keep all submissions safe for work. After all, that’s where we’re going to be looking at them.
You know them. You love them. And now, SoundMAGIC is back with another legendary entry into their canon- The E11 in-ear islolating earphones.
The SoundMAGIC E11
The successor to the award winning SoundMAGIC E10, The E11 is an evolution in every sense of the word. Its look and build are more distinguished and more practical- the machined aluminum housing is both substantial and lightweight, and delivers a refined finish. The twisted silver-plated copper cable offers minimal loss of quality while its coating is optimised for avoiding the universally dreaded cable-tangle. As with the E10, it features a durable angled jack to minimise wear-and-tear. And if you’re interested in a control with automatic switching between Apple and Android products, the E11C is perfect.
The SoundMAGIC E11C
Of course, none of these physical attributes are as important as sound, and the E11 and E11C are more than ready to stand up to the competition on this front- expect smooth high-end detail and strong, textured bass, with a broad and evocative soundstage.
Both the E11 and E11C are now available for preorder from the main Hifiheadphones site ( for the E11 and E11C) and from the SoundMAGIC site ( for theE11 and E11C ).
Or, if you’re the sort of person that hates surprises, we’d love for you to come down and give them a try in our demo room. Give us a call on 01903 768910 or shoot us a message at support@hifiheadphones.co.uk and we can arrange a time for you to get real familiar with these. We think you’ll be hearing about them for a long, long time.
Our top recs for seriously impressive headphone amplifiers.
Stick a pin in it, summer’s just about done for.
Now we’re staring down the barrel of the big chill, and we’re gonna have to get serious about our indoor entertainment if we want to get through it without either losing our marbles or freezing them off. What else are you supposed to do, take in the beautiful changing foliage? Get really into trick-or-treating? As if.
It doesn’t have to be all gloom and doom, though! Whether you’re looking for something to complement your perfect gaming rig or a punch of power for your juice-hungry headphones, we’d be willing to bet we’ve got something for you to get excited about.
Settle in for a long winter’s night with this awesome, customisable amplifier from Burson. This is one of the most powerful headphone amps around, and it’s perfect for anybody looking to upgrade their gaming setup to include a serious sonic boost.
No high end soundcards in gaming feature the DAC chip found in the Play, which means PC gamers have to settle for distortion, poor sound quality, and noisy power supplies. Who wants subpar audio dragging you out of the moment when you’re trying to keep an ear out for raiders lurking in the capital wasteland?
The Play is perfect for users wanting to roll their opamps, which means you can tweak that sound to your exact specifications and lose yourself completely in whatever world you’d like to substitute for the cold, wet one outside.
You’ve gotta show your face in the real world eventually, but why resign yourself to a less-than-stellar listening experience while you’re making moves?
The Micro iDSD Black Label is a perfect portable companion for those wanting to maintain a high standard both at home and on the way to your friend’s ill-advised homemade fireworks display. Drown out the sounds of his self-inflicted injuries with three power output modes to make it the perfect match for the most sensitive headphones all the way to the most power-hungry. What’s that? You need more options? It’s got you covered- the 3D+ option allows you to focus the stereo image, and the XBass+ gives you control over deepening and tightening bass frequencies.
This amp is a real ride-or-die. You’ll get 6-12 hours of power out of it depending on use and settings, and the USB port means you can charge your phone or other electronic devices as well! Do your other friends put in this kind of effort for you? Ricky won’t even lend you £5 for lunch. Serves him right about the fireworks mishap.
Treat yourself to a slice of simplicity in the form of The Element, a deceptively powerful unit from JDS Labs. You don’t need anything too showy- not like your neighbours already throwing their Christmas lights up. The Element’s gentle copper-coloured ring of light beneath the volume control will inspire plenty of warm cozy feelings.
The Element’s minimalist design houses absolute reference quality perfection in a body that doesn’t fight for attention, but will probably get it, because- let’s face it, it looks good.
And it’s more multifaceted than it appears- just turn the amplifier off and use the analog jack inputs to turn The Element into a standalone DAC. The gift that keeps on giving!
So whether you’re dreading the change of the seasons or welcoming it with open arms, it’s more fun to do things with a buddy. Or three.
