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Nano – Senior Writer
As we find ourselves in December, it’s astonishing to reflect on how swiftly 2023 has passed. Unlike the seemingly endless stretch of 2022, this year seemed to vanish in mere moments. Personally, it’s been a year of mixed emotions – some exceptionally good, others particularly bad, but undoubtedly the most taxing since 2017.
In the realm of high-fidelity audio, however, 2023 has been a year of nuanced fascination as far as I’m concerned, as innovation took a backseat to consolidation – a surprising shift in the industry’s dynamics. This isn’t to say that progress stalled; rather, it manifested in a different form as brands chose to refine and perfect their existing models, instead of expanding their catalog as they did the years before.
Take, for instance, the Hifiman EF600. It emerged as a successor to the EF400, not by reinventing the wheel, but by polishing its design to a fine sheen. Similarly, the M15S gracefully carried forward the M17’s legacy, proving that sometimes, evolution is more impactful than revolution.
Perhaps the only true revelation this year, and a delightful one at that, came from Astell&Kern. They caught everyone off guard with their Class-A headphone amplifier, the PA-10 – a gem in the audiophile world, proving that there’s still room for surprise and excellence in the realm of high-fidelity audio.
And, as we bid farewell to 2023 and gear up for another year, it’s exciting to ponder what the future holds. Will the industry return to its roots of groundbreaking innovation, or continue on its path of perfecting what already exists? Only time will tell!
Best DAP:
FiiO M15S
From the review:
Once again, FiiO did what they do best: take a good player and enhance every part of it, to re-establish their leadership position.
If not cheap, the FiiO M15S is now $300 less expensive than the first M15, and $700 more affordable than the M17 – which shares a lot of common trait with this new player. It won’t be as popular as the FiiO M11S, but by offering 70% of the M17 performance and versatility, for just $1000, this new DAP will definitely appeal to audiophiles like me that wants high-end performances, but don’t want to pay the TOTL toll.
Full review:
Best DAC/AMP – High-End:
Shanling H7
From the review:
Mark my words: with the H7 Shanling provides us one, if not the, best sub $1,000 portable DAC/AMPs.
Sound performance is exquisite, and the versatility is almost unrivalled. It’s both a DAC, a DAC/AMP, AND even a DAP! And, if not as powerful as the FiiO Q7, it’s also twice as light, making it infinitely easier to carry on a daily basis.
Pair it with a good set of headphones (Meze or Beyer) or some nice IEMs (those yummy GE800) and you’ll be set up for years! A no-brainer, outperforming almost every DAC/Amp available at the time of writing, giving you the perfect setup on a go!
Full review:
Best DAC/AMP – Best Value:
FiiO Q15
From the review:
Another day, another FiiO, another killer device. FiiO did what they did best once more: take their flagship, and downsize it to a more “regular” factor, while keeping almost all of what made the TOTL model… a TOTL one.
So, long story short: the FiiO Q15 sounds great, has more than enough power that you might (ever) need, and features options that are even absent from the Q7 (PEQ or mobile mode) making it the best DAC/AMP I actually own, in the sub-$500 territory. Sure, the Q7 is better, but if you don’t own a Focal Utopia or a Meze Empyrean, the Q15 will do equally good on most headphones, for half of that price. A no-brainer, outperforming many, equally or more expensive.
Full review:
Best DAC/AMP – Dongle:
iBasso DC04PRO
From the review:
If it was not clear already, iBasso is back in the game! If I liked the DC03Pro, I LOVED the DC04PRO, and this new model is simply better on every level!
So, let’s make it short: for the price, the iBasso DC04Pro is my new champion, in the sub-$150 category: build quality is exquisite, power is impressive, sound is superb – but linear – and the dual output is more than welcome. For the price, this is a no-brainer – unless you’re really, really, tight on budget. Add to that, the good power performance, plus the physical volume control, and this DAC/Amp ticks all the right boxes.
Full review:
Best Amplifier – Desktop:
Hifiman EF600
From the review:
Like the EF400, the Hifiman EF600 is a great addition to the vast world of desktop USB-DAC/AMPs. Sure, $799 remains a steep sum for many newcomers, but for this price I don’t think that you’ll get another desktop DAC/AMP as good as this one.
Sound quality is superb, build quality is very good, I/O is excellent and the conception design makes it the perfect companion for every source you may own, even game consoles like the… PS5 (wink, wink). It’s not night and day compared to the EF400, but this new device remains a massive improvement on everything that made the previous model a recommended gear for me. Long story short, for less than $1000, this is, plain and simple, one of the best all-in-one DAC/AMPs available at the moment. It’s almost perfect, but quite honestly, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything else this nice to listen to, in this price range.
Full review:
Best Amplifier – Portable:
Astell&Kern PA10
From the review:
Is there still a place for a portable headphone amplifier in 2023? For A&K it seems to be, and the PA10 is a clear statement from the brand. And if I was sceptical at first – I’m more of a DAC/Amp guy than a DAC+Amp one – I must admit that the brand has succeeded in the feat of convincing me otherwise. Sure, it’s more transportable than really nomad. Sure it‘s a complete hindrance with a smartphone and a DAC, even more than a fat DAC/Amp like the Q7 or the H7, but, once you’ve plugged your ears/headphone, and paired your DAP/DAC, everything becomes insignificant, erased by the sound’s prowess of the amp.
A no-brainer, outperforming many, if not every, amp available at the time of writing – in a sub-$1500 budget. Add to that A&K’s renowned built quality, excellent ergonomics, and some nice features like the cross feed selection, and yes, this amp goes directly into my recommendation list, and if you’re out for a TOTL on the cheap, you should definitely try this one first
Full review:
Best Amplifier – Best value:
JDS Labs ATOM AMP+ HEVI
From the review:
Once more, the Atom Amp+ (Hevi) earns my full recommendation as THE best headphone amplifier for anyone seeking a sub-$200 model. A no-brainer, outperforming many, if not every, amp available in this category at the time of writing.
Sure, the Hevi version is just a cosmetic revamp of the regular one, but for anyone sensible to that, the various additions like the aluminium top-case, or the sturdier volume control, will definitely be a worthwhile $15 invest.
Add to that JDS Labs renowned built quality and after-sales service, some nice features like the auto-mute headphone out. A sure choice!
Full review:
-> That’s it for this year’s writers awards! Next Sunday we will reveal the “Reader Voted Best Gear Award”, so keep your eyes open for that article!
Part one of the awards can be found here: https://www.headfonia.com/headfonia-2023-awards-part-1/
