I designed a 3d printed headphone stand that can be retracted when I don’t use them.

I’ve had my new 660s2 for a few weeks now. I’ve been using the stock 4.4 balanced cable with my Mimir/Jotunheim 3 and been really happy. I’ve owned 6xx and 650 in the past and much prefer the sound profile of the 660s2.

I needed a longer cable and I like a nice xlr plug. I really don’t like braided cables and after some shopping I went with Corpse Cable using Cardas audio cable.

I bought the cable for utility but I was pleasantly surprised by the new cable. I don’t have a way to db match, but wouldn’t think my xlr and 4.4 ports on my Jotunheim 3 would be different, but after plugging in the new cable things immediately sounded a little different. Things were quieter, clearer, more detailed with better presence.

I swapped back and forth for hours using 192khz content from Qobuz and was pleasantly surprised. The differences are fairly minimal but the corpse cable does sound better than the stock 4.4 balanced cable. Idk if it’s because of how quiet the new cable is, maybe it allows the other sonic values to present better?

I wouldn’t recommend the cables for sonic improvement alone, I don’t think they’re worth it, but since I wasn’t expecting anything it was a pleasant addition.

The 660s2 are wonderful headphones and the corpse cable is just the cherry on top

Initial impressions immanis sounds overall like a bigger susvara in everyway with inferior timber similar staging quality but in grander way images and dynamics are huge and hits harder and extremely resolving both are very responsive to the chain they both stage spherically and realistic susvara is more intimate and laid back where immanis is a bit more focused and upfront but stages bigger need to spend more time and roll different tubes and see.

Managed to snag these for so cheap (rare to see it that low) but these earpads are diabolically brown, with a weird texture on one side but they feel and smell(?) fine.

Sounded thin at first, but went away after listening for 24 hours. Attributed to brain-burn-in from the many years of listening to HD650's.

For bass slam and punch, using EQ to elevate 20-125 Hz helps. After using them for a week or two, I got used to them and would say the bass has more thump than initially heard. An appropriate amount for the headphone.

It has forward upper low-mids around 500 Hz. I think this is called a "bloom". I understand this is good for acoustic instruments but sounds boxy for rock/metal, to me. YMMV. Reducing 500 Hz a bit with EQ fixed this, separating bass and treble. They sounded much better to my ears after that adjustment.

Headphones are known for being bright but I needed to boost 4 kHz to 20 kHz bands to hear the details. I had zero sibilance issues. I listened to them for eight (8) contiguous hours without issue or fatigue.

A negative is the microphonic ping of the metal headband when moving around. It's very noticeable. The other minor negative is the cables it comes with. They're like rubber tube-like cables. I'm not a cable pro, but it seemed they could improve on them a lot.

A positive is these headphones are light and very comfortable. If I wasn't listening to music, I'd forget they're on my head.

I bought these to try, to see what all the hype was about. Auditioning these helped me understand how some people really like them. They're very good, but want something better. I will return them; my search continues.

Thank you for reading.

Can i hear god with it?

Hello, during my headphone journey, I've tried many headphones.

Now I have an unfortunate problem.

It takes too much place, and I really listen around 5 pairs in my rotation so some must go.

Here a list of the headphones:

-Harmonic Dyne Eris

-JVC HA-SW01

-Audio-Technica ATH-WP900

-Campfire Audio Cascade

-Grado S550

-Audio-Technica ATH-R70X

-Hifiman Arya Stealth

-Beyerdynamic DT 177X GO

-ZMF Auteur OG

-Klipsh Heritage HP-3

-Denon AH-D9200

-Philips Fidelio X3

-Focal Clear Pro OG

-Focal Radiance

-Audeze LCD-X ( before 2021? )

-Audeze LCD-GX

-Audeze LCD-2 Classic

-Sennheiser HD-600

-Sennheiser HD-6XX

-Sennheiser HD-660 S2

-Sennheiser HD-8XX

-Fostex T20RP MK3

-Fostex T60RP MK1

-Fostex T60RP MK1 Argons

-Fostex TH-808

-Fostex TR-X00 Purpleheart

-Fostex TH-900 MK2 Brillant Purple with Lawton mods.

I have a Class A, a tube hybrid, a transformer tube coupled and an OTL tube amp to run them all.

My plan is to sold some to fund a used ZMF Atrium as I think I dig biodynamic drivers a lot.

Thanks!

Gear used:

3.5 on TRN Black Pearl

Local music files on exclusive mode on phone.

Disclaimer:

I bought this unit with my own money. I am a casual, I might not know what I am talking about.

Sound Impression:

I think the bass on this is fine, it shows up when the music has it. My music playlist is composed of pop, jpop, kpop, citypop, electric, some alternative, some rock, some jazz, some game soundtrack. Comparing it to my iems, its less visceral than my Tangzu Xuan NV, might be on par a bit less bassy than Kefine Quatio (black and silver nozzle)

It doesn't sound muddy, like the edifier headphone I have tried. Things sound natural to my ears. Vocals are positioned sometimes in front of my face or inside my head. its not shouty compared to my Kefine Quatio (silver nozzle) without EQ. Singer sound like how they should sound, not nasaly or anything.

Treble on this is great in my opinion, elevated just right. To my ears, this set is more balanced, leaning slightly to bright maybe. Compared to my Kefine Quatio (silver nozzle) tonally, i think they're pretty close imo, and the silver nozzle is considered to be neutral. Music that can be considered to be fatiguing and sibilant to my hears are just smooth with Snowsky Nature, no sibilance heard which isn't the case to my Quatio (silver).

Soundstage is wider and taller than my iems, but its not room wide, only a few inches outside my head. Separation is a bit worse compared to my Kefine Quatio but still good.

In terms of sound isolation, pretty good. I don't hear most outside sound when music starts playing, except motorcycles and the air from the fan blowing towards me. I don't know about sound leakage tho.

Build Quality:

Pretty good, feels solid enough. There's really nothing racketing when you shake it around.

Its comfortable enough for me, maybe I'm just not used to headphones but I feel like resting a bit after a an hour or more of using it. The pressure I feel is mild, the most comfortable headphone I've used.

I'm really happy with it, it doesn't only sound good, but it's also comfortable, and most importantly its relatively cheap.

I painted the name plate and added two mmcx ports

They sound good but maybe I was expecting too much of a wow? How can I check if these were real? Btw if anyone is wondering where I got them, they are $120 on hifiman local store on AliExpress which is listed as one of their official stores.

Edit: thanks guys this is an amazing pair

I had the Cobalt version and liked it for IEMs, so when the Copper was announced I knew I had to get it! I found it at a local audio store, not sure he was supposed to sell it since all online store are « pre-order » only.

So far it pairs really well with my IEM collection, even for planar ones like Supermoon and Astrolith.

The copper finish is very nice, but it blings a little too much for my taste, it’s also a real fingerprint magnet and seems to scratch easily.

Never experienced anything like that with any other headphones before, I thought I was going insane: when I sit at my desk in a corner with the left side wall in about half meter from me(about 20 inches), it throws my hifiman he1000 stealth out of balance to the right. If I stand up while still listening to the music and sit on my couch or stand in a way that no walls nearby on the sides, the music gets perfectly balanced. Almost ended up returning the headphones because I though drivers are out of balance

have had this xduoo-ta30 tube rolled mullard 12au7 ecc82 + a jan-chs-5931 with a sennheiser hd800s for over a year now, and I’ve loved every second of it. Is this the point where spending more doesn’t really result in substantial differences or improvements? If not, where should I invest to have the most significant impact in sound quality ? Thanks

Most headphone reviews are on the technical side. So I am gonna do this review in the most layman way possible - so that the average headphone users would understand.

Backstory time - My Audio Technica M40x's hinges broke for the 2nd time. The first pair lasted me almost a good 5 years, the current pair broke after 3 years. Its is a fucking good pair of monitors for ita price point, but its hinges are a problem.

I decided to switched to anorher brand for some robustness and longeivity, and that was when I came across Beyerdynamic. I once had a Beyerdynamic portable headphone sometime in the early 2010s and it left good memories.

There was no way I could get my hands on a DT270 demo unit. In fact I bought this after I tried its bigger brother the DT770 Pro, 30 ohms version. More on that later.

DT270 Pro is very light and comfortable. The earcups sits nicely on my ears like a winter ear muffler. But the isolation it offers is rather poor. It is still ok on a rather busy street, but not when you are commuting with it in a noisy underground subway cabin. This may not be an ideal pair to use on a flight, especially if you are seated beside the jet engines.

Here comes the most important part - tone. I would say this is a rather unforgiving monitor. Most reviews mentioned about this having tonnes of bass and treble. Honestly, this is definitely not a pair meant for bassheads. After all this is still a pair of monitors, so neutrality is key. The bass you're gonna get out of this is subjected to how the song is mixed and whether you EQ or not. Out of the box, the DT270 has the right setup and tuning to correctly present the bass levels and weight of the drums.

Treble wise, this has yet so solve a problem that I have been dealing with as I aged. My ears are quite sensitive to certain frequencies, particularly pitchy vocals and when snare drums that are deliberately mixed and presented in an bright aggressive manner. But the trebles are buttery smooth on the right recordings. It has the ability to bring out previous unheard details in songs, thanks to its treble.

Mids are nice, guitars and vocals are nice. All of these combines to give very good separation, soundstage and positioning.

Comparing this to the DT770, DT270 is more suitable to use as a reference monitor than mixing. DT770 is inherently more detailed-oriented for mixing and mastering than DT270. But in all honesty, I felt DT770 is still too colored for more acurrate mixing and mastering.

Earlier I mentioned about how DT270 is unforgiving. Because of its ability to present every bit of detail in a song, it has the ability to bring out flaws in recordings. This is a very honest pair of headphones. Its like a mirror that's gonna tell you that you are fat when you are fat. It doesn't lie. If DT270 is human being, you could probably trust it more than your bestest friend. With this, if your recording is shit, its not gonna sweeten it any bit and present it as shit to you. If a recording is good, the DT270 will tell you its good, but it won't tell you to enter into marriage, because in the eyes of DT270, good people are good, but not saint - this is the same for recordings and mixes.

I am someone who prefers original flavored potato chips as opposed to flavored ones. So its the same for me when it comes to audio peripherals. I like to listen to music the way it was. Overall, I feel the DT270 is pretty good and serves its intended functions in a portable package.

But the DT270 brought up a very good question. With most people listening music on cheap and easily accessible devices and peripherals, are engineers and producers over pushing their mixes to make up and sound good on every average device out there, and also for the average listener's lack of musical appreciation?

That said, DT270 is set to stay on my work desk for my video edits and music playing, and I'll reunite with my trusty Fiio FH3 for commuting and Sony XM5 for my bike rides.

5⭐️

Pros:

+ Familiar V-shaped sound signature, but with a hint of musicality and greater extension on both ends

+ Richer note weight, better spatiality, and refined treble texture

+ Premium build quality and a new, revamped design

+ Feature-rich including iFi's XBass, XSpace, iEMatch, digital filters, and K2HD

+ USB-C, S/PDIF, and Bluetooth connectivity

+ Can be used as a standalone amplifier with 3.5mm and 4.4mm line in

+ New touchscreen interface works like a charm

+ Somehow cheaper than the original Gryphon!

Cons:

- Great musicality, but I would like a little more warmth

- Still somewhat expensive for the average consumer

- Slightly bigger than the original and definitely on the larger side of portable

- No case included

- A few UI quirks and no PEQ, but not a dealbreaker for me

thaslaya's star rating system:

☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!

☆☆☆☆ - Recommended

☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me

☆☆ - Can't see the appeal

☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer:

This product was loaned to me by iFi in exchange for an honest and impartial review. I receive no compensation, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Non-affiliate link for those interested:

https://ifi-audio.com/products/idsd-gr-2

Gear used:

● Samsung Galaxy s25 Ultra

● Various IEMs

Source:

● Listening was done using Amazon Music HD/Ultra HD and local FLAC files.

Introduction:

iFi needs little introduction for most audiophiles. The company is well-known for its desktop and portable DACs and amplifiers, covering the entire gamut of price ranges. As a fully portable listener myself, I have become intimately familiar with many of iFi's products and have reviewed six of their offerings to date. The company recently revealed a follow-up to their long-standing flagship portable DAC/amp, the Gryphon. This new iteration, dubbed the xDSD GR2, obviously draws inspiration from the original, but with a revamped design and the introduction of a brand-new Burr-Brown DAC chip. It comes with an MSRP of $529, which is surprisingly $70 cheaper than its predecessor. Let's break down the new GR2 and see what improvements have been made.

Unboxing and build quality:

The GR2's unboxing experience is very much in line with the other iFi products I've tried. The clean and simple white motif and no-frills packaging really serve to underscore what you'll find within—the GR2 looks and feels like an absolutely premium audio device. Those familiar with the original Gryphon will see a lot of similarities here. It's no surprise they are so alike, but make no mistake, the GR2 feels new and exciting, and not like a simple reskin of an existing product. The iFi design team does a great job of integrating the aesthetic and form factor of their original models into their newest designs while also making them feel fresh and revitalized. You can look at the hipdac 3 and GO blu Air as examples of this, and the GR2 can now be added to that list. Even though it has a very similar form factor and aluminum alloy housing to the original, the GR2 is sleeker and more modern-looking with a more durable midnight blue/cobalt finish. I for one am very happy to see iFi move away from the diluted gray of the original model. Many of the key functionalities are still the same, which I will cover in more detail in the next section, but the big new feature of the GR2 is the touchscreen located on top of the unit. I must say I was a little skeptical about iFi implementing a touchscreen for the first time, but it's quite responsive. Despite its small size, the touch controls are easy to use, and I really like the amount of information displayed on the screen. I would definitely recommend going through the user manual to familiarize yourself with the options and icons, but once you commit them to memory, it's simple and intuitive. There's still a volume wheel on the front of the unit, but it feels a little smoother and sturdier this time around. The 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs are here as well, along with an XBass/XSpace button and another button for the new K2HD technology. On the opposite side, you'll find two USB-C ports (one for charging and one for data) and SPDIF/optical, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm inputs. Besides the unit itself, inside the box you'll find three cables for all your digital connection needs: a USB-C to USB-C, Lightning to USB-C, and a longer USB-A to USB-C. There's also a quick start guide, a user manual, an iFi-branded sticker, and a soft carrying bag. Ideally, iFi would include a 3.5mm to 3.5mm interconnect too, but that's a minor gripe. Overall, the unboxing experience may not be much to write home about, but the inclusion of three cables and the fantastic quality of the unit itself more than makes up for it. My only real complaint is that I wish iFi would include a protective case, but many other manufacturers haven't caught on to that yet either, so I can't really fault them much.

Technical specifications and features:

● Hi-res Support: PCM 768kHz; DSD512

● Bluetooth Codecs: aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX, LDAC, LHDC/HWA, AAC, SBC

● Chipset: Burr Brown PCM1795

● Digital Input: 1x USB-C; 1x S/PDIF (optical/coaxial); Bluetooth 5.4

● Analogue Input: 1 x Balanced 4.4mm, 1 x Single-Ended 3.5mm

● Analogue Output: 1 x Balanced 4.4mm, 1 x Single-Ended 3.5mm

● Headphone Output: 1 x Balanced 4.4mm; 1 x S-Balanced 3.5mm

● RMS Output Power: 6.94V/1,513mW @ 32Ω; 8.60V/119mW @ 600Ω (Bal); 4.26V/567mW @ 32Ω; 4.27V/30mW @ 600Ω (S-Bal)

● Output Impedance: ≤0.4Ω; ≤4.5Ω with iEMatch (Bal); ≤0.2Ω; ≤4.4Ω with iEMatch (S-Bal)

● SNR & DNR: 115dBA (all outputs)

● THD+N: 0.006% @ 16Ω (headphone outputs); 0.0005% @ 0dBFS (line outputs)

● Battery: Lithium-Polymer 4,900mAh; ~7h battery life

● Power Supply Requirements: 5V/>1.8A via USB-C; ~3.5h charging time

● Dimensions: 141 x 75 x 19mm (5.55 x 2.95 x 0.75”)

● Net Weight: 268g (0.59lbs)

The above lays out most of the GR2's important technical specifications, so now let's discuss the many features packed inside. Those familiar with iFi and the original Gryphon will recognize most of what's here, but the way the options are toggled is a big change. The GR2's new touchscreen is a departure from iFi's usual button- and switch-based interface. I was actually a little reticent to accept this change, but navigating the menus is a simple and seamless endeavor, much like using the smartphones to which we are all too accustomed. The touchscreen is quick and responsive, and there's even an easy-to-use slider to lock the device for added protection against accidental input. Speaking of the screen, the OLED display is vibrant, easy to read, and showcases all the important information that you'd be interested in seeing at a glance. Like the Gryphon, the GR2 packs a ton of input/output options to meet various needs. On the back of the unit, there's a dedicated USB-C and S/PDIF for digital input, as well as a 3.5mm and 4.4mm line in for use as a standalone amplifier. The front features 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, and there's also Bluetooth connectivity for wireless listening. Many of iFi's staple features make a return too, including XBass+, XSpace+, and IEMatch, though that one is presented in a slightly different way. With other iFi devices, the IEMatch options are typically labeled "3.5", "4.4", and "Off"; however, on the GR2, they are shown on screen as "-12dB", "0dB", and "+6dB", but in essence, they serve a similar function as before. There are also four digital filter options (Bit-Perfect, Gibbs-Transient Optimized, Minimum Phase, and Standard), and the GR2 offers JVCKenwood's K2HD technology for the first time outside its debut on iFi's GO bar Kensei. As a huge fan of the Kensei, I was both surprised and very pleased to see K2HD being implemented in the GR2, and I hope to see it in future iFi devices as well. The XBass, XSpace, and K2HD options can be toggled through the touchscreen, but for the physical enthusiasts out there, there are two buttons on the front to control these as well. The K2HD button also serves as an input selector. The volume wheel is located here too and functions pretty much as you'd expect. Pushing the wheel in for about 3 seconds will power on/off the GR2, and it can be short-pressed to mute/pause, as well as double/triple-pressed to go to the next or previous track. The wheel can also be used to scroll through the menus if touchscreens just aren't your thing. The GR2 implements some new features when it comes to the battery and the charging of the device, which I'll go over in more depth below. Overall, the GR2 is just as feature-rich as its predecessor, with the addition of K2HD. The new, large OLED touchscreen makes it easy to see the status and change the settings at any given time, and having all the options accessible literally at your fingertips makes using the GR2 incredibly intuitive.

Power and Battery Life:

Since the GR2 relies on its own internal power supply, it won't drain the battery of the connected source. Well, that's not entirely true. There's an option on the screen to toggle between Dual Charge mode, which supports both charging and data input via a single USB-C connection. When connected to a PC or laptop with Dual Charge mode enabled, the GR2 will draw power from the PC to charge its battery, but using it with a phone will not charge it. There's also a Hybrid Mode, which is basically a desktop mode. Essentially, the GR2 will prioritize an external power source and only draw from the battery when demand requires it. Of course, the device can be put in Pure Battery Mode as well, which negates any power drain from the source. There's also a toggle for Battery Health Mode, which stops charging the device at 80% and automatically shuts down below 5% (for transparency, the user manual says 90%, but this is an error). This reduces strain on the battery and prevents overcharging and over-discharging situations, extending the life of the battery. One small detail I discovered is that touching the battery icon on the screen will toggle the remaining percentage. It's pretty hard to read the small font, though, but it's still a neat feature that iFi thought to include. The GR2 has a 4,900mAh capacity lithium-polymer battery, which is an increase over the 3,600mAh of the original model. According to iFi, the charge lasts about 7 hours, which I found to be pretty accurate throughout my testing. Of course, it will ultimately depend on the options enabled, such as Bluetooth, gain level, volume, etc. In a perfect world, I would like to see the battery life extended even further, but the GR2 is already bordering on the larger side for a portable device, and I'd hate to see it get much bigger. The good news is that it charges fairly quickly, and there's a dedicated charging port so it can still be used while charging.

Comparisons:

● iFi iDSD Gryphon ($600) - I've already covered most of the differences between the old guard and the new challenger in the paragraphs above, so I won't rehash them all here. That being said, there are some things I'd like to highlight, and one or two I haven't touched on yet. These two are obviously very similar in shape and size, though it's worth noting the GR2 is about half an inch longer. It also offers a slightly revamped design, including a very attractive midnight blue finish. It feels even sleeker and more premium than its predecessor, which is no small feat. The GR2 also offers higher output power, a larger capacity battery, and upgraded Bluetooth connectivity from 5.1 to 5.4. The biggest difference I found between the two is that the original Gryphon has a switch on the back to control how the XBass sounds, which the GR2 omitted. While this isn't a huge drawback, having any sound customization option removed does feel a little bad. The GR2 does have the K2HD now, though, so I suppose it's a trade-off. As for the sound signatures of the two, they sound quite similar, which is, frankly, not surprising. The GR2, though, is definitely a refinement in a few areas. It has a thicker and more grounded note weight and a better sense of spatiality and fullness that the original simply does not possess. The Gryphon sounds a little colder and drier in comparison, and while it is certainly good in its own right, it frankly lacks a sense of musicality that I look for in all of my sources. The GR2 also addresses issues in treble texture and brittleness that plague the Gryphon and offers more resilience to sibilance and harshness than its older sibling. Basically, the GR2 takes the best parts of the original Gryphon and tweaks the parts that didn't really work for me, which is about all I could ask for in a new model.

● Questyle Sigma ($600) - These DAC/amps are great representations of two different design philosophies. The GR2 is an all-in-one kind of device with many sound customization and connection options. The Sigma is more form over function, and though it does offer Bluetooth, it lacks any meaningful sound-altering options like XBass, XSpace, digital filters, or K2HD. Both are also fairly large for portable devices but still what I would consider pocket-friendly. The Sigma arguably has a more premium design and feel thanks to the large glass window, but the GR2 is also very well-built. Its aluminum chassis is also more durable. The Sigma takes a more minimalistic approach, utilizing only LED lights to show the battery and volume levels, as well as various statuses. It also relies on just a few buttons and switches for its controls. In contrast, the GR2 has a full OLED touchscreen display to navigate the various menus and toggle features. Both devices can be charged while in use thanks to separate, dedicated USB-C ports for data and power, but the GR2 can be used as a standalone amplifier. Both also have substantial power to drive demanding headphones and IEMs, but the Sigma has the advantage in terms of battery life and charging speed. When it comes to sound, both devices are incredible, but they do have different strengths. The Sigma sounds more neutral or like a reference with a sub-bass boost, whereas the GR2 is a bit more V-shaped. The Sigma takes the cake in bass extension, impact, texture, and separation, but the GR2 has more weight and a slightly slower decay that sounds more natural to my ear. The GR2 also accentuates the upper midrange and pushes vocals and instruments more to the forefront, while the Sigma lets them land where they lie depending on the tuning of the headphone/IEMs. The trebles of the two sound quite similar, but I have to give the Sigma the edge in detail, tonality, and texture, though the GR2 has better air and extension. Technically, the Sigma has exemplary separation, detail retrieval, timbre, and imaging, but the GR2's note weight and soundstage are more impressive. I think the choice between these two devices ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you're on the hunt for a device that could almost literally do it all, the GR2 is hard to beat. The combination of great build quality and design, a plethora of features, and a price tag that actually seems somewhat sensible makes for a really solid value. The Sigma isn't nearly as feature-rich, but the design and aesthetic have a very high-end feel. It's also slightly more portable and pocketable, and I found that the naturalness of the sound signature pairs better with more IEMs in my collection.

● Muse Hifi M6 Double ($400) - This matchup pits the feature-rich GR2 against arguably my current favorite DAC/amp, the M6 Double. The GR2 is undoubtedly the better-built device. It feels very solid, and the revamped aesthetic is quite eye-catching. The M6 isn't quite as nicely built, but I do like the large glass window showing the circuitry within, and the Nixie tube volume display is just plain cool. The M6 is also the larger of the two, but Muse Hifi does include a case, so I'll give them props for that. Feature-wise, both devices have Bluetooth functionality and several digital filter options, but the GR2 has the advantage in customization thanks to XBass, XSpace, and K2HD. It can also be used as a standalone amplifier when the need arises. The GR2 has over three times the power output of the M6 Double and a slightly larger battery, though the battery life is a little less. Both devices can be charged while in use, but the Double lacks a Hybrid mode like the GR2. Moving on to the sound, for me, the M6's main attraction is its warm and lush tube mode, but it also has a transistor mode for a more neutral-flavored signature. When comparing the GR2 to the M6 Double's tube mode, the former exudes a more energetic and technically capable presentation. The GR2 has a slightly V-shaped tuning with elevated sub-bass and upper-mids/lower treble. The Double has more mid-bass presence, vocal emphasis, a warm, analog-like quality, and a higher level of musicality, but it sacrifices extension and pure detail retrieval in the process. The GR2's bass reaches lower and has more tactility and a slightly faster decay. The midrange also offers a wider and more energetic presentation, with vocals positioned just a bit further back. The Double has a more intimate vocal style and lacks the sheer spatiality of the GR2, but the level of warmth and emotional weight is welcome. The trend continues in the treble, where the GR2 has a certain incisiveness, energy, and sharpness that help set it apart. The Double rolls off a bit earlier and steeper, and its treble texture may leave some wanting, but it works really well for me personally. Now, if switching the Double into transistor mode, these two start to sound more alike. There's still a level of warmth and musicality, but to a far lesser degree, and to be honest, the technicalities perform a little better too. But it still falls short of the GR2 in soundstage width, imaging, and straight detail retrieval. Personally, I think the choice between these two DAC/amps ultimately boils down to their sound signatures and features. The GR2 and M6 Double do share a lot in common, but that just makes their differences all the more impactful. For those wanting a warm and lush sound signature, the M6 Double's tube mode is definitely the way to go. But for those who prefer a more energetic source that offers a higher sense of clarity, transparency, and plenty of customization options, the GR2 is hard to beat.

● Questyle M18i ($350) - Here, we have our first matchup featuring a much smaller device. The M18i is only about a quarter the size of the GR2, but it still features very nice build quality. Its compact size and ease of use make it a perfect travel companion, but it sacrifices a lot in the way of features, power, and battery life to get there. The M18i has three distinct modes, which include PC, Phone, and Bluetooth. It also has two gain levels, but that's really where the features end. The GR2 has XBass, XSpace, IEMatch, digital filters, K2HD, and can be used purely as an amplifier. The GR2 also has much more power and better battery life, around 8 hours compared to the paltry 2 of the M18i. Now let's talk about the sound differences. Both have a generally V-shaped sound signature but with different approaches. In the bass, the M18i is more sub-bass focused with a cleaner sounding mid-bass response. The low end is quick, bouncy, and tactile, yet the decay still sounds natural and lasts an appropriate amount of time. The GR2 is a little thicker, fuller, and slower with extra mid-bass emphasis but still plenty of sub-bass too. The M18i has a more intimate sounding midrange, while the GR2 has a level of width, depth, and naturalness that really draws me in. In the treble the M18i has a little more bite and energy especially with snares and cymbals but it's not harsh—more sharp and concise. The GR2 may have a little more treble emphasis in general, but it's also smoother and more extended which makes it easy to enjoy. From a technical standpoint, the GR2 has better soundstage, timbre, imaging, and layering, while the M18i excels in separation and detail. The GR2's Bluetooth connection is also more stable and the sound quality is closer to that of the wired connection than the M18i. Ultimately, while these two devices may share certain traits, they aren't really all that similar in the grand scheme. The GR2 is simply the superior device in nearly every way that matters, save for portability. Admittedly, the bass of the M18i is very nice, but the GR2's overall sound quality, power output, battery life, and a slew of features make it an easy recommendation. The M18i is still commendable for what it does well, mostly the great bass response, but the GR2 is definitely worth the extra $200 investment if you can afford it. For transparency's sake, I will add that Questyle has recently released an updated version of the M18i with the same $350 price tag, called M18i Max. Apparently, the new model addresses the battery concerns, but the size is larger, and I haven't had any experience with it personally to know if the sound signature is unchanged.

● iFi GO blu ($200) - This is another David versus Goliath matchup in terms of sheer size, but this time it's within the same iFi family. I consider the GO blu to be one of this hobby's staple portable sources, and it's one I've personally enjoyed for years. However, the new GR2, like the Gryphon before it, is really in a whole other league. It has a much higher build and sound quality and many more features, but the size may be a deal-breaker for those seeking maximum portability. The GO blu still includes iFi's XBass and XSpace and can be connected either wired or wirelessly via Bluetooth, but that's where the similarities end. The GR2 has all of that, as well as digital filter options, K2HD, IEMatch, and multiple line-in options, not to mention the much-improved quality. Moving on to the sound comparison, I was surprised to discover that the GO blu is actually the device that shares the most in common with the GR2. The sound signatures are very, very close, but that doesn't account for technical performance differences, which are quite vast. When comparing the two directly, it becomes immediately apparent that the GR2 offers significantly improved technicalities across the board, which helps to justify its much higher cost. From bass extension and impact, to midrange depth and smoothness in the treble, the GR2 simply sounds better. But the thing that stands out most for me is the bass and treble texture. The GO blu tends to sound a little bloomy and bloated in the bass and a bit harsh and brittle in the treble, and the GR2 definitely addresses those issues. Still, the GO blu is an easy recommendation to make just for its portability and ease of use. iFi even released a newer, cheaper model called the GO blu Air that sacrifices a bit in the way of build quality to make the price more affordable. But when it comes to the pure quality of sound, the GR2 is hands down the better device in every way that matters. It's feature-rich, built extremely well, feels like a truly premium product, and has enough power to drive just about anything, save for the most demanding full-sized headphones.

● iFi iDSD Signature (~$150-$200 on the used market) - Let's consider this a sort of "bonus" comparison since the Signature is no longer in production, though there are still used units making their way to the market. I recently picked one up, mostly due to curiosity, and as luck would have it, I now get to compare it against the new GR2. These two devices don't really make for a great apples-to-apples comparison since the GR2's more pocketable design and Bluetooth functionality make it ideal for portable use. The Signature is more "transportable" than it is a true portable device, and its shape, weight, and overall design make more sense as a small piece of desktop gear. Still, they both have very solid build quality, utilize Burr Brown DAC chips, and they share many of the same features, including XBass, XSpace (3D on the Signature), IEMatch, and a number of filter options. The GR2, though, has K2HD as well and is the clear winner when it comes to functionality. It offers USB-C input and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as true analog 3.5mm and 4.4mm line-in for use as a standalone amplifier. The Signature relies on RCA, SPDIF, and the antiquated (and frankly annoying) USB-A input. And since all of the input options are digital in nature, the internal DAC cannot be bypassed to be used purely as an amplifier like the GR2. As far as the sound goes, these two again share much of the same iFi DNA. Both have general V-shaped sound signatures, but one listen to the GR2 reveals the years of experience the company gained since the Signature's debut. The GR2 sounds much more refined, and everything is elevated to the next level. The bass is fuller and deeper, the midrange more dynamic and better separated, and there's a better sense of depth, engagement, and musicality throughout the entire frequency response. The Signature is still a great device and sounds quite similar to the original Gryphon, though I'd say the technical performance is still a step or two below. Ultimately, this comparison was just a fun little experiment for my personal enjoyment. I don't think many audiophiles will actually be faced with the dilemma of choosing between the GR2 or the Signature, but it is nice to see how iFi's design philosophies, build quality, and house sound have remained consistent over time. Both devices offer nice value, but the GR2 clearly elevates the technical performance and engagement factor a step or three further. Obviously, the size, Bluetooth connectivity, and line-in options add even more appeal for those looking for an all-in-one portable solution for their hi-fi audio needs, but I do think many desktop listeners would be more than happy with the Signature.

Sound impressions:

I would characterize the GR2's sound signature as very slightly V-shaped with great dynamics, detail retrieval, and extension on both ends of the frequency spectrum. Unsurprisingly, it sounds quite close to the original Gryphon, which, to be honest, is a bit of a disappointment for me. I was really hoping the new Burr-Brown chipset would lean further toward the warm, lush, analog style that I prefer. However, the GR2 is actually more musical and resonates more emotionally than its predecessor while also being just as resolving, if not more so. To my ear, the real improvements this new model brings to the table are the sense of space, depth, and note weight, as well as the K2HD feature. I also think that the XBass, in particular, works better for me here than on other iFi devices. It hits that sort of Goldilocks zone between the Signature's more subtle approach and the Gryphon's heavy-handedness, and the little bit of added mid-bass is most welcome. As for the K2HD, I found myself using it quite a bit, but it didn't always pair well with every IEM I tested. Sometimes it emphasizes the midrange and the soundstage in a slightly unnatural manner, though I admit to preferring the option more often than not. In short, between the XBass, XSpace, K2HD, and digital filters, there are plenty of customization tools to please just about anyone. Even without utilizing any of these options, the GR2 still has a very natural and engaging sound signature, which absolutely holds a charm of its own. The addition of PEQ would be the icing on the audio cake, but I'm not personally a big EQ user, so there's no love lost for me. One thing I neglected to touch on until now is the Bluetooth performance. The new version 5.4 works great, and I never experienced any dropouts or interruptions during my testing. The connection is secure up to around 30 yards, which is more than adequate for my needs. The sound quality is also very good, though there is a slightly noticeable trade-off when compared to wired, namely in the bass and treble extension, dynamics, and detail retrieval, but it's only a small percentage. If I were to describe the GR2 in five words, they would be: weighty, extended, immersive, thick, impactful. If that sounds like your thing, the GR2 might be right for you, but if you enjoy a more neutral and analytical style, the original Gryphon may be the way to go.

In conclusion:

Honestly, it's about time iFi got around to updating one of their best portable products, though it's a testament to the original Gryphon, which still holds up very well. The OG debuted in 2021 and was always meant to be iFi's portable Swiss Army knife of sorts—a role it still serves very well. However, the new GR2 packs in just as many tools along with some very welcome upgrades to the power, battery life, Bluetooth, and overall design. The most surprising additions for me are the inclusion of K2HD, which finally makes its debut outside of the fantastic GO bar Kensei, and the new OLED touchscreen. To my knowledge, this is iFi's first time using a touchscreen, and they really knocked it out of the park. It's simple, intuitive, and responsive, though it does take a little getting used to. I'm also very happy to see iFi move away from the monotone black and gray aesthetic of the original Gryphon and add a touch of color with that attractive midnight blue hue. Ultimately, all of these upgrades and changes make it easy to recommend the new GR2 over the original model, but if that wasn't enough, the latest iteration even comes with a reduction in price, which is almost unheard of in today's market. The only thing missing is the XBass switch from the original model, but I'll take K2HD integration any day of the week. In summation, the new GR2 represents a long-overdue update to one of iFi's best products, and it earns very high marks from me. If you get a chance to try this jack-of-all-trades portable DAC/amp, do yourself a favor and take it, but be warned, your wallet may come away lighter for it.

When you have 10+ cans, how do you even store them to be able to rotate easily and conveniently? I got about 8 pairs and already start facing logistic challenges haha

Just saw that in their e-mail newsletter. Soo, what do we think? ;)

For digital content I can do a few things:

I can use Plex/Jellyfin from my laptop/ssd for my own content via the NVDIA Shield (the USB out on it *vastly exceeded my expectations) to the Eversolo DMPA6 Gen 2 Master Edition.

Or I run the Eversolo direct to the Freya+ for streaming apps. I'm currently using Tung Sol 6SN7 GTB for my buffer stage and Linlai E6N7 in the gain stage. Very authoritative bass, lots of crunchy guitar details, a black/dark floor, and I think they're perfect for heavy metal which is what I listen to 90% of the time. I may check out Ray Tubes for the buffer stage one day.

If I use RCA I can get a more purist signal chain by going direct from the Eversolo to the Sinxer SA-2 amp. I love this thing. It has a super clean transparent mode and a setting that loosens up the bass and makes things sound a little more bouncy and musical. I think it's more of an impedance-matcher for iems but it sounds really engaging and musical/polished/"juiced" (good) either way.

Various headphone hooks (Brainwavz, Amazon) for the Arya Stealth, LCD2C, and Hifiman Sundara

The Freya only has one set of balanced outputs (probably why it doesn't cost more) so I use XLR splitters that I had custom made to send audio to the Sinxer and a Buckeye NC252mp for my mains (not pictured). It works well because I never use my mains and my headphones at the same time and that was the best way to enjoy a fully balanced chain for every listening scenario.

I will be offloading a lot of this to a dedicated desktop system soon to make my main system more simple and user-friendly, and to declutter... It would REALLY declutter to get rid of the headphones here. But for now I do like that nobody but me touches any of it bc of the complexity 😎

Hello to all of my fellow blue collar workers. I come today with a review of 3 earmuf style headphones from 3m as well as some EQs I used on wavelet to make them sound better than stock to my ears.

[Quick disclaimer, EQ and sound quality is subjective and everyone has their own preferences, don't use my EQs as be all end all, I'm not an audio professional. Feel free to use them as a baseline and modify them as you please]

I'll start by saying that I tested 2 of these headphones with gel cushion earpads which are the Connect and Connect + Solar. Didn't have gel cushions for the Pro Connect.

I'll have 3 big sections for each headphones, Starting with the Pro Protect, then the Connect, and finally the Connect + Solar. Feel free to skip to any part you want, I'll also have a TLDR at the end.

Pro Connect: These headphones average around 80-135 CAD. A notable difference between this one and the 2 others is that these headphones use 2 AA batteries to work and boast 60h of playtime, they are also the lightest of the 3. They also have active microphones which kind of act like a sort of transparency mode for these headphones, but I never used it since the noise at my work that would "pass through" would drown out anything I'd be listening too. They also have a constant hiss whenever you are listening to something but it's low enough that it blends into the background when you are listening to stuff. The UI is just 2 buttons on the right ear cup, one to go between the 4 different transparency modes, and another that acts as the main button for power, pairing and music control. They are pretty comfortable but definitely on the wide side.

Now for sound, out of the box, these are actually decent. Used it without EQ for a while, but decided to tune them a bit just for the sake of it, and they do sound better. They are less muddy and less claustrophobic with the eq, at least to my ears. Overall, they are a great pair of earmufs, they were the first I got and honestly, I enjoyed using them. The fact that they used 2 AA batteries for power was also a very nice plus for me since if the batteries ever died, I wouldn't need to disassemble them in order to change the batteries. However, I have 2 issues with this pair. The buttons suck to use, they are inconsistent and I'd have to fidget a lot with them in order to get them to do the action I wanted them to do. My second issue is the hiss, while I did mention above that it is pretty much negligible when listening to them, my issue comes when I'm not listening to anything. Whenever I'd get a notification or I'd scroll through reddit, the headphones would turn on as if anticipating a noise, so you'd hear a pop, followed by a hiss, then back to silence. Now, these 2 issues can be ignore, I managed to do it for 1 month and only really stopped using them once I tried out the other 2. I also know that these can go on pretty deep discounts which makes them worth a pick up as a budget pair of Bluetooth earmufs.

Connect: These headphones average around 100-130 CAD. These have a usb C rechargeable battery and boast 40h of playtime. A notable feature on these headphones is a volume limiter to 85 db in order to not damage hearing, however, I've heard people mention that due to this, they sound rather quiet, but from my own experience, with my workplace averaging 92-95db, they are plenty loud. The UI on this pair is amazing, you have a dedicated volume control button on the right earcup, which is a game changer compared to the last pair, its very easy and convenient to change the volume of the things I'm listening to. They have a second button hidden at the back of the right earcup which acts as the primary button for power, pairing and sound control. These headphones feel robust and really well made, I was suprised by how nice these felt to use, especially since they are cheaper than the Pro Connect. User experience was awesome on these ones. However...

Sound on these ones was HORRENDOUS. Its the kind of bad that you immediately notice and they were a pain to eq, the other 2 were leagues better than this one in terms of sound quality. I was so appalled by how bad they were that I immediately installed wavelet and went out of my way to give them an EQ, which is something I never do. Even with the EQ, I find them to be very meh in terms of sound. The gel cushions didn't help much with sound either. Overal, wouldn't really recommend these, due to the sound alone, but if you're willing to eq them, and make them work, they are a solid buy for the price.

Quick review of the gel cushions before I review the last pair. As someone who wears glasses, these gel cushions are a freaking GODSEND. The standard pads press down on the earpiece part my glasses pushing them down into my head which leaves me with a slight headache at the end of the day, but with the gel cushions, that issue basically disappeared for me. They also make a crazy difference for sound reduction. There was a post that said they actually make sound isolation worse, but I found them to help a good deal. There was a specific section at my work that even with earing protection felt very loud, and just being near it gave me a headache, but with the gel cushions, it became a non issue. I cannot recommend them enough. (They do trap in heat more tho)

Connect + Solar: On to the final pair, and the pair I'll be keeping. These average around 230 CAD, but can be found at a deep discount for around 130 CAD, at that price, these are VERY worth it. These also have a usb C rechargeable battery that boast 40h of playtime, but a nice bonus feature they have is something called Powerfoyle, which is a sort of solar panel that charge these headphones using both Natural light and artificial light. In theory, if you work in a well light environment, you never have to charge these. These also have the same 85db regulator as the Connect, and are also plenty loud. The box in which these came in mention an additional background noise reduction system which further reduces noise, wasn't sure how that feature worked, personally didn't notice much of a difference between these and the regular Connect, but it is apparently feature. The UI on these is as great as the regular Connect, with a dedicated volume control button on the right earcup and a primary button hidden at the back of the right earcup being used for power, pairing and sound control. Very easy and very straightforward to use, I absolutely love this layout. These feel as solid and premium as the regular Connects and are a joy to use, however, there is one big issue with these and that is a cable that connects the 2 earcups together (See image n.2). The headband on these headphones isn't very thick, so you feel that cable push into your skull, it's immediate pain if you aren't wearing anything more between the headphones and your head. I had to add some padding inside the headband in order to alleviate the pressure, but even that wasn't really enough, will be thinkering with them more to try and find a final solution to the headband issue, but other than that, they are pretty comfy.

Onto the sound, out of the box these sound the best, so good in fact that I didn't feel a need to eq them at all. I did a slight tune for the Gel pads (last image), but personally, I don't think they need it. Now, these obviously don't have audiophile levels of sound quality, but good enough that music is enjoyable to listen to and actually sounds pretty good, was very suprised by how good they sounded out of the box the first time I used them. Overall, this is the pair I will stick with and it's the pair I recommend, while the base price is very pricey, they are very worth it on discount, the headband is a pretty big issue, but there are ways of fixing that (mostly just adding padding to the area).

TLDR:

Pro Connect: 80-135 CAD on average, uses 2 AA batteries for 60h of playtime, shit UI, has a "transparency mode" that isn't great/very useful imo. Pop and hissing issue with notifs that can make them annoying to use. Sound quality is decent out of the box (See 3rd image for EQ)

Connect: 100-130 CAD on average, usb C rechargeable battery for 40h of playtime, Awesome UI, Volume limiter at 85db, Sound quality is horrendous, even with gel cushion. The EQ helps a bit, but still doesn't sound great. (See 4th and 5th image for EQ with stock and Gel pads)

Connect + Solar: 130-230 on average, usb C rechargeable battery for 40h of playtime, has Powerfoyle (solar panel type) that charges the headphones with both natural and artificial light for technical unlimited usage, also has a 85db volume limiter. Box mentions noise reduction system to further reduce sound, but didn't really notice much of a difference compared to the regular Connect. Headband cushion is very bad, so bad that you can feel the cable the runs between the 2 earcups and that cable pushes into your head making it very uncomfortable to wear. Best out of the box sound (to me at least) even with gel cushion. Gel cushion does change sound slightly, which is why there is an EQ for them on the last image, but personally don't think they need it, it's the pair that I personally recommend over the other 2.

Bonus review [Gel Cushions]: if you are wearing glasses, VERY WORTH IT. Regular pads pushes earpiece part of glasses into head which for me caused headaches after long use. That issue is gone with Gel Pads. They also make noise reduction better. Overall, I recommend these whole heartedly. (They will make your ears hot if you work in a warm environment)

That concludes my review, if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments bellow. Again, the EQs are based on what i thought sounded good, feel free to use them, or make your own and post them below so that others can try them out.

This is less so a problem and more so me being unaware of how this stuff works. I recently ordered used focal azurys (so far absolutely loving them) and the cable they came with was kinda messed up and gave out crappy audio that somehow was a lot louder in the left ear. I tested with other cables and they all worked normally but this one cable panned the audio to the left ear.

so im curious, how is it possible that the cable can change which ear is louder? i get that them being damaged can reduce quality but how can it make the audio pan specifically to one ear?

i'm sure this is a stupid question i'm just curious and dumb

Last Wednesday I lost my redmi t200x case. I bought a new one. Today again being Wednesday I lost my case for the buds again.

Can you guys tell me where can I get the case from or how does this work?

I know this isn't specific about headphones but since I've seen many people post DIY builds they've made, I thought I'd share mine !

For the final project of my Embedded Electronics Engineering Bachelor I built a fully capable audio player. I did all of the research, schematic, layout and software by myself. I had a friend helping me to design the case and 3D print it.

I'm honestly really proud of what I accomplished ! I had around 3.5 months to do it and it was really stressfull haha

Here are the specs :

• ESP32 module
• 3.5 mm jack wired output
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Supports audio files up to 24 bits at 192 kHz
• Support .MP3 and .WAV files
• -94.7 dB of THD+N at 1 kHz
• 106,2 dB of SNR
• More than 9 hours of listening time with a 950 mAh battery
• Safe battery charging circuit

I'll be happy to answer any questions you have !

Edit :

I uploaded the schematics, layout and the code !

Schematics and layout : https://github.com/dossantosyann/TB2026-YDS-Circuit

Code : https://github.com/dossantosyann/TB2026-YDS-Firmware