Oriveti Twin Revive
Is it a lighter? Is it a multi-tool? A flashlight, fidget, emergency alarm or pepper spray? No, the device in my man purse is a DAC – the Oriveti Twin Revive, to be exact. We portable audiophiles sure have our share of audio dongles and...
Quick Impressions: Reference, Que and Æon Core
Over the last couple of years I have found very little time to write about all of my audio experiences. While publishing has slowed down, listening certainly hasn’t. I visited many shows, including High-End Vienna, CanJam Hong Kong and Shanghai. And of course I tried...
The 2026 Upgrade Cable Guide
Cable discussions are a major part of the headphone community. As long as I can remember, cables have been part of the hobby and also an important market share for dealers. However, the effect on sound quality has also been controversial for just as long....
iBasso D17 Atheris: Inconvenience for the Love of It
I thought DACs barely mattered. Then the D17 happened. Thanks to Hifi-Passion for loaning the iBasso D17 Atheris for a few days. Unfortunately my time with it was limited, so this isn’t a full review but rather a collection of listening impressions. German/EU readers can...
The Audio Genie’s One Wish
Disclaimer: Before you read this article, be sure to read my (updated) introductory post. Imagine you found a weird lamp and, for some reason, you gave it a good rub. POOF! Suddenly emerges the audio genie! A spectral figure in the form of a silver-haired...
Sennheiser HDB 630: Consumerphile
I use the online alias 16BitAudiophile because I consider myself an ambitious enthusiast who cares as little about voodoo audio as unreasonably priced ultra high-end gear. Give me a good quality CD and I can enjoy it on mid-tier headphones – even over Bluetooth. And...
Softears RSV-MKII Review
This is a full written review of the new Softears RSV-MKII – the 2025 revision of the original “Reference Sound” RSV from 2021. The previous generation is one of my all-time favorite IEMs and I have used it nearly daily since my full review that...
Oriveti Supremacy: The Grand Flagship You Never Considered Buying
Let me be straight with you right away: the Grand Oriveti Supremacy is an excellent IEM, and I wholeheartedly recommend it! Apologies if the title was misleading (on purpose – let’s just call it clickbait). However, it’s been almost a year since I posted my...
Introducing the Softears RSV MKII: A First Look
While the brand-new Softears RSV MKII has yet to see a global release, I was fortunate enough to secure a first-run unit from the Project Gotham store in China. A Personal History with Softears My journey with Softears has deep roots, beginning in 2018 when...
IEM Targets: One Last Word
Let’s discuss IEM frequency response targets — probably for the last time on this blog. I’ve previously touched on this topic before. Many fellow headphone fans are putting a lot of effort into making sound objective and finding the ideal frequency response target. But I...
Sennheiser HD 650 in 2025
Lately, I noticed the availability and pricing of the Sennheiser HD 650 became unstable. Prices are on the rise and I heard a rumour about what could be the cause. So to add this classic headphone to my collection (again), I ordered one very recently...
Unboxing: IO Audio Sogno
I had teased and mentioned the IO AUDIO (I\O Audio) Sogno in my SIAS impressions. On that day, I think it had the best-tuned upper mids and transition into treble that I have heard in a very long time. So I went ahead and purchased a pair from...