It’s always nice to see a brand bringing out a new flagship model, and Fidue are certainly looking at the stars with the Sirius. Boasting a driver configuration consisting of 4 custom-made balanced armatures and one dynamic driver for the bass frequencies, Sirius promises to illuminate us; but is it a magnitude better than the competition?

Pros:

• Lovely presentation
• Strong carry case
• 2.5mm balanced cable as standard
• Adaptors for use with 3.5mm sockets
• removable cable locks into place

Cons:

• Carry case is a bit bulky – that’s all!

Design and appearance

This is certainly one of the best presented IEMs; the capsules themselves are very strong and the cable is a fabric coated effort which is quite reminiscent of a full size flagship cable. This is terminated with a 2.5mm balanced jack as standard, for use with Astell&Kern palyers or the Lotoo PAW 5000 for example; more are sure to follow. However if you are still languishing in the world of 3.5mm sockets then adaptors are included; one for a standard 3-pole stereo socket and another 4-pole for better compatibility with some 4-pole sockets.

The case is similarly made well but it’s quite chunky; it’s probably designed to go into a bag rather than a pocket.

Durability & build quality

It appears that no expense has been spared in terms of materials used; it’s all very sturdy and gives the impression that it’ll go on for years. Strain reliefs are good and as mentioned above, the cable is thick and luxurious without being cumbersome. It behaves itself nicely.

The cable is removable and the MMCX connectors are kept in place using locking rings, which also take the strain. It’s still possible to rotate the capsules with the cable locked into position, so a good fit is always easy to achieve.

Comfort

Like the case, the capsules are on the chunky side but they sit in place quite comfortably without sticking out. The fabric cable also helps to fool us into thinking we aren’t wearing earphones at all, and the sound of the Sirius enhances this feeling (more on the sound below)!

Sound isolation

Isolation is decent enough; this is of course dependent on the sort of seal which can be achieved with the supplied eartips. This may be improved with the Comply eartips which are also included. Exterior noise tends to vanish when the play button is pressed, especially when music sounds as it does from the Sirius!

Sound characteristics

The sound of the Fidue Sirius sits together so nicely, it’s a challenge to pick out the features of the bass, midrange and treble. It’s a tangible and cohesive presentation which lets us know that this earphone is not playing around. Other flagship IEMs might emphasise detail which makes them a touch bright, or there may be a smoothness there in which something seems to be lacking. The Sirius sits perfectly between the two camps, giving up details effortlessly with an ease which cajoles the brain into accepting what it’s hearing as real.

Bass

Bass is tight and authoritative with a rich creamyness which really appeals. Definition is very good, with shaking drumskins and similar low-frequency details nicely rendered. Sub bass is there in quantity when needed, and it’s nicely balanced with the rest of the presentation so it never threatens to take over.

Mids

Midrange frequencies are about as present as they can be without risk of fatigue; they’re clear and vibrant with no hard edges. Older recordings get a new lease of life as if they’re brought up to date. It’s a bit odd, but a very nice type of odd. Steppenwolf’s ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ could have been produced last week, and the Temperance Seven’s renditions of 1920s dance music are so fresh, it seems a real possibility that a flying champagne cork might assault us. Newer, well produced/mastered music needs to be heard to be believed!

There’s a good amount of space and things never seem to get bogged down with a lot going on in the music. Reverbs and harmonics are clear and give a tremendous sense of being there and directly involved with the music.

Treble

Up top, higher-frequency detail is similarly treated with a bright-sounding presence which knows just when to back off. It has a natural and organic quality to it, with a shimmery lushness which gives another touch of realism to the presentation. The Sirius is exceptionally revealing but never strays beyond the bounds of believability.

Soundstage & Separation

Soundstage is very impressive; the head is surrounded by music, helped along by the Sirius’ very open sound. Instruments are easy to pick out and have great definition, but at the same time everything sits together very well should you just wish to relax and take it all in.

Music Genres Good For and Why

What genres is the Sirius not good for? We haven’t heard anything which the Sirius cannot do justice to. It shines with everything.

Summary

If you are looking to upgrade, you could do a lot worse than giving the Fidue Sirius a try. It is utterly deserving of its flagship status and it’s been a real pleasure to review. It’s one of those earphones which will have you tearing through your music collection in order to hear everything for the first time, again!

Fidue Sirius A9Video Review

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Intro:

Just when the heat of summer starts to loosen an Englishman’s resolve to keep a upper lip stiff, along comes something to turn it completely to mush, and give the thermostat a good twist to boot.

Fidue’s new A73 shows that IEMs under £100 are facing challenges unthought of until recent times – there’s fierce competition within the fertile £50 – £100 section of the market and it’s getting better all the time.

Design and appearance (e.g. attractiveness, feel)

The A73 is silver to the A83’s gold – literally. Well we’re talking about aluminium in this case, but the A73 bears a striking resemblance to its more expensive stablemate. Designed to fit in the ear ‘monitor style’ with cable trailing down the back of the ear, the A73 is relatively petite with one balanced armature rather than the A83’s two, along with a dynamic driver of course. Both ‘left and ‘right’ capsules are composed of the same translucent red plastic.

The cable is rubber coated with braided or twisted cable within. It has the feel of rubber at least, but does not stick to itself. It’s very well behaved.

Durability & build quality (e.g. cabling, connectors, materials)

Strain reliefs are composed of stout rubber sheaths which match the colour of the ear capsules. The straight jack may not be favoured by some but one gets the feeling that the build is sturdy enough to last very well. The jack, mic/button casing and cable join/Y-split are composed of a ridged cylinder which, along with the rest of the design, puts one in mind of the 1950s; in build quality as well as style. The cable is not of the detachable variety which isn’t unusual for an IEM under £100 but some users prefer them.

Comfort

Everyone’s different of course, but this design should suit everyone except those who really must have the cable dangling straight down from the ears. The small capsule size should be a good fit for all but the tiniest of ears.

Sound isolation

There’s a few eartips to try included in the box, and it is recommended that they be experimented with. I found the change in frequency response can be quite dramatic depending on whether the eartips are right for the ears or not. When a suitable fit is found, sound isolation is fair but not dramatic. Using Comply tips a little bit, and the sound is further enhanced (The Comply 200 range is correct for this model).

Portability

In the box, there’s a a decent case for the Fidue A73, with a near-rigid construstion which will protect the earphones in most scenarios. There is webbing within it so a few alternative tips may be carried without jumping out once the case is opened.

Sound characteristics:

Bass:

Bass is both tight and slightly elevated in volume compared to the midrange; there’s a real power to it which underpins kick drums and bass guitars, for example. It extends low so sub bass is not lost on the listener. There’s a good width to it as well, as there is across all frequencies here. It’s further enhanced by some very clear harmonics coming through from higher up in the frequency spectrum..

Mids:

As above, mid-range is pristine with very subtle details not at all lost on the A73. There’s a wonderful sense of space from vocals with a bit of reverb treatment in the production; it’s really involving, along with the harmonics which creates a real immersive 3D effect. I’ve noticed harmonics on synth basslines that I’ve not come across before – I’d probably be able to pick them out with other IEMs if listening for them, but the Fidue A73 serves them up on a plate.

Treble:

Treble is all there, it’s perhaps a little smoother than some would like but probably hits the mark with most people, without causing the discomfort of an all-too-present brightness. Details are laid bare, but bask in a tuneful glow.

Soundstage & Separation

This is another thing the A73 does really well! As alluded to earlier, the experience is involving and riveting. Soundstage is great for a closed IEM, and is as wide as your sense of disbelief will allow you to grasp! Separation is also excellent, as details are always there to be picked out by the discerning listener. Everything hangs together but individual elements can stand up and be counted at the same time.

Music genres good for and why

The Fidue A73 can do it all, however dance genres can be enhanced very well with the tremendous bass response. Also rap music and pop for the same reasons. Older pop also does very well on the A73 with the clear midrange offering a crisp presentation of tracks which are 50 years old, further enhanced by the clear reproduction of reverb equipment and compressors which were used back in the day.

Pros:

Great quality at this price

Good tuning

Wide soundstage

Sturdy build quality

Cons:

Cable not detachable

Lack of slider on cable

Our video review of the Fidue A73 IEM can be found below, happy viewing.

The post Fidue A73 Hybrid IEM Earphone – Expert Review appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

Are you looking for headphones with powerful bass?  Would you consider yourself a bit of a basshead?  Thanks to headphones with emphasised bass like Beats by Dre we’ve noticed that a popular requirement for new headphones is big bass.

Often powerful bass response in headphones comes at the cost of clarity, so we’ve reviewed some models that handle strong bass – well defined, big, punchy bass!  With this in mind we’ve compiled a list of our 10 best headphones for bass from the selection that we often recommend to our customers.

The list is in price order (low to high) so there is something for everybody with in-ear headphones and earphones, full size, portable and IEMs all covered.

Scroll down and read our expert reviews of the best bass headphones available in the UK.

Best headphones or bass under £50

1. DUNU DN-22M Detonator

This entry level in-ear is the bassiest we have heard! Not only do they have big bass, top end clarity and build quality is great for a sub-£40 earphone.

2. FOSTEX TH-5BB

Fostex have been in the audio business for a long time, and it shows with their entry level headphone. For under £50 you will struggle to find a full size headphone with as much good quality bass and build.

Best headphones or bass under £100

3. SOUNDMAGIC P30S

If in-ears aren’t for you then the P30S is the best for the price. Portable, comfortable, great isolation and most importantly – they’ve got that bass!

4. FIDUE A71

These dual driver IEM’s go low. Very low! They have a mini sub-woofer as well as a smaller dynamic driver inside each earpiece – supplying not only great bass but lots of detail too.

5. DUNU Titan 1

Our Full Review, including video unboxing

These beauties are one of our favourites! For under £100 you get extremely sturdy build quality, amazing sound – bass, detail, soundstage, separation and energy. They have it all.

Best headphones or bass under £200

6. RHA T10 / T10i

Built like a tank, the RHA T10 is built to last. They come supplied with a filter system which gives you 3 levels of sound – bass, bassier and blow your head off!

7. BEYERDYNAMIC Custom One Pro

Beyerdynamic are best known for their studio headphones – The Custom One Pro has studio build quality but can be used with portable devices. They have superb isolation and most importantly great sound! With the 3 bass port settings on each earcup you can customise your sound to suit your music.

Best headphones or bass over £200

8. AUDIOFLY AF140

The AF140 gives you three drivers inside each earphone housing – one 9mm dynamic driver for the low end power and two balanced armature drivers for crystal clear detail. The resulting sound has punchy bass and lots of energy.

9. PIONEER SE-MX9

Our Full Review,

These are real Beats beaters. Not only do they have lots of bass, it’s good quality bass. It goes as low as you like with no distortion. That’s not all – unlike their competitors they also have great detail and separation.

10. AUROSONICS ASG 1.5

Finally, the ASG-1.5 delivers a full-bodied, warm, organic sound with an incredible and articulate bass response that is captivating and powerful. Each housing holds a 14.2mm dynamic driver and the build quality is what you would expect and more from a high end IEM.

The post Best headphones for bass to buy in 2015 – Expert Reviews appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

Verdict

What’s not to like about the Fidue A83? From the unassuming ‘try me’ design to the expansive sound, the A83 could take us down many rabbitholes!

Pros

• Instantly engaging

• Lovely cable

Cons

• Case is a little ungainly

Fidue is another of those makers who are peppering the market with all sorts of models at various pricepoints, and the A83 occupies their top spot just now. Despite sharing its name with a minor road up in Scotland, the Fidue A83 is warm, fast and hardly ever congested. The Fidue A83 can however bring you to ‘The Mull of Kintyre’ if you really want to go that far.

Key Features

The left and right sides are denoted by the blue and red housings of the Fidue A83; they simply beg to be worn and seem to offer a fun experience just by looks alone. Supplied tips are what can be expected for a model in this price category; there’s a good range along with the nearly ubiquitous free Comply foam tips, but don’t differ that much from those given away with budget models. The case is of the chunky ‘Pelican’ style and along with the hard foam winder/storage insert will certainly protect the earphones. The case will not easily fit in the pocket however.

First Impressions

The clear translucent red/blue plastic of the housings is matched by the outer-facing housing part which although metallic-looking, is also plastic. However the overall impression is of a solid and well-built IEM along with the best of them. The cable is the most striking feature; it is braided and is coated to avoid too much friction. It’s nice and loose so tangles are unlikely.

Sound Quality

Far from a neutral sound, the Fidue A83 certainly packs a fun punch with deep and powerful bass when called for, adding weight beneath kick drums and basslines, but steering well clear of midrange bleed. There’s no more bass than dictated by the music. Midrange is clear with a lush hint; space is well preserved and harmonics make instruments shine. Up top, the Fidue A83 is not as rolled off as most universal IEMs but there is no hint of anything which might cause fatigue in the ear. Separation and imaging are very good for an in-ear too.

The A83 is amazingly faithful to your chosen genre; trying these with some 1970s production music, the dynamic compression used is beautifully rendered and makes the bass and midrange really work together. Conversley, with some clean and clear Level 42 from the 1980s, the presentation is as fresh and clean as a new pin. The A83 takes what’s good, and makes it even better.

Summary

The Fidue A83 really are as fun as they look; but don’t let this kid you into thinking they cannot be serious too. Think perhaps of looking in a mirror and actually seeing the person you imagine yourself to be – 10 years younger, spritely and in your best light – it’s the Fidue makeover!

Score – 9.5/10

The Fidue A83 features in our BEST HEADPHONES OF 2015 REVIEW

The post Fidue A83 Earphones Review – Hybrid Unbridled appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

 Our Verdict

At this price point, you’ll find it very difficult to find an earphone with mic as good as the Fidue A31s. These earphones are extremely light weight, the build quality is superb and most of all the sound is excellent!

Summary

Experience portable high fidelity sound in an affordable package. Fidue A31s embody everything a modern earphone should: superior sound, smartphone compatibility, external noise isolation and long term comfort. High fidelity sound is provided with a balance of strong bass, smooth mids and well defined highs.

With small housing design and long sound tube the A31s differs from conventional earphones in creating big sound in a small space. Micro-dynamic 8mm drivers funnel superior sound directly into the earcanal. Double flange eartips provide excellent noise isolation and offer unparalleled comfort for long-term listening.

Integrated with call answering button compatible with most smartphones, the Fidue A31s will work with iPhone, Android, Window and Symbian devices. The integrated remote control allows the user to have full control of music. Calls can also be answered and ended by using the single button remote.

Please click the image below to select the colour you would like;-

Price – £19.99 all Models with free Shipping in th UK until Christmas.

Features

• Call answering button compatible with most smartphones (iOS, Android)
• Small and lightweight housing and sound tube design
• Double flange silicone eartips offer high noise isolation
• Unparalleled comfort for long-term listening
• Suitable for portable media players with standard 3.5mm connection
• Balanced sound with strong bass, smooth mids and well defined highs
• Durable twisted PU coated cable built to last

The post Fidue A31s In Ear Isolating Earphones with Mic appeared first on HiFiheadphones.