"Bad sound kills good music"

This is meant as a lighthearted yet helping hand ear and general knowledge base for portable audio products, including earphones, amps and media players.

All earphone/headphone reviews have been done by using a Cowon D2 and a Sansa Clip, without any EQ or DSP tweaking.


Earphone (IEM/in ears) top ten:

1. Phonak Audo PFE 232
2. Westone 4R
3. Sensaphonics J-Phonic K2 SP
4. Minerva Mi-3
5. Shure SE535
6. Westone 3
7. Westone UM-3X
8. Brainwavz B2
9. Hifiman RE262
10. Audio Technica ATH-CK10

This top list is my personal preference, and may not be true to someone else. Also note that all IEMs on this list are exceptionally good.



Favourite IEMs for different sound signatures:

For bassy/warm sound:
Zagg ZR-SIX, Brainwavz M5, Sennheiser IE8, Hippo VB, Vivanco Aircoustic Black Walnut, SonoCore Chrome and COA-805, Denon C710, Brainwavz R1.

For natural/neutral sound:
Phonak PFE232, Minerva Mi-3, Sensaphonics J-Phonic K2 SP, Shure SE535, Westone UM-3X, Head Direct RE262, Sennheiser IE7, Dunu DN-11, Brainwavz B2, Westone 4R.

For detailed/cold sound:
Phiaton PS200, Audio Technica CK10, Etymotic hf3.



Headphone (on/over ears) top five:

1. Sony MDR-Z1000
2. Ferrari by Logic3 T350
3. SoundMagic HP100
4. German Maestro GMP 435s
5. Zagg ZR-LE

Wireless headphones/headsets top three:

1. SoundMagic WP10
2. Meelectronics Air-Fi AF32
3. Jaybird Sportsband 2

Digital Audio Players (DAP) top three:

1. Astell&Kern AK100
2. Cowon X7
3. Cowon J3

Earphone reviews:
Audio Technica, Brainwavz, Crossroads, Denon, Dunu, Etymotic, Fischer Audio.
HifiMan, Hippo, HiSound, I-Mego, Jays, Klipsch.
Meelectronics, Minerva, Nocs, Nuforce, Phiaton, Phonak.
Sennheiser, Sensaphonics, Shure, SonoCore, SoundMagic, Thinksound.
Vivanco, Westone, Zagg.

Headphone reviews
Headphone reviews (part 2)

Portable amp reviews

Portable media player reviews (with screen for video etc)

Portable music player reviews (without screen, or monochrome screen)

Tablet / media player reviews

Accessory reviews

The discussion thread, AKA as the original review thread



Latest review(s) added:

Ferrari by Logic3 T350

Astell&Kern AK100


Coming review(s):

Astell&Kern AK120