Stealth Sonics C9 – where rocket science meets rock and roll

Pros: 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: 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 →

September 3, 2019 0

WAVAYA Octa: a porcelain dream

Pros: Superlative upper mids, superlative treble, cymbals and violins are voiced wonderfully, drum timbre, excellent instrument separation, good stage depth, nice looks, well-controlled bass with good extension, beautiful leather case, Linum SuperBaX cable has great sound and fantastic ergonomics, less wax build-up with porcelain Cons: touch of warmth can lean a bit away from neutral,... Continue Reading →

July 12, 2019 4

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 →

May 24, 2019 3

Indulgence Show 2017: luscious speakers, hot headphones and cool IEMs. Time to listen. (Part 3)

This was the first show I went to as a member of the press, so I should press on, however slow. Audio Sanctuary and all the other sponsors put on a helluva show and I enjoyed myself, in spite of never feeling like I had enough time to explore everything while having the conversations I... Continue Reading →

December 3, 2017 5

Zeus-XR and Effect Audio Leonidas – unboxing

Here are some unboxing shots from my most recent acquisition: a set of custom Empire Ears Zeus-XR, and an Effect Audio Leonidas upgrade cable to go along with it. Both of these excellent items were won as part of a giveaway by @Jack Vang and the team at Empire Ears over on the Head-Fi forums,... Continue Reading →

June 20, 2017 0

Ultimate Ears Reference Remastered (UERR): who says reference isn’t musical?

Pros: Airy big soundstage, lovely treble and bass, precision and speed, noise isolation, neutral tonality, excellent tool for reviewing, look awesome Cons: Can’t share how wonderful they sound with friends, can be a touch thick on some vocals List price: $999 (£870) Acknowledgment Thanks Mike Diaz at Ultimate Ears for supplying these as a review... Continue Reading →