Element IV firmware v1.5.0 is now available! But before we dive in… Core™ Supports OPRA by Roon! OPRA coincidentally appeared within weeks of Element IV’s release: OPRA is an open, community-maintained directory of product information and EQ compensation curves that optimize a wide range of headphone models. Our mission is to simplify and reduce the […]
Core is now on Android!
We understand that most of you listen to Element IV at your desktop. Still, a growing number of customers have asked for Android or iOS support for compact streaming setups. Thanks to @JimmyBuckets for the stand pictured above. We’re pleased to announce: Core is now in Google Play! Core for Android brings every capability from […]
Element IV Gets 12-Band PEQ, On-Device Profiles, and Refined Core Integration
Element IV firmware v1.4.1 is here! Over 8,200 lines of new code bring powerful features since our last post: v1.4.1 Support for EQ Profiles stored directly on Element IV Added DSP Profiles to the OLED menu Display the active profile on the status screen Swapped bottom two lines on OLED for readability of active profile Factory […]
Element IV now Supports DSP over Optical
Last week we rolled out Core™ Firmware v1.2.0. It’s easy to gloss over changelogs like this: Added LED Mode: OFF Reimplemented the OLED DSP Menu, including Gain/Freq/Q for all 10 bands Added XMOS based decoding of S/PDIF (optical) input, with full 10-band EQ support Added ability to toggle between S/PDIF input modes from the OLED […]
Introducing Element IV and Core™
Introducing Element IV and Core™—the next evolution of our flagship amp+DAC, inspired by your requests and built on a foundation of what made Element III MK2 so loved. Element IV retains the essentials that defined its predecessor: perfect channel balance, automatic gain, and a discrete optical encoder for its signature knob. Many of you asked […]
Introducing Atom Phono – Low Noise Preamp and Tone Control
Those new to vinyl are often puzzled by the need for a phono preamp. Atom Phono solves two common issues: It’s a strong RIAA phono preamp and clean tone control in one. At high gain, Atom Phono delivers audio up to 4x louder than most integrated phono preamps. Its flexible bypass toggles let you use […]
Ear Gear Staff Picks: JDS
Full disclaimer: This is an opinion post. There are no facts to see here. No one has paid us to write this piece, nor do we receive compensation from the various headphone manufacturers mentioned herein. We will not use referral links, and will not accept guest posts or other forms of favors from third-parties. We […]
Introducing JDS Labs Synapse – Next Gen USB Isolator
Today, we’re excited to introduce JDS Labs Synapse, a UAC2 compliant galvanic isolator that’s anything but audiophile nonsense. Synapse is based on new isolation technology from TI, enabling a new generation of High-speed (480mbps) capable USB isolators. Synapse eliminates ground loop noise without limiting USB sampling rate. In fact, Synapse tends to improve DAC performance. […]
Ear Gear Staff Picks: Austin
Updated July 5, 2024 About Me My journey into headphones began in 2014 with the purchase of my first “audiophile-grade” headphones, the HiFiMan HE-400i. While the initial curiosity was satisfied, I quickly wanted to dive deeper into the hobby and explore what else was out there. In the decade since, I’ve been very fortunate […]
On Amplifier Gain
We believe good audio should not be a mystery. Building your knowledge of audio fundamentals helps to avoid the common traps of audio foolery. Amplifier gain remains one of the more common points of confusion, despite the apparent simplicity: press the button and the amp gets louder. Newcomers tend to misunderstand the basics, leading to […]