Tag: thoughts
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ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete II – Gaming First, Music Very Close Behind
The Ziigaat Arete II combines impactful, switchable bass with strong technical performance and long-session comfort, making it an outstanding option for gamers who want one IEM for both play and music. It’s not a treble specialist, but its balanced mids, engaging low-end, and solid value at $279 make it easy to recommend.
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Tipsy Audio M1 – Dark, Warm, and Wonderfully Vocal
The Tipsy Audio M1 is a warm, dark-leaning single DD that prioritises musicality and comfort over analysis. With beautifully rich mids, standout vocal presentation and a big, enveloping sound, it’s an easy listen that keeps you coming back — especially if you enjoy relaxed, fatigue-free tuning.
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The Kiwi Ears Cadenza II Might Be All You Need to Start
Kiwi Ears Cadenza II comes in at just $50, but it doesn’t sound like a budget set. With standout mids, surprisingly textured bass, and a tuning that just works, it’s an easy listen no matter what you throw at it. After plenty of time with it, the Cadenza II has comfortably replaced the OG as…
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Meze 105 Silva – Set, Forget, and Just Listen
The Meze 105 Silva is an effortlessly musical open-back that prioritises comfort, cohesion, and long-term listening enjoyment. With excellent bass for the price, beautiful mids, and a smooth, fatigue-free treble, it’s a headphone designed to live with; not analyse. One I keep reaching for.
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Punch Audio Portazo – Bass First, But Not Bass Only
Punch Audio’s Portazo is an unapologetic basshead IEM, delivering deep, textured low-end without completely sacrificing the rest of the spectrum. After extended listening across multiple sources, it proved to be more refined than expected, with solid mids, smooth treble, and excellent value for a purpose-built set.
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Meze Poet – Depth, Darkness, and Falling in Love Late
The Meze Poet – highly recommended for fans of dark-sounding headphones, it may become a cherished addition to any audiophile’s collection.
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Hidizs x Linsoul AP80 Pro Max: A Tiny DAP with Big Performance
The AP80 Pro Max from Linsoul is a compact and versatile portable music player. It features built-in music playback, streaming, and DAC functionality. With a balanced sound profile, it excels in the midrange and offers customizable sound options. Despite minor usability issues with Tidal, it provides great value for its price.
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ThieAudio Hype 4: A Fun, Musical Hybrid at $399
The Hype 4 by ThieAudio is an impressive in-ear monitor presented in an attractive box with essential accessories. Featuring a unique driver configuration of 2 dynamic drivers and 4 balanced armatures, it offers several stylish shell color options. Over two weeks of testing with various DAPs, sound quality improved with better sources while maintaining sufficient…
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ZiiGaat Crescent – Big bass, smooth treble, and pure musicality
The ZiiGaat Crescent comes in the great new ZiiGaat packaging like the Luna. I’m very impressed with the inclusions for their price point, with the eartips (two different silicone types and one pair of foam), cable with 3.5mm and 4.4mm termination options, and case all of great quality. As with the Luna I used the…
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Kiwi Ears Airoso
Thanks to Linsoul for a review unit, all thoughts are my own. I’ve spent a week with these as my daily drivers. I have 124 IEMs, and 109 full-size headphones from budget sets to TOTL so have experience across many price points and listen to a lot of music. Rating is based on its price…
Aussie Audiophile 