Audio Products of the Year 2024

[@merovech7]

Your channel is the absolute best bro ❤ the structure and smooth articulated messaging … truly elite level communication style and value ❤

[@PassionforSound]

I'm so glad you're enjoying the content!! ♥️

[@guybrushtwood]

Hearing you say “Shocked the shit outta me” made me happy. As softly and well spoken as you are, one can never remove that pure Aussie blood that runs through our veins 🇦🇺🦘

[@PassionforSound]

Haha. Yep. By not using those words too often, I get to have fun with them when I really want to. 😁😁

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

Well, it's wonderful in my home country of AUSTRALIA - the people are all very humble, religious and respectful folk. Oh, and incidentally, pigs can fly.🤪

[@grahi01]

I took your advice and purchased WBC Pro Quad XLR cables, and, I could not be happier! I inserted them between my pre and amp combo and transformation it brought in is just amazing for such a low price. They are very fast, meaning the sound is snappy but relaxed at the same time, any existing glare is now eliminated and as you mentioned they are dead quiet. This was evident immediately after plugging them in. Thank you very much for your suggestions, much appreciated!

[@PassionforSound]

That's so great to hear! Thanks for sharing your experience. ♥️🙂

[@armyofdorkness6159]

Props for Vulfpeck on the streamer!! Amazing band!

[@PassionforSound]

Absolutely!

[@gregoryhudson3095]

Was just going to say the same thing. Great band indeed.

[@sahitchava1409]

Hi lachlan....great video as always. I was wondering if you would do a first impressions video on the noble audio kublai khan iem

[@PassionforSound]

I don't have any contacts for Noble gear at the moment so I'm not sure if I'll get a chance.

[@LinearTubeAudio]

Grateful and honored to be included in this list... twice! 🙏🤘

[@PassionforSound]

You earned both spots 💯. Adding the 6SN7 Reserve tubes to the Velo sealed the deal (not that it wasn't already going to make the list).

[@ChadBlanchard23]

As always great video! I was surprised that the Aune s17 didn't make the list, but glad to know that there are better choices out there before I bought it.

[@PassionforSound]

It's definitely a nice amp, but didn't wow me enough to get a PoY nod.

[@maximgodunov7717]

@@PassionforSound Would you pick mjolnir 3 for iems and low impedance planars over aune? Did you hear any noise on it?

[@PassionforSound]

@maximgodunov7717 I wouldn't choose it for IEMs but mostly due to the volume range available. It is great for planars of any impedance though.

[@asplmn]

The fact that Lachlan is willing to list the MDR-Z1R on this list is proof he’s a real one. ❤

[@PassionforSound]

Yep. It's about the sound and enjoyment for me and nothing else.

[@treishtrei]

any suggestion on optical cables? i'd appreciate the help with the "good enough" selection

[@PassionforSound]

I go straight to Supra cables for optical. They're good quality and affordable.

[@MykeBinaryMan]

I'm thinking of getting a cheap topping dac to pair with a jds atom as a clean setup for iems

[@SniperPFL]

I picked up the Kanto Oras and the Wiim Pro Plus so far. Maybe next year I'll grab the Wiim Ultra and or the Chord Mojo 2. Who knows what'll be out by then though. Happy so far! Have the Kanto Sub8 already.

[@PassionforSound]

That's great that you're enjoying your current setup. Happy listening!

[@dustinmihalcheon5013]

I have the Edition XS and love it. Currently using the FiiO K11…. But if the Raw MDA-1 is on sale blissful buyers remorse!!

[@PassionforSound]

Yep. Grab the MDA1 if you can 🙂🙂

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

I recently purchased a pair of extra-thick earpads for my HiFiMan Edition XS and HE1000se headphones, and they're highly recommended.

[@bigdave216]

​@@ReverendDr.Thomaswhere did you order them from? Thank you in advance

[@dustinmihalcheon5013]

@ Dekoni?

[@roberthart9886]

VeraFI Audio has many unique products that play well above their MSRP. None more-so than the Snubway: IMHO a must have for lessor preamps and dacs, which tend to suffer from cheap internal power supplies

[@kirchgoens]

Geshelli doesn’t generally do sales, so thaose might not be a Black Friday items?

[@PassionforSound]

As I said in the video, sometimes it's better to buy a product that's not on special if it's clearly better than the ones that are on special. 🙂

[@kirchgoens]

@ No doubt, but there’s no Black Friday rush to catch a good deal that isn’t happening on the better product. I do want a Geshelli, but it won’t happen this week! I have a couple Wiims (various types) and am watching your Wiim review now to decide which to get next (with BF discounts 🙂) to expand my whole house sound. I’m focusing on your advice on an external dac in my Wiim decision, and appreciate what you’ve said in that video. Thank you…

[@PassionforSound]

@kirchgoens so glad I could help!

[@yoloseabassswaggins9336]

is the price difference from the gremlin to the ta-66 worth it?

[@PassionforSound]

It's a question of what you're after because they're very different amps. TA-66 is more suited to high impedance dynamic driver headphones while the Gremlin is a lot more versatile, but also less of a pure tube sound

[@ADAngeloM]

I need that shirt! Where did you get it?

[@PassionforSound]

That one came from Threadheads

[@backrack01]

Have you reviewed the McIntosh MHA200? Just curious about it.. as its not as expensive as one would imagine.

[@PassionforSound]

I haven't tried any McIntosh gear, but would love to

[@backrack01]

@PassionforSound hope you can get your hands on one. it's retails for 2,500 usd. Seems pretty affordable for a McIntosh.

[@russellnedland4569]

On the subject of spending lots of money, I couldn’t decide between Bokeh’s and Atriums, so I ordered them both. Lol. The Atriums come with the ofc cable (which you didn’t prefer over the stock cable). I’m considering the zmf pro cable or the lektrik or perhaps an arctic define cable. Any suggestions on a copper litz cable.

[@PassionforSound]

Any quality copper litz cable should be equivalently good if they are of similar quality. I'd go with what you like the look of at that point.

[@russellnedland4569]

@ As far as purity, in your experience is there an audible difference between 3N, 5N, and 7N copper?

[@PassionforSound]

@russellnedland4569 yes. Higher purity results in better sound if all else is equal. I'm producing a video at the moment with a bunch of research that indirectly explains why this is.

[@liamporter1137]

Great sharing. Thanks.

[@PassionforSound]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@ValterSuriZis]

hello, if we change the OPA-amp in the Fosi ZA3 in stereo mode, is it necessary to replace three OPA-amps, that means all except the two for the sub. Thank you, I wish you success in your work and good health

[@PassionforSound]

If you're running in stereo mode, you can just change the front two op-amps if you want to. The third op-amp is for the processing of the input and has less impact. I still changed it and felt it improved the sound even further, but it's not as important if you want to save some money.

[@-loki-7727]

Best intro ever!

[@PassionforSound]

😂 I'm glad you liked it!

[@gavinxq1224]

Just come from Arya vs HE1000SE video to this. Arya is a must have in my opinion.

[@PassionforSound]

They're definitely brilliant

[@nnamuenmada]

Bro, Meze 105 AER is not even available to purchase yet, and zero discount. How can this be on Black Friday and Cyber Monday video...

[@PassionforSound]

I explained this clearly in the opening of the video...

[@JTB--]

The FiiO FT1 Closed Back at $150 is a BF deal all year around. Total bang for the buck HP! A Giant Killer/Slayer

[@PassionforSound]

I'm excited to review it soon along with the FT1 Pro

[@edgardo1166]

No best speakers?

[@PassionforSound]

Sadly no. I haven't reviewed enough speakers to have options to include here. The Monitor Audio Bronze 50s were nice, but not PoY worthy.

[@Bootrosgali]

Just because you didn't get sent the Noire X should mean you ignore its recent existence

[@PassionforSound]

It's not ignoring something to not recommend a product you've never heard...

[@Bootrosgali]

​@@PassionforSoundha But one company releasing the best budget price to performance headphones in both types in the space of 3 months is an award of the year in itself. Fiio. Look forward to the Noire X review!

[@PassionforSound]

I've got the FT1 and FT1 Pro here for review now, but haven't tried either yet. It's unlikely I'll get the Noire X in for review.

[@Bootrosgali]

Ok, thats disappointing. Peace and love for Xmas from Ireland ​@PassionforSound

[@kenneyt9]

i bought the aune s17 pro for 449 euro :)

[@shawnpwatsons1]

wow.

[@raymondschoffelen6557]

Where did you find that fantastic buy?

[@PassionforSound]

Nice deal!

[@kenneyt9]

@@raymondschoffelen6557 holland . Was the last one in stock. Als got the ar5000 for 249

[@bribrishyguy6516]

Can't believe you're still promoting verums even only for a second.

[@pkal244]

Curious why you're promoting Verum Audio after it was exposed how racist the owner is.

[@Lif-999]

1. I defy anyone to be able to consistantly diferentiate between op amps in DB listening tests. 2. People who like valves in audio, clearly have no idea of the inferior linearity and distortion characteristics when compared to solid state. Addendum: This post is being actively redacted! Suggestion: Don't post if you are so overly sensitive.

[@_DeepGroove_]

Hi-fi is more often my-fi

[@2501mandala]

I think most vacuum tube fans know about distortion and linearity but don’t care; vacuum tube sounds better, at least to me, and that’s all that matters. I’m not in this audio game to enjoy measurements.

[@Lif-999]

@@2501mandala Measurements are the means by which engineers design and build audio equipment capable of reproducing sound that is consistant, clean and flat across the audio spectrum. If you don't care about matters of linearity and distortion, you are not in "this audio game" at all!

[@2501mandala]

@ such hubris. I’ll be the judge of whether I’m in this game.

[@Lif-999]

@@2501mandala Your original statement: "vacuum tube sounds better, at least to me, and that’s all that matters", is where the hubris started! But hey, let us not carry on with this anymore.