hi-fi+ guide to personal audio

105 Pages·2016·12.06 MB·English

HI-FI+ GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO
Sponsored by HiFiMAN and Echobox Audio
HI-FI+ GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO HI-FI+
The Explorer
The Explorer represents the evolution of
portable audio, and our refusal to
accept the limitations of digital audio.
Smartphones, with their mediocre
DACs, integrated, noise-prone circuitry
and lossy files, just don’t do justice to
the emotion behind our favorite music
— that's why we've carefully crafted the
Explorer using nothing but the the
highest quality components to recreate
a portable listening experience that's as
close to real vinyl as it gets on-the-go.
#AUDIOEVOLUTION
Echobox is a company founded and run by music-lovers and audio geeks. We’ve been
watching the personal audio industry for years, researching and analyzing everything from
the types of music people listen to, how and where we listen, and, most importantly, the
quality of audio. The truth is, there are a lot of fashion oriented headphones and
earphones in the market today. Most sound mediocre, are built like dolar store toys, or are The Finder X1
just way too expensive for the quality they provide. We’ve founded Echobox to help
The Finder X1 is a revolutionary new HiFi
personal audio evolve in a way that does justice to good music. Our goal is simple: make earphone that, in many ways, is the first of its
great sounding audio products that are well built and affordable. kind. Combining innovative structural
engineering and the highest quality materials, we
have created an earphone that sounds powerful,
lively and transparent, while setting a new
industry standard for durability.
@echoboxaudio @echoboxaudio @echoboxaudio www.echoboxaudio.com
HI-FI+ GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO
(Sponsored by Echobox Audio and HiFiMAN)
FROM THE EDITOR HI-FI+ TALKS WITH SEVEN PERSONAL AUDIO: IS IT ‘REAL’
CONTENTS VALUE-MINDED PERSONAL HIGH-END AUDIO?
WHAT’S NEXT IN HEADPHONES? AUDIO DESIGNERS Hi-Fi+ Editor Alan Sircom asks whether
Twelve important manufacturers talk about • Gary Hsieh, 1MORE ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ĂƵĚŝŽ ĐĂŶ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ĂƵƚŚĞŶƟĐ
their latest ful-size headphone products! • James Strong, Atomic Floyd ŚŝͲŐĞŚŶĚ ůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĮŶĚƐ ƚŚĂƚ
• George Gil, late of Echobox Audio ƚŽƉͲƟĞƌ ƐŽƵŶĚ ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ƵůƟŵĂƚĞůLJ ŵĂLJ ďĞ ŝŶ
WHAT’S NEXT IN EARPHONES & CIEMS? • ĂǀŝĚ &ƌŝĞƐĞŵĂ͕ ƚLJŵŽƟtheĐ e yeZ (aĞndƐ eaĞr)Ă ofƌ thĐe bŚeholder.
Learn about the latest developments in • Davies Roberts, Flare
ĞĂƌƉŚŽŶĞƐ ĂŶĚ /DƐ Ĩƌ• ŽAŵnto niƚo MǁeĞzeů, MǀeĞze HeŝadŶphŇonƵesĞŶƟĂů
manufacturers! • Iain Smith, RHA Audio HI-FI+ PERSONAL AUDIO REVIEW INDEX
(ISSUE 100 – PRESENT)
WHAT’S NEXT IN PERSONAL AUDIO THE FIT IS IT: GETTING THE MOST FROM • Earphones & CIEMs
ELECTRONICS & ACCESSORIES? YOUR EARPHONES • Full-Size Headphones
Discover new personal audio electronics Hi-Fi+ Publisher Chris Martens explains how • Personal Audio Electronics & Accessories
components and accessories from ĂŶĚ ǁŚLJ Ă ƉƌŽƉĞƌ Įƚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŬĞLJ ƚŽ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ
19 industry leaders your earphones sound their best. ENCYCLOPAEDIA HEADPHONICA
The personal audio world has spawned
HI-FI+ INTERVIEWS SIX MASTERFUL A HEADPHONE MANIFESTO: ĚŝƐƟŶĐƟǀĞ ƚĞƌŵŝŶŽůŽŐLJ ĂŶĚ ĞdžƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ
HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER DESIGNERS WHY HEADPHONES MATTER all its own and this ‘new language’ is not
• Dr Alex Cavalli, Cavalli Audio Ardent headphone proponent and lifelong always easy to understand. Hi-Fi+ explores
• Thorsten Loesch, iFi Audio high-end audio enthusiast Chris Martens and explains the specialised lingo in
• Daniel Poupart, Moon by Simaudio carefully compares and contrasts the ways that should appeal to veterans and
• Wang Fengshuo (Jason Wang), ďĞŶĞĮƚƐ ŽĨ ŚĞĂĚƉŚŽŶĞͲďneĂwƐcoĞmeĚrs aliƐkeLJ. ƐƚĞŵƐ ǀƐ͘
Questyle Audio Engineering loudspeaker-based systems.
• Jason Stoddard, Schiit Audio
• Jack Wu, Woo Audio
HI-FI+ GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO: CONTENTS GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO: CONTENTS HI-FI+
EDITOR, HI-FI+ GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO THE EDITORIAL OFFICE CAN BE
PUBLISHER, HI-FI+ CONTACTED AT:
Chris Martens Hi-Fi+ Editorial
Tel: [phone] Ofce Absolute Multmedia (UK) Ltd
Tel: [phone] Mobile Unit 3, Sandleheath Industrial Estate,
Email:
WELCOME to the Hi-Fi+ Guide to Personal and seriously performance-minded • Interviews with seven forward-looking
FROM THE Audio 2016. This guide represents the ffh in manufacturers entering the personal designers whose products specialise in
a contnuing series of informatve, product- audio marketplace than ever before. delivering both high performance and
EDITOR themed, digital buyer’s guides published by high value,
Hi-Fi+ over the course of each year. • High-end sound anywhere and • ‘Think pieces’ that ask how, where, why,
everywhere: In the past the highest or even if personal audio has a place
Personal audio is rapidly gaining tracton quality personal audio components mostly within the traditonal loudspeaker-centric
both within and outside of the high-end lived on desktops or in audio racks, but high-end audio universe,
audio world—growth that we think will a new generaton of portable streaming • An in-depth look at how proper ft can
expose a much wider audience to the joys high-res players means that high quality help your earphones sound their best,
of high quality music reproducton, both sound can now follow us wherever we go. • An index of Hi-Fi+ personal audio reviews
at home and on the go. Looking ahead, we from issue 100 to present, and
foresee several important trends: • High-end sound to ft budgets large • An in-depth glossary to explain personal
and small: As superb (but admitedly audio acronyms and terminology.
• Sound quality maters: Headphones, expensive) top-ter personal audio
earphones, and their related electronics components scale new performance As always, our goal is to help readers
were once regarded as mere ‘accessories’, heights, lower and mid-ter components to derive deeper satsfacton from the
but not anymore. As the personal audio also contnue to improve at a torrid pace. music they love, while having great fun
marketplace matures, the sound quality Is the era of high-end sound for Everyman with carefully selected audio equipment
of personal audio components has now at hand? We think so. and music systems. We wish you all the
skyrocketed, compelling music lovers to best personal audio has to ofer, and
take them seriously. This Guide presents: happy listening.
• An explosion of optons: Audio shows • “What’s Next?” sectons revealing a
over the past year have convinced wealth of new personal audio products, Chris Martens
us there are now more well qualifed • Talks with six gifed designers of masterful Publisher, Hi-Fi+
top-ter headphone amplifers,
HI-FI+ GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO HI-FI+
WHAT’S NEXT IN PERSONAL AUDIO?
HEADPHONES
EARPHONES AND CIEMS
PERSONAL AUDIO ELECTRONICS AND ACCESSORIES
COOL PERSONAL AUDIO PRODUCTS COMING SOON
HI-FI+ GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO: WHAT’S NEXT? GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO: WHAT’S NEXT? HI-FI+
WHAT’S NEXT IN Abyss Headphones Diana AudioQuest NightOwl Carbon
HEADPHONES? Diana is the world’s thinnest planar magnetc closed-back headphone &
headphone. She’s stylish, made in the USA NightHawk Carbon semi-open
In this secton we have invited from precision-machined aluminium, ofers headphone
manufacturers of full-size headphones durable ceramic fnishes, and features Descended from AudioQuest’s award-
with new products they wish to highlight touch points covered in fne handcrafed winning NightHawk semi-open headphone,
to submit short and (mostly) fact-centred leathers and Alcantara®. Diana will have a the closed-back NightOwl improves upon
descriptons of their new models, for our new robust version of our patent-pending, its predecessor’s outstanding ft and fnish,
readers’ informaton, entertainment, critcally damped planar speaker drivers provides exceptonal sound isolaton, and
and edifcaton. for hard-hitng bass and excellent detail includes a highly durable cable with mic
retrieval. Diana will ship with a custom cable and smartphone controls. Distnct from
We have asked manufacturers to refrain set by JPS Labs. NightHawk, which features a semi-open
from submitng product highlights laced design featuring AQ’s biomimetc sound-
with forid marketng bombast, but as Diana is priced around USD $3,000, with difusing grille, NightOwl conceals a vent
you will see some are beter at this than expected availability by end of year, 2016. beneath the central circular porton of
others. Even so, we trust you will be able to its ear cups that exits through a hidden
www.abyssheadphones.com
separate out fanciful marketng claims from airfow-resistve port, creatng an aperiodic
the hard facts you’ll need and want in order damping system.
to form your own “must auditon” lists for
new products you wish to check out. Enjoy. Meanwhile, compared to the original
NightHawk, NightHawk Carbon boasts
acoustc, ergonomic, and cosmetc
refnements; adds a second pair of ear pads;
and includes NightOwl’s more versatle
cable, while retaining its predecessor’s
low distorton, remarkable comfort, and
non-fatguing sound.
Both models are priced at USD $699.
Expected availability: Fall/Winter 2016.
www.audioquest.com
HI-FI+ GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO: WHAT’S NEXT – HEADPHONES GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO: WHAT’S NEXT – HEADPHONES HI-FI+
Base Audio Reflex G7 Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Final Sonorous III HiFiMAN HE1000 V2 planar
semi-open-back headphones open-back headphones SONOROUS III employs the same driver magnetic headphone
The unique design of the G7 headphone The latest model in the DT legend series, technology as the fagship SONOROUS X HE1000 V2 remains a cutng-edge, full-size
allows us to reduce distorton and sound the DT 1990 PRO is an open-back studio model and has been tuned for a clear, headphone intended for reference use in the
coloraton ofen associated with other reference headphone for mixing and transparent sound signature with a wide home or studio. With a thickness of less than
headphones on the market today. The mastering. Handcrafed in Germany, the sound stage and heightened bass response. 0.001 mm, its Nanotech planar magnetc
semi-open nature of the G7 headphone headphone ofers 250 ohm, 45-mm dynamic The dynamic driver has been integrated with driver is so thin it is not visible from the
enables it to produce a wider soundstage Tesla neodymium drivers. The DT 1990 PRO a polycarbonate-strengthened front plate side with the naked eye. New V2 features
and deliver a more transparent sound. comes with a single-sided, detachable featuring 30% glass compositon to help keep include an improved headband design that
Every aspect of music quality and sound cable with a mini-XLR connector. A sof vibraton in check. is lighter and stfer yet that accommodates
reproducton was considered during the headband and sets of replaceable ear pads a wider range of head sizes. The ear cups are
design and testng of the G7. As a result, ofer comfort during long studio sessions. The SONOROUS III headphones incorporate also slimmer, further reducing weight and
we created an open-air, clean sounding, Accessories include two (diferently tuned) Final’s signature Balancing Air Movement increasing comfort. Beveled ear pads are
lightweight headset that is less fatguing and pairs of velour ear pads that ofer a choice of system that optmises the airfow around thicker with a larger asymmetrical angle to
more enjoyable to wear than many headsets either analytcal or more musically balanced the whole driver resultng in a powerful yield beter bass and improved sound stages.
on the market today. The accuracy of sound characteristcs, two sets of 3-meter and balanced listening experience. The weight of the HE1000 V2 has been
G7 headphones makes them a perfect choice signal cables (one straight and the other SONOROUS III's closed ear cup design and reduced to 420g (14.8oz). Available now,
for audiophiles, musicians, and professional coiled), and a hard-shell premium case. full-size ear pads ofer superior sound priced at $2,999.
audio engineers. Made in America, priced at Available now, priced at USD $599. isolaton against external noise. The sof
www.hifman.com
USD $299. padded headband allows the SONOROUS
htp://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/
to ofer highest levels of wearing comfort
www.base-audio.com shop/dt-1990-pro.html
for long listening sessions. Available now,
priced at £299.
htp://fnal-audio-design.com/en/
HI-FI+ GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO: WHAT’S NEXT – HEADPHONES GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO: WHAT’S NEXT – HEADPHONES HI-FI+
Meze 99 Classics walnut wood MrSpeakers ETHER Flow and oBravo HAMT-Signature hybrid
closed-back headphones ETHER C Flow planar magnetic dynamic/AMT-driver headphones
Meze’s closed-back 99 Classics headphone headphones Last year Hi-Fi+ editor Alan Sircom reviewed
were conceived to deliver a fun yet balanced MrSpeakers’ new ETHER Flow and ETHER the HAMT-1 and wrote, “Best of all is the
sound. Following a successful 2015 Indiegogo C Flow headphone represent an evoluton in sound, which is at once deep and powerful,
campaign, the 99 Classics have won awards the design of the frm’s original ETHER and big and bold, and subtle and refned. It’s
and recommendatons both for its sound ETHER C models. MrSpeakers discovered that like strapping a litle pair of Wilson Audio
performance and design excellence, as sound waves passed through the magnet loudspeakers to your ears.”
especially at its price point. arrays in the original headphone driver
motors they experienced difracton and The new HAMT-Signature raises the bar yet
The 99 Classics features a set of 40mm refectons that imposed resoluton-cloaking again. New patent-granted Acacia wood
dynamic Neodymium drivers, enclosed in real noise on the music. ear cups enhance the acoustcs, while
walnut ear cups, that deliver Meze’s signature new Mundorf Mcaps help the Air Moton
‘fun and dynamic’ sound. The 32-Ohm 99 To address this problem, MrSpeakers’ TrueFlow Transformer tweeter deliver even clearer,
Classics are easy for smartphones and tablets technology introduces new waveguides on more crystalline highs. A carbon fbre
to drive, allowing for increased portability the front and rear sides of the magnet arrays, headband has been introduced along with
while eliminatng the need for supplementary minimising difracton and refectons while a hollow ttanium lifer, removing 80 grams
amplifcaton. The 99 Classics weighs just 260g dramatcally smoothing airfow. The result: from the total weight, providing excellent
and features two sets of Kevlar OFC cables, a signifcant increases in clarity, detail retrieval, comfort. The hand-sttched leather and
6.3mm adapter, and a hard EVA carrying case. and overall smoothness—especially through Alcantara combinaton adds extra quality and
Available now, priced at USD $309. the upper bass to lower midrange. ETHER durability. Available in Q4 2016, priced at
Flow and ETHER C Flow headphones include USD $3,999.
htps://mezeheadphones.com/collectons.all
premium DUM-series cables and EVA carry
www.obravoaudio.com
cases. Available now, priced at £1,750.
UK Distributor: www.glaive.co.uk
www.mrspeakers.com
UK Distributon: www.electromod.co.uk
HI-FI+ GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO: WHAT’S NEXT – HEADPHONES GUIDE TO PERSONAL AUDIO: WHAT’S NEXT – HEADPHONES HI-FI+