The Audio Files

Your place for audio reviews, news, learning, and guides from our experts.

  • Reviews
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Orchard Audio X Zeos Valencia Headphone Power Amp Review & Measurements

Orchard audio is most well known for their class-D speaker amplifiers, but the Valencia offers a departure in both aspects. This is a powerful class AB headphone amp, one which rather unusually follows a ‘power amplifier’ design, having fixed gain and no volume control with the aim of increased transparency, but is the sacrifice in convenience worth it?

The Best ANC Headphones to Buy in 2025 - And What to Avoid
  • Buying Guides

The Best ANC Headphones to Buy in 2025 - And What to Avoid

Resolve gives his perspective on over-ear ANC headphones at the end of 2025, going over the ones he'd choose at various price points.

Best Over-Ear Headphones of 2025 (Entry-Level Edition)
  • Buying Guides

Best Over-Ear Headphones of 2025 (Entry-Level Edition)

Explore our choices for the top over-ear headphones under $200 in 2025, including new releases as well as time-tested classics.

Latest Reviews

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Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 Review: Bass + Space = AT's Best Open-Back
  • Reviews

Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 Review: Bass + Space = AT's Best Open-Back

Audio-Technica’s new ATH-ADX7000 is one of the rare flagship open-back headphones that balances bass-focused warmth, spaciousness, and flagship character without slipping into abject chaos or incoherence.

  • Reviews
  • Video

Orchard Audio X Zeos Valencia Headphone Power Amp Review & Measurements

Orchard audio is most well known for their class-D speaker amplifiers, but the Valencia offers a departure in both aspects. This is a powerful class AB headphone amp, one which rather unusually follows a ‘power amplifier’ design, having fixed gain and no volume control with the aim of increased transparency, but is the sacrifice in convenience worth it?

Abyss JOAL Review - The best Diana yet, but with some frustrations still lingering
  • Reviews
  • Video

Abyss JOAL Review - The best Diana yet, but with some frustrations still lingering

The Abyss JOAL is quite easily my favourite in the 'Diana' line of headphones released by US manufacturer Abyss, but there's still some things I wish would change.

HEDD Audio HEDDphone D1 Review: The Disruptor
  • Reviews

HEDD Audio HEDDphone D1 Review: The Disruptor

HEDD Audio’s HEDDphone D1 marks a turning point for the brand: an $800 open-back dynamic driver headphone that may actually deliver the “HD 600 upgrade” audiophiles have been waiting for, pairing exceptional build and serviceability with a reference tuning and genuine all-rounder performance.

Latest Buying Guides

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The Best ANC Headphones to Buy in 2025 - And What to Avoid
  • Buying Guides

The Best ANC Headphones to Buy in 2025 - And What to Avoid

Resolve gives his perspective on over-ear ANC headphones at the end of 2025, going over the ones he'd choose at various price points.

Best Over-Ear Headphones of 2025 (Entry-Level Edition)
  • Buying Guides

Best Over-Ear Headphones of 2025 (Entry-Level Edition)

Explore our choices for the top over-ear headphones under $200 in 2025, including new releases as well as time-tested classics.

  • Buying Guides
  • Video

The Headphone Show's "Best Value in Audiophile Headphones" Round-Up

When it comes to headphones, “value” doesn’t mean the cheapest—it means the smartest way to spend your money. So here are our picks for the best value headphones (and IEMs, and source gear) on the current market!

The Best High-End IEMs (Unlimited Budget) - Summer 2025 Buyer’s Guide Update
  • Buying Guides

The Best High-End IEMs (Unlimited Budget) - Summer 2025 Buyer’s Guide Update

Wonder what the best IEMs in the world with an unlimited budget are? Fc-Construct gives you some of his top choices that are worthy of attention.

Latest Features

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  • Features
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Wireless Headsets SOUND BETTER Than Wired Closed-Back Headphones Now

Wireless gaming headsets used to be a joke when it came to sound quality... but that’s no longer true. Join Resolve as he digs into why modern wireless headsets like the HyperX Cloud III Wireless S, Audeze Maxwell, and Sennheiser HDB 630 can genuinely compete with—and often outperform—wired audiophile closed-back headphones.

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Our Headphone Review Gear & Review Process

Resolve, GoldenSound, and Listener break down the exact gear, setups, and processes they each use when reviewing headphones, DACs, and amps. From reference headphones and level-matching methods to EQ tools, measurement rigs, and music choices, they compare how their review chains differ. and why each approach works for them.

  • Features
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I published music to find the best streaming service for Apple devices

Apple may have the slogan "it just works", but from our testing, it seems that when it comes to getting full lossless quality music streaming, it's not as simple as we had hoped.

  • Features
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Can iPhone Settings Really Fix Apple AirPods Pro 3?

People online claim that certain iPhone or iOS features can “EQ” the AirPods Pro 3 to fix their V-shaped sound signature... but is that actually true? In this video, Listener tests all of these settings one by one to find out what they really do to the sound. Spoiler: Most of them make things worse.

Latest News

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New Audeze LCD-S20 Press Release with Initial Reviewer Commentary
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New Audeze LCD-S20 Press Release with Initial Reviewer Commentary

Audeze has recently announced the release of their new closed back planar headphone, the LCD-S20. Fc-Construct gives us a rundown on its specs and provides some initial commentary.

Focal releases Bathys MG Wireless Closed-Back Headphones
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Focal releases Bathys MG Wireless Closed-Back Headphones

Focal pushes back the boundaries of wireless sound excellence with Bathys MG headphones

Sennheiser Announces HD 550 Open Back Headphones
  • News

Sennheiser Announces HD 550 Open Back Headphones

The new HD 550 brings a compelling new choice to audiophiles and gamers seeking next-level capability that outshines its price tag.

Introducing POET — A new era of compact, high-performance planar magnetic headphones
  • News

Introducing POET — A new era of compact, high-performance planar magnetic headphones

Meze Audio, the acclaimed Romanian manufacturer of high-end headphones, proudly announces the release of POET, its newest planar-magnetic headphones.