Creative introduces the budget-friendly Sound Blaster X1 that takes the portable DAC/amp form factor and pushes the feature set further beyond the mobile space. The X1 runs with the desktop Sound Blaster drivers for enhanced customization and audio controls, in addition to support for Creative's unique Super X-Fi headphone holography too!
TOPPING is back at it with another impressive stack of an affordable DAC and high-performance amplifier. Today we examine the TOPPING E30 II and L30 II, that improve significantly over previous models, and provide excellent value for money in a small footprint - catering not only to demanding headphones but also sensitive IEMs.
The Razer Leviathan V2 is a 2.1 sound system consisting of a compact soundbar and a subwoofer. It offers USB-C and Bluetooth connectivity and uses THX Spatial Audio technology to bring you an immersive sonic experience.
iFi introduces us to the world of premium portable DAC/amps with the aptly named micro iDSD Signature. It sports enough power to drive demanding headphones and yet can be configured to drive the most sensitive of IEMs too. We also get iFi's popular analog effects in the form of XBass+ and 3D+, this is a unit that seemingly tries too much, yet does everything fairly well.
YULONG is an established audio brand focused on bringing DAC/amp sources with a musical touch. Today we examine the desktop class DA-ART Aurora DAC/preamp/headphone amplifier that features MQA support, Class A amplification, up to 4 W of power, and plenty of I/O options in a compact, well-built form factor.
The Sonos Ray is the most compact and least expensive soundbar Sonos currently offers. It's small enough to fit even under a monitor and brings with it all of the features of the most advanced multiroom speaker system in the world.
FiiO updated its flagship desktop DAC/amplifier with dual ESS Sabre ES9038PRO DACs, and the new K9 Pro ESS has some more quality-of-life improvements sweetening the deal. This is an excellent set with features including powerful, clean wired performance, extensive I/O support, and a mobile app with further customization options!
FiiO updates its popular K5 Pro desktop DAC/amp combo unit with the ESS version that puts the ES9038Q2M DAC to good use with lots of clean power, plenty of I/O options for PC users, line/headphone out support with configurable gain, and a large, comfortable volume knob!
Why do you need a good quality USB sound card, and how can such a device improve your everyday life? We're taking a deep dive into the world of PC audio to figure out when it makes sense to upgrade our integrated sound cards and what to upgrade them with.
iFi audio is famous for its DACs and amplifiers, especially with the various analog customizations added to the pathway. XBass and XSpace may sound strange to you, but this review of the company's ultra-portable powderkeg DAC/amp, the iFi GO blu, will familiarize with all these and more!
The aune BU2 is an update to the company's premium B-series of portable DAC/amplifier units and features a dual DAC ESS Sabre ES9318 chip with four amplifiers, an R-2R ladder network for precise volume control, high fidelity decoding and playback with both wired and wireless connectivity options, and 2.5 mm balanced and 3.5 mm SE headphone outputs.
The Creative Sound Blaster X4 is a direct successor to the excellent Sound Blaster X3. This external USB sound card keeps everything good about its predecessor and adds a couple of interesting additions to the mix, most notably SmartComm Kit—a combination of features aimed at improving our online call quality.
TOPPING is a brand famous for its desktop DACs and amplifiers, and we take a look at its recently released E50 DAC and L50 amplifier. The two stacked up make for an excellent value proposition with sensitive IEMs and power-hungry headphones alike, and even work as a preamp for powered desktop speakers.
While not a massive upgrade to its predecessor, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is quite possibly the best compact soundbar currently on the market not only because of its performance, but also the way it seamlessly transforms from a soundbar into an awesome smart speaker.
JDS Labs is back at it, and today we examine its most popular line of products. The new Atom DAC+ and Amp+ add handy features and updates both inside and out to make for an excellent, affordable, acoustically transparent source stack that meets the needs of pretty much every consumer today!
For a mere $60, the Movo UM300, a compact USB condenser microphone, offers USB-C connectivity for computers, Android smartphones, and other USB-C recorders, along with two polar patterns, a direct monitoring port, and multipurpose volume knob. What corners have been cut to keep its price so low?
IKKO targets the mainstream audience with its new ITM01 portable DAC/amp, which is priced lower than other tested options to date while using magnetic connectors, offering physical buttons, and even three operating modes to choose from. We also examine the upgraded cable set that takes things up a notch for those who prefer it.
The Creative Sound Blaster GC7 is a feature-packed external USB sound card. It offers PC, console, and mobile device connectivity, an intuitive set of onboard controls, and is a capable performer in every regard. It can be accessed through a mobile app, making all of its features usable on all supported platforms.
JDS Labs merits recognition for its value-oriented DACs and amplifiers in the desktop audio community. But did you know they also have a more premium Element line? Today, we examine the Element II, an integrated DAC/amp that aims to be a one-stop shop for performance, build quality, customization, and aesthetics alike.
You may not have heard of Qudelix, but Sony sure has, because they helped them develop LDAC support for Qualcomm chipsets, which in turn helped develop the Qudelix-5K, a portable DAC/amp that is inexpensive, performs extremely well, has a fantastic app, and a new set of "QX-Over" active digital crossover earphones as accessories.
EarMen, a new brand from an established audio source company, focuses on portable audio, and the EarMen Sparrow is an ultra-portable DAC/amp with a flagship ESS Sabre ES9281PRO SoC that allows for high-res output as well as native MQA rendering on phones and PCs alike.
Today, we examine the FiiO BTR5 aiming to bring some wireless freedom back to wired headphones courtesy a mobile flagship DAC and amplifier SoC supporting Bluetooth 5 and LDAC. In fact, there are two of those for both a 3.5 mm stereo output and a truly balanced 2.5 mm output for higher power drive.
The Movo VSM-7 is an excellent studio XLR microphone equipped with a shock mount, pop filter, and even an XLR cable. You're getting all that along with three different polar patterns and great overall performance for a reasonable price of $125.
The Movo UM700 is a budget USB microphone with three-capsule array, which offers excellent performance. It features four polar patterns, a robust metal stand, pop filter, and onboard dials for microphone gain and headphone monitoring volume.
The Audio-Technica Creator Pack is a home voice recording and streaming kit that consists of a great USB microphone, a good pair of studio monitoring headphones, a boom arm, and a desktop tripod stand. It's meant for streamers, podcasters, and vloggers, or those looking for a higher quality audio recording solution for home or office use.
