Acoustica show 2018 impressions: some speakers are magic

The Acoustica Audio Show is an small audio show that Geoff Coleman of Acoustica has been putting on for the last 5 years. It attracts a pretty good local crowd and has a good variety of exhibitors with about 25 brands represented across the rooms. This was my first time going to a small scale... Continue Reading →

May 1, 2018 1

Campfire Audio Cascade – substance with style

Pros: Solid metal construction, stellar bass, outstanding physical texture to the sound, big sound, musical but balanced tuning, emotive midrange, crisp treble Cons: Bass will be too much for some, have to detach cables to fold and stow in carry case, pretty much nothing else Price: $799 Product site: https://campfireaudio.com/shop/cascade/ Acknowledgement These headphones have been provided... Continue Reading →

April 20, 2018 6

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 Elear – unboxing and initial impressions

Introduction The Focal Elear is a headphone that should need no introduction to anyone with anything more than a passing interest in over-ear headphones in the current market, making up one half of the French manufacturer's recent assault on the high-end headphone market with its big brother the Utopia. It is a headphone I have... Continue Reading →

August 4, 2017 2

Bristol Sound & Vision Show 2017: Dispatches from the 30th Anniversary event

Bristol Sound & Vision Show 2017 Saturday Report The big day…. Saturday 25th February Marriot Hotel Bristol City Centre Welcome to a rollercoaster ride through a dazzling array of vinyl to video £10 earphones to £120,000 headphones, of esoterica on the ground floor to hysteria on the 6th and everything in between… The Bristol Sound... Continue Reading →