I have mentioned in the last few reviews that I am now reviewing headphones using the NuForce uDAC-2 USB amp/DAC plugged into my new iMac, when I am not using my iPod. There’s a really good reason for this. The iMac audio output sounds like … well, let’s just say it sounds bad. Really, really …
Crossfade is the act of fading one song out as you fade another in, resulting in continuous music with little or no break in the sound. Its something that club DJs do to keep the dance floor crowded and the mood electric. It is in this vein that V-Moda has developed the Crossfade LP headphones. …
WaterField is a company that makes bags, sleeves and cases that protect expensive tech toys. I own two of their iPhone/iPod Travel Cases and still use the large-sized one (I outgrew the other one). This bag still looks almost brand new after two years of constant daily stuffing and re-stuffing. That’s amazing. So when WaterField …
Looking at the box containing the Aiaiai TMA-1 headphones, one would expect flashy, “Look-at-me” headphones to be packed inside. After all, they were developed by and for DJs, and DJs like to be noticed, right? What you may not know is that Aiaiai is a Danish company… Scandinavian. Lets face it, Scandinavians are design minimalists …
The Shure SE535 earphones are a study in contrasts between frustration and nirvana. Boy, this wide-open gap in opinion is going to need some explaining. Shure is one of the better known headphone/earphone companies around, so when they announce a new model, it’s news. A few months ago, they introduced the SE535, which replaces the …
In the world of headphones, there are many, many choices that range in price from a few bucks to a price requiring a second mortgage on your house. It’s that wide of a margin. And let’s face it, most mortals wouldn’t dream of spending over a couple hundred dollars to get the sound we want …
I have written in previous reviews that I tend to prefer neutrality and accuracy over sound that is enhanced or “colored” in headphones/earphones. That being said, I do enjoy bass when it doesn’t interfere with or overpower the mids or highs, which can so often happen. Some brands accentuate bass to attract a younger crowd …
TFT Accoustics TFTA-2100-2V1S and TFTA-2100-3V2B Earphone Review Read More
It’s not everyday that I come across something that is as impressive looking as the Franklin Roadie Portable Speaker System. In photos, this thing looks really cool with its red, green and blue lighted buttons and brushed aluminum shell. Without any size reference, it looks big and powerful. Even the pricing concept looks appealing as …
Franklin Explorer Roadie Amp’d Speaker System Review Read More
For awhile now, I have been using (and loving) the Audioengine A5 speakers. They are a pair of self-powered monsters. There is really no other way to describe them. Big and with killer volume, the A5s are one of the best bargains out there for computer speakers… for home use. I tried them out in …
VentureCraft’s Go-Dap is a useful and clever accessory to the iPhone 3G/GS. It improves the sound (substantially with headphones) and will give you decent backup battery power as an added bonus.
When you think of consumer earphones, what companies come to mind? Sony? Monster? Skullcandy? Truth is, there are a LOT of companies out there making earphones for your MP3 player – with many of them producing pretty good products. It’s a huge market, so the choices are in the buyer’s favor. As reviewer, one of …
It’s always fun to sample a “budget” product from a high-end company. Ultrasone is a famous maker of very good headphones and one unbelievably priced and sounding model, the Edition 8. It is considered one of the very best headphones available at any price. But I’m not testing that one (darn!). Instead, I have been …
Urbanears is a company known for highly fashionable, yet affordable headphones and earphones geared for a younger, more tech-fashion crowd. One look at their products and you can tell these guys have a design esthetic that exhibits clean, almost austere lines. The Urbanears catalog photos are practically art pieces unto themselves. I think they’re beautiful. …
Back when Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone, he went on and on about how Apple decided to use the most natural stylus, your finger, for navigating the newly designed touchscreen. The advantages were obvious: You already know how to use your finger (no, not THAT finger), you can’t misplace it and it’s always there, …
In a perfect world, things come full-circle. From the redesigned, retro-styled Mustang and Camaro to vinyl albums, products can go out of style only to come roaring back. Such is the case with the Koss Porta Pro headphones. Well, sorta the case, anyway. See, Koss first produced the Porta Pros in 1984… and never changed …
Koss PortaPro 25th Anniversary Edition Headphones Review Read More