By Stephen Hornbrook on March 16, 2015 in Reference HT Reviews The PM-3 is Oppo’s third planar magnetic headphone, following the PM-1 and PM-2. Unlike the PM-1 and PM-2, the Oppo PM-3 is a closed back design. Not only is outside noise reduced, allowing more of the music to be heard, music leakage from the headphone is also limited. The Oppo PM-3 utilizes a new 55mm round planar magnetic driver featuring much of the technologies pioneered in the PM-1. The lightweight yet durable 7-layer diaphragm and strong Neodymium magnets play a key role in the PM-3’s weight reduction and in turn...
The new Oppo HA-1 is a headphone amp designed for use on the go, or for you easily bring from place to place (home to office, say). It’s got a high-end ESS Sabre Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) and a 300 mW amp to get the most out of your headphones. Here are all the details. Before we get going, if you’re curious about the value of high-end headphones, or have questions about headphones in general, first check out Are Expensive Headphones Worth It? and What Are The Best Headphones?. The HA-2 is the latest in Oppo’s push into the high-end headphone market. First was...
At the top of Yamaha’s new PRO line of headphones, the $399.95 (direct) Yamaha PRO 500 is a formidable beast. At first glance, it may appear to take its cues from the Beats school of design, with a focus on glossy plastic and logos. But the PRO 500 is no knock-off, and it sounds flat-out excellent. Armed with a nice array of accessories and a detachable cable that helps extend its value, the PRO 500 is, nonetheless, not a bargain. It’s a luxury and an investment—but its rich bass and wide stereo field earn it our Editors’ Choice award for high-end...
Many months ago now, I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing an awesome home product made by Digital Designs… At this, my ears perked up as I had already been studying up and reading about Digital Designs new powered monitors and was on the verge of requesting a set, when low and behold… Ashley was indeed talking about the DD PM151 powered monitors. Well I can tell you now, not a breath was passed before I eagerly agreed to put these through their paces and write up my own review of them. After thinking about this review...
It’s not everyday that I get to open a box with $7000 Floor Standing Speakers in it, let alone listen to them so when the Klipsch RF-7 II turned up I had to get them unpacked and setup ready to be run in. I’ll start off saying that photo’s do not do the RF-7 II’s justice, the finish on the cherry veneer is just perfection and this is coming from a person that has to have ALL my home audio in black. Weighing in at just under 40 kg’s each they feel and look quite sturdy and standing next to...
Today we were very lucky to hear the OPPO PM-1 Planar Magnetic Headphones for the first time and even before opening the box I was very impressed! Usually when a set of Headphones arrive they are in a box just big enough to carry the items, however this was not the case with the PM-1’s. The box the OPPO PM-1’s arrived in was mammoth in comparison with other Headphones we see day-in and day-out, so mammoth that I could sit a small subwoofer in it! Once we had we opened the shipping packaging I was yet again surprised with another box...
Digital Designs 9918s Hit NZ Well I guess this adventure started off when ATM (Ashley The MaddMan), called me one day back around august last year, he asked me if I was interested in trialling out the new redline series woofers that DD were about to release, ATM went on to say it was a no obligation deal which basically meant if I didn’t like them there was no pressure to buy & I could just send them back, well with a deal like that how could I refuse so I agreed. A few weeks went by & I got another call from ATM, “Tom would you like...
It started off with a phone call from Ashley with regards to a new series of DD that was soon to be hitting the shores of New Zealand. Most people know that I was the first to receive a pair of REDLINE 715 SERIES so Ashley & Lance thought I’d be a good candidate to try out one of the REDLINE 800 SERIES. Firstly, I’d like to point out that this subwoofer is the 18″ in the new 800 series & is first of its range in the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE. That on its own its insane! Once the package arrived...
With the likes of most peoples Home Audio Systems going in the direction of surround sound setups and a lot of companies downsizing normal everyday musical component systems, it is good to see Sony still have a Home Audio Range based around enjoying music on simpler level! Yeah, sure you can go out and buy numerous plastic docks on the market that will do for the garage or the kids room but for the enthusiast having a big piece of plastic playing their music just doesn’t cut it! This is where the Sony MAP-S1 comes into place, as it can...
A couple of weeks ago I was approached about doing a review on the Sony MDR-XB920R Headphones, being a bit of a Basshead (Ok, that’s a slight understatement) it made sense for me to review a product that boasts having insane levels of bass. Straight out of the box the first thing I noticed was the hard carry case and how compact the Sony MDR-XB920R is when folded down into said carry case. I didn’t take much time to check what else came with them to be honest and went straight to my favourite part, listening to some music! I’m...