Welcome to the review section where I share detailed impressions on (mostly portable) audio gear. I started sharing impressions online in 2010 and later became an amateur reviewer publishing on professional audio blogs. Eventually, I made a career in the audio industry (international sales management, brand building & distribution, product development, marketing & content creation, retail & consulting, and lifestyle photography) but still treat this private blog as my ‘safe haven’.
In my earlier review phase I tried to provide useful information in a mostly objective manner. I did my best to educate manufacturers and readers in regard to usability but also neutral sound. Other platforms do this even better now, so my focus shifted to providing more interesting articles. Whenever possible, I share a little insider knowledge from behind the scenes too.
Deer Ear and the Waldgeist: A Spirit in the Woods
Being part of the IEM scene – as a former manufacturer, retailer, B2B distributor, consultant, reviewer and, above all, as a user – has made me develop an unexpected kind of fatigue. I still love discovering new products and emerging brands, but somewhere along the way many IEMs began sounding...
iFi GO link 2 MAX: The Smooth Operator
The best dongle is the one you carry with you. And the iFi GO link 2 MAX has some strong points to become an everyday carry. Welcome to my user impressions of the iFi GO link 2 MAX. This is a plug-and-play external USB-C audio converter with balanced and single-ended outputs. I made...
Kaiser Atelier and Rethinking CIEMs with the ZenCarb
I am excited to introduce you to a fairly new brand. Recently, I came across Kaiser Atelier. You may think you don’t know this brand, but do you really not? When I received a private message on 小红书, I had no idea who this company might be. But the name Kaiser...
Grand Oriveti Eminency
Let me introduce you to my latest audio companion and flavor-of-the-month (FOTM): the Grand Oriveti Eminency. I am splitting the review into three chapters because I think each deserves its own discussion. Get all the basic information, marketing pitch and specifications from Oriveti directly: Chapter 1: Beautiful Things Matter Beauty...
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 it’s not easy to stick...
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 get the device with full...
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 old man who unexpectedly grants...
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 the Sennheiser HDB 630 proves...
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 you can read up on...
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 first impressions of the Supremacy....
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 and want to put this...
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 Shenzhen Audio to share my...