SoundStage! Solo | SoundStageSolo.com

Details: Written by: Matt Bonaccio; Created: 01 April 2026

Sound: 1/2
Value: 1/2
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Perhaps by accident, I’ve become a bit of a cheerleader for Ferrum Audio. This isn’t a case of journalistic bias; the Warsaw, Poland–based company habitually puts out superlative products. I reviewed the Wandla DAC and Hypsos power supply a couple of years ago for SoundStage! Hi‑Fi and found that the combo’s fit and finish, subjective performance, and objective measurements placed it among the best out there. The Erco Gen 2 DAC–headphone amp (US$2050, CA$2890, £1795, €1795) isn’t a new product per se, but there’s been little press since the original Erco was updated to this “Gen 2” spec. Naturally, I had to find out firsthand how this second generation improves upon the first—and whether Ferrum’s DAC-amp combo device follows in the footsteps of the Wandla.

Details: Written by: Geoffrey Morrison; Created: 15 February 2026

Sound: 1/2
Value:
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Reviewers' Choice When Fosi sent me the big i5 planar-magnetic headphones, I also received the company’s small ZH3 DAC/Amp. Well, it’s reasonably small. It’s larger than the diminutive Schiit Audio Magni, but smaller than something like the HiFiMan EF400. Inside are an AKM AK4493SEQ DAC and four TI OPA1612 amps. A brassy-orange volume knob doubles as a control for radial menus on a small, round screen. Overall, it looks somewhat minimalist, but the ZH3 has lots of useful features and big sound for just US$199.99, CA$274, £148, €169.95, as of this writing in mid-February.

Details: Written by: Geoffrey Morrison; Created: 01 January 2026

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If you’re one of the classy few who still prefer wired earphones and headphones even on the go, you’ve no doubt considered or purchased a portable USB DAC-amp to go with them. With annoyingly few phones having headphone jacks, and with cheap dongle converters offering little power, it’s definitely the way to go. However, how do you manage the phone-to-DAC and DAC-to-headphones nest of wires that inevitably get tangled in your pocket?

Details: Written by: Geoffrey Morrison; Created: 01 June 2025

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Here’s a hot take: how a headphone amp looks is really important. Of course it’s important for it to sound good, but this is something that’s going to sit on a desk or visible shelf and, for a certain type of person, draw attention. So it needs to look good. To be fair, “good” is a pretty broad description. It can be something like the cyberpunk-cool HiBy FD5 or the more conventionally cool Rotel DX-3 ($1499, CA$2249, £1399, €1499, as of May 30, 2025). With just some simple lines and angles, it’s attractive without being flashy.

Details: Written by: Geoffrey Morrison; Created: 01 May 2025

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I can’t remember when I first fell in love with the cyberpunk genre. Maybe it was the first time I saw Blade Runner. My love for the genre certainly solidified when I read Neuromancer in college. They’re finally making a TV show based on that book, something I’ll believe when I actually see it. While the genre has lost some of its mystique, given that we now live in the exact world all those movies and books warned us about, the aesthetic is still one of my favorites.

Details: Written by: Geoffrey Morrison; Created: 01 September 2024

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When it comes to headphone amps, I’m looking for something specific. Sure, I want something powerful enough to easily drive whatever headphones I’m using. A good DAC is vital as well. But I also want something that, well, looks good. Headphone amps are rare products that will draw the eye of anyone curious. So looking cool is certainly not a requirement, but at the very least it’s a strongly requested bonus.