2025 Top Gear Awards â Headfonics
This year again, Headfonics has chosen the best Head-Fi products. We are especially proud to offer the following awarded products in our shop! đđ
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2025 Top Gear Awards â Headfonics
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BEST UNIVERSAL IEMs
Volk Audio ĂTOILE - 9.4 Award Score
"The Volk Audio ĂTOILE is a world-class sounding hybrid universal IEM, but it achieves that by resisting going for the jugular; not too much bass, easy on the treble sparkle, vocals are natural-sounding with top-tier clarity."
 PROS
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Gorgeously smooth and detailed sound signature with perfect bass weight.
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Excellent levels of passive isolation.
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Attractive and thoughtful Founder's Edition Packaging
CONS
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Some dynamic driver flex.
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Shells might be too hefty for smaller ears.
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BEST PORTABLE AMPLIFIER
Cayin C9II - 9.3 Award Score
"The Cayin C9ii is the most complete portable tube amplifier on the market today. It's a big fella, but it delivers big power with a broad range of tuning options to satisfy IEM and headphone users alike."
 PROS
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Vastly improved dynamic range and blacker background than the C9
- Easily Replaceable 18650 battery system
- Tons of sound tweaking options
CONS
- It's now more transportable than portable
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BEST CABLE
Effect Audio CENTURION II - 9.3 Award Score
"The Effect Audio CENTURION II delivers flagship-level performance that upholds its premium price and rivals some of the very best cables available today. It has a balanced yet engaging sound signature, offering an all-around improvement."
 PROS
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Expansive soundstage, dark background and highly resolving treble.
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Enhances sub-bass depth and impact and overall bass texture.
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Flagship-level build quality and premium packaging.
CONS
- Price point will be beyond many budgets.
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BEST TUBE AMPLIFIER
Auris Audio Headonia 300B - 9.4 Award Score
"The Auris Audio Headonia 300B is a modern tube headphone amplifier capable of world-class performance levels. It delivers a neutral-to-natural tuning with excellent speed and incredible levels of dynamic range within a spacious and immersive soundstage."
 PROS
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Incredible clarity and immersion with capable headphones.
- Enough power and flexibility to drive any headphone.
- Useful tube and amp lifespan data in the menu settings.
CONS
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Needs a technically excellent headphone to sound at its best.
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Might be too big and heavy for some system racks.
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BEST DESKTOP DAC
Cayin iDAC-8 - 9.2 Award Score
The Cayin iDAC-8 is a lovely little desktop DAC that successfully takes the company's previous timbre control vision to the next level. Compared to the iDAC-6 MK2, it's a more natural and spacious-sounding decoder, and to my ears, it is more true to the current Cayin house sound.
 PROS
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Smooth, spacious tube mode sound signature.
- More urgent and high impact solid-state performance.
- Excellent range of input and output options.
CONS
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Line out/PRE button too easy to hit.
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Menu system timeout is too short.
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BEST WIRELESS STREAMER
Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2 - 9.0 Award Score
The Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen 2 desktop DAC and streamer is an impressive design, with excellent software, and offers a satisfactory analog output. It delivers the best UI and mirror-control experience I have tried thus far in a streamer.
 PROS
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Beautiful design and very mature UI.
- Generous applications support.
- Compact form factor suitable for desks and racks.
CONS
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No USB socket in front.
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Chosen DAC chipsets slightly limiting.
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WRITERS CHOICE
Noble FoKus Prestige Encore - 9.0 Award Score
The Noble FoKus Prestige Encore is a hybrid multi-driver TWS version of the Noble FoKus Apollo. Sort of. The familial resemblance is certainly there, but you should really think of the Noble FoKus Prestige Encore as the pinnacle of the companyâs wireless earbuds.
 PROS
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Stunning looks highlight the Encore.
- Excellent overall sonic characteristics scale well, filtering the lows into the midrange.
- The EQ personalization using Audiodo is well worth the time.
CONS
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Case is prone to fingerprints.
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USB-C charging cable is physically too short.
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WRITERS CHOICE
Grand ORIVETI Supremacy - 9.1 Award Score
"The Grand ORIVETI Supremacy is a premium, luxurious-sounding IEM that delivers enjoyment and not just purely technical performances. Itâs the kind of IEM I could put on and just get lost in the music."
 PROS
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Luxurious sonic signature.
- Impressive unboxing experience.
- Excellent stock cable handling.
CONS
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Not for those who are looking for a Cathedral-sized soundstage.
BEST PORTABLE DAC/AMPÂ
MUSE HiFi M6 Double - 8.8 Award Score
I can see that MUSE HiFi has put a lot of effort into making the M6 Double a truly special limited edition item DAC/Amp. Considering the price, sound, design, and rarity of the IN-17 display tube, its production is limited to only 1,000 units. I would suggest getting the MUSE HiFi M6 Double while you still can.
 PROS
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Can drive high impedance headphones reasonably well.
- Smooth in transistor mode and smoother in tube mode.
- Delightful IN-17 pixie tube volume display.
CONS
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Not the most powerful for its size.
 
BEST DONGLE DACÂ
Cayin RU3 - 8.5 Award Score
"The Cayin RU3 dongle DAC not only delivers on its promise of competitive output power for demanding headphones from a dongle DAC but also achieves it with clean, high-quality sound."
 PROS
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Clean, powerful sound from a small package.
- Powers headphones better than competing dongles at this price point.
- Built-in 10-band parametric equalizer and Cayin Control app compatibility.
CONS
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Staging is above average, but I wish it were bigger.
BEST CABLE
Effect Audio DIONYSUS - 8.7 Award Score
"The 26AWG 8-wire Effect Audio DIONYSUS is a do-it-all cable for people who want premium sound without the premium price, and there is a reason why Effect Audio is calling it a mini flagship of the Signature Series II cables."
 PROS
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Adds depth and impact to the low end.
- Smooth build and premium aesthetics.
- Adds richness and lushness to the midrange.
CONS
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No accessories included.
EDITORS CHOICE
Cayin RU9 - 8.9 Award Score
"The Cayin RU9 takes a legacy form factor, mixes it with modern audiophile needs to create a DAC/Amp with impressive, yet very 'tweakable' sound, excellent power output, and all inside a low-profile yet extremely sturdy design."
 PROS
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Lots of tone controls and performance options
- DC mode capable of driving demanding headphones
- Internal battery has a significant advantage over non-battery dongles
CONS
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Too big to be classed as a dongle and makes its presence known when stacked with a phone
WRITERS CHOICE
Softears Volume S - 8.6 Award Score
"For someone looking for a balanced sound signature with solid bass, sweet midrange, and an inoffensive upper frequency at an affordable price point, the hybrid Softears Volume S IEM is a no-brainer."
 PROS
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Nice bass quantity and quality.
- Detailed and natural midrange.
- Excellent set of accessories.
CONS
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High-Impedance mode seems unnecessary. Large Shells.
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Headfonia Best of Year â 2025 Awards
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