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
- Detailed, powerful, yet realistic sound suitable for audio engineering
- Clear, detailed sound with precise bass response from the 40mm 'M'-shaped Aluminium/Magnesium drivers
- Durable, high-quality construction and a lightweight design, with comfortable memory foam earpads and headband for extended use
- Closed-back design provides good isolation from external noise while minimizing leakage, making them versatile for tracking, mixing, and mastering
- Low impedance (26 ohms) makes them easy to drive with both studio gear and mobile devices
Product Considerations
- Some users may experience slight pressure or 'hotspots' on their ears during prolonged listening sessions due to the headband design
- Clamp-sensitive design can be affected by head size
- Slight increase in the 10-12 kHz range can cause vocals to be more sibilant
- The earpads and headband, while comfortable, may cause 'nasty hotspots' on the head, per reviewer
- Less bass compared to Azurys
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Focal Azurys—Lensys has less bass, and is not as smooth sounding
Takeaway: The Focal Lensys Professional headphones provide accurate and detailed sound for studio work and music enjoyment. They are comfortable for long sessions and versatile enough to be used with various devices.
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
Lensys Professional
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
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Product type: Closed-back headphones
- Frequency response (+/- 3dB): 5Hz - 22kHz
- Harmonic distortion rate: 0.3% @ 1kHz / 100dB SPL
- Impedance: 26 Ω
- Sensitivity: 100 dB SPL/1 mW @ 1 kHz
- Weight: 306 g / 0.67 lb
- Carrying case depth: 240 mm / 9.5 in
- Carrying case height: 70 mm / 2.75 in
- Carrying case width: 210 mm / 8.25 in
Description
Experience limitless possibilities with Lensys Professional. Whether you're in the studio or on the move, these headphones provide the comfort and durability you need. Their closed design, meticulous ergonomics, and robust materials make them the ideal choice for any environment. With Focal drivers delivering extremely accurate sound, you can trust these headphones for professional use. Plus, the included case and two cables add further convenience and flexibility to your experience.
Release Timeline
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:
- Focal monitors are noted for their "mid-forward" sound, guiding users toward balanced mixes, particularly in the midrange frequencies, which aids in crucial EQ and dynamics decisions.
- They integrate an inverted dome tweeter crafted from Aluminum/Magnesium or Beryllium, optimizing high-frequency dispersion and minimizing distortion through back wave absorption.
- Focal frequently employs flax or "W" composite sandwich cones in their mid-bass drivers, providing a lightweight yet rigid diaphragm construction that delivers exceptional definition and controlled bass.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Theva
- Positioning: The entry-level series in Focal's high-fidelity lineup.
- Description: Features Focal's signature technologies like the TNF tweeter for clear treble. Compared to the Aria Evo X, offers a more budget-friendly option with simpler cabinet designs. While it lacks the advanced materials found in the Kanta series, still provides a solid performance for its price range, suitable for basic home audio setups.
Aria Evo X
- Positioning: Sits in the mid-range of Focal's lineup, offering a balance between performance and affordability.
- Description: Features flax cone technology, providing natural sound and excellent dynamics. More refined than Theva, offering better build quality and soundstage.
Kanta
- Positioning: A premium series, offering advanced technology and design.
- Description: Known for their innovative design and use of materials like the Flax sandwich cone and Beryllium tweeter, delivering precise and detailed sound. They offer a more sophisticated sound profile than Aria Evo X, with enhanced clarity and warmth.
Sopra
- Positioning: A high-end series, just below the flagship Utopia line, focusing on compactness and performance.
- Description: Excels in sound transparency and precision, featuring technologies like the Infinite Horn Loading system for improved treble. They offer a richer harmonic experience than Kanta.
Utopia III Evo
- Positioning: Focal's flagship series, representing the pinnacle of their speaker technology.
- Description: Renowned for their exceptional sound quality and luxurious design, incorporating technologies like the Beryllium tweeter and W composite sandwich cone. They surpass Sopra in every aspect, offering groundbreaking soundstage and detail, ideal for large dedicated listening rooms and those with no budget constraints.
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Avg. Product Price
$501-$1,000
Used For Sale
239
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
10
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
79
Founding Year
1979
Our take on the brand
Focal is a French hifi brand that makes their own drivers in-house, including their highly-regarded beryllium tweeters and unique slatefiber mid/bass drivers made from recycled carbon fiber. Their speakers and headphones feature distinctive technologies like their "W" sandwich cone design for optimal driver performance and Mimi Sound Personalization that adapts audio to individual hearing profiles.
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What if you spend more?
Dali
IO-12
1300
1300
/
21
Reviews
DALI is a speaker brand known for its unique hybrid tweeter module that combines a soft dome and planar ribbon tweeter, along with proprietary Soft Magnetic Compound technology that reduces distortion. Their speakers feature distinctive wood fiber cones and are designed to be used without toe-in, which creates a broader, more even spread of sound across the listening area.
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Product Strengths
- Incredible sound quality, with neutrality, detail, and balance across the frequency range
- Excellent build quality with premium materials and comfortable, luxurious design, making them suitable for extended listening sessions
- Adequate battery life, with reviewers reporting around 35 hours of wireless playback with ANC
- Effective active noise cancellation reduces low-frequency sounds without significantly impacting sound quality
- Versatile connectivity options including Bluetooth, USB-C for high-resolution audio, and a 3.5mm analog input that can be used passively
Product Considerations
- High price point puts them out of reach for many consumers
- Lack of a companion app limits customization options like EQ settings, firmware updates via mobile, and custom control settings
- Large earcups and overall weight may not be suitable for those with smaller heads, and the headband may slip
- Included travel case is large
- Some reviewers found the dark chocolate color scheme unappealing
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The DALI IO-12 has better ANC than the Focal Bathys
- The IO-12 is similar in sound signature to the Mark Levinson No. 5909
Takeaway: The DALI IO-12 is a high-end wireless headphone that delivers exceptional sound quality, comfort, and versatility, making it a great choice for audiophiles who want a premium listening experience on the go. Its blend of wired and wireless capabilities, combined with a mature design, makes it an excellent all-around performer.
Video review
Our take on the brand
DALI is a speaker brand known for its unique hybrid tweeter module that combines a soft dome and planar ribbon tweeter, along with proprietary Soft Magnetic Compound technology that reduces distortion. Their speakers feature distinctive wood fiber cones and are designed to be used without toe-in, which creates a broader, more even spread of sound across the listening area.
Product Page
Product Page
T+A
Solitaire T
1700
1700
/
17
Reviews
From the first day the Solitaire T was developed with a single goal in mind: to blur the distinctions between audiophile, working and travel headphones by making the values and convictions which are the hallmark of every T+A product accessible in almost every situation in life.
Their transducer system is a completely new development, capable of reproducing the most subtle nuances in audiophile quality in active and passive mode alike, while the passive insulation on its own is sufficient to push the outside world into the background. When combined with active background noise suppression, which can be switched on as required, unwanted sounds disappear completely behind the music.
The pearl-blasted aluminium components are machined from solid, and are much more than a design statement: they are so robust and durable that they ensure the headphones will remain their owner's companion for years. At the same time they emphasise in a subtle but distinctive manner the product's close relationship with our Solitaire P reference headphones.
Like its physical design, the Solitaire T's inputs are designed with one aspect in mind: versatility. The Solitaire T places no restrictions on its user, as they feature signal transfer via totally symmetrical passive and active analogue inputs as well as USB C and the very highest-quality wireless Bluetooth standards; the design maximises the potential of every imaginable music source.
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
Product Strengths
- Impressive sound quality bridges the gap between wired and wireless performance
- It is a versatile product that can be used as a passive headphone, a USB DAC, or a Bluetooth headphone
- High build quality, with premium materials like milled aluminum contributing to a robust and luxurious feel
- Comfortable to wear for extended periods
- Long battery life, especially in standard mode—up to 70 hours
Product Considerations
- The fit may not be ideal for those with wider heads
- The treble response could be sweeter
- The active noise cancellation may not be class-leading compared to some competitors
- The volume in wireless mode may not be loud enough for some listeners
- Soundstage presentation feels intimate compared to full-sized reference headphones
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Mark Levinson No.5909: The Solitaire T has more detail and better organization, though the No. 5909 has a bigger, more spacious presentation
- Vs Bowers & Wilkins PX8: The noise cancelling of the PX8 is better
- Vs Focal Celestee: The Solitaire T is comparable when used as a passive wired headphone
Takeaway: The T+A Solitaire T is a versatile and well-built headphone that offers high-quality sound in both wired and wireless modes, making it a great choice for audiophiles on the go or those who want one set of headphones for all situations. Listeners can enjoy music in a lot of different ways with these, and they sound very good.
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.
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HIFIMAN
Svanar
1999
1999
/
13
Reviews
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
Product Strengths
- Captures the sound of the original Svanar, with a balanced tuning emphasizing bass and treble while maintaining the mids
- Incredible imaging performance, offering a wide, well-rounded, three-dimensional soundstage with excellent positioning and separation—highly competitive, even compared to non-TWS IEMs under $1000
- Has an R2R DAC which permits unreachable technical performance
- Very light and comfortable
- Excellent connectivity and usability
Product Considerations
- LDAC connectivity issues with invasive intermittence and noise cutting
- ANC and Transparency mode aren’t very useful and lack dynamic, delivering leaner dynamic, less musicality
- Plastic build might not be most durable if dropped
- High-frequencies are quite sensible to the source, making it one of the least forgiving TWS
- Hiss is also present
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Svanar Wireless is punchier, with better bass detail and imaging, and a wider soundstage, while the Final ZE8000 has a warmer, more neutral sound
- The Svanar Wireless has stronger imaging performance, a wider soundstage, and a better balance between separation and cohesion
- The Svanar Wireless is superior in technicalities and tonal balance, as well as timbre and tone naturalness, and ultimately musicality
- The Svanar Wireless' soundstage is taller and wider but not as deep, since clarity isn’t as sharp and clean, silence being more "noisy"
- The Svanar Wireless has better sound and performs better technically
- The Sony TWS has bloated bass that overwhelms everything else; in comparison, the soundstage and treble performance of the Svanar Wireless is miles ahead, presenting a much more detailed, natural, and sophisticated kind of sound
Takeaway: The Svanar Wireless sounds impressive for wireless earbuds, and it has great connectivity and features. For those seeking high-end wireless sound, these are worth considering.
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.
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Meze
Liric
2000
2000
/
12
Reviews
This 2nd Generation of LIRIC represents a new chapter in our quest to evolve, featuring a new and refined sound profile, detachable magnetic ear pads, sublime Macassar ebony ear cups, and one of our premium hand-braided copper cables.
Meze Audio is a hifi brand known for their unique Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array driver technology, which provides an immersive sound experience with a frequency range of 3 Hz to 112 kHz. Their headphones feature distinctive design elements like black walnut wood ear cups and detachable magnetic ear pads, setting them apart from typical plastic or metal designs in the premium headphone market.
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Product Strengths
- Features a gorgeous and classy design with premium materials like magnesium, leather, aluminum, and steel, resulting in a luxurious and well-engineered feel
- Impressive clarity and detail resolution, along with sonic control and precision
- Easy to drive, making them suitable for use with portable devices
- Provides excellent sound isolation for a closed-back headphone
- Features a comfortable headband system and well-designed ear pads, though some may find the earcups narrow
Product Considerations
- Treble can sound slightly metallic at times
- Bass might lack punch and weight for some listeners
- Intolerant of poor-quality audio sources
- Earpads are not user-detachable and are instead glued onto the headphones
- Fit can be very dependent on the shape of the user's head, and not all users will find the narrow earcups comfortable
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Meze Audio Empyrean and Elite: The Liric gives up a bit in terms of resolution and dynamic range, but in return offers a more immediate and fun listening experience, also offering a smaller soundstage
- Vs Focal Stellia: The Liric is not as resolving as the Stellia
- Vs Meze 109 Pro: One reviewer preferred the 109 Pro to the Liric due to its fuller bass and slightly better sound signature
Takeaway: The Meze Audio Liric are beautifully crafted headphones that provide great clarity and isolation in a portable design. If one wants a sophisticated and detailed sound, the Liric could be the right choice.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Meze Audio is a hifi brand known for their unique Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array driver technology, which provides an immersive sound experience with a frequency range of 3 Hz to 112 kHz. Their headphones feature distinctive design elements like black walnut wood ear cups and detachable magnetic ear pads, setting them apart from typical plastic or metal designs in the premium headphone market.
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What competes at this price?
Focal
Bathys
699
/
Released
2022
With its wireless and active noise reduction (ANC) technologies, Bathys is the perfect travel companion. In addition to isolating ambient noise, it delivers pure high-fidelity sound thanks to its exclusive drivers and integrated USB-DAC mode. Comfortable and refined, these wireless headphones boast a battery life of over 30 hours, fast charging (5 hours of additional listening in just 15 minutes of charging) and a host of features for a total musical escape.
Focal is a French hifi brand that makes their own drivers in-house, including their highly-regarded beryllium tweeters and unique slatefiber mid/bass drivers made from recycled carbon fiber. Their speakers and headphones feature distinctive technologies like their "W" sandwich cone design for optimal driver performance and Mimi Sound Personalization that adapts audio to individual hearing profiles.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent sound quality delivers a rich, full, detailed, and clear experience, rivaling higher-end wired headphones
- Comfortable for long listening sessions due to soft earpads and good weight distribution
- High-quality build with premium materials like magnesium yokes, aluminum band, and leather padding
- Effective noise canceling is comparable to leading brands like Bose and Sony, and offers a transparency mode
- Versatile connectivity with Bluetooth (aptX Adaptive), USB-DAC mode (up to 24/192), and analog 3.5mm
Product Considerations
- Active noise canceling (ANC) isn't the absolute best on the market
- Stock cables are considered basic and somewhat short
- The app, while offering EQ and other adjustments, can be clunky and difficult to connect initially, and some users have reported firmware update issues
- The headphones always need battery power to function, even when using a wired connection
- Some reviewers found the bass a little too elevated in the lower mids
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Bathys has a more natural fit, a better mic, more connectivity options, and a companion app that allows for better sound adjustments, while the AirPods Max excels in noise canceling
- The Bathys has more consistent audio delivery, a more robust EQ, and better overall noise isolation, while the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 is more comfortable and better built
- The Bathys has similar noise isolation performance and similar USB-C and analog capabilities, but the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless has a more accurate treble response and better battery life
- The Bathys has better sound, is more comfortable, and is better built than the Sony WH-1000XM5, while the XM5 has better battery and better noise isolation
- The Focal Celestee is better built, more comfortable, and wired, while the Bathys has a USB-DAC mode for higher-quality audio and a companion app to adjust it
Takeaway: The Focal Bathys are a solid pick for wireless headphones that sound great and feel luxurious. Excellent sound quality with convenient features like active noise canceling make them perfect for enjoying music on the go.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Focal is a French hifi brand that makes their own drivers in-house, including their highly-regarded beryllium tweeters and unique slatefiber mid/bass drivers made from recycled carbon fiber. Their speakers and headphones feature distinctive technologies like their "W" sandwich cone design for optimal driver performance and Mimi Sound Personalization that adapts audio to individual hearing profiles.
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Dali
Dali IO-8
900
/
Released
2024
DALI IO-8 wireless Hi-Fi headphones with custom DALI driver technology bring you genuine Hi-Fi performance, while advanced audiophile active noise cancellation technology lets you enjoy the same genuine sound, wherever your are.
DALI is a speaker brand known for its unique hybrid tweeter module that combines a soft dome and planar ribbon tweeter, along with proprietary Soft Magnetic Compound technology that reduces distortion. Their speakers feature distinctive wood fiber cones and are designed to be used without toe-in, which creates a broader, more even spread of sound across the listening area.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Positive, detailed, and convincing sound makes music enjoyable, rather than academic
- Exceptional build quality with premium materials, including brushed metal and tactile fabric, gives them an understatedly good look and feel
- Can function as hard-wired passive headphones without battery power, offering flexibility and continuous use
- Active noise cancellation (ANC) effectively reduces external noise without significantly impacting the sonic characteristics of the headphones
- Balanced frequency response with smooth transitions and ample detail throughout the range
Product Considerations
- The lack of a control app limits user customization options
- The use of real leather in the earpads may not appeal to vegan customers
- Active noise cancellation (ANC) is decent, but not class-leading compared to brands like Bose
- The midrange can be a bit too relaxed for some users
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to Bowers & Wilkins PX8, the Dali IO-8 offers distinct sound
- Compared to Sennheiser Momentum 4, the Dali IO-8 is heavier
- Compared to Focal Bathys, the Dali IO-8 is lighter
Takeaway: The Dali IO-8 is a premium headphone that delivers high-quality sound with a focus on musicality and build quality. It's a great choice for listeners who value a balanced sound signature, comfortable design, and the flexibility of wired and wireless use.
Video review
Our take on the brand
DALI is a speaker brand known for its unique hybrid tweeter module that combines a soft dome and planar ribbon tweeter, along with proprietary Soft Magnetic Compound technology that reduces distortion. Their speakers feature distinctive wood fiber cones and are designed to be used without toe-in, which creates a broader, more even spread of sound across the listening area.
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Dan Clark Audio
Noire X
999
/
Released
2025
NOIRE X™ updates our iconic AEON 2 NOIRE by integrating DCA's state-of-the-art Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System™ (AMTS™) with an improved driver, all carefully wrapped in a gorgeous ergonomically-enhanced design. NOIRE X's dramatic black-on-black aesthetic, improved ear pads, self-adjusting headband, and Gorilla Glass 3 clad cups sumptuously hint at the numerous exciting upgrades within, all designed to maximize your listening pleasure. With NOIRE X, DCA sets a new standard in midrange headphone performance, comfort, and value!
Dan Clark Audio sets itself apart with its patented Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System, which uses waveguides and resonators to shape frequency response to uniquely close adherence to various targets, and a unique tensioning system that ensures consistent performance across their headphone units. Their summit-tier headphones feature an uncommon folding design for portability, and their self-adjusting headbands offer extended comfort during long listening sessions.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent, well-balanced tuning, especially for a closed-back headphone
- Good bass response, being tight, punchy, and hard-hitting with quality and fidelity, but not overly bassy
- Comfortable to wear, using the self-adjusting headband and comfortable pads from the E3 model
- Shares a lot of similarities with the E3, but at a lower price point
- Good soundstaging, with decent width and depth for a closed-back headphone
Product Considerations
- The Piano Gloss Black finish is prone to fingerprints, smudges, and scratches, making it difficult to keep clean
- Soundstage could be wider compared to some competitors
- Detail retrieval is good but not a standout feature and may not be at the level expected for the price, particularly when compared to higher-end headphones
- Highs can be a little spicy, and the treble can be a bit more exciting, but less refined than E3
- Pads are glued on, which may make pad replacement more difficult, while being an upside for better seal to the baffle
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs. Dan Clark Audio E3: Is 90% of the headphone that the E3 is at half the cost
- Vs. Sennheiser HD6XX: The low-end is miles better, mids are almost equally delicious, but the highs are where the HD6XX seems a tad cleaner
- Vs. ZMF Auteur Classic: The Dan Clark Audio Noire X is the more technical and more neutral ride
Takeaway: The Noire X is a comfortable, well-tuned, and versatile closed-back headphone that is a great choice for those wanting a smooth and enjoyable listening experience. It offers a lot of value and is a strong contender in its price range.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Dan Clark Audio sets itself apart with its patented Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System, which uses waveguides and resonators to shape frequency response to uniquely close adherence to various targets, and a unique tensioning system that ensures consistent performance across their headphone units. Their summit-tier headphones feature an uncommon folding design for portability, and their self-adjusting headbands offer extended comfort during long listening sessions.
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Softears
RSV Reference
729
/
Released
2021
A professional-grade reference IEM using 5 balanced armature drivers per side with a multi-way crossover, tuned to deliver natural, balanced, and highly resolving sound. It is part of SoftEars’ Reference Sound Series, offering high accuracy and neutrality for studio or critical listening.
Softears creates reference-quality in-ear monitors for professional monitoring. The brand features passive driver modules that relieve ear pressure without compromising isolation, and complex 15-component crossover networks more akin to high-end loudspeakers. Known for extreme transparency that can even expose recording flaws, Softears delivers flat-impedance designs engineered for pro interface.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent fit and comfortable for many users, even for extended listening periods
- Very well-balanced and tuned sound signature, often described as a warm, mature, or safe Harman-ish tuning
- Smooth treble presentation, avoiding sibilance, sharpness, or fatigue, while still retaining detail
- Good bass performance for an all-balanced armature set, with nice punch and attack, though primarily focused on sub-bass
- Very good natural tonality and timbre, avoiding a metallic or unnatural sound often associated with balanced armatures
Product Considerations
- Soundstage and imaging could be better for the price, described as average and not particularly wide or holographic
- May lack a 'hook' or standout factor in its sound quality, some find it to be a more laid-back and less engaging sound
- The shells are quite big, which may be problematic for users with small ears
- The recessed 2-pin sockets could be designed better with a deeper fit
- May sound 'boring' at mid-to-low volumes, according to one reviewer
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Moondrop S8: RSV offers a warmer and fuller sound with a more even midrange, while the S8 is leaner and more forward, with the S8 being more engaging overall
- Vs Dunu SA6: RSV has better bass quality, while the SA6 has a slightly more pronounced treble
Takeaway: The Soft Ears RSV is a comfortable and well-tuned IEM that delivers a balanced and enjoyable listening experience. It is particularly well-suited for those who appreciate a smooth, natural sound with excellent vocal reproduction.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Softears creates reference-quality in-ear monitors for professional monitoring. The brand features passive driver modules that relieve ear pressure without compromising isolation, and complex 15-component crossover networks more akin to high-end loudspeakers. Known for extreme transparency that can even expose recording flaws, Softears delivers flat-impedance designs engineered for pro interface.
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Bang & Olufsen
Beoplay HX
749
/
Released
2021
Wireless over ear headphones. Listen in comfort whether you're on a call, working from home or taking a moment for yourself.
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
- Exquisite build quality with premium materials, like anodized aluminum, memory foam, lambskin leather, and high-quality polymer
- Very comfortable, generously padded with memory foam wrapped in lambskin, and the headband distributes pressure evenly
- Long battery life, up to 35 hours with ANC on and 40 hours with ANC off
- Sound quality is rich, refined, spacious, balanced, and impressively detailed
- Good voice pickup and decent noise suppression in moderately noisy environments
- Connectivity options are available
Product Considerations
- Round ear pads may pull down on ear cartilage and rest on ear lobes
- The HX can only be laid down flat, they are not fully collapsible
- ANC is good, but not quite at the level of industry leaders
- Touch panel is awkward to use, and touches are often not registered properly
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Sony 1000XM4/XM5 and Bose 700, ANC on the HX is not quite at the level of these industry leaders
- Vs the H95, the HX are more sensible, and noticeably cheaper
- Vs the Sony XM3, the HX looks far more refined
- Vs the Apple AirPods Max, the HX has up to 15 hours of additional battery life, and are also 100g lighter
- Vs the Bowers & Wilkins PX7, the HX brings a slightly higher level of refinement, showcasing detail and nuances that are missed
Takeaway: The Beoplay HX are beautifully made headphones that deliver excellent sound quality and are highly comfortable. If the user values aesthetics as much as audio and is willing to pay a premium for quality, then the HX is worth consideration.
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.
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