Phil's Superpower of Enthusiasm

A place to write about things I enjoy, for my own edification. Headphones, audio gear, albums, whiskey, wine, golden retrievers etc.

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Lawyer, unabashed nerd and geek. Purveyor and pusher of excellent sci-fi/fantasy, good food, and repartee. He/him. Dog dad/servant to @Goldendenali.

I’m experimenting with Amazon Affiliate status in an attempt to defray some of the costs of headphone reviews; Amazon links may be affiliate links (depending on whether or not I’ve figured out how to use them correctly). Please feel free to buy elsewhere; this is just one way to recoup the costs of this hobby.

Category: Review, Audio

  • Hifiman Edition XS; a Great Budget(ish) Objective Open-Back

     [ORIGINAL MSRP $499. Purchased for $269 + tax on Amazon in February 2025 (and $269 appears to be the new, semi-permanent MSRP).]  [Tl;dr: The Edition XS are baby Arya Stealths; they have a lot of similar characteristics, but with a lot more tradeoffs (which you’d expect for a headphone that sells for less than half…

  • Hifiman Arya Stealth: My New Favorite Objective Open-Back

    [MSRP $1,599, marked down pretty much everywhere to $599. Purchased for $599 + tax on Amazon in January 2025.] [Tl;dr: I wouldn’t pay the original MSRP, but these are awesome for $599 and that seems to be the new defacto price across the internet. These are hands-down the best objective-tuned headphones I’ve ever listened to.…

  • Sennheiser x Drop 6XX Review, Seven Years in the Making

    The Sennheiser HD 6XX headphones offer excellent sound quality for $199, featuring warm mids and decent bass, but require a powerful source to perform best. Their strength lies in vocal reproduction and clarity. Upgrading to balanced connections enhances performance. Recommended for audiophiles seeking quality without high cost.