BEST EARPHONES UNDER £50

1. final E500 Wired Earphones – £19.99

Designed with gaming and VR users in mind, the E500 delivers impressive spacial awareness and pin point accuracy. These qualities don’t only favour gamers – they give music an edge with clear imaging and a soundstage that brings you right into the mix. All of this for under £20 makes them a no brainer for those looking for a budget wired earphone.

READ MORE: Final E500 In-Ear Headphones Review

2. SoundMAGIC E11/E11C Wired Earphones – £34.98/£39.98

With various SoundMAGIC models already available, what can the E11/E11C bring to the table? Well, Everything! We have found the E11 to be a grown-up earphone with a keen knack for giving a clear and accurate presentation across the board.  A truly impressive earphone for the price and in 2024 it is still the wired budget king.

READ MORE: SoundMAGIC E11C In-Ear Headphone Review

3. SoundMAGIC E80D USB-C Wired Earphones – £34.98/£39.98

Modern technology requires modern solutions. No headphone jack on your new phone? The SoundMagic E80D has you covered. These earbuds deliver exceptional comfort and impressive passive noise isolation at a budget-friendly price. With a reliable USB-C connection, they provide seamless compatibility with modern devices. Lightweight and elegant, they’re perfect for long listening sessions, offering great value without compromising on audio clarity or design quality.

READ MORE: SoundMAGIC E80D

BEST EARPHONES UNDER £100

4. final VR2000 Virtual Reality In Ear Isolating Gaming Earphones – £59.99

The VR2000 builds on the immense success of their gaming earphone predecessor the VR3000, which is known for their overwhelming spatial expression. The VR2000 focuses on the rapid response and aims to make object sounds within game audio more noticeable. Many typical gaming earbuds and headphones emphasize an exaggerated sound quality, aiming to accentuate sound effects for a more dramatic experience for the user. But in competitive gaming such as arcade fighting (Tekken), FPS (Apex Legends), Third person shooters such as Fortnite or rhythm games sich as Osu! it’s no exaggeration to say that the player’s quick judgment in reacting to sound effects can largely influence the outcome of each round. The VR2000 is a set of professional-grade earbuds developed specifically for players who are serious about winning.

READ MORE: final VR2000 Gaming Earphones

5.1MORE Aero ANC TWS Earphones – £70.00

The 1MORE Aero offers a solid mix of great audio quality, effective ANC, and a comfortable fit for an exceptional price. The Aero stands out by bringing the premium head-tracked spatial audio to the table, something that currently is only usually found in much pricier models. If immersive audio for movies and TV is your thing, the Aero is a fantastic value choice.

READ MORE: 1MORE AERO

BEST EARPHONES UNDER £200

6. final ZE3000 True Wireless Earphones – £119.00

True wireless earphones for the audiophiles and purists out there. The final ZE3000 don’t have many of the bells and whistles. They have no ANC, no ambient mode nor wireless charging. However they were designed from the bottom up for ultimate sound quality and in that they totally succeeded. They also look abolutely fantastic and fit perfectly. What more could you ask for at £119!

READ MORE: final ZE3000 True Wireless Earphones Review

7. 1MORE Penta P50 – Five Hybrid Driver IEMs – £179.00

The Penta P50 offers a smooth, natural sound with standout bass texture and crisp treble, perfect for those who prefer a relaxed and fatigue-free listening experience. Its compact, comfortable design adds to the appeal, making it a strong choice for audiophiles seeking balanced tuning.

READ MORE: 1MORE Penta P50

8. Final ZE8000 MK2 – ANC TWS Earphones £199.00

Finals flagship TWS earphone combines striking aesthetics with top-tier performance. They deliver sound quality that rivals the best wired earphones as well as providing all the modern features you’d expect from TWS earphones. The distinctive shape of the buds also provides insane levels of comfort and the app is a treat to use. All the bells and whistles are there, a great overall package.

READ MORE: Final ZE8000 MK2

BEST EARPHONES UNDER £500

9. Westone Audio AM Pro X20 Professional Earphones – £400.00

Stage musicians rejoice! Musicans of the past were limited to selecting either an isolated in-ear monitor mix or an immersive wedge based experience for monitoring. With the Am Pro X20 you can now enjoy both the energy and input from the audience, as well as from other performers and the stage. With Westone Audio’s exclusive StageSense Ambient Technology you are in total control of your musical environment. You can enjoy full-range frequency response from your in-ear monitor signal, hear and feel your surroundings and engage with fellow performers and your audience like never before. The AM Pro X series is a recommended universal solution for on-stage monitoring and band practice.

READ MORE: Westone Audio AM Pro X20

10. Final A5000 – £259.00

Final’s new addition to the “A” series, The A5000 is a wired IEM that punches far above it’s price in terms of sound quality. Style aside, the bass is powerful and tight, the mids and the highs fabulous. Final have proven time and time again that you do not need to spend an arm and a leg for a quality earphone. For anyone looking to upgrade their gear on a budget, look no further. Final Magic for £259.00? Yes please.

READ MORE: Final A5000

BEST EARPHONES OVER £1000

11. 64 Audio U4s -£1,099.00

The U4s is 64 Audio’s new, blue & cheapest UIEM coming in at £1099.00. The hybrid construction delivers a richer and deeper sub-bass then their next cheapest universal model the U6t (which is made up from a full BA driver set up) thanks to the dynamic driver under its hood. The U4s comes with 64 Audio’s all new M12 Apex module, meaning you essentially get four different sound signatures out of the box. You are after an open sound with as wide an image as possible? Then slot in the MX or the M12. Want more bass? Say hello to the M20 or M15. The versatility of these is great and the energetic sound from the U4s will keep your attention for years to come.

READ MORE: 64 Audio U4s

12. final A8000 Audiophile Custom-Driver Earphones – £1999

With the A8000, final prove that multiple drivers aren’t necessary for producing mind blowing audio. One driver is all that’s needed! Final don’t settle with any old drivers either. For the A8000, Final has developed their custom made ultra thin Beryllium foil driver. Along with Final’s four chamber housing design, the A8000 gives high resolution a whole new meaning. These need to be heard to be believed.

READ MORE: final A8000 Custom-Driver Audiophile Earphones Review

13. 64 Audio Volür – £2369.05

What started out as the Nio 2 evolved into a whole new word (and a UIEM) that never existed before. The Volür. The newest Universal IEM from 64 Audio. The pulsating heart of which is made up of two new custom 9mm dynamic drivers set in a True Isobaric configuration that delivers unprecedented low-frequency capability. The low end of the Volür will simply blow you away. It is easily one of the best technical performing earphones that has a “fun” sounding signature. Those purple abalone faceplates also look fabulous.

READ MORE: 64 Audio Volür

Have We Missed Anything Out?

Honourble mentions to the, Fourté , LCD i3, OV800, and many more out there! What is your favourite? Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know…

The post Best Earphones 2024: IEM, Bluetooth, Wireless, Budget, Audiophile appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

We know how important it is to find the best headphones for you; whether they are for your smartphone, music player, laptop or hi-fi system.

So we’ve gathered our picks for the best of the best for active/sports headphones you can buy!

BEST SPORTS HEADPHONES UNDER £50

1. SoundMAGIC P22BT – £39.99

The SoundMAGIC P22BT is suspiciously low-priced for a bluetooth model, but exceeds all expectations. Watch out this summer however, as wearing these constantly may affect your suntan.

READ MORE: SoundMAGIC P22BT Bluetooth Headphone Review

BEST SPORTS EARPHONES UNDER £100

2. SoundMAGIC E11BT – £69.99

The guts of the E11C paired with the power of Bluetooth 5.0 make this earphone a real contender for a budget price. Automatic smartphone controls give you even more freedom from your device while on the go. They claim an absolutely massive battery life as well. 

BUY HERE: SoundMAGIC E11BT Bluetooth Earphones

3. Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 – £89.95

Optoma has enjoyed tremendous success recently with its BE Sport3 model; it’s an earphone which has a remarkably solid build quality and reliability, however Optoma has gone one better with additional sweat and water resistance rated at IPX5 – this means that aside from general moisture resistance, we can have a musical duel with water pistols and suffer no lasting consequences.

READ MORE: Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 Bluetooth Earphone Review

4. Optoma NuForce BE Free5 – £99.99

Between their purported 16-hour battery life between charges (representing 4 hours of continuous play) and their ipx5 water resistance rating,  the Optoma NuForce BE Free5 is a steal at just under £100. Their graphene diaphragm drivers allow for less energy consumption, while their ergonomic design means they won’t fall out constantly while you’re on the move. 

BUY HERE: Optoma NuForce BE Free5 True Wireless Earbuds

BEST SPORTS HEADPHONES OVER £100

5. Sennheiser CX Sport – £119.99

Between Sennheiser sound and build quality, six hours of battery life, and the ability to quick charge, what more could you ask for in a sport headphone? Splash and sweat resistance, you say? Well, guess what? The CX Sport comes through once more. 

BUY HERE: Sennheiser CX SPORT Bluetooth Sports Earphones

Have We Missed Anything Out?

Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know…

The post Best Sports Headphones 2020: Earbuds, On Ear, Wireless, True Wireless appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

It’s that time of year again. So here’s our pick of the best audio gadgets available – with something for everyone.

Audeze Mobius

Audeze have created a superb all rounder in the Mobius. Whether music, films or gaming is your thing – the Audeze Mobius does it all extremely well. Inside the housings are planar magnetic drivers, providing sound quality that even the audiophiles out there will appreciate. Then the 3D emulation technology delivers a superb surround sound experience, perfect for watching films or playing Fortnite and thanks to the integrated head tracking – you’ll hear sound effects as if they’re really there.

Bower & Wilkins PX

The B&W PX is the ultimate portable headphone. With the latest aptX HD Bluetooth technology, wireless sound quality is of the highest level. Providing a very well balanced sound with tight bass – bass heads may want to look elsewhere – crystal clear clarity and superb soundstage. The PX also has adaptive noise cancelling and uses six microphones to help block out external sounds – allowing you to focus on the music. Along with the advanced technology – the PX has superb build quality and comfort – making them our go to recommendation for wireless headphones.

SoundMAGIC P22BT

At under £40 – the SoundMAGIC P22BT Bluetooth headphone provides high quality at a low price. The design is sturdy and comfortable, with a lightweight foldable headband which is great for portable use. These headphones are easy to use with controls conveniently placed on the left earcup. The most impressive feature is the sound quality – audio is crisp and punchy with plenty of energy, making them a lot of fun to listen to.

SoundMAGIC E11C

SoundMAGIC seems to have nailed the under £50 earphone. If you’re looking for a wired earphone and want to keep the price down, then we believe that the E11C is the one. SoundMAGIC have gone for a mature design, and used a silver plated copper cable to deliver superb sound quality which will compete with earphones over £100. The E11C has plenty of energy and punch with a dynamic and well detailed sound. There is also a 3 button inline control and mic, which is fully compatible with Apple and Android smartphones.

Flare Audio Flares Jet 2

Now, if you’re looking for an earphone with a more aggressive sound then the Flares Jet 2 could be the one. These earphones go loud, and they provide thumping bass and sharp clarity. The housings are made of aluminium and are built to last. There is also an in line single button remote to take calls and the cable itself is strong and tough. The design of the Jet 2 definitely stands out and the shape makes them very comfortable.

Final E4000

For those that appreciate their music a bit more and are happy to up their budget,  Final’s E4000 is a superb place to start. Final have been in the audio game for a long time, and their E series shows us what they can do. The E4000 is the sweet spot for me – musical and well balanced sound quality that draws you in, great comfort and design and a nicely made replaceable cable – all for just over £100.

Shanling M0

For something so small, the Shanling M0 manages to pack in a load of features. Starting with the design, the M0 looks and feels great. The display is made by LG and is very crisp – and thanks to Shanling’s own MTouch software, the player is extremely easy to use. The sound from the M0 is clear with good bass-weight, punch and fine detail. Thanks to the on board EQ settings, you can add some warmth or sharpness to suit your taste. The M0 can pair with Bluetooth headphones, and the 2-way Bluetooth feature will allow you to connect to your phone to use the player as an external DAC/amp – very clever.

Optoma NuForce BE Sport4

The NuForce BE Sport4 is widely regarded as the go to Bluetooth earphone – and we would agree. At just under £90, they combine good value with superb sound quality – the Graphene coated drivers deliver a crisp and punchy sound with plenty of clarity. The BE Sport4 is IPX5 water resistant and can provide up to 10 hours or battery life. And to top it off, you get 2 hours of charge in just 15 minutes thanks to their Fast Charge feature.

JDS Labs Element DAC

Whether you like to listen to your headphones at home using your computer, laptop or hifi system – the JDS Labs Element will breathe life into your setup. For a long time now, JDS Labs have been making high quality headphone amplifiers and DACs with a simple design and superb value. The Element shows that not only do they have the technical knowhow – they have a great eye for design too. With analogue RCA inputs and digital USB – the Element is extremely versatile and as expected, provides a clean, expressive and powerful sound.

iFi Audio XDSD

Ever wondered if you could have a high quality headphone amplifier connect to your phone or laptop wirelessly? Well wonder no more. The iFi Audio xDSD is the perfect way for you to get the most from your headphones and chosen device – without adding more wires. Use your phone to listen to Spotify, your favourite podcast or play PUBG and let the xDSD wirelessly drive your headphones, giving them all the power they would need to deliver a balanced and dynamic sound.

The post Top 10 Audio Best Buys for 2018 appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

So the bluetooth fairy has delivered yet again, and Optoma Nuforce now has a truly wireless product in the BE Free8. When shoved in the ears, Optoma Nuforce promise us ‘True wireless earphones with superior sound quality with deep explosive bass’. Perhaps they should have called it the ‘Deton8’?

Pros:

• Completely Wireless
• One capsule can be worn only, like a bluetooth hands-free
• Charging can be done in portable case

Cons:

• Supplied tips are a bit slender
• Not good if you have butterfingers

Design and Appearance

The capsules are small and they’re sleek; the shiny plastic looks the part, but be careful when handling them. If you have dry fingers like this reviewer, they can be a bit slippy between the fingers. It would be nice to have a textured panel or a bit of piping around the edge for better grip.

Spinfit tips are included in two sizes; they look like medium and small sizes so if your ear canals are of a large size, you may be looking for some aftermarket tips. Also included is a case or caddy for storing the earphones between uses, and recharging them. The caddy can itself be recharged, so you needn’t be stuck if you’re away from a power socket.

Durability and Build Quality

Naturally, there’s not much to these earbuds, only the capsules and the caddy. The capsules are light but solid enough; were these to fall on the floor and be trodden on, the show should go on. The caddy is much the same in terms of how solid it feels, so there are no immediate concerns here.

Comfort

Depending on how well you can get on with the supplied silicone tips, comfort is not an issue. The capsules sit in place with no trouble, and they can be largely forgotten, but for the music. Should the silicone tips give any issues, aftermarket foam tips such as Blackbird’s S20 tips should offer an improvement.

Sound Characteristics

The sound of the BE Free8 is generally on the bassy side, but with a decent amount of midrange and treble presence for a warm but fairly detailed presentation.

• Bass

There’s a decent amount of subbass here; although as mentioned above, the supplied tips are quite small and thin. Without a good seal, bass frequencies can be affected so bear this in mind. Bass control is pretty good for a design of this type although it could be a bit tighter.

• Mids

Midrange is clear and quite detailed for a bluetooth earphone; it does not appear recessed unless there is a lot of bass and sub bass going on, so if you’re a fan of oldies or acoustic music then do not be put off. Having said that, the BE Free8 is not too tolerant of low-bitrate music files which can come across as a bit mushy.

• Treble (e.g. high hats):

Treble is gentle and goes very well with the midrange; there’s no noticeable throughs or peaks in the sound up here. If you’re keen on a bright or sparkly sound then the BE Free8 may not be for you, although it’s certainly not rolled off or veiled. Fine details are not particlarly well rendered, but this is par for the course for this type of wireless earphone these days.

• Soundstage and Separation

Effects such as soundstage and imaging/separation etc. do rely on those fine details, and these are insufficient to get a good impression of space and the positions of sounds within that space. The BE Free8 is not the best at this, but does present a cohesive and enjoyable sound nonetheless.

Music genres good for and why

The Optoma Nuforce BE Free8 is probably best with modern pop and dance etc. but will cope well with all genres, so long as your digital music files are of good quality. 128kbps MP3 files from 2004 will probably make themselves known!

Summary

Optoma Nuforce’s new BE Free8 is a truly wireless model, with two capsules to put in your ears and that’s it – no cable even runs between them. For music, they are quite adequate for using whilst exercising or on the move but may not cut it for fans of subtle details.

The post Optoma Nuforce BE Free8 Bluetooth Earphone Review – Wireless without the wire appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

Optoma NuForce HEM8 Quad Driver IEM Review

2, 4, 6, 8 – who do we appreciate? Optoma NuForce, which has a new range of sleek balanced armature-driven IEMs with varying amounts of drivers. The HEM2 has a single driver per capsule, there are two in each HEM4 capsule, three in those of the HEM6 and four in each HEM8 capsule.

These models incorporate a ‘three-way phase-coherent crossover that achieves linear phase performance’, so now we know. In English, it amounts to a nice perceived width, fast attacks and faithful reproduction of music.

Accessories are plentiful with all models in this range, with six pairs of silicone tips and two pairs of Comply tips included. There’s a sturdy transparent Pelican-type case for travelling, and also a rigid zip-up case for the pocket. There are two cables as well, one plain stereo version and another for use with phones with a single button remote/mic.

Pros:

• Good amount of eartips
• Two cases included, and two cables
• Capsules are relatively small, no issues with fit
• Good isolation

Cons:

• Not so forgiving with poor quality recordings

Design and Appearance

On the outside, the capsules themselves are very compact (even the HEM8 with its four drivers), and light. The standard cable is a braided affair, which is very supple and gives no problems when worn. The jack is of a right-angle design which should not offer any trouble other than possibly when used with headphone sockets which are recessed. It just about fits into the Chord Hugo’s headphone socket; this may not affect many users but we need to mention drawbacks whenever we get the chance; there are not many with these earphones!

Durability and Build Quality

As mentioned above, the NuForce HEM8 standard cable is very light and limber but due to its braided nature it’s hard to imagine it getting strained with normal use. Strain reliefs are not uniform and are different depending on which part of the cable they are on; the jack has the usual ‘accordion’ type strain relief and elsewhere it looks as if heat-shrink tubing is present; at the Y-split and where the cable goes over the backs of the ears. There’s also a simple slider on the cable to keep things in place, once in use.

The mic/remote cable is a fairly standard one which is not braided, but again seems strong enough to put up with a typical amount of use and abuse when out and about. Also at the point where the cable meets the capsules, there is no undue strain placed on the connection as a rigid plastic sheath holds the two-pin connectors in position.

Comfort

No problems here, the relatively small size of the capsules means that the HEM Series will fit most if not all ears, and the shrink tubing at the capsule end of the braided cable acts as a pretty effective cable guide to keep the cable in position.

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READ MORE: Pioneer SE-CH9T Earphone Review

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Sound Isolation

Isolation is pretty good; certainly better than average with the correct tips. As ever, a bit of experimentation may be required but the standard silicone tips do a good job of keeping out exterior noise. The Comply tips will naturally enhance this further.

Sound Characteristics

Testing with a Chord Hugo DAC.

Overall the sound is clear and crisp with no obvious peaks; detail is very good and with plenty going on in the music, there’s no hint of congestion.

• Bass

Down low, sub bass is not there in quantities we might expect from models such as the Shure SE846 for example, but it’s there nonetheless and considering the relatively diminutive size of the capsules, it’s impressive. Mid and upper bass is generally very well controlled with plenty of impact, however some bass instruments such as the double bass can tend to take over a bit. Midrange is not affected though..

• Mids

Here, everything hangs loose and natural; there’s heaps of space and harmonics are nicely cohesive with the bass frequencies. The multiple drivers and crossovers work together really well. It’s not recessed at all, but not pushy either. There’s a nice balance between the two which makes for a versatile earphone model.

• Treble

The crisp treble is natural sounding and is well tuned to sit well with the rest of the presentation; however the flip side is that the HEM8 may be relatively unforgiving with poorly mastered and low-bitrate encoded recordings, or old recordings. Fatigue may be an issue for those with more sensitive ears, depending on the source and the quality of music played.

• Soundstage and Separation

Soundstage is impressive with again a lot of room there; individual instruments have plenty of space and it amounts to a very immersive experience.

Music genres good for and why

The HEM8 is a great earphone for everything which is well produced; from hiphop to jazz, classical to hard rock.

Summary

The HEM8 is a winner for those who want a clean well balanced sound, and who have a collection of well-produced music. The wealth of accessories included makes the NuForce HEM8 a very competent and well thought out product.

The post Optoma NuForce HEM8 Earphone Review – Nu Wot, M8? appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

NuForce uDAC5 Mobile DAC/Amp Review

The Optoma Nuforce uDAC5 is an excellent little DAC/Amp that cannot be beaten in size or sound for the price. It is a solid unit with a slightly smooth sound that is sure to please.

Pros:

• Size
• Build
• Sound

Cons:

• None for the price

Aesthetics, Build Quality and Accessories

The Nuforce uDAC5 is a tiny little thing, that looks great with a clean metal housing and good sized volume knob. The casing is all metal with a LED light on the front indicating it is on, along with the volume knob and headphone socket, inputs and outputs on the back and that is it.

Built quality is excellent, with the all metal case and solid sockets this little thing is built to survive. The volume pot moves smoothly and everthing feels well put together, the finish of the case is impeccable.

Accessories are not really included, all you get is the DAC, USB cable and quick start guide. I would have like to have seen some rubber feet included, maybe a pair of RCA cables too. But most people already have interconnects so not a huge issue.

Ease of use and Features

The uDAC5 is simple and easy to use, with the latest Windows 10 update, it is plug and play with no need to install drivers. Otherwise the drivers are available from the Nuforce website, I had no issues getting the DAC to work and it just started playing music instantly.

The RCA outputs are controlled by the volume pot, and not a fixed line out. This means you can use this with active monitors, but if you are going into an external amp set the volume to 100%.

It can also be used to convert USB signal to a coaxial for use with an external DAC that has no USB input.

Sound Quality

First off I will say the headphone output has fairly high gain and can drive the Beyerdynamic DT990 600 Ohm with ease, it also worked well with less sensitive IEM’s but won’t be the best match with very sensitive IEM’s unless you lower the volume in windows.

Out of the headphone output the uDAC5 has excellent sound throughout the range, it is not bright and clinical yet still brings out the detail in music. It is a big step up from on board audio out of a PC/Laptop, the sound is sightly warm and euphoric with good separation. I do find the internal amp to be fine for casual listening with easy to drive headphones, but you will notice a difference when going to a full size desktop amp with harder to drive headphones.

Everything is well placed in the mix, the lows hit hard and dig deep, vocals have a sweetness to them that is quite pleasing and highs have good definition and extension, lacking only the micro detail and air that higher end equipment offers.

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READ MORE: Grado SR80e Audiophile Headphone Review

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As a pure DAC the uDAC5 is clean and clear without any real flaws, it works really well in any system providing a big step up from on-board audio. I feel there is still a slight smoothness to the overall sound which does get rid of any potential harshness but can slightly hide some micro detail.

Conclusion

For the price the Nuforce uDAC5 is an excellent piece of kit, it would be perfect for a coffee shop setup, or a small office rig, it is also perfect as a DAC for active desktop monitors and to feed an external amp at home.

It is not for driving really demanding headphones to their full potential, it is for casual listening and getting better sound out of a PC on a budget, and for this purpose it is a no brainer.

The post Optoma NuForce uDAC5 Review appeared first on HiFiheadphones.