What’s in the Box

• Strauss & Wagner Elche MMCX to USB-C Upgrade Cable

Build Quality

The Strauss & Wagner Elche MMCX to USB-C Upgrade Cable is built to last. Measuring 1.2 meters (3.94 feet) in length, it offers ample reach for convenience without compromising portability. Constructed from high-grade materials, the cable is designed to withstand wear and tear, ensuring durability and long-term performance. Its sleek and stylish design complements premium earphones, adding a touch of elegance to your audio setup. The meticulous craftsmanship ensures a dependable connection, providing superior audio transmission. This robust build quality makes it a practical and attractive upgrade for any audio enthusiast.

Technical Design

Equipped with the advanced CX31993 chipset, the Strauss & Wagner Elche cable delivers exceptional audio performance. This high-quality chipset captures every detail and nuance of your music, making it an ideal choice for audiophiles seeking an affordable yet high-quality option for their IEMs. The built-in microphone and remote enhance the cable’s versatility, allowing for seamless control of calls and media playback. The MMCX connection ensures broad compatibility with a wide range of high-end earphones from brands like Audeze, Beyerdynamic, and Campfire Audio. Additionally, the USB-C termination guarantees compatibility with modern devices such as the iPhone 15, Samsung Galaxy series, and Google Pixel phones.

Sound Impressions

Low End: The Elche cable significantly enhances the bass response of IEMs, adding depth and richness without muddiness. When tested with the Final Audio E5000 and Campfire Audio Cascara, the cable transformed these IEMs into bass powerhouses. Tracks like Radiohead’s “15 Step” became more exciting and engaging, with well-separated and detailed bass that provided a smooth listening experience.

Mids: The midrange of the Elche cable is warm and well-balanced. While the Final Audio E5000 exhibited slight mid-bass bleed, the Campfire Audio Cascara and Moon Rover maintained a cleaner midrange. Overall, the Elche cable offers a warm character and natural timbre, avoiding oversaturation and delivering a pleasing audio experience.

Top End: The treble response of the Elche cable is clean and neutral. It avoids the harshness typical of a V-shaped sound signature, offering a smooth and understated high-end. The Cascara’s otherwise dull treble was notably enhanced, while the E5000 and Moon Rover retained a detailed and sparkling top end.

Soundstage: The soundstage provided by the Elche cable is solid, offering ample space for bass and midrange information. The cable works in harmony with the IEMs, ensuring a balanced and immersive listening experience without overwhelming the listener with low-end frequencies.

Final Thoughts

The Strauss & Wagner Elche MMCX to USB-C Upgrade Cable is an excellent value for money. Its combination of robust build quality, advanced technical design, and versatile sound signature makes it an attractive option for anyone looking to upgrade their IEM setup. With its USB-C connector, built-in DAC, remote, and microphone, the Elche cable is a practical and affordable solution for modern audio enthusiasts. If you’re seeking to enhance your IEM experience without breaking the bank, the Elche cable is definitely worth considering.

Conclusion

In summary, the Strauss & Wagner Elche MMCX to USB-C Upgrade Cable stands out as a budget-friendly yet high-quality option for audiophiles and casual listeners alike. Its durable build, advanced technical design, and impressive sound performance make it a must-have accessory for anyone looking to improve their portable audio setup. Whether you’re using high-end earphones or looking for a more versatile and affordable solution, the Elche cable delivers on its promise of exceptional audio quality and convenience. At $39.99, it offers outstanding value and functionality, making it a worthwhile investment for enhancing your listening experience.

The Strauss & Wagner Elche is available at Audio46.

The post Strauss & Wagner Elche Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box:

• ZEN BLUE 3
• Power Supply
• USB-A to USB-C Cable
• RCA to RCA Cable
• Quick Start Guide
• Warranty Card

Build Quality

The iFi ZEN Blue 3 follows the same build philosophy as the Zen DAC 3 and Zen CAN 3, designed to stack together. Its chassis, crafted from solid, high-grade aluminum alloy, ensures durability and longevity while offering a sleek, modern aesthetic. The matte finish enhances its stylish appeal, making it a valuable addition to any audio setup.

Each component is arranged to optimize space and functionality, reflecting iFi’s commitment to excellence in design and engineering. The back panel features S/PDIF, USB-C, and RCA Analog inputs for its DAC section, along with Bluetooth reception. Outputs include S/PDIF, RCA, and balanced connections. The front panel offers controls for wireless modes, DAC settings, transfer modes, Bluetooth pairing, and light brightness. Central to the front panel is iFi’s Bluetooth codec and PCM display. This changes color based on the codec in use, and a light indicating the sample rate of the streaming music.

Design

The iFi ZEN Blue 3 showcases a masterful integration of cutting-edge technology and thoughtful engineering. At its core is the Qualcomm QCC518x Bluetooth audio chip, supporting the latest aptX Lossless codec, capable of delivering CD-quality audio wirelessly at a maximum bitrate of 1,200kbps. This ensures high-fidelity sound without compromising on audio quality.

A dedicated ESS Sabre DAC enhances its performance, providing precise and clear digital-to-analog conversion. The versatile input options, including USB-C, SPDIF, and analog RCA, make the ZEN Blue 3 adaptable to various audio sources. This technical design underscores iFi’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of wireless audio technology, offering audiophiles a seamless blend of wired and wireless high-resolution audio options.

Bluetooth Functionality

The ZEN Blue 3 supports an extensive range of Bluetooth codecs, including LDAC, LHDC/HWA, aptX Adaptive, aptX, AAC, and SBC, ensuring compatibility with a wide array of devices. Notably, it functions as both a Bluetooth receiver and transmitter, offering unparalleled flexibility. This feature allows users to transmit AptX Lossless audio to compatible speakers, headphones, or any wireless device, making it a crucial addition in the early stages of Bluetooth 5.4.

The device also outputs audio via 4.4 balanced or RCA analog outputs. Its Low Latency mode, when paired with a compatible receiver (using aptX Adaptive), reduces audio delay, making it ideal for watching movies or gaming.

Sound Impressions

The ZEN Blue 3 offers a clear, neutral-warm sound signature, consistent with the Zen line of equipment. Whether used as a DAC or a transport to another device (like the Zen DAC 3 or Zen CAN 3), it delivers clean and balanced audio. Testing with detail-heavy headphones such as the Sennheiser HD600, Audeze MM-100, and Hifiman Edition XS revealed minimal lossiness, even with the highest quality codecs.

Bass response is clean and assertive, with the Hifiman Edition XS pairing particularly well. The midrange is controlled with a solid midbass transition and neutral vocal presentation, and instrument separation is excellent. The HD600 headphones, known for their midrange focus, revealed no lack of detail. Treble reproduction with the MM-100 and Edition XS was tactile and deliberate, showing impressive detail retrieval without feeling overly smoothed.

Final Thoughts

Wireless audio technology continues to evolve, and iFi is at the forefront of this progress. The ZEN Blue 3 offers impressive sound quality at its price point, with the key feature of transmitting AptX Lossless setting it apart. This device is likely to encourage more people to explore the potential of wireless audio.

The iFi Zen Blue 3 is available at Audio46.

The post iFi Zen Blue 3 Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

• EVO
• Storage Bag
• USB Cable
• Manual
• Service Card
• QC Certificate

Design

The Evo is like a white version of the Fiio UTWS5. The outside is sleek, thin, and lightweight, causing as little distraction as possible when looped over your ears. No matter which pair of IEMs I paired with the Evo, I always felt the main body and hooks of the Evo were comfortable. They sat naturally around my ear, and I never thought about them throughout my listening time

I also particularly like the zipper bag charging case. It’s a bit bulky, but different from what you’re used to getting from true wireless adapters. It makes it feel like more of a specialized accessory than another cheap product. Your IEMs, no matter the size will be able to fit in this case while still attached to the adapters. Everything about the presentation of the Evo outclasses other Bluetooth adapters of its kind.

One aspect of the Evo’s design I’m not so keen on is its touch panel. It’s finicky and not very responsive. The actions only activate after long delays and multiple touches. This might interfere with taking calls over the Evo too, but the actual call clarity is servicable. Disappointingly, there is no companion app for the Evo. I would have liked to see some added features like an EQ or adjustable controls.

Bluetooth & Battery Life

Getting the Evo to pair is very easy. It supports Bluetooth version 5.2, and it has a fast connection with good stability. There’s a big selection of CODECs that the Evo offers, including aptX Adaptive and aptX HD. Of course, using an iPhone with the Evo only gave me access to AAC audio.

By far the most infuriating aspect of the Evo is its battery life. I was shocked when I first heard the “battery low,” and “power off” voice indicators play, as I had only been listening for an hour or two. It would appear that’s all the charge the Evo is capable of giving you.

Sound Impressions

I used a few different IEMs with the Evo, from the Dunu Titan S2 to the Meze Alba. What the Evo did to the sound was most apparent in the overall volume of it. The sound signature as a whole felt elevated in pure gain, acting as a true DAC/Amp component. Listening to music on my phone gave me tons of headroom to play with compared to most Bluetooth headphones and earphones. It kept as much detail as possible while squeezing through common Bluetooth CODECs. For its price, the sound is mostly impressive for its energy alone, making up for the loss of detail with its strong drive. I can’t say there was much else to distinguish in these IEMs, but they rival the Go Pods and UTWS5 in terms of their power, which is quite a feat for its price point.

Summary

The Moondrop Evo has a lot of faults, but for the price, it does what’s expected of a true wireless Bluetooth adapter for your IEMs. If sound quality is all that matters to you, then the Evo is exactly what you need. It has more power than you would assume for the price, and it maintains your IEM sound signature quite well over Bluetooth. Otherwise, it’s hard to look past the finicky touch controls and incredibly disappointing battery life.

The Moondrop Evo is available at Audio46.

The post Moondrop Evo Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box:

• Rue USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter

Build Quality:

The Rue USB-C to 3.5mm DAC/Adapter showcases excellent build quality with a premium silver construction that enhances both durability and conductivity. This choice of material ensures the adapter’s longevity while adding an elegant touch to your audio setup. The compact design, with a total length of 10cm (3.9 in.), strikes a balance between portability and robustness, making it an ideal companion for on-the-go audio needs. Each component of the Rue is crafted with precision, ensuring it can withstand regular use while maintaining a sleek and professional appearance. The high-quality construction reflects Strauss & Wagner’s commitment to excellence, ensuring that the Rue performs exceptionally well under various conditions.

Technical Design:

The Rue’s design focuses on delivering superior audio performance through advanced technology. At its core is a 32-bit DAC with the 5686 chipset, ensuring high-quality digital-to-analog conversion for an exceptional audio experience. The adapter features a 3.5mm female socket and a USB-C plug, providing seamless connectivity between USB-C enabled devices and traditional audio devices. This design preserves the original sound’s integrity while enhancing audio clarity and detail, offering substantial power for moderately demanding headphones. The integration of the 5686 chipset highlights the Rue’s capability to handle high-resolution audio files, making it a perfect choice for audiophiles who demand the best in portable audio solutions.

Sound Impressions:

To test the Rue’s performance capabilities, I used devices that would present somewhat of a challenge, such as the Final Audio E5000 IEMs and the newly released Sennheiser HD620S headphones. Despite their moderate difficulty to drive, the Rue handled them impressively.

Starting with the E5000, the Rue pushed volume to appropriate levels while maintaining Strauss & Wagner’s signature transparency. The E5000’s warm sound character remained intact, with punchy bass, textured midbass, and clear, present treble. The Rue notably improved the E5000’s soundstage, providing exceptional clarity and resolution. The adapter’s ability to enhance the E5000’s natural sound profile without introducing any noticeable distortion or coloration is particularly commendable.

Moving to the HD620S, I initially worried that the 150-ohm impedance might be too challenging for the Rue. However, the adapter performed admirably, delivering loud listening levels without strain. The HD620S’s bass was strong, mids were clean and detailed, and the treble was crisp with a bit of sparkle. The Rue enhanced the HD620S’s soundstage, emphasizing its angled drivers’ capabilities effectively. The synergy between the Rue and the HD620S was impressive, showcasing the adapter’s capability to handle more demanding headphones with ease.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, the Strauss & Wagner Rue is a highly capable audio-decoding device. It’s an excellent solution for taking your IEMs and headphones on the go while maintaining a stylish and portable profile. Priced at just $29.95, the Rue offers impressive value and performance, making it a worthwhile investment for any audio enthusiast. The combination of robust build quality, advanced technical design, and excellent sound performance makes the Rue a standout choice in the crowded market of USB-C to 3.5mm adapters. Whether you are a casual listener or an audiophile, the Rue will enhance your audio experience, providing a seamless connection between your USB-C devices and your favorite audio equipment.

The Strauss & Wagner Rue is available at Audio46.

The post Strauss & Wagner Rue Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box:

• Strauss & Wagner Albi cable
• USB-A to USB-C charging cable

Build Quality

The Albi’s build is straightforward, prioritizing simplicity for a wireless device. The adapter features a robust cable with a DAC section and control bar in the middle, and gold-plated Sennheiser IE compatible MMCX connectors at each end. The cable is designed to be thin at the ends for a comfortable over-ear fit, while the neckband portion is thicker to enhance comfort and stability.

Overall, the build quality of the Albi is impressive. Despite initial concerns about the neckband’s bulkiness, it proved to be lightweight and comfortable. I was able to walk around with the IE900 in my ears without them falling out or causing any distraction.

Design Features

The Albi integrates Bluetooth 5.2 and the 3015 chipset, ensuring a robust and efficient connection. Bluetooth 5.2 offers improved speed, range, and stability, making it ideal for wireless audio transmission. The 3015 DAC chipset not only accurately reproduces audio but also enhances it. Additionally, the Albi is aptX compatible, delivering high-fidelity audio that captures every nuance and detail of your music, rivaling wired setups.

Functionality

Battery life is a crucial aspect of the Albi, offering 13-15 hours of listening time. You can check the battery status on your device, whether it’s an Android, iPhone, DAP, or another device.

The right side of the device features a control for volume, play/pause, and skip/reverse functions. There are three buttons: the middle button powers the device on and off and enters pairing mode, the minus button lowers the volume and reverses the track, and the plus button raises the volume and skips the track. This simple yet effective setup makes the Albi easy to use. The large, tactile buttons are a significant improvement over the stock cable that comes with the IE series IEMs, which lack these controls.

Sound Impressions

The Albi offers a transparent sound, meaning it doesn’t alter the sound profile of your IE series IEMs significantly. However, the built-in DAC provides subtle enhancements, particularly in the bass region, where the sound becomes stronger and more engaging. The mids remain smooth and clean, preserving the superb midrange of the IE900. The treble response is also transparent, with minimal loss of detail despite the inherent limitations of Bluetooth audio.

Final Thoughts

When seeking a wireless adapter for your wired IEMs or headphones, functionality and sound quality are paramount. The Albi excels in both areas, maintaining the high fidelity of Sennheiser’s IEMs while maximizing portability and convenience. If you’re looking to make your earbuds fully portable without sacrificing sound quality, the Strauss & Wagner Albi is highly recommended.

The Strauss & Wagner Albi is available at Audio46.

The post Strauss & Wagner Albi Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

Function and Design

First and foremost, the Nyon cable’s swappable terminations make these an upgrade right out of the box. The HD600/650/660S2 and the like all only come with single-ended options. The fact that you can easily swap out terminations means that you’ll now be able to use these and some other 2-pin headphones with a plethora of gear. Although they’re not advertised this way, I was able to change the cable to the new Fostex TH-808. If you do decide to use the Nyon with non-Sennheiser headphones, just be sure to be gentle when fitting the cable. Placing the 2-pin connection in the wrong way could cause them to break or damage the headphone.

At 120cm, this cable is the perfect length to use with a DAC or a laptop. These fit flush into Sennheiser headphones but there is a gap when I used it with the Fostex. OFC silver construction with a copper colored rubber shielding means that you’re getting premium materials. The braiding helps with cable tangling and fits nicely on clothes without feeling heavy.

I didn’t experience any unwanted interference from the cable while using the iBasso DC-Elite. I tried walking around with the DAC plugged into my phone, and no amount of movement or shirt-rubbing gave my any static interference. These cables are clear and fit well with 2-pin connections.

Listening Impressions – Strauss & Wagner Nyon

The most notable bump in the frequency range comes from the high-mids and the treble. I tested the Fostex TH-808 and the Sennheiser HD650 with the Nyon cable. Both of these benefited greatly from the 4.4mm and 2.5mm balanced terminations. The Fostex sound signature has always been a bit too warm for my taste. Adding treble to the TH-808 really took the headphone to the next-level, by mitigating for it’s booming bass. Even through the 3.5mm termination, I still got more of this frequency. The warmness is still present, but adding treble gives them a totally new character which makes them much more pleasant and versatile to me. The “neutral-V” of the HD650 also experienced the same bump in the treble range. This gave them a little more focus and definition in their sound. Basses got a little more punchy in their delivery. In summation, this cable is defintely an upgrade from both of these headphones stock options.

Get the Strauss & Wagner Nyon Cable from their website or from Audio 46

The post Strauss & Wagner Nyon Cable Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box?

• Hagen Braided OFC Silver Braided Cable

• 2.5mm (Balanced), 3.5mm (Unbalanced), 4.4mm (Balanced) Swappable Terminations

Functionality

At 120cm (47.2 in) I was extremely comfortable using this cable plugged into different amps and players. I primarily tested the HD600 with the cable but also the HD650 for a short period of time. Both worked flawlessly without any problem. I used the Astell & Kern SP300T, Ikko Heimdallr ITB03, and Hifiman EF500, and Fiio Q7.

Notably, I got no static interference from any of these amps while using this cable. Sennheiser is a brand well known for their quality control, so the stock cables rarely conduct unwanted electrcical signal from a shirt or the ground. With that in mind, this didn’t happen at all while testing the Hagen. After hours of trying to get them to pop and hiss I was happy to say it didn’t happen.

The silver braided design does lend itself well to not bunching or getting tangled. I can see the OFC silver design and it’s obvious I’m getting better fidelity and conductivity from these than the stock cable. The 3-in-1 universal terminations made it really easy to switch from a 4.4mm balanced to a 3.5mm into the 1/4in Sennheiser adaptor. It’s a pretty ingenious design considering I won’t have to carry around 3 different cables and an adaptor in order to use the headphones at studios or at home.

The only complaint that I could possibly think of would be that the length is too short for working on a mixing desk with a separate amp in a rack or if I wanted to stand away from the desktop amp. At the same time, Strauss & Wagner have just introduced their Ennis cable (XLR Male to 4.4MM Female 366mm). With the addition of that cable extension, you’d be able to have a 15 foot silver braided cable for only $280. At $79.95 by itself, it’s hard finding any reasons to be unhappy with this extremely versatile cable.

Does the Hagen Change the Sound?

The HD600 is without a doubt the benchmark for mid-ranged open back reference/audiophile headphones. The neutral characteristic makes it great for listening to almost any genre. Because of Sennheiser’s proprietary 2-pin design, it’s hard finding upgraded cables that actually improve the quality of these headphones in a discernable way. The Hagen cable was able to fit the port snuggly without any play.

As I previously mentioned, the Hagen improved the fidelity while listening through every DAC/AMP. While testing each one of the amps, I made sure to keep the volume the same during the Hagen and stock cables back-to-back comparison.

When A/Bing the 3.5mm termination to the stock cable I was able to hear a slightly higher volume from the Hagen. The most notable improvements came from the 100-200Hz, 300-500Hz, and 4-5kHz ranges. The width of the soundstage also increased dramatically but I wouldn’t say that they felt more holographic. In my opinion the holographic properties of headphones generally come out more in bigger drivers, where the vertical shift of sound is more stated.

Testing the 4.4mm Hagen termination with the 3.5mm stock cable felt like night and day. All of the changes noted above felt even more dramatic, almost to the point where I thought I was listening to a different pair of headphones. As of now, the HD660S2 are the only pair of Sennheiser 600 series headphones with a 4.4 termination. When comparing prices, the HD600 with the Hagen cable comes out to $429.94 as opposed to $449.95 for the HD660S2. I got a bigger soundstage and better audio quality from the upgraded HD600 than the HD660S2. If I were choosing between both, I’d take the HD600 with the Hagen every time.

All of the clarity and definition I get from the HD600 and other 600 series headphones is still there. These are one of my favorite headphones to listen to and I was not disappointed in the changes made to this classic neutral sound. Everything felt enhanced when listening through the Hagen.

Should You Consider The Hagen

Audiophiles can often get wrapped up in purchasing more and more gear in order to chase the sound they’re looking for. DACs, amps, headphones, adaptors, IEMs and cables all make this hobby an expensive one. With that in mind, if you’re looking to upgrade from the HD600/650/660S2, a $79.95 could be a great way to get more from an already great pair of headphones. The option of listening through balanced outputs really brings these models to the next level. The 3-in-1 terminations also make this cable versatile for listening and for professional use. For all these benefits and virtually no criticisms, I have to give this cable the MajorHI-FI Gold Award.

Get all the products I mentioned at Audio 46

Get the Strauss & Wagner Hagan cable on their website or at Audio 46

The post Strauss & Wagner Hagen Cable Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What You Get

• M15i
• Type-C to Type-C Cable
• Type-C to USB-A Cable
• Warranty Card
• User Manual

Build

From the outside, there isn’t much that separates the M15i from the original. It uses the same basic chassis, with its plexiglass window showing off all the interior components of the DAC. One of the only changes, if you can really call it that, is the naming convention of its gain switch, which now goes by standard and high. It takes a USB-C input, with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs. I thought the old design was great, so in a way, I’m glad that Questlye didn’t feel the need to change it much.

Design

The main component of the M15i is its upgraded DAC. This is a flagship ESS chipset that supports sample rates up to PCM768 and DSD512. It also features a groundbreaking mode of amplification developed by Questlye that implements their SiP modules to deliver great power for many headphones and IEMs no matter the impedance. There’s a total of four modes for current that Questlye aims to help not only deliver the gain but also reveal more details.

Sound Impressions

There wasn’t a single pair of IEMs that the original M15 couldn’t drive efficiently and with impeccable clarity. The M15i does everything that the previous one could but with more subtleties that add a lot to the DAC’s overall performance. With the M15i, it’s not just loudness that will break through, but the shape of the sound takes on a whole new form. A form that displays more dynamic range than just filling the frequency content with more gain.

You still get a nice forward presentation that is accentuated by using open-back headphones, but some IEMs also feature this scenario. Using the HiFiMAN Edition XS and the iBasso 3T-154 actually wielded similar experiences comparing their soundstage and imaging through the M15i. Both were slightly more dimensional, but the precision was the biggest difference. Spatial imaging is by far the biggest improvement that the M15i makes. Everything feels like it has an expanded center, giving instruments more room to move left and right as well as front to back. The balanced output makes this more apparent, with the blank space in between sounds more accentuated.

Headphones and IEMs that have warm timbres are more dominant through the M15i. It’s a clear warmth that controls your headphone’s outward resonance. It’s an organized warmth that highlights texture and minimizes fogginess. The mids and highs feel a bit more reserved but still very natural. It can be considered neutral, but the details on some notes can be quite textured. Nothing really resonates in the treble though, which doesn’t bother me much as the highs still have good clarity.

Summary

Questyle isn’t trying to hide what the M15i is. It sets out to be an upgrade to the M15, and it does that in every way that matters. The sound profile of the M15i has some major differences that feel so much more refined than the previous version. The sound is much more defined, separated by engaging blank spaces that make everything pop. Being the same price as the M15, I don’t think it’s much of a big ask to go for the upgrade, especially if you haven’t used the M15 before. There are some heavy hitters for DAC dongles nowadays, but the M15i still stands tall as one of the best.

The Questyle M15i is available at Audio46.

The post Questyle M15i Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the Box:

• Strauss & Wagner Bern cable

Design 

At the heart of the Bern adapter lies the advanced CS43131 chipset. This DAC that is more than capable of reproducing accurate sound. Capable of processing 32 bit audio, the Bern should be able to serve just about any listener. This includes audiophiles or casual listeners alike. 

The Bern boasts a premium silver build that not only enhances conductivity but also adds a touch of elegance to your audio setup. From its sleek contours to its durable construction, every aspect of the Bern exudes quality craftsmanship. It’s a stylish and reliable companion for your audio adventures.

But the Bern isn’t just about looks; it’s about performance. Its 3.5mm female socket and USB-C plug provide seamless connectivity to a wide range of devices. This ensures compatibility and convenience wherever you go. Whether you’re plugging in your favorite headphones, connecting to a speaker system, or hooking up to a smartphone or laptop, the Bern adapter effortlessly bridges the gap between old and new audio technologies.

Functionality

The Bern is a simple but powerful dongle. Simply plug it into any device with a USB-C port and plug a set of IEMs or headphones in through the 3.5mm socket. Do note that this dongle does not offer balanced capabilities so we’re not talking about the most powerful output in the world. However, for IEMs or easy to drive headphones, this shouldn’t be a problem. 

In my listening, the Bern was able to decipher different file formats with ease, switching between higher resolution FLAC files all the way down to CD quality and mp3s. As advertised, the Bern is able to decode up to 32 bit recordings and in testing, it was absolutely capable of doing that

Being an affordable dongle at $59, the Bern offers a lot of flexibility. 

Build

The Bern is built to hold steady. With solid housings on the USB-C plug as well as the 3.5mm jack, this cable should be able to go with you on the go with great durability. Its silver braided cable isn’t too wiggly or too stiff and doesn’t have too much memory. 

At just 3.9 total inches, the Bern is unobtrusive and pleasant to use. With both IEMs and headphones plugged into both my iPhone 15 and MacBook Air, I never felt burdened by the length or feel of the cable. Convenience was the goal here, and Strauss & Wagner definitely succeeded. 

But does it succeed on sound quality?

Sound

The sound of the Strauss & Wagner Bern is quite good. First and foremost, it’s a transparent little dongle. This means that the CS43131 is well implemented. By processing sound as cleanly as possible, the Bern offers a listening experience that is uncolored by the device itself. It reaches that goal of transporting you to your music, as if there were no devices connecting you in the first place. 

I did the bulk of my listening on the Final Audio E5000 and Campfire Audio Cascara IEMs as well as the Focal Celestee to see how it would fare with over-ear headphones. 

The E5000 made for a very clean listen. I’ve said before that I find the E5000 to have a bit of midbass bloom that with the wrong type of amplification can sound a bit over-warm. But not with the Bern. While the E5000 still comes across as warm, it is by no means bloated or overdone. I found the sound to be overall pretty balanced and the Bern’s presence to be neutral. 

Switching to the Cascara, and the same remained true. I did notice in plugging in the Cascara that the Bern provides plenty of power for these IEMs. I was able to turn up the volume with plenty of headroom left. That said, the background was still pitch black – no noise whatsoever when powering these IEMs. Like with the E5000, I found the sound to be clear and transparent. The Bern allows the IEM to define the sound signature. 

Finally, I wanted to see how the Bern would do with over-ear headphones, so I opted for the Focal Celestee. Now, the Celestee isn’t the most demanding headphone, but I found that it could use a little more amplification when used with the Bern. Don’t get me wrong, you still get a nice vibrant soundstage, clean mids, and airy highs, but dynamics felt like they needed a little more power to really get agile. 

Overall, the sound of the Bern is quite impressive. It doesn’t pack the most power in the world. But for IEMs and easy-to-drive headphones I found performance to be excellent. 

Summary

With a 32 bit DAC built in, it’s hard not to recommend the Bern USB-C DAC/adapter. Whether you simply need it to use your wired audio device with your phone or laptop or you want an upgrade in sound quality from your phone or laptop’s built-in DAC, the Bern is worth checking out. 

The Strauss & Wagner Bern is available at Audio46. 

The post Strauss & Wagner Bern Review appeared first on Major HiFi.

What’s in the box:

• Ennis cable

Functionality

I think it’s safe to say that functionality is a major piece to consider with this product. The use case of this product is for listeners in bigger spaces who want to move around while plugged in. Of course, most high end headphones are not wireless, and even if they were, that would negate the purpose of a high end audio setup. The beauty of the Ennis is that it’s a fully balanced cable that stretches up to 12 feet in length. 

It’s a fair question to wonder why being balanced matters here. Well, to stretch out a cable this long without picking up much interference noise, a balanced design is required. On top of that, many headphones benefit from balanced DACs and amps because they’re more efficient with power. So using a longer single ended cable or wireless headphones is simply not an option.

This is the genius of a 12 foot balanced extension cable. In my experience with the cable, I was able to move around freely at a good distance away from the connected headphone amplifier without picking up any interference noise or distortion of any kind. Testing this out with the Meze Liric II and its supplied 4.4mm cable, I noticed that the connectors locked in securely and neatly. 

The goal here is simple enough and the execution is really great. It’s hard to think of anything wrong with the cable. The only thing I can think of is that the color difference between the original cable and the Ennis is a little glaring. But that’s really not a big deal at all. Different headphone cables will present different experiences here, and one can always get a matching cable from Strauss & Wagner like the recently discussed Sion, which is great for IEMs. 

Sound Impressions

I’ll keep my sound impressions simple because the Ennis really has one major goal. Extend the distance of your listening setup without adding color to the cable it’s extending. And at that, the Ennis is perfect. Listening with the Liric II and Hifiman EF499, I noticed no additional coloration to the sound supplied by Meze’s stock cable. 

Overall, the sound is completely transparent. Bass notes stayed well controlled and deep, mids were neutral warm, and the top end was airy and crisp. Sounds familiar? Well, that’s because that’s how we describe the sound of the Liric II with its stock cable in our review. 

Summary

All told, the Strauss & Wagner Ennis is a simple product with a simple goal: extend the movable distance between the listener and their source device without changing the sound signature of the original device/cable. As a simple converter, this cable works great. I was able to use the stock 4.4mm Liric II cable with a 4-pin XLR input on the EF499 with ease. If you’re the type to move around while listening, perhaps to exercise, work, or even dance along to music, then this cable is worthy of your consideration.

The Strauss & Wagner Ennis is available at Audio46.

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