Austrian Audio Arranger
A 'reference' open-back tuned for bass and space — reviewers love how it plays and argue about what it is.
24 sources6 divided topics
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reviewed.
What reviewers agree on.
Where they disagree. What matters to you.
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Grado SR80x
Everyone agrees it's fast, forward and alive. Almost everything else — treble, bass, stage, pads, cable — is argued over.
47 sources7 divided topics
7Hz x Crinacle Divine
The planar that finally behaves — smooth, vocal-first and easy to drive, with the arguments saved for its bass, its big metal shell and whether it lasts.
43 sources4 divided topics
Polk Signature Elite ES20
The budget standmount that measures and plays far bigger than its price — as long as you can live with its size and a hint of brightness.
40 sources3 divided topics
iFi iDSD Diablo 2
A genuinely powerful portable with a power rating it couldn't live up to — and a bright streak that splits the room.
31 sources4 divided topics
Akai APC40 MkII
Still the most literal hardware copy of Ableton's Session View — and still the controller its owners keep opening up to fix.
29 sources5 divided topics
The dictionary
Know what you’re hearing.
Warm
A boost in the bass and lower mids that gives music a rich, cozy, easy-on-the-ears character.
Soundstage
The perceived three-dimensional space of a recording — how wide, deep, and tall the sound appears.
Bright
An emphasis on the upper midrange and treble — vivid, clear, and sometimes sharp.
Neutral
An even-handed sound with no part of the spectrum pushed forward or held back — balanced and reference-like.