Melos SHA-Gold headphone amplifier
It's hard to know what to call the SHA-Gold. It is a superb headphone amplifier—maybe even the target all future headphone amps need to shoot at—but it's also a full-function preamplifier. At two grand, it's not exactly a unit you'd add to your current system just to get a headphone connection...Wait a minute! What am I saying? I'm sure that there are folks out there who would add this to their existing reference systems as casually as I'd buy the Audio">http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/796alchemy">Audio Alchemy headphone amplifier—but they'd be missing out on a great line stage.
Meze 99 Neo Around-Ear Sealed Headphones
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.comA first look at this new headphone from Meze...what a difference a pad makes.
Meze Audio 99 Classic headphones
I have on hand a number of pairs of headphones. And I admit that I've lusted after the heavenly sounding, medieval-looking Abyss AB-1266 Phi headphones, and considered the MrSpeakers Aeon closed-back headphones. (I prefer the isolation from outside sounds provided by closed-back 'phones.) But from the moments I sawand then heardMeze Audio's 99 Classics, with their graceful style, balanced sound, and natural wood-grained glory, they had me.
Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Pro
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com
From the “Beats by Dre” website:
“Attention sound engineers, DJs, musicians, and hard core music lovers: Beats Pro is the reference headphone designed by audio professionals for audio professionals.”
Well, one and a half out of four ain’t bad.
You’ll know if you’ve seen my Beat Solo headphone youtube video that I would be perfectly happy to dis these cans. Well, I guess you can’t be happy all the time, because there were quite a few things these headphones did surprisingly well. But I’m not perfectly unhappy, the Beats Pro didn’t fail to disappoint in some ways too.
Life in balance I guess … Dre has his place.
Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Solo
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.comWhen I first saw the Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Solo ($199 MSRP) I thought they might be the most beautiful headphones I’d ever seen. The fit and finish is stellar; the styling superb; they fold beautifully; the cable is pure sex; they’re comfortable … the Solos are just gorgeous. At the time I thought, “These may be the headphone of the year!”
Except for one little thing …
Monster Cable Beats by Dr. Dre studio headphones
I was looking out the window. I was waiting for the plane to take off. I was wearing Monster Cable's Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones ($349.95). I was listening to Pens' burning, fuzzed-out, 27-minute onslaught, Hey Friend, What You Doing? (320kbps MP3; LP, De Stijl IND071). I was shouting with sudden shock and pain.
More Stax Measurements: SR-009; SR-007; SR-507; SR-404 Ltd; SR-404; and SR-003
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.comI'm making ready to head off to RMAF, but I certainly didn't want to shirk my duties measuring Stax headphones, and getting them back to their rightful owners.
Here we go ...
Mr Speakers Ether C is a World Class Sealed Headphone
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.com
Not at all sure I'll succeed, but I'll try to find something bad to say about these headphones.
MrSpeakers Aeon closed-back headphones
I got an e-mail last summer from my colleague Tyll Hertsens, editor of our InnerFidelity website. "Recently reviewed and really liked the new MrSpeakers Æon," he wrote. "They're a little rough-sounding as sealed headphones tend to be, but the tonal balance is superb. I got three in for review to make sure they're consistent. After measurements I asked [MrSpeakers'] Dan Clark if I could forward them to you because I like them so much and thought you should hear them. . . . I really think you may enjoy them."
MrSpeakers Aeon Flow Open Planar Magnetic Headphones
This story originally appeared at InnerFidelity.comI'll admit feeling the MrSpeakers Aeon Flow Closed look a bit alien to my eyes when first I saw it. Now that it's been on my desk for a few months I find it quite appealing. Not so much for it's looksdon't get me wrong, I quite like the lookbut more because I've come to appreciate the comfort of them. No surprises when the Aeon Flow Open showed up...they were right at home on my head. Good thing too, they'll be spending a lot of time there.