Headphone Reviews

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The Fifth Element #30

John Marks Jun 26, 2005 First Published: Jun 26, 2005 0 comments

Morten Lauridsen's magisterial work for chorus and orchestra, Lux aeterna, appears in a fresh new recording, in truly excellent sound, on England's Hyperion label. The vocal ensemble Polyphony is accompanied by the Britten Sinfonia; both are led by Stephen Layton. Better yet, in addition to the CD-only version, there is a separate SACD/CD hybrid release (Hyperion SACDA67449), meaning that it is backwardly-compatible with CD players. Furthermore, the SACD layer contains a surround-sound program in addition to the stereo one.

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Ultimate Ears UE-5c in-ear headphones

John Atkinson Dec 26, 2004 First Published: Dec 26, 2004 0 comments

"You need to keep still."

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HeadRoom Total BitHead headphone amplifier

Michael Fremer Dec 26, 2004 First Published: Dec 26, 2004 0 comments

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.

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Shure E3c in-ear headphones

John Atkinson May 22, 2004 First Published: May 01, 2004 0 comments

"Ah, I see what the problem is. Your ear canals are larger in diameter than normal."

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The Fifth Element #16

John Marks Mar 23, 2003 First Published: Mar 23, 2003 0 comments

The lease said about my and my fathers trip from the Bureau of Manhattan to our new home the soonest mended. In some way ether I or he got balled up on the grand concorpse and next thing you know we was thretning to swoop down on Pittsfield.

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HeadRoom BlockHead headphone amplifier

Jonathan Scull Jul 07, 2002 First Published: Jul 07, 2002 0 comments

With whom are you most intimate? Your wife? Husband? Your modern-times Significant Other? Your pet? Or, like a lot of audiophiles, is it your audio system? Do you nitpick and tweak it as if it were your pet?

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Grado Laboratories SR 125 headphones

Robert J. Reina Dec 03, 2006 First Published: Jun 03, 2002 0 comments

For many years I have used three sets of headphones, all from Grado Laboratories: the Reference">http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/796grado">Reference RS-1 ($695), the SR-125 ($125), and the SR-60http://www.stereophile.com/headphones/532">SR-60; ($60). I've always favored Grado headphones because the minimal-resonance design philosophy that I feel is responsible for the uncolored midrange of their moving-iron cartridges extends throughout their headphone range as well. Recently, however, I've achieved a new perspective regarding the SR-125 'phones that I felt would be of interest to Stereophile readers.

Headphone Reviews

Stax SR-007 Omega II electrostatic headphones

Jonathan Scull Jul 03, 2001 First Published: Jul 03, 2001 0 comments

"Preaching to the converted," I sighed to myself as I read the manual for the Stax Omega II Earspeaker headphone system. I fondly recalled my headphone reference for all time—the Most Fabulous and Seductive Sennheiser Orpheus tubed electrostatics, which Thomas J. Norton reviewed for Stereophile in 1994. I recalled the Orpheus's heady, open, fast, and colorfully wideband sound, and clutched my palpitating heart.

Headphone Reviews

Sennheiser HD 600 headphones

Wes Phillips Feb 09, 1998 First Published: Feb 09, 1998 0 comments

Sometimes, the only thing that'll soothe the cares and lift the thoughts of man is kicking back and letting glorious music wash over you. Isn't that why we're all here? But no sooner do you sit yourself down in the sweet spot and cue up, say, Mozart's 40th, than you hear:

Headphone Reviews

Stax Lambda Nova Signature electrostatic ear-speaker

Wes Phillips Jun 26, 1997 First Published: Jun 26, 1997 0 comments

"When I find something that works," John Candy leered, "I stick with it!" I have no idea if the folks at Stax Industries are fans of Splash or not, but they've certainly taken Candy's philosophy as their own. Despite manufacturing superb—if demanding—loudspeakers and electronics for the last 15 years or so, Stax has been best known for producing one thing: electrostatic ear-speakers, aka headphones.