Apos Blog

The New $120 Champ: Joshua Valour Reviews SMSL SH-6 Amp

Now, in this comparison we’re going to be comparing the SMSL SH-6 and the Schiit Magni. A quick note on the Magni. This Magni specifically is not available anymore. The only Magnis that they offer ...

“God Mode Stack”: Zeos Reviews the TOPPING PA5

This stack is the god mode stack. Five years ago, you couldn’t touch this. There was nothing that could touch this for five years. Now, you can mix and match different components, you can get some ...

FiiO M17 vs KANN Alpha

High-end DAPs are a fascinating value proposition. On the one hand, they’re often more expensive than a desktop system. On the other hand, they are a desktop system. And a portable system. And a st...

Zeos: $300 Benchmark? SMSL SU-6 DAC & SH-6 Amp

This is better than anything you could have gotten five years ago, anywhere, at any price point. I don’t know where we’ll be in five years, but as of now, this is becoming benchmark stuff. So bravo...

TOPPING D90SE vs SMSL VMV D1SE

In the world of sub-$1000 audio, SMSL and TOPPING are giants. Chances are that if you’re looking for the best DAC under $1,000, you’re considering their flagships: the D90SE and the VMV D1se. From ...

"Top $400 DAC Performance" - SoundNews on SMSL SU-9N

Some of you requested an SU-9n DAC review, and I’m ready to offer my final impressions about it. The SU-9n comes as an alternative to the regular SU-9, but without the MQA decoder or UAT Bluetooth ...

TOPPING D90SE Reviews Compendium

The D90 has had an interesting story arc over the past year: a devastating fire knocked its chip manufacturer out of commission; increasing demand sapped its inventory; and then it was sold out eve...

GoldenSound: "Top Sub-$1000 DAC" SMSL VMV D1se

This has quickly become probably my favorite sub-$1000 DAC, maybe tied with the Denafrips Ares II. But if I had to pick one between the two of them, it would probably be this for the simple reason ...

FiiO M17 vs KANN SP2000

$1,000+ seems like a lot to spend on a portable audio player until you realize how many pieces of equipment they make redundant. They’re decoders, amplifiers, storage systems, streamers, controller...

"Class-leading": SoundNews Reviews the SMSL VMV D2 DAC

It’s quite interesting to observe how most DAC manufacturers coming from China are fighting for supremacy when it comes to SNR, THD+N, Crosstalk and Noise Floor, when others are focusing their mind...

FiiO M17 vs FiiO M11

If you’ve narrowed down your DAP purchase options to the FiiO M17 and FiiO M11 Plus ESS, it means that you probably have the money to buy the M17 but you’re wondering if the M11 is a better value. ...

"My Music Came Alive!" Intuitive Review on the xDuoo MT-604

We have the xDuoo MT604 up for review. This is a fully-balanced Class-A tube headphone amplifier coming in at a great price point of $169. When it comes to tube amplifiers, this amplifier represent...