Same chain, same listener

Every audio gear head-to-head, in one place.

33 side-by-side comparisons across 6 categories. Every pair on this list was tested on the same chain, by the same listener, against the same reference recordings, so the score gap between two reviews represents real, comparative difference, not calibration drift between reviewers on different days.

Pairs are auto-selected: same category, score within 1.0, shared tags, and each review in the other's top-3 most-similar list.

Headphones 22 comparisons

Open-back, closed-back, planar magnetic, dynamic, and IEMs.

  1. HIFIMAN Arya Organic 9.2 HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled 9.1 Tight call
  2. HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled 9.1 OLLO Audio X1 8.9 0.2 pt gap
  3. HIFIMAN Arya Organic 9.2 HIFIMAN Arya Stealth 8.7 0.5 pt gap
  4. HIFIMAN Arya Stealth 8.7 HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled 9.1 0.4 pt gap
  5. HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled 9.1 Meze 105 Silva 8.7 0.4 pt gap
  6. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano 8.6 HIFIMAN Arya Unveiled 9.1 0.5 pt gap
  7. HIFIMAN Sundara 9.0 Meze 105 Silva 8.7 0.3 pt gap
  8. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano 8.6 HIFIMAN Sundara 9.0 0.4 pt gap
  9. Meze 105 Silva 8.7 OLLO Audio X1 8.9 0.2 pt gap
  10. HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth 8.8 HIFIMAN Arya Stealth 8.7 Tight call
  11. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano 8.6 HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth 8.8 0.2 pt gap
  12. HIFIMAN Arya Stealth 8.7 HIFIMAN Edition XS 8.7 Tight call
  13. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano 8.6 HIFIMAN Arya Stealth 8.7 Tight call
  14. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano 8.6 HIFIMAN Edition XS 8.7 Tight call
  15. Flare Audio E-PROTOTYPE 8.0 Kiwi Ears Belle, Cadenza II, Orchestra II 8.1 Tight call
  16. HIFIMAN RE800 Silver 8.0 Kiwi Ears Belle, Cadenza II, Orchestra II 8.1 Tight call
  17. Kiwi Ears Belle, Cadenza II, Orchestra II 8.1 Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite 8.0 Tight call
  18. Sivga Anser 8.0 Sivga Luan 8.1 Tight call
  19. Flare Audio E-PROTOTYPE 8.0 HIFIMAN RE800 Silver 8.0 Tight call
  20. Flare Audio E-PROTOTYPE 8.0 Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite 8.0 Tight call
  21. HIFIMAN RE800 Silver 8.0 Kiwi Ears Orchestra Lite 8.0 Tight call
  22. Sivga Anser 8.0 Verum Audio Verum 1 8.0 Tight call

Speakers 3 comparisons

Bookshelf, floorstanding, active and passive, studio monitors.

  1. Diora Acoustics Chors 5 8.5 Triangle Australe EZ 8.1 0.4 pt gap
  2. Diora Acoustics Chors 5 8.5 Triangle Borea BR09 8.0 0.5 pt gap
  3. Triangle Australe EZ 8.1 Triangle Borea BR09 8.0 Tight call

DACs 3 comparisons

Desktop, portable, R-2R ladder, and delta-sigma DACs.

  1. SMSL DL100 8.2 SMSL DO100 PRO 8.0 0.2 pt gap
  2. SMSL DL100 8.2 SMSL RAW-MDA1 8.0 0.2 pt gap
  3. SMSL DO100 PRO 8.0 SMSL RAW-MDA1 8.0 Tight call

Headphone Amps 1 comparison

Desktop headphone amps and DAC/amp combos, tube and solid-state.

  1. HIFIMAN EF499 8.1 HIFIMAN EF500 8.2 Tight call

Speaker Amps & Preamps 1 comparison

Power amps, integrated amps, and line preamps for loudspeakers.

  1. Tonewinner AD-1PA+ 9.0 Tonewinner AD-2PRO+ 8.8 0.2 pt gap

Accessories 3 comparisons

Cables, stands, headphone pads, room treatment, and tweaks.

  1. AudioMica 4-all-in-1 Cable Set 8.5 Melodika Brown Sugar BSSC95xx 8.5 Tight call
  2. AudioMica 4-all-in-1 Cable Set 8.5 Melodika Brown Sugar BSSC4500 8.2 0.3 pt gap
  3. Melodika Brown Sugar BSSC4500 8.2 Melodika Brown Sugar BSSC95xx 8.5 0.3 pt gap