This will be an issue that will effect a few users of JDS Labs DACs, so JDS Labs have issued a statement along with a fix
** We first shared our findings with engineers at LG in August 2021. LG has acknowledged the behavior, but no official resolution has been shared by LG as of December 2021. Please see below for a high level explanation, or skip to Solution. **
Symptom: While using the optical output from an LG C8/C9 or Samsung TV in conjunction with a high-performance DAC, you may experience audio dropouts several times per minute.
Cause: In short, the optical output of symptomatic TVs show pronounced jitter and low level n*100Hz transients throughout the audible frequency range. The default jitter rejection values used by ESS based DACs recognize the extreme noise as signal errors, so the DAC automatically disconnects and reconnects in attempt to achieve a more stable lock of the incoming S/PDIF signal.
This behavior is the result of the ESS’s otherwise excellent jitter recovery logic. The patented jitter eliminator must periodically unlock and re-sync because the digital stream is so poor. AKM and Wolfson S/PDIF receivers are not asynchronous, so they pass along any significant jitter from an optical source, thus, eliminating any chance of a momentary pause for an S/PDIF re-locking event. Re-locks are ordinarily quite rare–you should never encounter this behavior with default jitter rejection values. And under typical circumstances, ESS’s asynchronous jitter elimination results in dramatically higher jitter performance than older DACs without this technology.
Analysis: Audio Precision’s APx555 has the ability to interpolate a digital stream into time and frequency domains to analyze how it would render if perfectly converted from digital back to analog (i.e., without a DAC in the test setup). We used the ASIO4ALL driver to observe SINAD of a 1kHz test tone reconstructed directly from the digital S/PDIF output:
Today we take a closer look at the new Audeze CRBN Electrostatic headphones, these are some of the most natural and detailed headphones on the market so check them out!.
Interested in having a demo with the CRBN? Please reach out to us via our contact form (with the dates you are free) here
64 Audio have released their new U6t, their most popular custom IEM in a universal shell, with 3 different apex modules you get 3 slightly different sound signatures in one package. These have a smooth and natural sound, that really is something to be experienced. Once you’ve listened to them you will realise why John will find it hard to go back to anything else.
You can read Oscars full written review here. If you want more information on the U6t, you can find it here
SoundMAGIC have just brought out the new P23BT portable bluetooth on-ear headphones. They come with a detachable cable and boom mic. But the big bonus here is how they sound! We’re not sure how they are managing all this for under £50, but these are excellent value for money and unquestionably one of 2021’s best buys!
Oscars written review of the SoundMAGIC P23BT can be read here. You can purchase the P23BT from SoundMAGIC headphones directly here
Audeze have just released their new flagship Planar Magnetic headphones – the LCD-5. We have taken an in-depth look and listen, and they really are something special with an airy and detailed sound that steers away from the typical darker response Audeze have normally gone for. There is more detail in the upper midrange and they are also much more comfortable due to reduced weight, watch the full video to find out more!
Oscar has a written review of the LCD-5 here. If you want to get your hands on a pair, you can preoder an LCD-5 here
The Duo is 64 Audio’s latest creation, and also their most affordable universal earphone, they have managed to create an engaging and punchy IEM by using only 2 drivers along with some interesting new tech.
Oscars written in-depth review of the 64 Audio Duo can be read here. You can purchase a pair for yourself via this link here
We have had some fantastic products this year, including the new Audeze LCD-5 which are some of the best headphones on the market. The 64 Audio U6t which brings their most popular custom IEM to the masses for a very reasonable price and the SoundMAGIC P23BT proving that you really can get excellent sound from a budget pair of headphones. We want to hear your questions about audio and headphones, so leave them in the comments and we will try and do a Q&A in the near future.
So you’ve just invested in some good earphones, but you have no idea whether you are getting the most out of them?
Here is our definitive guide on eartips and first thing first: There are a lot of people who take their earphones out of the box, put them in their ears and think that’s it, let’s listen to some tunes. Little do most people know is that taking a bit time to figure out which eartips fit best. Will help a long way to get the best sound quality from along with a secure fit.
Most earphones have a set of tips fitted to them out of the box, these tend to be a medium size silicone tip – which will fit quite a few peoples ears but it’s worth looking in the box or case for the rest of them to try out the different sizes.
Finding the right Seal
Ear canal width doesn’t seem to depend on how big or tall a person is, so we would recommend trying the smallest size first to see if this provides a good seal – you should be able to tell you have a good seal as they will effectively block out outside noises and when you speak it will sound very odd (occlusion effect). The earphones should not fall out of your ear either, if the tip is too small they will have a tendency to fall out, so try the next size up.
Another way you will tell you have achieved a good seal is the bass should be present, if there is a distinct lack of bass (unless the earphones are specifically tuned this way) a poor seal is often the cause of this problem. A poor seal often is the cause of earphones sounding thin, tinny and lacking body – this is because in-ear earphones rely on an air-tight seal to deliver the sound pressure waves to your eardrum, disrupt this and the pressure isn’t there so you lose out on a big part of the sound.
Lack of Bass?
This is also one of the most common reasons for people returning earphones – lack of bass – and often we find that the other sizes of eartips are still in their packet and haven’t been touched.
When it comes to actually inserting the earphones, with silicone tips you can sort of just push them in, but using the below method to gently pull the top of your ear up and back will allow the canal to open slightly and makes it easier to insert your earphones. With memory foam tips, you need to roll them between your fingers to compress them before inserting and letting the foam expand, there is a small window before them start to expand and with practice you should get used to compressing and inserting them swiftly and efficiently.
Materials – Silicone
The most common eartip material will be silicone, but not all silicone tips are created equal and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. More budget earphones will often come with just 3 pairs of standard single flange silicone tips (Small, Medium and Large), more premium products sometimes include different types of silicone tips (different grades / consistency of silicone) or different shapes (bowl, bullet, double and triple flange). Etymotic are well known for their triple flange eartips that offer a deep insertion depth and excellent isolation, at the expense of some comfort. There are a few aftermarket brands of silicone tips that are popular such as Azla SednaEarfit and Spinfit, these both offer premium made tips that are often more comfortable and provide more size options than come in the box of most earphones.
Memory foam
Often also included are memory foam eartips, these have a very different consistency than silicone and often conform to odd shaped ear canals better. Depending on the consistency of the memory foam, these tips do change the sound a little more than silicone tips, often absorbing some of the treble making the earphones sound a little warmer/fuller – this can be a benefit to some but may also rob other models of a little clarity and openness.
Custom tips?
In addition to the above you can often get custom made eartips for many models of high-end earphones, this is something to consider if you wish to have the best comfort and isolation for a pair of earphones you plan to be using for a long time. Doing this means that selling the earphones in the future will be easier than if you decided to go full-custom.
Conclusion
Here at HiFiHeadphones we test and demo a lot of earphones and each member of staff has their go-to eartips. As well as a healthy collection of random ones they have acquired over time it should be added. Some earphones work best with silicone tips, others with foam. But what we do know is that spending some time to find the best tips for your ears definitely helps you to enjoy your music to the fullest. By providing the most comfortable and secure fit for yourself you also get that optimal sound.
Oriveti have a new BA based model, the O400, with a subtle sub-bass lift and a focus on clarity and control.
Fit and Comfort
The Oriveti O400 have a similar shell design as all the newer O and OH series from Oriveti – a hand crafted resin shell that is smooth and very well finished that has a fairly short nozzle which allows for a shallow to medium insertion depth. They fit well in the ear, but the housings are not the smallest and will stick out a little for those with smaller/odd shaped ears like me.
Comfort is good, the housing shape really helps with this as there are no sharp edges that dig in to your ears, also the nozzle is a good angle and lenght to fit most people securely without the insertion depth being too intrusive. The cable has a pre-moulded section of memory wire which is very comfortable, and the cable is soft and comfortable in use.
Compatibility
The O400 uses 4 Balanced Armature drivers, they are Knowles drivers and split between ultra-low/low-mid/mid-high/high frequencies. The O400 have an impedance of 15Ohms and a sensitivity rating of 110+-3dB/mW @1000Hz – this means they are very easy to drive however being an all BA based model it is best to pair them with a source that has less than 1Ohm output impedance to get the best out of them.
Sound
Bass: The O400 have 2 drivers covering the low end, they split up the sub and mid-bass and allow for a subtle sub-bass lift that doesn’t bleed through and affect the midrange or cause any unwanted resonance and bloat. Oriveti have managed to pull off a really impressive tuning down low, one that has a full and deep sub-bass response yet a tight and impactful mid-bass that always sounds controlled. There is never any warming to the lower midrange, allowing vocals and guitars to shine through with ease, these don’t have a high level of bass and it is well aligned with the rest of the frequency response – so they wouldn’t be my pick for bass-heads – however they do handle bass very well without any discernible roll-off.
Midrange: Due to the exceptional control of the low end, the midrange just cuts through with ease and clarity on the O400 – offering up a revealing yet easy to listen to midrange experience without harshness. For the price these extract an impressive amount of detail from the midrange, you won’t miss a thing yet they are very well balanced too. Male vocals don’t sound dull, female vocals are devoid of sibilance or excess presence, the transition into the treble is handled very well and nothing stands out. These have an effortless and clean midrange that seems to handle anything you throw at them without sounding congested.
Treble: The treble rounds off a really great presentation allowing for plenty of air and ambience, along with detail and sparkle without overdoing it and becoming thin/bright sounding. You won’t miss any cymbal taps or crashes, snares are incredibly snappy and violins are presented with finesse and grace. There is no early roll-off, they aren’t muted or splashy, they have great control and this really does help to make the O400 sound refined, open and clean.
Genres and Soundstaging
The O400 work well with pretty much anything you throw at them, they have a controlled and clean sound with a mild sub-bass boost that adds body and reinforces the low end without affecting other frequencies. However these are not bass heavy and would not be my first pick for more bass oriented genres (the OH500 does a better job with those).
Soundstaging isn’t huge, there is great air though and whilst it may be lacking in absolute width and heigh there is good depth to the sound and positional accuracy is a definite strong point of the O400.
Who are they for?
Those wanting a clean and transparent sound without the more typical analytical tuning
People who want a comfortable and enjoyable daily IEM
The Final A-series is a group of products created in the pursuit of “Transparent Sound”. This all began with the introduction of Final Audios highly praised flagship model, the A8000. Read on for the review of Finals other additions to the lineup, the A4000 & A3000 .
It is a known secret that both the Final A3000 and A4000 are IEM’s that perform way above their price points. At £100 and £120, you really are getting more than you pay for.
Headfonics detiailed review and comparison of both models together can be read here: Final A3000 & A4000 Review
Do not forget that there are plenty of other reviews for many beautiful Final products on our site. You can check each and every single one out here: Final Reviews
Campfire Audio have taken a less is more approach when designing their newest budgeting offerings. The Satsuma has been fitted with a single balanced armature (BA) driver and the Honeydew packs a 10mm Dynamic driver inside. Both IEMs focus on comfort, fit, and a each IEM has a tailored sound signature to reflect customers feedback. Make sure to read the reviews to find out more!
Campfire Audio Honeydew
Campfire Audio’s Satsuma & Honeydew have been described as “Perfect gateway products to the world within Campfire Audio”. They are both very unique sounding and provide a significantly different listening experience from device to device.
If you are looking for bass, then the Honeydew has you covered. Costing £249, WhatGadget conclude “The Campfire Audio Honeydew earphones are bass-forward in-ear monitors with a cool design. The Honeydew IEM’s are a strong value for money pair of earphones. That is, if the bass is your most important factor to come from your audio feed.” You can read their review in full here.
For further reading, Headfonics has a detailed review of the Honeydew here & Knowtechie’s analysis can be viewed here.
The Satsuma on the otherhand is one for those who enjoy a more detailed and controlled sound. Ideally it needs a slightly more powerful source to get the most out of them too. If you are looking for a crisp and clean sound though the Satsuma should fit the bill for a very reasonable price. Headfonics has a very detailed analsis of the benefits the Honeydew can bring to your ears. You can read their full review here
It is also worth reading Mixonlines “Real World Review” of the Satsuma here. To round off the reviews, read WhatGagets’s examination of the same device here.
Campfire Audio Satsuma
Oscar has also spent some time with these beauties. You can read his review of the Honeydew here and the Satsuma here. If Videos are more your thing then we also have you covered! We have just released a comprehensive video review of them both together on our Youtube channel here.
The Audeze LCD-5, a new flagship planar magnetic headphone is a phenomenal piece of kit. It offers a brand new Audeze sound, way more than just a simple evolution from the LCD-4. With a natural yet almost reference style tuning they hit all the right marks. They are also lighter and significantly more comfortable than previous models.
Design: 10/10
Audeze has swapped their signature wood rings for wonderful looking tortoise shell acetate rings. As you can see below, in the right light the rings really pop and they are majestic to look at. Other slight changes, such as a different headband shape with a beautiful looking carbon fibre strab on top among as well as general weight reductions makes the LCD-5 a lot lighter (and therefore more comfortable) than their predecessors. The earcups are another diversion from previous Audeze headphones, with a concave construction (sort of bowl shaped) that tapers in from the lip. This was done to allow the LCD-5 to produce a purer, more detailed soun.d by reducing unwanted sound reflections indside the cups. Overall, all these minor tweaks (plus plenty unmentioned on the inside) have created a definitive flagship, a new sound and arguably redesigned what we used to know as that Audeze Audiophile Sound.
A definitive flagship, with a brand new Audeze Audiophile Sound
Comfort and Fit: 9/10
As mentioned above, the slight changes in the design has resulted in the LCD-5 being much more comfortable than their previous Flagships. As well as being much lighter, the new earpads are soft and spacious. The comfort strap headband is sleeker yet perfectly distributes the weight across the top of your head. There is plenty of adjustment in the headband for heads of all shapes and sizes. They clamp force is moderate, which provides a secure fit but also one that isn’t too tight or uncomfortable. Simply put, the LCD-5 is one of the most comfortable Audeze headphones to date.
Sound 10/10
Not only is the LCD-5 sporting a brand new exterior, but a new driver structure altogether. Naturally, it’s still a planar-magnetic headphone. However, it has dispensed with the LCD-4’s double-sided, 106mm fluxor magnet array in favor of a single-sided, 90mm fluxor magnet array that’s paired with Audeze’s updated Fazor waveguides and their new Parallel Uniforce voice coils to better control diaphragm movement and improve the resolution that can be achieved.
The Result?
An outstandingly neutral and natural sounding pair of headphones whose remarkable speed makes them sound light and precise.
The detail provided by the LCD-5 is simply astounding.
Bass:
Audeze are well renowned for their great bass response and with the LCD-5 they have gone for a more reference style tuning, aiming for neutrality over the warm sound of the LCD-2/3. The LCD-5 still have that slightly fuller sounding low end that Audeze users love. It is now just more controlled and there is less bloom in the bass. The low end is puchy and articulate along with having endless extension. You never miss out on anything ever in the low end. There is an effortless and realistic presentation that never disrupts the lower midrange.
Midrange:
Due to the controlled nature of the bass, there is no bleeding into the midrange allowing all vocals and instruments to come through with precision and clarity. I listened to these back to back with the LCD-4 and the LCD-5 is a lot crisper and more open in the midrange. Subtle details are easy to pick out, yet both male and female vocals sound utterly effortless and natural. Whether it’s an electric or acoustic guitar you hear what is recorded. Powerful crunching riffs or delicate finger picking, you hear it all. Every sound is easily separated from other layers in the mix but form an overall sound that is coherent and whole.
This is one of the most accurate midrange reproductions I have heard to date.
Treble:
The LCD-5 seem to favour the upper treble and don’t have an abundance of energy in the lower treble which is good for those more prone to fatigue. Luckily snares still snap with authority and everything is still very clean and clear. The treble is very airy and open, the extension is incredible with no noticeable early roll-off. One the the standout qualities in the treble is the actual placement. There is really good height to the soundstage so cymbals and the like occupy their own space with expert precision. The detail retrieval again is done with refinement and finesse, rather than throwing it at you, it allows you to hear should you wish to listen for it.
Genres and Soundstaging
The LCD-5 really do lend their hand to anything, they have the power and speed for metal, the visceral punch for electronic, the dynamics for classical and the finesse for acoustic. These will handle anything and everything you throw at them.
The soundstaging is also phenomenal. The LCD-5 are open and airy. They have excellent width and height and there is also superb layering along with pinpoint accuracy. There are so good, that sometimes you will wonder if the sound is truly coming from the headphones.
About Pairing:
The LCD-5 are a high-end headphone. It is therefore no surprise that these are not built to be used with your smartphone. These really do demand a proper desktop rig to sound their best. We have them paired with the Burson Audio Conductor 3X Reference in our demo room. This really is a superb pairing which we could not put in higher regard. The Burson amp/DAC combo’s work so well with all Audeze products. Providing tons of clean power without any sort of harshness. There is an ever so slight hint of smoothness to the Burson amps that just keeps you wanting to listen more.
Liked our review of the Audeze LCD-5? Then keep up to date with all news Audeze as well as more reviews here.
Lypertek Pureplay Z7: Currently the flagship model of Lypertek’s ever expanding range of TWS earphones, The Pureplay Z7 packs a musical punch. With a triple-driver setup, Bluetooth 5.2, AAC and Qualcomm aptX Adaptive codecs, premium sound hasn’t heard anything like it!
As mentioned above, Lypertek has incorporated a triple hybrid driver configuration for the PurePlay Z7. With two specially designed balanced armature drivers and one titanium coated dynamic driver inside each housing. This new driver arrangement offers the dynamic range needed to achieve the PurePlay Z7’s superior sound quality. Delivering powerful and well controlled bass, midrange that provides a rich clarity to vocals and clear and expansive highs for an overall unique true wireless listening experience.
Let’s get onto the reviews then. Ear-fidelitys analysis is based on a months solid use of Pureplay Z7. They conclude: “What I like about Lypertek Z7s is that they are a product that has a lot of thought put into it. For me, they have all what a TWS at this price range should have. They are well built and are waterproof. There is a lot of nice and useful tech under the hood. The stock sound is nice, but it can be tweaked to be amazing. There is a lot of potential in the drivers used. Also, they last on their battery for so long you might forget that they need charging as I did.” Read their whole analysis here: Lypertek Z7
Despite some fair critisism, The Pureplay Z7 has also received a reccomended award from Trusted Reviews. You can read their full report here.
The PurePlay Z7 is also fully compatible with Lyperteks PureControl app(see the picture above). Their app allows you to benefit from refined LDX Audio™ sound quality. You can also Adjust your listening experience with the high quality EQ and supplied presets. The app also has a Hear-Through mode and the ability to customise button controls. Not only this, you can also effortlessly upgrade firmware and prevent losing your earphones with the new ‘Find My Earbud’ feature.
Do not forget to check out all of our reviews and news of Lypertek’s products throughout our blog!
Cleer Enduro ANC :A budget pair of Active Noise Cancelling headphones that is perfect for when you are “on the go”. Toms Guide has labelled them “The best active noise-cancelling headphones in terms of value for money.” The Enduro ANC headphones are packed full of features and designed for comfort. On top of this, they are highly suitable for long listening sessions with their market leading battery life. If you are in the market for a new pair of budget friendly ANC headphones, then these should Cleerly be a frontrunner on anyones list.
The Cleer Enduro ANC are the first noise cancelling headphones with 60 hours of battery life, outlasting the longest flight and epic vacations. With cutting edge Active noise cancellation technology, 40mm patented Ironless Drivers & Bluetooth 5.0 with AptX Adaptive high-quality music streaming. They produce bold and articulate Hi-Res sound. The Enduro ANC uses multiple strategically placed external mics and uses a feedforward and feedback process that cancels environmental sounds by 25dB, providing tranquility in noisy environments – especially airplanes.
With limited stocks not looking to ease up any time soon (Look at the recent news headlines). Make sure you check out the full listing and product breakdown/ grab yourself a pair here.
Tom’s Guide really rates Cleer’s Enduro ANC. “How’s this for an ANC headphones bargain: Great sound and a modern and flexible design. Ample features. A useful app. A full set of accessories and the best battery life in its class, all for £149.00? That’s the Cleer Enduro ANC, currently the #1 spot taker on our best cheap wireless headphones list. The Enduro ANC isn’t perfect, but there’s no arguing about the incredible value for money. Cleer’s noise-cancelling headphones are particularly good for travellers, as we got a superlative 50 hours and 15 minutes of ANC playback in our testing.”
For the past decade, Audeze’s LCD series has set the standard for planar magnetic headphone performance. Starting with the LCD-2 that ushered in a new era of planar technology in 2009, they then introduced the LCD-3 in 2011 and LCD-4 in 2015. With the LCD-5, everything has been improved – drivers, earpads, frame design – to set a new standard for performance and comfort.
The LCD-5 sets a new standard for accuracy. Its drivers are engineered with their award-winning Fluxor magnets and updated Fazor waveguides along with their new Patent-pending Parallel Uniforce™ voice coils, which employ varying width parallel traces to keep the impedance low and provide increased voltage headroom by altering the current density within each trace. The uniform force created by this optimization lowers distortion and provides better control over diaphragm movement, resulting in improved sonic resolution.
Weighing in at only 420 grams, the LCD-5 offers hours of listening pleasure. Every part has been re-engineered, using materials such as magnesium, aluminium and acetate which offer light weight and high rigidity. When you put on a pair of LCD-5s, your head and ears are cradled in materials of the finest quality. Supple premium leather and carbon-fibre pull all the elements together into a package of the finest craftsmanship, which are hand-assembled in their California workshop.
The LCD-5 cable is specially tuned with directional OCC high-purity copper strands that provide a low capacitance and low resistance path for the signal to travel from your amp to the drivers, maintaining unsurpassed clarity and precision.
