The Western Electric 757A was designed as a monitor speaker for radio stations and recording studios in the late 1940s. It was never produced in large quantities, so few prime specimens survive today, and the status of the design among the cognoscenti is legendary. Since the speaker was introduced before stereo became the standard format, …

The JDS Labs Element’s big draw is big power, which comes in handy if you have a set of power-hungry planar-magnetic headphones. Then again, a headphone amp that can put out more than 1 watt can work its magic on any full-size headphone. The very first headphone I plugged into the Element was my Hifiman HE6s. These guys suck up …

The impedance specification is ignored by most headphone buyers, but it might be one of the most important. Not that anything catastrophic will occur with an impedance mismatch, but you might not get the best sound quality from a headphone with impedance that’s too high or too low for your music player or home amplifier. The Beyerdynamic DT990 Edition headphones …

Ever since Bowers & Wilkins launched its 801 speaker in 1979, recording industry professionals and audiophiles have held the British company’s 800 Series speakers in high regard. No other company has ever made speakers which so consistently appeal to both groups. Enlarge ImageBowers & Wilkins’ 805 D3 speaker. Steve Guttenberg/CNET With that in mind, I went to a special invitation …

Lets cut right to the good part, the FiiO EX1 is a great sounding $89.99, £69.99 in-ear headphone. Not just great for the money, the EX1 approaches the sound quality of the best headphones that sell for double the price. It’s also super-comfortable, and looks pretty cool, the EX1 sports ear pieces crafted from CNC milled duralumin and stainless steel. …

I go way back with Wilson Audio speakers, I sold lots of them when I worked as a high-end salesman. I loved the sound, but couldn’t afford a pair for myself. Instead I would come in early, before the store opened, so I could listen to Wilson’s then popular Watt/Puppy speakers on my own time. The bass, dynamics and imaging …

The Perfect Storm’s chassis is made from aircraft-grade aluminum, and the internal parts quality is first rate. Blackie Pagano For over 25 years Blackie Pagano has made his living repairing musical instrument amplifiers, but it’s his art that really lights his fire. I last visited Pagano’s shop in 2012, and wrote about his one-of-a-kind designs for musicians and audiophiles, but …

Steve Guttenberg/CNET Speakers and headphones have drivers. They’re the vibrating parts that create the sound you hear. Some speakers have three types of drivers — a tweeter for high frequencies, a midrange for middle tones like voice, and a woofer for bass — but most speakers have just a tweeter and a combination midrange-woofer. Enlarge Image This headphone’s driver is …

I’ve covered the wide range of Hifiman’s headphones, from their downright affordable to high-end full-size headphones many times on the Audiophiliac. Even so, the new over-the-ear HE400S made me sit up and take notice, and not just because this headphone is the lowest price planar magnetic design ever offered by Hifiman. The HE400S is the best-sounding $299 (around £190) headphone …

I make my living writing about sound, and even after all these years describing sound with words still isn’t easy. Not that I’m complaining — I love the challenge of nailing down the ephemeral aspects of sound, because when I get it just right I have some hope that my readers will start to notice the difference between so-so and …