FiiO has spent a decade quietly perfecting the pocket DAC/amp, and the BTR17 is the point where the formula stops feeling like a compromise. This is a Bluetooth dongle that, given a second USB cable, will drive a pair of planars that used to demand a desk full of separates. The BTR7 was good; this is the one that made me wonder what my desktop stack is actually for.
This is the first in a short series of three reviews looking at the current Geshelli Labs lineup. Geshelli is a husband-and-wife operation out of Florida — Geno builds the gear, Shelley runs the shop, and the whole thing has the feel of a small workshop where someone actually picks up the phone when you ring. After living with their J2S DAC, Archel 3S Pro and Erish 3 Pro for a few weeks I wanted to write each one up properly, because there’s something genuinely lovable about what they’re doing.
Cambridge Audio has been a cornerstone of British HiFi since 1968. The CXN100 is their latest network streamer, and it represents everything the company does well — serious engineering at a price that doesn’t require selling the family silver. As a fellow Brit, I have a soft spot for Cambridge Audio’s no-nonsense approach.
Handsome in that understated British way. The CXN100 has a full-width HiFi component design with a colour display, brushed aluminium front panel, and solid construction. It looks the part sitting in a traditional HiFi stack, and the build quality reflects Cambridge Audio’s decades of manufacturing experience.
The Bluesound Node has been the go-to recommendation for audiophile streaming for years. The Node X ups the ante with an improved DAC section and MQA-free future-proofing. Built on the BluOS platform — one of the most mature multi-room audio ecosystems available — it’s the establishment choice for serious streaming.
Sleek, compact, and well-built. The Node X has a subtle redesign with a touch-sensitive top panel and clean lines that blend into any living room setup. Build quality is a step up from the WiiM — it feels more premium, with better material choices and a heavier, more solid chassis.
WiiM has done to streaming what Schiit did to amplification — taken a category dominated by expensive products and delivered exceptional performance at a price that embarrasses the competition. The Ultra is their flagship, and it’s sent shockwaves through the streaming world.
Compact and attractive with a touchscreen display that actually works well. The Ultra packs streaming, DAC, preamp, and headphone amp into a surprisingly small package. Build quality is good — solid plastic and metal construction that feels well-made without being premium. Connectivity is excellent: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, USB, optical, coaxial, and HDMI ARC. Outputs include RCA, optical, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Violectric, from Konstanz on the shores of Lake Constance, has been building premium headphone amplifiers since before headphone amplifiers were fashionable. The HPA V200 is their classic model — a fully discrete, dual-mono design that’s been a reference in the headphone community for years. German engineering at its most confident.
Built like a Bavarian bank vault. The V200 is heavy, solid, and impeccably constructed. Every connection, every component speaks of professional-grade manufacturing. The front panel has dual headphone outputs (6.3mm), a pre-gain switch, and a smooth, precise volume control. Inputs include balanced XLR and RCA. There’s no balanced headphone output — Violectric provides that on the V280/V281 models above.
The Singxer SA-1 is a fully balanced, Class A headphone amplifier that costs a fraction of what similar designs command from established brands. Using discrete components throughout, it delivers the warmth and authority of Class A amplification at a price that seems almost too good to be true.
Impressive for the money. Full aluminium chassis, large volume knob, comprehensive front panel with gain and input selection. The SA-1 runs warm (Class A bias draws significant power), so ventilation is important. Both 4-pin XLR and 4.4mm balanced outputs are provided alongside standard 6.3mm. Build quality is solid and professional.
Lake People is the professional division of Violectric — same German engineering, same factory in Konstanz, but targeted at studios rather than audiophiles. The G111 is their workhorse headphone amp, and it’s one of the best-kept secrets in headphone audio. No frills, no nonsense, just superb amplification.
Industrial and professional. The G111 looks like it belongs in a broadcast facility — clean aluminium chassis, simple front panel with volume and gain controls, 6.3mm output. It’s built to professional standards with balanced XLR inputs and a robust internal layout. Not beautiful, but reassuringly purposeful.
Burson Audio from Melbourne takes a different approach to headphone amplification — big, powerful, and unashamedly musical. The Soloist 3X GT is their flagship headphone amp, using Burson’s proprietary discrete op-amps and a Class A/AB circuit that delivers more power than most headphones will ever need. It’s the V8 muscle car of headphone amps.
Substantial. The Soloist 3X GT is a large unit with a machined aluminium case that runs warm — it’s Class A biased, so this is by design. The front panel has a motorised volume knob, gain switch, and input selector. Build quality is excellent with a premium, industrial aesthetic.
The Topping A90 Discrete is the measurement champion’s headphone amp. Like its DAC stablemate the D90LE, it measures extraordinarily well — essentially transparent by any objective standard. Topping replaced the original A90’s op-amp design with a fully discrete circuit, and the result is their most refined amplifier to date.
Full-size desktop unit with a clean, professional aesthetic. The front panel has a large volume knob, gain switch (low/high), input selector, and power button. Balanced XLR and 4.4mm outputs join the standard 6.3mm single-ended. Build quality is solid aluminium throughout.