Unique Melody MEST Mk I vs Mk II comparison – improving on perfection

Acknowledgement I purchased the MEST Mk 2 from Andrew and MusicTeck USA at full retail price, with the intention of reviewing them. No input has been sought or received from MusicTeck or Unique Melody with regards to the content of this review - the opinions expressed below (however ill informed) are 100% my own. Many... Continue Reading →

April 15, 2021 0

CanJam London 2019, part one: fun with electrostatic hybrids (Jomo Audio, Empire Ears, Vision Ears, WAVAYA)

CanJam London is the biggest headphone and portable audio show put on in the UK every year. It is the highlight of the HeadFi enthusiasts calendar and something that I have attended since the inaugural CanJam London in 2015. This year was the 5th annual edition and it lived up to its billing. I'll be... Continue Reading →

August 3, 2019 2

oBravo Cupid – first impressions of something unexpected and brilliant

Would you believe me if I told you that I'm enjoying the £249 oBravo Cupid as much as any oBravo I've listened to? The oBravo line-up is notoriously picky with amplification, including the £8999 Ra C-Cu. Each of the ERIB and EAMT hybrid series has several flavours with different sound according to housing material (warm wood, neutral... Continue Reading →

June 9, 2019 7

Dunu Falcon-C – Eagle of liquid metal

Pros: Fantastic ergonomics and build, punchy low end sound, decent detail levels Cons: Can run hot with certain pairings, sounds a little lean at times Price: £229 ($260) Product website: Dunu Topsound Build quality and ergonomics There is no denying the Falcon-C is a beautiful looking IEM. The matt black finish and smoothly rounded curves on the... Continue Reading →

March 7, 2019 1

Flares Gold – gold plated sound

Pros: organic tonality, detailed but not analytical sound, resolution, balanced tuning, bling factor, excellent imaging, stellar Bluetooth implementation Cons: Bespoke cable limits swapping options, apart from shells build isn't "premium", possibly too neutral for some, "audiophile" foam tips very fragile Price: £999 (Flare Audio website) Specifications Introduction I've always been fascinated by IEM technology various different... Continue Reading →

March 1, 2019 0

Campfire Audio Solaris – sound like the sun

Acknowledgement The Solaris were very kindly provided by Ken Ball at Campfire Audio for the purposes of writing a full review. I paid nothing for these, and there is no obligation to or input from Campfire Audio with regards to the content of the review. Allegations was (politely) asked for was a few brief impressions... Continue Reading →

February 17, 2019 1

TFZ Series 2 first impressions, $50 IEM shootout

One of the coolest phenomenons in audio right now is the big improvements moving forward in the budget sector. $100 headphones can and do compete with $400 headphones, and $25 headphones sometimes compete with $200 headphones. It’s a great time to be an audiophile, even if your budget isn’t as large as you’d like it... Continue Reading →

September 1, 2018 16

Focal Elear: dynamism with a dash of French flair

Pros: Incredible dynamics and punch, crisp and detailed sound, good balance through the frequencies, rock solid build and comfort, decent bass weight, highly engaging sound Cons: Small soundstage for an open-back, dip in upper mids may not be to everyone’s taste, “always on” dynamics make this a little excitable for more mellow genres Price: £769 ($799,... Continue Reading →

March 14, 2018 3

Focal Utopia: unboxing and initial impressions

After reviewing the HiFiMAN Susvara, I wondered, and I'm sure many readers on this blog wondered, which of the Focal Utopia and the Susvara would be king of the mountain. Unfortunately, during the Susvara review, I didn't have both on hand to compare. Now I do, but I'm not going to tell you the result... Continue Reading →