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The HEDDphone D1 is HEDD Audio’s first dynamic driver headphone. It’s an open-back design built for studio-grade neutrality and clarity. At launch, the D1 is priced at $799 (w/o tax), €699 (incl. VAT), and £599 (incl. VAT). The HEDDphone D1…
The Fosi i5 is a full-sized planar magnetic open-back headphone. It was launched on Kickstarter in the spring of 2025 and is now available through regular retailers at a price of around 550 USD / €470 before tax. As Fosi’s…
The Sennheiser HD 490 Pro is a studio-grade headphone introduced in January 2024. It is equipped with a dynamic driver using a 38 mm diaphragm, a variant of Sennheiser’s Sys38 driver. The Sys38 is a family of driver variants, e.g.…
The Sivga Peng and FiiO FT1 are wooden closed-back headphones, each equipped with 50mm dynamic drivers. The Peng, which launched recently, is priced at $499, while the FT1 launched last year and is $149 (excluding tax) Despite the significant price…
The first LCD-2 was released in 2009 and the LCD-2 has since undergone multiple revisions, but Audeze never changed the name. These versions are often unofficially referred to as the LCD-2 Rev.1, LCD-2 Rev.2, LCD-2.1, LCD-2.2, LCD-2 Pre-Fazor, LCD-2 Fazor…
Noble Audio has nailed it with a perfectly tuned, technically capable wireless earphone that can genuinely compete with high-quality wired options. The Noble FoKus Rex5 stands out with its five-driver hybrid configuration—not only using five drivers but of three different…
The $199 FT1 PRO is FiiO’s second planar magnetic headphone, following the FT5. However, its name and price position it closer to the $149 wooden closed-back FT1, which has been extremely well received. I am one of those who have…
Priced at a modest 149 USD, the FiiO FT1 might initially seem like just another mid-fi option. But don’t let the price tag deceive you—this is an audiophile-grade headphone. The FT1 delivers such impressive sound quality and build craftsmanship that…
Headphones
The Kiwi Ears Serene is a compact, fully closed-back planar magnetic headphone using a proprietary 72mm x 89mm driver. It was tuned in cooperation with Z Reviews/Zeos. The launch price was 159 USD, but it is currently available for significantly less (see links below). First, a general warning: When I started this review I was not aware that many users…
The SV021 Pro is a closed-back over-ear headphone featuring a 50mm dynamic driver with a five-layer aluminum composite diaphragm. The build quality is stunning and the shells are real wood. The SV021 Pro comes in two colour options: 1) Dark zebrawood paired with black pads and headband 2) Light beech wood paired with light brown pads and headband. The price…
The OAE2 is an open-back dynamic driver headphone that launched on 31 March 2026, retailing at $599 / €499 / £499. MAIN TAKEAWAY Like its predecessor, the OAE1, the OAE2 features an unconventional internal design. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers are heavily angled and positioned fully in front of the ears. Angled drivers are not uncommon in headphones, but the…
The Final DX4000CL is a full-size dynamic driver headphone built around a newly developed 40 mm paper-carbon composite diaphragm. It features a large but comfortable housing with thick earpads. The DX4000CL is new addition to the DX lineup, positioned between the DX3000CL and the flagship DX6000CL. It’s available from selected retailers for £949 / €999 / $999. MAIN TAKEAWAY Final…
This has been a difficult review to write because I really like what the Aiva 2 has to offer in terms of build, design, and sonic performance. However, I also experienced issues with not just one but two units of the Aiva 2. Even though I believe I managed to resolve the issues, it does complicate things. But first, let’s…
The Egret is the current flagship headphone of Sendy Audio, Sivga’s high-end sub-brand. It’s a planar magnetic full-size headphone that uses a 98 x 84 mm planar driver. The Egret is beautifully built, and the open-back wooden cups use black American walnut, which is known for its high density. MAIN TAKEAWAY As is typical for modern, especially high-end planars, the…
IEMs
Headphone amplifiers
The Mytek Liberty Headphone Amplifier is a compact yet powerful device, delivering clean sound with a wide range of input and…
The Gemini hybrid headphone amplifier is designed around a tube-based input stage and an op-amp-based output stage. In this review, the…
The Focal Utopia is one of the best headphones in the world. Naturally, it deserves a good source and a serious…
This is not a review but a guide to the Violectric legacy products and their current lineup. I have so far…
THE GAME CHANGER Violectric V200 is a long-standing reference amp for many, including myself. It is now discontinued. Its successor V202…
This is a group test of the headphone performance as a standalone DAC/amp of the SPL Phonitor xe with the DAC768,…
More Posts
The JT7 is a foldable full size planar magnetic open-back headphone from FiiO’s sub-brand Jade, which is reserved for more affordable products. MAIN TAKEAWAY The JT7 is built around a…
The Sendy Audio Egret is a recent entry in the sub-1000 USD planar magnetic category, while the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, often referred to as “LCD-2C”, is somewhat of a veteran,…
Changing ear pads can significantly affect a headphone’s sound. This review explores positive experiences with pad rolling on the FiiO Jade JT7 and compares the JT7 (with various pads) to…
Jade Audio JT7 and FiiO FT1 PRO are two reasonably priced planar magnetic headphones from Chinese audio manufacturer FiiO. The Jade JT7 typically costs $119, while the FT1 PRO costs…
The Kiwi Ears Altruva is a low-cost full-size open-back headphone with a 50mm dynamic driver. The impedance is 32 ohms, and the sensitivity is 98 dB. It’s price is as…
The JT3 is an open-back headphone built around a large 50 mm dynamic driver. It promises “robust bass and a relaxed sound,” which is actually pretty spot on. MAIN TAKEAWAY…