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After months on anticipation, it's finally here - Creative's Super X-Fi technology that promises to recreate a multi-speaker experience through your headphones. The SXFI Amp is a small finger sized dongle that plugs in your USB port and lets you use any conventional headphone / IEM to experience their technology. For once (great job Creative !), we in Singapore actually get this before the rest of the world. Buyers can go down to Creative's headquarters for a customised ear microphone mapping session, or rely on their mobile app that maps your ear shape by taking pictures of your ears and your head.  Would you like $20 off ? Click on my referral link, http://sxfi.refr.cc/ericteh Visit  https://www.sxfi.com/amp/ for more information.

Introduction HiFiMAN's Shangri-la electrostatic headphones offered really nice performance, albeit at a price that almost no audiophile could afford (Click here for my article on the Shangri-la). Well, HiFiMAN took pity on us - here comes junior ! Now, USD 8,000 gets both the headphone and tube based headamp. Compare this with the USD 50,000 price tag of the senior model and this looks "affordable". This is still a lot of money and likely more than what most audiophiles would want to spend. Then again, ultra high-end components do not really look at affordability as a consideration -  the target market is the audiophile who demands the very best and is willing to pay for it.  AV One (HiFiMAN's official dealer in Singapore) invited me for a private listening session recently. The Shangri-la jr system was paired with the Chord Blu Mk 2 transport and Dave DAC, while cabling was from Chord Co and Isotek. Power conditioning accessories were also courtesy of Isotek. Descri...

Introduction HIFIMAN's Susvara headphones have been creating a lot of chatter on the internet - this is definitely a product that polarizes users - Firstly, is it a statement product that lives up to expectations ? Secondly, is the price tag justified ? Description Susvara means the world's melodious sounds in Sanskrit. I suppose naming your products after Greek, Norse or Celtic mythology is somewhat passe in audio, so some brownie points to HIFIMAN for being different here. The Susvara is HIFIMAN's statement magnetic planar headphone, although it is not the company's most expensive (see my earlier coverage on the Shangri-la electrostatic headphone). Sporting stealth magnets and a gold-coated nanometer grade diaphragm, the Susvara was designed as the successor to the HE-6. Similar to the HE-6, the Susvara does not even attempt to be amplifier friendly. A punishingly low sensitivity requires a very powerful headamp to bring out it's best. HIFIMAN does sell a matchin...

Introduction You got to give it to Hifiman. It takes guts to launch a headphone system with a USD 50,000 price tag. Clearly aimed into Sennheiser Orpheus II territory, the Shangri-La headphone system consists of a fully balanced drive tube amplifier / energizer and a Electrostatic headphone. AV One, the local dealer for Hifiman arranged a private event to showcase the Shangri-La. Dr. Fang Bian, CEO and founder of Hifiman graced the event and answered any questions posed by the audience. Description The Shangri-La headphone amplifier is very large, with four 6SN7 tubes in the input stage, and four 300B tubes in the output stage. The amplifier is designed to offer balanced drive, and the microprocessor controlled volume knob activates a series of relay controlled resistors to set the volume level. Dr. Fang mentioned that they enjoy a very special relationship with TJ Fullmusic, the tube manufacturer, which is located just a short distance away from them in the Chinese city of Tianjin. A ...

Introduction This is my first personal experience with SOtM products. Although I have heard them a number of times during our local AV show (ISSE), somehow they never made their way into my listening room. SOtM is a Korean audio company that has a line of interesting products, focussed in the area of digital audio. I first read about SOtM products quite a while ago when computer audio was in its infancy. They were one of the go-to companies for products such as filters (for computer fans, SATA interfaces and the like) and audiophile USB cards. Ray Ng from Raindrop Audio represents SOtM in Singapore and graciously supplied me with a number of products, including the sHP-100 which is the subject of this review. Description The sHP-100 is a diminutive USB DAC and headphone amplifier. Two additional digital inputs (coaxial and Toslink optical), and a single analog input (3.5 mm stereo mini-jack) are also offered. A variable line output (controlled by the volume knob in front) allows the sH...

Loved the Meze 99 Classics ? (Click here for my earlier review) Take a look at the Meze 11 Neo earphones.

Introduction Meze Headphones is a new company based in Romania. Meze had contacted me sometime ago to arrange a review of their 99 Classics Headphones ("99 Classics"), but as luck would have it, I managed to meet their principal Antonio Meze at the recent Canjam Singapore 2016 (click here for my write-up). I really liked what I heard at Canjam and had a pleasant talk with Antonio. My review sample arrived sometime later. Description The 99 Classics would best be described as medium-sized circumaural sealed headphones. My review sample was finished in walnut and silver and were visually impressive from an aesthetic point of view - everyone who saw it just gushed over how beautiful they were. Three colour options are available, a dark walnut wood with either silver or gold trim, and a light maple wood with silver trim. The maple option is matched with a white headband and ear pads. The 99 Classics come nicely packaged with a variety of accessories, including a moulded carry ca...

Here are some pictures and brief reports on CanJam Singapore 2016.  I went in on early Saturday morning, while the crowd was still quite thin. By the time I left, the crowd had began to build up. My very first stop of the day was Audiosound. I was greeted with a warm welcome by William Whey, who introduced me to David Teng of oBravo Audio of Taiwan. I had a listen to the HAMT-1 headphone and EAMT-4A IEMs. Nice products. The HAMT-1 in particular had really powerful bass. David spoke to me passionately about the design choices by oBravo, and his belief in the superiority of hybrid, multi-driver designs.  A tray of goodies from oBravo Audio of Taiwan. The very delicious HAMT-1.  EAMT-4A IEMS - 10 mm dynamic and 8 mm square AMT drivers. oBravo's incredibly small 10 mm dynamic driver and 8 mm square AMT driver used in their IEMs. Next stop was Sennheiser's booth. You could see that everyone was headed straight for the HD-800 and the all new HD-800 S. I really liked the HD-800 ...