In-Depth Reviews | The Master Switch

Our Most Recent Gear Reviews

SVS 3000 Micro Review: The Most Impressive Sub We’ve Ever Tested

Bass lovers swear by bigger subwoofers. The bigger the cabinet, the bigger the driver, and the bigger the wattage. More wattage equals more air moved which equals bigger bass. SVS, the Ohio-based speaker-maker decided that this wouldn’t do.

SVS SB-2000 Pro Review: Bigger is Better

SVS recently updated their main subwoofer lines, adding the word ‘Pro’ to the names. Hence, the SVS SB-2000 Pro, a reimagined version of the SB-2000. But this is no small beans upgrade.

Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch Review: True Wireless Brilliance

Up until now, if we were to advise someone about the best true wireless earbuds (as in, earbuds that have no wires at all) we would have talked about Sony, Bose, Apple, maybe even Samsung. Now, we think we can add Cambridge Audio to that rarefied list.

Schiit Magnius Review: The Perfect Balance

Schiit Audio—it’s pronounced exactly like you think it is—make some of the best and most affordable hi-fi gear you can buy. We go out of our way not to show favoritism on this site, but Schiit make it incredibly difficult.

SVS SB-1000 Pro Review: This Is How You Upgrade a Sub

In the audio world, France is famous for its headphones, and England for its amps. But if you want the best bass on the planet, you need to go to Ohio. For there you will find SVS, a subwoofer and speaker maker who quite simply raise the bar...

MartinLogan Motion 35XTi Review

Say the word MartinLogan around audiophiles - yes, it’s one word, there’s no space between Martin and Logan, poor bastards - and you’ll get a knowing smile and a wink, as if you’ve just spoken a secret password.

Sennheiser GSP 370 Review

The Sennheiser GSP 370 has a reputation as a beast. We’ve never tested a pair of Sennheiser headphones we didn’t like; however, we wanted to put these through the nine circles of headset Hell.

SVS SB-3000 Review: An Almost Perfect Subwoofer

Building the perfect subwoofer isn’t just about volume or power, in the same way that the perfect hot fried chicken isn’t just about nuclear levels of cayenne pepper.

Cambridge Audio CXA61 Review

Picking the best stereo amplifier for your setup can be a huge challenge. We know this all too well. There are quite literally thousands of amps available, from tiny desktop models to massive, five-figure beasts.

Headphone Reviews

Review: 1More Triple Driver In-Ears

It's not easy to create a best-selling pair of earbuds. Doing so without sacrificing sound quality is even harder. And keeping things affordable? That's the grand slam.

Review: 1More Triple Driver Over-Ear Headphones

Review: 1More Triple Driver Over-Ears

With very few flaws, and an almost endless number of positives, the TDOEs are among the best headphones you can buy for this price. If you're looking for something a little different, look no further.

1More Stylish True Wireless Review

True wireless earbuds are amazing technology, but can be tricky to get right. Details like pairing and controls can often defeat the best companies, even if they haven’t stumbled before. Which is why we were so excited to test the 1More Stylish.

Review: ADVANCED Alpha

We had never heard of ADVANCED. Before this year’s CANJAM New York event, they had flown completely under our radar. We have no idea why - normally, we’re pretty good with this kind of thing. Then we heard their Alphas.

Review: Apple AirPods

The Apple AirPods created a wave of truly wireless earbuds, but they never quite made our review list. Until today. They managed to snag a spot in our most recent wireless headphones roundup, and we’d like to go further into why we chose them.

Audeara A-01 Review

Perhaps it’s something in the water. For whatever reason, Australia has become the center of personalized sound – audio which customises itself to your hearing. On that note, meet the Audeara A-01s...

Review: AUDEZE EL-8 Titanium

There were plenty of manufacturers ready to capitalise on the new Lightning standard, and Audeze, predictably, were one of them. The EL-8 Titanium is their attempt to create a pair of planar magnetic cans that can operate off an iPhone 7.

AUDEZE LCD-2 Classic Headphone Review

If you’re an audio company, thinking of sending us (or anybody else) product for review, here’s a super handy pro tip for how to catch our attention, and make whatever you’re sending stand out from the massive pile of gadgets we have...

Review: AUDEZE Mobius

When AUDEZE told us they had a secret project in the works, our first thought was not ‘gaming headset’. Why would it be? AUDEZE are known for stellar headphones, but not for gaming. Then they sent us the Mobius.

Review: Audiofly AF1120

If it weren’t for the fact that the Audiofly AF1120 in-ear monitors are in the conversation for the best we’ve ever listened to, we would have chucked it in long ago. Because there are so. Many. Tangles.

Review: AudioQuest NightHawk Carbon

It’s always a bit of a gamble, calling something cool. Cool is such an ephemeral term. After all, Limp Bizkit were once cool. So were Capri pants, ironic T-shirts, Blackberries. The Audioquest NightHawk Carbons are cool, and always will be.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 2.0 Review

Bang & Olufsen have always felt like a dark horse in the headphone world. The company makes excellent stuff, but we’ve always associated the Danish audio wizards with speakers, first and foremost.

Review: Beats by Dre BeatsX

The BeatsX wireless earbuds have become stupidly popular. Despite the upsurge in true wireless headphones - in other words, ones without any cable at all - they've managed to sell extremely well.

Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro Review

Beats by Dre certainly don’t have a great reputation. Despite their purchase by Apple, the headphones they’ve released have been almost universally terrible. But boy, did the Powerbeats Pro surprise us...

Review: Beats by Dre Solo3 Wireless

We recently reviewed the Beats by Dre Studio3 Wireless, and awarded them the title of worst headphones ever made. A little harsh? Not quite. Maybe the Solo3 Wireless can avenge them.

Beats by Dre Studio3 Wireless Review

Beats by Dre are arguably the easiest brand to pick out of a crowd. The infamous “b” located on any earcup, bud, or case can be spotted from a mile away.

Beats by Dre urBeats3 Review

The urBeats3 in-ear headphones are among the company's top-sellers, and we recently spent a month with a pair to find out why. It is a month we will regret until the end of time.

Review: Beyerdynamic Amiron Home

With headphones, it’s not just about the sound quality. There is so much more that makes a good pair, and it starts the moment you open the box. To be truly excellent, a pair of headphones has to impress from the very start.

Review: Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless

Beyerdynamic make some of the best headphones on the planet. They’ve been doing it for quite a long time, so they know a thing or two about sound. But they have surprisingly few Bluetooth models...

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 Review

The Noise Cancelling 700 Headphones are meant to be Bose’s secret weapon. They are the next salvo in the noise-canceling wars, one designed to take out Sony for good.

Review: Bose SoundLink II

Bose made their name with noise-canceling tech. They’ve earned their reputation for it - it’s among the best in the world - but how do they fare when they create a pair of headphones that don’t have any noise-canceling capabilities?

Review: Bose QuietComfort 35 II

The Bose QuietComfort 35 IIs are the best wireless travel headphones available. We have absolutely no doubt about this. After spending a month with them, including two international trips, we concluded that, in this regard, they are simply unbeatable.

Review: Bowers & Wilkins P7 Wireless

The wireless headphones market is getting pretty crowded these days. Ever since Apple dropped the stink bomb about removing the headphone jack from the new iPhone models, manufacturers have been falling over themselves to issue Bluetooth headsets.

Review: Brainwavz B200

Meet Brainwavz: a company with a slightly strange name, based out of Vancouver, Canada, who make some fun stuff. Most of it is of the portable audio variety, and their B200s are a good example.

Review: Brainwavz B400

Every so often, companies will send us multiple bits of gear to review. We love this – it plays merry hell with our review schedule, but it gives us a chance to compare and contrast, and really get an insight into their strengths and weaknesses...

Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch Review: True Wireless Brilliance

Campfire Audio Polaris 2 Review

In-ear technology has come a long way in just a few short years. While wireless earbuds increase in popularity, companies like Campfire Audio keep pounding away with new wired designs, focusing purely on high quality audio.

Focal Clear Review

To more established headphone companies like Sennheiser and AUDEZE, it must have felt like getting hit with a freight train. When French speaker manufacturer Focal made the decision to push deep into the market, few would have predicted their success.

Review: Focal Elegia

When you make the best headphones on the planet, you can afford to sit back and enjoy the acclaim. And yet Focal, a French company who produce the astounding Utopia headphones, refuse to settle.

Review: Focal Listen Wireless

The French company Focal are primarily known as speaker makers – but at the moment, they are enormously keen to get the word out about their headphones. Their Listen Wireless is an interesting attempt to hit the budget wireless market...

Review: Focal Spark

Earbuds and in-ear monitors can be a really weird market. Its devotees are legion, and they’re often prepared to give these often very affordable and seemingly inconsequential devices a huge amount of love and attention and analysis.

Review: Focal Spark Wireless

Last year, we reviewed the Focal Spark, an excellent pair of buds that retail for a little under $70. When they were shipped to us, they also included the wireless version, unsurprisingly called the Focal Spark Wireless.

Review: Focal Utopia

The Focal Utopia are the best headphones on the planet. That’s not hyperbole. It’s not shilling. It’s just the truth. Of all the hundreds of headphone models available today, these are the best. End of discussion.

Review: Fostex TH610

If you love headphones like we do, one of the most annoying things is trying to convince others that they can be objects of beauty. Where we see smooth curves, perfect headband design, and clever use of materials, others only see bulky plastic...

Review: Grado SR325e

Grado's SR325e headphones might not be the newest model, but the company recently shared a little bit of their cachet with us at The Master Switch, and since these headphones are still very much available, we decided we’d give them a full review.

Review: HiFiMan Edition S

The HiFiMan Edition S. You might call them Schrodinger’s Headphones: they’re both closed and open back until you decide which one you want. They are also, just in case you were wondering, bloody brilliant.

HyperX Cloud Alpha S Review

Today we meet the newest member of the HyperX Cloud family: The Alpha S. As the youngest scion of the Alpha bloodline, the Alpha S has a lot to prove.

HyperX Cloud Orbit S Review

Gamers have officially been blessed with the industry’s newest gaming headset: the HyperX Cloud Orbit S. If you’ve been keeping an ear to the ground, you’ll have heard the buzz about this team-up between HyperX and AUDEZE.

Jabra Elite 85H Review

If you want an example of an arms race in the audio world, check out the drive to create the best wireless noise-canceling headphones. Now a new challenger has entered the race, in the form of the Elite 85H headphones from Jabra.

Jabra Elite Active 65t Review

Spoiler alert: we think the Jabra Elite Active 65t are best earbuds currently available. They aren't perfect, but they do so many things so well that it would be crazy to put anything else above them.

Review: Jaybird Freedom Wireless

Although they can initially be bewildering, they’re a real gem, and it’s clear that Jaybird put a lot of thought into the way they work.

Review: Master & Dynamic MW07

We're big fans of New York's Master & Dynamic. They've got a knack for creating headphones with a distinctive look and feel, which also happen to sound fantastic.

Review: Master & Dynamic MH40

New York’s Master & Dynamic remain one of the most underrated headphone companies around. They produce some absolutely phenomenal gear – such as the wireless MW50s – and it all started with the MH40s.

Review: Master & Dynamic MW50

The world of on-ear Bluetooth headphones isn’t exactly known being a luxury market. One manufacturer looking to buck that particular trend is New York's Master & Dynamic.

Review: MEE audio Pinnacle P1

Reviewing the MEE audio Pinnacle P1 earbuds is quite a challenge. They are both an almost reference-grade high-end set of monitors...

MEZE 99 Classics Headphone Review

Exquisite. That’s the word that came to mind when we first pulled the Romanian-made MEZE 99 Classics out of their carrier case. It’s not a reaction that most audio equipment inspires, and definitely not a reaction inspired by most headphones.

Review: MEZE 99 Neo

How do you top a classic? Because that’s what the original MEZE 99 Classics are – both in name, and in experience, a genuinely brilliant pair of headphones that we previously awarded Editor’s Choice. If you’re Antonio Meze, you don’t

Review: MEZE 11 Neo

We make no bones about being huge fans of MEZE Headphones here at The Master Switch. Why wouldn’t we be? The Romanian company blew our minds with the gorgeous 99 Classics over-ear model, which is probably our favorite pair of this year.

Review: Modular Mod-1 Wireless

If you’ve never heard the name Modular, or Mod-1, we aren’t surprised. Until recently, we hadn’t either. But Modular has released a pair of wireless headphones that might just dethrone the uber-popular Beats by Dre Solo3 Wireless.

Review: Monoprice Monolith M1060

How would you like to read a review of the most hyped headphones on the planet? That’s no exaggeration. In the past year, no other pair of headphones has caused as much intrigue...

Review: Nuraphone

Despite what headphone makers would have you believe, major leaps forward have been few and far between. We’re talking tweaks, new materials, advanced tuning. Actual innovations don’t come along all that often. Until Nuraphone.

Review: OPPO PM-2

It’s not often that a company known for making Blu-ray players creates waves in the audio world. And it’s a little sad that no matter how big OPPO gets, they will always inevitably be introduced with those words.

Review: Optoma NuForce BE2

We were curious to try out Optoma NuForce's Be2 earbuds - while the company may be boring, in terms of corporate identity, their equipment has impressed us before.

Review: Optoma Nuforce BE Sport3

We’ll admit: it was a little bit surprising when we got a pair of sports earbuds from Optoma. It may have even been a bit of a “Wait, what?” moment. Optoma? The really good but slightly square company who make projectors, DACs, professional-grade...

Review: Parrot Zik 3 Wireless

Never before has one pair of cans offered so much. It’s as if the designers of Parrot’s new Zik 3 headphones decided to see just how many things they could pack into its slender frame.

Review: Periodic Audio Titanium

We weren’t too familiar with Periodic Audio before. Yes, we know, perhaps we should be, but there are a lot of audio companies out there and we aren’t omniscient. We should have been paying closer attention...

Review: Phiaton BT 460

When you test as much all your equipment as we do, it’s actually quite amazing how impatient you can get. Time and again, we find ourselves getting frustrated...

Review: Pioneer C8

We are professional audio journalists, and even we struggle to keep up with the sheer deluge of true wireless earbuds. Several hit the market every week. The latest company to try their luck is Pioneer...

Review: PSB M4U 8 Wireless

PSB Speakers is a household name. The head honcho, Paul Barton, really wanted to recreate the same PSB sound that we all know and love, and put that tech into something a little more portable.

Review: Puro Sound Labs BT5200

One of the things that we, and just about everybody who loves music, are not very good at is looking after our hearing. When there are so many fantastic headphones and speakers to listen to, who cares about resting your ears?

Review: RHA T20i

Through its precision engineering and already acclaimed audio performance, RHA - a Glasgow-based company specialising in in-ear tech - has already managed to attract plenty of attention...

Review: Rock Jaw Alfa Genus V2

Rock Jaw Audio is an independent headphone manufacturer that was founded in June 2012 from a humble bedroom in leafy Leicestershire, England. Focusing exclusively on the earbud headphone market...

Sennheiser GSP 370 Review

The Sennheiser GSP 370 has a reputation as a beast. We’ve never tested a pair of Sennheiser headphones we didn’t like; however, we wanted to put these through the nine circles of headset Hell.

Review: Sennheiser HD630VB

Whether you’re just getting into the world of audiophile headphones, or you’re an established geek looking for something new, you need to hear these.

Review: Sennheiser HD1 Wireless

Some things in this world just work. Bacon sandwiches. Very cold beer. Dre and Pac on California Love. The relationship between Supergirl and The Flash. And the Sennheiser HD1s.

Review: Sennheiser PXC 550

The Sennheiser PXC 550s are simultaneously one of the most convenient, enjoyable pairs of headphones we’ve ever used, and also the most infuriating.

Review: Shinola Canfield In-Ears

If you’ve heard the name Shinola, you’re probably familiar with the luxury watches, accessories, or even bicycles that they make.

Simgot EK3 Review

If you want the best in-ear headphones on the market, you have to look to China. Nowhere else matches stunning audio quality with excellent build standards like Chinese audio designers do, and Simgot are a perfect example of expert craftsmanship.

Review: Sol Republic Master Tracks

Most headphone companies probably wouldn’t dare attempt what Sol Republic does with their Master Tracks. Put a pair of Sony headphones out the box, and all you have to do is plug them in and put them on. Not these.

Sony WF-1000XM3 Review

Incorporating noise-canceling technology in a pair of earbuds is incredibly difficult. Doing it well is almost impossible. Fortunately, nobody discouraged Sony from trying.

Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphone Review

Sony may not be able to come up with snappy names, but they make some seriously snappy headphones. The WH-1000XM3 are wireless, noise-canceling headphones that we believe are the best pair currently available. No doubt, no question.

Status Audio BT Structure Review

While true wireless earbuds are increasing in popularity, traditional wireless earbuds are still being made. Recently, we’ve had a chance to test a new pair from Status Audio. But in a world where earbud tech is advancing faster than we can keep up with/

Turtle Beach Elite Atlas Review

In the world of gaming audio, words like alpha, ultimate, elite get thrown around more readily than insults in Gordan Ramsay’s kitchen. Today, we’re going to unpack a set of Turtle Beach’s Elite Atlas gaming heasset to find out if it deserves the name.

Review: Thinksound On2

Very few audio designers are as accomplished as Aaron Fournier. After stints at Tivoli Audio and V-Moda, the Boston-based engineer started his own company, Thinksound, with the goal of making environmentally-friendly headphones that sounded fantastic.

Review: V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless

You’re not going to believe us when we tell you this, but you can get everything you need to know about V-MODA by taking one look at their warranty program. See, they don’t call it a warranty. They call it the Immortal Life Guarantee.

ZMF Aeolus Review

Zach Mehrbach is the closest thing the headphone world has to a rockstar. He is one of the most highly regarded engineers in the business – at audio shows, his stall is always heaving with fans wanting to check out his latest creation.

Speaker & Subwoofer Reviews

1More Portable BT Speaker Review

1More make some of our favorite headphones and earbuds of all time. Naturally, we were quite excited when we found out they were releasing their first Bluetooth speaker.

Review: Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen)

Amazon’s Echo series has been a trailblazer for smart speakers. The company was among the first to make virtual assistants available to the world, and with their budget Echo Dot line, they’ve made it even easier to get a smart speaker in your life.

Review: Amazon Echo Spot

Every company in the world is putting out smart speakers. More often than not, they’ll attach a screen to them. At the time of writing this review, the best smart speaker with a screen, in our opinion, is still the tiny little Amazon Echo Spot.

Aperion Audio Novus 5.0.2 Review

It’s tough to make a mark as an independent home theater company. When the big players have a stranglehold on the industry, getting in can be tricky. Oregon’s Aperion Audio are one of the few to have done it successfully.

Review: Apple HomePod

When Apple announced they were releasing a smart speaker, we were sceptical. This is not a company known for amazing sound quality. But while we wanted to hate the HomePod, it won us over - and we think it will win you over, too.

Audioengine HD3 Review

It’s hard not to be enamoured with Audioengine. They make some of the most enjoyable speakers available, from the superlative A5+ powered speakers to the thundering S8 subwoofer. And they've really turned heads with the HD3.

Review: Audioengine HDP6

The bookshelf speaker market is hugely competitive, with hundreds of companies putting out everything from tiny wireless wonders to huge monoliths that shade the line between bookshelf and tower speakers. Audioengine have made waves here.

Review: Beats Pill+

Beats by Dre have yet to make a pair of headphones that impress us. But how do they fare when they get a chance to boost the power, and try their hand at an actual speaker?

Review: Bryston BryFi

Bryston are the last people we expected to see in the wireless speaker space. The venerable Canadian company is better known for producing incredible amplifiers, all done with a kind of nerdy, functional charm.

Review: Cambridge Audio Minx Air 200

Wireless audio is a big hit, and is quickly becoming the latest serial home invader. You won’t see it, but these days you will certainly hear it, loud and clear. The Air 200 speaker is the perfect example.

Devialet Gold Phantom Review

Everybody always forgets about France. When people think of high-end audio, they think of Germany and Austria, Great Britain, and Japan. They don’t think about the French...

Edifier S350DB Review

And now for one of the more interesting 2.1 systems we’ve had the pleasure to plug in: the Edifier S350DBs. The S350DBs are large and powerful bookshelf boomers that provide a whopping upgrade to your home entertainment or computer setup...

Fluance Signature Series HiFi Review

It's easy to buy a set of acceptable, budget bookshelf speakers. It's very, very hard to buy a pair that truly excel. Canadian speaker-maker Fluance wants to remedy that, with a pair of nifty sub-$200 speakers. But have they succeeded?

Review: Focal Sib Evo 5.1.2 Home Theater System

Focal Sib Evo 5.1.2 Review

When they’re not producing the world’s best headphones, French audio wizards Focal spend their time producing some rather good speaker systems. We recently spent a month with one of these, the Focal Sib Evo 5.1.2.

Review: Google Home

With the recent explosion of smart speakers, it can be tough to figure out which one’s right for you. So, we’ve decided to test them all - starting with the Google Home.

Google Home Hub Review

In the race to build the world’s best smart speaker, Google have a significant lead. Their Google Assistant is the most intelligent AI on the market, easily besting those from Amazon and Apple. But what happens if they add a screen into the mix?

Review: Grace Digital Mondo+

Weirdly, we don’t get a ton of tabletop radios for review here. No idea why; we’ve certainly asked. The big companies - Como, Bose, Tivoli - seem curiously resistant to letting us try their gear. Grace Digital are different.

JBL Charge 3 Review

Yes, we’re reviewing another wireless speaker. And before our diehard fans start throwing rotten tomatoes and accusing us of brainwash, we’ll tell you why. Sit back down in your chair and be prepared to read about one of the most popular speakers...

JBL Flip 4 Review

Portable speakers are booming, with new models popping up every couple months. All of them are fighting for the crown, including the all-popular JBL.

Review: Kanto SYD

Every new wireless speaker we receive feels like it’s more complicated than the last. With the SYD, Kanto are trying something a little more old-school, releasing a Bluetooth speaker that is refreshingly simple.

Kanto TUK Review

We have a soft spot for Kanto, and not just because they come from Coquitlam - a town no more than a few miles away from our offices in Vancouver, BC. We have a soft spot for them because they make genuinely fantastic wireless speakers.

Review: KEF EGG

KEF are legendary. We trust we don’t have to dwell on this. The speaker maker has been wowing listeners for quite some time, with models like the LS50 and LS50 Wireless that offer some truly magnificent sound.

KEF LSX Speaker Review

KEF make some of the finest speakers in the world, as anyone who has heard the $30,000 Blades will attest to. But they also make much more affordable models that deliver killer sound without killing your wallet.

Klipsch RP-500SA Review

Once you’ve experienced Dolby Atmos, it’s really hard to go back to anything else. Like flying first class on a business trip, then coach on vacation. Fortunately, getting the right speakers for Atmos isn’t difficult, and is actually quite affordable.

Klipsch The Three Review

Here at The Master Switch, we've tested an astronomical amount of wireless speakers. From portable to stationary, waterproof to pressurized and potential explosive hazard; we've seen them all.

Review: MarkAudio-SOTA Cesti T

MarkAudio-SOTA is a name that not a ton of people outside of the hardcore audiophile world know. It’s a collaboration between Mark Audio and SOTA Acoustics (obviously) and over the past few years, they’ve been putting out some seriously good stuff.

MartinLogan Motion 35XTi Review

Monoprice MM-3 Review

Despite what you may think, computer speakers are not the same as regular speakers. They’re designed to work in close proximity to the ears, and while this sounds easy, it’s often quite tricky to get right.

Review: Paradigm PW 600

Nothing makes us happier than replacing an already brilliant bit of kit with something even better, because who doesn’t love a challenger? So we were really, really excited to unwrap speaker maker Paradigm’s PW 600.

Review: Pioneer SP-PK22BS Andrew Jones 5.1

Look, we get it. We’ve been there. Upgrading to a full surround system is a big step. We’re not saying this to be condescending, or patronising. Far from it. Everyone has to start somewhere, including us...

Review: Polk Audio MagniFi

Despite its lack of subtlety, there’s no question that the MagniFi soundbar system is a cut above. It offers extraordinary value for money, delivering both an excellent bar and a very capable subwoofer in one package.

Review: Polk Audio Omni S2

We really, really wanted to like the Polk Audio Omni S2. It kind of hurts writing that. Criticising a bad audio product is easy. It’s plain to see when shortcuts have been taken with production, when materials or build aren’t up to scratch...

Q Acoustics 3050i Floorstanding Speaker Review

To call the world of floorstanding speakers competitive would be a massive understatement. We could do this job for decades and only hear a fraction of the models available. We always get excited, however, when Q Acoustics drops a new product.

Review: Raumfeld One S

You’ve got to have pretty big ambitions to compete with SONOS in the wireless speaker market. That company’s already got most of the action sewn up, and with good reason, but that hasn’t stopped others from trying to get some.

Review: Raumfeld Sounddeck

There’s something very aggressive about the Raumfeld Sounddeck. We’re not talking about the sound. We’re talking about the sheer aura that surrounds it, like a surly football player propping up a bar.

Review: RIVA Festival

Wireless speakers aren’t just the next big thing, they’re the way of the future. Everything is wireless these days. Which is why we’re dedicating so much time to reviewing these gadgets.

Review: Sengled Pulse

Back in the distant past (2014) The Master Switch existed as a general tech site. Sure, we had the best speakers and headphones and amps rounded up, but we also featured everything from laptops and printers to snowblowers and blenders.

Review: Solis SO-7000

We’ve been covering a lot of wireless gadgets lately, and there’s a good reason why. Wireless is the way of the future. Audiophiles and hi-fi fans, feel free to groan, but there’s something liberating about not having to plug everything in.

Review: Solis SO-8000

Did you know that you can still buy actual hi-fi systems? As in, two speakers and a dedicated CD/tape-deck/AM-FM tower - the kind of thing you used to see in dorm rooms in the 1990s. On that note: meet the SO8000.

Review: SONOS Beam

Smart soundbars make sense to us. After all, soundbars are meant to be an easier, more compact alternative to full home theater surround sound, and so adding smart voice control is just the next step.

Sonos Move Speaker Review

Sonos rules the world of home audio. They make the best-sounding smart speakers you can buy, even despite challengers from the likes of Bose and Apple. But the one thing they’ve never done is create a portable Bluetooth speaker you can take outside.

Review: Sonos One

We always knew SONOS would come out with a smart speaker. The company has positioned itself as a technological trailblazer and smart speakers are right on the bleeding edge.

Review: SONOS PLAY:3

There are very few speakers that ask you to perform an interpretive dance before you can use them. But the SONOS PLAY:3 boldly delves into this new territory...

Review: SONOS PLAYBASE

We’ve never understood why more people don’t use soundbases. They are an absolutely perfect bridge between a basic TV speaker system, and a full surround home theater setup. They solve every problem. SONOS want to change that.

SVS PB16-Ultra Review: Holy Mother Of GOD.

There are some things in life you can’t say no to. Threesomes. That’s a good one. A ride on a private jet. A chance to meet Samuel L. Jackson, courtside seats to a play-off game. The SVS PB16 Ultra is one of those things.

Review: SVS Prime Elevation

The problem with most modern living spaces is that they’re just not geared up for home theater. When most people live in an apartment, or a moderately sized house, there’s no such thing as a dedicated media room...

SVS Prime Pinnacle Review: A Floorstanding Monster

It’s always difficult when you name a speaker something like Pinnacle. Not only do you have to deliver something that really does sound like it’s reached the heights of what is possible...

SVS Prime Towers Floorstanding Speaker Review

When speaker maker SVS asked if they could ship us a pair of their Ultra Tower speakers to review, the response was an enthusiastic yes. But what actually arrived, courtesy of a distributor mixup, was a pair of their older Prime Towers...

SVS SB-1000 Pro Review: This Is How You Upgrade a Sub

SVS SB-2000 Pro Review: Bigger is Better

SVS recently updated their main subwoofer lines, adding the word ‘Pro’ to the names. Hence, the SVS SB-2000 Pro, a reimagined version of the SB-2000. But this is no small beans upgrade.

SVS SB-3000 Review: An Almost Perfect Subwoofer

Building the perfect subwoofer isn’t just about volume or power, in the same way that the perfect hot fried chicken isn’t just about nuclear levels of cayenne pepper.

SVS 3000 Micro Review: The Most Impressive Sub We’ve Ever Tested

SVS Ultra Towers Floorstanding Speaker Review

If you’re going to call a floorstanding speaker the Ultra, then you’d better have a set of brass balls backing up that particular claim. Then again, the Ultra Towers are easily among the best floorstanding speakers out there.

Review: UE BOOM 2

Whether it be hiking through rugged forests or a simple day at the beach, we want to be able to take our music everywhere we go. We’ve been compiling a list of the best portable Bluetooth speakers, and this little number has found itself near the top.

Review: UE MEGABLAST

We’ve been reviewing quite a few portable speakers lately, in search of the one that will give us the best value-for-money, sound, and ease-of-use, all in one package. We’ve come across a couple of gems, including the UE MEGABLAST.

Review: UE Megaboom

Ultimate Ears say that their Megaboom speaker “can be immersed in liquid up to 1m for up to 30 minutes.” At The Master Switch, we have only one response to this: Challenge accepted.

Review: UE Roll 2

The tech we review is often classy, usually sleek, occasionally drop dead gorgeous. But very rarely does it invoke a sense of glee, or surprise. The UE Roll 2 does both, in spectacular fashion.

Review: VIZIO SB3851

Although perhaps better known as creators of superlative televisions, VIZIO also have a nice line in audio gear. While they’ve yet to plunge headlong into full, surround home theater, the Californian company certainly knows what it’s doing.

Review: VIZIO SB4051

VIZIO, who set their store by making excellent TVs, also dabble in producing speakers for said TVs. Their biggest area of expertise is in surround soundbars - I.e soundbars with multiple included speakers. The SB4051 is an excellent example.

VIZIO SB46514-F6 Review

Soundbars are a convenient and effective way to improve your TV sound. Until recently, however, they’ve been seen as poorer cousins to full, multi-speaker home theater systems. VIZIO is trying to change that.

Amp, DAC & DAP Reviews

Amazon Echo Link Amp Review

Jeff Bezos and Amazon want to take over the world - if you don’t believe that, then we have a bridge to sell you (and we’ll ship it to you on Amazon Prime). Hi-fi audio is part of that world.

Review: Astell & Kern AK380

In the month or so we spent with Astell & Kern’s AK380 player, the most common question from those who saw it – after a few minutes spent marvelling at its stunning good looks – was the price point.

Review: AudioQuest Beetle

It’s often easy to forget in the seemingly endless mission for better and better sound, but the role of a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) isn’t just to improve the audio quality. It’s also there to make it easy to send the audio where you need it.

AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt Review

It’s impossible to overstate the impact of AudioQuest’s Dragonfly range on the audio world. The technology remains revolutionary: a tiny USB stick that matches the quality of much larger headphone amp/DAC combinations.

Review: Benchmark DAC3 HGC

If you like to tinker, if you like to go deep into your equipment, and if you like to have your efforts rewarded, then you are going to want to hear this. It’s spectacular.

Review: Bluewave GET

On a recent trip to Toronto for the TAVES audio show, we got chatting to two guys from Montreal, Pierre and Stéphane, who owned a company called Bluewave. What they were showing was a single product: a tiny little portable headphone amp called the GET.

Review: Bryston B60R

Sometimes, you just need noise. Good, old-fashioned, wonderful noise. No Bluetooth, no cute input lights, no digital displays. Just a big, grunting monster of an amplifier that you can use to mess things up.

Review: Burson Audio PLAY

Headphone amps, for the most part, break down into two categories: ones that you plug in and forget about, and ones that invite you to tinker - messing with the settings, switching out various bits, and generally getting your hands dirty.

Cambridge Audio CXA61 Review

Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) & CXA80 Double Review

This is going to be an unusual review. For the first, time, we're reviewing two products at once. Cambridge Audio's CXN (V2) streamer and CXA80 amplifier may retail as separate products, but we've never seen another pair that work so well together.

Chord Mojo Review

Chord Electronics, the purveyors of handmade British hi-fi have been - since the eighties, no less - making waves with their innovative DACs and headphone amplifiers. The Mojo is one of them.

Review: Chord Hugo 2

Chord Electronics are mad. Other companies will make a high-end DAC, and call it done. Chord made one, then gave it Bluetooth, then put in a package small enough to slip into a pocket, then made it look like something you'd see in a music video from 1988.

Review: Dodocool DA106

You might not think it while reading about the four- and occasional five-figure monsters on the site, but we absolutely love cheap here. If a piece of audio kit mixes low cost with decent components, we start getting very interested.

Review: Feliks Elise MkII

Feliks Audio is a Polish boutique headphone amplifier manufacturer that specializes in tube circuit designs. Their Elise MkII model has been making waves on tube amp forums and trade shows

Review: FiiO A5

Portable amps are tricky little things. While they unquestionably make your sound better, they don’t have the luxuries that desktop models do. They can’t be heavy, or feature cool-looking tubes, or have loads of connections.

FiiO M7 Review

The survival of digital audio players is actually quite extraordinary. Despite the fact that we carry around phones that can do everything, standalone digital audio players continue to sell.

FiiO M11 Review

Few companies have been as productive as Chinese audio giant, FiiO. They not only continue to produce incredible in-ear headphones, they also churn out digital audio players at an alarming rate.

Review: FiiO Q5

Convincing people to carry around a portable amplifier in addition to a phone is a bit like asking Usain Bolt to strap rockets to his feet. Yes, it will technically make him faster, but it’s also cumbersome and annoying, and will probably explode.

Review: FiiO X1

Here’s a question for you. How much are you willing to put up with for great sound? When you’re buying audio gear, do you go for stuff that is easy to use, that you will never have to think about, and which will become second nature to operate?

Review: Goldmund Telos 2

We’ll be honest: we never expected to review a product from Goldmund on this site. They’re not just a high-end audio brand; they’re floating somewhere above the very concept of high end. And yet: here we are.

Review: H2 Designs MIYO

We flatter ourselves that we know most, if not all, of the audio industry players, and what they do. But we hadn’t heard of H2 Designs. They recently got in touch to ask if we’d like to try out their new MIYO audio interface.

Review: Hafler HA75

There’s no denying that high-end headphones and headphone amps can be amazingly nerdy. Wade into even the shallow end, and you’ll find yourself swamped by a discussion of whether a 12AX7 tube is better than a 6S7L, or an endless debates about...

Review: iFi Audio micro iCAN SE

It can often be a challenge to go for an audio company that prizes rigorous engineering over marketing flair. Judging by their website and their staid, sober presence on social media, you might be forgiven for bypassing iFi Audio. Don't.

Review: iFi Audio micro iDAC2

No piece of audio equipment is more contentious than the humble DAC. It can cause some pretty major arguments. iFi Audio’s Micro iDAC2 isn’t going to help either side work out their differences with the other – but in our opinion, it’s solid.

Review: iFi Audio nano iOne

iFi Audio are nothing if not consistent. That’s the kind of first review sentence that normally has most readers rolling their eyes - don’t lie, we saw you do it - but we use it deliberately. But in the Nano iOne, there is a surprising spark of life

Review: iFi Audio xDSD

iFi Audio badly needed a rebrand. The company has a reputation for delivering superb and focused audio gear, but in the past, they’ve done so with all the panache and pizzazz of a statistics symposium.

Review: JDS Labs The Element

One of the biggest debates in the audio world is whether an amplifier should change the quality of the music, or simply present it as objectively as possible. The JDS Labs The Element can help with that.

Review: JDS Labs Objective2

Quick question. How much color do you like in your music? Do you like your bass to be fat, your mids to be warm, your soundstage to be wide of the hills? Or do you prefer no color at all, with an aggressively analytical sound?

Review: JDS Labs OL DAC

The debate about whether DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters) actually make a difference to your sound is still one that has yet to be resolved. As good as it is, the OL DAC from JDS Labs isn’t going to convince the doubters.

Review: Linear Tube Audio MZ2-S

The MZ2-S is that something. It’s expensive, and specialised, and not for everyone. But if you’re willing to give yourself over to it, you’ll be in for one of the greatest musical experiences a human being can have.

Review: Marantz M-CR611

Introducing the Marantz M-CR611, a ‘network CD receiver’ that wants to be the centre of your home music system – but in a world of wireless speakers and Spotify, can it compete?

Review: Mayflower ARC

It’s actually quite rare to find dedicated amplifiers for gaming headphones. If a gamer does spend money on amp – as opposed to splurging on screen, mouse, and headset – it’s not likely to be a specialised one.

Review: Meridian Audio Explorer2

That shelf at Meridian Audio’s HQs displaying their hifi innovation awards must be a substantial one - they’ve come up with plenty of firsts since their formation back in 1977. With the Explorer2, they're hoping to do it again.

Monoprice Monolith Liquid Platinum Review

Headphone lovers like to talk about what they call the endgame: a magical combination of amp, DAC, and headphones that delivers the perfect sound, meaning they’ll never need to buy another piece of equipment. But endgame us a myth.

NAD D3020 V2 Review

Stereo amps can be boring as hell. The companies that make them are more often than not concerned with treating the internals, and ignoring what things look like on the outside. The NAD D3020 V2 is different.

Onkyo A-9110 Review

Audio companies are getting smarter. Virtually every piece of gear that crosses the threshold of our office is capable of connecting to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, handling hi-res audio,or adjusting the sound to fit our unique hearing profiles. Not Onkyo.

Review: Optoma NuForce uDAC5

It’s not often that you can call a piece of audio equipment cute. You can with the Optoma uDAC5. When we took it out the box, our first thought was that someone was pranking us. This thing costs $200?

Peachtree Audio nova300 Review

You want to know the reason Apple was so successful? The reason they, above all others, dominated the first fifteen years of this century and became a global juggernaut? They kept it simple. So does Peachtree Audio.

RME ADI-2 DAC Review

This German manufacturer might not be a household name stateside, but RME have been quietly making nerdy audio equipment since 1996. And they've gotten rather good at it. We were able to spend a month with their ADI-2 digital-to-analog converter.

Review: Rotel RA-1572

Rotel don’t often get the love they deserve. Perhaps it’s the name, which, if you’re not familiar with the brand, sounds like a copy machine manufacturer. We think they deserve to be a household name.

Schiit Fulla 2 Review

Let’s get one thing out of the way first. We solemnly swear that in this review, and in all future reviews, we will not make any jokes, puns, bon mots or witty jibes at Schiit Audio’s name.

Review: Schiit Lyr 3

Rule number one when writing a Schiit review: don’t make jokes about the name. They’ve not only heard them all before, they probably wrote most of them. Rule number two: don’t expect a newer version of a product to even be close to what the old one was.

Schiit Magni 3 Review

It’s almost a right of passage for anybody looking to get into the world of audio. For many, the first stop in upgrading their headphones sound is a little outfit out of Valencia, California: Schiit Audio, pronounced exactly like you think it is.

Schiit Magnius Review: The Perfect Balance

Shanling M5S Review

The Chinese audio world has exploded over the past decade. One thing the country is particularly good at is creating great digital audio players. Shanling are a company specializing in just that.

Sonos Amp Review

Sonos don't just make great wireless speakers. The company's old Connect:Amp has long been the secret weapon of custom home theater installers, and if you think the guys at Sonos didn't notice this, you're dreaming.

Review: Sony TA-ZH1ES

Dear Sony marketing department: can we talk? Can we be real for a sec? Thank you. We’re just trying to understand, you see. We want to figure out how your minds work. How do you name something the TA-ZH1ES with a straight face?

Woo Audio WA11 Topaz Review

Jack Wu is one of the most creative audio designers around. His company, Woo Audio, is the place to go for incredible tube amps. But this time, he’s released something a little different.

AV Receiver Reviews

Review: Marantz SR7011

Sometimes, you just need to go big. Sometimes, you need to cash in the retirement savings, throw your neighbours’ concerns to the wind, and invest in a sound system that is going to blow your windows off. Step forward, then, the Marantz SR7011...

Review: Sony STR-DN1060

Sony’s A/V receivers have always been good, but they haven’t always managed to stand out against competition from the likes of Marantz, Onkyo, and Denon. With the STR-DN1060, and its subsequent iterations, they intended to change that.

Music Streamer Reviews

Cambridge Audio CXN (V2) & CXA80 Double Review

Chord Poly Review

We take accessories seriously here at TMS. Far more seriously than other sites. That’s because we believe that you have to look at the entire experience when reviewing an audio product, and that includes the little cables and gizmos that come with it.

Naim Uniti Atom Review

Audiophiles don't like listening to music wirelessly. Wires, they say, are the only way to guarantee pristine audio quality. They just haven't heard the Naim Uniti Atom yet.

Turntable Reviews

Denon DP-450USB Review

Denon have been associated with home hi-fi and vinyl playback for decades and they’ve just come up with a new turntable: the DP-450USB. It rests firmly on the shoulders of its popular predecessor, the DP-300F.

The good, the bad, the downright ugly.

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