Latest reviews

MetehanMinatozaki

New Head-Fier
Pros: -Natural sound for the price
-Good treble presentation
-Above average note weight
-Ok soundstage
Cons: -Bad imaging
-Bad passive isolation
-Below average resolution
-Really bad dynamics
Disclaimers

I bought this iem with my own money. This review is completely subjective.

Accessories

Just headphone itself, simple and unique :D

Build

Completely plastic...
Show full review
  • Like
Reactions: Leonarfd

jamejfio

New Head-Fier
Pros: Macrodynamics
Imaging
Price
Cons: Flimsy build
Recessed treble

kiling92

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Clarity at TOTL level
Most natural sound you can find in this hobby
Mids to die for
Bass meaty,textured and lush (if paired with the new foams by es-labs)
Great highs,extended and not fatiguing
Great presence of details
Incredibly comfortable and light
Non fatigue sound
Mammoth and uniquely three-dimensional soundstage
Built like rock with premium materials
you feel like you’re holding a mausoleum
Great punch
Pinpoint images
The best dynamic headphones In the world
Cons: Really sensitive and sound quality can highly depend from the source
Bass can sound thin if not drive properly
Cannot be repaired in case of failure
Astronomic price
This headphone has demonstrated the great potential of Sony, and has shown just as its decline towards in the hifi world
“The absolute never needs to be explained. It speaks for itself, and people can understand what it
He says, they place him out of time.”


Since I entered in this world I’ve been alsways...
Show full review

Attachments

  • IMG_7182.jpeg
    IMG_7182.jpeg
    189.3 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG_7183.jpeg
    IMG_7183.jpeg
    773.9 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG_7184.jpeg
    IMG_7184.jpeg
    447.1 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG_7187.jpeg
    IMG_7187.jpeg
    451.1 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
kiling92
kiling92
@Jacobal The caldera is totally a different headphone.
Caldera sound like a headphone;R10 sound quite similar to a speaker,and while caldera is better technically (bass region),the R10 have a unique timbre,natural as no other nothing here and very euphonic.
However imo caldera is the best headphone from ZMF hands down
Jacobal
Jacobal
Have you tried the Qualia?
kiling92
kiling92
Unfortunately still no..but I would like

Nirvana Woman

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: - Great tonal balance
- Among the most comfortable headphones I've ever used
- Forgiving of poor recordings
Cons: - Bass not as deep as competitors
- Minor issues in the high frequencies
The HD558 is one of those headphones that even when you're not specifically listening to music, some soundtrack might randomly come up in a show or whatever and you catch yourself thinking gosh...
Show full review
Last edited:
gargani
gargani
Agree with your review. I've owned them since 2016. A month after I got them I got a used pair of the original ivory hd598. Still own them as well. To me they sound very, very similar, although the hd598 seemed a bit more open or spacious, but not a lot.. In other words the hd558 is still an overall enjoyable headphone.
Nice to see your review in 2023.
Nirvana Woman
Nirvana Woman
Agree with your review. I've owned them since 2016. A month after I got them I got a used pair of the original ivory hd598. Still own them as well. To me they sound very, very similar, although the hd598 seemed a bit more open or spacious, but not a lot.. In other words the hd558 is still an overall enjoyable headphone.
Nice to see your review in 2023.
Thanks! Yeah the 598 are very fun headphones.
stuck limo
stuck limo
My very first pair of serious headphones. Loved them for years and gave them to a friend of mine who also enjoyed them.

jeromeoflaherty

New Head-Fier
Pros: Amazing soundstage
Great midrange
Very comfortable
Nice detachable 3m cable
Easy to customise and repair
Cons: Bass needs EQ
Treble will be too bright for most
The AKG K702 is a classic studio reference headphone with a legendary soundstage which can be picked up at a very pragmatic price especially compared to competition. I purchased my K702 a few...
Show full review

Attachments

  • AKG-Openback-Comparison.jpg
    AKG-Openback-Comparison.jpg
    81 KB · Views: 0
  • K702-comparisons.jpg
    K702-comparisons.jpg
    62.7 KB · Views: 0

Brandfuchs

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Amazing vocal; neutral as natural tuning
Cons: Would be better if bass go deeper than mid-bass; earcups too shallow

4070?​


So, here's the story: I was exchanging headphones with a friend when he suddenly popped the question, ‘are you interested in the 4070?’ Without much thought, I replied...
Show full review
Pros: Excellent bass
Detail retrieval
Imaging
Comfort
Build quality
Exceptionally capable driver
Cons: Isolation
Fitment
Cable
Wear
Treble
Non-sound related aspects

Fitment:
Fit is perhaps the most interesting part about the EX1K. When in the ears, the driver is almost in line with the ear canal. What this...
Show full review

Jarlaxle

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Good build for the price
Abundace of the tips included
Clean neutral tuning
Good timbre
Very good staging
Cons: Cable isn't replaceable
Bass might be lacking for most people
Treble could have been smoother and extended more
Hifiman is mostly known for their open-back planar magnetic headphones and I myself own 3 pairs. As you may already know, almost all of their headphone offerings have become benchmarks in their...
Show full review
Last edited:

geoffalter11

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: 10 New Features - Will Discuss in review
Inky Black Background
Wonderful Energy and Dynamics Below 500k
It is the Freaking Violectric V281
Wonderful with High Impedance Dynamics
Extremely Proficient with Lower Impedance Headphones
Extremely Flexible with Gain Options
Amp ONLY - No option for a DAC
Cons: It is the Violectric V281 - With So Much New Stuff, Does It Still Have a Place in a Sea of Amps?
Not Really Anything.
Because of Arthur at Power Holdings, I was given the opportunity to spend a few weeks with the Violectric V281 Limited Edition. Over the past couple years Arthur was getting blown up by customers...
Show full review
Last edited:
geoffalter11
geoffalter11
Arthur added a couple of pics of the remote to his website at power holdings, so you can go to the Violectric page and hit the V281 Re-Issue link and you will find some pics of the remote there. Sorry, when I go to upload photos in the comments it is asking for a URL and I am too tired to figure out how to add them.
milkdudd
milkdudd
Yep, that's the one I was hoping it would be. Slightly different button layout because of the different functions of the reissue. Overall, the best remote I've ever used, especially for volume. Mine is the non-stepped volume control. I'm not kidding, a 1/10 of a second push (or whatever the fastest humanly possible works out to) changes the volume accordingly
geoffalter11
geoffalter11
I think the remote was used for their new AIOs as the remote has upsampling at the top, which is not something the V281 can do. But, it is a really nice remote. I don't use remotes, my system is all right at my fingertips. I am not the listen on a chair away from my system kind of listener. I need to be multi-tasking. I have trained myself to listen completely while writing or doing something else, generally audio related, like reading reviews or learning about other pieces of gear. It feels more like a concert that way for me where I have all of these other things to take into account to feel the energy of the venue, people, music, etc. I don't know, definitely more than one way to skin the cat, that is for sure.

jamejfio

New Head-Fier
Pros: Superb imaging
A completely inoffensive sound signature
Lightweight
Cons: Polarising headband design
Proprietary cable

MetehanMinatozaki

New Head-Fier
Pros: -Big bass response
-Good dynamics for the price
-Good build quality
-Good accessories
-Fun sound
-Good soundstage and imaging for the price
Cons: -Too much bass
-Feels lifeless and dark sometimes
-Fixed cable
-Recessed mids
-Weird peaks in tune
-Below average resolution (still better that the edxs)
Disclaimers

I bought this IEM with my own money. This review is completely subjective...
Show full review

theodyofil

New Head-Fier
Pros: Beautiful Design
Material Quality
Very comfortable
2 cable included (1 with mic attached)
Highly efficient
Musical, emotional, fun
Cons: Rivals have more resolution & detail retreival
Upper mids can be hot
Hi, below you can find my detailed video review of the Meze 99 Classics

Overall, I think it is a beautiful headphone to have in the collection especially for rock & metal music...
Show full review
  • Like
Reactions: Colin5619

lepermessiah

New Head-Fier
Pros: Pleasing neutral/ reference style sound signature, build quality, comfort, high end and practical cable, good technical performance
Cons: Can sound boring and nondescript at the first listen until one starts listening to the details

I had the opportunity to listen to this lovely pair of IEMs courtesy of a dear friend of mine for an extended period. The UE TF10 was one of the first recommendations...
Show full review
Last edited:

MetehanMinatozaki

New Head-Fier
Pros: -Good soundstage
-ok-ish imaging
-Good resolution
Cons: -Harsh and peaky treble
-sibilance
-Hot upper mid
-Bad note weight
-Soft mid bass
Disclaimers

I bought this iem with my own money. This review is completely subjective.

Sound-Tonality and Technicalities

Fiio f5 comes with a hard V shaped sound signature...
Show full review
  • Like
Reactions: o0genesis0o

Enther

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Spectacular dynamics (better at medium-high volumes)
Good instrumental separation despite having an intermediate soundstage
Creates a very pleasant room effect.
Body in the sound
Versatile tonality for many genres
Comfortable
Energy efficient
Nice look
Cons: Good resolution but not spectacular
Scene somewhat smaller than I would like for a product of this price
It is somewhat aggressive because it has a sharp note "edge"
In 2024 for more than €1000 it is a bad purchase
Welcome to critica actual writen review!
Today it's time to do a special review. One of those reviews that makes me excited because I think it is a really good product. We are going to analyze the...
Show full review
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: alexdemaet and Tano

Et Sona

New Head-Fier
Pros: Clarity, soundstage, detail, comfort, materials, finish, packaging.
Cons: Proprietary connectors on headphones, no balanced cable included for the price.
Disclaimers:
  1. This is an english translation of a Spanish review I've written about the headphones...
Show full review

Attachments

  • IMG_5120.jpg
    IMG_5120.jpg
    3 MB · Views: 0
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Kasual21

BX700

Head-Fier
Pros: Neutral tuning
Good detail
Natural timbre
Accurate decay
Decent extension at both ends
Overall natural presentation
Cons: Mannered, safe
Could be faster
Excellent, but not necessarily exceptional in any regard
Bought these used based on previous review, and have thereby got myself a bargain reference pair. Neutrally tuned and generally giving the feeling of detailed, clear, accurate reproduction of the...
Show full review
Last edited:

lepermessiah

New Head-Fier
Pros: Fun V-shaped sound signature, build quality, comfort, accessories, great cable, sparks of technical proficiency
Cons: Slightly bigger shells for a 3 driver IEM, polarizing sound signature, the hotter treble section can make the ESR fatiguing to listen to (rectified with foam tips), slight metallic tonality in some songs
The ESR Mk 1 was the first Empire Ears IEM that I tried extensively courtesy of a dear friend of mine. Empire Ears is an American family owned establishment that has been around for...
Show full review
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Mike Foley

pradiptacr7

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Amazing Build quality, Very Natural and Accurate Timbre and Tone, Sublime Bass Texture, One of the Best Midrange, Huge Soundstage, Easy to Drive
Cons: Not for Bassheads, Fit Issue can be Observed for Some, Average Stock Cable

INEAR SD5: UNVEILING SONIC EXCELLENCE



Introduction: -

In the ever-evolving world of IEMs and headphones, finding the perfect balance between impeccable sound...
Show full review
AlekhyaD666
AlekhyaD666
Beautiful writeup and beautiful picture. The SD5 looks very interesting.
pradiptacr7
pradiptacr7

Ben86

500+ Head-Fier
Pros: • Very musical, natural, immersive and refined presentation.
• Sounds very natural and engaging with Instrumental-Vocal music genres like Jazz, Blues, Classical and some Old Rock.
• Great Bass.
• Sweet and Natural Vocals.
• Very natural instrument timbres and great positioning in space.
Cons: • A bit high in price.
• Need an op-amp extender to fit in some audio devices.
In my honest opinion V6 will be really great addition to any audio system, it uplifts sound quality in every aspect compared to other cheaper Op-Amps. In my case compared to OPA1656, OPA1612...
Show full review

Attachments

  • Messenger_creation_40cb3136-b052-4709-bacb-8a6bbe9303d7.jpeg
    Messenger_creation_40cb3136-b052-4709-bacb-8a6bbe9303d7.jpeg
    610 KB · Views: 0
  • 20240217_183951.jpg
    20240217_183951.jpg
    2.3 MB · Views: 0
  • 20240217_180407.jpg
    20240217_180407.jpg
    1.5 MB · Views: 0
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ufasas
Back
Top