Headphonesty

Samsung appears to be turning its best Galaxy Buds features into something much bigger. Samsung has some of the biggest names in audio under its wider umbrella, as HARMAN’s portfolio now spans JBL, AKG, Harman Kardon, Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, and more. Yet Samsung itself hasn’t launched a new over-ear headphone since the Level On Wireless Pro in 2015. That could finally be changing.

Apple’s next premium headphones could address years of compromises without abandoning their familiar formula. Apple has made only modest changes to the AirPods Max since their 2020 debut. The latest AirPods Max 2, for one, only added the H2 chip while keeping the same $549 price, 386-gram weight, and familiar design. However, there are patents and industry leaks that point to more improvements in the next generation.

One shop has 200 repairs waiting, and its future rests on one man’s health. When Brent Jessee of AudioTubes retired after 30 years of selling tested and graded vintage tubes, some customers rushed to buy years of spares before his shop closed. Their reaction points to a larger problem across vintage audio. Old amplifiers and receivers still have strong demand, and many are worth repairing.

A second test was built to answer the criticism, and its results complicate everything. A blind DAC test recently drew attention after Josh Mound scored 110 correct answers out of 112 trials. That score led to a long technical debate over whether the test setup could have given away clues. But as a useful result of that debate, downloadable ABX files are now available for anyone who wants to test DAC audibility at home with their own system.

Several famous remasters made surprising tradeoffs that are easy to hear side by side. Reissues can give an old recording new life. They can also take away some of what made them special. Over the years, engineers have revisited countless hit songs, changing their EQ, compression, limiting, and overall balance. Not every reissue is a step down, though, as plenty improve on the original.

Some albums earned their place because of their flaws, not in spite of them. Jazz has produced some of the most revealing recordings in music history. The best examples can make a system disappear, putting you inside a club, studio, or concert hall. Others expose the character of an instrument with startling clarity. This ranking comes from audiophile listener polls, not critical consensus or sales figures. The votes are why these 30, and not another 30 “classics,” made the cut.

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One of the two fixes contradicts the standard setup advice for turntables. In January 2025, What’s Best Forum member Balle Clorin said Shaknspin helped him optimize his Michell Gyro. He posted phone-app wow values of 0.2% before and 0.05% after trial-and-error changes to leveling and belt tension. On this deck, the reported wow value fell to one quarter of its starting point after setup changes.

Four questions separate a real brand from a logo, and most buyers never ask them. One factory in Guangzhou lists more than 500 speaker models, advertises room for 200,000 units a month across two production bases, and openly offers contract manufacturing and customization. Its catalog makes the industrial layer behind badge-ready speakers unusually easy to see.

Skipping these brands is how buyers end up paying double for the same performance. The biggest names in audio are easy to find, but the more interesting gear can take some digging. In fact, some brands are making serious progress without dominating the conversation. We asked audiophiles which companies deserve more attention right now. Their answers span budget-friendly newcomers and familiar names doing better work than their profile might suggest.