HeadRoom Desktop D/A headphone amplifier
Looking at all of the high-end headphones and headphone accessories available today, it's difficult to even remember how barren the head-fi landscape was in the early 1990s. Back then, headphones got no respect, except for exotic, expensive electrostatic models, yet most of the world listened to music through headphones all the time, mostly through crappy cans connected to portable players. (Well, maybe it wasn't that different a landscape.)
HeadRoom Max headphone amplifier
My name is Wes and I enjoy listening to music on headphones.
HeadRoom Supreme headphone amplifier
"Uhh! What is it?" I was being prodded on the arm. Admittedly it was gentle, almost polite prodding, but prodding it still was, a rude disturbance of the cocoon I had woven around myself in seat 31J of the American Airlines MD-11 winging its way across the North Atlantic. I pushed Pause on the Discman, insensitively not waiting for an opportune cadence in the Brahms Piano Quintet that had been my erstwhile virtual reality.
HeadRoom Total BitHead headphone amplifier
When, on his long-running TV variety show, Jackie Gleason used to order up some "traveling music" from music director Ray Bloch, he got a live orchestra's worth. But when Gleason, a composer and conductor in his own right (he wrote his show's unforgettable theme song, "Melancholy Serenade"), actually traveled, his listening options were severely limited compared to ours. By the time the comedian died in 1987, Sony had introduced the Walkman cassette player, but Apple's iPod was still more than a decade in the future.
HeadRoom/Cardas Fat Pipe headphone cables
When Audio Advisor's Wayne Schuurman contacted me about reviewing the Vincent">http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/1108vincent">Vincent Audio KHV-1pre headphone amplifier, I felt confident that I had everything I needed to handle the task, owning, as I do, both the AKG">http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/806akg">AKG K701 and Sennheiser">http://www.stereophile.com/thefifthelement/605fifth/index1.html">Sennhe… HD-650 headphones, which have long been my references. That oughta get 'er done, I thought.
HiFiMAN HE-5, HE-5LE, HE-6, and HE500 Planar Magnetic Headphones
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com
Just a year and a half ago I walked into the CanJam area of RMAF, and right smack-dab in the middle was Fang Bian, head of Head Direct and the HiFiMAN brand of headphone gadgetry. Fang always has something new going on; I wondered what it would be this time. He smiled, stood, and cheerfully greeted me, then pointed towards center-stage on one of his tables.
"Would you like to hear my new planar magnetic headphones?"
You’ve got to be kidding me, I thought.
HiFiMAN Sundara Around-Ear Open Planar Magnetic Headphones
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.comLike pretty much all headphone makers, I've found HiFiMAN planar magnetic headphones a little hit and miss. Some have been a too bright and sizzly, some have not had the build quality I'd like to see at the price. On the other hand there have been some really nice surprises. The HE1000 had an uncannily pleasant, floating in the clouds, sonic character, and the HE-400S was dandy at a very affordable price. One thing has been very consistant though, the folks at HiFiMAN keep trying...and that's turning out to be a very good thing.
House of Marley Exodus
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com
Bob Marley's "Exodus" ... wow, what a great album. I must have heard it a thousand times. It's a total classic. Prior to receiving these, I wondered skeptically if Bob Marley "Exodus" the headphone would be a classic. Time will tell ...
... but I think they're off to a good start.
I Love These Headphones...The NAD VISO HP50
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com
Okay, I know you're not supposed to give away the story in the headline...but I just can't help it. The NAD VISO HP50 is an awesome headphone!
I Made a Bad Call: MrSpeakers Ether C Flow Makes "Wall of Fame"
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.comWeird how these things happen. Checks and balances make it right.