Something New, Something Old.

While the UM Pro series looks much like a remade of the old UM series, the just announced W series looks a lot like the remade of the Westone series as well, with a touch of the ADV design concept no less. Again, they are similarly priced and has the same driver configurations as the existing Westone series - so no surprise there. Hmmm...

Brainwavz has released 3 new IEM: Delta, S1 and the unconventional looking dual dynamic drivers based R3 (pictured above). Priced around US$23, US$60 and US$120.

[Impression] Panda Audio amp-S

The headphone amp market in China, like its headphone market, is full of competition. Besides the bigger brands that have already made a name for themselves in the international market, there are still quite a few small companies and workshops that are highly regarded in the local market, yet remain relatively unknown to the outside world due to language barrier. Panda Audio is one such company – found in 2006 as more or less a DIY workshop, the company has earned respect among the Chinese audiophiles for producing some of the best sounding portable headphone amps around. Here we take a look at their latest flagship – the amp-S.

Another Custom Flagship Universalized

We talked about EarSonic releasing a new IEM in September and here it is - the S-EM6, which is basically the universal version of the company's custom 6 drivers flagship EM6. MSRP is €945 (or about US$1260) - but what doesn't quite make sense is that it is €5 more expensive than its custom counterpart. Usually it is the other way around...

[Impression] Elekit TU-HP01 - Portable Tube Hybrid

Elekit, or EK Japan, is a Japanese company that specializes in making educational electronic DIY kit and DIY tube power amplifier. I have a recent chance to hear their latest ‘22’ hybrid tube power amp driving a pair of CEntrance’s MasterClass 2504 desktop speakers quite beautifully on the Mook’s Headphone Festival in Singapore. The TU-HP01 under review, which also appears on the show, is the company first portable tube hybrid headphone amplifier.

Make Belive, Again.

Credit must be given to Sony headphone team for continuing to explore the new horizon - the three new additions to the XBA line-up will feature hybrid configuration. The XBA-H1 will be a dual drivers hybrid with one 9mm dynamic and one full range balanced armature. XBA-H2 will have a simialr dual drivers but comes with larger, 13.5mm dynamic. XBA-H3 (pictured above) will be a triple driver hybrid with one 16mm dynamic, one full range as well as one treble BA. Given Sony's past configuration on the XBA series as well as the full range BA used in these new models, it is very likely Sony is going to employ mechanical cross-over again (= no passive cross over circuit). H1 has an estimated price around US$150, H2 is around US$250 while H3 will be around US$350. That will puts H1 right above the current XBA-10, H2 right between XBA-20 and XBA-30, while H3 right alongside the flagship XBA-40.

[REVIEW] Signature Acoustics Elements C-12

Signature Acoustics is a brand created by the India based audio retailer Pristine Note. Their first offering is the Elements C-12 - an IEM that took them 18 months of research and development, completed with a full wooden housing and aims to deliver the best bang for the bucks with an estimated price of US$50~60 with international release.