As a follow up to Rafe’s recos from this year we thought we would drop a few more winners from 2017 into your lap to spurn on any last minute explorations that might be lingering before the season draws to a close. Rafe’s piece covers off on the more high end of the loudspeaker world, so expect the options here to reach a little further into personal audio and beyond. Not everything was released directly within the confines of 2017, but many have seen their rise to popularity or distribution finally catch up with demand during that time period.
The Audeze Line Of Open-Back IEMs
It seems simple, but happens to be relatively unexplored. Audeze’s new line of iSINE 10, 20 and LCDi4 brings the open air backdrop to the closeheadedness of IEM listening. Bass expands, treble relaxes and inner ear pressure is vented. The lineup hits a few varying price tags at $400 and $600, with the top dog LCDi4 ($2,500) utilizing the same diaphragm material as the company’s flagship LCD-4 ($5k).
NAD’s New Amps
Eric was mightily impressed with the latest updates to the classic NAD amplifier line at RMAF this year. Now packed with plenty of wireless and new tech options for connectivity, the C328 and C368 hit hard to deliver on the classic budget 3020’s promise of high value at low cost which Eric desribed as “everything I look for and more to cross my personal “this is what I call audiophile” threshold..”
1More’s Triple Driver
The big splash Triple is still one of our most highly recommended IEMS for $100 bucks. Sure the Quads do sound better, but at twice the price the value just simply can’t be beat for a pair of headphones that deliver in ways that $100 really hasn’t done before. 2017 brought along a few lighting connector improvements to the Triple and Dual, if you care to swap out the iPhones internal DAC and headphone amplifier.
V-Moda Crossfade II Wireless
Don’t let the wireless bit scare you off. V-Moda has a new set of winners for easy listening in this new mobile world we find ourselves in. With plenty of punch on the low end, these portable beauties check all the boxes for both convenience and high fidelity. Available with or without Qualcomm’s atpX protocol, we recommend the Rose Gold version with, just to be on the safe side. Like many of V-Moda’s successes before, the new 2’s bind fidelity and fun in a way very few headphones do.
Allen Edmonds B-Stock “Factory Seconds”
This midwest-based shoe company is known for its high quality shoes, but even premium products like the ones that AE produces can found for a bargain once and a while. Their factory seconds sell with a $25 restocking fee, so there is a small risk involved – but once you have your size nailed down most of this company’s offerings run fairly true-to-size. The best news is that even the B-Stock here hits a sale price a few times a year (like right now) so it might behove you to click around to see if they have any one-offs waiting in your size. Both the boots and oxfords are solid options for a foot covering that is going to last for years to come.
MrSpeakers AEON
Now available in both open and closed options, MrSpeakers new compact design AEON is the follow up for the popular Ether Flow series. Both versions also come to market with a much lower cost of $800, allowing more headphone fans access to the company’s clean and balanced signature sound. Even with the smaller design the new headphone is still capable of big, glorious high fidelity playback.
AudioQuest Niagara 1000
The power strip to end all power strips. Even though the 1000 is the baby of the Niagara power conditioning line, its no slouch at a cool $1k. Pair that with one of the matching power cable like the Thunder and you have yourself a AC connection of audiophile proportions. Small budget? Speakers first, then components. But, if your already in the business of a high end system, proper conditioning and cabling only makes sense to keep you investments safe and running clean.
ZMF Auteur
The new bio cellulose creation from ZMF launched just last month, but it was definitely making waves when we saw it on the audio show circuit this year. Available in Teak or limited edition Blackwood, the unique stylings and driver material help this guy stand out in the somewhat crowded field of $1.5k-ish headphones currently on the market. The punched out grill design even kind of resembles a scene of Mickey Mouse standing over a field of coffins, talk about unique.
Ben & Jerry’s Urban Bourbon
If we are being completely honest, not too many of B&J’s ice cream flavors really have that after dinner desert “sparkle” that you would expect from such a calorie intense treat. Urban Bourbon is the exception – in a big way. The bourbon flavoring manages to avoid all the pitfalls of pulling some of the nasty side of that liquor flavor tree and actually makes the full presentation here quite savory on the tongue. The real win for this ice cream is the almonds however. Finely blended with a satisfying distribution within the burnt caramel ice cream, it is taste + texture for the win.
Klipsch Heritage Headphone Amplifier
Full disclosure: we have yet to actually hear this new headphone amplifier from Klipsch. However, the buzz online from the outward design has been pretty impressive already, so hopefully they don’t drop the ball when in comes to the SQ. Those switches really strike a chord with the audiophile masses. and the internals do construct a interesting formula that looks good on paper. $500 bucks, an ESS SABRE silicon plus a nice layout (including 4 pin balanced connection) have all the mixings for a solid offering from the popular manufacturer. And if not, well, it will still look sexy sitting on your desk as a paperweight.
Tidal On Apple TV
This one is more of a convenience item than a tried-and-true audiophile pleasure, but for those who already subscribe to the high res streaming service, the more options the better. Now officially represented as an app on Apple TV, Tidal brings you all its musical deliciousness with one more step less to the home theater rig – no more Airplay from your phone required. Still, for critical listening we recommend a hardwire connection to a MQA-compatable DAC, but in the meantime we all now have more with fewer clicks.
SVS PC-4000 Subwoofer
Its tall, dark and some-might-say handsome? The new upright PC-4000 sub is about as big a driver as you would want for this footprint but takes all the bulk of a 13.5″ size driver and brings it upstairs. Have a small corner in your room that just needs to be filled? For $1,800 this guy just might bring all the punch you are looking for in a collection of real estate more compact than any other in this category. Those with a little more room for all the boom boom can check out the rest of the SVS 4000 series which include both a ported and seal version of the same driver size.