dale

  1. dalethorn

    Audio-Technica A1000z Around-Ear Studio Monitor Headphone review

    It was my good luck to get another Audio-Technica headphone for review this month, on loan from MyMac for a couple of weeks. To be honest, I like most headphones I do get, since I choose only those that interest me. That said though, this A1000z is one of the better bets in a more-or-less...
  2. dalethorn

    Audio-Technica ESW990h On-Ear Wood-Earcup Stereo Headphone review

    Listening to the $350 Audio-Technica ESW990h wood-earcup headphone has been my most pleasurable hi-fi experience in a long time. The $1000 Focal Elear could have been even better if it weren't so recessed. Even though the ESW990h doesn't have quite the Elear's detail (when the Elear is EQ'd)...
  3. dalethorn

    Thinksound On2 On-Ear Wood-Earcup Stereo Headphone review

    Here is a very, very nice on-ear wood-earcup headphone from Thinksound. I previously reviewed their On1 headphone and Rain2 IEM. This time around, the On2 has a much better non-glossy wood finish, and I suspect better drivers, since the clarity is phenomenal. It isn't the easiest thing to...
  4. dalethorn

    Yuin PK1 Audiophile Earbud/Earphone (not IEM) review

    Almost identical to the Yuin PK2, except this PK1 is even thinner sounding than the PK2, and is 3 times the price. EQ can bring a measure of audiophile quality to the sound, but cannot recover the low bass. I like it, but I'm pretty flexible...
  5. dalethorn

    Master & Dynamic MH30 Luxury On-Ear Stereo Headphone review

    The MH30 is a work of art and metal, and I find it very charming... http://rockgrotto.proboards.com/thread/11087/master-dynamic-luxury-stereo-headphone
  6. dalethorn

    FiiO EM3 Stereo Earbuds (not IEM) Earphone review

    This is an earbud, so the expectations will be low. The tonality is definitely better than the Apple earbuds (not earpods), but not as good as the Yuin PK2 (and likely the PK1). I wouldn't be inclined to review an earbud as-is, but with the magic of parametric EQ, it sounds very hi-fi except...
  7. dalethorn

    Yuin PK2 Earbuds (not ear-canal) Stereo Earphone review

    Here is a very nice earbud with a good hi-fi sound and soundstage, when properly equalized. Played without EQ, it's bright and very thin sounding. Why would anyone want this? Low cost, great potential, very small size to go anywhere. One of my favorites...
  8. dalethorn

    MEElectronics HT-21 On-Ear Portable Stereo Headphone review

    Here's a very small on-ear headphone you can probably enjoy with no need for bass, treble, or any other adjustments. $19 USD - ridiculously good - say no more.... http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/community/threads/meelectronics-ht-21-on-ear-portable-stereo-headphone-review.4348/
  9. dalethorn

    Creative Aurvana Live Around-Ear Stereo Headphone review

    Here's a headphone I had on my wishlist for ages, but if I knew how it really sounded, I could have skipped it. Anyway, here it is, for better or worse: http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/community/threads/creative-aurvana-live-around-ear-stereo-headphone-review.4347/
  10. dalethorn

    Xiaomi/1More 'Mi' On-Ear Open-Back Stereo Headphone review

    This headphone has as much build quality as it does bling, and the quality is fantastic. But the sound is somewhat muffled, and burn-in didn't change that. But, because of the amazing physical quality for less than $90 USD, and because the simple bass reducer setting found in Apple players (as...
  11. dalethorn

    Philips X2 Around-Ear Open-Back Stereo Headphone review

    Taking a break from the very low-budget headphones and reviewing the Philips Fidelio X2 (which I missed in the initial intro), I was actually surprised at how good the X2 is. You'll appreciate the X2 if you've been using small plastic headphones like I've reviewed recently, even when you...
  12. dalethorn

    Audio-Technica SJ-11 On-Ear Portable Stereo Headphone review

    Another unusual product - a very light plastic headphone - so light that it needs no headband padding, and yet this headphone has a near-reference signature for monitoring etc. The reference signature doesn't always mean perfect tone quality however, but still it's fantastic I think for under...
  13. dalethorn

    Edifier H840 Around-Ear Budget Audiophile Stereo Headphone review

    And here's the best of Edifier, in one sense anyway - though the H850 has a more classic neutral bass, both the H840 and H850 share an excellent midrange and treble. But should you prefer the warmer bass, say, half to 2/3 the strength of a v-moda M100, at 1/6 the price of the M100, here for...
  14. dalethorn

    Edifier H750 On-Ear Stereo Headphone review

    Here's a new one for me, low-cost (~$35 USD) but decent sound quality and build quality. The H840 review follows tomorrow. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/community/threads/edifier-h750-on-ear-stereo-headphone-review.4331/
  15. dalethorn

    Edifier H650 On-Ear Portable Stereo Headphone review

    Here is a very nice on-ear headphone that sells for $28 USD, in the U.S. It should be available world-wide. The downsides are 1) Very lightweight and plastic, with a possibly fragile non-detachable cable, and 2) A neutral-to-light bass response. All else is good to excellent...
  16. dalethorn

    Beyerdynamic T70p Around-Ear Portable Stereo Headphone review

    Here's a Beyer I missed - I've had the Custom One Pro(2), Custom Street, DT48(4), DT770-32, DT1350(4), DT1770 Pro, T1, T51p, and T90, but this is the first T70p for me. I like it - a lot. It has a strong midrange emphasis, but overall very hi-fi with the Tesla drivers. It's not an ideal...
  17. dalethorn

    Beyerdynamic Custom Street On-Ear Stereo Headphone review

    Here is a delightful little portable headphone from Beyerdynamic, and unlike most of their other low-end portables, this is a real (made in Germany) Beyer with their famous earcup forks and all. The signature is much flatter than the Beyer mini-Teslas (T51p, DT1350, ....), with better extension...
  18. dalethorn

    Beyerdynamic DT-1770 Pro Around-Ear Stereo Headphone review

    Another unique and best-of, with these differences: Very near neutral/flat, but not bright or treble-peaky, and bass solid from top to bottom (really). Plus, the best upper-harmonics reproduction I've heard outside of the Sennheiser HD800. Highly, highly recommended...
  19. dalethorn

    Music Hall DE-BE On-Ear Portable Stereo Headphone review

    I've read reviews of Music Hall components for years in Stereophile, and the manufacturer's comments in the back of the magazine, containing entertaining banter between the reviewer and manufacturer. I was hoping for a hi-fi or mid-fi headphone from these guys, and my expectations came up...
  20. dalethorn

    Grado GH1 'Brooklyn Tree' Wood-Cup Stereo Headphone review

    This is my first Grado 'woodie', excepting any Grado headphones where the wood parts are inside of the earcups only. I describe the sound compared to the SR325e, since I don't have a sense of how any of the Grado 'RS' series sound. This is a very good headphone, but be aware that some of the...
  21. dalethorn

    Audioquest Nighthawk Stereo Headphone review

    Here's my review of the Nighthawk, and this time in a nicely-formatted pasteup. I cover the solidly good points as well as any objections I found in other reviews. http://www.mymac.com/2015/07/audioquest-nighthawk-stereo-headphone-audiophile-review/
  22. dalethorn

    Ecko Volt On-Ear Stereo Headphone review

    Well, it's not a premium headphone by most standards, being a fashion brand I believe, but if you find yourself alone with one of these and you've an urge to hear some music, it's good enough with a spot of EQ here and there… http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4253
  23. dalethorn

    Symphonized Wraith 2.0 Around-Ear Stereo Headphone review

    A redux of sorts, but this time with a better design I think - oval earcups instead of the older pear-shaped cups. These are wood earcups, nicely finished, very high quality build, and tuned to the left (more bass, less treble), for DJ's possibly. Check out my photo of the Wraith 2.0 at the...
  24. dalethorn

    Zagg Ebony-Wood On-Ear Stereo Headphone review

    Here is a pleasant little surprise - a very light and comfortable on-ear headphone that sounds great and doesn't cost a lot (~$105 USD street). It has a trifle more bass and slightly less treble than the average Grado, which I think works well for an ideally-portable headphone. Apologies for...
  25. dalethorn

    Grado PS-1000e Audiophile Stereo Headphone review

    I've always wanted one of these, but couldn't justify it until recently. I've been disappointed with more than a few expensive purchases in the past, but not this time. The PS-1000e is very different from the AKG K812, Beyer T1, and Sennheiser HD800 headphones that I've owned, physically and...
  26. dalethorn

    Musical Fidelity MF-200 Audiophile Stereo Headphone review

    Here's a headphone I got from Musical Fidelity direct. It's quite close to neutral, with a very slight mid-bass bump, color-free midrange, and smooth treble. It is on-ear however, it has low isolation, and a fairly strong headband clamp. If you're looking for really good sound in this price...
  27. dalethorn

    AKG K-553 Around-Ear Closed-Back Stereo Headphone review

    Here's an interesting coincidence, or maybe synchronicity: My last review, of the open-back Philips SHP-9500, described what to me is a near-perfect headphone at a low price, lacking only a little in the low bass but having a neutral overall sound with a great soundstage. This review, of the...
  28. dalethorn

    Philips SHP-9500 Around-Ear Open-Back Stereo Headphone review

    The Philips SHP-9500, a lucky purchase at $60 USD from Massdrop, is fantastic for that price, or even the original $120 - assuming $120 was the original price. Amazing build, awesome sound and soundstage. Very comfortable. Comes with a 10-ft detachable generic cable, which can be replaced...
  29. dalethorn

    Shure SRH-144 On-Ear Open-Back Stereo Headphone review

    Here is a nice little headphone I bought as soon as I read about it. Shure is noted for high-quality headphones suitable for critical monitoring applications, although at $39 USD you wouldn't expect this SRH-144 to fit that description. But rather than opt for a bassy or muddy low end with...
  30. dalethorn

    Bang & Olufsen (B&O) H6 (Black) Around-Ear Stereo Headphone review

    This is my third H6 - the first, in brown color, was reviewed prior to my having a measurement tool and was traded off. The second, the special edition in agave green, was reviewed at the beginning of my measurement experience and was traded off. This third H6, in black, got a good measurement...

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