Anybody with an older car can relate to this: You have a smartphone with all the latest Bluetooth connectivity, but your car stereo is still oh so 90s with its cassette and maybe CD player. No USB. No AUX port. Certainly no Bluetooth… until now. Ion has made it possible for any Bluetooth-enabled device to […]
Old becomes new with Ion Cassette Adapter Bluetooth Read More
Recently, I had fun reviewing two very different headphones made primarily of wood: the premium Meze 73 Classics and the budget Griffin WoodTones. Each had their pros and cons, and it was hard to tell if the wood — as cool as it is — had any real effect on the sound. As I said
LSTN The Troubadours headphone review Read More
I will admit upfront that this review is way overdue. The main reason is because the Audioengine W3 Premium Wireless Audio Adapter is a product that is not easy to categorize. It performs some unique functions and duplicates some that are built into existing products. It’s taken me a while to sort it all out
Audioengine W3 Premium Wireless Audio Adapter review Read More
In 2012, I reviewed the excellent – but incredibly expensive – Audeo PF232 earphones. What made them unique was that they had replaceable filters so anyone could fine-tune the sound to their taste. Well, anyone with super eyesight and steady hands, that is. The filters were so small that they required a special, hard-to-use tool,
Torque t103z in-ear-headphones review Read More
It seems that many (not all) headphones fall into two categories; those that look fashionable and sound not so great and those that sound great, but you’d wouldn’t want to be seen in public wearing them. Then there is Phiaton. Their headphones and earphones are pure eye candy. Nothing looks like them, and while some
Phiaton Bridge MS 500 headphones review Read More
When Julie asked me to choose five headphones/earphones that would make great gift ideas, I knew this could get interesting. 2013 has been a great year for portable listening, and the holiday choices are better than ever. There are many choices to fit any budget, so there is no excuse this year for putting up
Gift ideas – 6 headphones and earphones for music lovers Read More
As our society becomes more and more mobile – and wireless – headphone makers are stepping up and providing consumers with choices. Some of those choices are a new breed of Bluetooth headphones that provide a freedom that could only be imagined just a few years ago. Velodyne – famous for subwoofers – now offers
Velodyne vFree On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones review Read More
The Griffin Technology’s WoodTones headphones remind me of our local weatherman. How’s that for a comparison? Seriously, I have been reviewing many headphones in many price ranges, with the sweet spot at about $100-150. Expensive enough to sound good, yet not so expensive that you have to mortgage the house. And therein lies the problem. So
Griffin Technology WoodTones headphone review Read More
Over the past few months, I’ve been using and testing the Meze 73 Classics headphones. Meze is a relatively new company, and they have a niche that a few – but not many – headphone makers have: their headphones are made out of wood. While that’s becoming more common, Meze strictly uses ebony wood, which
Meze 73 Classics headphone review Read More
Wow. In a recent news item, I stated how Braven isn’t taking it easy after a string of successful portable speakers by releasing the monstrous Braven 800 – a direct competitor to Jawbone’s BigJambox speaker. It’s only been a few days, but Braven went and did it again with the Braven 855s, an identical twin
BRAVEN goes big (and now wet) with 855s Bluetooth Speaker Read More
Audioengine doesn’t know when to leave well-enough alone. Case-in-point: Their A2 speakers were just about the perfect size and rating for desktop use, and consumers obviously agreed because they have sold quite well. Even so, Audioengine figured they could do better, so they’ve introduced the new A2+ powered desktop speakers. These mini-powerhouses have been substantially
Audioengine moves their A2 speaker into the plus category Read More
The Braven numbers just keep piling up. The portable Bluetooth speaker maker has introduced the 710, yet another model in their ever-expanding lineup. What makes this speaker different from the similar 650 is: NFC (near field communication) pairing with non-iDevices, true stereo left and right pairing using two speakers, HD audio drivers, and APTX Bluetooth.
Braven adds another number to its line-up Read More
One of the cool things about the internet is we can now easily discover new products from around the world without leaving our house. Being an audio junkie, I’m always searching for new and interesting gear. One search led me to France where audio company Aëdle (pronounced ā-duhl) hand-assembles a beautiful and minimalist designed headphone. It’s
Vive la France, vive la Aëdle Read More
Computers and headphones are replacing the home stereo as the primary source for listening to music. Wireless speakers, Bluetooth, AirPlay, and a host of other technologies have developed and matured as a result. The external digital audio converter (DAC) also belongs in this group as a solution to the problem of lousy audio from desktop
Audioengine shows that big things can come in small packages Read More
Soundmatters has introduced a new speaker to compliment the original – and amazing – FoxL portable bluetooth speaker. The DASH7 is a thin, ¾ inch-high wireless pocket-portable Bluetooth soundbar and speakerphone that will fit into any purse or jacket pocket. Soundmatters’ Lee Adams states how amazing it is to get DASH’s performance out of something
Soundmatters debuts the DASH7 portable soundbar because … sound matters Read More
“It was the best of speakers, it was the worst of speakers”. With apologies to Charles Dickens, that pretty much sums up my experience with the Damson Twist Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker. To say that this speaker will surprise is an understatement. There is no speaker on the Twist speaker. Yes, you read that right.
Damson Twist Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker review Read More
I’ve been a little unfair to NuForce regarding their NE-700M Headset earphones. You see, I received them last spring, and I haven’t done a review until now. One of the reasons is that other headphone and earphone companies have been releasing whiz-bang models almost weekly, and NuForce just kinda got pushed aside. Released a few months
NuForce NE-700M Headset earphones review Read More
You could say that it seems like every audio company is getting into the headphones business. Everywhere you turn, some speaker company has entered the fray, which can only make everyone better. And headphones have improved significantly in the last 5 years. A case in point is Japan’s Onkyo. This old and respected brand have
Onkyo gets personal with new headphones Read More
In October, Phiaton will be introducing two new headphone designs just in time for holiday shopping. Each headphone has its own appeal depending on what your needs are. For the fan of going portable, the carbon-fiber Moderna Series Fusion MS 430 is a lightweight over the ear design with full-sized drivers for better sound. It’s
Phiaton goes light, goes wireless, goes silent Read More
Before deciding if you want – or need – the CMOY Headphone Amplifier, there is something any buyer should ask themselves: Why do you want one? Seriously, this is important, because many people will buy a headphone amp for all the wrong reasons. Consider this: If you want an amp to make your music louder and
CMOY Headphone Amplifier review Read More