Phonon SMB-01L
It was exactly seven years ago that the SMB-02 debuted from the then newly founded headphone company "Phonon". The founding trio of the company consisted of Isao Kumano, Yusuke Uchiyama and Alex Prat, all of whom are active musicians, producers, engineers and DJs – the best prerequisites for developing decent headphones. And indeed, the SMB-02 was able to win over an enthusiastic following (the author of this review is one of them) within a very short time due to its extremely detailed and linear sound. The new SMB-01L now wants to join this tradition. The "L" in the name stands for "large" because its declared aim is "big studio sounds in your ears". With a statement like that, we are, of course, immediately on the alert, and we subjected the headphones to an extensive test.
Asus ROG Theta 7.1
The Republic of Gamers, or ROG for short from Asus, don't want to make a fuss with the Theta 7.1, they want to make a big statement – the appearance of this powerful headset makes this impressively clear from the very first moment. Four drivers on each side of the earpiece, an integrated 7.1 DAC, a Hi-Res Audio certification and an AI-controlled microphone aim to conjure up a sound experience never before experienced in our ears. But have we finally found the Holy Grail of gaming headsets?
FiiO FD5
Chinese manufacturer FiiO uses dynamic drivers with a Diamond-Like Carbon diaphragm and a beryllium coating for a clear, balanced sound image in the FD5. Tuning options such as swapping ear tips and tubes are also said to allow for customisation, offering a choice of a more bass-driven and fun listening experience.
Audeze LCD-2 Classic Closed Back
Audeze has long been known for high-quality headphones that offer the finest sound and workmanship. The closed-back version of the LCD-2 Classic is squarely in line with this, and as an extension of the LCD-2 aims to inspire us with a contemporary tool for music enjoyment with all the warm sound and great dynamics of classic Audeze models.
Soundcore Life Q35 by Anker
Like Ankers Soundcore Life Q30, the Life Q35 are also equipped with a transparency mode and three noise-cancellation profiles for outdoor or indoor use as well as for travelling. Flexible sound adjustment via an app is also available, and here the Chinese manufacturer relies on LDAC technology, a particularly high-resolution audio codec, for its new flagship wireless over-ears.
Sennheiser IE 300
With the IE 300 model, Sennheiser launches a wired in-ear headphone in the around 300 euros price range, aimed at buyers who are looking for a compact solution for mobile use with superior sound quality. The product is technically positioned between the Pro models IE 100 and IE 400 Pro, but is listed in the audiophile consumer section of the manufacturer's website. In addition to the high-quality, lightweight construction, they claim that the premium drivers provide a sonic bonus.
Focal Clear Mg Professional
The Clear Mg Professional from Focal is the successor to the Clear Professional. Those come from the French manufacturer's Professional series and are expressly aimed at professional and demanding sound engineers, while Focal offers the Clear Mg to the audiophile music lovers segment of the market.
SPL Phonitor xe
The flagship model among the SPL's headphone amplifiers is the Phonitor xe. In contrast to the similarly priced Phonitor x, which with its balanced output can also be used as a preamplifier for a power amplifier and loudspeakers, the Phonitor xe is a pure headphone amplifier for the most demanding applications. You can choose between a version with or without an integrated D/A converter, which has been further improved compared to the other models in the Phonitor series.
Audeze Penrose
Good things don't always have to be expensive. On the other hand, quality usually has its price, and you'll have to dig a little deeper into your pocket for the Audeze Penrose.
Sennheiser HD 820
With the HD 820, Sennheiser has followed the outstanding HD 800 S with a top-of-the-range closed model for a particularly demanding clientele.
