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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.

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

Grand Maestro Anniversary LE | Tribrid UIEM

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

  • Drivers: Tribrid system – Dynamic driver + Balanced Armature drivers + Electrostatic drivers
  • Crossover: Multi-way passive crossover
  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
  • Connector: 2-pin connector
  • Fit Type: Universal-fit
  • Linear Impedance: Ensures consistent frequency response across playback devices
  • Sonar La Trompa™: Horn-inspired acoustic design for enhanced treble tonality and gain control
  • PhaseAlign: Proprietary acoustic structures aligning low, mid, and high frequencies for coherent sound delivery
The Grand Maestro Anniversary Limited Edition (GMA) represents the zenith of our craftsmanship and innovation, celebrating the esteemed legacy of FATfreq's Tribrid Flagship - the Grand Maestro within our Maestro series.
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:

  • FATfreq is recognized for its distinct "basshead" sound signature, delivering powerful and impactful bass responses, particularly in the sub-bass region, without sacrificing clarity in the mids and highs.
  • They offer customizable sound profiles through interchangeable NOAH modules and tuning switches, allowing users to tailor the IEM's sound to their preferences.
  • FATfreq IEMs often feature high driver counts and tribrid configurations, combining dynamic drivers, balanced armatures, and electrostatic tweeters to achieve a detailed and balanced sound.

Reference Pro SE Universals

  • Positioning: A compact, studio-grade IEM reimagined with enhanced vocal clarity.
  • Description: Offers an extra tweeter designed to bring out vocal transparency and detailed transient response in a balanced tonal presentation. Compared to the Musician Pro and Quantum models, it emphasizes clean studio reproduction over extended bass or planar dynamics, making it ideal for users focused on vocal performance and moderate budgets.

Musician Pro SE Universals

  • Positioning: A bass-optimized IEM tuned for energetic performance and low-end impact.
  • Description: Offers a uniquely tuned three-way crossover with an extra low-frequency driver that deepens bass without bleeding into mid registers. In comparison to the Reference Pro SE, it prioritizes vigorous bass output, while Quantum and flagship models deliver additional precision and modular control.

FATfreq x Effect Audio: Quantum

  • Positioning: A high-performance IEM featuring innovative planar driver and modular tuning technology.
  • Description: Offers a planar magnetic driver paired with detachable Noah modules and a premium Ares S II cable to ensure speed, accuracy, and fatigue-free clarity. Unlike the Reference and Musician models that focus on one tonal aspect, it provides enhanced customizability and balanced resolution.

Hayabusa Universals

  • Positioning: A versatile flagship IEM designed for both live and studio applications with dual tuning options.
  • Description: Offers dual-mode tuning via an analog bass toggle and incorporates additional super tweeter modules to enhance vocal detail and instrumental separation. Compared to the entry-level Reference and Musician series, it bridges the gap with creative tuning flexibility, while remaining more accessible than the ultra-premium Grand Maestro.

GRAND Maestro Universals

  • Positioning: The ultimate high-end monitor featuring state-of-the-art customization and advanced acoustic technology.
  • Description: Offers customizable NOAH modules, precisely engineered bass chambers, and a built-in vocal boost switch to deliver exceptional detail and tailored frequency response. In contrast to all other models in the lineup, it delivers superior build quality, expansive soundstage, and cutting-edge technology.
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Avg. Product Price
$5,001-$10,000
Used For Sale
0
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Brand Popularity
830
 of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
31
Founding Year
2016

Our take on the brand

FATfreq is a hifi audio brand best known for headphones that using Basscannon technology that delivers extreme sub-bass levels (20-30 dB below 200-250 Hz) without midrange bleed, along with NOAH swappable bass-chamber modules that let users tune sub-bass power versus control while reducing ear fatigue.

Look inside the brand

Brand Page

Our interview with the brand

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From our interview with
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Brand Page

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FATfreq

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What if you spend more?

Product image
Spirit Torino
Valkyria Titanium
12000
12000
/
1
Reviews
Spirit Torino is a hifi headphone brand that pioneered the Twin Pulse Isobaric System, which uses two synchronized drivers working as one to deliver speaker-like dynamics and weight uncommon in headphones. The brand follows an "inertial frame" philosophy with heavy, mass-loaded aluminum shells and user-tunable mechanical filters that allow listeners to adjust sound signatures without EQ.
Check Amazon
Expand Details

Video review

Our take on the brand

Spirit Torino is a hifi headphone brand that pioneered the Twin Pulse Isobaric System, which uses two synchronized drivers working as one to deliver speaker-like dynamics and weight uncommon in headphones. The brand follows an "inertial frame" philosophy with heavy, mass-loaded aluminum shells and user-tunable mechanical filters that allow listeners to adjust sound signatures without EQ.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

What competes at this price?

T+A
Solitaire P
6900
/
Released
2020
The Solitaire P headphones represent a new and ground-breaking development which pushes the magneto-static principle to the point of perfection. We have designed these open headphones with no hint of compromise and without regard to cost, for we had only one goal in mind: musical reproduction to the very highest standard of perfection.
Check Amazon
T+A is a hifi brand that combines transistor and valve technologies in their HV-Series amplifiers, using high voltage for linear performance, while their A 200 Power Amplifier uses PURIFI Eigentakt technology for low distortion regardless of speaker load.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Well-balanced, clear, and detailed sound suitable for a wide range of music genres
  • Exceptional micro and macro-dynamic performance
  • Bass response has a quick, impactful 'slam' and is technically impressive
  • Comfortable for long listening sessions due to quality materials and design
  • Substantial build quality, using high-quality materials like aluminum and Alcantara

Product Considerations

  • Treble can be a bit blunted and dark in the stock tuning, potentially requiring EQ adjustment for some listeners
  • Click-stops on the headband adjustment could be firmer for a high-end product
  • Headband fit may not be ideal for all head sizes
  • Recessed HD800 connector may limit aftermarket cable options

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs HIFIMAN Susvara: Solitaire P has more bass and a wider soundstage, but the Susvara is slightly more detailed and comfortable
  • Vs Abyss 1266TC: Solitaire P's bass is similar, though not exactly the same, with detail levels close, though trailing slightly behind—Solitaire P is more comfortable
  • Vs Meze ELITE: Solitaire P is more detailed and technically accomplished, though the Meze has more treble presence and is more comfortable

Takeaway: The T+A Solitaire P offers high-end sound quality, comfortable wear for extended listening, and exceptional detail and dynamics. With its balanced sound signature and impressive build, it's a top-tier choice for serious audiophiles.

Video review

Our take on the brand

T+A is a hifi brand that combines transistor and valve technologies in their HV-Series amplifiers, using high voltage for linear performance, while their A 200 Power Amplifier uses PURIFI Eigentakt technology for low distortion regardless of speaker load.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
HIFIMAN
Susvara Unveiled
8000
/
Released
2024
Blending cutting-edge technology with artisanal craftsmanship, this flagship headphone features HIFIMAN’s Stealth Magnetic Circuit, nanometer-thin diaphragm, and diffraction-optimized Window Shade grill for pure, detailed, and expansive sound.
Check Amazon
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

  • Outstanding sound quality with clarity, texture, and detail
  • Natural sound provides a you-are-there presence
  • Improved microdynamics make them quick and fast
  • Easier to drive than the original Susvara due to a changed metal trace on the diaphragm
  • Very comfortable, with good weight distribution
  • Driver is exposed, making it vulnerable to damage

Product Considerations

  • Can be unforgiving on poor recordings
  • Lacks soundstage depth and layering compared to some competitors

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs Mesa Elite: The Mesa Elite offers greater bass weight and depth in the soundstage
  • Vs Audeze LCD-5: The LCD-5 provides more insight into the music, but the Susvara Unveiled excels in reproducing the attack and energy of plucked strings and in bass reproduction
  • Vs Focal Utopia 2022: The Utopia balances everything well—tonality, punch, detail, staging—however both have a little edginess from the treble
  • Vs HiFiMan HE1000 Unveiled: The HE1000 is brighter and seems a little faster and more detailed, but the Susvara Unveiled is smoother
  • Vs Original Susvara: The Unveiled model is more agile and lively, with added energy, clarity, and upper-treble extension, and the original is more laid back

Takeaway: The Susvara Unveiled provides detail and resolution that one has likely never heard before, making them astonishing headphones. If the priority is a reference-style tuning for orchestral music with excellent balance, scale, and tonal response, these headphones can provide a massive sonic treat.

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
Stax
SR-X9000
6200
/
Released
2021
SR-X9000 is the new flagship Earspeaker that marks the pinnacle of Stax electrostatic headphones production. A major technology advancement is the "MILER-3" (Multi-Layer-Elect-Rords) - a four-layer fixed electrode combining mesh electrodes and conventional etching electrodes that are crimped by thermal diffusion bonding.
Check Amazon
Stax is renowned for pioneering electrostatic headphones, which deliver an airy, ethereal sound signature with unparalleled clarity compared to traditional dynamic and planar magnetic drivers. The brand has cultivated a devoted following of "Staxists" who collect multiple models, drawn to their ruthlessly revealing nature that exposes both strengths and flaws in recordings.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Astoundingly resolving, pulling out a lot of detail from the music signal
  • Very light unit made with nice materials and a comfortable design
  • Detachable cables with thick pins, spaced far apart to prevent damage and shocks
  • The best electrostatic that Stax has made, a culmination of their experience
  • Purity, tonal neutrality, rhythmic ease and resolve that reviewers have not previously experienced with headphones

Product Considerations

  • Head size adjustment could be more solid, and it slides on the head a bit
  • Bright tonality and forward resolution can be fatiguing after long listens
  • Lacks bass punch or slam, it's there but not powerful in rumble or physicality
  • The bass region on these headphones is a hit and miss
  • Underwhelming soundstage

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs HIFIMAN Shangri-La Jr: The Shangri-La Jr is a little warmer but not as detailed, nor as holographic in its spatial presentation
  • Vs Susvara: Susvara has more warmth and fullness, a more natural timbre, and more sub-bass rumble and slam, whereas the SR-X9000 can come across as a little bit dry at times
  • Vs SR-009S: SR-X9000 smoother, richer, and had better micro-details, while the 009S seemed a tad more dynamic and brighter
  • Vs Meze Elite: SR-X9000 is the clear winner on soundstage size, speed, transient response, instrument texture and realism, however, the Elite was the winner when it comes to density, body, dynamics, and bass

Takeaway: The SR-X9000 is the most complete and competent Stax headphone, its resolution is stunning, and its spatial presentation is very holographic. It is worthy of being in that top-of-the-line tier, a solid effort from Stax.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Stax is renowned for pioneering electrostatic headphones, which deliver an airy, ethereal sound signature with unparalleled clarity compared to traditional dynamic and planar magnetic drivers. The brand has cultivated a devoted following of "Staxists" who collect multiple models, drawn to their ruthlessly revealing nature that exposes both strengths and flaws in recordings.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page
HIFIMAN
HE-R10P
5499
/
Released
2021
Take the incredible craftsmanship and comfort of the HE-R10D and add a speedy Planar Magnetic Driver, and you get the HE-R10P—a remarkable closed-back headphone with the immersive sound of a planar open-back. The HE-R10P features HIFIMAN’s nanometer-thin diaphragm technology for tactile, detailed sound, deep-dome CNC wood ear cups for an immersive soundstage, and a single-ended removable 3.5 mm connector for seamless cable swaps. Included cables: 3.5 mm (1.5 m), 6.35 mm (3 m), and 4-pin XLR balanced (3 m).
Check Amazon
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

  • Sounds big and open for a closed-back headphone, with an impressive soundstage for its type.
  • Offers a warm-leaning, smooth, mid-forward sound signature.
  • Very good imaging creates an immersive listening experience, and detailed separation of instruments.
  • Easy to drive with a low impedance and high sensitivity, making it suitable for use with portable devices.
  • The wooden earcups have a large internal space that brings sufficient volume and breathing room to the driver.

Product Considerations

  • Build quality may be disappointing for the price, particularly the headband, which is considered cheap compared to other headphones in the price range.
  • Comfort can be an issue due to the weight and headband design, which may cause discomfort on the scalp for some users.
  • Lacks clamping force, so the weight is felt on the top of the head, and it does not isolate sound very well.
  • Treble response might be somewhat softer or less energetic compared to other headphones, which might not appeal to those seeking a more exciting sound.
  • One review mentions an issue with a dip around 5kHz and a peak around 10kHz that impacts some instruments, though it is admittedly 'nitpicking'.

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs HIFIMAN HE-R10D: There is a difference in price and sound signature.
  • Vs HIFIMAN Susvara: The HE-R10P has less soundstage, the Susvara has more transparency, but the HE-R10P has more mid-bass presence.
  • Vs Focal Stellia: The HE-R10P has a larger soundstage and more powerful bass, but Stellia has a safer tuning with a brighter high end.

Takeaway: The HiFiMan HE-R10P is a closed-back planar headphone that delivers exceptional sound quality with remarkable imaging and detail, making music sound lively and fun. Its unique design aims to create an open and spacious listening experience, allowing listeners to enjoy music for hours.

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
RAAL-requisite
Immanis
9460
/
Released
2024
Upon its release (Feb. 2024), IMMANIS quickly caught the attention of headphone aficionados everywhere. Superlatives began appearing as IMMANIS was making the rounds at the various audio shows. The praise and appreciation was further spread as bloggers began posting their impressions of this revolutionary development in headphone engineering. It only takes a few minutes of listening to discover why this triple-ribbon design is so talked about. The soundstage is enormous. It's fast. It's transparent. It's lively and exciting.
Check Amazon
RAAL-requisite pioneered the world's first full-range true-ribbon headphones with their SR1a, which uses corrugated aluminum ribbons clamped only at the ends and floats freely outside the ear without cups to create a speaker-like soundstage. The brand's extreme low-impedance ribbons require specialised interface units to be run inbetween the amplifier and headphones.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Offers a combination of electrostatic resolution with dynamic timbre and planar bass extension, delivering the 'best of all worlds'
  • The build quality is superb, with premium materials and craftsmanship that surpass competitors
  • Delivers perfectly extended bass with a planar-like slam, with detail, texture, and physicality
  • Has a wide soundstage with excellent imaging that creates a holographic feeling of voices and instruments, with a true 360-degree experience
  • Very comfortable to wear, despite being somewhat heavy, with good weight distribution and no hot spots

Product Considerations

  • Requires a powerful headphone amp to get the most out of it, due to the need for a current drive interface/transformer
  • The weight (610g) may be a concern for some users, though the weight is distributed well
  • Some vocalists, particularly some female vocalists, may sound more distant than desired
  • Bad mastered songs tend to immediately show problems
  • Frequency response is dependent on synergy with the amplifier

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Vs HIFIMAN Susvara, it combines the weight of the original Susvara with the soundstage and resolution improvements of the Susvara Unveiled—more power is needed
  • Vs Abyss 1266, it has more body of sound, smoother highs, and tighter, more natural bass, while the Abyss has a wider soundstage, better positioning, and more bass impact
  • Vs Dan Clark Audio Stealth, it has a wider soundstage and feels more effortless, and is more open, while the Stealth is closed, has more bass quantity, and a more pleasing treble
  • Vs RAAL-requisite CA-1A, it improves upon the CA-1A in terms of body of sound, bass, and timbre, while remaining comfortable, and the CA-1A has a lighter and more forward soundstage

Takeaway: The Immanis is an exceptional headphone that blends various sonic qualities together, boasting great build quality and an immersive sound experience. With the right equipment to support it, one can enjoy a detailed and spacious sound that makes it a top contender in the flagship headphone market.

Video review

Our take on the brand

RAAL-requisite pioneered the world's first full-range true-ribbon headphones with their SR1a, which uses corrugated aluminum ribbons clamped only at the ends and floats freely outside the ear without cups to create a speaker-like soundstage. The brand's extreme low-impedance ribbons require specialised interface units to be run inbetween the amplifier and headphones.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Product Page
Product Page

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