In this video Resolve, Golden Sound, and DMS give out awards for the best of 2023! Join us as we celebrate another great year in audio.
Winners:
Affordable IEM (Simgot EM6L): www.linsoul.com/products/simg...
Affordable headphone (Audeze Maxwell): headphones.com/products/audez...
High end open back headphone (Modhouse Tungsten): www.modhouseaudio.com/tungste...
High end closed back headphone (DCA E3): headphones.com/products/dan-c...
Electronics (Ferrum Wandla): headphones.com/products/ferru...
Product of the year (Meze Empyrean 2): headphones.com/products/meze-...
Read more headphone, IEM, amp, and DAC Reviews: Headphones.com/TheAudioFiles
Our Editorial Policy: Headphones.com/TheAudioFiles/...
Join our Discord server: go.headphones.com/discord
Measurement Index
forum.headphones.com/t/index-...
How to read the new measurements:
• A new standard for hea...
The 10 stages of headphone measurements
• The 10 stages you’ll g...
00:00 - Intro
00:11 - Affordable IEM
02:32 - Affordable headphones
03:52 - High End open-back headphones
07:04 - High End closed back headphones
08:34 - Electronics
11:57 - Biggest disappointment
16:27 - Product of the year
Just a note, apparently there is already a firmware update out for the Moondrop Free DSP - we have yet to test this to confirm what it fixes, but I just wanted to flag that things may have improved with that product since the filming of this.
Anyone got the link for that? Or is that within the app
Any update on this, pretty interested in buying one.
Tested it on 1.1 firmware but not impressed unfortunately.
Looking forward to your full review of the Tungsten. It's be awesome if it's before Jan 5th since that's the next time Ryan's opening up for orders, and it'd be a good way to push me over the edge to get one haha
This year feels like the year where we finally got some products that the market needed for a long time, a gaming headset that unequivocally sounds good, a no compromises closed back, a well executive fun totl that's actually built like it's price point, a return of the he-6. Yet all of these make me even more excited for the future, for the Maxwell to continue to be refined, for the quality achieved in e3 and emperyian 2 and tungsten to trickle down those product lines. Very exciting times.
My thoughts: Subtonic Storm - sounds really, really good, but it's too big for me. I couldn't wear it more than about 10-15 minutes without needing to take it out. Maxwell - one of my favorite headphones of 2023, and my current favorite closed back behind the E3. Tungsten - sounds incredible when well driven, but I find it difficult to recommend due to how hard to drive it is. E3 - my new favorite closed back, and it's not even much of a competition. WANDLA - freaking great. Love mine. Still want to hear the Bliss, though. Free DSP - 100% agree 😢 For product of the year, I firmly agree with all 4 nominations, but I do feel that a 5th is missing: Resolve's smile meme. Thanks for a great year, y'all, and I hope you have a wonderful new year! Cheers! 🥂
Happy New Year! Thanks for keeping the isopod in the vid, it really give me a good laugh😂.
Happy new years everybody
Nicely done, thanks guys.
im really looking forward to Resolve reviewing the DCA E3. We need more opinions with this can.
Hey everyone! Not quite related but kinda…. I want y’all to know my car of the year is a used 2008 VW Passat Wagon. Me and all my friends thinks it’s the best used car to buy right now, but most of them haven’t driven it. BTW, I have a used 2008 VW Passat Wagon for sale.
😄 I enjoyed this
Woohoo!! So excited for this!
so they give award left and right then goes like "i havent heard that product yet" lmfao
they sound like bunch of clueless clowns
which one?
lmao I got to the actual part where someone said it amd they were referring to a prototype that's not even in the nomination list
I would've liked to see more B-Roll and/or pictures of the products you are mentioning and discussing
This, 100%. Felt like I was overhearing a conversation a bit, more than listening to people talk about something to an audience.
Very good selections. In 2023, I have been very, very pleased with the Gustard A26 DAC. I think the R26 came out in 2022 and the A26 in 2023. It made my two other DACs useless and I sold them. (Bifrost 64 & SMSL su-9n) I got my Tungsten order in just last Friday (it was sold out within 15 minutes) and I am really looking forward to receiving it - in about 3 months! Great job guys!
Did you order the single sided or the double?
loved the tungsten at canjam, but hated how much gain it needed to be audible! can't wait for a more efficient version.
The colour caught my eye 🟡. Happy New year 🎊🎉
You guys are getting better and better - all of your personalities are beginning to shine more clearly, and you all bounce off each other well!
hello, thanks for video. Do you think its worth to wait few mouths to buy new hight end headphones in new year, should be something new interesting realese? My actual favorits are Hifiman Arya Organic or Meze empyrean v2 but i am worried somethign new comes out few mouth after i get it. Thanks for help. Have a nice day
Super list! Question for all of you guys. Looking for the best compromise for Jazz, open soundstage and vocal precision. I would be prepared to push a little but I am would be more comfortable with a midFi type headset (say below the $600) mark. I am really tempted by the Sundara, not sure that the HD600 is open enough for my linking. Should I push to the Hifiman XS edition? Am I missing the point? Any suggestions would be welcomed.
Hey @The Headphones Show, if you are working on a review for the Tungsten - could I perhaps get you to try running it off the Phonitor X/XE, which I know you have? That thing is supposed geared really well towards voltage hungry, high impedance phones. I'm curious of how well it will drive the Tungsten, compared to other alternatives.
Great vid. I’d buy a Tungsten if I thought anything I own could properly drive it - any amp recommendations? Happy New Year!
Burson amps. - I have placed an order for the Tungsten and I made sure that my Burson Soloists 3X had enough voltage to drive the Tungsten (Voltage is the key not watts to drive this can). On high gain, the Burson can push 28 volts! Over 20 Volts should be able to properly drive these with enough headroom.
Even though I've been listening to music all my 42 yrs am quite new to the audiophile scene, I'm also on a budget and can't afford high end headphones such as the Meze Empyrean II or any summit fi headphones, I have enjoyed my recent purchases of the Focal Elegia, Clear, which I got on a sale on (B) stock and to me they sound amazing and sound way better than any of my cheap neckband wired headphones, I'm just concerned about the headband snapping in half as I read on Reddit and other such forums, which is Focals decision to mix very thin plastic and metal together in the headband and it snapping and cracking in half from just taking any Focal headphone on and off your head.
Thanks you guys. Considering the growing market sector and for audiophiles who travel, hope you might consider a separate ANC Bluetooth cans section next round.
Got the EM6L and can absolutely confirm, that if you like Harman, it's a really good set to pick up! It does upper range sweetly and lower range with genuine authority, for the money.
I heard modhouse tungsten recently and was blown away within 5 seconds and realized it was basically better than anything I've ever heard.
I know it's better tuned than the lcd5, but would you say it's better in every way?
At 78 dB/mW at 155 ohms, I’ll bet it blew away half the building along with you!
depends on how well it/they play with the dx9, since apparently the dac is necessary to maximize them
@@enjoshi-godrez8775 I would bet that the lcd-5's technicalities are better, but just hearing them at the same show, it was an immediate subjective "aha" moment with the tungsten.
@grantdillon3420 definitely need to hear it. Hopefully, he can make it to Munich this year.
Thanks Guys! Best wishes for 2024.
Likewise! Happy new year!
Would either Burson Soloist 3XP or Aune S17 Pro be a good match for the Tungsten?
I keep hearing of the monarch mk3 as Iem of the year also imma needthat isopod video
I really appreciate you guys doing these summing up videos for the year! Last year’s was a bit more organic video. Maybe for the product of the year, there could be best sound, or even say each person’s choices, best comfort, best build/expected reliability if applicable? Best all things considered? It would be interesting to see what each of you would say 🙏 The one you’d most like to add to your collection or couldn’t resist and why? The most underwhelming of the year was rather funny by Crinacaling Crinacle on Project Red not taking over the world 😂 But if you factor price point I hear it’s quite worthwhile? I like these videos with a few of your ace reviewers at a time! The picture of Precoggy over the moon listening to Subtonic Storm was priceless 🏅
I'm surprised the Aune S17 Pro headphone amp did not get mentioned. Did anyone from this channel review it?
For me, product of the year is Aune S17 Pro headphone amplifier (in full class A). Very powerfull and clean, natural sounding. Great for the price.
Wow, there is quite a lot of negative comments here. Such a shame. Thanks for sharing your opinions guys (that is all they are ultimately). Happy new year!
Tbh I don't like Precogvision's sound preference nor do I like his obscure take on iems (especially budget friendly iems) and the fact that he doesn't like full sized headphones. Weakest link to me. Everyone else is spot on more or less.
Glad to see the Maxwell getting even more love. Such a bargain for what you get in terms of sound quality. If you want a single headset (not headphone) for music and games, there’s nothing close.
Can any of you review some of Burson stuff? I'm considering the soloist 3 and the conductor 3 and I wonder what's your take on these amplifiers.
I have owned the Burson 3x for about two years now and I love it. Super clean with lots of power. Discreet, Class A. I have placed an order for the Tungsten and I made sure that my Burson Soloists 3X had enough voltage to drive the Tungsten (Voltage is the key not watts to drive this can). On high gain, the Burson can push 28 volts! Over 20 Volts should be able to properly drive these with enough headroom. Tungsten - headphone of the year!
@@oblio44 i'm thinking maybe to get the timekeeper 3i with it's 100wpc as a one in all solution for the Susvara and the Raal sr1a
I have the jds atom stack 2. Does anyone know if it could run “hard to drive” products like the abyss or tungsten?
Can the Chord TT2 without additional amp run the Tungsten?
Happy new Year everyone, let's hope 2024 brings even better wiggly air products for the never ending quest for perfection 😂
i am looking out for new cables for my CCA PLA 13. Where can i get the cable online ?
IEM: Canpur CP622B You guys have to check these out! Heard them at SoCal CanJam 2023 phenomenal resolution and coherency.
I have listened Empy 2 vs Arya Organic. Could not decide, each of them has something better than the other one. I own the Organic and I will have Empyrean 2 this year, I hope. I think they are, for me, the headphones of 2023 . For value, the producer of the year, 100 %, is Hifiman. Nice video .
Could you say something regards bass on the two as well as soundstage. I agree best value goes to Hifiman although I wish they got rid of that cheap headband and reduced the plastic used.
Tested both the Empyrean 2 & E3 & prefer the E3. The bass is smoother & milkier (if that makes sense?) & soundstage was surprisingly good given its closed. Subjective Question: would a Mojo 2 be good enough to drive the E3?
Which one hits harder and which one would you use for movie watching as well.
Empy2 hits a bit better harder as they have slightly better bass extension while E3 edges in mid-bass however E3's airy-ness really gives the bass extra weight. I also think that the E3 is one of the best tuned headphones I've heard. For movies, I'd probably go with the Empy2 as they're more relaxed yet detailed. Also they do great with poorly recorded songs as they're very forgiving much like the ZMF Atrium.@@michaellazaar1838
What do you use to drive the tungsten tho? I have a ifi pro ican. Would that one work fine? I’m planning on getting the double sided tugsten.
I have placed an order for the Tungsten and I made sure that my Burson Soloists 3X had enough voltage to drive the Tungsten (Voltage is the key not watts to drive this can). On high gain, the Burson can push 28 volts! Over 20 Volts should be able to properly drive these with enough headroom. Tungsten - headphone of the year!
Whoohoo, glad to see you guys like The Composer.
What bluetooth buds are you guys using?
FIIO KA13 is a newer release and very impressive dongle. 550mw packing punch.
I tried the MM-100 for 2 weeks and returned it. It is not suited for large ears and has next to zero soundstage especially for an open back. It sounded great with music and movies.
Surprised you didn't list the JDS Labs Element III Mk.2. it's an update like the Atom 2.
Why not DAC and amp on separate categories? So, Bliss and Wandla?
Personal choice - Hifiman Arya Organics. Best headphone I've heard under 2K.
much love from Indonesia ❤
Maxwell vs austrian audio x55 -x60 what's sound best? same price class
Shoutout to the audeze maxwell. Huge fan of the sound and features. Just wished it was a tad lighter.
DMS- what brand and model are your glasses? They are 🔥 and I would like to get a pair.
Looking forward to receiving my DCA E3. I love my HE1000 Stealth but there are times a closed back is necessary and my current closed backs all have some drawbacks. I’m hopeful that the E3 does improve on the Aeon 2 Noire which I liked but didn’t love.
When you get the e3, would you kindly reply here? I own an arya organic and I'm really interested to know if the e3 is similar to the hifiman sound but with a tiny bit more bass and tiny bit less treble, or if it sounds wonky in the midrange. Thanks a ton
@@Mastermnd1 I have received it and I am happy to report that it sounds great in all aspects. It has good bass (no substantial sub-bass roll off detected). This is not a Beats sounding headphone, but it had enough to make "Black Thunder" - HU sound great and that is a heavy sub-bass laden track. The entire mid-range is clear, dynamic, detailed and punchy. There is no fatiguing treble shrill. Out of my entire headphone collection, the E3 needed the least amount of EQ to meet my likes. I bumped up the 1KHz to 4KHz range by one db. This really wasn't necessary, but I wanted something to do - LOL. The sound stage is really good for a closed back. It beat out my Focal Celestee and the DCA Aeon 2 Noire. I have tested it from classical to metal genres and it never failed to amaze me. It is my favorite closed back by far. I think that I have finally finished my headphone collection, unless I venture into electro-stats. Let me know if you need any more information. I will be glad to share my thoughts.
Related to the headphone tier you guys made before. Is the modhouse tungsten belong to the S tier?
Anyone know the song that starts playin around 20:30 ?
Why didn't you wait until you all heard everything?
good question.
Was the tungsten you guys tested single sided or double sidedm
Double
Wow. Tungsten beating the Empyrean 2. This thing must be good. ❤
Those IEMs are huge!! 😆
Hmmm weird you guys have not try Fatfreq Grand Maestron and fir audio RN6.
Sounds like you're combining two models at 0:46, which one do you mean
Mod House Tungsten was product of the year for me!
Nathan, you got to hear it furst in Zeo's room, props... I'm on the verge of ordering one in 1-2 months from now. The onlything I have is an SMSL M200 and SMSL SP200 dac amp combo, and I own Hifiman Edition XS. How crazy worth it is the Modhouse Tungsten Dual Sided Version(wanna hear some of your thoughts)
@@ADDOOOMZZ I own the SS Tungstens, but for me a friend I met in some of thee chats lives 25 minutes away from me has the DS Tungstens so I get to spend time on occasions with both! There are points I like about both, but for me the bottom line is owning a pair whether it’s SS or DS. As far as your gear goes, I don’t know if those will drive them with enough headroom. I however am happy with my SS Tungsten with the Serial Number WPSS0001. I thought about sending them back to Ryan to have them changed to DS, but decided to keep the Single Sided.
Why isnt the sundara closed in biggest disappointment it dropped from 400 to 150 on amazon proving that hifiman knew they messed up. Oh it came out in September 2022 but for me though I got to try it when it was on sale for 150 in October lol it was so muddy and muffley.
apparently there are 2 tungstens, a single and a double. which one is the one that is open back of the year?
Where can i view the diablo 2 video?
The Nitsch/Schiit Pietus Maximus should have been on the list
My question remains. What DAP that fit into the pocket can you drive the new DCA E3? I wish to take E3 on the go and I don't want to take a big chunk of brick in the bag instead in the pocket. fiio m17 and AK kann ultra doesn't work well for E3. M17 is too huge and can't fit into the pocket, kann ultra can't handle the sound well on E3 over 80db. It will distort over that level.
Perhaps you just shouldn't try to drive a £2000 closed back on the go with a DAP? You're not going to get good results even if you find one that's adequate on paper. That said, it IS easier to fight off muggers if you're not tethered to your backpack.
Product of the year because not enough of our judges have actually tried the better rated headphones does not seem like such a great award.
I think as a package the empyrean 2 winning makes a lot of sense, but it's a subjective field to begin with, so don't get too offended.
HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite snubbed from the affordable headphone category,
We didn't receive it for review, so can't comment.
Very interesting list of products indeed. I just hope the Hidizs MP145 wasn't even mentioned is bacause it came out late in the year and wasn't in your hands at all... Happy new year!
Arya Organic?
Glad to hear about the Bliss. I was actually looking at that for the Tungsten and then decide what to do with the DAC. The Wandla was in the running, but I don't *think* I need all the features in it.
You guys completely left out the Schiit Mjolnir 3…
maxwell is product of the year - its insane value
also insanely bad quality control!
sorry for your bad luck - ive got 2 pair and and they have been flawless@@tetskysenpai8538
Cheap nasty ass plastic gamer "value". I'm sure it's great for 5 minutes
On the other hand for those who believe IEM even headphones can do soundstage (term borrowed from 2 channel audiophile language) listen to a well set up Wilson audio speakers system then a good Magnepan 3.7i set up then a MBL Extreme set up then youll know what is meant by two channel audio soundstage, its so far from IEM and headphones you need a new term for personal audio.
at 0:44 you say "TruthEar Zero 2", do you mean the 7hz Zero 2 here, or the Zero Red?
Yes
One huge demerit against the Tungsten being product of the year is the fact that it requires a mid-size nuclear power plant to run it.
That's a positive. Now all those insanely powerful amps have a purpose! :P
Not really, SPL stuff can run it. Violectric stuff also because of the voltage bias. You don't need a lot of power.
They need huge voltage bias which isn't that hard to execute. Toppings stuff has pretty enormous gain and should be enough. The a70pro has 56Vpp. Thats more than enough.
It's huge current offsets caused by low impedance, low sensitivity loads that are very taxing on an amp. Thats when you whip out the speaker amp.
I have placed an order for the Tungsten and I made sure that my Burson Soloists 3X had enough voltage to drive the Tungsten (Voltage is the key not watts to drive this can). On high gain, the Burson can push 28 volts! Over 20 Volts should be able to properly drive these with enough headroom. Tungsten - headphone of the year!
What about Fiio BTR15? It could give the qudelix some competition.. it features paramteric eq and supposedly is quite powerful...
No its parametric eq is still busted and very buggy and doesn't have shelf filters which are essential for autoeq to function.
It's junk
Seriously??? No shelf filters???... someone really messed up there... hopefully it could/should be fixed with an update, though@@enjoshi-godrez8775
@jackjack3874 I really wanted to buy their new Bluetooth stuff, but they are so buggy and unsupportive with updates.
I'm watching using a btr15 right now, and i think it's very acceptable for its price. The peq will hopefully be improved one day, but if you own good iems you need little eq anyway
Great discussion but saw no mention of the Arya Organic. Puzzled to say the least. More enjoyable and cheaper than the Empyrian 2.
They did a review on it. They liked it, but they felt it was more specialized because the treble was a bit bright (I actually agree, I owned the Organic and Arya Stealth to compare). Awesome release, but it seems the Empy 2 and E3 are making people more universally happy (so far)
I absolutely love the organics, they are product of the decade for me, lol.
i will end up cracking the glass on that e3
Hey guy's like the presentation - But could you stoop to a normal plain and try a pilgram setup? Using a Schiit Bifrost as a Pre and a Woo WA6se for the Amp, this would be an upper level enthusiast and not a creme delux. Headphone of your choice - but I think you will be tube rolling and swaping headphones in disbelief.
What would have made this better was actually showing each product as you went down your rundown
I love award shows!
I’m coming from a biased opinion but my two favorite products of the year were the Atrium Closed and Caldera from ZMF. Happy New Year everyone!
I'm confused as to why ZMF is continually mentioned even though we've asked not to be covered. Seems like they need something for the DCA to go up against? No idea what's going on. The Atrium closed was never sent in and only heard at a social setting by all three of these guys.
I think they qualified Caldera as released last year. Though a bit strange as it was released later than Bliss. Btw. you prefer AC more than Open or still Open?
@@Peace_Guard Caldera was released last year and we asked them not to cover it so they didn't. Not sure the change this year.
@@ZMFheadphones I completely agree. Why build a best of 2023 list when the only person who has any real experience with the Caldera and AC is DMS. CanJam 5min listening impressions is a joke if that’s what constitutes experience with a product.
@@kevintj604 Yeah and if DMS is the only one who's had significant time with them, he can make a video on his own channel.
Surprised that Eversolo DMP-A8 wasn't included
What about affordable IEM for female vocals?
How can you make the Empyrean product of the year and not headphone of the year?
why wasn't the diana mr not nominated for product of the year? I thought u guys said the empyrean 2 and diana mr were equally as good. did diana mr end up scoring too low?
yeah it could've also been included - we basically just each picked our favorites from the list and that's what the nominees were, and I guess DMS chose the E3 over the Diana.
@@ResolveReviews i see. thnx!
Where are the measurements for the Tungsten? It seems to be promoted by a group of people who are all connected to each other, and the usual due diligence, including measurements, seems to not apply in its case.
We're all still working on our reviews - we got them late in the year. They should be up on the forum this week though.
@@ResolveReviews Are you saying measurements don’t exist at this time?
@@el_arte They do, I just haven't had the chance to create the post yet.
When I heard Tungsten at AXPONA 2023, it sounded really nice, relaxed, smooth, warm. But it didn't remind me of HE6 6-screw, as it was more detailed and resolving. But maybe the final version of Tungsten does sound more detailed and resolving than the prototype I heard.
Product of the year in 2024 could be : The average of you all, the pick of each one of you, and the rankings you guys gave to each product.
Just a thought.......if you haven't all tried the damn participants in product of the year then maybe don't conduct a fricking product of the year competition and then sure as shit don't award a product of the year! It ain't rocket science! ffs
I hope these guys can figure out a better system to mitigate these issues. Weighted percentage?! Come on guys… please ask these manufacturers for multiple review samples for better continuity.
exactly, and it leads me to conclude releasing the video for views was more important than being professional. Even if that was not the reason, that is how it looks.
… and why are you on KZhead watching review videos? Go try it yourself then. This isn’t the f****** Grammys my guy. These r like the three best reviewers of headphone on this platform…. Get a life loser… great job with the video guys!
I would actually like more features in DACs in the future. It just seems like most of the reason you get a particular DAC over another is because you get the one that fits the shape of the corresponding amp lol It’s strange because they’ll have pure DAC modes, but the standard mode doesn’t have tone controls. I know it’s sinful to speak of EQ but look… I’m so goddamn tired of sibilance and my input audio isn’t from a computer with EQ software. Sometimes I’m playing a game and the VA recording is super bright and harsh. It’d just be nice to have the option to kill that sssssssnake with some EQ integrated in the stack
still waiting for my MM100 that said shipping soon 6 months ago
Sad part is the tungsten is too hard to drive so many will not get it. Until amps are listed that pair well with it. So yall should get this video done for us
No, it's not that hard to drive. It needs high voltage gain. Topping products like the a70pro would drive these flawlessly.
Diablo/Diablo 2 dumping the XBass was an asinine decision. That is the coolest thing about the iFi stuff And I'd vote for Geshelli's J2S DAC and A3 Pro Amp as the best punching way over its price tag stack of 2023. PS- I'm Never Wrong!!
lol
ModHouse Tungsten double vs Sennheiser 800S please. decisions.
There is no way you can convince me that a wireless headset deserves a "best of" award outside of any category that isnt specifically for wireless headphones are you kidding me?
I think affordable does not mean what you think it means. All four are $300. Makes me wonder if I can find headphone reviews of anything acceptable to you, that's below $150, among your list of reviews.