Search results for astell kern

I tested this digital audio player and its sound dominates almost any rival, but there's a catch

By Simon Lucas published

The Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 is remarkably accomplished but let down by a hefty price

Activo Q1 hybrid IEM headphones review: impressive and affordable audiophile IEMs

By Carrie Marshall published

Astell & Kern's hi-res player now has matching high quality headphones that won't break the bank – joy!

I tested the FiiO JM21 portable music player and it's hard to believe an entry-level digital audio device can sound so good for so little outlay

By Simon Lucas published

FiiO has come up with another intriguing product, and the JM21 is now making a play at the digital audio player entry level market...

Meze Audio Alba review: affordable and awesome-sounding IEMs

By Harry Padoan published

Want to enter into the audiophile world? I reviewed Meze's cheapest ever IEMs and they're an awesome option.

Activo Volcano review: Astell & Kern’s offshoot brand delivers its cheapest IEMs to date and they're solid, but not without fault

By Harry Padoan published

The Activo Volcano are well-priced and deliver impressive low-end output, but they’re bested by rivals on instrument separation, comfort and design.

After three weeks with the Kaleidescape Strato E movie player, I can’t go back to 4K streaming services to get my movie fix

By Max Langridge published

The best picture and sound performance from a home entertainment product

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review: these earbuds are even crazier about music now, in the best way

By Simon Lucas published

In which Cambridge Audio attempts to move the dial on its earbuds lineup from ‘very good’ to ‘truly great’... and succeeds with gusto.

I test audio kit for a living, and these earbuds' death-proof battery and regal design blew me away

By James Grimshaw published

The Noble FoKus Amadeus ANC earbuds combine serious run time with a gloriously tactile sound profile

AKG N5 review: impressive noise-cancelling earbuds, but make sure you get them at the right price

By Tom Bedford published

At their discounted price, the smart features of these wireless earbuds are very tempting – but we need to talk about the battery life

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: a hit for heart-rate monitoring, stamina and fit, but the sound isn't perfect

By Becky Scarrott published

Beats has done more than up its game with the Powerbeats Pro 2; the brand has actually made me reconsider what I prioritize in fitness buds – and it isn't sound quality.

I tested the Cherry KW 7100 Mini BT - see what I thought of this travel keyboard

By Tim Danton published

A compact travel keyboard that lacks frills but is great to type on and is well priced.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Generation review: three is truly the magic number for this excellent portable speaker

By Simon Lucas published

If three really is a magic number, the Beosound A1 3rd Gen is going to be quite a speaker – given how good the first two were…

One handy feature means these AKG headphones just became my go-to for gaming and movies, not just music

By Tom Bedford published

Top-tier cans that go some way to justifying the price

Topping's new DAC, headphone amp and preamp just toppled a few key players to sit with the top of the class

By Simon Lucas published

Topping is absolutely determined to become a force where affordable digital audio equipment is concerned – and the DX5 II proves it’s going the right way about it…

Campfire's portable USB headphone amp/DAC proves an interesting listen but you should try before you buy

By Simon Lucas published

The Campfire Audio Relay is a solid and compact headphone amp/DAC but needs a performance taste-test before you buy it.

I tested Audioengine's tiny wireless speakers with a beautiful design and surprisingly impressive audio performance

By Steve May published

Compact, with a premium finish, the A2+ are easy on the eye – but they have limitations.

Marshall Heston 120 review: a stunning Dolby Atmos soundbar with amazing bass for an all-in-one

By Harry Padoan published

Marshall’s first ever soundbar supplies quaking bass and awesome Atmos for movies, making it a top-tier all-in-one option.

Anker Soundcore AeroClip review: a great pair of open ear headphones that don’t leave audio quality behind

By Harry Padoan published

The Anker Soundcore AeroClip supply adept audio, a secure fit and neat call quality, all at a more than reasonable price.

iFi iDSD Valkyrie DAC review: a headphone amp capable of staggeringly complete, informative sound

By Simon Lucas published

Never knowingly understated, iFi has upped the ‘transportable DAC/headphone amp’ once again with another portentously named product. Is the iDSD Valkyrie ready to slay the opposition?

iFi GO Link Max review: a USB-C DAC that's one of the best ways to get affordable hi-res audio from your smartphone we've ever found

By Simon Lucas published

If there’s a more cost-effective way of turning your smartphone into a viable source of high-resolution audio content, it hasn’t come our way yet…

I love this headphone amp/DAC's confident sound, but it's far from the only game in town

By Simon Lucas published

The FiiO QX13 is a headphone amp/DAC with open and detailed sound to make your smartphone sing, but it's a little fiddly and has plenty of competition.

KEF LSX II LT review: the best small hi-res wireless stereo speakers you can buy for the price

By Simon Lucas published

KEF's mastery of the ‘all in two’ speaker system comes down to its keenest price so far.

The Huawei FreeArc are the best-sounding open-ear headphones I've ever tested – and they're surprisingly cheap

By Tom Bedford published

The Huawei FreeArcs are the first great example of open-ear headphones: they sound great, fit well and don’t break the bank.

Kanto Ren review: a powered speaker system that’s as smart-looking as it is smart-sounding

By James Grimshaw published

Kanto’s new connects-to-everything stereo speaker system is a user- and ear-friendly triumph, bringing quality sound and AV functionality to a novel form.

Meridian Ellipse review: a super-luxe wireless speaker that doesn’t quite reach the sonic heights its price might suggest

By Josh Russell published

This clear and detailed hi-res wireless speaker can't quite pull off the impeccable audio reproduction its price requires.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro Edition review: the best sound from a single wireless speaker at this price

By Simon Lucas published

Big, expansive sound from a one-box speaker with an iconic design

Questyle's tiny wireless transmitter is the Bluetooth audio upgrade your phone so desperately needs

By Simon Cohen published

With advanced codec support, this tiny plug-and-play device sends top-tier sound to your wireless headphones

Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) review: a better Kindle for writing, with some AI on the side

By Philip Berne published

With the Kindle Scribe (2024), Amazon fixed the little things that were holding back the Scribe and added AI features with surprisingly effective and understated results.

I tested the Cherry KW 9200 Mini - see what I thought of this travel keyboard

By Tim Danton published

A dinky portable keyboard that compares well with the Logitech MX Keys Mini for both feel and price.

Technics EAH-AZ100 review: premium true wireless earbuds that bridge gap between 'good' and 'great'

By Simon Lucas published

With its latest premium true wireless in-ear headphones, Technics is attempting to make the jump from ‘really good’ to ‘truly great’ – and the EAH-AZ100 achieves this.