The ultimate meta-review site for audio gear. We deliver the final word through exhaustive analysis of dozens of sources worldwide. Our philosophy is simple: scientific, logical, and rational. We judge products on measured sound quality and functionality—and nothing else. Subjectivity, personal preference, the product's 'story' or romantic appeal, and design are completely stripped away. What remains is an unvarnished, unbiased review.
Company Review
Comprehensive evaluations of audio equipment manufacturers, including their technology, support, and overall performance.
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Detailed reviews of headphones, speakers, amplifiers, and other audio products.
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TIMEDOMAIN
Japanese speaker maker advocating a time-domain theory. The Yoshii9 line presents a clear concept, but the lack of independent measurements and weak price justification keep the overall score low.
Kiwi Ears
A Linsoul-owned IEM brand focused on handcrafted assembly and dual QC. Models like the Orchestra Lite (8BA) show solid execution with neutral-leaning FR on third-party measurements[1][2]. However, cheaper wired IEMs with equal-or-better measured performance exist, so company-wide cost-performance is not maximal.
Audalytic
Audalytic, presented as an in-house brand from Gustard, targets entry-to-mid desktop audio with a streamer/DAC/head-amp focus. Its AH90 shows specification-level transparency at a low price, though independent long-term reliability data and broad third-party lab measurements are still limited.
Arturia
French company founded in 1999, specializing in audio interfaces, synthesizers, and MIDI controllers with measured performance ranging from competitive budget to premium segments
Acoustic Energy
UK-owned loudspeaker maker best known for the original AE1 and today’s 500 Series with carbon-fibre drivers. Measured data on legacy models is strong, while current models rely mostly on manufacturer specs; pricing is competitive when compared against objectively measured alternatives.
Latest Product Reviews
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TruthEar x Crinacle Zero:BLUE2
Dual dynamic driver IEM tuned toward a Harman-style response with elevated sub-bass; solid objective showing but faces heavy pressure from cheaper single-DD rivals
SMSL DS100
Compact DAC/headphone amp using CS43131 and XMOS XU-316. Delivers transparent line-out specs, MQA/MQA-CD support, USB/optical/coax inputs, and 6.35mm & 4.4mm headphone outputs; headphone stage favors high-impedance voltage.
Shokz OpenComm2
Professional bone conduction headset optimized for voice communication with excellent situational awareness but limited audio fidelity
Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Plus
An all-in-one Atmos bar with AMBEO virtualization and auto-calibration. Third-party measurements show limited deep-bass reach on its own; adding a sub is effective. Features are broad and the design is rational, but cost value faces strong competition from Arc + Sub Mini.
Sennheiser Accentum Plus Wireless
Mid-range ANC headphones with adaptive hybrid noise cancellation and 50-hour battery life (measured 56 hours), but facing strong competition from cheaper models with equal-or-better measured ANC performance.
Sanwa Supply MM-SPU8BK
Ultra-basic USB speaker with severely limited output and narrow frequency range
Roland Quad-Capture UA-55
Discontinued USB interface whose measured performance trails modern gear; cost-performance versus the cheapest equal-or-better current model is nevertheless strong
Pioneer HDJ-CX
Lightweight DJ headphones with PEEK composite drivers targeting portability over performance
Paradigm Founder 40B
Premium bookshelf speaker with solid build quality but limited cost-performance at its price point
Nothing Ear Open
Open-ear wireless earbuds with a 14.2mm titanium-coated driver and IP54 rating. They post the strongest MDAQS we’ve seen to date in the open-ear class but still face inherent sub-bass limits and mixed customer support feedback.
Nothing Ear (a)
Value-oriented true wireless earbuds with LDAC, ANC, and 42.5-hour total battery life; solid measured isolation with some treble peaks that may benefit from EQ.
Moondrop Robin
Hybrid dual-driver TWS earbuds with ANC and LDAC support, featuring well-balanced tuning and competitive cost-performance
Moondrop Joker
Closed-back monitoring headphones with W-shaped frequency response that compromises accuracy for coloration
Mifa A1
Budget portable Bluetooth speaker with IP56 rating and basic audio performance
Marshall Major V
On-ear Bluetooth headphones with 100+ hour claimed battery, wireless charging, and LE Audio readiness; stock tuning is treble-heavy and lacks ANC
M-Audio M-Track Duo
Budget USB audio interface with transparent audio performance and competitive pricing, though limited by basic technology implementation.
Logitech Z313
Budget 2.1 speaker system with severe frequency-response shaping; requires DSP to approach neutrality
Logitech Z120BW
Ultra-compact USB-powered 2.0 speakers (1.2W RMS) with basic 3.5 mm input and two-year warranty; limited output and bandwidth make them suitable only for minimal desktop audio.
Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite
An 8-BA handcrafted IEM rated at 16 Ω/112 dB (SPL/mW). Independent FR measurements show a neutral-leaning response with standard IEC-711 caveats. Pure performance-per-dollar is pressured by cheaper wired IEMs with equal-or-better published measurement claims (e.g., Moondrop Aria 2), so the cost-performance score is conservative.
JVC Victor HA-A30T2
JVC's smallest true wireless ANC earbuds with multipoint connectivity and 27-hour total battery life; lacks transparent third-party measurements and advanced codec support.
JBL Pebbles
USB-powered desktop speakers with honest, limited performance by physics; convenient and tidy for basic PC audio.
JBL LIVE 770NC
Bass-heavy wireless ANC headphones with excellent battery life but significantly overpriced compared to equivalent alternatives
JBL GO2
Ultra-compact waterproof speaker offering basic mono sound with significant frequency limitations; specs are verified and pricing is competitive but easily outperformed by newer minis
JBL GO Essential
Ultra-compact Bluetooth speaker with basic functionality; limited low-frequency extension and dated connectivity make it hard to recommend against newer options
JBL Flip 6
Portable Bluetooth speaker with a true 2-way driver array and IP67 protection. Solid for its size, but mono downmix and bandwidth limits keep fidelity below mid-level; cheaper models can match or exceed it.
JBL Flip 5
Portable Bluetooth speaker with enhanced bass and waterproofing; limited by mono output and dated Bluetooth
JBL Bar 1000 MK2
Detachable-surround 7.1.4 soundbar: credible feature update, average scientific evidence so far; value hinges on needing the modular rears
Huawei FreeClip
Open-ear wireless earbuds with innovative clip-on design and limited audio performance
Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4
Premium TWS with dual drivers and L2HC 4.0. Real-world benefits hinge on Huawei ecosystem; third-party measurements remain limited.
FSC FS-BTSLP01-CG
A discontinued sleep-oriented Bluetooth 5.0 neckband earphone in camouflage green. Retailer-listed specs indicate ~10 h playback, ~2 h charge via micro-USB, 20 g mass, and sales end in Japan. With no public third-party acoustic measurements, we evaluate scientific validity from a neutral baseline and confirm cheaper, measured alternatives exist.
Fosi Audio SP601
Passive bookshelf speakers with 6.5-inch HybridCone woofer and 1.5-inch silk dome tweeter (manufacturer). Klippel NFS data shows mid/treble irregularities and limited output, so cheaper, better-measuring rivals offer stronger value.
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen
Budget-friendly 2-in/2-out USB audio interface with 3rd-gen Scarlett mic preamp and Air mode; transparent-level converter performance for home recording
EWA A106
Ultra-compact Bluetooth speaker prioritizing size and water resistance over fidelity; excellent price but limited measured-performance potential.
Edifier NeoDots
True wireless earbuds with hybrid drivers, LDAC, wireless charging, and very long battery life. ANC and IP55 are promising on paper, but third-party measurements are not yet public.
EarFun Clip
Open-ear clip-on earbuds with Hi-Res Audio (LDAC), 10.8 mm drivers, multipoint and IP55—designed for situational awareness.
Denon DHT-C210
All-in-one Dolby Atmos bar with dual built-in woofers and eARC. No public third-party measurements; Consumer Reports found notable shortcomings. Cheaper equal-or-better alternatives exist (e.g., Vizio M-Series AiO), so CP is 0.7.
Creative Pebble V3
Budget USB-C desktop speakers with Bluetooth 5.0 (SBC), 8W RMS power and practical connectivity for basic desktop audio needs
Creative Pebble V2
Budget USB-C desktop speakers with basic catalog specs (8W RMS, 100–17,000 Hz FR, 75 dB SNR) and no third-party measurements; technically simple but rational for convenience; no cheaper product found with equal-or-better published power and SNR, so CP=1.0.
Behringer UMC22
Budget USB audio interface with a MIDAS preamp and 48 kHz/16-bit operation confirmed by third-party measurements; delivers basic I/O but falls short of modern 24-bit transparency.
Behringer U-PHORIA UMC204HD
Affordable 2-in/4-out USB interface with MIDI and inserts. Measurements show distortion rising near full scale and modest noise performance, but functionality is rich. No cheaper equivalent-or-better alternative exists, so cost-performance is maxed out.
Aurender A1000
Network streamer/DAC/preamp with AKM 4490REQ dual-mono DAC, offering comprehensive connectivity and storage options at premium pricing
AüR Audio Hermit
Premium 10-driver IEM (8BA+2BC) with U-shaped tuning and boutique build; third-party lab measurements are scarce; cost-performance is extremely weak against measurement-verified budget options
AüR Audio Aehta
Quadbrid IEM with bone-conduction drivers and 8 tuning modes; ambitious feature set but little third-party measurement disclosure.
Audio-Technica ATH-L3000
Flagship closed-back from 2003 limited to 500 units. Lavish build and materials, but scarce third-party measurements keep scientific validity neutral and cost-performance extremely poor.
Audio-Technica AT-HA2002
Japan-exclusive 2W Class A MOSFET headphone amplifier with premium build quality but extremely poor cost-performance against current alternatives
Audalytic AH90
The Audalytic AH90 is a compact streaming DAC, preamp, and headphone amp built around AK4499EX+AK4191 and XMOS XU316. Manufacturer specs indicate transparency-level figures, while independent third-party measurements remain limited. At 599 USD, it competes directly with the 549 USD FiiO K15, leading to a CP score of 0.9.
Astell&Kern SP3000M
Compact flagship-class DAP preserving SP3000-level audio circuitry, but cost-performance falls far behind a cheapest equivalent smartphone+dongle combo
Astell & Kern Novus
Limited 600-unit AK × Empire Ears quadbrid IEM. Stunning build; public evidence of audible gains at 4,999 USD is thin versus cheaper, measurement-backed options.
Arturia MiniFuse 2
2-input USB-C audio interface with transparent performance but poor cost-performance against budget alternatives
Apogee Symphony Studio
Apogee’s Symphony Studio Series brings eight premium mic pres, modern monitor workflows, and on-board output DSP (EQ, delay, bass management) into a 1U USB-C interface. Specs are in the transparent-to-excellent range, and the 8x16 model extends monitor control up to 9.1.6 Atmos. There’s no cheaper product that matches the same user-facing functions plus measured performance, so CP is 1.0.
Antelope Audio Zen Quadro Synergy Core
Desktop audio interface offering up to 130 dB converters, dual USB-C (two-host) connectivity, DC-coupled I/O, and extensive real-time DSP/FPGA processing in a compact, bus-powered design.
Aiyima T20
Budget tube preamp with fully balanced XLR/RCA I/O, remote, and 12V trigger. Solid manufacturer-published specs at an unprecedented price point.
Acoustic Energy AE1 Active
Compact British active standmount with ceramic cone woofer, aluminium dome tweeter, and fully analogue bi-amplification. Solid fundamentals, but cost-performance is weak versus measurement-focused studio monitors at far lower prices.
Accuphase E-4000
High-power Class-AB integrated with rational engineering (AAVA + ANCC) but poor price-to-performance versus objectively equivalent alternatives
Accuphase E-305
Vintage 1987 integrated amplifier delivering 130W with built-in MM/MC phono preamp. Borderline-transparent line-stage performance, dated technology, and mediocre cost-performance versus today’s cheapest equivalent solutions.
Accuphase DAC-60
High-priced digital input card using an older-generation DAC platform; functionally competent but outclassed on value by modern standalone DACs
7Hz Crinacle Zero:2
An ultra-budget IEM co-developed by 7Hz and Crinacle. It lightly boosts bass over the original Zero’s neutral tuning and uses a single 10 mm dynamic driver. Third-party measurements show low distortion and well-behaved frequency response. With practical features like 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors, it delivers solid performance around 25 USD.