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Audeze LCD-5 Review

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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.

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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.

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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.

Audeze LCD-5 Product Release

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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.

Available to pre-order now: https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/products/audeze-lcd-5-open-back-headphones-with-detachable-cable-leather

SoundMAGIC P23BT Review

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Looking for an affordable, wireless on-ear set of headphones? The SoundMAGIC P23BT might just be perfect for you, with impressive sound quality and easy to use design they are quite the bargain.

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Fit and Comfort

Here we review the new SoundMAGIC P23BT, an on-ear model which are compact in size and lightweight too. They will fit well over a wide range of head sizes due to a good amount of adjustment in the arms and the clamping force is just enough to provide a secure fit without inducing any discomfort.

Comfort is good, with the right amount of clamp to provide a secure yet comfortable fit I had no issues with the P23BT during longer listening sessions. The earpads are soft and provide ample cushioning, the headband has minimal padding but due to their weight this didn’t seem to cause any issues for me.

Features

The P23BT use bluetooth 5.0, a little behind most modern devices that use 5.2 but they do have the benefit of aptX HD / SBC and AAC codec compatibility. They use a 40mm dynamic driver and have an incredible battery life of roughly 54-60hrs of music playback, or 39-45hrs talk time, these are not a headphone you will find yourself needing to charge very often.

They don’t have ANC, instead rely on passive isolation, which is good enough for most daily use. These work wired too and come with a high quality boom mic attached to the analogue cable – this is a brilliant feature that makes them perfect for home office use too. We found that making sure there is no microphone boosting in the windows sound settings worked the best in terms of voice quality – but once set up the quality is excellent for video and voice calls when connected to a PC. These really are very versatile, and the boom mic is not something you see very often when it comes to this kind of product.

Playback controls are really easy to get the hand of, they use a touch pad on the left earcup and a simple double tap will pause the music, swipe up for volume up, down for volume down. Swipe forwards and backwards to skip tracks, you can also answer calls and activate voice assistant too. Call quality over bluetooth is perfectly acceptable in most environments but they are not the best for noisy outdoor calls.

Sound

Bass:

The P23BT is a well balanced headphone with just the right amount of warmth, body and punch down low to keep them engaging and enjoyable without overwhelming the rest of the sound. These are not bassy, they will not appeal to those who want a bass heavy sound, but those who want a daily headphone that works well with a multitude of genres will be happy with their sound and presentation. These do handle EQ well so if you do want a bit more punch, they can deliver, but out of the box they offer up a really enjoyable sound. The 40mm drivers can dig deep when needed, and hit hard too, but they are tuned in such a way that they do all of this with poise and control and never sound muffled or bloated.

Midrange:

Due to the controlled low end, the P23BT actually has a very well presented midrange for a budget, more consumer oriented product. This means that those who enjoy vocal and guitars to sit and and central in the mix will really enjoy the P23BT – these don’t follow the typical v-shaped sound that many consumer models have, this means you get to hear more in your favourite tracks. The bass does a good job at not bleeding into the midrange, which allows the P23BT to sound surprisingly well separated and detailed for the price. .

Treble:

Surprisingly well refined up top, these have a crisp and clean treble presentation but with a smooth transition from the upper midrange into the lower treble they are also not harsh or sibilant. There is a bit of a peak slightly higher up the range, but it’s not really fatiguing and tends to only show up on less well recorded music. There is good detail and extension up top, and the presence is good leaving them with a very pleasing tonal balance overall, never sounding dull. You do have to remember these are only £50, but for that price you get really impressive treble, normally you get muffled and splashy cymbals, instead of crisp and easy to distinguish and place crashes.

Soundstaging and Genres

The P23BT are not masters of soundstaging, but that’s ok, they are on-ears and have quite a direct presentation but instruments are still easy to place within the limited soundstage.

These are a great all rounder, their balanced yet slightly punch sound signature makes rock and pop sound engaging, yet these have enough detail and finesse to render acoustic and jazz brilliantly.

Who are they for?

  • The general listener who wants good sound quality at a modest price
  • Everyday users wanting a feature packed yet quality bluetooth headphone they can use at work and on the go

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64 Audio Duo IEM Review

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The 64 Audio Duo is possibly the best all-rounder UIEM in it’s price range. With a neutral and natural sound that is open and easy to enjoy.

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Fit and Comfort

64 Audio’s Duo shares the same shell shape as the rest of their universal line-up. However the faceplate is now a grill design instead of having the usual Apex module. This is due to the Apex Core technology implemented. The shape of the housing will fit most people well and once you settle on the right size of eartip they provide a secure fit for hours of listening.

Comfort is great due to the shape of the housing, insertion depth and also the new cable which is more flexible and comfortable than previous versions. One thing that I find massively contributes to 64 Audio’s comfort is the Apex modules/core as these relieve any internal pressure which creates a lot less listening fatigue when compared to fully sealed designs.

Compatibility

Whilst the Duo is a low impedance and high sensitivity IEM, they are also a relatively high-end earphone. Therefore they should be paired with a source that is able to bring the best out in them. This means they pair best with proper DAP’s and DAC/Amp combo’s rather than being driven solely by a mobile phone.

Features

64 Audio have included some new tech in the Duo. It uses a hybrid setup featuring a single Dynamic driver and single tia BA driver. The tia driver is a tubeless balanced armature driver. Which in turn allows the sound to travel more freely with less distortion. New to the Duo is the already mentioned Apex Core. Instead of using Apex modules like the rest of their line-up, the Duo isn’t tunable and has an open back style design. This leaves the shell open to the outside atmosphere allowing for a less fatiguing and more natural sound.

Next up is Wave Sync, this is direct from 64 Audio: “Due to the high crossover point between the two drivers, Wave Sync was developed to ensure coherence; another industry first. By using a type of “all-pass” filter, we’re able to introduce a crossover while correcting for time without having to change the physical distance between the drivers.”

All these features focus on making the sound more natural, effortless and distortion free. It’s great to see a company still innovating and finding solutions to problems. The Duo still isolate -12dB from outside noise so they are suitable for outdoor use, they just won’t isolate as much as full sealed designs.

Sound

Bass

64 Audio have long been kings of getting really impressive bass from balanced armatures, but they don’t do a lot of hybrid designs. The Duo is using a single dynamic driver down low which gives you a slightly different presentation than most BA models. Here we have a full and articulate low end that digs deep when needed but that can also keep up with complex mixes too. It has that signature dynamic tonality whilst never sounding slow. There is physicality in the punch, and warmth overall that is really pleasant. I would say these lean towards having a slightly more physical punchy sound over one that focusses more on sub-bass warmth. But the great thing here is that they do both well without encroaching on the midrange.

EDM tracks have plenty of drive down low, yet they still have control and articulation for faster rock and metal. Tonally these really hit the mark down low too with a realistic portrayal of bass frequencies.

Midrange

There isn’t any artificial boosting of the midrange on these. They have a linear lower-midrange which allows male vocals to cut through the mix with ease and little influence from the bass. Moving through the midrange there is great separation and layering. The centre image is very focussed and you can hear each layer of the recording with ease. The upper midrange is also superbly done, having enough bite to allow detail to cut through, without a boost to make them sound peaky or artificial.

The Duo have an open and natural midrange. It doesn’t matter if you are listening to acoustic or heavy rock, they just work well.

Treble

The tia drivers that 64 Audio use are renowned for their effortless presentation and resolution. And the Duo are no different. They have a little forwardness at times but due to their tonality it never comes across as harsh or bright. There is plenty of air and extension up top, but it is refined and never brash. They don’t try and impress you with too much presence. Instead they let the resolving and refined nature of them win you over. These are open and natural. There isn’t any metallic tone to the treble. Or glare for that matter. But this is done without muting the treble and making the Duo sound subdued or dull. These are still exciting and dynamic overall.

Genres and Soundstaging

The Duo are a remarkable all-rounder in my opinion. They do well with genres across the board due to having a relatively linear and balanced sound. The Duo has the punch required for EDM, and tactility for metal and subtlety for jazz/acoustic. They also sound very open and natural, making you want to listen more and more.

The soundstaging is great. These are sort of open back so they do have that benefit, but the sound is expansive yet very well focussed. The soundstaging is accurate and places instruments right where they should be. The sound is very whole and never sound diffuse or detached.

Who are they for?

  • People wanting a complete and natural sound without breaking the bank.
  • Those looking for a cheaper everyday alternative to TOTL models without sacrificing much in terms of sound

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Lypertek Bevi 2 Wired Earphone Review

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Lypertek have got a new wired model, just like their true wireless models, these are superb value for money with an easy to love sound and great features for their price.

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Fit and Comfort

The Bevi 2 are tiny, their small housing combined with assortment of tips means most people will easily get a good fit with these. They can be worn with the cable straight down, or up and behind your ear. I prefer the over-ear wearing style as it’s more secure for me, but either way these are super easy to get a good fit with due to their slim housings.

Comfort is also great, it is a combination of their design and also the weight of the IEM’s, slim and lightweight makes for a very comfortable IEM that is easy to use for long listening sessions. Find the right tips and you won’t have any comfort issues with the Bevi 2, they are one of the comfiest IEM’s I’ve tested recently.

Features and Compatibility

The Bevi 2 have a detachable MMCX cable which includes a 3-button remote with mic for taking phone calls. This is a great feature for the price and the cable feels well made, they also use a single balanced armature driver which isn’t as common in such budget models.

At 22 Ohms impedance and 106dB sensitivity these are designed for mobile use, and can easily be powered by mobile phones and portable devices. They also sound great out of these devices, so no need for a high-end standalone DAP to get the most out of these.

Sound

Bass: The Bevi 2 is tuned to have a relatively full bodied sound, there is excellent warmth from a single balanced armature here, and more then enough bass presence to satisfy most users. Transient response is always a benefit of balanced armatures, and the Bevi 2 is no exception, being full yet nimble, they don’t get bogged down when the mix gets complex. Depending on what tips you have fitted, you can slightly tune the low end, with silicone tips sounding cleaner and more precise whereas foam are a bit fuller and warmer sounding. These won’t be for the hardcore bassheads, but they are on the warmer side of sound making them the perfect travel or exercise earphone without breaking the bank.

Midrange: The midrange is largely clean and clear, with minimal influence from the low end, these are not the most detailed or transparent earphones out there, and there are others within this price bracket that do better. But that’s not what Lypertek were looking to achieve, they are smooth and enjoyable, everything you need is there, nothing is excessive or forced. The more I listen the more I appreciate that everything comes across relatively well balanced, if not slightly U-shaped. These are a put in and forget earphone, with enough energy and drive to be enjoyable, but without sounding too energetic or standing out at all, they are somewhat unremarkable but remarkable for being so. These are refined, they don’t need peaks or trickery to make them sound good, they just rely on having great sound.

Treble: The treble is sweet and smooth, it may be a little too laid back to be considered neutral and in line with the rest of the sound but it does make the Bevi 2 super easy to listen to. It is there with good articulation, but it is lacking a little bite and energy, there are no nasty peaks that stand out and they do roll off a little early however what is there is done very well. If you are a treble sensitive person the Bevi 2 should be perfect, they have the right amount of presence to be there and noticeable without overstepping the line and becoming harsh or sibilant. There is no lower treble boost to bring out a sense of energy or false detail, instead there is a seamless transition between the upper mids and treble.

Genres and Soundstaging

The Bevi 2 are fairly well suited to most genres, they are notably smooth which works a bit better with softer tracks but they do sound enjoyable with most genres.

The soundstaging isn’t something that stands out as being overly impressive, they have a slightly more up-front sound to them rather than being overly wide and deep.

Who are they for?

  • Those wanting a great value wired earphone
  • People looking for a full bodied and fatigue free earphone under £100
  • Users with narrow/small ear canals who struggle with larger earphones

Conclusion

The Bevi 2 are extremely good value, you get a comfortable and well built earphone with detachable cable and a single BA driver for under £100. On top of this the sound is refined and smooth, without any fatiguing qualities, they are just easy and enjoyable without any traits that could be annoying or painful over long periods of listening. It doesn’t matter what you throw at them, they play it back without missing a beat, yes you can find cleaner and more transparent models at this price, but very few are as good for long listening as the Bevi 2.

New O400 Earphone from Oriveti

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Oriveti may fly under the radar for many audio enthusiasts, but they sure do know how to make some of the best value for money earphones in the industry. The new O400 is no different, offering up a high quality finish with excellent sound quality, what’s not to love?

The new Oriveti O400 featuring 4 custom tuned balanced armature drivers with a custom crossover network in a hand made resin shell you can tell a lot of attention has been put in to the earphones. The O400 has been paired with an 8-wire silver plated copper along with a huge selection of tips including the much loved Azla SednaEarfit™ Xelastec. The drivers are split evenly across the range: 1 Treble BA, 1 Bass BA, 1 Mid-treble, 1 Bass-Mid  BA – this allows for minimal distortion and increased range and separation.

The O400 are nice and easy to drive at 10 Ohms and 112dB +-3dB/mW, 1000Hz sensitivity, however as with any multi-driver earphone they do definitely benefit from having a good source powering them.

Oriveti have tuned the O400 to have a balanced, natural and wide sound signature – with a subtle lift in the sub-bass region and a clean and crisp midrange, the treble is airy and transparent but without nasty peaks or induce harshness.

These are available now and for only £399

Cleer Audio Ally Plus II TWS Announcement

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The Ally Plus II true wireless earphones add improved design, features and sound to its affordable noise cancelling.

Ally Plus II Announcement – Based around custom-tuned 10mm dynamic drivers, Cleer Audio’s latest true wireless stereo earphone, the Ally Plus II, delivers a level of what the company describes as ‘industry leading hybrid noise cancellation’ along with features and performance normally associated with products at double the price.

The Ally Plus II’s Adaptive Noise Cancellation is especially tuned for optimal effect and uses Feed Forward and Feed Back mics to monitor a listener’s surroundings in order to provide the most appropriate suppression of environmental sounds. 

Cleer has also updated its Cleer+ control app which provides further options to customise the ambient noise levels. The app also allows changes to EQ levels plus a custom option to personalise the listening experience even further. 

Moreover, the audio quality is enhanced by Cleer’s custom filters which are applied alongside ergonomic features such as the sound pipe angling the eartip to provide an improved listening experience. Specialised silicon ear tips reduce pressure in the ear canal to make wearing the Ally Plus II for extended periods more comfortable.

Those extended periods of listening are supported by a battery life of up to 11 hours which can be boosted by a further 22 hours of playback which is supplied by the small jewel-box style charging case which offers both USB-C and Qi wireless charging options. There’s also a transparent window in the lid so you can check that your Ally Plus II earbuds are connected and charging correctly.

Call quality comes courtesy of strong wireless connectivity, dual microphones and Qualcomm’s cVc (Clear Voice Capture) 8th generation noise reduction technology which makes chatting on the go clear and easy. 

Available in Midnight Blue and Stone

64 Audio Release The U6t – Their most popular custom IEM in a universal shell

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64 Audio’s most popular CIEM now available in a universal form. Drawing from the sonic palette of U12t, U6t is their most affordable audiophile monitor to date. Boasting the same ground-breaking technology as their flagship IEMs in an ergonomic aluminium shell to make it more accessible than ever.

SOUND

In standard 64 Audio fashion, U6t is a balanced natural sounding earphone, slightly set apart from their other UIEM models by offering a softer presentation of a mix. Beautiful upper-mid imaging, realistically presenting instruments like guitars and piano as well as breathing life into saturated mid-bass mixes, especially when vocal focused. Using the various included apex modules and ear-tips allows the listener to further customize the sound of the U6t based on the needs of the music.

IN THE BOX

  • U6t Universal In-Ear Monitors
  • 64 Audio Premium Leather Case
  • TrueFidelity Eartips (S,M,L)
  • Silicone Eartips (S,M,L)SpinFit Eartips (S,M,L)
  • Black Premium Cable
  • m20 apex Modules
  • m15 apex Modules
  • Round Sticker

Available to pre-order now!

Etymotic Evo Triple Driver Earphone – Available Now!

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Etymotic has announced the release of the Etymotic EVO multi-driver earphones, a culmination of 30 years of earphone engineering research and innovation.


The Etymotic EVO has Triple Balanced Armature Drivers: Dual low and single midrange/treble. They feature Estron Linum BaX T2™ low impedance cable and Estron T2 Talon connectors.

The Etymotic EVO has a two-way design with three balanced armature drivers in a moulded stainless-steel shell. The Etymotic engineering team, employing years of research on the physiology of the ear, designed a shell that fits comfortably in the concha of the ear making for a semi-custom design that fits the majority of people.

Commenting on the new release, Tal Kocen, Director of Consumer Product Development at Lucid Audio said: “We waited so long to put out a multi-driver earphone because we wanted to make sure that it was the best it could be and held to our exacting standards for earphone design and sonic qualities. The EVO is truly where precision meets audio and you’ll immediately hear it the first time you listen”

SPECIFICATION
  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 16 kHz
  • Impedance: 47 ohms
  • Sensitivity: 1khz – 99 dB SPL at 0.1V
  • Etymotic EVO Multi-Driver Earphones
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The Etymotic EVO is available now for £499.95

Audeze Euclid Planar Magnetic In-Ear Review

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Audeze’s first sealed planar earphone are exciting and bold, with excellent resolution and impactful bass response.

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Fit and Comfort

The new Audeze Euclid are a little on the larger side, this is down to the fact they house an 18mm planar magnetic drive inside. However Audeze have managed to make them as ergonomic as possible with soft contoured inner faces, and a good size nozzle. I found them to fit fairly well in my small ears, and they worked best with the supplied Comply tips for me. The cable fits over your ears well and helps with the overall fit of the Euclid.

The comfort is ok for me personally, I found after longer listening sessions I had some mild discomfort where they sit in your ear, but I do have relatively small ears and narrow canals. The supplied Comply tips worked well for me, and definitely help when using them for longer periods of time.

Compatibility

With relatively high sensitivity (105 dB/1mW) and low impedance (12 Ohms) they should be relatively easy to drive in theory. And whilst you do get listening volumes from portable sources, they do sound better when fed a bit more power, as is the case with most planar magnetic models (desktop amps, or higher end portable players are almost a necessity in my opinion).

Just a note on eartips and burn-in with the Euclid – I found that with silicone tips and listening to them right out of the box they sounded quite harsh with a shouty midrange and quite unnatural tonality. After 2 days of burn-in and fitting the Comply tips, the sound is completely different and they are far more enjoyable to listen to. These are quite picky so make sure to try all the different tips and try them out of a few different sources if possible.

Sound

Bass: The bass on the Euclid is impactful and hard hitting when needed, and being a planar they have quite a linear response all the way down to the sub-bass region. This means you won’t miss a beat with these, yet they are also nimble and have snappy transients to keep up with complex mixes. They have a relatively full low end, yet it doesn’t add any real warmth to the midrange, in fact the midrange could use a little more body in my opinion. The low end manages to stay faithful to the recording for the most part, only coming out when called for, but never lost in the mix.

Midrange: The midrange is a bit tricky on the Euclid, there are a few peaks and dips but for the most part they are well presented. There is a little bit of a lack of body at times, and there is a lift in the upper midrange which means they don’t always sound the most natural in terms of tonality. There is tons of detail to take in from the Euclid, and they show impressive transparency. This level of transparency, mixed with the impressive transient response means the mix is clearly separated and it’s easy to distinguish the different layers.

Treble: The treble is well presented, there is a bit of a lower treble lift which brings out some energy and sparkle but it’s the overall extension where they fall short a little. When compared to something that’s airy and extended like the Andromeda, the Euclid roll off a little too early and don’t sound quite as refined up top. But there’s still lots to enjoy here, they have a sense of energy that is quite addictive whilst perhaps not the most “studio accurate”.

Genres and Soundstaging

The Euclid lend their hand to most genres, but they are a bit hot sometimes when it comes to poorly mastered tracks. The soundstaging isn’t huge, but there is a nice sense of space and air to the Euclid that make them more open sounding than most sealed IEM’s.

Conclusion

What Audeze have done here is create a fun yet relatively well balanced planar earphone, which I appreciate is no easy feat. They do fall behind slightly when it comes to tonality, sometimes sounding a little thin in the midrange. But overall they have some great qualities including excellent bass response, brilliant detail retrieval and transparency. These won’t be for everyone, but I am sure there are a lot out there who will enjoy the Euclid, just remember they are very picky when it comes to the tips and source used.

Campfire Audio Dorado 2020 Review

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The Dorado 2020 combine the power of the Atlas driver, with the clarity from an added BA driver to provide a clean yet impactful sound signature.

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Fit and Comfort

The Dorado 2020 follow the same shape as the Vega 2020 previously reviewed, I find the shape of the housing and the length of the nozzle both contribute to a well fitting and comfortable earphone. There are no sharp edges to cause discomfort or create pressure points and once you find the right tips they are easy to wear for hours on end. The smoky litz cable is soft and this helps with the overall wearing comfort of the Dorado 2020.

Compatibility

The Dorado 2020 has similar sensitivity to the Vega 2020 (94 dB SPL @ 1kHz: 18.52 mVrs), meaning they will just about work out of your regular mobile phone but definitely sound their best when paired with a more powerful dedicated portable player.

Sound

Bass: The Dorado 2020 uses a similar dynamic driver to the Atlas and the Vega 2020, meaning you have that excellent low end warmth and extension whilst also having control when called for. This particular dynamic driver has incredible depth, digging deep in to the sub-bass without any distortion or roll-off. It has moderate punch but it focusses more on warmth and body, compared to overall visceral punch. Play the right tracks and the low end is excellent with real presence and thickness to it. Sometimes however it can be a little too much and overwhelm the overall balance, but for the most part it imparts warmth without taking too much away overall.

Midrange: The midrange is overall quite clear on the Dorado 2020, not as laid back as the Vega 2020 there is a more upfront presentation along with more apparent detail due to the addition of the extra driver. This BA driver really starts to come out in the midrange, giving a clean cut vocal and guitar presentation, however this is a bit of a lift in the upper midrange that tends to bring out a bit of sibilance in certain recordings. This can be toned down with the right ear tips though and isn’t overly problematic. The bass does sometimes overwhelm the midrange in certain tracks but the midrange is a lot cleaner here than the more relaxed Vega 2020.

Treble: Here we have a lot of energy and presence, with a mild u-shaped sound signature overall the Dorado 2020 have a couple of little peaks that bring out a bit more sparkle in the treble. They are not what I would consider to be bright, but they don’t hold back and can be a little brash during certain tracks. They are a bit more up front and exciting than the Vega 2020, and get your feet tapping a bit easier. You definitely don’t miss a beat up top with the Dorado, but those who are a little more treble sensitive might want to use some foam ear tips to tone it down a little.

Genres and Soundstaging

Well the big low end lends itself well to electronic music and modern pop, but the clarity overall is good for most rock music too. Acoustic works well and the bass becomes a little more behaved with such tracks, but if you listen to jazz and classical these are not really the right kind of earphone for that.

The soundstaging is really good on the Dorado 2020, with plenty of space and the BA driver helps open it up and place instruments.


Vs Solaris 2020

It only feels right to compare these to the Solaris 2020 but first off keep in mind Solaris 2020 is more expensive and has more drivers. But saying that, the Solaris sounds much more refined and grown up than the brash and energetic Dorado 2020. They have quite a different presentation but both aim for a more fun and bassy signature, the Solaris is smoother and there are fewer peaks in the treble, the Dorado 2020 are much more in your face and energetic.

The low end on the Solaris 2020 is a bit more impactful, whereas the Dorado 2020 have more of a sub-bass focus, with more warmth. Picking between the two is not necessarily easy, but I feel the Solaris 2020 is the better all-rounder, whereas the Dorado 2020 is more energetic at the risk of sounding a bit unrefined and thus less smooth and balanced overall.

Conclusion

The Dorado 2020 is an interesting proposition from Campfire Audio, you have the more balanced Andromeda 2020 for the same price if you want a closer to neutral sound, and you have the more expensive Solaris 2020 for an extra £400 that gives a similar signature in a more refined package. Then again we have the Vega 2020 for less, which is more laid back and less energetic than the Dorado 2020. They have designed the Dorado 2020 to be fun, in your face, energetic and a little brash, which can be a lot of fun, but also sometimes fatiguing depending on your threshold. If you are tired of boring earphones, the Dorado 2020 might be just what you are looking for.

You can see from the graph that the Dorado 2020 has a healthy bass boost but the treble is a bit more present and sparkly with the Dorado 2020 compared to the previously reviewed Vega 2020, along with a bit more presence in the midrange.

Campfire Audio Vega 2020 Review

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The Vega 2020 are fun. They hit hard and dig deep with good detail retrieval and a coherent yet full bodied sound signature overall.

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Fit and Comfort

The Vega 2020 are ergonomically designed, with a slim and smooth housing allowing for a comfortable fit. Once you find the right tips they fit in securely and the smoky litz cable is still one of my favourite stock earphone cables. The ceramic shell is really well finished and looks great in white, the stainless nozzle is similar to other Campfire models and helps with getting the right insertion depth and angle.

Compatibility

The Vega 2020 are not the most sensitive earphones around (94 dB SPL @ 1kHz: 19.86 mVrs), which means they do enjoy a little more power than some out there. They will be driven ok with a smartphone but definitely work best when paired with a clean and neutral sounding DAP with good power output.

Sound

Bass: The Vega 2020 are tuned with bass in mind, these are not a balanced or remotely neutral sounding earphone. Providing you give them the right music they really can be a lot of fun, the sub-bass presence is truly impressive and there is moderate punch too. They don’t slam quite as hard as the Polaris II, but they have better sub-bass performance, leading to a fuller and more mellow presentation over the more visceral punch of the Polaris II. If you enjoy a full bodied earphone the Vega 2020 might well suit your needs, but the sub-bass can be a little dominating on certain tracks.

Midrange: The midrange is quite relaxed on the Vega 2020, it takes a step back from the bass and just kinds sits there doing nothing particularly remarkable. The bass does occasionally throw off the balance of the midrange due to it’s power, but overall the midrange is well layered and separated with good detail retrieval. Where it does do well is smoothness, there is never a hint of harshness or sibilance in the midrange, it’s very easy going. Acoustic tracks seem to play well on the Vega 2020, as the sub-bass doesn’t come out and overpower the midrange as much, leaving guitars and vocals to shine through with a pleasant warmth.

Treble: The treble, much like the midrange, has a fatigue free presentation with a slight lift in the upper treble to bring out some sparkle. There is good energy up top but ultimately it is still not up front or overly exciting. There is good tonality in the treble region with realistic sounding cymbal crashes and synths sound great too. They are not tuned to be overly critical up top, and that’s not a problem here because they are supposed to be a laid back, full bodied and warm sounding earphone whilst retaining good detail and clarity overall.

Genres and Soundstaging

The Vega 2020 lend their hand to modern pop / R&B / Hip-Hop and also electronic based genres, the bass really shows what it can do with these genres whilst the midrange and treble stay fatigue free and smooth. Acoustic music also sounds impressive with a pleasant warm tilt overall. The sub-bass can be a little too dominating when listening to things like jazz.

Soundstaging is usually a strong point for Campfire Audio, the Vega 2020 doesn’t disappoint with pinpoint accuracy but I wouldn’t say they are the widest sounding IEM’s for the price. Imaging, separation and layering however are all great.

The Vega 2020 have me torn, during some slower rock tracks I find the bass too strong and overwhelming, however I have a feeling someone at Campfire Audio is a Slipknot fan. It happened with the Solaris 2020 and now the Vega 2020, they suddenly sound tight and controlled with great clarity and speed whilst still retaining a highly energetic and fun sound. It also shows how different recordings make a big difference in the end presentation, there’s some sort of synergy between Slipknot’s mixing and Campfire’s tuning and it rocks!

Conclusion

The Vega 2020 are not an earphone I would recommend to people looking for a balanced all rounder, but they would be the perfect addition to someone’s collection if they are looking for something fun. Big bass followed by smooth mids and treble all come together to create a coherent, full and warm sound signature. They are incredibly fun to listen to with the right music and the right source, along with being extremely comfortable.

In the frequency graph we can see the sub-bass lift that provides body and warmth, along with a good treble performance to prevent them from sounding overly dark. The peak at 6kHz does bring out some energy in the treble, and the 10kHz aids with the airy extension.

Etymotic Etymotion Review

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Etymotic have entered the Bluetooth market, with a brilliant cable that uses a Qualcomm chip and AKM AK4331 DAC/Amp, just a shame it has micro-USB for charging still.

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Design and Functionality

The Etymotion cable is simple in design, with a basic cable, 3-button remote and battery pack. It uses MMCX connectors for the ER2/3/4 series but it will also work with most MMCX equipped IEM’s, the angled connectors however are not always ergonomic with all earphones (I would have preferred them to use more universal straight MMCX connectors). The battery pack isn’t small but if you wear it with the cable behind your neck it sits well, there are 2 included clips to help support it too which is good. Overall it’s not too clunky, and it has to house more electronics than most for optimal sound quality, one thing to note is the use of the outdated micro-USB for charging, most devices have now moved on to USB-C.

Functionality is good, it’s simple and easy to use with the middle button acting as the power button as well as play/pause/skip tracks, paired with volume up/down buttons too. There are not really any special features to the Etymotion cable, its a basic Bluetooth cable that focusses on sound quality over gimmicks. Battery life is around 8-10hrs depending on the volume, and it supports Aptx, Aptx HD and Aptx LL which is welcome.

Interestingly Etymotic have taken the approach of having a Qualcomm Bluetooth receiver chip, which passes the incoming digital signal to an AKM4331 which then decodes and amplifies it. This is usually a much better approach to bluetooth implementation and should result in better audio quality along with higher volume output.

Sound

I mainly used the Etymotion cable with the ER2SE as the neutrality of these should bring out any weaknesses of the cable. Firstly the Etymotion doesn’t take away that classic Ety sound you would expect from the ER2SE, instead it really compliments them. You get the same controlled low end, open and honest midrange and great treble presentation and extension. It doesn’t really take anything away from the sound and the usual “Bluetooth compressed” sound is gone, it’s open, spacious and articulate. The Etymotion cable knows how to deliver the sound to your earphones as it was intended, with help from that little AKM chip.

I don’t find myself wanting to plug the cable back in and go wired when using with a mobile phone, arguably when paired with a device that uses Aptx HD you likely get better quality than if you were to plug them in to the phone directly. Initially I was sceptical, as we have great Bluetooth cables from Shanling in the form of the MW200, but I prefer the cable of the Etymotic over the neckband of the Shanling and the sound of the Etymotic cable is a little more neutral to my ears. If you are already an Etymotic fan but want something that is wireless, this really is the answer, I personally love the ER2SE and with this option to go wireless it is something that is really enjoyable and convenient when out and about.

Conclusion

Etymotic focussed on the sound, and you can hear that, the Etymotion is a really good Bluetooth cable when it comes to sound. Feature wise it has all you need, and the 8+hr battery life is fine, but it can’t be used with all MMCX IEM’s due to the angled connectors and the micro-USB charging port feels outdated. Overall though, if you are looking for a wireless solution for Etymotic earphones, the Etymotion is the best and most logical solution, albeit at a cost.

Cleer Next Review

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The Cleer Next are soft yet detailed with controlled bass and an honest midrange, the treble does lack some bite though

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Fit and Comfort

The Next are a very well made headphone with a mainly aluminium and leather finish, the arms have good adjustment to fit various head sizes and the earcups are deep enough for most ears. The fit is firm and secure but they don’t clamp overly hard.

Comfort wise I feel the headband could be a little more padded, but the earpads are spacious and soft. They are also a little on the heavier side in terms of weight, which does restrict listening sessions somewhat. Again everyone’s tolerance is different so most probably won’t have too much of an issue with these.

Here’s our pick of the best over-ear headphones of 2020

Compatibility

The Next are surprisingly easy to drive for a full size headphone, whilst I wouldn’t recommend you run them out of a portable device, you definitely can. They do however scale up with more powerful amps and pair well with most solid state desktop amps, having a more detailed and controlled sound. The Next are an open back headphone, more suited to private listening than portable use.

Sound

Bass: The Next have a good amount of body down low, but the impact is always controlled and without any bloat. There’s a bit of a peak in the sub-bass and the mid-bass misses out on a little bit of impact, which renders some kicks a little dry sounding but nevertheless the lows are well controlled and enjoyable. They come out when needed but never overwhelm the overall sound. The lows can handle anything you throw at them, they have excellent timing and never get bogged down with complex mixes.

Midrange: Detailed and open the midrange portrays vocals with great timbre and accuracy, layers are finely separated yet presented as a coherent whole. They are not warmed by any bleeding from the bass, and these give and honest yet detailed portrayal of the midrange. Guitars really do sound great and are really well separated from the vocals, it doesn’t matter what you play through them, this quality remains. Female vocals work well having excellent clarity and detail without any sharpness to them.

Treble: The treble of the Next is notably subdued in the upper regions, compared to the bass and midrange the top end is just a bit flat, there is little energy or sparkle up top leaving them sound a little boring and uninspiring. Snares are snappy, but high-hats don’t have any energy and cymbal crashes get pushed to the background. EQ definitely helps here, and they would suit people who are treble sensitive, but for those used to a brighter or more neutral sound may find the Next a little too polite.

Genres and Soundstaging

The slight dip up top means the Next are fairly versatile but lack a bit of bite during more energetic tracks, they suit genres like acoustic and country well.

Soundstage wise though they are pretty impressive with a well focussed centre image and great layering and space between the rest of the instruments. It’s quite easy to tell where they are placed within the soundstage.

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Conclusion

The Next are snappy and controlled yet they are also a little rolled off in the treble which means they sound a little soft and dull at times. They are not lacking detail, and true to the brands name they sound very clear. Overall they are enjoyable for the treble sensitive listeners but those looking for a bit more energy should look elsewhere.