Views 26,275 Creative Sound Blaster X5 is a $299 USD high-quality Sound Card / DAC / AMP mainly aimed at gamers and audiophiles, or rather a hybrid of the two, with a 4.4mm balanced headphone output, RCA outputs, mic input, and with a selection of other features that may come …
Midrange is the area where the effect of diminishing returns starts to kick in, and you don’t get as much improvement with each dollar spend, as you’d with entry-level products. This is where the sweet spot is for most folks, especially since the products are reliable, fun to use, and usually still affordable.
You can find my reviews on midrange products below, and also the best midrange products here: https://amzn.to/3GhsrSU
2. Midrange
ThieAudio Hype 4 IEMs – Impact2 Sonion Audiophile Experience
Views 24,681 ThieAudio Hype 4 is a $399 USD pair of IEMs / In-Ear Monitors which is currently in pre-order on the Linsoul Website, and which comes with a strong selection of ThieAudio exclusive new technologies, including a new driver configuration, a new high-end cable, and the golden Linsoul support …
IKKO ITX05 Docking Station – Super Visuals, Better Sound
Views 19,066 IKKO ITX05 is a $349 USD docking station, with a 4.4mm balanced headphone output, USB DAC functions, and a few other interesting features under the hood. Today we will focus on reviewing it, and comparing it to other high-quality USB DAC/AMPs including Aune X1s GT (349 USD), ifi …
Luminox Audio Rubeus IEM Cable – Bass Warmth On Sound
Views 25,128 Luminox Audio Rubeus is a $230 USD cable for IEMS, configurable with a multitude of connectors and plugs, designed to be ergonomic, look beautiful and help you achieve a better listening experience all the time. Today we will review it together and also compare it to other IEM …
Soundmagic P60BT Bluetooth Wireless Headphnes – ANC With A Musical Twist
Views 20,156 Soundmagic P60BT is a $189 USD pair of closed-back Bluetooth headphones with ANC and a comfy design. Although we’ve seen many good headphones from Soundmagic, P60BT is confusing to say the least as I was able to find it listed for prices ranging from $135 USD to $169 …
ddHIFI BC125A Air Ocean Cable – Wave Of Music, Rain Of Sound
Views 20,117 ddHIFI BC125A Air Ocean is a $229 USD cable for IEMS that is designed to be single ended, and which can be ordered with connectors for the most popular IEMs out there. Today we will be reviewing it and comparing it to other high-quality cables including Astral Acoustic …
Aune AR5000 Over-The-Ear Dynamic Headphones – MLD Driver With Crazy Awesome Sound
Views 33,859 Aune AR5000 is a $299 USD pair of open-back, over-the-ear dynamic headphones, which come with a new MLD driver developed by Aune Audio, and which we will be reviewing today. Besides reviewing the new AR5000, we will also dive in how they compare to other high-end headphones, including …
SIMGOT EA1000 Fermat – Warm, Wide And Airy Sound
Views 28,349 Simgot Ea1000 Fermat is a 219 $USD In-Ear Monitor or Earphone, with the new SDPGD Technology, detachable nozzles for multiple filter options, and with a beautiful shell that’s made of metal, and a high-end cable included in the package. Today we will review the new EA1000 Fermat and …
BQEYZ Winter IEMs – Gracefully Skating Musical Notes
Views 25,539 BQEYZ Winter is a $239 USD pair of IEMs or in-ear monitors, with a beautiful shell that resembles an ice skate rink, detachable cables, bone conduction drivers, and with multiple cable options. Today we will review them and share more about their sound, but also compare the BQEYZ …
YanYin Canon II – 5-Way Biologic Dynamic Sound
Views 30,193 YanYin Canon II is a $379 USD IEM with 5 drivers in total, and the title of our review is not a bad translation, but comes from the official description of the Canon II. This midrange IEM comes with one Biological Dynamic Driver and 4 Balanced Armatures, 2 …
Dekoni x HIFIMAN Cobalt Headphones – Hearing Protection Bright Knight
Views 34,505 Dekoni x HIFIMAN Cobalt is a $399 USD pair of over-the-ear full-sized headphones with a closed back. Today we will be reviewing their sound, and place them against other headphones in the price range, including HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite (379 USD), SIVGA Luan (359 USD), Austrian Audio HI-X60 (399 …
Lavricables Master Silver Headphone Cable – Invigorating Presentation
Views 29,402 Lavricables Master Silver is a $544 USD / Euro cable for headphones, which can be configured with multiple connectors, and in multiple lengths. The variant costing 544 USD is 3 meters in length, and comes with AECO XLR special connectors for the source, and with the Sky Blue …
Audiophile-Heaven Awards – Best Products of 2023
Views 44,396 With 2023 drawing to an end, I think it is time to be grateful for all the excellent music we heard this year, for all the awesome moments we had together, and to be looking forward to an even better year in 2024! Today we’re publishing our best …
ThieAudio Hype 2 IEMs – Dual Dynamic Magnificent Impact
Views 29,706 ThieAudio Hype 2 is a $299 USD pair of In-Ear Monitors or IEMs sold and fulfilled by Linsoul, with a super comfortable ergonomic shell, 4 drivers playing for each ear, and with a high sensitivity, low impedance, and a 6mm nozzle diameter, designed to give you endless fun …
Drop + xDuoo TA-84 OTL Tube Amplifier / DAC – Clarity & Control Master
Views 31,825 Drop + xDuoo TA-84 is a $399 USD ($349 USD on Pre-Sale) OTL Tube Amplifier with Pre function, DAC function, and excellent build quality, currently sold on Drop, designed for desktop usage, which we will be reviewing today, and comparing to other high-quality DAC/AMPs, including FiiO K9 PRO …
SMSL AO300 DAC / HeadAMP / Integrated Stereo Amplifier – Class D Back In Game
Views 29,309 SMSL AO300 is a $289 USD DAC / Headphone Amplifier / Integrated Stereo Amplifier with a pre function, designed to run an entire speaker stereo system from just the amplifier, with everything else being a story of the past. This is literally the only unit you will ever …
Hiby R3 II (Gen 2) Music Player DAP – Even Better Integration, Even Better Sound
Views 31,510 Hiby R3 II is a $179 USD portable music player with HibyOS, a 4.4mm Balanced Headphone Output, a 3.5mm Jack Single Ended Headphone Output, USB DAC function, it works as a transport to send signal to an external USB DAC, with a 3.2″ touchscreen display, and a microSD …
IKKO OH10S Photochromic IEMs – Sapphire Mirage Magic Sound
Views 26,235 IKKO OH10S is a $199 USD pair of In-Ear Monitors, with an improved dynamic driver for better bass, and it is the straight-up upgrade from the IKKO OH10 that we reviewed in the past and which we liked quite a bit. Since the market changed a bit, we’re …
SMSL AO200 MKII Stereo Amplifier – Everything’s Improved in Part II
Views 33,598 SMSL AO200 MKII is a $249 USD Desktop Stereo HIFI Amplifier, with a separate subwoofer output, 160W per channel, Treble and Bass adjustment to compensate for room and speaker limitations, and with a remote for volume and settings adjustment. Today we will review it, exploring in-depth what it …
Cleer Alpha Black – Active Sound, Ironless Driver, Zero Noise
Views 24,765 Cleer Alpha Black is a $199 USD pair of Closed-Back Bluetooth headphones with ANC, or active noise canceling and an ironless driver, designed with modern and edgy earcup, and good comfort. We will be reviewing them together, and comparing them with other high-quality headphones including Sennheiser Momentum 4 …
Kiwi Ears Quintet – 5 Drivers, 4 Tech, One Sound
Views 27,972 Kiwi Ears Quintet is a $219 USD IEM sold and fulfilled by Linsoul Audio, featuring 4 different technologies in the build, including 1 x PZT Driver, 1 x Planar Driver, 2 x Balanced Armatures, and 1 x Dynamic Driver playing for each ear. While multi driver configurations are …
HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite – The Bigger, Fuller Upgrade
Views 33,387 HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite is a $379 USD pair of over-the-ear headphones with a dynamic driver at the heart, and a warm, punchy sound, with a new 50mm driver that uses a suspension diaphragm. Today we will be reviewing it and also compare it to other high-quality headphones in …
iFi Audio Go Bar Dongle DAC – Mini Amplifier Maxi Powered
Views 32,915 iFi Audio Go Bar is a $329 USD Premium Ultra Portable USB DAC, with a balanced 4.4mm output, a single ended 3.5mm headphone output, and with iEMatch, along with digital filters, and sound enhancements support. It will be compared to other high-end dongle DACs, including Lotoo PAW S2, …
Moondrop Blessing 3 Earphones – Abundant Music Synapse
Views 31,088 Moondrop Blessing 3 is a $319 USD pair of In-Ear Monitors, with 2 Dynamic Drivers + 4 Balanced Armatures configuration, which has a superb design, and is made to take over the midrange IEM market. Today we will be reviewing them together, and we will also be comparing …
HIDIZS MS5 IEMs – 4 BA, One Dynamic, And A Lot Of Fun
Views 33,668 HIDIZS MS5 is a $399 USD pair of In-Ear Monitors with 5 Drivers playing for each ear, a replaceable pneumatic sound tuning filter, and with a detachable cable, coming in a premium package. Given the price point, they will be compared to other high-quality midrange IEMs, including Xenns …