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 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 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 Astrotec’s newest premium earbud, the Lyra Nature Limited Edition (LE). The lack of isolation, fitment oddities, bass presentation, and negative reputation built by crappy pack in earbuds that come with various electronics have left them as a niche product, though one that has its die hard fans. Just visit the Earbuds Anonymous group on Facebook, or earbud thread on Head-fi.org … Continue reading Astrotec Lyra Nature Limited Edition: Refinement
Greetings! Today we’re checking out the VSonic VSD 3P. VSonic used to be a household name in the forums thanks to legendary models like the GR07. They were one of the earliest major players in the Chinese earphone industry offering killer sound at an affordable price. Along with Fidue, Astrotec, Dunu, Havi and a small handful of other “giant slayers” that have languished over the … Continue reading VSonic VSD3P: Irrelevant, Yet I Love It
Welcome Back! Today I’m handing out accolades to products that won my heart throughout 2019. These weren’t necessarily best in class in every case, but the ones that stuck around in my daily driver lineup and made the most impact long term, or as long a term as could be given they were all received and reviewing during the 2019 calendar year. Let’s get started! … Continue reading 2019 Super Award Ceremony of Audio Excellence
Greetings! Today we’re checking out a snazzy new earbud from Smabat, the ST-10. Smabat is a new company with two products under their wing, the ST-10 earbuds and the XT-10 iems. The ST-10 that we’re checking out today is a pretty cool little earbud. Unlike many companies that have been tuning the driver and shoving it into an MX500 shell, Smabat put a little more … Continue reading SMABAT ST-10: Little Bat
Greetings! Today we’re checking out the latest entry into Astrotec’s lineup of premium ear buds, the Lyra Nature. Astrotec’s lineup of Lyra earbuds dates back a few years and was recently reinvigorated by the release of three models; the Classic, the Lyra Collection 32 ohm, and the Lyra Collection 150 ohm. The DNA making up these three ear buds can be found throughout the Nature, … Continue reading Astrotec Lyra Nature: Budding Champion
Greetings! Today we are checking out the all new Lyra Collection 150 ohm earbud from Astrotec. Astrotec isn’t new to the audio scene and has been producing products in one form or another since 2004. When I was first getting into the hobby, they were one of the few companies producing affordable hybrids and unique flagship ear buds like the original triple-hybrid Lyra. The version … Continue reading Astrotec Lyra Collection 150 ohm: Totes a Premium Bud
Greetings, Today we’re checking out Astrotec’s most affordable member of the Lyra lineup, the Classic. Astrotec’s lineup of Lyra earbuds dates back a few years and has recently been reinvigorated by the release of three new models; the Classic, the Lyra Collection 32 ohm, and the Lyra Collection 150 ohm. The Classic features a single 15mm dynamic driver inset within a lightweight metal shell. It … Continue reading Astrotec Lyra Classic: Like a fine wine
Greetings! Today we are checking out the all new Lyra Collection earbud from Astrotec. Astrotec isn’t new to the audio scene and has been producing products in one form or another since 2004. When I was first getting into the hobby, they were one of the few companies producing affordable hybrids and unique flagship earbuds like the original triple-hybrid Lyra. The version of the Lyra … Continue reading Astrotec Lyra Collection (32Ω): Prime Clarity
Greetings, Today we’re checking out the HE 150Pro, an inexpensive 150Ω earbud. The earbud renaissance is still in full swing. The market is being inundated with many, many options and just as it has gotten quite difficult to pick your first hybrid, it’s a challenge to decide which earbud to go for. There are simply too many options, many of which share shells, specifications, and … Continue reading HE 150Pro: An Earbud for Those That Dislike Them
Greetings! Today we’re checking out Rose’s flagship dual-driver earbud, the Mojito. My first run in with Rose was with the stellar Masya. The Masya impressed with a unique and unconventional yet supremely comfortable design that encased a pair of well-tuned drivers per side. It was my first time listening to such a well-rounded ear bud and I came away with a deeper respect for that … Continue reading Rose Mojito: Earbuds are where it’s at
Greetings! Today we are checking out something that I find pretty cool, that being a dual-dynamic ear bud from Rose Technology called Masya. I’m still fairly new to the ear bud world, having spent the majority of my time listening to impressive budget friendly gear like the VE Monk, FiiO EM3, and only more recently some slightly more costly buds like the Penon BS1 and … Continue reading Rose Maysa: The Right Path
The Contraptionist 