Church-boy by day and audio-obsessee by night, Daniel Lesmana’s world revolves around the rhythms and melodies we lovingly call: Music. When he’s not behind a console mixing live for a congregation of thousands, engineering records in a studio environment, or making noise behind a drum set, you’ll find him on his laptop analysing audio gear with fervor and glee. Now a specialist in custom IEMs, cables and full-sized headphones, he’s looking to bring his unique sensibilities - as both an enthusiast and a professional - into the reviewer’s space; a place where no man has gone before.
Whether in 4-wire or 8-wire form, Satin Audio’s Athena brings a distinct shade of meatiness, vividness and speed, with upticks in control and finesse the more wires you add into the mix.
Custom Art’s FIBAE 7 is their house sound at its purest and cleanest yet: An intimate, organic, yet refined flagship without the sky-high price tag.
PLUSSOUND’s Exo Palladium-Plated Hybrid delivers open, airy, free-flowing musicality for near-perfect matchability with any high-end IEM.
Vision Ears’ EVE20 subverts the dynamic, boom-bap sound with heaps of texture, a robust midrange and an image capable of delivering drive with finesse.
Lotoo’s PAW 6000 is the peak of trickled-down technology, sustaining their flagship’s build quality, blazing-fast OS and tonal balance, whilst making improvements in form factor, battery life and screen quality; all at a much more accessible price tag.
With swappable faceplates and a smooth, dynamic tonality, the EVO 10 sees Effect Audio play with sound and colour the only way they know how: With wit, finesse and a touch of flair.
Lotoo’s PAW S1 elevates the everyday USB DAC/amp with a laundry list of features, an even, relaxed tonality and world-class build at under $200 to boot; a true must-have for the audiophile on the go.
The ODIN is Empire Ears’ most intricate, most audacious piece yet; a vast, vivid, yet sophisticated flagship tailor-made for lovers of the immense, the enveloping and the dramatic.
64 Audio’s A18s is about as natural as reference gets; a warmer, mellower, more engineer-tailored take on their custom flagship that’s discerning all the same.
Easy on the eyes and ears, Metal Magic Research’s Gáe Bolg is a smooth, intimate, yet precise everyday-carry, with the company’s pristine metalwork and exotic stylings to boot.