The Audio Files
Your place for audio reviews, news, learning, and guides from our experts.
Crinacle made a dongle DAC, and it's very good
The Protocol MAX is one of the most powerful dongle DAC/amps available, with excellent objective and subjective performance to boot.
HE6 Redux? HIFIMAN HE600 Review
After the HE6se series ended up not scratching the itch for many fans of the original HE6, does HIFIMAN's new HE600 represent a proper return to the aggressive, vivid sound of the original HE6?
HIFIMAN Edition XV Review: Brilliance in Darkness
The Edition XV, HIFIMAN’s $400 successor to the Edition XS, is potentially the most important headphone release in the last half-decade of the audiophile headphone hobby... or at least, Listener thinks so.
Studio Reference... but WIRELESS? — KALI HP-1 Review
We test KALI’s $200 HP-1 “reference” wireless headset—complete with Studio, Consumer, and Bass-Heavy profiles—and talk about how a product concept that could in theory help with quick mix checks ultimately fails in practice.
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Crinacle made a dongle DAC, and it's very good
The Protocol MAX is one of the most powerful dongle DAC/amps available, with excellent objective and subjective performance to boot.
HE6 Redux? HIFIMAN HE600 Review
After the HE6se series ended up not scratching the itch for many fans of the original HE6, does HIFIMAN's new HE600 represent a proper return to the aggressive, vivid sound of the original HE6?
HIFIMAN Edition XV Review: Brilliance in Darkness
The Edition XV, HIFIMAN’s $400 successor to the Edition XS, is potentially the most important headphone release in the last half-decade of the audiophile headphone hobby... or at least, Listener thinks so.
Studio Reference... but WIRELESS? — KALI HP-1 Review
We test KALI’s $200 HP-1 “reference” wireless headset—complete with Studio, Consumer, and Bass-Heavy profiles—and talk about how a product concept that could in theory help with quick mix checks ultimately fails in practice.
Latest Buying Guides
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The Headphone Show's "Best Value in Audiophile Headphones" Round-Up
When it comes to headphones, “value” doesn’t mean the cheapest—it means the smartest way to spend your money. So here are our picks for the best value headphones (and IEMs, and source gear) on the current market!
The Best High-End IEMs (Unlimited Budget) - Summer 2025 Buyer’s Guide Update
Wonder what the best IEMs in the world with an unlimited budget are? Fc-Construct gives you some of his top choices that are worthy of attention.
The Best IEMs Under $100 - Summer 2025 Buyer's Guide Update
Looking for the best IEMs under $100? The Headphones.com reviewer team has you covered with our favorite picks, plus practical advice for first-time buyers.
Headphones.com Closed Back Headphone Buying Guide - $500-1000
The Headphones.com Editorial Team shares their favorite picks for passive closed-back headphones between $500 and $1000.
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I published music to find the best streaming service for Apple devices
Apple may have the slogan "it just works", but from our testing, it seems that when it comes to getting full lossless quality music streaming, it's not as simple as we had hoped.
Can iPhone Settings Really Fix Apple AirPods Pro 3?
People online claim that certain iPhone or iOS features can “EQ” the AirPods Pro 3 to fix their V-shaped sound signature... but is that actually true? In this video, Listener tests all of these settings one by one to find out what they really do to the sound. Spoiler: Most of them make things worse.
The Michelin Guide to IEMs - CanJam SoCal 2025 Edition (Part 2)
Precogvision and Fc-Construct take on CanJam SoCal 2025 and share their thoughts, with a twist, on the IEMs they heard. This is part 2 of the article which focuses on endgame IEMs.
The Michelin Guide to IEMs - CanJam SoCal 2025 Edition (Part 1)
Precogvision and Fc-Construct take on CanJam SoCal 2025 and share their thoughts, with a twist, on the IEMs they heard. This is part 1 which focuses on IEMs that reasonably accessible to audiophiles.
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New Audeze LCD-S20 Press Release with Initial Reviewer Commentary
Audeze has recently announced the release of their new closed back planar headphone, the LCD-S20. Fc-Construct gives us a rundown on its specs and provides some initial commentary.
Focal releases Bathys MG Wireless Closed-Back Headphones
Focal pushes back the boundaries of wireless sound excellence with Bathys MG headphones
Sennheiser Announces HD 550 Open Back Headphones
The new HD 550 brings a compelling new choice to audiophiles and gamers seeking next-level capability that outshines its price tag.
Introducing POET — A new era of compact, high-performance planar magnetic headphones
Meze Audio, the acclaimed Romanian manufacturer of high-end headphones, proudly announces the release of POET, its newest planar-magnetic headphones.