Audio News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

iFi Audio is one of the biggest names in the audiophile space. Its products routinely make best-of lists and push the limits on sound quality, features, and power for their size. We’ve put its latest product, the iFi GO Bar Kensei through its paces, seeing just what it has to offer over the original GO Bar. It’s a tiny, very pocketable DAC/amp that puts out a surprising amount of power — enough for most over-ear headphones, let alone in-ear monitors (IEMs) — and supports advanced features like sound customization with filters and its own X-Bass and X-Space enhancements, as well as JVCKENWOOD’s K2HD upscaling tech. It exists on the high end of the dongle DAC price spectrum, but if you want an audiophile experience on the go, it delivers.

Elysian Acoustics is finally pushing into the mid-range with the announcement of its Pilgrim pair of in-ear monitors. While it is best known for its Diva and Annihilator earphones, $1,599 and $2,999 respectively, the Pilgrim comes to market at $399 while retaining the company’s signature detailed sound and beautiful design. It features a hybrid, triple--driver design, and is available at HiFiGo now.

I\O Audio is a new brand aiming to launch with a bang. Its first product, the I\O Audio Volare is certainly impressive. At $599, it features a tribrid design consisting of one dynamic driver, four balanced armatures, and four electrostatic drivers.  This type of configuration is found in some of the highest-end IEMs on the market and usually starts north of $700 and extends into the multiple thousands. Certainly Golden Ears territory, it still manages to feel like a good value in the category it’s competing in. If you’re looking for a grat balance of punchy bass and sparkly treble, this is a great set to consider. 

The original Moondrop Blessing 2: DUSK came about before we began reviewing audio gear in earnest, but it’s no stretch to say that it has attained legendary status in the audio community. Whether you’re an audiophile or gamer, it was one of the most frequent recommendations and absolutely trend-setting for the era of influencer collaborations we find ourselves in today. Its successor has been a long time coming but the wait is finally over. 

Letshuoer has been on a roll the last couple of years, releasing multiple popular IEMs for different types of listeners. Most recently, we took a look at its S15 planar magnetic IEMs and found it to be one of the hands-down best planars you can buy under $500. Before that, it was the S12 and the Tape Pro. Today, we have its latest release, the Cadenza 4.

Can't hear any sound from your phone? Problems like malfunctioning headphones, your phone using a wireless device for audio output, sound being muted within a particular app, interference from other installed apps, and more could be causing this issue. We have some solutions you can try to resolve this problem.

Earfun has developed a reputation for delivering solid earbuds for affordable prices. The Earfun Free Pro 3 is its latest swing at a budget-friendly flagship, offering powerful ANC, good battery life, and a customizable sound. At $79.99, they’re a good value and a solid pick that won’t strain your wallet.

At only $89, the Celest Plutus Beast offers a lot for the money. It uses a unique tribrid design consisting of an unlikely trio: one balanced armature, one bone conduction driver, and full-range square planar driver.  We would expect these drivers at a higher price point, but the Plutus Beast seems designed to act as a gateway drug to the IEM hobby and Celeste/Kinera’s wider line-up. It’s a good value and a better listen for music and gaming alike. 

Sennheiser is what many would consider to be a legendary audio brand. It has been in the business for decades making some of the most popular and highly acclaimed headphones you can buy today. We’ve loved its true wireless offerings going all the way back to the original Momentum True Wireless in 2020 and most recently with the Momentum True Wireless 3 in 2022. 

Over the years, we’ve explored many different audio brands in this column. They’ve come from all around the world, including many from China where the personal audio market is exploding. But one place we haven’t yet examined closely is right here at home in the United States. That’s changing this year with our proverbial home-town hero: Campfire Audio.

Welcome back to Golden Ears, our semi-regular column exploring the world of high-end audio. Apart from highlighting neat and interesting products you might not otherwise know about, our goal here is simple: to discover exactly what makes these headphones worth their high entry price. Today, we’re looking at the HIFIMAN HE-1000se, a $2,000 pair of headphones that have been out for several years and are widely regarded as some of the best money can buy. 

Questyle is a brand we’ve visited before here at MMO with one of our favorite portable DACs/amps (soundcards) ever, the Questyle M15. It just released its latest set of in-ear monitors, the NHB15. Complete with a built-in hi-res DAC and amplifier, these earphones come ready to connect directly to your smartphone or laptop thanks to its modular USB Type-C cable. At $349 MSRP (and $299 as of this writing from Bloom Audio), these earphones don’t come cheap, but they’ll surprise you with how good they sound.

Nintendo Switch now supports a wide variety of headsets and headphones. Whether you need the functionality of a wireless connection or something affordable and durable for your kids, here are our five favorite headsets for Switch.

Campfire Audio is one of the leading audio brands in the United States, best known for its mega-hits like the Andromeda. Today, we’re looking at one of the newest members of the company’s Chromatic series, the Cascara. Driven by a single dynamic driver (DD), it delivers a rich, fun, bass-forward sound that makes for the perfect entry-point into the world of high-end, high-res audio. At $499, it’s one of the most affordable in-ear monitors (IEMs) in the company’s line-up and blew us away at every turn — even for gaming. If you like bass, this is a set you don’t want to miss.

HIFIMAN is best known for its line of high-end headphones, but today we’re looking at its premiere desktop sound system: the HIFIMAN Serenade. Featuring its acclaimed Himalaya PRO R2R DAC and enough power for the most demanding headphones or even full-size speakers. It’s a sound system in a desktop-sized box and has a lot to offer, but you’ll already need a great pair of headphones to make the most of it.

iFi has been one of the major players in the enthusiast audio world for years, and its Diablo series quickly became one of its most exciting products after its launch in 2021. Its successor is upon us, and the iFi iDSD Diablo 2 promises mega power in a portable form factor, allowing it to become a mobile audiophile setup — or to replace your current DAC/amp stack. In this edition of Golden Ears, we’ll be taking a close look to see what exactly it offers and how it justifies its premium $1,299 tag. 

Following quickly after the release of the AFUL MagicOne, AFUL is back with a portable and affordable DAC/amp that promises to “revolutionize” your listening experience anywhere you may be listening (including PC and console). It’s exceptionally pocketable, comes packed with high-performance components, and a stylish design, and has a surprising amount of power for its tiny size. At $110, it’s definitely worth considering, no matter where you may be listening. 

Thieaudio has come out swinging with its latest line of in-ear monitors. Aptly titled “hype” (hybrid-performance), it began the new series with the Hype 2, followed by the Hype 4, and each were met with wide acclaim. Today, we complete the trifecta with the Hype 10, an absolutely premium pair of in-ear monitors packing a whopping 12 drivers in each side. These earphones are the most expensive Hype yet, coming in at $899, placing them deep in Golden Ears territory. Let’s take a closer look and see exactly what they have to offer over their predecessors. 

While wireless earbuds are more popular than ever, the wired earphone market is thriving. There are more, better earphones than at any other point and both innovation and sound quality are at peak. But… there’s something to be said for being free from a wire. Until recently, you were forced to use dongle DAC/amps or bulky standalone units, but the iFi GO Pod aims to change that. 

Celeste, a new brand from Kinera, has just launched its latest pair of earphones and it’s a doozy. The Celeste Plutus Beast is indeed a beast when it comes to its design, offering a mix of bone conduction, balanced armature, and square planar drivers. At only $89 courtesy of HiFiGo, this new set is more than a little unique.

Thieaudio just released the next entry in its Hype line-up and the hype is real. The Thieaudio Hype 4 builds upon the Hype 2 ( reviewed here ) with more drivers and an even more striking design. Sonically, it’s a wholesale improvement and builds on the series’ impressive debut. For gaming or music, it’s a fantastic choice and is one of the most competitive IEMs in its price bracket.

Fiio is back with another affordable pair of IEMs for gamers and music-lovers alike. The Fiio x Jade Audio JH5 pack five mighty drivers in each ear piece for an especially full sound that punches above its $79.99 class. These are definitely earphones you won’t want to miss for a budget-friendly upgrade to your listening, no matter what or where that may be. 

Earlier this year, we looked at the Thieaudio Prestige , but the company is back with a revision based on user feedback. Designed for realism, immersion, and accuracy, the Thieaudio Prestige LTD is an absolutely killer update. Read on to find out what makes it special in this edition of Golden Ears. 

Welcome to a Christmas Eve edition of Golden Ears. Today, we're looking at what some people consider to be the gold standard for high-end headphones with the HIFIMAN HE-1000 V2 Stealth. Coming in at $1,399 (down from $1,999), they're a prime candidate for a Golden Ears review, so join us as we explore this especially interesting pair of headphones and discover exactly what makes them so special. 

Courtesy of our friends at HiFiGo, we’ve just learned that Moondrop, makers of some of the most popular IEMs of the last few years, have announced their latest project: May, dual-driver earphones powered by USB Type-C. While that might not sound like much, there’s more going on here than meets the eye and opens the door to some unique possibilities at an affordable price of only $64.99.

Letshuoer has been a leading brand in the IEM space for quite a while and made quite a splash over the last year with its disruptive S12 planar magnetic earphones . What that product did for the sub-$200 space, the Letshuoer S15 is doing for the sub-$400 space. These IEMs have quickly become my favorite planar magnetic IEM for all of my listening, whether that’s gaming, listening to music, or even passing the time with Netflix. Comfort, detail, bass, tonal balance… these IEMs have it all. At $329, they’re on the expensive side compared to the S12 but are worth every penny.

If you’ve been looking for a way to increase the quality of your audio and take full advantage of your headphones, in-ear monitors (IEMs), or gaming headset but don’t want to spend more than $100, the Fiio x Jade Audio Q11 is a device you definitely don’t want to pass over. This portable DAC/amp connects to your PC, Switch, PS5, smartphone, or tablet and instantly takes over all of the processing duties, providing you with a crystal clear sound and plenty of power to get your cans sounding their best. At only $89.99, it’s a great value that can provide an instant boost to your gaming and music listening experience. 

Fiio has been on a run over the last two years, releasing products at a breakneck pace. We saw its second-ever pair of over-ear headphones with the Fiio FT3 and were impressed at its quality. Today, we’re looking at the second headphone in the FT line with the Fiio FT5, the company’s first-ever pair of planar magnetic headphones. It’s competitively priced at only $449 and aims to go head-to-head with industry stalwarts like Audeze and HIFIMAN but does it have what it takes to compete?

It’s Thanskgiving Week, and that means Black Friday is almost upon us! Linsoul is joining the fun with its own round of sales and promotions. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your audio setup, now looks like a good time to take the plunge.

Welcome to our first entry in an exploration of neat audio products from Linsoul . Linsoul is a leading marketplace for earphones, headphones, and audio equipment, bringing brands from around the world together and making them accessible to a global audience. We’ve been lucky enough to take a look at quite a few neat headphones over the years. In this limited feature series, we’ll be taking a look at groups of IEMs that caught our attention and sharing our impressions on each. 

Another audio collaboration has landed, this time with YouTuber Gizaudio and Binary Acoustics. These new earphones promise a sound that’s full, rich, smooth, and detailed — perfect for music and gaming alike. At $199, they deliver in sound quality but won’t be a good fit if you have smaller ears. The tuning is impeccable, however, providing a high-res listening experience that’s bassy, fun, and detailed.

With the MagicOne , AFUL is putting the bold claim right in its name. These single balanced armature IEMs promise to deliver a richer, fuller sound than any we’ve seen before. They make this promise based on multiple innovations for earphones at this price ($139.99): a resonance chamber, flanked by a snake-like “nautilus” tube, inspired by a $100,000 speaker and an intricate electrical network, both of which enhance and tailor the sound.  The promise of this design: full range, dynamic sound in a small, yet affordable package, with enough bass and detail to bring both music and games to life. 

Drop just released its latest collaboration, an OTL tube amplifier made to drive demanding headphones like the HD6XX – that also just happen to be top picks for gaming. Is the Drop + xDuoo TA-84 worth investing in at a pre-order price of $349? Find out in this review!

1More is been one of the biggest brands to watch in the consumer audio world. It has made its name on delivering exceptional value, whether that’s with flagship true wireless earphones like the 1More Evo, over-ear headphones like the Sonoflow, or even gaming earphones, like the Spearhead VR. Each of its products bring higher-level sound quality to more accessible price points.

Jabra released it’s latest generation of true wireless earbuds and we have both in for testing. The Jabra Elite 10 is the flagship, complete with customizable spatial audio and top-tier ANC. The Jabra Elite 8 Active is military standard tested to be the most durable pair of ANC earbuds on the market. At $249.99 and $199.99 respectively, do these buds offer enough to put Jabra back on top? Find out in this review!

Courtesy of the team at HiFiGo, we have word that popular audiophile YouTuber, Gizaudio, has released his latest collaboration, this time with Binary Audio. This new in-ear monitor (IEM) is called the Chopin and adopts a hybrid driver design. Consisting of a dynamic driver and three balanced armatures, the focus of this new pair of earphones seems to be detail, potentially making it a great fit for gaming as well. It’s available for pre-order now for $199.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 series has been one of the most popular on the market for years, but with the competition getting ever hotter, it was time for an upgrade. Today, we’re looking at the PX7 S2e. With new colors and a brand new signal processor for enhanced sound quality, these earphones are the best sounding and most comfortable yet. If you’re looking for wireless headphones that deliver exceptional sound quality and active noise cancellation, these are definitely worth considering… if you can afford them.

Thieaudio has spent a lot of time focusing on high-end earphones over the last review, but it’s returning to its roots with the Hype 2. Its latest pair of earphones adopts designs from its flagship Monarch MKIII and brings them to a more accessible price point. At $299, these headphones aren’t cheap but offer sound quality and performance that’s destined to impress. 

Last year, we took a look at the DUNU Kima , an affordably priced pair of single-driver IEMs that leaned into crisp detail and exceptional comfort. The Kima Classic is the latest version of these earphones and embraces a more V-shaped tuning with bigger bass and even more detail. It’s well suited to rock, pop, and especially gaming, punching above its affordable pricing. It’s as comfortable as ever, and at $109.99, won’t break the bank to try it for yourself.  

Sineaptic is a new brand debuting with a bang. Its first pair of headphones, the Sineaptic SE-1 is a wireless ribbon driver headphone. If you’ve never heard of ribbon drivers, you’re not alone. In the world of headphones, they’re rare, expensive, and usually require an external power source — if you can find them at all. But as the technology has advanced, Sineaptic has managed to squeeze this boutique tech into a pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones for the affordable price of only $199.

DUNU has been on a roll over the last year, releasing impressive in-ear monitors like the Vulkan , Titan S , and Talos . In that time, though, there was one burning question: when would DUNU release a new SA6, an IEM regarded as one of the best all balanced armature releases still to this day? They couldn’t help but tease us with the limited SA6 Ultra but have now officially returned with the goods, and it’s in-stock, ready to buy for anyone who wants it.

Fiio has been expanding its catalog over the last few years, and last year, we looked at its first pair of true wireless earbuds with the FW5 . We liked them, but at $135 ( now $125 ), they were still out of reach for many listeners. The Fiio FW3 is the answer to that, promising high-res listening, good battery life, a comfortable fit, and a nearly identical appearance for only $79.99. 

HIFIMAN is one of the kings of the planar magnetic headphone market, but most of its headphones use open-backs to deliver a spacious listening experience. The Audivina is out to change that, bringing gorgeous, yet massive, closed-back wooden earcups designed to provide a wide, detailed soundstage. HIFIMAN has positioned these as studio headphones, so accuracy and balance are also the name of the game. 

The original RODE PodMic was one of the best budget XLR mics for streamers, content creators, and average gamers. The PodMic USB takes additional gear out of the equation and opts for a plug-and-play design and adds a suite of vocal effects that make it even better. It doesn’t drop the XLR port either, so it’s ready to grow with you over time. At $199, it’s significantly more expensive but is one of the best choices in sound, and build, quality.

Earlier this month, I took a look at HIFIMAN’s new flagship in-ear monitors, the Svanar, are loved them. Rightfully so — at $1,999, they were targeting dedicated audiophiles well on their sonic journey. But what if you want next-level sound and are ready to cut the cord? That’s where the Svanar Wireless comes in. At 1/4th the price of the wired Svanar, these true wireless earbuds promise exceptional sound quality with high-resolution audio codecs, active noise cancellation, superior build quality, and solid battery life. But as one of the most expensive true wireless earbuds on the market today, they certainly have something to prove. 

The original Thieaudio Monarch was well regarded, but when the company launched its successor in the beginning of last year, it changed the game. The Monarch MKII was and still is regarded as one of the best IEMs you can buy under $1,000, evening earning the top spot on In-Ear Fidelity’s IEM ranking list — a coveted position reserved for the absolute best in-ear monitors. I was lucky enough to review it and adored it: from the sound to its magma-inspired appearance, it quickly became my favorite IEM of all time.

Razer, a company known for its dedication to constant improvement, has recently refreshed its popular Hammerhead mobile gaming earbuds. With the added Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz Wireless connectivity, gamers now have the freedom to enjoy their favorite games on consoles, computers, and a variety of mobile devices. The Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed Wireless Gaming Earbuds are designed with gamers in mind, providing an immersive audio experience that takes your gaming to the next level. 

Fiio is a brand that’s impressed us over the years. It has made a point to deliver value with exceptional designs, build, and sound quality. Today, we’re looking at the FX15, a first for the brand. It’s the company’s first-ever earphone to utilize electrostatic drivers. Its late arrival might raise some eyebrows, but Fiio has been hard at work to develop an EST earphone that stands out from the pack. At $799, it’s expensive but only in the middle tier of pricing for this style of IEM. Does it deliver? Let’s take a closer look and find out. 

In this edition of Golden Ears, we’re looking at one of the highest-tier, most expensive audio products in our site’s history: the HIFIMAN Svanar. This pair of IEMs retails for $1,999 and are the company’s flagship pair of in-ear monitors. Over the month or so we’ve had them in-hand for testing, we’ve put them through their paces to see exactly what you get for such an expensive pair of IEMs and whether they live up to the price. The audio hobby extends ever upward, so join us as we take a look and see exactly what HIFIMAN’s flagship IEMs have to offer.

We’ve looked at a lot of pricey audio products recently, but great products don’t have to cost a lot of money. Especially in the world of audio. Today, we’re looking at the Fiio FH11, a new pair of earphones that offer surprising sonics for their low cost of entry. At only $40, these earphones offer a hybrid, two-driver design,  fully zinc shells that’s quite comfortable and exceptionally durable, and a replaceable cable so you can even upgrade them over time. They’re a solidly affordable pick for fans of boosted bass. 

Welcome back to Golden Ears, our regular PC audio review column! This week, we’re taking a look at the Arya Organic headphones from HIFIMAN. At $1,300 dollars, these open-back headphones deliver on audiophile sound quality with a surprisingly full-bodied sound and a gorgeous wood finish. Simply put, these are one of the best headphones for bass fans who don’t want to skimp on detail and that rich, layered planar magnetic sound that makes them such a popular choice. In this price range, they’re simply stellar — as they should be.

HarmonicDyne has been one of our favorite brands for over-ear headphones since the original Zeus we reviewed back in 2021. The company is back with its successor, the Zeus Elite, and it’s quite an improvement. With supreme comfort, grown-up style, and a detailed, spacious listening experience, these are great headphones for music and gaming alike.