Website author headshot
Cameron Oatley
ExtremeHiFi
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi

Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.

Product Strengths

  • Good build quality, featuring hand-crafted Linden wood, aluminum, and steel.
  • Comfortable for long listening sessions, with deep, plush earpads.
  • Unique and interesting sound presentation, with a romantic and cozy feel, and excellent imaging.
  • Wide soundstage with an excellent sense of imaging.
  • Balanced sound with good tonal balance throughout the frequency spectrum.

Product Considerations

  • Can be signal chain sensitive, with the potential for a harsh treble peak depending on the source and cable.
  • May not be suitable for those with larger heads due to limited headband adjustment range.
  • The dark tuning and recessed mids may not appeal to all listeners, as it has a more laid back sound signature.
  • The design may not be to everyone’s taste.
  • Semi-open design leaks sound.

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs HIFIMAN Arya Stealth: The Mania is unique, with a fun side, and retains detail, the Arya Stealth is more analytical, with better detail retrieval and resolution.
  • Vs Sennheiser HD 8XX: Mania bass is thicker and more powerful, 8XX treble is more extended, 8XX has more fullness and natural tone/timbre.
  • Vs Erzetich Phobos: Phobos has a wider soundstage, better detail retrieval, and a more linear sound, Mania has a more natural midrange.
  • Vs Meze 109 Pro: The Meze 109 Pro offer greater clarity.

Takeaway: The Erzetich Mania is a well-built, comfortable headphone with a unique, slightly darker sound signature that emphasizes the midrange, making it enjoyable for vocal-centric music. With good care in matching with the right source, the Mania can deliver a pleasing and engaging listening experience.

What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.

All

Mania

reviews

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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022

Manufacturer details

  • Impedance: 80 ohm
  • Driver: Dynamic 50 mm, titanium
  • Cup system: Semi open
  • Weight: 450 g
  • Character: Balanced, slightly darkish, yet detailed
Mania headphones play dense and melodious; dark and low, operating with a sound of extraordinary beauty – one that captivates the heart and can be listened to for long hours, also because of how comfortable they are, but most of all because of how they sound.
Manufacturer Site

Brand highlights

Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:

Bacillus Tilia

  • Positioning: A wooden desktop amplifier aimed at buyers seeking affordable style and reliable performance.
  • Description: Offers a hand-carved, aged wooden chassis with top-grade input capacitors and quality op-amps that deliver a silky neutral tone with a slightly warm character. Compared to models like Perfidus or Bacillus II Plus, its design focuses on aesthetic heritage and versatility for small rooms at a budget-friendly price while still meeting basic connectivity needs.

Perfidus

  • Positioning: A compact class-A amplifier designed for users who need detailed and balanced performance in a small chassis.
  • Description: Delivers a flat frequency response with precise detail reproduction thanks to its streamlined design and quality components such as a blue velvet Alps potentiometer. In contrast to products like Bacillus Tilia or Bacillus II Plus, its compact build prioritizes clarity over raw power.

Bacillus II Plus

  • Positioning: A dual-mono amplifier that builds on earlier models to offer enhanced clarity and speed for mid-range applications.
  • Description: Features a triple-reinforced power supply and fully balanced design to provide fast, detailed performance with flexible input/output options. Compared to the lower-priced Bacillus Tilia and Perfidus, it offers an intermediate step up in build quality and power.

Deimos

  • Positioning: A premium dual-mono amplifier crafted for serious listeners requiring balanced sound and high dynamic performance.
  • Description: Incorporates digital volume control, a sleek aluminum chassis, and silver-plated wiring to ensure a natural and wide sound while maintaining precise detail. Relative to the entry-level models like Bacillus II Plus and Perfidus, it delivers a higher level of build quality and performance for larger setups.

Scylla

  • Positioning: A high-end balanced class-A amplifier engineered for an expansive and immersive listening experience with premium headphones.
  • Description: Uses a dual-mono fully balanced design with an upgraded power supply and advanced capacitor stabilization to ensure a relaxed yet expansive soundstage. Compared to the other products in the lineup, it targets users who demand top-tier performance.
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Avg. Product Price
$1,001-$2,500
Used For Sale
0
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
827
 of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
11
Founding Year
2012

Our take on the brand

Erzetich is a Slovenian hifi brand known for amplifiers and headphones that incorporate aged linden wood (a national symbol), vegan construction, and fully serviceable designs with pro-style connectors. They also engineer amplifiers with dual-mono class-A topology.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

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From our interview with
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Brand Page

Used

Erzetich

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What if you spend more?

Product image
Erzetich
Charybdis
3506
3506
/
3
Reviews
Erzetich is a Slovenian hifi brand known for amplifiers and headphones that incorporate aged linden wood (a national symbol), vegan construction, and fully serviceable designs with pro-style connectors. They also engineer amplifiers with dual-mono class-A topology.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Exceptional sound quality, easily rivaling every high-end headphone on the market.
  • Exhibits a well-rounded and technical sound, being both exciting and fun while maintaining technical capabilities.
  • Arguably the best soundstage among over-ear headphones, even surpassing the Sennheiser HD800 in spaciousness, imaging, and separation.
  • Great dynamics, speed, and impact offer fun sound.

Product Considerations

  • At 740g, it is one of the heaviest headphones on the market, though comfort is improved by design.
  • The included cable is high-quality copper, but a little stiff, and upgrading the cable is recommended for improved comfort.

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs. Erzetich Phobos V.2021: Better sub-bass by about 10 dB and is livelier and deeper.
  • Vs. HIFIMAN Susvara: Very close sounding in terms of transparency and detail retrieval.
  • Vs. Sennheiser HD800: These are the HD800 of the planar mafia.

Takeaway: The Charybdis is a unique and interesting headphone with exceptional sound quality and a great soundstage. It is a great choice for people shopping for new high-end headphones.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Erzetich is a Slovenian hifi brand known for amplifiers and headphones that incorporate aged linden wood (a national symbol), vegan construction, and fully serviceable designs with pro-style connectors. They also engineer amplifiers with dual-mono class-A topology.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
Austrian Audio
The Composer
2699
2699
/
10
Reviews
Austrian Audio, founded by the former AKG Vienna core team, manufactures its own ceramic CKR12 capsules and Hi-X headphone drivers in-house in Vienna. Their capsule consistency is so precise that any two microphones can be used as a stereo pair without matching. The brand's microphones feature unique tech, including dual-output mode for reshaping polar patterns in post-production, and real-time wireless polar pattern control via Bluetooth.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Built with premium, high-quality, sturdy materials with a solid feel
  • Very comfortable and relatively lightweight, suitable for long listening sessions
  • Easy to drive with low impedance and reasonable sensitivity
  • Delivers a reference-grade sense of clarity, balance, and vast soundstage
  • Excellent instrument separation and imaging
  • Easy to drive with low impedance and reasonable sensitivity

Product Considerations

  • Some reviewers found the range of headband adjustment limited, making it potentially unsuitable for those with smaller heads
  • The banana plug cable connectors are proprietary, limiting third-party cable options
  • The stock cable is acceptable, but not particularly premium feeling
  • The bass is a little lightweight and might require EQ adjustment for some listeners
  • A dip at 2kHz was noted by some reviewers

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Sennheiser HD800S: The Composer has better bass extension, but the HD800S has better resolution and detail
  • Vs HIFIMAN Arya/HE1000 series: The Composer sounds more natural than some HIFIMAN planars, and it may have greater bass depth
  • Vs Meze Audio Empyrean II: The Composer goes deeper in the soundstage, with better layering and more sub-bass presence, but the Empyrean II is softer and more relaxed
  • Vs ZMF Outure Classic: The Composer has better bass response but is smoother and more tame in the treble

Takeaway: The Austrian Audio Composer is a well-built, comfortable, and easy-to-drive headphone with a balanced, clear, and detailed sound signature. It offers a reference quality that can be great for critical listening and casual enjoyment.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Austrian Audio, founded by the former AKG Vienna core team, manufactures its own ceramic CKR12 capsules and Hi-X headphone drivers in-house in Vienna. Their capsule consistency is so precise that any two microphones can be used as a stereo pair without matching. The brand's microphones feature unique tech, including dual-output mode for reshaping polar patterns in post-production, and real-time wireless polar pattern control via Bluetooth.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
ZMF
Caldera
3499
3499
/
11
Reviews
ZMF is a boutique hifi headphone brand that crafts one-of-a-kind wooden headphones from stabilized resin-wood billets, each harvested, processed, and assembled in the USA. Their patented acoustic systems include the Atrium Damping System (ADS) and the Caldera's trapezoidal magnet structure. The brand offers lifetime driver warranties and maintains measurement transparency using professional B&K equipment. They have created a distinct enthusiast culture around their annual "ZMF November" limited-edition sales.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • The Caldera uses the same comfortable headband system as other ZMF headphones, which offers a good degree of adjustment
  • Lighter than expected, especially considering the planar magnetic drivers
  • Sounds natural and familiar, and is comfortable both ergonomically and sonically, providing body and fullness to notes
  • Beautiful craftsmanship with unique wooden earcups that give each unit its own identity
  • Exceptional build quality, and good support from ZMF

Product Considerations

  • Stock cable is fine, but could be softer with less shape memory
  • Can be polarising for ZMF house sound fans because the Caldera is very different
  • Tight clamp force can be an issue for some
  • Some found the mid-range forwardness can be fatiguing, especially the closed-back version

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Compared to the Atrium, the Caldera is more resolving and lifelike, but the Atrium has more 'flavour' or colouration
  • Compared to the Hifiman Susvara, the Susvara is closer to neutral and more resolving, being a higher performance headphone, but the neutral presentation of the Susvara can be boring to some listeners
  • Compared to the Audeze LCD-5, the Caldera is similar to the LCD-5 in terms of low-end impact, but the Caldera’s treble is much more in line with personal preferences

Takeaway: The ZMF Caldera is a beautifully crafted headphone with a comfortable design, and also offers a natural, versatile sound that's somewhere in between the ZMF house sound and the Hifiman sound. It's technically competent and fun to listen to, which is an excellent package.

Video review

Our take on the brand

ZMF is a boutique hifi headphone brand that crafts one-of-a-kind wooden headphones from stabilized resin-wood billets, each harvested, processed, and assembled in the USA. Their patented acoustic systems include the Atrium Damping System (ADS) and the Caldera's trapezoidal magnet structure. The brand offers lifetime driver warranties and maintains measurement transparency using professional B&K equipment. They have created a distinct enthusiast culture around their annual "ZMF November" limited-edition sales.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Product image
Abyss
Diana MR
2995
2995
/
8
Reviews
Abyss is a hifi headphone brand that uses a patented single-sided planar-magnetic driver architecture and machines all-aluminum chassis with foamed-aluminum acoustics in their New York facility, targeting a "speakers-in-room" sound rather than typical headphone presentation. The brand offers granular fit adjustments through magnetic pad systems and interchangeable acoustic pads that allow owners to intentionally shift tonal balance, supported by a 10-year warranty and vertical integration from driver production to final assembly.
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Expand Details

Product Strengths

  • Delivers a beautifully smooth and refreshingly beefy tuning compared to previous Diana headphones
  • The most comfortable planar magnetic set of cans ever worn
  • Build quality is very impressive
  • Good mid-range

Product Considerations

  • Needs additional padding for optimal scalp comfort
  • Treble can become problematic

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Diana MR most remind reviewer of a super version of the HIFIMAN Edition XS
  • Spatial presentation is better from the HIFIMAN HE1000SE, and the midrange is better balanced as well

Takeaway: The Diana MR is the most accessible set of high-end open-back planar headphones to date from Abyss. It is a fun and impressive listen.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Abyss is a hifi headphone brand that uses a patented single-sided planar-magnetic driver architecture and machines all-aluminum chassis with foamed-aluminum acoustics in their New York facility, targeting a "speakers-in-room" sound rather than typical headphone presentation. The brand offers granular fit adjustments through magnetic pad systems and interchangeable acoustic pads that allow owners to intentionally shift tonal balance, supported by a 10-year warranty and vertical integration from driver production to final assembly.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

What competes at this price?

HIFIMAN
Arya
1299
/
Released
2020
HIFIMAN’s breakthrough ultra-thin diaphragm—at the nanometer scale—minimizes mass for lightning-fast response and extremely low distortion, delivering natural, highly detailed sound.
An optimized magnetic structure with asymmetrical placement reduces interference, enhancing clarity and overall sonic precision.
A precisely engineered grille design prevents reflections and refractions, expanding the soundstage while improving imaging and detail retrieval.
Angled, user-replaceable 3.5 mm connectors provide ergonomic cable routing and easy replacement.
Crafted from a combination of metal and high-grade plastics, the Arya achieves strength, low resonance, and a refined matte-black aesthetic.
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HIFIMAN is a hifi brand known for its planar magnetic headphones that use extremely thin diaphragms and acoustically transparent "Stealth Magnets" to reduce sound distortion. The company pioneered high-resolution portable audio players and creates electrostatic headphones that bring high-end sound quality to more accessible price points, as well as widely renowned flagship models such as the Susvara.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Excellent resolution and detail retrieval, making it a clear step up from mid-fi headphones
  • Wide and open soundstage with nuanced imaging, as well as excellent instrument separation
  • Comfortable design, with well-distributed weight, large earcups, and comfortable earpads
  • The Arya Organic is easier to drive than previous Arya versions and sounds better with various equipment, responding well to a decent system
  • Balanced and neutral sound signature, though some find the treble slightly bright

Product Considerations

  • Noted to lack dynamic weight and bass slam, which might disappoint bass enthusiasts
  • Treble response can be fatiguing depending on the music and is somewhat peaky
  • The 5kHz hump stretches vocals and make them timbrally thin at times
  • Some reviewers express concern about the delicacy of the headphones and caution against dropping them
  • The open-back design makes them unsuitable for noisy environments or situations where sound leakage is a concern

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • The Arya is sharper, clearer, and better resolved than the HiFiMan Ananda, with a more open soundstage, but the Ananda has more bass grunt
  • Both have large soundstages and effortless resolution, but the Arya has a more excited tuning while the Sennheiser HD800S is smoother
  • The Arya has a larger soundstage, but the Focal Clear has better punch and slam

Takeaway: The HiFiMan Arya is a technically impressive headphone that provides excellent sound clarity, a wide soundstage, and a comfortable listening experience. If you appreciate a neutral sound with great detail and aren't looking for heavy bass, the Arya could be a good choice.

Video review

Our take on the brand

HIFIMAN is a hifi brand known for its planar magnetic headphones that use extremely thin diaphragms and acoustically transparent "Stealth Magnets" to reduce sound distortion. The company pioneered high-resolution portable audio players and creates electrostatic headphones that bring high-end sound quality to more accessible price points, as well as widely renowned flagship models such as the Susvara.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
ZMF
Atrium
2499
/
Released
2022
The ZMF Atrium is our most open design, which features our patent-pending rear damping system that accentuates stage layering, depth, tactile "feel" with realistically natural timbre. The Atrium expands the range of spatial sound experience first incepted with the auteur (now the "auteur classic"), through its shared biocellulose driver heritage and linear ZMF tuning.
Check Amazon
ZMF is a boutique hifi headphone brand that crafts one-of-a-kind wooden headphones from stabilized resin-wood billets, each harvested, processed, and assembled in the USA. Their patented acoustic systems include the Atrium Damping System (ADS) and the Caldera's trapezoidal magnet structure. The brand offers lifetime driver warranties and maintains measurement transparency using professional B&K equipment. They have created a distinct enthusiast culture around their annual "ZMF November" limited-edition sales.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Stunning aesthetics and high-quality craftsmanship with various wood options and grill designs available
  • Creates a wonderful sense of space with a great spherical soundstage and natural depth
  • Has an amazing ability to be both smooth and detailed at the same time
  • Provides a deep reaching and encompassing bass sound with a punchy and impactful profile
  • Natural and lifelike tonal quality with vibrant midrange and textured vocals

Product Considerations

  • Not ideal for those seeking maximum detail retrieval or a reference-level sound
  • May not be the best choice for music that relies heavily on aggressive, distorted electric guitars due to potential mid-range harshness
  • Bass extension may not reach as deep as some planar headphones
  • The stock cable has shape memory, and some may prefer aftermarket options
  • It's a heavier headphone, so comfort may be a concern for some users

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs ZMF Verite: The Atrium sits alongside it, and is a significant step above the Auteur, in the sense that it is competing absolutely with the Verite, whereas the Auteur doesn't quite reach the heights of the Verite
  • Vs Sennheiser HD650: The Atrium overall tuning is very reminiscent of the Sennheiser HD 650, where it is still fairly neutral, but it tends towards a little bit of warmth
  • Vs HIFIMAN HE1000 V2: The HE1000 V2 has a bigger soundstage, but the imaging and the separation handle spatial reproduction much better than the Atrium does

Takeaway: The ZMF Atrium offers a beautiful design and a unique sound signature that combines smoothness and detail, making it a very enjoyable listening experience across many genres. Its ability to create a lifelike and engaging soundstage makes it a worthwhile option for those looking for something special.

Video review

Our take on the brand

ZMF is a boutique hifi headphone brand that crafts one-of-a-kind wooden headphones from stabilized resin-wood billets, each harvested, processed, and assembled in the USA. Their patented acoustic systems include the Atrium Damping System (ADS) and the Caldera's trapezoidal magnet structure. The brand offers lifetime driver warranties and maintains measurement transparency using professional B&K equipment. They have created a distinct enthusiast culture around their annual "ZMF November" limited-edition sales.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Sendy
Peacock
1499
/
Released
2021
Sendy Audio Peacock is an open-back planar magnetic headphone with an 88mm ultra-thin composite diaphragm, designed for natural mids, elastic bass, and extended transparent highs up to 40kHz within a wide soundstage.
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Sendy is a hifi headphone brand known for its Quad-Former planar driver architecture that uses four coils to drive the diaphragm, reducing distortion and enhancing transient response across models like Apollo and Peacock.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • The Peacock uses long-lasting, high-quality materials in its construction, with minimal plastic, and has a handmade feel
  • Comfortable to wear for long listening sessions due to its soft leather headband, memory foam earpads, and suspension strap system
  • Good left-to-right soundstage and spatial qualities, with precise imaging
  • Natural sound, focusing on the bass and midrange regions
  • Easy to drive and has high sensitivity (103 dB per milliwatt), meaning it sounds good even with ordinary headphone jacks

Product Considerations

  • Some reviewers describe the treble as metallic and unnatural, with an unwanted ringing or resonance that can be fatiguing
  • Soundstage depth and imaging are not as impressive as its width, creating a 'tunnel-like vision' or 'b-dimensional' sound
  • Detail retrieval and transparency are lacking compared to other headphones in its price range
  • Heavy (578-580g), which may be a challenge for some listeners
  • Aesthetics may not appeal to everyone due to mismatched design elements, resulting in a lack of cohesion in its appearance

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Audeze LCD-X: Has a wider soundstage, but the LCD-X is more resolving, detailed, and technically proficient
  • Vs HIFIMAN Arya Stealth: Has more impactful bass and a fuller midrange, while the Arya has clearer treble and greater detail retrieval
  • Vs Audeze LCD-2: Vocals are more emphasized and engaging, but the LCD-2 is clearer and more detailed
  • Vs Focal Clear MG: The Clear MG's are warmer with more bass impact, more even and forward mids, and darker, less peaky treble
  • Vs Sendy Audio Aiva: Offers better looks, build quality, comfort, clarity, transparency and more details compared to the Aiva

Takeaway: The Peacock is a stylish and comfortable headphone that offers a warm, smooth, and enjoyable listening experience, especially for those who prioritize musicality over technical precision. Its easy-to-drive nature and wide soundstage make it a good option for relaxed listening sessions.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Sendy is a hifi headphone brand known for its Quad-Former planar driver architecture that uses four coils to drive the diaphragm, reducing distortion and enhancing transient response across models like Apollo and Peacock.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Bang & Olufsen
Beoplay H95
1250
/
Released
2020
Immersive noise cancelling headphones. Hear every detail. Moving. Meticulous. Mesmerising. Immerse yourself with our adjustable noise-cancelling headphones that put a spin on grab-and-go-listening.
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Bang & Olufsen is a luxury hifi speaker brand known for its Acoustic Lens Technology, which delivers 180° horizontal sound dispersion—features like the BeoLab 90's 18 individually amplified drivers offer user-selectable beam patterns. The Danish company distinguishes itself through vertically integrated aluminum manufacturing in Struer, a factory-led program that restores and modernizes its classic products, and transparent engineering documentation led by in-house tonmeister Geoff Martin.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Gorgeous design and fantastic build quality with premium materials, like titanium, aluminum, lambskin leather, and cowhide leather
  • Extremely comfortable and lightweight (around 323-333 grams), with oval-shaped earcups suitable for larger ears for long listening periods
  • Intuitive controls, including a mix of touch and physical controls, like responsive touchpads and tactile dials for precise volume and ANC adjustments
  • Sound quality is well-balanced and versatile, making them suitable for various music genres, with particularly good performance for classical music, podcasts, and rock
  • Amazing noise cancellation performance, effectively blocking out mid- and treble-range noises

Product Considerations

  • Very high retail price
  • Earcups are not very deep
  • Not very portable due to a bulky design
  • A heavier side, which can develop a little bit of strain on the back of the neck
  • The Bang & Olufsen app does not work well, spending a long time trying to connect to the H95 most of the time

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Focal Bathys: The Focal Bathys is cheaper and better in sound quality
  • Vs Bose QC45s: The Bose QC45s are a little bit more effective in cancelling the high end of mid-range frequencies that you would get from a busy cafe
  • Vs AirPods Max: The H95 manages to separate all the layers very beautifully, the AirPods Max is not on par
  • Vs Bowers & Wilkins PX8: The PX8 is more muffled
  • Vs Cambridge Audio P100: The P100 has more clarity and crisp sound to that treble without having that sibilance

Takeaway: If you want a luxurious pair of headphones with amazing build quality and very good noise cancellation, the Beoplay H95 could be a good option. The sound quality is great, and they are comfortable to wear for long listening sessions.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Bang & Olufsen is a luxury hifi speaker brand known for its Acoustic Lens Technology, which delivers 180° horizontal sound dispersion—features like the BeoLab 90's 18 individually amplified drivers offer user-selectable beam patterns. The Danish company distinguishes itself through vertically integrated aluminum manufacturing in Struer, a factory-led program that restores and modernizes its classic products, and transparent engineering documentation led by in-house tonmeister Geoff Martin.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
Warwick Acoustics
Bravura
2190
/
Released
2021
From the Italian for brilliant performance, the BRAVURA headphone system brings you the music you love in the most exquisite detail.
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Warwick Acoustics specializes in electrostatic headphones featuring patented HPEL transducers that use a 15μm laminated film with no obstructive front grid, reducing diffraction and coloration. Unique also for their drastically higher bias voltage of 1800V compared to 230V or 580V in most other electrostatic headphones. Their BD-HPEL diaphragms use multilayer film with vapor-deposited 24-karat gold conductors and gold-plated stators. Each driver is built into rigid polycarbonate cassettes and software-tuned for precise resonances, delivering electrostatic speed with atypically physical bass and grounded imaging that departs from the usual airy electrostatic presentation.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Comfortable to wear for extended periods, thanks to plush, soft earpads and a generously padded headband, although some found the clamping force substantial
  • Delivers a natural, transparent, and detailed sound, a hallmark of electrostatic headphones
  • Good bass response, with impact that is noticeably improved compared to the Sonoma M1
  • Excellent instrument separation is highlighted, creating a sense of sounds floating around the listener's head
  • The mids are a standout feature, with vocals presented right up front

Product Considerations

  • The complete system (headphones and amplifier) is required because of the unique voltage requirements, it's not possible to mix-and-match components with other systems
  • Some reviewers found the cable to be stiff and microphonic, although its unique character and design are a result of the system's electrostatic nature
  • The volume control on the Sonoma M1 energizer/amp offers only stepped adjustments, making fine-tuning volume levels difficult for some users
  • The power switch is located on the back of the Sonoma M1 amplifier, which is considered less convenient than a front placement
  • The headphone still retains some excess clamping force

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Sonoma M1: The Bravura offers enhanced SPL, more robust bass, and increased resolution compared to its predecessor, the Sonoma M1
  • Vs Dan Clark Audio VOCE: The Bravura offers more impactful bass
  • Vs HiFiMan Shangri-La Jr.: The Bravura offers a smoother sound

Takeaway: The Bravura headphone system is a great option for those who value detailed and natural sound, especially for genres like classical, jazz, and vocals. It offers a complete listening experience.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Warwick Acoustics specializes in electrostatic headphones featuring patented HPEL transducers that use a 15μm laminated film with no obstructive front grid, reducing diffraction and coloration. Unique also for their drastically higher bias voltage of 1800V compared to 230V or 580V in most other electrostatic headphones. Their BD-HPEL diaphragms use multilayer film with vapor-deposited 24-karat gold conductors and gold-plated stators. Each driver is built into rigid polycarbonate cassettes and software-tuned for precise resonances, delivering electrostatic speed with atypically physical bass and grounded imaging that departs from the usual airy electrostatic presentation.
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Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
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