Greetings! Today we’re checking out Astrotec’s latest entry into their S lineup of true wireless (TWS) earphones, the S70. My first introduction to Astrotec’s true wireless earphones was the S60, a very compact, fairly affordable product that utilized balanced armatures instead of the much more common dynamic drivers found in pretty much everything from their competitors. The S60 5.0 (revised version) is still one of, … Continue reading Astrotec S70: Affordable ANC
Greetings, Today we’re taking a quick look at the Odyssey HD from Venture Electronics. Like much of VE’s gear, the Odyssey HD arrived in a simple branded plastic resealable bag. Inside is of course the dongle itself, but also a Type-C to Type-A USB adapter. And that’s it. Given the mere 10 USD price tag, this is perfectly fine. Honestly, I wouldn’t have blamed VE … Continue reading VE Odyssey HD: Get It Before It’s Gone (Too Late!!)
Greetings! Today we’re checking out one of Venture Electronics’ most affordable earbuds, the Monk Lite. The original Monk received critical acclaim thanks to its low price and a level of sound quality that almost nothing at the time could touch. While that has changed over the years, the Monk remains a very strong offering. One issue many had with it resulted from the ergonomics of … Continue reading Venture Electronics Monk Lite: Almost There
Greetings! Today we’re checking out Venture Electronics’ (VE) latest budget earphone release, the Bonus IE (BIE). While probably best known for their extensive earbud lineup which includes the legendary Monk, in-ears are something VE hasn’t dabbled nearly as much in, though I can think of at least four different models; The Duke, Monk IE Biggie and Smalls, and the Grand Duke which is their current … Continue reading Venture Electronics Bonus IE (BIE): Get Low
Greetings! Today we’re checking out a discontinued model from AKG, the K121 Studio. I’m no stranger to AKG having spent ample time with a number of their products, like the K512 mkII, K701, and my favourite, the K553 Pro, among others. I recently added the K121 Studio to my collection having found a roughed up copy at the local thrift shop for a whopping 3.99 … Continue reading AKG K121 Studio: Thrift Store Gem
Greetings! Today we’re checking out the ddHiFi MFi06S, a Lightning to Type-C USB cable. The original TC05 and it’s remake of the same name have been my go to OTG cables for the last year thanks to their excellent build quality and durability. The MFi06S is more or less the same cable as the current-gen TC05, but with Type-C on one end and Apple’s Lightning … Continue reading ddHiFi MFi06S: A Very Nice Cable Indeed
Greetings! Today we’re checking out some handy dandy adapters from the masters of accessories, ddHiFi. The DJ44B and DJ44C are adapters that convert a 4.4mm balanced cable to either 2.5mm balanced, or 3.5mm single-ended. Definitely not something the majority of users will be needing, but, for those who do these are invaluable little tools. I was one of those that required these tools. ddHiFi sent … Continue reading ddHiFi DJ44C / DJ44B: Adept Adaptation
Greetings! Today we’re checking out one of ddHiFi’s earphone and earbud upgrade cable options, the BC120B “Sky”. I’m not one to push cables for the purposes of sound improvement, instead opting to swap cables for comfort, durability, aesthetics, or simply to replace a broken stock cable. Cables included as part of a product’s standard kit are rarely the best a brand has to offer, often … Continue reading ddHiFi Sky (BC120B): Plush Candy Goodness
Greetings! Today we’re checking out Moondrop’s newest sub-100 USD release, the completely revamped Aria. The original Aria came out in 2018 and featured a more traditional barrel shaped housing. The shells were brass with an attractive chrome coating and housed dynamic drivers with carbon nanotube diaphragms. The cable looked to be the same as that on the Spaceship, affixed to the earpieces with durable metal … Continue reading Moondrop Aria 2021: Alpha Dog
Greetings! Today we’re checking out a few products from Venture Electronics (VE), the BIE, Monk Go, Monk Lite, and Odyssey HD. Wild Lee reached out a few weeks ago to see if I’d be interested in checking out some of his recent lineup. After a great chat about a variety of topics, he confirmed a package would be sent over with some goodies. I’ve enjoyed … Continue reading Venture Electronics Impressions
Greetings! Today we’re checking out the BD005 Pro, Kinera’s update to one of their most popular models from years past. Kinera is one of those brands that seems to be very hit or miss within the community. They always look great, but their tuning choices often clash in a way that leads to mixed opinions. A love it or hate it affair you could say. … Continue reading Kinera BD005 Pro: Bringing A Classic Into The Modern Age
Greetings! Today we’re checking out a pair headphones that are old, irrelevant, and well out of production; the JBL Reference Series 420. Released in 2007, the 420 was the base model in JBL’s Reference Series of headphones. Released at the same time was the 610, a Bluetooth model sharing more-or-less the same design. When in university, I was looking to get a quality set of … Continue reading JBL Reference Series 420: 14 Years New
Greetings! Today we’re checking out the reworked 12 Classics from Meze Audio. The original 12 Classics released in 2016 brought a more affordable product to Meze’s lineup alongside yet another timeless design. While it was a very competent earphone there were some areas that could have used attention; the cable and an overly safe tune that was somewhat lacking micro detail. Meze must agree that they … Continue reading Meze 12 Classics V2: Updated and Enhanced
Greetings! Today we’re checking out TinHiFi’s entry into the world of true wireless earphones, the T2000. Or is it TWS2000? Early marketing called it the TWS2000, and this is pure speculation with absolutely nothing to back it up, but I bet they were asked to change the name. HiFiMAN already uses the TWSxxx moniker for wireless versions of their iems (RE600 = TWS600, RE800 = … Continue reading TinHiFi TWS2000: Or is it T2000?
Greetings! Today we’re checking out the newly revamped version of DDHiFi’s excellent USB Type C OTG cable, the TC05. The original TC05 has been my go-to Type C cable for mobile use for the last 6+ months thanks to the application of a durable, coiled stainless steel sheath. While it had some downsides, such as limited flexibility and the potential for permanent kinks or dents, … Continue reading DDHiFi TC05: Revamped
The Contraptionist 