Introduction and acknowledgements Fatfreq are a Singaporean in-ear monitor manufacturer, originally producing IEMs for stage and recording musicians. Over recent years they have built up a bit of a cult following in audiophile circles for their more "audiophile basshead" tunes models in the Maestro series, using some interesting proprietary tuning tech to deliver models with... Continue Reading →
Soundz Custom Flame – combustible excellence
Acknowledgement I came across the Soundz Custom brand for the first time at Canjam London, spending a very pleasant few sessions on their table over the course of the Sunday I was there. I listened to their 6, 7, 8 and 10 driver models, and was so impressed by the Flame that I ended up... Continue Reading →
Canjam London 2022 impressions – part 1 (Audeze, Campfire Audio, JOMO Audio)
This is my fourth trip to Canjam London, which given the lack of availability of audiophile in ears and headphones across most of the United Kingdom outside of a handful of specialist dealers, makes it my fourth trip to Willy Wonka’s audio factory. There is no doubt that Canjam London holds a special place in... Continue Reading →
JH Audio Jolene – dual dynamic duo
*build quality scored at a 4 due to the oxidation / deterioration of the original CIEM faceplate, and bears no relation to the Itsfit reshell Acknowledgment The Jolene I am reviewing were purchased from the original owner (thanks MVVRaz) as a CIEM. Given the freakishly straight ear canals of the previous recipient, it was possible... Continue Reading →
Ambient Acoustics – 24 types of madness
Intro Ambient Acoustics was set up in 2009 in the Ukraine, primarily to service the professional audio and hearing aid markets. They started getting a little notice in audiophile circles a few years ago with their LAM serious of tuneable switch models, and it’s fair to say they are a brand that is now starting... Continue Reading →
Lark Studio LSIV (Custom) Review: all about that bass
Pros: Big warm booty-ful bass, easy to enjoy sound signature, excellent build quality, perfect fit, nice cable Cons: compressed soundstage, uneven upper mids and lower treble, could use more treble extension, a legit travel case would be nice List Price: $441 (Lark Studio), £369 (Audio Concierge) Product Website: http://lark-studios.com/ Rating Disclaimer: ratings are subjective. Audio... Continue Reading →
Stealth Sonics C9 – where rocket science meets rock and roll
Pros:Â excellent balance of detail and power, fuller and thicker bass presence than U9 with deep sub-bass, extended treble, Klarity Valve eliminates listening fatigue, good set of accessories, tough build and impeccably crafted Cons:Â large price difference between universal ($999) and custom, trades some resolution for musicality, carry case doesn't scream high end Price: from $1499 upwards,... Continue Reading →
Wavaya Quadra – porcelain powerhouse
Pros: Ultra comfortable porcelain shells, surprisingly detailed and resolving sound, good musicality, decent bass for an all-BA model, emotional delivery Cons: Custom only (at the moment) Website: https://wavaya.com Price: $690 / 690 Euros (starting prices) Introduction Wavaya are a recent entrant into the In Ear Monitor marketplace, launching recently with an initial in-ear product range... Continue Reading →
Kumitate Lab KL-Sirius: four sweet drivers in a sexy acrylic shell
Pros: Â Silky mids, delicate treble, scale with upgrades, excellent technical performance, good stage width and depth Cons: Reference bass (meaning light), minimal sub-bass, lack of accessories, stock cable is too thin List Price: $800.00 (Â¥90,000 JPY) Product Website: http://www.kumitatelab.com/kl-sirius/?sl=en Rating Disclaimer: ratings are subjective. Audio quality and value do not mean the same thing across... Continue Reading →

