Granted, James Comey is a self-righteous drama queen who probably cost Hillary the election, but he’s also a dedicated public servant and a man of principle whose persecution moves us ever closer to third world autocracy. I had very little optimism about the future of Democracy going into this thing, but now I have none.

Moving on to the OAE1, I found these pretty comfortable for extended listening despite their considerable (387g) but fairly difficult to drive, You can clearly see the Sennheiser roots of this tuning—warm, thick-textured and quite enveloping; imaging and instrument placement are accurate within the confines of a narrowish, intimate stage.

Yet where Sennheiser cans like the 660/650 balance their smooth tonality with considerable treble extension, the OAE1 sound excessively veiled to me—as Durwood opines there’s a sense of sitting towards the back of the audience, and percussion and piano keys lack crispness and shimmer.

On the plus side, bass impact and depth is considerable without excess bloom, and there’s a palpable physicality to these; likewise they’re free from harshness and glare. However they overdo the darkness smoothness–overall resolution and highend detail is lacking. Frankly, the $69 Fiio JT-1 (review here) do this bassy blunt bold signature better than the Grell, and I’m not a buyer here.

Loaner from Library of Durwood who had received it from Drop. Get the Drop + Grell OAE1 from the DROP Store.

Drop + Grell OAE1 Specifications

• Frequency Response: 12–32,000 Hz (-3db) 6–44,000 Hz (-10db)
• Transducer principal: Dynamic
• Ear coupling: Circumaural
• Sound characteristic: Front oriented loudness diffuse field equalization
• Adaption to the individual hearing curve: Soundfield pinna interaction
• Nominal impedance: 38 ohms
• Sound pressure level at 1kHz 1VRMS: 106 dB
• Maximum long term input power: 500mW
• THD at 1kHz 100dB: 0.05%
• Weight (without cable): 365g

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66 Headphone Reviews

The post Drop + Grell OAE1 Open Back Headphones REVIEW (Second Opinion) – Let’s Have A Ball and A Biscuit appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Truthear Pure is an incremental chapter in the history of the Truthear earphone saga, trying to squeeze out some more performance while spitting in the face of budget inflation. The $89.99 USD review unit was provided by SHENZHENAUDIO and I thank them for that. You can get it here.

INTRO

The Truthear Pure arrives as another solid budget entry from the brand, sharing much of its DNA with the well-regarded HEXA earphone. I was rather excited to see a second chapter from what I considered a worthy starting point for the budget plus category. Time to find out if the sequel lives up to the anticipation and delivers an improvement or something different altogether at the same price ($89 USD) of the Truthear HEXA.

The 3D printed shell shape and design are nearly identical to the HEXA, with the same ergonomic contours that provide a snug and stable fit. Like the HEXA, the Pure integrates molded sound tubes directly into the shell, which helps with durability and ensures consistent nozzle placement along with more precision and control.

The earphone is designed for a deep insertion fit, and Truthear includes a range of differently sized eartips to help achieve proper seal and comfort. I had to use a different size eartip on the left vs the right because of how deep it goes and my unique ear canal shape.

Packaging is minimal but practical. The button-snap pouch included is the same compact case that came with the HEXA making it slim, pocketable, and functional for daily use. The silver plated coxial cable included with the Pure is an improvement just based on functionality for me. It is slightly thicker and less tangle prone than the more basic twisted cable included with the HEXA that did tend to easily tangle.

SOUND

Tested with SMSL DO400 and FiiO M21 DAP

The Pure aims for a balanced, diffuse-field-inspired tuning, offering a generally neutral presentation with bass lift. That means presence tails off allowing the midrange to stand on its own two feet without assistance from the treble to liven it up.

Bass has a punchy impact but with a soft landing, making it present but not overwhelming—satisfying for casual listening without dominating the mix. Excellent extension digs deep into the lowest registers with force clearly accentuated and providing a pressurized feeling when required.

The midrange, however, shows some weaknesses. Vocals can sound scratchy or slightly grainy, lacking refinement and smoothness. This contributes to a sharp timbre overall, which becomes more noticeable with certain instruments.

In the treble region, cymbals and brilliance often smear together, reducing clarity and separation. The upper treble is quite tame, which helps avoid harshness but can also dull airiness and sparkle. Triangle strikes are more defined on the Pure over the HEXA, but while they sound more aggressive the timbre feels a bit off.

Measurements seem to support these listening impressions. The frequency response graph reveals some issues with driver integration, particularly at the hand-off between the mid-range and treble drivers, which likely explains the uneven timbre and treble smearing.

While using smoothing on the graphs masks this effect, I still noticed it with real world listening. Cymbals tend to have a more aggressive crash, while the HEXA was maybe a little more smoothed and one note sounding, best way to describe it the HEXA has a Tshing whereas the Pure presents it as TChing.

With an even width to depth ratio, the Truthear Pure has no problem with stage presentation for IEMs. Just like the HEXA I find the instrument spacing and lack of congestion a huge win for something in this price category. I notice more depth compared to the HEXA.

With improved sensitivity compared the HEXA, I still find the Pure requires a decent source or amplifier to achieve proper volume.   While it can run from a basic dongle, listeners will get the best results from a source with a bit more output power.

VERDICT

The Truthear Pure is a thoughtfully designed earphone with a proven, comfortable shell and a safe, balanced tuning. However, it falls short in refinement, with noticeable issues in timbre, vocal presentation, and treble control. Listeners who prioritize a diffuse-balanced sound and can pair it with a capable source may still find it appealing, but compared to Truthear’s own HEXA, the Pure is not necessarily the full upgrade I was expecting and that is ok.

The bass is improved with more control and deep bass extension, with midrange clarity that stands out, whereas the HEXA delivers a lighter feeling treble. I would like to know what the hiccup in the treble is, and if corrected would take this earphone up a notch. Maybe my expectation is high, but for no price increase at $89 though you are getting excellent value for what it does right which is mostly everything.

Disclaimer: Truthear provided these gratis, we are gracious for the opportunity and these thoughts are my own.

SPECIFICATIONS

Product Page: https://truthear.com/products/pure

• Driver: 1 x Dynamic Driver + 3 x Balanced Armature Drivers
• Diaphragm: Silicone Suspension + LCP Dome Composite Diaphragm
• Impedance: 13.8Ω±15% @1kHz
• Sensitivity: 124dB/Vrms @1kHz
• Total Harmonic Distortion: THD≤1% @1kHz (94dB)
• Frequency Response Range: 7-40kHz (IEC61094, Free Field)
• Effective Frequency Response Range: 20-20kHz (IEC60318-4, -3dB)

GRAPHS

• Left vs Right
• Truthear Pure vs HEXA
• Impedance Plot

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DISCLAIMER

Get it from the Truthear Store on Aliexpress, Amazon or SHENZHENAUDIO.

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

The post Truthear Pure IEM REVIEW – Destination Anarchy appeared first on Music For The Masses.

HiFi Sound That Fits Anywhere in Any Home

TORONTO, CANADA, OCTOBER 23, 2025 – BLUESOUND,  the original hi-res multi-room streaming brand, announces the launch and re-design of its most popular all-in-one speaker, the PULSE FLEX. A completely new industal design after a decade of award-winning success, the PULSE FLEX now makes it even easier to wirelessly bring music into any room—beautifully and effortlessly. 

With a minimalist design, premium finish options, and flexible placement, the PUSLE FLEX seamlessly blends into everyday spaces like kitchens, bedrooms, offices, or anywhere music lives in the home. Inside, it’s Bluesound’s full DNA: purpose-built components, support for the highest quality listening in high-resolution and lossless formats, and full integration with the BluOS multi-room streaming ecosystem. 

“With the new PULSE FLEX, we set out to make Bluesound’s acclaimed sound signature more accessible without compromising on detail and quality,” said Matt Simmonds, Product Manager at Bluesound. “We created a beautiful all-in-one speaker that can fit into spaces where people really live—kitchen, bedrooms, offices—while still delivering the kind of clarity and depth our customers expect from Bluesound.”

Engineered for any home or listening environment, the PULSE FLEX features a compact footprint, rounded edges, and refined material finishes that suit modern design trends and décors. Available in three finishes, Black Charcoal, White Pebble Grey, and White Tan, the design-forward speaker adapts effortlessly to the look and feel of any room. Optional accessories include Bluesound’s WM100 Wall Mount, FS230 Adjustable Stand, and interchangeable fabric grilles in tonal weaves, making it easy to personalise placement and style.

“The new PULSE FLEX takes everything people have loved about our most popular speaker over the last 10 years; rich sound, intuitive control, and sleek design, and made it even more accessible,” said Morten Nielsen at Bluesound. “It’s Living HiFi without the high barrier, built for everyday music lovers who want to experience premium audio wherever they are in the home, with seamless control from their phone or tablet.” 

The PULSE FLEX delivers big, detailed sound for its size. A custom-designed SmartDSP amplifier powers a 4” woofer and 0.75” tweeter, producing 50 watts of total system power. With support for high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192kHz, MQA decoding, and DSD256 playback, it’s designed to meet the highest sonic standards.

Key Features Include:

• Built with BluOS – Stream from over 20 music services, internet radio, or personal libraries via the BluOS Controller app. Also supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon, and Apple AirPlay 2. 
• Flexibile Configuration – Use it as standalone speaker, pair two for stereo, or add it as rear surrounds with the Bluesound POWERNODE, PULSE CINEMA, or CINEMA MINI for immersive home theater.
• Modern Connectivity – Equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, aptXÔ HD Bluetooth, and multiple wired inputs including USB-C and an optical/analog combo jack.
• Smart Control – Includes quick-touch preset buttons, IR remote learning, and voice assistant compatibility for seamless control from any device. Smart home home control systems are also supported with custom drivers for Crestron, Control4, Nice, RTI, and more.

Pricing and Availability

• The PULSE FLEX will be available starting December 16, 2025, at $349 USD and $399 CAD from participating Bluesound dealers, bluesound.com, and Amazon. Contact Bluesound or a local retailer for more information on sales and availability.
• Additional production information, photography, and technical specs available at bluesound.com/press. 

###

ABOUT BLUESOUND

An alliance of audiophiles. We are the designers, engineers and individuals who have spent our lives in the music industry. Our founders helped pioneer HiFi in the 70s – innovation and the pursuit of perfection in audio runs deep in our collective DNA. Bluesound’s sole mission is to create innovative wireless audio products and technologies that allow for the most true-to-live performance music reproduction possible, utilizing the most advanced, state-of-the-art digital technology.

Other latest press releases:

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The $79.99 USD SOUNDSPEATS Air5 Pro were provided by the manufacturer for my review and I thank them for that. They can be purchased on amazon.com and from the official site.

The SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro are very dynamic, fun sounding, highly customizable TWS earphones with decent ANC that fall slightly short of an audiophile grade by their metallic timbre.

Air5 Pro, what does this sound like to you? Right, Apple’s AirPods Pro, 3rd generation just released – at 3 times the price of the Air5 Pro. SOUNDPEATS obviously address buyers who look for a budget equivalent of the AirPods. The Chinese company was established in 2010 but, like Apple, is headquartered in California. It sells their products in over 30 countries with focus on Japan and the US.

You find SOUNDPEATS products on aliexpress and amazon sites alike. And, of course, on our site, most recently, Loomis’ take on the Air5 Pro, the PearlClip Pro Open Earbuds.

Let’s have a look at the Air5 Pro’s specs. As a bonbon, I will compare it to the brand-new $249 Apple AirPods Pro 4.

Specifications SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro

Driver Unit	10mm Composite Bio-Diaphragm Driver (PU + PEEK)
Chipset	QCC3091
Frequency Response	???
Bluetooth Version	5.4
Working Distance	??? m
Supported Bluetooth Profiles	HSP/ HFP/ A2DP/ AVRCP
Supported Codecs	SBC/AAC/LC3/LDAC/aptX/aptX Adaptive/aptX Lossless; LC3 and LDAC are disabled by default. Enable via the PeatsAudio app.
Multipoint Connection	2 Devices
Equalization (in free SOUNDPEATS App)	10 channel parametric EQ, diverse presets, custom EQ via hearing test
Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)	Up to 55 dB Adaptive ANC
Microphones	6-MIC AI Noise Reduction + cVc 8.0
Playtime	7.5 h playtime, 37 h with case. 10-min charge = 2 h use
Battery Capacity	2*35 mAh (Earbuds) 520mAh (Case)
Total Play Time (ANC on/off)	37 h
Single Play Time (ANC on/off)	7.5 h
Charging Port	USB-C
Charge Time	1h (Earbuds）2h (Case)
Water Resistance	IPX5
Tested At	$79.99 USD
Product Page	soundpeats.com
Download User Manual	here
PURCHASE LINKS	amazon.com

The Air5 Pro look pretty much like most other budget earbuds we have tested recently, all modelled around Apple’s AirPods. In the box are the charge case, the earpieces, 3 pairs of eartips, a USB charge cable, and the paperwork. You can also download the user guide here.

The largest set of the oval stock eartips are smaller than those of comparable earphones such as the QCY Melobuds N70 or the Moondrop Space Travel 2. They principally work for my large ear canals but need deeper insertion than the above mentioned, which makes the earpieces uncomfortable over longer periods. I therefore use the eartips from the original Moondrop Space Travel. SOUNDPEATS should include a larger set of eartips for western ears.

Well, you can read the table with the specs yourself. I just comment on a few features. The latest Bluetooth 5.4 is an asset: great is the support of codecs up to lossless, a feature typically not found in budget earbuds, not even in the famous Bose QuietComfort headphones. Battery life with 7.5 h per earpiece (and 37 h for the charge case) is lower average and won’t be enough for a Trans-Atlantic flight.

Each earpiece has three integrated microphones for “crystal-clear calls”. Check their sound quality for yourself:

The Air5 Pro’s sound is created by a mix of prefabricated technologies and lots of variables. First, the Qualcomm QCC3091 is a programmable SoC (System on Chip: DAC and amp) that generates the so-called “Snapdragon Sound“, a technology platform that delivers high-res, lossless audio streaming (up to aptX lossless: see “Specifications” above for details). You can enable the LC3 and LDAC codecs in the free SOUNDPEATS app (available from Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store).

SOUNDPEATS have only some input into the sound, their contribution is the driver and the eq profiles Other iems such as the Earfun Air Pro 4 and the KZ-Xtra also feature this QCC3091 SoC — they may sound somewhat similar to the Air5 Pro.

Confusion in Apple’s App Store AND Google’s Play Store alike: there is a Soundpeats app and a PeatsAudio app. The PeatsAudio app is the current one, but both principally work according to the manufacturer.

Second, the PeatsAudio app gives you the options of 12 eq presets (Default, Rock, Pop, Classical…but NO JAZZ) and lets you create your own presets with a 10-channel parametric equalizer. Last but not least can you create your own “Adaptive EQ” based on your individual hearing….good for people who are going towards their 100th birthday.

Starting with the Default preset, you get a lot of sub bass (but little actual bass) which can paint over the midrange. Sub bass helps making the sound BIG and filtering the ambient noise out. I prefer the “Hifi” preset as it pushes the bass and mids up a bit, but also overdoes the treble. Using the parametric equalizer, I add mid bass and lower midrange, and take some upper treble off. It is therefore very difficult to give a general description of the tonality.

The “Snapdragon Sound” is generally big, it includes a very holographic presentation with a huge soundstage and headroom. Very good. What’s could be improved on is the timbre, it is a bit metallic, I find spoken voices and natural instruments not very organic. That’s probably partly because the note decay is a tad fast. An artifact of the chip? Listening to live Rock concerts is superb. I recently got a hold of that Genesis Gigaleak, a 100 GB of remastered bootlegged live shows. The Air5 Pro are pure fun when listening to these.

The $20 cheaper QCY Melobuds N70 have similar tweaking options in their app, they also play loud, but overall more organic and subtle, and not as impressive, crisp, and vivid as the Air5 Pro. The Air5 Pro’s stage is deeper, the N70’s stage is wider. I tend to mix up their charge cases, so similar is their appearance. It comes down to personal preference to select the one that’s right for you. For classical/jazz;acoustic sets, I’d prefer the N70, for pop/rock the dynamic Air5 Pro, which also have the slightly better ANC.

ANC combined with the sealing eartips and the music playing is good and comparable to the competition at this price, but it will not do wonders. When walking along a busy city highway, I could still understand my audiobook very well. I was almost knocked over by a pickup truck yesterday when crossing the road in the late evening (when ambient background sound is low). Didn’t hear it. OK, maybe it did a wonder in that case.

In comparison, the Apple AirPods 3, allegedly sporting “the worlds best ANC”…

The Air5 Pro play LOUD if needed. A new feature of TWS earphones.

I finally got the new Apple AirPods Pro 3 delivered, at 3 times the price of the Air5 Pro. Which one sounds better? Apart from the fact that the Apple has way more features (which are restricted to iPhones), the spatial audio runs rings around the brave Air5 Pro. Yep, the AirPods Pro 3 are in a league of their own with a much weightier, spatial sound, and a organic timbre. And their ANC is also much superior. No comparison, sorry.

Small consolation: your Air5 Pro work with essentially any Bluetooth device, the AirPods do not.

After diligent testing, the SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro turn out to be good sounding, highly customizable, though not quite audiophile TWS earphones that are enjoyable on the road and that provide very good value. For people who don’t want to spend too much money on Apple products.

For some, oranges are the more valuable apples in the end.

Until next time…keep on listening.

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110 Bluetooth & TWS Devices

The post SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro TWS Hi-Res Earbuds With Adaptive ANC REVIEW (2) – Orange or Apple? appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Other latest press releases:

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The $59.99 USD QCY Melobuds N70 were provided by the manufacturer for my review and I thank them for that. They can be purchased here and here.

The QCY Melobuds N70 are yet another good sounding QCY TWS earphone at an unbeatable price.

QCY are omnipresent these days. They can be found on amazon and aliexpress alike. The company is full of surprises: with their models priced anywhere between $30 and $60, they always appear to, pardon the cliché, punch above their weight.

These could be the Apple buds for people who cannot or do not want to afford Apple…or who just dislike Apple. This budget segment appears to get increasingly, pardon this cliché, too, crowded, but QCY always [ALWAYS!] deliver reliable quality for small wallets.

The N70 is the company’s current flagship that savvy shoppers can get way below its $60 list price with vouchers.

Specifications QCY Melobuds N70

The N70 looks a bit like a set of Apple buds, the whole set is optically not much different from ANY such device. The case and the earpieces feel sturdy, 5 pairs of oval silicone eartips, a USB-A to USB-C charge cable, and the manual are included.

I find the earpiece/tips combination extremely comfortable and first wore the N70 for half a day without noticing them. The specs are pretty average: the light earpieces have a playtime of 7h/10h with and without ANC, respectively, the charge case extends the playtime to 35h/50h.

Most importantly: these play LOUD! The N70 support the high-res LDAC Bluetooth codec and utilities the latest Bluetooth version.

Each earpiece has three integrated microphones for “crystal-clear calls”. Check it out for yourself.

Sound sample of the three built-in microphones:

The N70’s ANC is rather good, unexpectedly for this price category. I walked along a busy city freeway while still being able to listen to my audiobook. The company claims the ANC cuts out up to 56 dB (which appears a bit “ambitious”). In comparison, good-quality ear plugs such as the famous 3Ms cut out about 33 dB.

QCY claims their ANC works well against snoring; I should lend these to my wife. You can switch between adaptive ANC, ambient, and ANC off either through touch gesture or in the free QCY app, which is available from the Apple App and Google’s Play Store.

The earpieces feature two speakers, a dynamic one, and a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) tweeter.

As to the sound: since the app gives you options to eq the N70 through presets (rock, pop, classical…), a 10-channel parametric equalizer, and even a personalized sound profile through a hearing aid function, I use the default setting. As you can see in the company-issued graph, there is a rather “healthy” sub bass, and that’s the first thing that stuck out to me.

The slight exaggeration is so low in the frequency spectrum that is does NOT smear into the mids and it does not even punch your eardrums, but it causes some rumble “down there” and makes the whole sound bigger than it actually is, subwoofer style. I find it useful for podcasts as it adds some volumes to lean microphone recordings. If you don’t like that, the app lets you take this out.

Mids are rich, which is typically not the case in cheap buds. This combination of low end and midrange makes for a full presentation.

In comparison to the $20-30 more expensive SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro, the N70 have a more artificial timbre but a bigger, more spectacular, überdynamic Snapdragon Sound with its monstrous 3D staging and the huge depth. The N70 have a wider but shallower stage and play more subtle. The decision between these two is a matter of taste.

For a true sonic upgrade, you have to double the price with the Moondrop x <HONKAI: STAR RAIL> ROBIN or the SOUNDPEATS H3. The N70 appear to hit a budget sweet spot. Going higher diminishes the return.

Summing up, QCY delivers another budget marvel with their N70 Melobuds. I like them, they will get lots of use on the road, with and without music. Their ANC is that good. You can check the manual before you buy.

Until next time…keep on listening.

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110 Bluetooth & TWS Devices

The post QCY Melobuds N70 REVIEW – $60 Flagship…And Good appeared first on Music For The Masses.

The $284 USD One Data Audio HELiOS D100 (Wood Edition) single-dynamic-driver earphone was supplied by the company for my review. Thank you very much. You find its product page here.

Introduction

Since I attended a high school that focused on ancient languages and music, I instantly recognized HELIOS, the god in the Greek mythology who personified the sun. Although the ancient Greeks were very well aware that the earth was a sphere, some of today’s governments are still lagging behind in scientific acceptance and attribute autism to pain killers and fossil fuels to progress.

We should not worry about this time reversal when thinking in geological time scales and reflecting on the alternations of ice ages and warm periods, cycles that repeat themselves approximately every 100,000 years. Humans can speed these periods up by applying forces on the climate such as releasing large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere that been stored in the ground for up to 300 million years. Think coal!

A single sunny day may not influence the climate, but certainly the weather, and it makes us sweat. A hot headphone or earphone analogy would be a set with elevated frequency responses particularly between 2 and 4 kHz, and also (but to a lesser extent) above. According to the motto “nomen est omen” I hope the HELIOS is not a sonic afterburner.

One Dot Audio, short ODA, is a company out of Shenzhen that has allegedly gathered some popularity in Korea. They are completely unknown to the western markets and we have the pleasure to be one of the first to introduce them to a European and American audience. Thank you for that.

Strangely enough, the company does not give us any information on the technology implemented into the HELIOS. After all these cost almost $300.

Take a good look at the specs before we dig in:

Specifications ODA HELIOS D100

Physical Things and Usability

OK, nothing earth shattering in the specs and also nothing out of the ordinary in the presentation, though there is some subtle beauty in the wooden earpieces with their wooden faceplates: each one is unique. The storage case is also quite attractive. A mini version of my wife’s beauty case that clogs up her luggage when travelling.

Also in the box are 2 sets of eartips (S/M/L) of which I used the white ones for testing, a cleaning brush, the paperwork, and, of course, the 4-strand silver-plated copper cable with 0.78/2 pin connectors and a 4.4 mm plug for balanced circuits. You need an adapter (not included) to connect to a standard 3.5 mm socket.

The earpieces come in a standard shape and provide standard comfort and fit. I have no problems with them. ODA claims the noise isolation is 26 dB, which sounds realistic, although the exact number varies from ear canal to ear canal. In comparison dedicated earplugs typically isolate by 29-33 dB.

Tonality and Technicalities

Caution: the HELIOS has an impedance of 16 Ω, which means it needs much current to get driven properly with a proper bass response. I used the FiiO K17 desktop DAC/amp, a MacBook Air with the EarMen TR-Amp, and the Questyle QP1R dap, each of which should have supplied enough current for the HELIOS to play properly.

Oops, the graph points towards a “sunnier” upper midrange/lowermost treble with that 5 kHz peak, a very “safe” treble, and a very strong sub bass. Overall a classic V-shape, a bit out of fashion (hey, who cares for trends), and possibly something refreshingly different from the monotonous pseudo Harman servings we get flooded with. No surprise that this tonality is popular in Korea.

From a theoretical standpoint it should be possible that the sub bass and the upper midrange cancel each other out, at least to some extent. A good example are the JVC HA-FDX1.

On the other hand, Sennheiser, the epitome of single-dynamic driver earphones, keep the frequency graphs rather flat on both ends (in their IE 200, 600, 900).

Some companies actually release different models in different price categories with identical frequency responses (I remember TinHifi a couple of years ago), pushed by YouTube influencers. This is, of course, gaga.

What do we expect from an almost $300 single DD earphone? In what technical respects should it be better than a $60 earphone? Simple answer: Resolution! Imaging! Staging!

In this category, you also expect to use a decent source, not just a phone. I found the FiiO K17 desktop DAC/amp well suited for much of my testing.

To my findings: the 5 kHz peak is actually not a problem. Sure it adds a bit of brightness but that’s insignificant as the sub-bass and the tame treble compensate for this. My problem with the HELIOS is that they are so uninspiring, sonically. Is this my fault? A German proverb says: When the mouse is full, the flour tastes bitter.

I have come across so many earphones similar to this one that the HELIOS offer absolutely nothing new, I don’t even know why they should cost close to $300. In a blind test, I’d guess they’d be around $80-100.

First, they lack pizazz, they are not dynamic at all, despite their dynamic driver. The low end emphasizes a fuzzy sub-bass and the so-called mid bass is lacking [yes, it gets enough current]. There is no hard beat coming from the lower frequencies, the low end is…soft and fuzzy.

The lower mids, hanging so low on the frequency curve, are way back. They are of good quality, perhaps a bit sharper than natural, but the lower mids are “overgrown” by the sub-bass. That spoils all the fun. Even that 5 kHz peak fails to infuse energy into the mids. The sub-bass also takes away from the midrange clarity. It is a mud bath on a high level.

The descent into treble valley starts 5 kHz, which results in subdued high notes and cymbals in hiding.

As to the technicalities, again nothing special. We already had the lack of dynamics, soundstage is barely average and so are imaging and resolution, but not for the $300 segment.

I was playing with different eartips such as SpinFits and Azlas, but could not revive the patient. I really tried to…I also pulled out two other single dynamic driver earphones for comparison, the $699 Dunu Zen, which had so much more life, then tried the problematic $80 Unicrom PULA, which was broadly comparable to the HELIOS. Sorry, didn’t help.

In summary, the HELIOS’ tuning is sub-optimal and the driver implementation is not fantastic either. I wonder whether I am being used to promote a high-profit project. The closest earphone to the HELIOS I could think of is the Unicrom PULA @ $80.

ODA should start in the budget segment and work their way up. But we had these cases before.

Concluding Remarks

While there is nothing really wrong with the HELIOS, it does not offer anything special either. Tuning is old school, form factor is “seen frequently before”, it lacks dynamics, and the sound is mediocre. The asking price is not warranted in my opinion. A bigger box does not justify a higher price. Considering there must be a tight competition in this segment, at a price of $284 USD, I’d rather talk with my feet.

You better have a look at ODA’s $359 HESPERUS A300 model.

Until next time…keep on listening!

The post One Dot Audio (ODA) HELIOS D100 (Wood Edition) REVIEW – Dead Men Tell No Tales appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Pros — Good build, interesting top window design
– NOS mode sounds wonderfully analog and lifelike
– Excellent staging and imaging
– FiiO Control app has handy Parametric EQ features
– Incredible value for money

Cons — Clunky app and web interface for PEQ management
– Microdynamics not the most evident in NOS mode
– Amp section cannot fully drive demanding headphones

INTRODUCTION

It was the summer of 2015. I have just graduated from university, got into my first job, and was barely navigating adulthood without being overwhelmed.

So I did what anyone looking for a distraction would do – I got into the audio hobby. For someone living paycheck to paycheck, this was nonsensical; delusional even. Still, when that first salary came, I spent nights lost in classified ads before settling on the FiiO E07K.

That little DAC-Amp was my introduction to FiiO and, ironically, my first “proper” source purchase. Ah well, it all now feels world away – I was far less jaded and a lot more hopeful back then after all.

Nostalgia-laden self-woe aside, FiiO as a brand have evolved into a giant of the industry within the last decade. It now offers a dizzying array of products and is venturing into areas that would be unthinkable back in those days. One of those daring moves is democratizing R2R DACs. What used to be exotic discrete tech reserved only for the upper-tier or flagship DACs is now available in the budget realm, courtesy of the K11 R2R.

Given the tremendous popularity of the K11 R2R, the K13 R2R is a natural progression – an upper tier model that does not increase the price significantly but bridges the “feature gap”. Practically all of the corners that were cut previously have been added back.

Bluetooth input? Check. Higher quality capacitors and filters? Check. Beefier amp? Check. Even a remote? Well, check!

The K13 R2R, on paper, is dang near perfect. So of course I had to be unreasonably thorough with the overall assessment and comparisons. It proclaims to be a giant killer after all.

Read on.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. FiiO was kind enough to send me the K13 R2R for evaluation.

IEMs and Headphones used: Campfire Audio Alien Brain, SoftEars Turii Ti, 64Audio Tia Trio, Sennheiser HD 800, Meze 105 Silva, Aune SR7000, Hifiman HE1000se
Price, while reviewed: $320. Can be bought from Amazon or FiiO website

PHYSICAL ASPECTS AND USABILITY

Inside the box, you get the K13 R2R DAC-Amp itself, a remote control, an AC power cord, a type-C to type-C cable, and a gold-plated quarter-inch to 3.5mm adapter.

As for the design, the K13 R2R follows a similar aesthetics to the predecessor K11R2R but there is a significant increase in the overall footprint. At around 1kg of weight, it’s still far from bulky or unmanageable on a desk but it’s no longer as diminutive as the entry-level model.

Once again, we have a two part CNC aluminum chassis. The bottom part of the chassis is tapered downwards which reduces the area required for mounting theK13 R2R on a flat surface, while the top has a transparent circular cutout that proudly displays the R2R DAC array. Another notable addition is the secondary dial on the front that flanks the display in the middle. I am not a big fan of these dials to be frank. While they offer good tactility and does not wobble much, it gets confusing navigating the UI in this manner and I’d rather use the remote to make life easier.

Speaking of the display, it is a monochrome LCD that shows the sample rate,volume, output mode (line out or pre-amp), gain level, and the decoding method. It can be turned off if desired but I kept it on since it’s unobtrusive and will not exhibit“burn in” like those OLED panels. One issue with the display is that it doesn’t show the current filter mode which would be a useful information.

Let’s concentrate on the I/O situation for a second. FiiO has done something out of the norm here. While most try to distill the number of ports and inputs to a bare minimum for their more affordable devices, FiiO doubled down on the number of RCA outputs and USB inputs. You get an additional type-C port on the right side of the device, while the RCA line-outs are mirrored. I can think of cases where this can be useful (using a powered speaker and an external amp at the same time) so kudos to FiiO for going the extra mile here. As usual, coaxial and optical inputs are here as well, alongside a pair of balanced 3-pin XLR outputs.

The K13 R2R can take both DC and AC power (selected via the switch below the BT antenna). AC mode uses the internal switching PSU, while DC mode can be handy with an external linear PSU connected to the K13 R2R (e.g. the Fiio PL50).

Last but not the least, let’s talk a bit about the FiiO Control app (Android, iOS) and the accompanying FiiO control web UI. The mobile app also acts as a remote control for the DAC-Amp itself, allowing you to select input, control the LEDs, and upgrade the device firmware. Both the web UI and the mobile app allows for PEQ management that includes importing custom presets, choosing online presets, or just creating your own profile and storing that on the device. It’s a dizzying range of customization that is made more complex due to the clunky UI.

On my Pixel 9 running Android 16, for example, the app did not scale correctly and the EQ on/off button overlapped with the notification bar. The web interface, meanwhile, requires you to keep the EQ settings to “ON” via the app (even if there is no EQ applied, i.e. you are in Bypass mode). FiiO needs to work more on the interface and usability of these external services. Also, some settings are only available on-device (e.g. LED brightness adjustment) so it further adds to the confusion.

For now, once you adapt to the quirks, you should have no trouble tinkering with all the PEQ features that FiiO Control app/website has to offer.

R2R TECH – WHAT IS IT?

Spoiler

An R2R ladder DAC translates digital values into analog voltages using a precisely arranged network of resistors. The “ladder” gets its name from the repeating sequence of two resistor values — R and 2R — that form a balanced structure. Each bit in the digital word controls a small switch, connecting a node in the ladder either to a reference voltage or to ground. When the switches operate together, the voltage drops across the resistors combine in proportion to the binary weight of each bit, creating a smooth analog output that mirrors the digital input.

What makes this design clever is that it avoids the need for exponentially scaled resistors, which are nearly impossible to match accurately in production. Instead, it relies on identical resistor pairs, which are easier to manufacture consistently. That said, the performance of an R2R DAC still depends on extremely precise resistor matching — even a fraction of a percent variation can introduce non-linearity or subtle distortion. These imperfections are often quantified as Integral Non-linearity (INL) and Differential Non-linearity (DNL). To achieve high accuracy, premium R2R DACs use laser-trimmed or thin-film resistors with very tight tolerances.

Compared to delta-sigma DACs, which rely on oversampling and noise shaping, R2R converters are far more direct in their approach. They convert every bit of data in real time without relying on heavy digital filtering, resulting in almost no latency and a very “immediate” sound. However, they tend to measure poorly and in general show higher distortion and noise floor than their delta-sigma counterparts.

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TECH SPECS (THAT MATTER)

FiiO reuses the same 24-bit R2R module on the K11 R2R but this time employs abetter PCB, higher quality filtering caps, and a more powerful amp section with TI op-amps (instead of the SG Micro ones in the previous iteration). The power supply has also been improved with more voltage regulators and better EMI/RF shielding.

FIIO K13 R2R SOUND QUALITY

I usually find discussing the sound of a source rather fruitless an endeavor, so I’d focus on pairings instead, i.e. how the dongle drives different headphones and IEMs utilizing a variety of driver tech. Given the versatile nature of the K13 R2R, I have gone through a range of IEMs and headphones to cover different amplification needs.

Before heading into the notes though I should point out that the K13 R2R exhibits the classic “R2R” sound that one expects, but only in the NOS (non-oversampling)mode. The OS (oversampling) mode sounds cleaner and tighter in the bass but can end up with a presentation that’s too generic. I had a hard time distinguishing between the K13 and a generic dongle DAC with OS mode enabled.

NOS vs OS mode

NOS mode sounds “more special” than OS mode. Despite having more “bloom” in the bass and the soundstage being relatively intimate, NOS mode sounds decidedly more lifelike in the mids. The stage itself takes on a more “orbital” shape, which can lead to a sense of holography with IEMs and headphones. The transients are slightly rounded as well which sounds pleasing on headphones like HD 800/HE1000se. I was particularly fond of string instruments and pianos on the K13 R2R which sound exceptional in NOS mode.

Strangely enough, OS is the default filter for the K13 R2R (likely due to the lower measured distortion) so make sure to tinker with the filter settings and try the NOS mode. Rest of the review is in NOS mode as that became the highlight for me on this unit.

IEMs

First up, I tried the Softears Turii Ti which is a very sensitive single-dynamic IEM and can be quite transparent to the source. The K13 R2R in low gain had more than enough power to fully drive the IEMs, but I found the NOS mode to have less evident microdynamics than the OS mode. This is due to the higher noise floor of NOS mode, so sensitive IEMs will likely benefit more from the OS mode. Nonetheless, either mode offered pleasant mids and treble, with the NOS mode offering a more holographic presentation.

Then, I tried the 64Audio Tia Trio. These triple-driver hybrid IEMs have excellent resolution and spatial qualities, which makes it easy to evaluate the staging and imaging capabilities of sources. As with the Turii Ti, i noticed excellent imaging and staging, but once again the dynamics were slightly lacking compared to higher tier offerings.In summary: the K13 R2R is capable of easily driving most of the IEMs around, but the reliance on OS mode to increase overall dynamics is a bummer.

Headphones

Testing out headphones on the K13 R2R was more interesting. The built in amp is good enough to drive the likes of Meze 105 Silva and Hifiman HE1000se, but the more power hungry headphones scaled better with external amp.

Connecting an external amp to the K13 R2R changed things dramatically while driving headphones. The DAC section scales tremendously well according to the quality of the connected amp. While the built-in headphone amp sounds decent, I found noticeable improvements in dynamics and holography of stage with the Aune N7 and the Austrian Audio Full Score One amps.

The stage gets deeper and microdynamics become more evident on both these amps, especially the Austrian Audio Full Score One. In fact, the pairing of Fiio K13R2R, Full Score One, and the Sennheiser HD 800 is one of my favorite ways of listening to these notoriously amp-picky headphones. Softer transients on the K13R2R makes the HD 800 sound even more pleasing without heading into full-on OTL tube softness.

Finally, the Hifiman HE 1000se is well known for its excellent staging and imaging prowess but can also sound harsh in the treble with analytical sources. This is another great matching with the K13 R2R and I’d highly encourage HEKse owners to try out the K13 R2R if they already do not have a similar DAC in their audio chain.

SELECT COMPARISONS

FiiO K13 R2R vs. Hifiman EF499

I’d just cut to the chase here: the K13 R2R is flat-out better than the Hifiman EF499 (USD $300) when used as a standalone DAC. Fiio’s implementation of the R2R network sounds significantly more analogue and lifelike than the Hifiman model, with the EF499 being warmer, fuzzier, less resolving, and even more intimate in terms of staging. K13 R2R also has PEQ support, better connectivity options, and can be operated from afar with the supplied remote making it a better choice for living room and couch setups.

The amp section is a different story though as the EF499 produced better dynamics and could generally drive demanding headphones better. Even then the EF499 amp showed higher noise floor with sensitive IEMs, but demanding headphones were not as sensitive to this issue.

Overall, given their close price tags, I’d pick the K13 R2R over the EF499 due to superior DAC section and numerous quality of life features that the Hifiman DACAmp lacks.

FiiO K13 R2R vs FiiO K11 R2R

This is a trickier comparison since the K11 R2R is much cheaper at around USD $180 and has the exact same DAC section. However, K13 R2R has enough tricks up its sleeve to more than justify the price increment. Most significant is the (much improved) amp section and the support for BT input and PEQ profiles.

Another plus point is the XLR output which enables fully balanced setup when connected to external amps, ensuring the lowest crosstalk and distortion on the DAC stage. Then there are the bonus features like the remote control and dual type-C inputs and RCA outputs.

In terms of pure sound quality, these two models are quite close. I noticed the K13 R2R exhibiting better low-level detail retrieval and the stage was tad more expansive.

If you have the budget for the K13 R2R, simply go for it and don’t look back. The few bucks saved on the K11 R2R will lead to less flexibility along the way and that is simply not worth it when you have the budget, in my humble opinion.

CONCLUSION

The K13 R2R reminds of FiiO’s early years, but in a very positive way. It harkens back to the roots of FiiO as a brand, and I am glad that I could revisit FiiO’s humble beginnings now that they’ve turned into one of the industry giants.

All the nostalgia and “going full circle” aside, this is a very capable DAC-Amp that excels more as a DAC than an amp. No harm there but something to consider in terms of expectation management and also building a system around the K13 R2R.

I still have my usual nitpicks about the default choice of filter (NOS mode sounds special, so should be the default IMO) and the clunky web UI and app, but well, FiiO at least offers those unlike the majority of competing options in the market. The build quality is solid, the I/O options expansive, and the handy remote control is just the proverbial cherry on top.

Fiio K13 R2R earns my unreserved recommendation. It’s been a while since I’ve had so much fun reviewing a DAC-Amp, and I can’t wait to see what FiiO comes up with for the next R2R DAC release.

MY VERDICT

4.5/5

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The post FiiO K13 R2R Review – A Perfect Circle appeared first on Music For The Masses.

Pros — Extremely comfortable to wear
– Highly pocketable due to the slim case design
– Good bass, open sense of stage
– Good microphone performance

Cons — Acefast Acefit Air can sound shouty with high-pitched vocals (default EQ profile)
– Single charge battery life could be better
– Lack of parametric equalization in the app

PREAMBLE

Open earbuds are a thing nowadays, and it’s essentially the exact opposite of what most TWS IEMs go after: noise attenuation.

While industry giants such as Sony, Apple, and Samsung have doubled-down on Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and boast this particular performance boldly in their promotional materials. ACEFAST has prioritized more situational awareness with the AceFit Air.

This is something I appreciate during my bicycle rides, as auditory cues allow for faster reaction than visual cues and you wouldn’t want to be caught off-guard when riding throughout busy city streets. In the pursuit of such convenience, sound quality can often get compromised, which is where AceFit Air claims to have made some significant strides.

About time to put those claims to the test and put the AceFit Air through its paces.

Note: the ratings given will be subjective to the price tier. Thanks to ACEFAST for sending the AceFit Air for evaluation.

Source used: Google Pixel 9
Price, while reviewed: 84 euros. Can be purchased from Amazon

BUILD QUALITY, COMFORT, AND BATTERY LIFE

Packaging and accessories are decidedly simple. Given the open-air design, there is no need for eartips, so ACEFAST just bundled a type-C cable and called it a day.

The carrying and charging case deserves a closer look. It’s 10mm thick at the edges and 24mm thick at the middle. This thickness reminds me of the older Nokia phones but frankly, given the far thicker carrying case of most TWS IEMs (even Samsung Buds Pro 2 is over 27mm), the AceFit Air case is quite a revelation.

The case has a matte, satin-like finish that tends to get dirty easily, but a microfibre cloth takes care of that issue. Even then a more textured finish would likely reduce the smudge buildup.

Both the case lid and the earbuds themselves are secured via magnets which are strong enough to not open or fall out randomly. The charging LED is inside the case lid, which I wish was outside for easier identification.

As for battery life, the case holds approx. 20 hours of battery life (depending on codec and volume), while the buds hold about 6 hours (5.5 hours in practice for me, less so if on a phone call). I wish the number was closer to 7 hours on the buds since they are not the smallest in size.

Given the absolute lack of seal and open nature of the earbuds, they are extremely comfortable once worn and can even “disappear” while walking around due to how light they are (7.5g). The liquid silicone ear-guides provide good stability and the buds don’t fall off even when running at a light pace. The entire body of the earbuds is devoid of any buttons, relying solely on touch controls that resides on the bottom part of the chrome shell. There are two openings for the speakers, one fires directly into the ear canal while the other channels the driver’s backwave at an angle from the ear, reducing sound leakage and interference.

I should talk about the driver a bit more here since it’s one of the most unique aspects of these earbuds. It’s a 20mm x 8mm rectangular unit with triple magnets and ultra-linear response. The unit was developed by Luxshare ICT and has properties of both dynamic and planar driver units. Usually the square planar drivers that are used in hybrid IEMs take care of treble frequencies alone, but the AceFit Air driver handles the entire frequency range, making them stand out among the competition.

TECH SPECS

As shown: only SBC and AAC codecs are supported, and no multi-point support is available. While the lack of high resolution codec is not a deal-breaker for this particular class of earbuds in my opinion, multi-point could come in handy.

MICROPHONE QUALITY

There are two microphones that capture voice and attenuate surrounding noise on the AceFit Air. I found the microphone quality to be above average with good noise suppression but voice can sound a tad muted at times. Wind noise was effectively handled unless there are strong gusts of wind, which is a challenge for even dedicated microphones.

ACEFAST ACEFIT AIR: SOUND

Firstly, I’d like to apologize for the lack of any graphs or measurements since the clone IEC-711 coupler that I use could not be set up reliably to mount “open” type earbuds. A HATS (Head and Torso Simulator) is required with an artificial pinna – both of which are outside of my budget at the moment. Perhaps in the near future.

That digression aside, the AceFit Air has a V-shaped tuning in “classic sound” profile, with some recession in the lower-mids and elevated bass and treble. Bass is primarily focused on mid-bass frequencies as the lack of seal severely rolls off sub-bass frequencies. Bass does not distort and has decent speed, which are added bonuses. Treble has decent extension and manages to make hi-hats and cymbals sound lively.

Female vocals are more prominent and can get shouty at higher volumes. High-pitched vocals in general tends to sound strained and screechy at times. For the most part and in most tracks with male vocals, this was not an issue though. You can always use the EQ in the app to even things out as well though the effectiveness is questionable due to lack of parametric equalization (it’s fixed bands that you are allowed to modify, no customization there).

One interesting aspect is the drastic change of tone the moment custom EQ is enabled – the sound becomes quite dark and laid-back with lower-midrange recession. Despite the recessed mids, the AceFit Air is surprisingly pleasant to listen to in this mode, especially with live or atmospheric tracks.

Imaging is a bit strange with strong center image while the rest of the instruments almost lay parallel to your ears. Staging is different to traditional IEMs as a result, with instruments and voices having an almost rectangular presentation.

Staging is not narrow unlike many planars in the market. Imaging is quite accurate, with only some cardinal directions being less apparent. Macrodynamic punch is fantastic, while microdynamics are somewhat not that evident. Overall resolution is pretty good, thanks to the well rendered end-to-end extension.

Overall, I found that enabling EQ and fiddling with the settings there will likely yield more pleasing results than the default hyper-energetic tuning. I’d highly encourage experimenting with custom EQ profiles for a change of pace, otherwise the default tuning is good enough unless you plan to listen to tons of female vocals.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

I had a lot of fun trying out the ACEFAST AceFit Air. The experience of wearing them alone and walking around is unique, and then there is the sound which can be fiddled with just enough to cater to different tastes, albeit more flexibility in terms of Equalization would be highly welcome.

The mic quality is also good enough for phone calls on the go in moderately noisy environments, and the IPX4 waterproofing adds to the rugged nature of these earbuds. Open earbuds are not for everyone, but those who can appreciate situational awareness should definitely try out the AceFit Air. It offers a rather compelling package with many quality of life improvements, good enough sound quality, and a reasonable price tag.

There is a dearth of good options when it comes to open earbuds, and the AceFit Air might be the first one to be considered by discerning listeners. They won’t set the world alight, but they open up future possibilities of even better tuning and sonic customization.

MY VERDICT

4/5

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The post ACEFAST AceFit Air REVIEW – New Possibilities appeared first on Music For The Masses.

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The PWM Sat On-Wall Speaker is the newest, most compact model in the brand’s acclaimed PWM Series. Available in satin black or satin white, the PWM Sat delivers audiophile performance in a slim, décor-friendly design for seamless integration into any room. Price is $1,099 USD (Tariff adjusted) and $1,299 CAD per pair. 

The BP7 Powered Subwoofer the latest in its acclaimed SubSeries launch, this compact, high-performance sub engineered for accuracy, control and musical clarity. It combines a bipolar driver array, sealed cabinet, and 350-watt Class D amplifier to deliver deep, distortion-free low frequencies. Drawing upon 50 years of acoustic innovation, the BP7 reflects PSB’s commitment to precision and natural sound. Available in Satin Black or Satin White for $1,199 USD (tariff adjusted) and $1,399 CAD. 

Shelby Coppola 

Public Relations 
Lenbrook/ Audioscenic

+1 203-598-8167

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The new HDB 630 transports you (and your expectations) to the very heart of the music

Wedemark, Germany – October 8, 2025 – The Sennheiser brand today announces the 
​HDB 630, a headphone crafted for stunning audiophile sound wherever you are. Packed with a suite of fidelity-first features, advanced tuning, and modern mobility comforts, it ensures uncompromised sound no matter the setting.
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​By any measure, the HDB 630 is for the high-performance audio enthusiast who wants it all. Housed in a chassis inherited from the best-selling MOMENTUM 4, the HDB 630 supercharges its acclaimed ergonomics with a customized acoustic system built for focused listening—with or without a cable. The 42 mm dynamic transducer, made at the brand’s state-of-the-art Tullamore production facility in Ireland, is flanked with a series of acoustic treatments designed for purity, not hype. The resulting experience is an effortlessly agile listen with smooth mids, intimate vocals, and speedy dynamics that are true to the vibe that left the mastering studio.
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​“We set out to deliver a compelling option for audiophiles who want to keep the same level of quality they’re used to with their wired headphones while enabling them to enjoy it everywhere,” said Wee Hong Kuan, Senior Product Manager, “and out of the box, the HDB 630 brings a truly unique combination of fidelity and customization.”

High-resolution revolution
​The world-class transducer system is propelled by a high-resolution digital audio engine that can be used wired or wirelessly in a variety of setups. Through the HDB 630’s USB Type-C port or analog headphone cable, audiophiles can connect directly to their local or streaming library, with native support for music up to 24-bit, 96 kHz resolution.

For untethered listening, Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive codec support provides robust streaming capabilities that prioritize sound quality and signal stability. The headphone also includes a USB Type-C transmitter dongle, instantly upgrading class compliant sources like smartphones and tablets to high-resolution aptX Adaptive capability. With only an estimated 16% of smartphone hardware supporting native wireless high-res sound, the included dongle brings this capability to 80% of smartphone models in an instant through their USB Type-C port.
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​Brand new tools
​The HDB 630 includes a swathe of fresh, shareable sound shaping tools to let listeners go beyond the genre presets, and 5-band equalizer modes found in the Smart Control Plus app. Inspired by the flagship HE 1, the Crossfeed feature gently blends the left and right channels, giving the HDB 630 a speaker-like presentation—perfect for hard-panned mixes that can be fatiguing for headphone listening.

A groundbreaking new Parametric Equalizer lets listeners boost and cut frequencies beyond those offered in a traditional graphic EQ interface, complete with user-adjustable bandwidth (Q) controls, filter types, an A/B toggle and more. The settings are applied to the headphone’s advanced processing system, letting audiophiles enjoy their preferred tuning regardless of the content or app feeding it earlier in the chain. Fellow HDB 630 users can share their favorite presets with through the app, unlocking entirely new ways to experience high-resolution audio.

A future update will enable preset sharing through QR code generation—a boon for audiophiles who experiment and document their pursuit of the perfect sound in their enthusiast communities. With Smart Control Plus users can further customize intelligent features like noise cancellation, on-head detection, codec preference, and more.
​
​“The aim of this tuning was to let audiophiles on the move enjoy balanced sound with extended yet controlled bass,” added Tobias Ritter, Acoustic Engineer for HDB 630, “Whether plugging in or checking in, you always get a front-row seat to the emotional content in a recording, down to the last detail.”
​

Have a nice flight 
​With up to 60-hour battery life per charge and quick-charge capability to generate 7 hours of listening in just 10 minutes, it was made to be a daily driver no matter where you enjoy music. The HDB 630’s sealed design with Adaptive Noise Cancellation tames ambient noise to a whisper while the integrated microphones manage voice calls and transparency mode—should you ever want to engage with the outside world.

Luxuriously comfortable, its lightweight build is complemented by Japanese Protein Leatherette headband from IDEATEX, renowned for their gentle touch and durability, maximizing the enjoyment of every listening session. The HDB 630 ships with a protective travel case with USB Type-C charging cable, 3.5 mm analog audio cable, airline adapter, and USB Type-C Bluetooth transmitter.

Availability
​The HDB 630 will be available for pre-order on October 8th at an MSRP of Eur 499.90 / $499.95 USD and will ship October 21st from authorized dealers and from sennheiser-hearing.com

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The $90 SMSL D1 was kindly provided by the manufacturer for my review – and I thank them for that. You find more information and purchase links on its product page.

The SMSL D1 DAC is a superb sonic performer without bells & whistles that can get frustrating to operate because of its stubborn capacitive touch sensors.

Introduction

People assign ESS Sabre DAC chips some harshness, and the AKMs a somewhat softer sound, but have you ever heard or Rohm chips? Rohm Semiconductor (ローム株式会社, Rōmu Kabushiki-gaisha) from Kyoto, Japan, was established in 1958 as R.ohm, a combination of R for resistors and ohm for the measure of resistance.

SMSL have incorporated the Rohm BD34352EKV chip into their new budget D1 DAC, a tiny device with straightforward operation, a very lean user manual, and no power supply or even a reference to one. But hey, that’s what I am here for. 

SMSL has provided us co-bloggers with lots of pleasure. Loomis’ desk must be aching under the load of SMSL devices; I speculate he must have moved most of his paperwork down to the floor. We are always on the search for budget gems and this $89.99 USD anodized aluminum alloy box could be a candidate.

There are two contrary schools of thought about DACs: audiophiles tend to spend the most money of their stereos on the DAC and consider it the most important component of their system.

So-called objectivists who rely on the measurements of static sine curves to evaluate sound quality tend to swear that all DACs with the same day chip sound essentially the same, and that any cheap DAC will do (no DAC chip costs more than $12 as far as I know). Some manufacturers are so turned off by that “DAC-chipology” that they do not even publish the chips used, for example Sony.

The D1 replaces the SU-1 model with its AKM AK4493S chip. In any case, Rohm is something completely different for us. Let’s have a good look at the specs.

Specifications SMSL D1 DAC

Physical Things

In the box are the D1, a USB cable, a warranty card, and a very lean manual. You can also download the manual from the product page. The small device is made of CNC machined aluminum and features the standard connectivity on its back panel: coax/optical/USB-C inputs, and RCA outputs. 

Technology

The D1 supports USB, optical, and coaxial inputs but sadly no Bluetooth. You can connect it to your computer or CD player, but not stream wirelessly from your phone. For power, it features a USB-A port, which means, your phone’s 5V power supply/charger will supply the right current. You will get better sound with a higher-quality 5V power supply.

I am using the excellent Allo Shanti, a fovourite of PI users (Allo appears to have gone out of business, sadly) and the ifi iPowerX. Sadly, a good-quality power supply is more expensive than the D1 itself – and yes, it makes a BIG sonic difference in terms of transparency.

Outputs are RCA ports to connect to an amplifier. All of the above are on the back panel.

The D1’s front panel features two capacitive touch sensors (same types as most microwaves), one for on/off, and the other for input selection. No buttons. And that’s it. You may have to download a Windows driver from the SMSL website, but I am using a Mac Mini.

THE CAPACITIVE SENSOR MESS: What the manual does not tell you: You have to press the two touch sensors very hard. If the unit is switched off, the DSD LED is illuminated RED. If you, in this setting, try to change the inputs, nothing will happen, obviously. I thought the sensors were toast, but no, you have just to start the unit with the right sensor. Nevertheless, these sensors can be unresponsive and are a reason to get desperate at times. Some people report that the touch sensors do not work when you simultaneously touch the metal case. For others, the D1 switches the connected Raspberry Pi off. Patience is needed as you get rewarded by the D1’s excellent sound. In any case, order your D1 from a source you can easily return it to, if you run into severe touch screen issues.

In terms of technology, the D1 sports  the latest XMOS XU-316 microcontroller and many more components that are not specified by the manufacturer. For bit depth and sampling rates, have a look at the Specifications. 

What The D1 understandably does not feature, considering its low price, is a remote, and advanced functionality such as PCM filters, sound colours, DPLL etc., something purists like me do not care about anyway.

Sound

w. Stereo System

I used the $1300 Marantz SA8005 SACD-player as music source on my home stereo, comparing its internal Cirrus DAC with the D1’s optical and coaxial inputs on the flick of a switch: a true A-B-C-ing. and what I heard blew me away.

I expected a harsh, lean sound from a budget DAC (“Topping”), but the D1 proved me completely wrong. It delivers a rich sound with excellent spatial reconstruction and very good detail and instrument separation, good “air”, beating the Marantz’s internal Cirrus DAC. The D1 brings out the best of my Luxman amp and Heybrook speakers.

The Marantz’s internal DAC is more flamboyant, less laid back, and the notes are more washed out, though, overall, the differences are relatively small.

Bigger than the difference between Marantz and D1 is the difference between the D1’s inputs: I find the sound with the optical cable a bit smoother than with the coaxial cable…which may be caused by the cables, impossible to tell (the same was the case for the SMSL DO200 MkII DAC).

In summary I was amazed by the D1’s sonic performance. A+.

w. Headphones

I tested the D1 connected to the “souped up” Burson Funk amp connected to my Mac Mini, using the Meze POET premium headphones. This setup drives the D1 showed its limits…against the DAC in the $2000 USD Questyle CMA Twelve Master: it is still not harsh or lean, the excellent 3D reproduction is still there, but the notes are a bit washed out in comparison, and the Questyle’s “immediacy” is missing. Nevertheless, a formidable performance by the D1, the big underdog.

Summary of the listening tests: passed with flying flag.

Concluding Remarks

The SMSL D1 DAC is not only “something completely different” with its Japanese Rohm chip, it is also an absolute sonic stunner that even beats the DAC inside my Marantz SA8005 SACD player…and it plays into the hands of those, who think a good DAC does not have to be expensive.

It also sets itself apart from other DACs by its minute size…a very attractive appearance.

But inasmuch as the D1 is a gem for our ears, its stubborn touch sensors (in the absence of a remote) can be frustrating. A bargain for purists with patience.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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The post SMSL D1 Rohm DAC REVIEW – Honey Pie appeared first on Music For The Masses.

The $229 USD Campfire Audio Relay and fitting $59 USD Mag Wallet were supplied unsolicited by the company for my review, and I thank them for that. You can get them here and here.

The Campfire Audio Relay is a VERY powerful, neutral and clean sounding dongle DAC/amp with impressive imaging qualities and a crispness that may not be for everybody.

Introduction

Since our blog’s inception in 2019, we have reviewed countless Campfire Audio products, but strangely enough, this brand had escaped me altogether until a FedEx van showed up at the beginning of last weekend, dropping these goodies off entirely unsolicited.

Even stranger, when repeatedly strolling along East Burnside in quiet North Portland, OR, in the past, aiming for the famous Music Millennium record store, it had never occurred to me that there was a premium-audio manufacturer just a few blocks away. What remained of these experiences is a shelf full of CD box sets but no earphones.

When opening the two boxes out of the FedEx package, the first thing that stroke me was Campfire Audio’s attention to detail. Well, it was kind of expected, after the hundreds of photos I had seen in the different audio forums.

Let’s have a look at the Relay USB-C dongle DAC/amp first.

Specifications Campfire Audio Relay

• AKM SEQ 4493 DAC chip
• Two ultra-low-noise, high-output drivers
• 16.24/32 Bit, 44.1/46/88.2/96/176.4/192/352 8/384/705.6 768 kHz
• Windows 7/8/10/11, Mac OS, Android, iOS
• 3.5 mm single ended & 4.4 mm balanced outputs
• Low Gain – 1.35 Vrms /2.7 Vrms (balanced)
• High Gain – 2 Vrms / 4 Vrms (balanced)
• Six selectable filter modes
• Media playback controls
• 60-step built-in volume controls
• LED indicator
• DSD and PCM playback
• Tested at $229 USD
• Product Page: campfireaudio.com

Physical Things

In the box is the dongle, a short USB-C cable, a practical soft cotton pouch that can also hold an additional pair of earphones (not included), a microfibre cloth, and the manual. The Relay’s bottom is made of glass with a window to give the listener a view of the AKM chip. On top is an LED that is illuminated in the colour according to the sample rate of the music played, which also changes with gain. So far, I have observed red (44.100) and green (96.000), both on low gain, you’ll find out the rest yourself.

I read somewhere that the Relay is “highly” portable (as opposed to…”lowly”?)…which is not surprising as it is smaller than a Bic lighter — it is from PORTland after all (excuse the pun). In any case does it not take a Bulgarian weightlifter on steroids to move the Relay around.

Technology, Functionality, and Operation

Do we worry about the DAC chip? No we don’t. Isn’t it just responsible for the data handling? Yes, it is. We are concerned with the sound and power — and therefore with the output stage and amplifier…Campfire Audio does not give us any information on those.

All we know is that this single chip handles a single-ended 3.5 mm and a more powerful balanced 4.4 mm circuit (see specs for details). The DAC chip offers 6 filter modes, which have been obviously preset by Asahi Kasai Microdevices, so that Campfire Audio recommends to only use the “Super Slow Roll-Off” mode. And I follow suit in my testing.

We also know that Campfire Audio relies on the quality of this little dongle to do justice to the capabilities of (their) premium earphones that are magnitudes more expensive than this device, which is actually important information. No desktop setup needed? In order to confirm this, we will have to use our ears.

If you’ve carefully examined the images on this page, you’ll notice three buttons, two on one side and one on the other. With the two buttons, we control the volume, as expected, but also select the filter modes. The single button on the other side transports and lets us play/pause the songs, and also select the gain (high/low). What it does not do is move the volume slider on my iPhone 16e. So we have to find the balance between the volumes on the Relay and our (i)Phone (and computer).

The Relay works for Mac OS, iOS, and Android with Plug and Play but requires an ASIO driver for Windows. There may be compatilibty issues with some Android flavours. I strictly use Apple devices as music sources for my testing (iPhone 16e and late 2022 MacBook Air).

Power Management and Amplification

Dongle DAC/amps like the Relay do not have built-in batteries but draw current from their music source (which dramatically increases their lifespan as they are not subjected to planned obsolescence). Such devices that can be driven by a phone have first appeared in 2016.

The original model line, the AudioQuest DragonFlys were designed for low current draw, simply because the phone batteries at that time had small capacities so that, for example, Apple allowed no more than 100 mA current draw from their iPhones. The downside was relatively low power output (as wattage and amperage are proportional according to Georg Simon Ohm).

In the meantime, phone battery capacities have almost tripled so that dongle DACs are being designed to draw more current and therefore have additional power to drive hungrier headphones. Accordingly, Apple & Co. have become more generous with their current allowance.

The Relay draws 139 mA current from its source (measured with 85 dB pink noise at 32 Ω load), as much as the ifi Audio Go bar; that’s more than three times as much as the first 2016 DragonFly Black and more than twice as the 2019 DragonFly Cobalt, the price for its very powerful balanced circuit. The Relay therefore drives the 300 Ω Sennheiser HD 600 headphone with ease (!!!), and practically every iem. It only ever gets hand warm.

Sound

I tested the Relay mainly with the Sennheiser IE 900 earphone and the Sennheiser HD 550 headphone (and listened with the HD 600 for pleasure) on the balanced circuit (as written above, I had no Campfire Audio products on hand so that this project turned into some Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft).

I had mentioned before that DAC chips lack a distinct sonic characteristic, despite the internet’s echo chamber claiming otherwise. I own many devices with a certain ESS Sabre chip, and they sound nothing alike. In the current case, the AKM SEQ 4493 features “VELVETSOUND technology” but the Campfire Audio Relay sounds far from velvety.

On the opposite, the Relay rather reproduces music neutrally and accurately. Its biggest asset – it is really impressive – is its outstanding holographic imaging quality; the listener can locate each musician and instrument astonishingly accurately on stage. Notes are of lean weight and are very well controlled across the frequency spectrum, as transients are fast, which also makes for excellent transparency, clarity, and resolution.

But it also adds an analytical touch and some sharpness, for example, vocals can be pointy and harsh. These spikes can get fatiguing at higher volumes. Surprisingly, considering the separation that comes with it, this can actually be attractive at moderate volumes by creating revealing spatial audio. Relay’s crisp reproduction can also compensate for the low quality of old recordings.

To substantiate my findings, I continued using the IE 900 but replaced the Relay with the Earmen TR-Amp, which produced a somewhat smoother midrange. I also compared the Relay to the DragonFly Cobalt using the underappreciated Rumaudio Blues earphone (as the Cobalt distorts the IE 900’s sound). In this comparison, the Cobalt produced fuller and “creamier” vocals than the leaner and peakier Relay, confirming that this DragonFly remains the most natural sounding dongle I have auditioned.

A representative example of demonstrating the pros and cons of the Relay is Astrud Gilberto’s brilliantly recorded live version of Corcovado on Verve Jazz Masters Vol.9. I have yet to find another DAC/amp at any price that places Astrud and her partner Antonio Carlos Jobim so accurately on stage and produces such tightly focused bass lines and resolving cymbals. However, when the volume is turned up too high, the crowd’s applause can hurt my eardrums.

So, what are the alternatives to the Relay? I have filled my drawers with dongles over the years but given most away as they did not stand my personal test of time. My keepers of the ones still in production are the aformentioned DragonFly Cobalt and the similar sounding Helm Bolt. Both are underpowered in comparison and only feature a 3.5 mm single-ended circuit. With the Relay you trade soul for speed, accuracy, and power.

I therefore cannot think of a valid alternative to the Relay at this price.

The MAG Wallet

Campfire Audio kindly included their MAG wallet, which attaches the Relay to your phone. As the acronym implies, there’s a magnet inside this thick and cleanly stitched highly-quality leather pouch that even sticks firmly to my fridge. If your phone is not magnetic or itself in a leather case, a stick-on magnetic ring is included, as we all as a USB-C cable. You’ll figure it out.

• Magnetic Leather DAC Wallet
• Custom dual-angle USB-C Cable
• Optional stick-on magnet ring (for devices without magnet or different fit styles)
• Tested at $59 USD
• Product Page: campfireaudio.com

Concluding Remarks

The Campfire Audio Relay does indeed do justice to (many) full-sized headphones and to most if not all earphones. Despite its minute size, it is not only (almost) universally deployable with plenty of power but also does an incredible job in terms of imaging and staging. This comes at the cost of a crisp, analytical character that may not hit everybody’s taste, a tradeoff given that all this tech has to fit on a very small logic board. After all, this little rascal competes with desktop stacks.

Impressive work.

When I’m strolling along East Burnside again, I’ll definitely take that small detour past 2400 SE Ankeny St.

Until next time…keep on listening!

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Disclaimer

*”Keep Portland Weird” is a popular slogan that can be found at different locations around Portland, OR.

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The post Campfire Audio Relay DAC/amp with MAG Wallet REVIEW – Keep Portland Weird* appeared first on Music For The Masses.

The $129.99 USD SOUNDSPEATS H3 were provided by the manufacturer for Jürgen’s and my review and we thank them for that. They can be purchased from amazon. Link is non affiliate, we strictly avoid all conflicts of interest. Promo code for 10% off in Specifications table below. Limited time only.

Don’t sleep on the Jimmy Kimmel cancellation, however short-lived—the MAGA herd won’t let it go and we may be at a Reichstag fire moment in our history. Sometimes it’s good to be old—you can worry less about an increasingly grim future.

On a cheerier note, Soundpeats recently sent us their new, nominally $149.99 ($129.99 street) H3 TWS buds, which differentiate themselves from the herd with an unusual DD/2BA array. Snazzy-looking teardrop-shaped aluminum casings are slightly hefty but well built and provide for good passive isolation; as with their recent Air5 Pro (review here), multi-mode ANC works extremely well (better than the Sennheiser Momentum 4, if not quite at the Sony/Bose level); touch controls and UI are user-friendly, although like most people I don’t like having to register for the Peats app. 

Like the Air5 Pro, default tuning is rather flat but easily enhanced through the app EQ to what has now become Soundpeat’s house signature—lively, V-shaped and crisp-textured, with a deep, taut and speedy bass, slightly attenuated midrange and sparkly well-extended, very detailed high end which really pops on hi-rez/LDAC material.

As with Soundpeats prior hybrid TWS, the (very good) H1 (review here), the H3 have an expansive holographic stage and instruments are well-separated. However, where their predecessor suffered a bit from discontinuity between the frequencies, the H3 are quite coherent and draw your ears to the entire band, as opposed to discrete performers.

More critically, Soundpeats still clings to the highly resolving but steely/sharp tonality of its predecessors—the H3 present more high end information but lack the note body, smoothness and warmth of pricier Sony/Sennheiser entrants.

In essence, with the H3 you trade a more natural timbral quality for tighter bass and a more chiseled, revealing presentation.  As Jürgen noted (review here), the H3 can get a little spiky at higher volumes, although I can’t conceive of anyone needing to crank these up too high—they are one loud, zesty mofo.

Those seeking a more audiophile, truer-to-source TWS (or the treble-averse)  at the same price point should look to the Cambridge Melomania (review here) or Moondrop offerings such as their <HONKAI: STAR RAIL> Robin (review here), though neither can rival the H3 for ANC, tech or features. Given that “audiophile” and BT are still somewhat oxymoronic, I’d go so far as to say that Soundpeats (along with the less high-tech Lypertek) is as good as you’ll do in this range; they mark a clear step forward from their already-credible predecessors and are ultimately hard to fault for the $$$.

Well done.

Specifications SOUNDPEATS H3

Driver Unit	2 balanced armature drivers and a 12mm dynamic driver
Chipset	QCC3091
Frequency Response	???
Bluetooth Version	5.4
Working Distance	??? m
Supported Bluetooth Profiles	HSP/ HFP/ A2DP/ AVRCP
Supported Codecs	SBC/AAC/LC3/LDAC/aptX/aptX Adaptive/aptX Lossless; LC3 and LDAC are disabled by default. Enable via the PeatsAudio app.
Multipoint Connection	2 Devices
Equalization (in free SOUNDPEATS App)	10 channel parametric EQ, diverse presets, custom EQ via hearing test
Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)	Up to 55 dB Adaptive ANC
Microphones	6-MIC AI Noise Reduction + cVc 8.0
Playtime	7 h playtime, 37 h with case. 10-min charge = 2 h use
Battery Capacity	2*35 mAh (Earbuds) 400mAh (Case)
Total Play Time (ANC on/off)	37 h
Single Play Time (ANC on/off)	7 h
Charging Port	USB-C
Charge Time	1h (Earbuds）2h (Case)
Water Resistance	IPX5
Tested At	$129.99 USD
Product Page	soundpeats.com
Download User Manual	here
PURCHASE LINK	amazon.com
SPECIAL DEAL when using this non-affiliate link: https://geni.us/h3earbuds	Code: AUDIOREH3 Product: SOUNDPEATS H3 Extra Discount: 10% OFF • • Validity: Sep 20 – Oct 30, 2025 (23:59)

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128 Bluetooth & TWS Devices

The post SOUNDPEATS H3 REVIEW (Second Opinion) – Is There Life On Mars? appeared first on Music For The Masses.

That’s how it works: we put two pieces in the cage, lock the gate, and let them in there for a few days, let them cook for a bit…and only one of them gets to come out. Bose QuietComfort vs. Sennheiser Momentum 4.

Introduction

Since the dawn of time have we associated Bose headphones with active noise cancellation and travel, just like Kleenex with runny noses, Hoover with vacuum cleaners, and Trojan with…horses. Sennheiser, on the other hand, has a longstanding reputation for their professional microphones and headphones.

What many people don’t know is that Sennheiser has offered active noise cancelling headphones, too. You just don’t see them as frequently in the streets as their Bose counterparts for reasons given below.

I have written extensively and critically on the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and the Bose QuietComfort and thank both companies for providing review units. TL;DR: both headphones are great in their own right, so your choice should be based on their intended use.

Separated at birth: Bose QuietComfort (left) and Sennheiser Momentum 4 (right).

Technology

Both headphones cost about the same. Both offer Bluetooth and wired connections (active, that is switched on, and passive, when switched off). Only the Sennheiser Momentum 4 offers hi-res audio, the Bose QuietComfort is restricted to SBC/AAC codecs. This is not dramatic as Apple Music, for example, also limits its compatibility to AAC.

The Sennheiser plays for up to 60 h on a charge, the Bose for up to 24 h. Bose still relies on buttons for operation, Sennheiser has implemented tapping and gestures on the faceplates, just like current iems. Technologically, the Momentum 4 is more advanced and wins this first round.

Specifications Sennheiser Momentum 4

Wearing style	Bluetooth® around-ear, closed-back
Ear coupling	circum-aural
Transducer principle	dynamic
Transducer	42 mm 300 Ω
Frequency response	6 Hz to 22,000 Hz (-10 dB)
Sound pressure level (SPL)	106 dB (1 kHz/0 dBFS)
THD (1 kHz, 100 d SPL)	< 0.3 % (1 kHz, 100 dB SPL)
Microphone principle	MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems)
Microphone frequency response	80 Hz to 8,000 Hz (-3 dB)
Microphone pickup pattern (speech audio)	4 omni-directional microphones 2×2-mic beamforming array
Power supply	built-in rechargeable lithium-polymer battery: 3.7 V-, 700 mAh, 2.59 Wh USB charging via USB-C socket: 5 V=, 750 mA max.
Charging time of rechargeable battery	approximately. 2 h
Operating time	up to 60 hrs (music playback via Bluetooth with ANC activated)
Temperature range	operation: 0°C to +40°C  charging: +10°C to +40°C  storage: -20°C to +60°C
Relative humidity (non condensing)	operation: 10 to 80 % storage: 10 to 90%
Tested at	$449.95/299.95 USD, $499.95 CAD, , £309.99/199.00, €369,90/229.90
Product Pages	Sennheiser USA, Sennheiser CANADA, Sennheiser UK, Sennheiser Germany

BLUETOOTH
Version	Bluetooth 5.2 compliant, class 1
Transmission frequency	2,402 MHz to 2,480 MHz
Modulation	GFSK, 7/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK
Profiles	HFP, AVRCP, A2DP
OutPut power	10 mW (max)
Codec	aptX Adaptive, AAC, SBC
Device name	MOMENTUM 4 (individually adjust-able) LE-MOMENTUM 4 (Bluetooth Low Energy only)
Number of active connections	2

[collapse]

Build

The Sennheiser is built more solidly than the Bose at the expense of a higher weight. Same accounts for the storage case. Another point for Sennheiser.

Comfort and Fit

Both are Bose strongpoints. The QuietComfort is lighter at 236 g than the Momentum 4 at 296 g, and it has the smaller caliper force. Also, the Bose case is smaller and handier than the Sennheiser case. This may be one of the reasons why you see so many Bose headphones on the road. Bose catches up in this round.

The App

Much easier to operate for the Bose but way more functionality for the Sennheiser listener…which also requires more fiddling. On the airplane, you may prefer the Bose app, in your Lazyboy chair, you may fancy Sennheiser’s SmartControl+. Let’s call it a tie for practical reasons.

Active Noise Cancellation

The QuietComfort runs rings around the Sennheiser when it comes to ANC. A knockout in the first round. Sennheiser compensates with a few additional features and therefore calls its ANC “Noise Control”. Nevertheless a big point for Bose.

Sound Quality

w. Bluetooth

Bose offers that irresistible punchy low end that is overcooked in the app, but can easily be corrected with the built-in eq. Sennheiser’s bass is comparatively slow. When it comes to mids (richer) and treble (better resolving), the Momentum 4 wins hands down.

Wired

Not en vogue anymore, but in passive mode, the Bose plays better, whereas the Sennheiser preserves its Bluetooth advantage in active mode. The Momentum 4 still comes with that two-prong airplane adapter Bose has thrown overboard.

Overall, considering that Bluetooth in both headphones produces a better sound quality than wired, the Momentum 4 is more of a Hifi headphone than the Bose QuietComfort which is more a lifestyle product.

Microphones

You decide!

Sound clip Bose Quiet Comfort:

Sound clip Sennheiser Momentum 4:

Real Life Use: stressful vs relaxing Environments

I’d use the lighter and more comfortable Bose when running from airport security to boarding in a stress situation, while listening to, let’s say, Bruce Springsteen, simply because of the QuietComfort’s ease of use, bassy sound signature, and unparalleled noise cancelling. You flip the switch and are connected.

No lengthy adjustments required. No choices that lead to analysis paralysis under pressure. During air travel there are other things to worry about. I also prefer the QuietComfort on the commute and when mowing the lawn or vacuuming – with or without music – simply because its noise cancelling capabilities are hard to beat.

I’d prefer the Sennheiser Momentum 4 in my armchair at home or in the office where I have time and the patience to fine-tune the sound signature, particularly when combining it with the Sennheiser BTD 700 USB adapter. In such environments, adaptive noise cancellation is most useful, and I can relax while listening to more sophisticated music such as Mendelssohn’s Italian symphony or Miles Davis’ bebop. Disclaimer: you may also do some work in your office.

Which Headphone will leave the Cage?

Both contenders have their pros and cons, each is an excellent headphone. But both lag behind in their technologies (even Apple’s AirPods Pro 3, released in Sept. 2025, do not feature the latest Bluetooth version), the Bose more, the Sennheiser less.

Some challengers are currently coming out of the woodwork, one of which claims to feature Bluetooth 6.0, 90 h of playtime, hi-res audio, and even instant and face-to-face translation at a fraction of our competitors’ price. Too good to be true? As long as I have not critically tested their claims and their audio, both the Bose and the Senns will have to stay in the cage.

Apologies!

I’ll update you on this right here. Stay tuned and check back occasionally.

In the meantime, I recommend reading my in-depth analyses of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 and the Bose QuietComfort.

Until next time…keep on listening

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The post Cage Match: Bose QuietComfort vs. Sennheiser Momentum 4 appeared first on Music For The Masses.

The DALI IO-8 headphone boasts infectious bass, exceptional ANC performance, and a design that surpasses its competitors in both functionality and aesthetics.

INTRO

Lots of big name brands are trying to take a piece of the market of wireless ANC aways from Apple, Sony, and Bose and the DAli IO-8 might be poised to take a bite out of that pie. For those not familiar with Dali, they are one of the high end brands of Lenbrook who owns the likes of PSB and also produces their own lineup of mid-tier to high end speakers.

Priced at $1299 USD they are venturing into the deeper end of the pool. My more eloquent partner Loomis already reviewed these, so consider my secondary viewpoint below.

Disclaimer: Lenbrook sent these for analysis without any kind of corporate or government influence. We thank them for considering and valuing our opinion.

DESIGN

The simple sliding headband of the Carmel White Dali IO-8 relies solely on friction and is paired with up and down articulating earpads that are limited in the degree of travel. The padding material exterior has a nice smooth feel almost as if a dense foam piece, rather than foam wrapped with a leather or vinyl material.

The earpads are on the firm end of the scale and not as luxurious as what is found on the Focal Bathys MG. My experience with this material type gives me mixed feelings, it is hard to say if this will hold up long term or not. Good news is that they unclip easily with a small twist opening the possibility for changing them out.

The small earcups with a simple round shape are not as bulky as the Focal Bathy MG which also means those with larger ears might struggle with a comfortable fit. Given the way the headband works it can also put pressure on the bottom of your earlobes creating an uneven fitment experience.

Controls are wonderful and a dream to use, haptic clicks, easy to find to advance tracks, turn up volume and pause. The other controls such as ANC, power, and a bass/hifi toggle are spaced out quite a bit. Trying to remember which is which takes some time to remember. Did I mention how great the track advance and volume up/down is to use? Definitely the standout feature, and the easiest I have ever used, bar set.

Like most wireless headphones, the Dali IO-8 offers USB and analog connection via the standard 3.5mm plug. No special cables needed, and the analog connection works either with or without power. If you power them on, then you get access to the ANC modes, but its nice to not be out of luck when you run out of power.

On you way out the door, grab the case and plop them in. It’s nothing exceptional, and since they do not fold its rather easy to wrap them up. 

SOUND

Tested with Apple Iphone 13, LG G8

The Dali IO-8 delivers a balanced bright sound with ANC off and kicks into basshead mode with ANC turned on even with the hifi EQ mode enabled. There is a slightly problematic area for me involving the treble.

It borders on sibilant at times and has sharpness that is always present causing some coloration. Even the voice announcements sound strained. The goal seemed to be to tune the Dali IO-8 as a light and airy sounding signature. I believe the general consumer will love them with comments such as “crisp” treble.

With good recordings the sibilant nature is not always noticeable, but with popular music it is hard to ignore. It is very sensitive, translation with the wrong good recording, it is there as well. Overall the Dali IO-8 is extremely bright and there is either a peak or driver breakup that needs to be dealt with. Reminds me of IEM’s from about 8 years ago.

The Dali IO-8 likes to jam with clean bass with ANC off, being close to neutral with ANC off with some boost still happening. I find it rather clean and punchy with good resolution and great clarity with the midrange. All throughout it delivers exceptionally clean music up to the upper treble region. The bass has this digital extra control vibe going on, almost surgical in the way it presents itself. I wish the treble dialed back on the crispness.

Dali IO-8 brings a wonderfully spacious feeling to the soundstage arena, with extended width and tasteful front to back separation. I again point back to the bass that offers a sort of decay that makes everything sound lively and devoid of hard boundaries. This is where they start earning the price asked, but I think it’s a stretch for me.

SENDING IT HOME

While the Dali IO-8 has big ambitions at a $1299 price tag, value is out of the window. As you strive to move up the sound upgrade ladder, most will disregard this as un-important to some degree. They sound wonderful despite the crispy treble, but that might be what someone else is looking for.

I found the fitment a little on the small side for me, which did not allow the ANC to be as supreme as the Sony XM3. The physical controls are great and not annoying like touch controls, and in case you noticed there is no app. There is something with the design – an “IT” factor where I gravitate towards the IO-8 over the pedestrian looking Sonys.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Frequency Range 10-43000
• Driver: 50mm
• Battery Life: 35 Hours playback
• Connections: Bluetooth 5.2, 3.5mm, USB-C
• Input Audio Formats: 16-24bit, 32/44.1/48/96kHz sampling rates
• Impedance: 25 ohms
• Wireless Audio Codecs: AAC, aptx, aptXHD, aptX Adaptive
• Weight 325g

Disclaimer: these were a loaner from Lenbrook and can be purchased here:

DALI-IO-8 Caramel White: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHT2XZQ7

DALI-IO-8 Iron Black: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHSY33DS

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DISCLAIMER

Get it from Audio46, Amazon, or other Lenbrook Dealers

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

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