It’s finally time for the 2023 Headfonia Awards. This is the most awaited article of the year, the one which readers and companies always anxiously wait for. This is the article in which we award the best gear of 2023. First up are Berkhan, Felix, and my own selections! You will find the other writer’s selections here on Thursday.
2023 Awards – Year Overview
Shows like Head-Fi’s Canjam London, SoCal and High-End Munich are hotter then ever and the industry is still booming like it’s 1999. That also means that we saw a lot of new gear this year and I expect to see even more in 2024. I as Chief Editor focused more on desktop gear this year so my awards are less portable audio oriented, but the rest of the team will make up for it. Unfortunately, not everyone can win an award but we’ve managed to select the best of the best.
2023 for myself again was an incredibly busy year but I did have a fun as well, with plenty of nice holidays and trips. I really look forward to starting 2024 with the writer team I have at the moment and I can’t thank Berkhan, Nano, Yagiz and Felix enough for being part of Headfonia. I also want to thank all of you readers for all the years of support. I am proud of the team and the quality we have been delivering for over a decade already, and I promise to keep things exciting for all of you.
But without further ado, here are the 2023 Awards winners. Let’s go!
2023 Awards – Winners
As usual, we have plenty of categories and each writer gets to nominate the best of the gear they reviewed over the last 12 months. Logically not all writers will share the same awards/categories because we have all listened to a different gear.
Like last year we next to the writer awards also have the Best Product of the Year award. The winner of this award will be announced on Thursday, together with Yagiz’ and Nano’s award selection. Then next Sunday we have the “2023 Reader voted Awards” before we close the year with a few more reviews
And now on to the personal awards!
Lieven – Editor in Chief
Best Headphone – Electrostat:
DAN CLARK AUDIO (DCA) CORINA
From the review:
To me the DCA Corina is one of the most musical, engaging and natural sounding electrostatic headphones I have had the pleasure to listen to. I absolute love the weight and fullness it shows from top to bottom and the musical and softer presentation really make this headphone work for all types of music.
The Corina is close to the Harman target curve, except for the sub bass range where it is a bit lighter in presence. It also from the 5k region up rolls off more in a peaky way compared to the Harman curve, but it doesn’t sound weird or unnatural to me. I have been really enjoying the Corina, especially with the Hifiman Shangri-La Jr. headphone amplifier and it is a setup I easily recommend for audiophiles who want to get into the world of electrostatic headphones but without having to give up the pure musical enjoyment and natural, more weighty presentation. The DCA Corina doesn’t come cheap but pure from a performance and tuning perspective, it is very easy for me to give it our Recommended Buy Award.
Full review:
Best Headphone – Dynamic:
Sennheiser HD660S2
From the review:
In very short we can say the HD 660S2 is a great headphone with an excellent price/quality ratio.
Where the Sennheiser HD 660S was good, it to me never was the headphone that could make me completely forget about the HD 600 and HD 650. That’s exactly what’s different with this new S2 update. This time I do feel that people in 10 years’ time will still be talking about the HD 660S2, just like they did with the HD 650 and HD 600. The original HD 660S did not get our recommended buy award, but I feel the sound quality has improved in every possible way here. As such it is getting our Recommended Buy Award.
Full review:
Best Headphone – Orthodynamic:
ZMF Caldera
From the review:
The ZMF Caldera isn’t new, but it was Zach’s first proprietary planar driver and it still is a relevant flagship headphone. The Caldera doesn’t come cheap but you definitely get good value in return. The Caldera is technically strong and musical at the same time and it’s just a pure pleasure to use all day long. It simply is a really good and beautiful headphone, from an excellent company. Period.
Full review:
Best Headphone Combo:
Hifiman Shangri-La Jr.
From the review:
For most mortals – me included – the super high-end electrostat systems from Hifiman and Sennheiser are unobtanium. This high-end SHANGRI-LA jr setup basically is the next best thing, offering a top level electrostat sound with an acceptable and accessible price tag.
Not only is the SHANGRI-LA jr perfectly designed, but the build quality is also astonishing. The SHANGRI-LA jr delivers the typical electrostat sound signature, with a high level of technicalities. What I love about the SHANGRI-LA jr is that it does it all effortlessly and the 6SN7 tubes provide just enough smoothness and warmth in this combo to make the whole experience musical and engaging.
Full review:
Best DAC/AMP Dongle:
Cayin Audio RU7
From the review:
The Cayin RU7 has a tuning which is more to the neutral side, but with its full body and powerful, controlled bass impact, it is a very musical and engaging DAC/AMP dongle. You get the lovely precision and clarity from the 1-Bit Resistor Ladder DAC, combined with an excellent technical level and great dynamics. The Cayin RU7 delivers a precise and immersive sound, with a wonderful timbre and lovely harmonics.
Cayin has managed to deliver a small, well-designed and top-performing DAC/AMP dongle, using the excellent 1-Bit DAC tech. As this technology and the advantages it has, is super popular for the moment, I am sure we will see many more 1-Bit and R2R dongles in the near future. The question will be if they can reach the RU7’s performance and quality, as Cayin has certainly set the bar very high.
Full review:
Best Portable Player (DAP):
Astell&Kern SP3000
From the review:
What a great DAP the Astell&Kern SP3000 is! It’s a true flagship and engineering marvel. Each time when you think it’ can’t get any better, AK comes in and strikes again. On a technical and user experience level, the SP3000 is a step up from the previous SP2000 flagship, though we still like that one very much as well. The SP3000 is an expensive portable player, and it doesn’t always offer the same tuning options as its competitors, but it’s very good in what it does. With the SP3000 you get a very high-end portable player with a unique design, perfect build quality and excellent performance. The new UI is much better than before, but it of course isn’t a full android experience you get. Looking purely at sound quality, the keywords to remember are: dynamics, extension, precision, musicality, engagement and effortlessness.
Full review:
Best Amplifier – Tubes:
Feliks Audio Euforia EVO
From the review:
I like how Feliks Audio keeps updating their product-line. The 3rd version of the Euforia amplifier isn’t just another update, it in fact brings a whole new tonal experience to the Euforia product range. The Feliks Audio Euforia evo is simple in design, but it’s using top quality components on the in- and outside. Because of the minimal design philosophy, using the amplifier is easy and straightforward and the added XLR connector and larger volume wheel certainly help with this even more.
The Euforia evo is not a do-it-all amp if your collections of headphones features a lot of different driver types. The evo will perform best with high impedance dynamic driven headphone types, but it will pleasantly surprise you with some planar and other driver tech headphones as well.
Full review:
Best Amplifier – Solid State:
SAEQ PDA-1b
From the review:
When I agreed to review this amplifier from SAEQ, I didn’t know what to expect. I only quickly auditioned the Hyperion GE at High-End Munich last May, and never got to listen to the PDA-1b. I took a chance but it turned out to be a really good one. Right from the start SAEQ Audio PDA-1b shows you what it is capable of and once you get used to it’s typical presentation, it’s an amplifier you don’t ever want to miss again. The PDA-1b mixes technical excellence with a high musical level and the immersive felling of a live concert. It’s unique.
On top of that the PDA-1b delivers all the power you will ever need and it lets you connect 4 headphones at the same time without lack of power or diminishing sound quality. It’s an ideal amp for reviewers and headphone enthusiasts that own multiple high-end headphones and want one amp to control them all. Even though the price tag is slightly on the higher side, this amplifier for me is an easy recommendation.
Full review:
Best CIEM:
Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor
From the review:
The Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor is one of the very best custom high-end monitors in my collection. The overall technical excellence is jaw dropping, and especially the sound stage, positioning, resolution, layering and extension are exemplary. While the Multiverse Mentor will sound good with anything, I do recommend to match is with a clear, fast, energetic and highly precise source. Only then will you get the full potential of this extraordinary IEM. At the same time I don’t recommend to use bass heavy sources as the bass presentation might become a bit overpowering. Especially if you’re not a fan of an always heavier bass tuning.
The Multiverse Mentor is expensive, but you in return get a complete package, excellent build quality and one of the best monitors ever designed. If you’re looking for a very high-end and top-performing monitor, the MM has to be the first one on your list.
Full review:
Best Universal IEM:
Vision Ears VE10
From the review:
Marking Vision Ears’ 10th anniversary, the VE10 stands as a pivotal addition to their line-up, integrating new features and a revamped design. It marks a significant advancement in their lineup, offering top-tier technical performance, exceptional treble response, resolution, and dynamism. Its sound quality, combined with remarkable comfort, makes it a great choice for audiophiles seeking great imaging and clarity in the high-end. As a result, the new VE10 is a smooth recommendation.
Full review:
And now on to the personal awards of BERKHAN on the next page! CLICK HERE
