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Audeze LCD 5 High End Planar Magnetic Headphone Review – are these the king of all planars?

Ben M. — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 09:15:51 +0000

Audeze have just released their new flagship Planar Magnetic headphones – the LCD-5. We have taken an in-depth look and listen, and they really are something special with an airy and detailed sound that steers away from the typical darker response Audeze have normally gone for. There is more detail in the upper midrange and they are also much more comfortable due to reduced weight, watch the full video to find out more!

Oscar has a written review of the LCD-5 here. If you want to get your hands on a pair, you can preoder an LCD-5 here

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HiFiHeadphones Top 10 Audio Products of 2021

Ben M. — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 09:57:01 +0000

We have had some fantastic products this year, including the new Audeze LCD-5 which are some of the best headphones on the market. The 64 Audio U6t which brings their most popular custom IEM to the masses for a very reasonable price and the SoundMAGIC P23BT proving that you really can get excellent sound from a budget pair of headphones. We want to hear your questions about audio and headphones, so leave them in the comments and we will try and do a Q&A in the near future.

ALL FEATURED PRODUCTS:

Campfire Audio Satsuma – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…
Campfire Audio Honeydew – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…
Burson Audio Conductor 3X Reference – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…
JDS Labs Atom Amp+ – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…
JDS Labs Atom DAC+ – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…
Lypertek Z3 2.0 – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…
SoundMAGIC P23BT – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…
Audeze LCD-5 – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…
64 Audio U6t – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…
Final D8000 Pro – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…
Cleer Enduro ANC – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…
Etymotic Evo – https://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/prod…

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Best On Ear Headphones To Buy in 2017 – Expert Reviews

Oscar — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 10:39:29 +0000

Best On Ear Headphones 2017

Looking for a new pair of on-ear headphones? We’ve collected the best on ear, open back, closed back and portable headphones to buy in 2017 and reviewed them to help you choose.

Shop: Visit our on-ear headphones store

Read More: Best In Ear Headphone Buying Guide

Best On Ear Headphones under £50

SoundMAGIC P22C

SoundMAGIC takes a lot of beating in this price category – the brand is a natural at making low cost headphones which sound much pricier.

The P22C model is a lightweight portable with a flat tangle-free cable and good isolation. Ideal for travel and holidays, these will fit right in to any bag or backpack when stored in their low profile travel case. The P22C included a microphone for phone usage and the remote is compatible with both Android and Apple devices.

Sound is impressive for this price point, with plenty of detail and a good kick to the bass without overpowering the mid range.

Engaging and fun-sounding, the P22C will make the absolute most of the output from any portable player.

Edifier P650

The Edifier P650 is a smartphone friendly, easy to carry portable headphone that punch above their weight and price.

Offering a well balanced sound with a little added kick down low, the midrange is clean and detailed and the treble isn’t far behind. The bass does not have the most sub-bass rumble but for a quick and easy to use, on the go headphone they offer great sound.

What impresses most is their ability to portray the whole frequency range in a well controlled and balanced manner, too many budget headphones overload you with muddy bass, yet these offer plenty of detail but are also easy to listen to; a no brainer at this price point.

Koss PortaPro

The simple design and great sound keeps them viable while the open-back design, whilst not being the best for isolation of course, is perfect for those who wish to be aware of what’s going on around them such as joggers, and muggers.

The sound is generally well balanced between bass and treble, although the midrange can seem a bit distant and mushy. Bass is perhaps a bit on the heavy side, but it will definitely satisfy those who want a bassy sound. The Koss Porta Pro Classics offer a warmish sound overall.

Be aware though that their open-back nature means that they will be of limited use in noisy environments.

READ MORE: Koss PortaPro Full Review

Best On Ear Headphones under £150

B&W P3 Series 2

B&W have a long history of making excellent hifi products, and this has trickled down into their headphones.

The P3 are superbly built with an elegant and sophisticated look, the P3 really do impress. Lucikly they are not all about the look either, as the P3 offer a smooth and effortless sound that is akin to their house speaker sound. Offering excellent full bodied bass response with a non fatiguing and slightly sweet midrange and treble.

Comfortable, well built with a smooth and pleasing sound signature, the P3 are perfect for on-the-go use.

Sennheiser HD25-1 II

The HD25-1 II are one of the most well known on-ear headphones, this is partly due to their popularity as a DJ headphone. Used by DJ’s and sound engineers globally the HD25-1 II are a rugged portable headphone that will last for years.

Offering an immediate and aggressive sound they won’t give you a wide soundstage but will give you an engaging and detailed signature. The bass is tight and digs deep with excellent control and presence, the midrange is smooth yet very detailed and the treble has good extension and is very well placed in the mix.

If you are looking for a smooth laid back sound, the B&W are probably a better choice, but if you want a fun, upfront and engaging listen the HD25-1 II is for you. All parts are easily replaceable too, should anything ever break.

Grado SR80e

The Grado SR80e are a definite improvement over the SR80i, with a slightly warmer, more balanced sound. Their retro styling may not appeal to all, but underneath the looks is a fine sounding open-back headphone. The undisputed king of headphones for rock music, these are sure to get you toe tapping and head banging in no time.

These will not appeal to bass heads, they fair better with music that is played on real instruments. They have long been favourites for people that enjoy rock music due to the speed and control of the sound.

At the price point I still think Grado hold their own with a well balanced, aggressive and detailed sound, there is nothing quite like them.

READ MORE: Grado SR80e Full Review

Best On Ear Headphones under £250

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 2.0i

The Momentum series are hugely popular with on the go commuters, and for good reason. Offering stylish looks, a comfortable fit and a smooth easy to listen to sound.

Built to last with replaceable parts, the Momentum has slightly retro looks and comes in an array of colours. With playback controls on the cable you no longer have to take your phone out of your pocket. The sound is dynamic and punchy, offrering a slightly bass driven sound without sacrificing the midrange and treble. Engaging and fun are the best word to sum up the Momentum 2.0i.

Good looks and great sound, it is easy to see why the Momentum 2.0i is so popular with commuters. For Android users there is also the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0G.

Beyerdynamic T51i

The T51i have been around for a while now and are still excellent on-the-go headphones. They have a sturdy and sophisticated look, and offer a well balanced and detailed sound.

The T51i again tilts towards an easier to listen to sound, with a slight bass boost that gives the whole sound a little added body. There is sufficient detail across the range to keep them from sounding boring and what comes to mind when you put the T51i on is refinement.

With excellent build, comfy fit and refined sound the T51i has a lot to offer.

READ MORE: Beyerdynamic T51i Full Review

Bowers & Wilkins P5 Series 2

Leather earpads and a metal headband, the P5 Series 2 screams quality and luxury. The earpads are soft lambskin leather with memory foam inside, like cushions against your ears.

Like the P3 the P5 Series 2 has the typical B&W house sound, which is smooth and effortless. Offering a well balanced but slightly rich sound with superb separation and articulation, from highs to lows these sound very refined and grown up.

The P5 Series 1 look stunning, have replaceable cables and a smooth effortless sound, what is not to like?

Best On Ear Headphones Over £250

Audeze Sine

Built from leather and metal, the Audeze Sine are built to last and also come with detachable cables. Using planar magnetic drivers they take a little more power than most phones can output, so they are best used with a high quality music player.

Give them a good source and the Sine in return give you excellent audio with snappy dynamics that can keep up with the most demanding of music. The bass is full yet superbly controlled, the midrange is where these excel not allowing the lows to affect them. Guitars have excellent power, and vocals come across with plenty of detail. The highs are present and well defined, but never become too hot and harsh.

The Sine are a mighty fine sounding on-ear headphone when driven well, and give you a full and detailed sound all

The post Best On Ear Headphones To Buy in 2017 – Expert Reviews appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

Best Earphones To Buy In 2017 – Expert Reviews

Oscar — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 15:00:59 +0000

Best In-Ear Headphones For 2017

Looking for a new pair of in-ear headphones? We’ve collected the best earphones and earbuds available in 2017 and reviewed them to help you choose.

Shop: Visit our in-ear earphones store

Best In-Ear Headphones Under £50

Edifier P281 Sport

Sleek sporty look with a perfect fit, the P281 Sport are some new budget kings on the block. Coming in at £24.99 they are a huge step up to any headphones that come with a phone.

Offering a well balanced sound with good kick down low, they offer an engaging and fun listening experience when out and about, yet still allow plenty of detail to be heard. From top to bottom there are not real peaks or dips, they have a smooth and easy to listen to sound. What is also great is the inclusion of a microphone and button for taking calls or skipping tracks.

SoundMAGIC E10C

What can be better than the award winning SoundMAGIC E10 for under £50? The E10C has the same superb build quality and sound signature as the E10 but with the added function of a universal smartphone in-line microphone – need we say more?

The E10C has tight bass with plenty of weight – the mids are well defined and the top end sparkles. These earphones are perfect for listening on the go as the sound is fun and they will sound great with whatever you throw at them.
If you have £40 to spend on some new earphones then go for the SoundMAGIC E10 – if you need an in-line microphone then go for the E10C. Easy.

MEE Audio M6 Pro

If you are looking for a more detailed and neutral sound than the E10C, take a look at the MEE Audio M6 Pro. With it’s monitor like sound and styling, detachable cable and great looks, it is a steal for under £50.

Well the M6 Pro with Blackbird S20 foam tips may have become a new favourite for under £50. These really managed to have everything and sound very engaging, the highs do not disappoint with their presence and tone, the midrange is slightly up front and the mid bass has a mild boost, as a stage monitor I can see these being good and the sound would be easily tuneable with EQ.

For under £50 you won’t find this level of detail, clarity or separation from another in-ear headphone. Add to that brilliant build quality and you have a winner.

Best In-Ear Headphones Under £150

Oriveti Basic

Looking for a more bass oriented in-ear headphone with an upfront and engaging sound, yet without losing out on the finer details and comfort, you need the Oriveti Basic.

A 10mm titanium coated driver supplies an impressive amount of bass. Now I am not much of a bass head but after listening to these for a while I found myself really enjoying them.

They’re not audiophile and they won’t give you a reference sound but if you like your earphones to be fun and enjoyable with plenty of punch then these could be for you. The isolation and comfort is also really impressive and along with replaceable cables they are a great buy!

Oriveti are new on the scene and they certainly know how to make an entrance. The new Oriveti Basic earphone packs a punch and gives you plenty of features for its modest price tag.

READ MORE: Oriveti Basic Full Review

Westone UM Pro10

Looking for a in-ear headphone with quick snappy transients, whilst retaining a well balanced sound signature? Take a look at the New Westone UM Pro10, revised in 2017 to be even better and more comfortable.

Predictably, the balanced armature makes short work of replicating higher frequencies accurately, but the real interest is at the low end where single BA IEMs are concerned. Provided a decent seal can be achieved, the bass is in good balance with the rest of the presentation, although bassheads will be wanting more.

If you fancy the idea of a single balanced armature earphone, but don’t fancy the protruding capsules of the Etymotic designs then the UM Pro 10 is worth a close look. Sometimes the best designs are the simplest and I really think there is something to be said for single-driver IEMs. Makers may be able to tune the sound signature a little more with multiple drivers, but this risks muddying the sound with possible phase/imaging issues as the audio from these different drivers reaches our ears at different times.

In short – choose the simple life and get the UM Pro 10!

Best In-Ear Headphones Under £300

Oriveti New Primacy

One of our best sellers, the New Primacy has a well balanced sound signature with class leading separation and clarity.

The Oriveti New Primacy has a bit of a mid forward sound signature, with excellent clarity and air throughout the range, the bass digs deep and is very articulate, the mids have a habit of bringing out all the detail in recordings but not in an unpleasant way. The highs are airy and well extended, without fatiguing properties, overall a very comfortable and enjoyable listen. The New primacy manages to be a very coherent sounding hybrid design, with a very well textured and layered sound.

READ MORE: Oriveti New Primacy Full Review

Best In-Ear Headphones Under £600

Dunu DK-3001

Our top pick for under £500 is the Dunu DK-3001, with impressive technical capabilities that are really enjoyable to listen to as well. Punchy and clear sound with a wide soundstage, these are truly excellent.

The Dunu DK-3001 is a very well done hybrid IEM, the bass is dynamic and punchy, with excellent and realistic body. The midrange is well layered and very detailed, with a hint of smoothness to it. The highs are always present, yet not fatiguing. These work well with all genres, the bass is fun and energetic in EDM, and rock comes across with detail and layering. Jazz has a very natural tone, and they just take all genres in their stride, however their ability to control heavy metal is truly impressive.

READ MORE: Dunu DK-3001 Full Review

Audeze iSINE 20

If you don’t mind the open back design, the Audeze iSine20 will offer a listening experience more like a full size headphone than an in-ear model.

Offering an open sound with excellent punch the iSine20 offers a relaxing listening experience with slightly polite treble. Keeping in tone with their house sound the iSine20 offers good bass quantity with non-fatiguing treble and a natural tone. This is a very unique IEM that is well worth looking into if you want a more traditional headphone sound. The sound is slightly v-shaped; it’s a warmish, ‘fun’ tuning yet still retains excellent detail retrieval.

Best In-Ear Headphones Price No Object

Westone W80

The W80 are an incredible performer, with a very detailed, spacious yet smooth sound plus an added Alo Audio cable you are sure to be impressed. Fitting 8 BA drivers into this tiny housing is no easy task, yet Westone have done it without sacrificing anything at all.

Some of the most comfortable IEM’s available; the Westone W80 is a pleasure to use for long periods of time, especially with their non fatiguing sound. The bass has body and impact adding a little warmth to the overall sound, the midrange is smooth and non fatiguing, yet the finer details still shine thought. The treble is slightly relaxed but still retains a certain level of sparkle and extension; they are not analytical but still extract the finer details with ease. A very well balanced IEM, that is comfortable and easy to listen to.

Final FI-BA-SST35

The FI-BA-SST35 is one for the detail lovers, being very unforgiving of the source material you will want to listen to well recorded music to get the most out of these.

Final are kings at squeezing the most out of one single BA driver, and the FI-BA-SST35 is no different. Using their proprietary BAM design they move more air, and dig deeper than most conventional single BA driver designs. The bass is always well controlled but offers good impact and articulation without becoming overwhelming or adding much body to the overall sound. The midrange changes depending on the track you are listening to, yet is always very detailed and very transparent. The treble is not fatiguing yet offers incredible insight into the recording, again play well recorded tracks and you will be rewarded with great sound. The soundstage and separation are both excellent, and the timbre is very good for a single BA driver.

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Best headphones for bass to buy in 2015 – Expert Reviews

John — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 11:40:48 +0000

Best Headphones For Bass

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.

10 Best Headphone Christmas Gifts 2014 – Under £250

John — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 15:52:58 +0000

With Christmas coming, we thought it would be a good idea to suggest what we think are the best headphone gift ideas our site has to offer. Here is a rundown of our favourite headphones, earphones, portable players (DAP), amps and DAC’s that 2014 has to offer.

SoundMAGIC ES20 – £24.95

Coming in under £30, the ES20 punches well above its weight. The build quality is superb with braided cables and tough speaker housing. The sound quality will blow you away – fun and punchy with great detail!

Similar Items – Fidue A31s £19.99 | DUNU DN12 £29.99

Shure SE112 – £42.99

Shure are famous for their high end IEMs, but their lower priced earphones follow Shure’s high standards. The SE112’s build quality is very solid and comfortable. The sound is rich with plenty of power and smooth detail – these earphones will sound great with whatever you throw at them. There is also the Shure SE112M+ for those who will use them with a smartphone.

Similar Item – SoundMAGIC E10S £39.99

SoundMAGIC P30S – £69.99

SoundMAGIC’s new portable on ear, the P30S, not only sounds great but it can work with any smartphone out there – thanks to their compatibility switch you can manually set the headphones to work with your phone. The P30S is extremely comfortable and folds up nicely for easy storage. The sound is fun and punchy with plenty of detail and great bass!

Similar Items – Sennheiser PX100-IIi £44.95 | SoundMAGIC P21S £49

Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear – £89.99

For the asking price, the Momentum In-Ear is incredible value; giving great sound as well as swish styling and all in a very rugged and classy looking case. They are available in versions compatible with Apple devices as well as Android, so you needn’t be cutting down your choice of handsets with the Momentum In-Ear.

Similar Items – Beyerdynamic MMX102iE £79.99 | RHA MA750i £89.95

FiiO X1 – £99.99

Now that high quality audio is becoming more commonly available, it is time to upgrade your music player. The FiiO X1 supports very high audio (up to 192kHz/24bit) and will play most formats (APE/AAC/FLAC/ALAC/WMA/WAV/MP3) – most devices like mobile phones and more basic players can’t handle the higher quality and different audio formats. There is enough power to drive some of the more demanding headphones and the sound is crystal clear and very well balanced. The X1 will hold one micro SD card – with this you can have up to 128GB of storage.