The Collector : Audio Gadgets

Burson is an Australian brand that took the world by storm with its revolutionary flagship 'Conductor' lineup DAC/AMP products back in 2019. They revolutionized the power supply technology with their proprietary Max Current Power Supply (MCPS). This was a game-changer for audio equipment. Super Charger 3A is a power supply bespoke to Burson devices operating at 24V/3A. This proprietary tech by Burson changed the way role of power supplies in the audio setup for good and forever. By the looks of it, it’s a simple device. A black square box which you plugin from one side and get the output from the other side. The plugin side comes with 3 different adaptors for different geographies in the world. I got an EU adaptor, a UK adaptor, and an AU adaptor. The output goes from a 2.5mm barrel plug. Disclaimer: I have received Burson Super Charger 3A by brand in exchange for honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective to my own listening and my sources. Sources: For this revie...

Even if one is not familiar with TKZK , there is hardly anyone in audio community who  doesn't know Tin Hifi. This is a well-established name in the audiophile industry and has given smashing hits like T2, T3, T4 etc. TKZK is their new venture that has just started its journey with Wave. The wave is very decent 1BA and 1DD hybrid design. The product is packaged in a black box with a picture of earphone in the middle and the name of brand and product etched in gold on the top and bottom. The box contains earphones, stock cable, ear-tips and a small carry pouch. The accompanying accessories are not extravagant but that is understandable given its price range.  The earphones however do have a quality built irrespective of the price tier. The design is simple yet powerful. It comes in 2 colors, grey and blue. The faceplate has a metallic look with wave patterns, it is also encased in resin giving it a shiny appearance. The earpieces are slightly big in size but surprisingly comfor...

Hidizs is a Hong Cong based audio company known for delivering quality portable audiophile equipment like DAP, DAC, Amps and IEMs.  S8 is an offering by Hidizs that surprises us with its features, size and price. It is a USB DAC-AMP that comes with 4 types of connector and is super useful for all types of sources we use, be it an android phone, an  iPhone or any laptop. With most of the phones getting away with the headphone jack, USB dongles solve a dire need of the hour. This does not need any kind of app installation even on laptop. Just connect it with the device and you are good to go. In just an inch square of size S8 packs so many capabilities that it mind blowing. Its design is minimalistic and simple. CNC machined aluminum case makes it sturdy and strong. It's extremely lightweight so super easy to carry. It comes in two colors, white and black. The front side has just 2 buttons on them, the top side has  a headphone jack and bottom side has a micro-USB port. The...

7Hz , aka "Theta wave" is a team of engineers enthusiasts bound by their common love of music and an idea to summon musical trance through their equipment. Timeless has got a lot of attention these days in all the audio forums as it one of the few planar driver IEMs out there. Each timeless earpiece is cut out of aviation-grade aluminum alloy material and then shaped using a high-precision CNC machining process followed by  the highest strength level of hard oxidation treatment. The result is a product with a high aesthetic value along with ergonomic comfort.  The metallic earphones have a raw charisma to it. Perfectly round faceplate engraved with concentric circles give another worldly appearance to it.  The overall look and feel is classy and stunning. 7Hz is bundled with a silver-plated single crystal copper inner core with a silver foil outer layer. Its smooth and complements the earpieces perfectly. The carry case is very sturdy and feels like a rugged brick of alum...

Kinera is a brand of YuTai Electronic Acoustics, that has been in the business for more than 10 years now. Based in Dongguan, China, YuTai is a pioneer in 'Bone Conduction' technology. In last few years , Kinera has produced a series of exceptions products which include Odin, Idun, Seed, BD005, Idun Deluxe and single dynamic driver SIF. Skuld is the latest jewel in crown. It is a 5 BA driver in-ear monitor with stunning looks and killer design. It is interesting to know that Skuld takes its name from Norse mythology, in which is means "Goddess of the Future" whose job is to decide fates of people. Kinera left no stone untuned to ensure that the packaging and presentation of Skuld reflects grandeur  of its name. The ear-pieces are an absolute delight to look at. The hand painted faceplate is absolutely stunning with its blue and green patterns, shimmering golden dots fill the blackish background behind this pattern, resulting the feel with a nicely lit night sky. The m...

BGVP is a well-known Chinese company mainly involved with customizing and producing high end Hifi earbuds, earphones and other electronic products. DN3 is the latest addition in their DN series. It has a classic dual driver(1BA +1 DD) configuration. If I have to describe the looks of DN3 in one word I would say Futuristic. It has an aluminum shell which is a breath of fresh air after seeing so many resin made ear pieces. The precision of CNC-machine cut is simply mind blowing. The faceplate has a  The stock cable is pretty decent and is a 5N silver-plated copper cable with MMCX connectors. It also comes with a carry case that has semi hard shell covered with fabric. There is wide selection of eartips provided (Bass eartips, Vocal eartips and Memory Foam eartips) in the box along with three sets of different sound filters. Disclaimer:  I have received  as part of review circle sent from the brand itself in exchange of honest reviews. All impressions of sound are subjective...

SeeAudio is a Chinese brand  fairly new to the international market. But they have a couple of great products under their belt namely, Anou(aka Yume) , Neo, Kaguya. My first experience with SeeAudio was when I reviewed Anou. It was an absolute delight and fun IEM, although the bravery is quite different in terms of technology and price. The Yume was a hybrid design and costed around 180USD whereas the latest entry in the market is the much awaited Bravery is a pure BA IEM and cost around 280USD.  Bravery has quite an eye catchy design. See Audio has made sure to include Bravery with a premium set of accessories. It comes with a customized 6N OCC Hakugei cable with 2-pin 0.78mm connectors; comes bundled with three pairs of Azla Sednafit XELASTEC ear tips(S, M, L) and a nice carry case similar to Yume. The driver arrangement is as 2 BA Low+ 1 BA Mid+ 1 BA Highs and based on the Knowles and Sonion BA drivers and has a nice vented design. Disclaimer:  I have received  as...

Portability is the need of current time and a powerful USB Amp DAC is kindling desire of every audiophile who cannot carry their beloved desktop setup everywhere. I am a victim of this problem myself.  This USB Amp DAC by Lotoo solves that purpose beautifully while giving a remarkable listening experience. In a thickness of mere 13mm and a length equivalent to a big pen drive, Paw S1 packs in itself a plethora of features. Lotoo, an audio brand of Infomedia,  is a well-established name in Audio industry. Paw S1 is a well-deserved addition in their current lineup. Paw S1 comes in a sleek black box with a model and its name stylishly displayed on the front side, the other sides of the box display technical features and other relevant information about the product.  Inside the box, one would find the unit along with an USB type-c to USB type-c OTG cable, manual and warranty card. The device has a classy black aluminum body with a little display screen on the front side. The ...

Vision Ears is a German company based in the city of Luxemburgerstrasse in Cologne's central south. Vision Ears is a highly respectable name among music experts and professional circles all around the world. They took the audiophile community by storm with the launch of their first IEM VE6X back in 2014. All the IEMs in their portfolio are carefully crafted musical powerhouses giving an unparalleled listening experience. Since 2020, VE series of Vision Ears is available in both custom and Universal versions. Customizing one's IEM is a different game all together. One gets to choose the color of shell, faceplate , Logo color, Wire, almost everything for their IEM. You can curate every aspect of the IEM, making it your precious little possession with your signature taste. For those who do not wish to go through the process of customizing their IEM , Universal VE lineup is the option to go.  The universal version of VE8 has a stunning look. It has a transparent  blue shell, boast...

Kinera is a brand of YuTai Electronic Acoustics, that has been in the business for more than 10 years now. Based in Dongguan, China, YuTai is a pioneer in 'Bone Conduction' technology. In last few years , Kinera has produced a series of exceptions products which include Odin, Idun, Seed, BD005, Idun Deluxe and single dynamic driver SIF. Norn is the latest jewel in crown. It is a 5 driver(1DD + 4BA) hybrid in-ear monitor with stunning looks and killer design. The ear-pieces are an absolute delight to look at. With a hand crafted design and mirror finish face plate and name NORN etched across it in golden, it looks extremely premium for an entry level IEM. Its lightweight and comfortable on ears due to its acoustic structure. I personally like the fit and the nozzle design which serves very good passive noise cancellation.  It is bundled with an 8 core-192 strands Silver-plated copper alloy cable with PVC outer insulation. The cable feels sturdy and compliments the shells perfect...

Burson is an Australian brand which took the world by storm with its revolutionary flagship 'Conductor' line up DAC/AMP products back in 2019. They revolutionized the power supply technology with their proprietary Max Current Power Supply (MCPS). This was a game changer for audio equipment.  Playmate2 is the  latest entry in their product catalog, this is an all-in-one entry-level desktop DAC/AMP. Housed in a stylish white box, I received the Playmate2 without it’s OpAmp upgrade. The package arrived with the basic components including the unit, power supply , USB-C cable,  mic splitter etc. immaculately kept in a thick styro-foam framework for safekeeping.   I personally liked the looks and aesthetics of the product.  The entire chassis is metal and build to act as a heat sink as a result of which the unit runs at minimal temperatures even after a long listening session. The volume knob is placed at the front side of the equipment along with a small screen,...

Advanced AcousticWerkes aka AAW, is a Singapore-based HiFi IEM brand. AAW has a rich catalog of exquisite IEMs. The latest entry in its collection is much awaited Ash. The IEM has a stunning look with a fiery faceplate and name ASH etched in fire. Deep red in the IEM body is highlighted with shimmering  golden flakes. The name Ash seems apt for an IEM that looks like burning in fire and exuding the brilliance contained in it. The earpieces are bulky but lightweight. They have a degree of panache that will make you look twice. These come along with a braided-copper stock cable that ends with a 2 pin connector and 3.5 mm jack and adorns a metallic Y-splitter . The set also has a stylish blue carry case which is quiet spacious and premium looking. Other than that the usual items one would expect from an IEM this range are all part of the set including eartips, adapter etc. Sources: For this review the unit has been paired to A&K SE100 (ES9038 Pro), Shanling M6 (AK4495EQ) and Cayin...