A Head pie 2018 or so
-look back (not) in anger.
It has been a great year for audio products and the community at large. Oodles on offer for all wallet sizes.
With a child entering daycare and another in their second year of Elementary school and some new work amongst other commitments in 2018 I decided to do less reviews than last year. Not sure If I reached my goal of doing half as much as in 2017. I think I overdid it.
Not having as much time meant I wouldnt be able to put in the right amount of hours to do the samples justice. I could just make it all up and add some pretty pictures and specs and nobody would probably know the difference.
But hey, Head pie has a reputation to maintain, ...a bad one. #headpiesucks
This involved saying no or referring some companies to Head pie contributors who have been an excellent asset and a great help this past year. Thank you my friends.
I havent listed everything I reviewed last year and may have missed a few
I liked and enjoyed. In 2018 I made an effort to only review products I was really interested in, curious about, thought would be great value or just plain excellent.
It made my job easier and less fatiguing.
Thankfully my contributors have the energy and foresight to review a wide range for the benefit of Head pie readers.
(An easy tempting option...)
Of course there is room for everything of various prices, performance and value - but in 2018 I didnt have so much time to sift the curds from the whey and focussed more on what I thought would be good for the general audiophile shopper, with the odd deviation.
All in all 2018 was a great year for audio products of all prices. We seem to be reaching a nadir of development. Of course there was some amazing mid fi and totl gear - but I think 2018 was the year when sub $300 gear really came into its own.
Also audio companies websites became more packed with information and groovy pictures. Oldies may remember not so far back when companies would sand off their dacs and amp information and not release general information like output impedance etc. now that stuff is avaliable online on their websites.
Renders some of what reviewers do obsolete.
Reviewers still serve as touch stone for many folks who dont have an audio shop near them to try out gear in person. As always read a wide variety of reviews and forum impressions to get to the general truth about a product.
All in all it has been an interesting year in audio.
Read our last year round up for an overview on how to choose and what to buy.
Some of what HP reviewed and enjoyed.
( I may have missed a couple and will have to go back and check - doing this on a mobile app).
....in no particular order....
iBasso IT01
Echobox Explorer
Shanling M3S
iFi Nano iDSD Black Label
Campfire Audio Cascade
Lyra Collection 150 ohm earbuds
Cozoy TAKT Pro
Opus#1S
iFi Earbuddy
Kinera Limited Edition earbuds
iBasso adapters
ALO Audio cables
Campfire Audio Cables
Alpha & Delta D6
Shozy Hibiki
Miter - Dap cases
Jomo Haka
Campfire Audio Comet
Hidizs HP1000 dac/amp
Campfire Audio Atlas
Shanling m0
iBasso DX150
iFi Audio xDSD
FiiO M7
FiiO BTR
Audirect BEAM
FiiO BTR Bluetooth amp
Campfire Audio Polaris
Lear Kaleido
Double Helix Clone Fusion cable
iBasso IT04
Hidizs AP80
TY Hi-Z 150ohm 4.4mm Bal HiFi Earbud
FiR Audio headphone/iem Vac jr
Hifi Boy OS V3
Symbio W Peel Mandarine Tips
Campfire Audio Solaris
iBasso DX120
Pretty much all I reviewed was good, great or excellent. Nothing is perfect, everything has its pluses and minuses but we must also look for what works and is functional. That which may be broken is often later fixed.
The terminally ill earphones or daps have been passed over this year due to time constraints and also lack of energy from being a father.
Looking for the best and brightest.
As usual make your own certificate and display it on your Facebook page for instant street cred.
No awards as usual because I would be forced to leave out possible excellent products I did not have a chance to listen to or review.
Theres more out there than what I have sampled in 2018 of course.
Plus there are some excellent summaries on Headfonics and Headfonia already.
Check em out!
And the memes....ugh
Found on the Head pie Facebbok group and instagram. The blog I keep mainly vanilla except for a few hidden things I insert into reviews for the eagle eyed...
(Needs an update - up to October, 2018)
Thanks to all the companies that sent review samples our way in 2018. I look forward to seeing what 2019 brings.
Here are a few of what is up and coming:
(Missing a few things like Plussound, Dita and some others)
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