Phiaton Fusion Review

The MS430 Fusion is part of Phiaton's new line of headphones, sporting an impressive build, style, and sound, like many other models from the company. 

Accessories - 3.5mm cable, carrying pouch

The cable features an in-line microphone with universal remote and volume control. I personally would prefer a version that has this and a separate version just for Apple devices, but that's just me.
The cable is terminated with a 90° angle jack 

The carrying pouch is pretty rugged on the outside, with a very soft red faux-velvet inner lining, which seems to compliment the Fusion's design perfectly. 

Build/Design - The Fusion has a mostly plastic outside with an aluminum frame. The headphones have that "incredibly well built" feeling to them without seeming "industrial" and/or sacrificing design/style. 

The cups are a size that offer an in-between on-ear and over-ear feeling that's going to differ based on the user's ear size. Often, I find myself struggling to get a good fit while not losing the acoustic seal (which is surprisingly more difficult to do than one might think). 

It would be unthinkable not to include the fact that Phiaton used carbon fiber in the outer circle of the cups. This reduces weight and even more adds to the uniqueness of Phiaton's styling. Of course, the carbon fiber is covered by a type of plastic to prevent damaging. So, no, you can't directly touch it, as alluring as it may be. 

Both cups feature a 3.5mm jack, so the user can have the cable coming from either side if he/she chooses. 

Also, this allows for daisy chaining of headphones, so multiple people can listen to the same song with multiple headphones.

The headphones can fold into a small variety of relatively compact shapes, which can all fit into the supplied pouch.
The headband is covered with a very soft rubber. While it doesn't offer much cushioning, it's hardly noticeable.
The earpads are extremely soft and plush, however with the cup size, comfort can occasionally be an issue. 

Comfort - While the pads do lightly rest on or over the ears, the slight pressure and/or rubbing from the inner pads that only touches the outermost portions of my ears can prove to be a but uncomfortable. I constantly feel the need to adjust the headphones, even though nothing is truly wrong. I'm hoping that this will become less noticeable as time goes on. 

Sound - The Fusion is a very immersive headphone. Music seems to encompass me if I'm not thinking about much else. I would guess this is because of the Fusion's excellent soundstage and instrumental positioning. Nothing ever gets drowned out, either.
The Fusion has a sound signature that's a bit mid-centric, but flat otherwise. 

Bass - Extremely detailed and accurate bass. I somewhat consider the bass to be a bit light on the Fusion. Impact is very scarce, to say the least. Sometimes, this benefits the sound. Others, it subtracts from it. However, this will most definitely vary by person, because sound preference is very subjective. I often find that the only time the light-ish bass subtracts from a listening existence is when I'm listening to a bass-heavy track while in a noisy situation (like a bus).
The bass seems to effortlessly work well with all genres, however. 

Mids - The Fusion presents mids in an extremely pleasant way. While the mids on one of my other favorite mid-centric headphones, the Philips Downtown, are good, they sound artificial. The Fusion has none of it. It will take any midrange frequency and turn it into natural bliss. 

Highs - The Fusion has very slightly laid back highs. Detail isn't sacrificed though. It's well extended, extremely clear, and, certainly versatile as ever. The treble breathes new life into some of my most-listened to music- especially DnB. 

Soundstage - The package claims that the Fusion has a large soundstage. Well, the package does not lie. How Phiaton managed to get a soundstage like this in such a small package at this price is beyond my knowledge. There is a large amount of depth and width to the presentation that can't be missed. My first impression when I put the headphones on in the beginning was the soundstage. Excellent may not even be good enough a word to describe it. 

Overall - The Fusion is currently one of the best headphones that I've heard at its price. It's versatile, albeit not very bassy for some genres. Excellent immersion and soundstage bring a highly intimate musical experience that should be experienced by everyone. I can see myself recommending these- easily. 

PopClik Radical Review

The Radical headphones from PopClik aren't very well known, to my knowledge. These headphones are a consumer-oriented pair that I was honestly impressed by.

Accessories- Hard carrying case

The carrying case is pretty good for a stock headphone accessory. It feels much more well made than some of the cases I've come across (I.E. Klipsch). It's no V-Moda case, that's for sure, but, overall, I would say it is better than average in terms of build. It's also got a clip that allows for easy attachment to a bag or pack.

Design - The Radical are among the nicest looking headphones that I've ever seen. A large amount of that goes to the frame, which resembles that of the Parrot Zik. Also, the colors are very appealing to me. While the 'black and red' scheme is getting old and common, I think these do it very, very well. The Radical, to me, is an elegant-looking headphone that should impress whomever you might come in contact with.

Design/Build - The PopClik Radical is an interesting headphone overall. Build quality feels quite good in general. The cups are made out of plastic with a matte finish. The red parts of the cup are made from plastic also, but these have a gloss finish. There is also a metal strip on each of the cups.

The headband is covered with a smooth, soft, squishy rubber-like material. It's very comfortable to me and feels well put together. I can honestly say that sometimes I just like feeling it, because it is so smooth and squishy. Good experiences. 

The adjusting frame is made out of metal as well. It feels very well built as well. There are numbers on the metal that show as you lengthen them, ranging from 1 to 3, depending on how far you lengthen it. There is a swiveling joint slightly above the cups that swivel around 140°, which make it easy for portable storage in its included case, or just more comfortable when wearing around one's neck.
The pads are incredibly soft and comfortable. Some of the best pads I've encountered for an on-ear headphone. Soft to the touch, plush and relatively thick.

The cable that comes with the headphone is covered with Kevlar. I've had a few Kevlar-sleeved cables before, and they all have been quite durable. The jacks are both straight-plugs, with one end being close to the in-line microphone, making it easy to discern which end goes where; not like that truly matters in the end anyways. 

The jacks do have a lack of strain reliefs, so the durability in that regard may be iffy, even with the Kevlar sleeving. The jacks and in-line microphone are made of metal-looking plastic. It does fit the design well, that's for sure. 

Comfort - With the headband and pads, the comfort of the Radical is very good. There is little clamping force to go along with that, too. The Radical is also a quite lightweight headphone. These factors combined make a very comfortable headphone. I let a few of my friends try them on, and they all commented on how comfortable they were; pads especially. 

Isolation - Isolation is pretty average for an on-ear headphone. Perhaps slighly under-average. Thankfully, the sound signature allows for the volume to be turned up to a good amount without it becoming fatiguing. I only had to do that when I was on public transportaion, though.

Sound - I can finally say that I have found a headphone that both looks incredible and sounds good.
The sound is definitely warm. Warm and relatively dark. 

Bass - The Radical has consumer-oriented bass. It's definitely emphasised a significant amount. It's not as emphasised as, say, the XB500 or HA-S500, which are two very bassy headphones, but it's much above neutral. The bass is controlled and extended well. I've not had any bass bleed on whatever music I had listened to with them (rock, dubstep, DnB, jazz, hip-hop, orchestral, chiptune).

Mids - Interestingly enough, for a consumer oriented headphone, the mids aren't recessed at all. Vocals sound very good and forward. Detailed, too. The mids made rock and jazz really sound great. 

Treble - The treble is dark in the lower and upper regions. There is a significant roll-off in the upper treble. I don't find it too noticeable in non-electronic genres, but for things like dubstep and DnB, the roll-off is very noticeable. I personally really dislike the roll-off when listening to electronic music. 

Soundstage - Little to no soundstage. Things do sound quite congested.

Overall - The Radical is a headphone that I would recommend to people who prefer to listen to more classic genres, like rock, jazz, hip-hop, etc. that value appearance highly. There are definitely better choices out there if sound is top priority, like the JVC HA-S500. Design-wise, these take the cake for design in a sub-$100 headphone ($75 MSRP). With an excellent build, a case, and all of the other factors mixed in, these headphones are a good portable set for those who are willing to sacrifice a little sound for appearance. Of course, that's not to say that they sound bad, because they don't. 

Audio Technica ATH-WS77

The WS77 is a bassy headphone that does practically everything well.

Before I begin, big thanks to Audio-Technica for the review sample!

Build - The WS77 honestly feels a bit flimsy to the touch. I don't personally think that reflects on the durability though. Most of the build is plastic, but the adjusting frame and the back of the ear cups are aluminum. The back of the cups are also made of aluminum. The aluminum has a circular pattern which gives it a cool effect when light hits it. Reminds me of the volume knob on many amps that I've come across.

Comfort - The pads on these headphones are excellent. Some of the best that I've used. Many headphones that I've used at this price normally have some stiffer and more 'generic' pleather, like the kind used on the M50's pads. These, however, are much, much softer, smoother, and ultimately just more comfortable. While there is a good amount of clamping force, the softness and plushness of the pads make the clamp an insignificant factor.  

Bass - the bass is the main selling point in these headphones, but when it comes to the sound, it's not the only thing that you get. The bass is warm, very controlled, and has some added impact. Many bass-oriented headphones that I've come across have far too much impact and annoy me, but that's not the case with the WS77. The bass is very well refined. I would say that these have the best bass that I've heard from a bass-oriented headphone under $200. Truly amazing. 

Mids - The mids are warm and oh so sweet. For a basshead headphone, the mids are some of the best that I've heard. Vocals sound right where they should, to my ears. No significant recession.

Treble - The treble is very smooth, but detailed. While it is a bit laid back, the details just pour out of everything I throw at these headphones. Normally I'm not too big a fan of darker treble, but it's just done so well with the WS77.

Soundstage - I am VERY impressed with the amount of space that these headphones have. Normally this amount of space is reserved for headphones with larger cups and/or open-backed headphones. Depth is rivaled by headphones like Audio Technica's own A700x, and almost as much as my trusty DT770 Pro. Width is slightly above average. 

I find these headphones to work well with basically all music, but my preferred genres to use it with are electronic, rock, and metal.

Overall - I highly recommend these headphones to anyone looking for a versatile, bassy headphone. I honestly feel that these are the best bass headphones in their class. Incredible headphones. 

 

Naztech N52 Bluetooth Speaker Review

The Naztech N52 Bluetooth speaker is a compact, easy-to-use, budget-friendly way to bring your music with you anywhere you go.

Whether you like rock, rap, pop, jazz, or whatever, this speaker will do your music justice.

This speaker works wireless or wired. It's got three buttons on it: a multi-function button (play, pause, answer call, etc), a skip track button, and a button that goes back a song.

The build on this is very nice. It's got a matte finish and feels pretty sturdy.

The N52 sounds clean, clear, and not muddy whatsoever.

Bass - I really like the bass response of this speaker. It's got good impact without being overly warm and bloated. It's clean and controlled. Perfect for me.

Mids - Often, I hear portable speakers that have poor midrange response for whatever reason. Not with the N52. The mids are sweet and lively.

Treble - The treble on the N52 is absolutely stunning. It's detailed and crisp. I can hear all the instruments with amazing clarity and realism. The treble is one of the best things about this speaker.

The N52 has a built-in power bank that allows you to charge your device on the go. I've found this to be incredibly useful.


Now, I've got one issue with this thing.
The volume. It gets plenty loud for a smallish and quiet room, but when used in a louder setting or at a party, it probably won't get loud enough.

Overall - I highly recommend this speaker for anyone looking for a portable way to listen to music other than headphones. It's a real value. However, if you plan to use this in a louder setting, perhaps this wouldn't be the best fitting.

DUNU DN-23 Landmine Review

This is the DUNU DN-23 Landmine in-ear headphone. It's an incredible headphone.

Preferred tips - Stock narrow nozzle tips, Shure Orange foam, Monster Supertips Foam

Accessories - Hard case, Soft pouch, 3 sets of single flange tips in 3 sizes (Narrow nozzle, wide nozzle, and hybrid styles), 1 pair of bi-flange tips, 1/4' adapter, airplane adapter, shirt clip.

Packaging - DUNU uses similar packaging for all of its IEMs. If you're familiar with it, then this should be of no surprise. 

The outer box is a simple package. The image of the DN-23 is embossed slightly outward. On the back shows some information about the product, along with pictures of it and its accessories.

Upon removal of the outer box reveals...another box! This time, the 'D' and DUNU logo are embossed outwards. Nothing else is on the outside of this box. Inside the box is the headphone itself, the hard case, and the soft pouch. Underneath that is the warranty card. 

Build - DUNU has a reputation here for making incredibly well-built headphones. The DN-23 is no exception. The housing is probably the most well-built housing that I've seen yet on an IEM. It's made completely out of metal and has a chrome finish. The backside features a 'D' representing DUNU in a brushed aluminum finish. These two things alone make the DN-23 a regal-looking headphone. Left and right indicators are the blue and red stripes on the headphones. Similar to Monster, I suppose. The Y-split on the cable is made out of solid aluminum. Very, very good. Cable cinch is also made out of aluminum. The cable terminates to a 45 degree 3.5mm jack with good strain relieving.

On the downside, all the metal makes the DN-23 pretty heavy for an IEM. I feel like I have to be extra careful not to drop or let them fall out of my ears, in fear that they might just snap off of the cable. I realize that this is mostly me just being paranoid, but the DN-23 is pretty heavy. Also, strain reliefs are just average. I think they could/should be longer, but I'm just glad that they're there at all. The cable feels a bit plasticky. Cables like this have shown to be prone to memory effects.

An interesting feature of the DN-23 is the patented cable tie-like attachment on the cable. It is made of silicone and can keep the wires tidy when needed. 

Comfort - With the completely metal and weighty build of the DN-23, I've felt some strain on my ears just because of the weight. I have noticed this the most with the included hybrid-style tips. I much prefer foam tips over silicone for these in terms of fit, which is rare for me. Foam, especially the Shure Orange Foam tips remove most of that pressure on the ears from the weight. For sound, however, I prefer the stock narrow nozzle tips. Sound comparisons will come later in this review.

Isolation - DUNU advertises a 26db noise reduction with the DN-23. I would definitely say that's accurate. The isolation does, however, vary by tips, as usual. I'm quite impressed overall with the isolation due to the design. Since it is a bit wide in design, isolation would be assumed to be less than that of the DN-23. 

Sound - Bass, bass, such incredible bass..

Bass - Wow. Just, wow. The DN-23 has some of the best bass that I've heard in a sub-$100 IEM; the most, too. There is so much bass. But it is tight, controlled, and detailed. I mean, wow. Honestly, every time I put these in, I'm blown away by the bass. There is a lot of sub-bass, which I love. Mid-bass has less presence than the sub-bass, but still is very plentiful. There is a good amount of warmth, but it's not bloated or overpowering whatsoever. EDM has never sounded this good out of an IEM before. 

Mids - Mids are recessed. This is to be expected. I don't really have that much to comment on here. Perhaps "Just good" is a good term? They're cleanly presented and fit nicely into the rest of the spectrum. 

Treble - *Sparkle Sparkle*. The treble of the DN-23 is exactly how I like it- sparkly, but not to the point of being sibilant. It's detailed and well-presented. I just love it.

Soundstage - The DN-23 has a good amount of space to it. Depth and width are both good. Certain tips can improve or diminish that factor.

Which brings me to the tips..

Stock Narrow Nozzle - My preferred silicone tips. These tips really bring out the best in bass performance. 

Stock Wide Nozzle - I don't like these with the DN-23 whatsoever. The stems are a bit short for a good fit on the DN-23. They have a more shallow fit.

Stock Hybrid Style - Practically identical to the Sony hybrid tips. These are the most uncomfortable tips in my opinion. However, Sony hybrids are normally uncomfortable for me anyways. Soundstage seems more congested with these.

Stock Bi-flange - These don't really even fit the DN-23. I don't know why DUNU included them. The stem is too wide.

(The following tips did not come with the headphone)

Shure Orange Foam - These tips give a more balanced sound overall- less bass, less treble, more mids. The change is not really drastic, though. These are the most comfortable tips in my opinion. Soundstage seems to be slightly improved with them as well.

Monster Supertips Foam - The sound seems to be similar to the stock narrow nozzle tips. These, however are more comfortable in my opinion, and increase the amount of space in the presentation somewhat. 

Overall - I'm highly impressed with the performance of the DN-23. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to a bass-lover. At the price of $80, I don't know of an IEM that has the quality and quantity of bass that these do. Truly incredible headphones.

Rating - 9/10

View on Head-Fi: http://www.head-fi.org/products/dunu-dn-23-landmine-headphones-earphones/reviews/9049

Welcome!

     Welcome to my blog. As of this post, my blog has just begun. Here, I will be reviewing various consumer electronic devices, especially headphones. Enjoy your time here!

~Dan