[Impression] FireStone Audio Custom Cute and Fubar HD

Recently I have looked into two of FireStone portable amps, but the company’s core business is really in their compact desktop rig. Here we have two more FireStone products waiting for assessment: The Custom Cute is a USB DAC that supports up to 24bit / 192kbps in resolution, priced around US$299. The Fubar HD is an all-in-one DAC + headphone amp that also supports up to 24/192 with S/PDIF input or 24/96 with USB, priced around $400 but can be found for half as much if you look around.

Another Budget Tri-brid

DUNU is about ready to release its own dual BA + single dynamic hybrid IEM, called DN-1000. It will be around US$250, which is right in the same price bucket as T-PEOS H-200. Hopefully around the same level of SQ as well.

[REVIEW] T-PEOS D-202, H-100 and H-200 - Stuff of Dream

Originally named ‘SWP Shinwoo Electronics’, T-PEOS begins as an OEM company supplying audio parts to major cellphone brands almost 30 years ago. I guess it is not hard to see why the company have decided to put their experience as audio parts supplier into good use and venture into the earphone market mid last year. Their first model, the single BA + dynamic dual drivers hybrid H-100 series, takes the world by storm as the first IEM that is co-developed and certified by Golden Ears (*a well-known S.Korea headphone review site). Then they follow with the D-200 series, aiming for ‘low price, high value’. Lastly, it is the latest H-200, a dual BA + single dynamic triple drivers hybrid that, again, brings quite a bit of attention to this new comer in the IEM world.

[Impression] BBK Vivo X1 – the HiFi Smartphone?

BBK Electronics might not be a household name in the West, but they do share some blood line with another more well know brand, OPPO. Late last year, the company released a rather interesting Android smartphone called the X1, and debuted as the first true audiophile level smartphone in the market (it has since been superseded by BBK Vivo X1S and Xplay). The MSRP is around US$400.

Out of the Shell

Cardas is known for its high quality cables and connectors. Now the company releases its first IEM, the single dynamic 'Ear Speakers' EM5813, at a premium price of US$425.

Adventure

Westone has been showing off their new prototype dynamic IEM for a while now, but the new Adventure (ADV) series first model, the Alpha, has just officially hit the market. However, the price tag of US$199 means Westone needs to prove that Alpha has to be very significantly better than the competition (i.e Shure SE215, HifiMan RE400, etc) to have a room in the market.