Marcus Carlsen is an avid audiophile with a deep passion for hi-fi systems, high-end headphones, and premium speakers. Marcus constantly explores the latest audio technologies and equipment, from precision-engineered speakers to the finest headphones.
ddHiFi has released a new portable DAC and headphone amplifier, the TC44Pro E2 . Powered by two CS43131 DAC chips and two ES9603Q amplifiers. “Eye”, the second generation of Eye, is a wired version of the USB DAC Amplifier dongles from ddHiFi. The design has only one interface, and the shape resembles an eye. The Eye’s second-generation wires are made entirely […] More
FiiO has released a firmware update for FW5. Firmware v1.6: The following changes and improvements have been made in the new firmware: 1. Optimize battery management 2. Fixed an issue that the voice tone changes after the headset is actively connected when the aptX adaptive Bluetooth coding is connected to some mobile phones 3. Add […] More
The heart of the Copland DAC-215 is an excellent digital-to-analog converter with multiple S/PDIF inputs and support for PCM/DSD signals, built on ES9018 Reference 32-bit DAC chips in a quad-mono configuration, i.e. 8 mono channels turn into 2 stereo. By combining four in-phase and four anti-phase converters per channel, the statistical properties of the signals are improved; the […] More
The Stax SR-007 Mk2 stereo headphones feature electrostatic drivers whose design has been experimentally optimized to achieve the best sound quality. In particular, a solution was found that made it possible to achieve high efficiency with the required acoustic transparency of the membranes. The absence of holes on the outer radius of the diaphragm allows for dynamic […] More
The debut headphones from Quad, the ERA-1, utilize their exclusive electrostatic technology. British-based Quad is renowned for pioneering this technology in headphone drivers and brings its expertise to the ERA-1. With a high sensitivity of 108 dB and a low impedance of 20 ohms, the ERA-1 is well-suited for use with portable audio sources. However, […] More
Accuphase Laboratories, Inc. (originally known as Kensonic Laboratories, Inc.) is a Japanese manufacturer of high-end electronics. Accuphase Laboratories was founded in 1972 by disgraced Kenwood Corporation engineer Jiro Kasuga. Kasuga did not agree with Kenwood’s position in the approach to the development of equipment; many of its developments never reached mass production due to commercial […] More
Designed as the ideal digital streaming companion to Audiolab’s flagship 9000 series, the new Audiolab 9000N network player is the culmination of more than three years of development and innovation aimed at delivering highly stable wireless (and wired) high-resolution digital music playback. The Audiolab 9000N’s design reflects the crisp elegance of both the Audiolab 9000A […] More
The Hegel H190 model occupies a niche between the flagship H390 and the more budget “integrated” Hegel H120 in the brand’s line of complete amplifiers. The main difference between the new product and its predecessor H160 was a clear OLED display that replaced the vacuum fluorescent indicator and an increased damping coefficient. Well, plus this, […] More
The once explosive popularity of audiophile in-ear headphones featuring armature drivers, which swept across the world over a decade ago, is gradually waning. However, amidst the rising prevalence of hybrid models that leverage the strengths of different types of drivers, manufacturers persist in producing purely armature-based headphones for enthusiasts of this technology. This article highlights […] More
Hegel V10 is a phono stage for turntables with MM and MC heads. The Hegel V10 was the first product of this type in the Hegel catalogue. According to the manufacturer, the engineers made the device as high quality as possible. Otherwise, according to Hegel, this product would not exist at all. The basis of the Hegel V10 is […] More
AudioQuest was not simply founded as a new company; rather, its emergence was the result of a natural progression of events. When Bill Lowe announced the formation of AudioQuest in 1980, it was just a small variation of his involvement in the audio industry, which began in 1972. During his high school and early college years, Bill […] More
The Audeze LCD-MX4 are open-back, full-size isodynamic headphones from the top-end LCD Collection series that can be an excellent choice for mixing, monitoring and other studio work. According to Audeze, the model is an excellent combination of such well-proven stereo phones as the LCD-X and LCD-4. The lightweight, ultra-thin membrane borrowed from the LCD-X is […] More
