The Chinese-American HiFi powerhouse, HiFiMan’s current top of the range headphone-amplifier pairing seemed way too interesting to not have its own video review. Their speaker-like performance offers a truly unique listening experience. Enjoy!
SoundMAGIC have pushed the boundaries of what can be expected from an entry level earphone with the SoundMAGIC ES20 Headphones, which makes this model a strong candidate for the title of best budget headphone. The sound is a quantum leap up from the cheap earbuds supplied with most MP3 players, with warm deep bass and plenty of detail in the trebles.
While you might expect a cheap earphone to be badly made, the ES20 is a part aluminium construction and comes fitted with good quality braided cabling (normally reserved for high end in-ear monitor earphones) with strain relief that is built to last. The quality of the product is truly commendable. The ES20 is like the baby brother of the award winning SoundMAGIC E10 which adds a full metal body and even higher sound quality – for a little more money.
In times past the Sennheiser CX300 was the first choice for entry level in-ear earphones, but the ES20 has just stolen that spot. Sound quality compares with earphones costing two or three times the price.
Graham Slee has a great reputation for amps and related products, so how does a DAC from this company fare? Lauri Cular gives the Graham Slee Bitzie DAC a look-see.
There’s no shortage of external gizmos out there to improve the output of the average computer, but this is a worthy contender from Mr Slee. It presents itself in a sturdy but light case made of aluminium; small enough to be portable and large enough to handle easily when on the tabletop. It does not have its own power source however, so true portability may be limited to users of larger music sources such as tablets and laptops.
I disconnected my budget Behringer USB soundcard and connected the Bitzie. Unfortunately my copy of windows 7 decided to label the Bitzie ‘Behringer USB’ when detected, making for a furrowed brow; but I got through that by scrawling ‘Behringer’ on the thing. Don’t tell the boss.
There’s some debate over the value of more expensive USB leads such as the recommended Lautus; I’ll admit that I was sceptical. It’s data, right? It goes from A to B and you hear it perfectly.. or not. How can there be an in-between?
I didn’t notice anything much wrong at first whilst trying a cheap USB cable with the Bitzie, I was using full size headphones of one sort of another when trying the DAC, and gave the cable issue no thought at all. Then I tried listening with some in-ear headphones, the classic (and soon to be vintage) Phonak Audeo PFE 232s, expecting great things. With no source audio playing at all and the volume down, I was presented with the unsettling sound of a dozen tiny squealing mice coming from the Bitzie. It appears that even USB cables are susceptible to interference, and whether audible or not this unwanted signal will be affecting all audio coming from the device. It isn’t loud, but it’s bothersome with more sensitive in-ear headphones.
I recorded it to look at the waveform; there’s a very random pattern at around 15kHz and, zooming out, another waveform at 50Hz.
So on to the sound; for my test I chose two bits of soundtrack music, one was the Main Title from the original Taking of Pelham 123 movie soundtrack, and the other from Saturday Night Fever – Night on Disco Mountain. Both by David Shire.
The Pelham 123 tune has a lot of brass; and the Bitzie really brought this to life. I love a low brassy grunt or two, and the detail revealed by the Bitzie made me sit up past my bedtime enjoying the added depth this soundtrack now had to offer. In a comparison with my M-Audio Audiophile 24/96PC soundcard, the Bitzie had a clear edge and didn’t feel as if it was trying very hard either.
Night on Disco Mountain, although cheesy, has a lot going on for the Bitzie to cope with and it did a great job. I wasn’t so much listening as fully immersed. There’s a great sense of space and depth and it’s difficult to turn the thing off and go to bed. The Bitzie is bags of fun, but watch for bags under the eyes.
One thing I would say is that the Bitzie has a limit where it comes to amplification. Perhaps due to the fact it draws power from the attached source or device. My HE-400s are a thirsty pair of headphones, and the Bitzie did not get them up to a decent level. However, for dynamic headphones of 300 Ohms and lower I’d say the Bitzie should be fine without further amplification.
Most portable devices can transmit a Bluetooth signal, especially the most recent ones. Whether you use a smart phone or DAP (Digital Audio Player), Bluetooth will allow you listen to your music and answer calls wirelessly. Thanks to this technology you won’t be sacrificing audio quality for convenience, being a digital signal you will get an extremely clear connection and with the standard of Bluetooth headphones out there (especially those that are apt-X compatible) the result can be as good as wired headphones. Here are my picks for the best Bluetooth wireless headphones available in our store.
In an industry where any extra functionality usually translates into extra sales, it is hardly surprising that headphone manufacturers are falling over themselves to give the customers as many buttoms and as much control as possible when it comes to skipping tracks, altering volume and answering calls. Of course, while this is fine when your handset is specifically listed as being compatible with the headset, there’s a lot of handsets out there now and a lot of headphones with some indeterminate functionality, but what works with what?
To get some kind of idea, we need to look closely at the connections and wiring, also the standards under which these wiring decisions have been made.
The oldest standard belongs to the then-called ‘Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association’, now called ‘CTIA – The Wireless Association’. This organisation represents both service providers and manufacturers, providing a framework for discussion regarding standard ways of designing parts and services which makes everybody’s lives easier. Apple uses this standard, for instance.
Another standard exists, called OMTP (Open Mobile Terminal Platform). It has been around only since 2004, and was set up by mobile operators to attempt standardisation between handset manufacturers. Sony and Nokia are members, but it looks as if this standard is quietly being dropped.
The difference between these standards lies in the way the individual contacts in the socket and plug are wired to the phone. Both standards include the tip and first ring dealing with ‘L’ and ‘R’ respectively. This way, a normal stereo 3.5mm plug will work in the same socket, whether it be CTIA or OMTP. The difference is in the ‘Mic’ and ‘Ground’ contacts. These are reversed between the two standards and explains the seemingly random functionality between headsets and headphones with mic/controls.
To further muddy the compatibility waters, Apple has built a different way of signalling (sending instructions to the phone) into their remotes and phones.
Where the more universal remotes use differing voltages depending on the button pressed, Apple’s incorporate a ‘dual mode modulator’ which results in a complex ‘chirp’ being sent to the phone. For instance a ‘power on signal’ (where the phone shakes hands with the remote) has the remote sending back a chirp consisting of two bursts of ultrasonic frequency, one immediately following the other. A couple of hundredths of a second at 280kHz, and maybe a few more at 244kHz.
The use of these ‘encoded’ signal can prevent the Apple remote’s functions from working with other manufacturer’s handsets, although from experience it looks as if some makers are widening the goalposts so the remote may have some functionality. My Huawei Ascend P1 LTE will answer a call using an Apple remote, but nothing else will work for example.
Stay tuned, as over the coming weeks we will be collating information as to which remote headphones work with which handsets, and what functionality there is.
The HiFiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new Closed Back Foldable On-Ear Headband Headphone from Audio Technica, the ATH-ES700 is now available to be purchased on our website.
In addition, the ATH-ES700 has beautiful high quality mirror finish housing, and helps deliver a sound reproduction in the high frequencies unique to stainless steel. The headband is cushioned with light-weight material to further enhance comfort and a swivel hinge for storage. The newly designed 42mm drivers deliver powerful bass and detail in a compact size
To purchase the unit, please visit our website:
Buy Audio Technica ATH-ES700 Closed Back Foldable On-Ear Headband Headphone
The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new portable headphone amplifier/DAC from Graham Slee, the Bitzie is now available to be purchased on our website. The products from Graham Slee have been very popular ever since we started offering them so we were naturally exicted when we first heard about the release.
Other than obviously sounding great, the best feature of the Bitzie is that it has been confirmed to work as an external DAC with several Android-based smartphones, like the Galaxy S3 and S4. Android-owners craving for a superior sound fromt their device should look no further!
Read more on Graham Slee’s website!
To purchase the unit, please visit our website:
Technology taken from EarSonics’ EM series achieves audio quality never reached before with universal IEM earphones. The research and development department of EarSonics worked hard to match sound quality of their custom EM4 and EM6. The result brought forward EarSonics’ Flagship SM64, a new professional audio quality reference model.
With new HQ crossover technology with impedance corrector, the SM64 provide a balanced sound spectrum making it very musical and accurate. Earsonics’ SM64 in-ear monitor earphones were made to handle music of all intensities and all volumes on any device, absolute control of the audio spectrum. Pairing the SM64 with a headphone amplifier unleashes incredible stereo imaging and maximum headroom.
To purchase the unit, please visit our website:
Buy EarSonics SM64 Triple Balanced Armature Universal Monitor
So what’s the weakest link? I’m not talking about BBC quiz show tedium here, but something that every headphone enthusiast has probably asked at some point. If upgrading your system, whether it be portable or home-based, there is likely still something which is holding it back. Spending a grand on some sumptuous headphones is all very well, but they may be a waste of money if you are then plugging them straight into an iPod. Sound quality is limited in part to what the iPod can put out, and expensive headphones will simply reveal with greater resolution the flaws and limitations of the standard iPod DAC and amp.
For those who accept no compromise, there are bits of specialised kit which can take digital information from the iPod (from the 30-pin, or new lightning connections on the 5th gen. iPod) and process that into a much better quality analogue signal. This would need to be fed into an amplifier as the Algorhythm Solo -dB puts out a line-level signal only.
So what’s the dB for? This is a newer version of the original Algorhythm Solo which would work exclusively with Apple devices. Cypher Labs has upped the stakes and provided greater functionality by making these units compatible with the USB ports of Apple computers and PCs alike. Once drivers are installed, the computer will be able to use the unit as an external DAC, beating all pre-installed motherboard DACs to a pulp, and most aftermarket DACs as well.
I decided to check for myself what these things can do, so I put the Solo -dB against my M-Audio Audiophile 24bit/96kHz PCI sound card. If not already, this card is nearly ten years old; and although I have investigated upgrading there really is no need. It’s excellent, so the Solo -dB’s work is cut out.
And so was mine; there was likely a weak link in my chain elsewhere which made properly appreciating this level of quality a challenge. Perhaps with the cables/connections or the amps I was trying it with, the Fiio E12 or my old Behringer 802A mixing desk – neither of which are aimed at truly high-end ears. Looks like that’s my next upgrade.
However I did manage to perceive some difference through my HiFiMAN He-400s before fatigue set in, but not by listening to what was there; I listened to what there wasn’t. On The Sweet’s ‘Blockbuster Blitz’ I found it a real challenge to favour one or the other version (both PCI card and Algorhythm Solo going through the mixing desk at the same volume level) but on trying to analyse the space in between the instruments, I found that the glam snare drumroll parts definitely had a more 3D feel coming from the Algorhythm Solo; I could detect space all around them. From the M-Audio PCI card, the same parts had a flatter presentation.
Although the differences may be subtle, I am comparing a PCI card with all its requirements (like a desktop ball and chain) with a self-contained unit which can go in a pocket (albeit not a small one).
So if you are looking at upgrading your sound with some pricey headphones or a similar high-end gadget, just spare a thought for the entire chain. And if you can’t tell the difference between the iPod’s DAC and the Algorhythm Solo, perhaps you’re the weakest link!
Goodbye!
Now that every true Brit is reaching for his socks and sandals, the mind turns to outdoor pursuits and ideas of travel. However, the notion of too many other sandal-wearing Brits and their awful children being in the immediate vicinity is less than ideal. To avoid longing for winter again, Lauri Cular collects up some ideas on how to best take your mind off the snot and screaming (sonblock if you will) and also the unwanted noise associated with travel.
From a road safety point of view, I wouldn’t recommend volume levels which could block out or distract from effectively guiding a vehicle along Britain’s winding thoroughfares, but a little music can enhance the concentration and tame the road hog within. I like a volume level which just about matches that of wind noise when I’m on my motorbike, that way I can be sure I can hear everything I otherwise would.
The issues are the ease with which the helmet can go on over the ears/earphones, and the cable; depending on how careful the rider is. I have E10s which I use on the bike and they’re fine; but I do need to be careful when putting the helmet on.
So to stick with SoundMAGIC, the E30s sit in the concha of the ear and so do not stick out at all. Added to this, the cable is of a sturdy braided design and is less likely to snag on items of motorcycle clothing. Also, as the E30s are designed to be worn with the cable over the ears there is the option to have the cable going down the back of the neck and reaching to an inside pocket, for instance.
Another strong candidate is the Shure SE215; like the E30s they keep a low profile and are dynamically driven making a warmer sound. As bass is easily drowned out by engine noise, I find it a good option. The cable is really substantial when compared to most other IEMs, and concerns with tangling or breaking are certainly short lived. The build quality is remarkable for a product under £100.
If you prefer to forgo the sound of crying children and engine noise whilst on your way to Larnaka, then there are options. You can use isolation, noise cancelling, or both. Isolation is the simplest way to block unwanted sounds; like earplugs, the headphones or earphones will physically obstruct them, and the music should successfully mask most of what remains. This can be further enhanced if assuming the crash position; simply place each knee against each ear to exclude the sounds of panic and the rapid loss of height.
The E30s/SE215s mentioned above are good for isolation, but some may prefer more comfort during longer flights. The Sennheiser Momentum is perhaps the best and most comfortable portable headphone; it is available in brown or black and the earcups are circum-aural, meaning they completely enclose the ears. The resulting isolation can be compared to that offered by effective ear protectors. The sound is warm and well controlled, and the headphones would be just at home on the street or the beach.
Noise cancelling is excellent for removing the low hum of the aircraft’s engines, or any relatively low frequency. The higher the frequency of the sound, the harder the technology has to work to provide a complimentary waveform to cancel it out; also the headphones cannot account for the exact position of the eardrum or the exact point in time when unwanted sounds are in contact with it. Therefore the technology cannot deal effectively with the sound of the human voice, for example. Another drawback is the ‘muddying’ effect it can have on the music you are listening to. The introduction of extra waveforms into the headphones (to cancel out exterior sounds) can only be detrimental to the clarity of the music. Another thing to be aware of is that noise cancelling requires its own power supply, necessitating a battery to be placed either in the headphones themselves, or somewhere on the cable. Happily, the examples below use isolation also so they are still useful should battery power be low.
We’re all aware of the potential dangers to technology in this scenario; there’s sun, sea salt, sand and the possibility of having a bucket of cold brine poured over your head by children who crave punishment. I wouldn’t recommend anything too expensive in this environment, so here are some great value items which are designed to keep out the worst of the sweat and suntan lotion.
And for comfort and versatility, try the Koss SportaPro – these feature a headband which can be worn over the head in the traditional style, or bent down in a ‘behind the head’ style so that a fetching sombrero may be sported for example.
Using headphones while on the go is something that nearly all of us do, and with iPhones being used as portable media centres, you don’t want to have to unplug your headphones to take a call. The quality of portable headphones has gone up so much that you don’t have to sacrifice sound quality for the option of an in line microphone – Here is my pick of the best iPhone compatible earphones availablein our store.
Beautifully constructed with machined anodised alloy outer housing, they won a CES Design and Engineering Award in 2013. Cabling is an Audioflex braided, kevlar reinforced conductors and a CORDURA fabric outer sheath for outstanding durability. Audiofly’s AF78 is your ticket to truly sophisticated sound.
Noise isolation is also great with up to 23 dB noise attenuation. 4 pairs of silicon eartips and 2 pairs of Comply foam eartips provide a tailored fit for the best fit possible. Ergonomically designed driver housings shaped for a streamlined fit are comfortable for extended listening.
The hybrid configuration draws on the strengths of the two different driver types to produce truly sophisticated sound across the entire frequency spectrum. Excellent instrument separation, strong bottom end, crisp detail and warm mids add up to a sonically impressive earphone. With excellent accessories and superb build quality, the AF78 comes highly recommended!
Final Audio Design are a well known high end HiFi manufacturer from Japan. Theybegan developing magnetic cartridges and step-up transformers in 1974. It wasn’t long before they
The Adagio III uses a special BAM (Balancing Air Movement) Mechanism, which optimises air movement inside the housing, solving sound leakage and leading to a simpler structure and slimmer body.
The bodies are constructed from a tough ABS material, the 120cm cable is superb quality at this price point and small medium and large tips are included for comfort. We also love the clear differentiation between left and right on the earphone bodies
Contemporary music fans who want a bit of HiFi legacy, a clean clear audio and change from £100, look no further. The Adagio III unleashes a powerful sound which is vibrant and spatial with impressive width and separation in the stereo image.
In the next episode of our review series, we take a closer look at the home listening open back headphone from German MAESTRO, the GMP400. Whilst not being the best looking headphone, the set certainly impressed when it came to its sonic capabilities. Enjoy the video!
Listening to music while being active is very popular, whether it’s running, at the gym or you just want a secure set of earphones. The good news is that there is no need to compromise on sound when shopping for a Sports Headphone. Here is a list of my favourite sports headphones available at hifiheadphones.co.uk:
If you are looking for a cheap solution to your sports earphone needs then these Philips earphones will certainly do the job. The clip-on design ensures a secure fit, they are also waterproof so you don’t need to worry about sweat damaging them. For the price you really do get a lot for your money.
These are quite possibly the best sounding earphones for under £50, they are also great for sports due to the over-the-ear cable design – this makes them very secure on the ear. They are very comfortable, especially when paired with Comply foam tips.
The CX680 is a great alternative for those of you who don’t like either clip-on or over-the-ear earphones. These earphones sound great and use their innovative EarFin Holding System for a secure fit. Being sports earphones they are also sweat and water resistant and come with an in-line volume control.
The OCX685i are Sennheiser’s most recent edition to their sports earphone line-up. They have it all – Clip-on design with great isolation, reinforced cable and a great natural sound. They are also sweat and water resistant and come with an in-line microphone and controls for portable Apple devices. Need I say more?
Volume have designed a stunning Bluetooth headphone that is a perfect wireless alternative for sports use. They are lightweight, very comfortable and secure on the head. The sound is superb and as long as your audio device has Bluetooth enabled then you can listen to music, control volume and skip tracks from the headset and also take calls without having to hold your phone. They come in a vibrant selection of colour ways and all for only £69.95!
