Featuring graphene speaker drivers, Dolby Atmos support, dual wireless connectivity, and a 60-hour battery life, the Corsair Virtuoso MAX Wireless is the company's new flagship gaming headset. Is it worth the $330 price tag?
The Lime Ears TERRA is the Polish IEM brand's latest and arguably greatest release yet, given it has already won many hearts and opened even more wallets thanks to its competent warm/bassy tuning which works for nearly every music genre. This is combined with excellent build quality and catchy aesthetics to be a strong kilobuck contender.
Dan Clark Audio shakes up the premium closed-back headphones market with the NOIRE X, bringing the brand's patented AMTS technology in its most affordable entry yet. The NOIRE X also uses the same, excellent industrial design from the far more expensive E3, and gives you a good execution of the Harman Over-Ear tonality for the money.
Softears makes a grand debut on TechPowerUp with its Studio4 in-ear monitors. Designed for studio/stage use, the Studio4 has a cult following from audiophiles too who find its reference sound signature working as a good all-rounder with various music genres, while also offering a good balance of accuracy and engagement alike.
PowerColor ventures into the gaming headset market with the Alphyn AH10, a $100 wireless entry with a 30-hour battery life, DTS Headphone:X virtual surround sound, and wide multi-platform support.
ThieAudio introduces bone conduction drivers to its IEM line with the new Origin, a quadbrid set using a combination of DD/BCD/BA/EST drivers to put out a fun and colored sound that goes bass-first, yet has something of note in the mids and treble too. The Origin is also available with several faceplate options for added customization.
HEDD Audio provides an alternative take to the more analytical sound from the innovative HEDDphone TWO with the brand new HEDDphone TWO GT, which uses rarely seen AMT drivers in a warmer, more musical tuning while retaining excellent detail retrieval in the same innovative and premium chassis from before.
INTUAURA is a new IEM brand that has a lot going for it, to the point where it's already making IEMs for other more known brands. It uses single dynamic drivers with DSP cables to put out good quality sound with different tuning styles, including for its flagship Lakeview that we examine today.
HIFIMAN brings its new Unveiled driver tech to the Arya line, with the new Arya Unveiled making a strong case to be the default $1000-2000 open-back headphones recommendation. It improves upon the predecessors with better quality vocals while maintaining excellent technicalities, and offers a neutral and fatigue-free tonality that will interest many audiophiles.
The DUNU DK3001BD is a unique specialist set that goes for a strong subwoofer sound signature, prioritizing instrumental music over vocals. It adopts a cyberpunk-inspired design for its white metal shells, matched with a white premium modular cable and storage case.
HIFIMAN brings its daring new unveiled driver technology to the HE1000 line with the HE1000 Unveiled! This open-back premium planar magnetic set of headphones is not as nerve-wracking to use as the Susvara Unveiled, yet gives you the same benefits of better vocals, more accurate timbre, and smoother treble.
Poland-based Craft Ears may be new to the IEM world, yet its flagship Omnium proves it is highly capable. Using a novel tuning via a DD/planar/BA tribrid configuration and available in UIEM or CIEM versions, the Omnium is a specialist that takes lessons from HIFIMAN to render a truly memorable and competent sound signature.
FiiO's latest entry to over-ear headphones brings us the closed-back FT1, which uses wooden ear cups and a well-designed chassis combined with one of the better tunings seen in closed-back sets to appeal to audiophiles and gamers too. It's also quite comfortable, comes with good accessories, and is affordable enough to merit attention.
Sennheiser adds to its studio headphones line with the HD 490 PRO. It uses the brand's latest generation dynamic drivers in a new chassis that looks neat and functions even better. Add to this a few clever tweaks throughout and a fully-featured $99 DAW plugin, and the HD 490 PRO makes a compelling argument to be your new music mixing/mastering/producing set of headphones.
MOONDROP updates its budget-friendly Quarks line of IEMs with the Quark2 that uses a single dynamic driver with acoustic filters in a small shell for added comfort. It's paired to a fixed cable that contains a DAC/amp ending in USB Type-C to directly connect to your phone, and offers an in-line microphone with integrated controls too.
MIRPH Design is a one-man operation based out of Germany which aims to take on the more established headphone brands with the MIRPH-1, an open-back dynamic driver set using Peerless 50 mm drivers in a way no one has seen before. It has a uniquely appealing warm and smooth sound which still manages to be extremely wide sounding.
IEM newcomer I\OAudio is back with the SOGNO, a hybrid driver set using a novel 2 DD/6 BA configuration with one of the dynamic drivers aiding two BA drivers in the treble. It goes for a Harman-style tonality and aims to compete favorably from a value proposition by offering a premium accessory set and nice looking shells/faceplates too.
HIFIMAN adds to its electrostatic headphones lineup with the Mini Shangri-La, released alongside the Mini Shangri-La amplifier. The entire system costs signficantly less than some e-stats do by themselves and offers a comfortable, relaxed, yet resolving listening experience worthy of consideration.
Meze Audio releases its most affordable IEMs to date with the single dynamic driver Alba. It uses small shells ensuring a good fit and great comfort in the ears, and adds to the pleasant user experience with a fairly universally-appealing warm, U-shaped sound with a punchy bass and controlled treble while giving vocals and instruments their time in the spotlight too.
Altiat is a fresh name in headphones, but think of them as expert manufacturers who also make headphones. The CAL.1H is an affordable, open-back dynamic driver model with ear cups in wood or aluminum. The aluminum version comes in some of the coolest paint finishes available.
64 Audio enters the wild world of planar magnetic IEMs with the new Solo. It uses tech gained over the years and adds a novel implementation of Helmholtz resonators + electronic filter to make for the most controlled and smooth sounding treble of any planar magnetic IEMs I've tried to date. Add to this an open sounding presentation and unique aesthetics, and the Solo is a premium set that should interest many.
Final's $70 IEMs are well-built, comfortable to wear, and tailor-made for gaming. They excel in spatial awareness and offer a competitive edge in games that are highly dependent on quick reactions and subtle audio cues, such as multiplayer shooters.
The Sharkoon Skiller SGH10 is a €20 ($22) analog gaming headset, built around a suspended headband design, and with very high sensitivity, making it easy to drive even with low-power sources. What can a gaming headset with such a low price even offer?
The XPG PRECOG Studio claims to be the world's first balanced gaming headset. It's equipped with a powerful USB dongle with an ESS DAC and amplifiers, and comes with a surprisingly reasonable $60 price tag.
The MOONDROP COSMO is a premium set of open-back planar magnetic headphones which uses in-house developed drivers that can compete with flagships costing significantly more. It has issues with comfort and stock tuning, but benefits heavily from aftermarket pads and EQ.
