REVIEW: Small, cheap and cheerful… for the price, the Topping D30 is almost unbeatable.
Posts in category Headphones, headfi, desktop
headphone, earphones, headamps, USB DACS, personal/portable audio, desktop system reviews
Audioengine A2+ speakers – dynamite desktop duo
REVIEW: Tiny they may be, but these Audioengine speakers pack a mighty punch.
Cayin N8 DAP – master of all, jack of none
REVIEW: Cayin’s flagship N8 digital audio player ticks almost all the boxes…
Cayin N5iiS – a portable powerhouse player
REVIEW: If sound quality is everything to you, the Cayin N5iiS player is a tempting proposition… even if the user experience is less glamorous.
Sony’s in-ear maestro – the IER-M9 monitors
REVIEW: These ain’t cheap and they aren’t for everyone, but what the Sony IER-M9 in-ear monitors do, they do excellently…
Sony MDR-Z7M2 headphones – seventh heaven once again
REVIEW: Sony does most things right again with the latest iteration of its Z7 headphones; the Z7M2s fare pretty well even against some tough competition, and in numerous settings.
Denafrips Ares DAC – a worthy competitor
REVIEW: A lovely DAC from a rather oddly-named company that’s not taking the well-trodden path; Denafrips Ares may be ‘entry-level’ in price but certainly not in sound.
FiiO μBTR – Bluetooth done good and cheap
REVIEW: If you’re looking for a bargain in wireless music connectivity, FiiO offers the marvellous μBTR Bluetooth receiver… just pocket it and go.
Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones – third time’s a charm
REVIEWS: Sony again ups its game in the realm of noise-cancelling, wireless headphones… the new WH-1000XM3 is the most refined of various iterations, and perhaps the best for the money.
Chord Qutest DAC – engaging sonic spectacle
REVIEW: Built like a brick, sporting cutting-edge conversion technology and taking up very little space on your desk, Chord’s Qutest DAC yet has quite a bit going for it.
Stoner Acoustics UDX DAC – toe-tapper, with a caveat or two
REVIEW: You can’t have everything perfect for the price of this Stoner Acoustics UDX DAC… but it images like no other in its range and certainly gets your toes tapping.
Cayin iDAP-6 player – tasty source of digital
REVIEW: Some bugs aside (and which digital audio player is free of them?), the Cayin iDAP-6 certainly holds promise of great musical times for the desktop user.
Bowers & Wilkins PX headphones – a study in contrasts
REVIEW: The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde… this does describe our reviewers’ experiences with Bowers & Wilkins’ very nifty-looking PX wireless cans that sport active noise cancellation.
Acoustic Research AR-H1 headphones – shining mids
REVIEW: It’s always challenging for a company to step into new territory, but Acoustic Research delivers a winner in its AR-H1 planar magnetic cans…
KEF EGG – rich on sound
REVIEW: Don’t let the compactness of the KEF EGG speakers – or rather, wireless digital system – mislead you… these cute things are also about serious sound and versatility.
A ‘Stellar’ DAC from PS Audio
REVIEW: If there’s a Swiss Army knife of DACs, the PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell can stake a claim for the title…
Arcam rPlay streamer – minimalist but effective
REVIEW: If you’ve yet to dip your toes in the vast and varied world of streaming music, the Arcam rPlay offers easy entry into this realm… and at a reasonable price.
Sonus Faber Pryma 01 headphones – wrapped in luxury
REVIEW: If finish and fit are of primary importance in your search for a pair of cans, the Sonus Faber Pryma 01 offers these with a style few can match…
Yamaha WXC-50 streaming preamp – small wonder
REVIEW: A small preamp can do a whole lot of mighty things, as our reviewer finds out when he took this Yamaha streaming preamplifier on a test run.
HIFIMAN HE350 headphones – all sizzle, no snazzle
REVIEW: Given the plethora of headphones to be found at this price range, the entry-level HIFIMAN HE350 certainly has its work cut out… but doesn’t always come through.