Welcome to my review of the Realme 7 Pro which retails for £279.
Key Features
Battery Performance – The Realme 7 Pro comes with 65W SuperDart Charging. This can quickly power up the 4500mAh massive battery, while keeping the phone cool. 4500mAh battery can be charged to 100% within 34 mins. And only in 12mins, it can charge nearly 50%. Even while heavy gaming, the 65W SuperDart Charge can charge up to 43% in just 30 minutes. Only 3 mins, Realme 7 Pro can be charged to 13%, The Realme 7 Pro also supports 18W PD/QC charge, making it even more versatile. In reality, the phone lasted about 2 days on a single charge, but it was easier to top the battery up at the end of each day. Normally 20 mins was all that was required. The phones recharges so fast!
Processor – Snapdragon 720G. It is also equipped with Kryo 465 CPU with two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores at up to 2.3GHz and six high-efficiency Cortex-A55 cores at up to 1.8GHz, along with a new Adreno 618 GPU.
Display – 6.4-inch Super AMOLED Full Screen with 180Hz sampling rate. The display comes with 20:9 ratio, 2400x1080P FHD+ resolution, 90.8% screen-to-body ratio, 600nits peak brightness, 98% NTSC color gamut.
Cameras – The main rear sensor uses a Sony IMX682 Sensor which is 64MP . In addition there is an 8MP 119° ultra wide-angle, and a 2mp macro lens and a 2mp B&W portrait lens. The Sony IMX682 Sensor has incredible light-sensing ability, and comes with 1/1.73″ super large size sensor, 64MP super high pixels, supports Quad Bayer, pixel size up to 1.6μm. The front camera is 32mp.
The video review below includes a range of photo and video examples from the camera, a run through of the camera app interface and features. The photos are stunning, so it is well worth seeing these to understand just how good the camera is on this phone.
Video Review
Conclusion
An extremely impressive phone at budget pricing that offers a great screen, super fast charging with a decent camera. Highly recommended 9/10.
Useful Links
Realme 7 Pro latest pricing on Amazon UK – Click HERE.
Welcome to my review of the Poco X3 NFC smartphone which retails from £199 for the 64gb version. It is also available with 128gb storage for £229.
The Key Features
– The POCO X3 includes an AI quad-camera with a 64MP primary sensor and a 13mp ultra-wide-angle sensor, 2mp depth sensor to help with portrait mode, and a 2mp macro sensor.
– The POCO X3 includes the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor, and an Octa-Core CPU.
– The POCO X3 features a 6.67″ display with a 120hz display for smoother scrolling and browsing.
– The POCO X3 includes 5160mAh big battery, for more prolonged phone usage without having to recharge.
– The POCO X3 charges via USB-C and supports up to 33W fast charging. A 33W fast charger is also included in the box.
– The POCO X3 comes with a 20mp punch-hole selfie camera.
– The POCO X3 also features a side-mounted finger-sensor, allowing you to unlock your phone from the side using the natural grip of your hand.
– It also has a FM Radio and Infra Red Blaster.
– Stereo Speakers
– IP53 rating.
Video Review
Conclusion
The POCO X3 NFC is not just a budgetpriced phone, but an incredible phone. At £199 it’s a massive recommendation but do see my other video and post on how to remove the system ads which is a oneoff 10 minute exercise . 9/10.
Welcome to my first impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 which retails for £1,799. In my video review I also show you how you can make Instagram go full screen along with any other apps.
Key Features
– Unfold the next chapter of mobile phones. Our most innovative and powerful smartphone ever, with an expansive Infinity-O Display wraps from edge-to-edge.
– Unfold an expansive 7.6 Inch tablet-like display crafted with Samsung’s bespoke Ultra Thin Glass.
– Live life uninterrupted with App Continuity, enabling seamless transitions from Galaxy Z Fold2 5G’s¹ cover screen to the vast unfolded phone display.
– Enjoy an ultra-smooth viewing experience on the unfolded display, with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.
– Take the perfect selfies with Galaxy Z Fold2 5G’s Triple Rear Camera, checking your best side on the cover screen. While taking pictures of your friends, they can check out their shot using Dual Preview.
Video Review
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a work of art. A multitasking champ, it’s own tripod and a marvel of modern technology. If you can afford it, then buy it. Recommended 8/10.
So for this review, I used a number of headphones. These included the HiFiman Sundara and Ananda, Sony MDR-1AM2 in 4.4 balanced, Sennheiser HD599 and a selection of IEMs from Fiio and others. I also listenend to as many different genres as possible from jazz, blues, dance, rap, hip hop, classical, pop, rock, electronic and orchestral.
The ZEN DAC doesn’t need a power supply as it runs via the USB power from your PC or even smartphone. IMO I don’t think you need to spend more money on a stand-alone power supply either. Using just USB power from my laptop, there was surprisingly enough power for both my HiFiman Ananda and Sundara.
With IEMs, there was no floor noise or background hiss. Balanced output using my Sony MDR-1AM2s was fantastic. All my headphones sounded excellent with plenty of dynamics and detail. The mid range had a lovely bit of warmth with it, ideal for some of my favourite classical piano, orchestral and classical tracks. In fact, music genres including jazz, blues, dance, hip hop, rap, pop and rock came across really effortlessly. Good separation and soundstage too.
Compared to the ZEN Blue/ZEN Can Combo
The ZEN Blue/ZEN Can benefit from using external power supplies and therefore are able to add that extra dynamics and sparkle to my music. However as the ZEN Dac is a wired solution, this helps it compensate with some extra clarity. Personally I prefer the combo solution, but then it is twice the price too.
Video Review
Conclusion
I highly capable desktop DAC and headphone amp, in a stylish design that looks good in any room. Highly recommended. 9.5/10.
Useful Links
iFi ZEN DAC more info and latest pricing on Amazon Uk – Click HERE.
Welcome to my review of the iFi ZEN Blue and ZEN Can. The iFi ZEN Blue retails for £129 and the ZEN Can for £169.
Key Features/Specs
ZEN Blue
– Power: DC 5V
– Input: Bluetooth 5.0TM with AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC, HWA Codec
– Output: Optical/Coaxial, Audio RCA L/R, 4.4 Balanced Lineout
– Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz <+0/-0.5dB (44.1kHz)1Hz – 44khz = 88.2kHz)
– Output Voltage @ 0dBFS: 2.05V (+/-0.05V)
– Dynamic Range: 109dB (A)
-Signal/Noise ratio: 109dB (A) @ 0dBFS
– THD & N @ 0dBFS: < 0.0015% 10k Load
– Dimensions: 158 (l) x 100 x 35 (h) mm
– Weight: 476g (1..05 lbs)
ZEN Can
– Inputs -4.4mm Pentacon BAL, RCA L/R Socket SE, 3.5mm Jack SE
– Balanced Output – 15.1V/385 mW (@ 600 Ohm), 11.0V/1890 mW (@ 64 Ohm)
– S-E Output – 7.6V/196 mW (@ 300 Ohm), 7.2V/1600 mW (@ 32 Ohm)
– Gain 0dB, 6dB, 12dB and 18dB
– Frequency Response – 20Hz – 20kHz (+0dB / -0.03dB)
– Input voltage – DC 5V/2.5A, AC 100 -240V, 50/60Hz
– Dimensions – 158 x 117 x 35 mm
– Net weight – 515g
The Review
So for this review, I used a number of headphones. These included the HiFiman Sundara and Ananda, Sony MDR-1AM2 in 4.4 balanced, Sennheiser HD599 and a selection of IEMs from Fiio and others. I also listenend to as many different genres as possible from jazz, blues, dance, rap, hip hop, classical, pop, rock, electronic and orchestral.
For starters, I really appreciated the 4 way gain switch for a more precise adjustment. The HiFiMan Planar Magnetic headphones benefited from a +6db gain. With IEMs the floor background noise was non existent on the IEMs that I used. The bass boost and 3D spatial options are nice options to have to as some of my headphones can sound too bass light.
However this combo is an incredible system, and as a consequence it powered every headphone I tried effortlessly. Apart from the sound, the design looks luxurious and would be at home in any room in the house. The freedom of using the ZEN Blue with portable devices like your smartphone, and in my case my Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, meant I had LDAC quality music streaming to the ZEN Blue. The ZEN Can is full of dynamics and blew the cobwebs off some of the headphones I hadn’t used for a while. It also possessed good detail, wide sound staging. TBH the two components together make a cracking piece of kit.
Video Review
Conclusion
Freedom from wires with the iFi ZEN Blue with all the respective hi-res bluetooth codecs coupled with the iFi ZEN Can is a formidable combination and highly recommended. 9.8/10.
Useful Links
iFi Zen Can – more info and latest pricing on Amazon UK – Click HERE.
iFi ZEN Blue – more info and latest pricing on Amazon UK – Click HERE.
Welcome to my review of the T+A Solitaire P Headphones and HA 200 headphone amp which retail for £5,000 & £6,600 respectively.
First up I am going to explain more about the headphones and then the amp, and then discuss the sound quality is as much depth as possible.
T+A Solitaire P Headphones
Developed by T+A’s team of young engineers & experienced physicists who love music. The T+A Solitaire P Headphones are the Rolls Royce of headphones both from a design, practicality and technical innovation point of view.
Concept is a sophisticated planar-magnetostatic design philosophy, ultra-lightweight diaphragm and planar drive.
Everything about these headphones is top class. The ear and head pads are hand-made, manufactured for T+A by a specialist company in their home country Germany. They are allergen-free synthetic leather and Alcántara. They are designed to be comfortable to wear even after 10 hours of use.
Materials used are high-strength plastics and carbon, with an incredible fit and finish.
The Solitaire P’s diaphragm is applied by vapour deposition. Nineteen high-performance neodymium magnets drive the diaphragm through precisely calculated magnetic field lines. The precise design of the retaining rings and the magnet mount maintain the diaphragm’s position accurately in the linear part of the magnetic field, ensuring that it is able to generate high sound pressures without distortion. This is the key to the headphones’ enormous dynamic range and precision, which reaches the listener’s ears virtually devoid of inertia.
– Transducer principle – Planar-magnetostatic.
– Impedance – 80 Ohms.
– Frequency response – 5 Hz – 54 kHz.
– Distortion 130 dB.
– Sensitivity 101 dB @ 1 kHz, 1V.
– Type of construction open, over ear.
– Connectivity Wired transmission, unbalanced 6.35 mm, balanced 4.4 mm Pentaconn.
– Weight 530 g excl. cable.
The T+A HA 200 Headphone Amplifier
T+A Designed and built this from the ground up.
The 3 headphone outputs can be fine tuned for each headphone connected.
The HA 200 output stages operate in Class-A mode with a high idle current. Power is available for the most demanding of headphones. The high-quality mains sections – one digital, one analogue – feature two separate toroidal transformers and provide all the stamina. The HA 200 also features optimised and separate decoder architecture for DSD and PCM, ensuring that all digital formats are decoded to the highest standards.
All the digital signal processing of PCM data is carried out by a double differential quadruple converter, with a conversion rate of up to 768 kHz. The T+A True 1-Bit DSD converter is employed for DSD data; rather than converting the DSD data, it processes them in native Bitstream form. This means that DSD data up to DSD 1024, as they arrive from the USB input of the digital connecting board, can be reproduced in the very highest quality.
– D/A-Converter PCM: Double-Differential-Quadruple Converter up to 32 Bit/768 kHz.
– DSD: T+A True 1-Bit Converter, native Bitstream up to DSD 1024 (49,2 MHz).
– Digital Inputs – USB Audio Input, AES-EBU, BNC, Coax, TOS-Link, HDMI (optional).
– USB Receiver – UAC2 and UAC3 standards.
– Digital Section – Separate PCM und DSD signal paths and processing.
– Additional – Non Oversampling“ DAC mode (NOS-DAC).
– Amplifier – Double Mono „State of the Art“ discrete HV Amp technology.
– Pure Class A power stage.
– 3 separately switchable outputs (Pentaconn, XLR, 6.3 barrel socket).
– Adjustable output impedance.
– Frequency response + 0 / − 3 dB 0.1 Hz – 200 kHz.
– Special Features Complete galvanic isolation between digital and analogue sections.
Sound Quality
I spent hours and hours listening to as many genres of music. Every genre sounded truly magnificent. Below are some of my thoughts on some select tracks.
It is possible to turn loudness on, as well as adjust the bass and treble. With the T+A Solitaire P headphones, no adjustments were necessary. However, having these options does allow you to fine tune any other brand of headphone.
Lonesome Valley – The Fairfield Four – the vocals on this track are something to behold. Epic in every musical sense. The tone of the singers are phenomenal. If you purchase this headphone and amp system, I can’t stress enough that you need to listen to this song. My hairs were lifting on my arms. It felt as if all the singers were in the room around me. Each singer was clearly positioned within the soundstage. So detailed, so moving.
In My Secret Life – Leonard Cohen – a beautiful warmth of the background singers and then Leonard Cohen sings and it’s a masterclass of vocal reproduction. He feels as if he is in the room with your. His deep tones are wonderfully produced.
Unfinished Symphony – Massive Attack – details the instruments, with deep bass lines. The female vocal is clear as day. Excellent separation.
Ophelia – Natalie Merchant – The nuances of the female vocal are mesmerising. The soundstage is excellent. Everything is very detailed.
Brighter Lights Bigger City – Cee Lo Green – dynamic and punchy. The bass is deep and effortless. Cee Lo Green’s voice is so authentic sounding. Plenty of detail too in parts of the track I’ve not heard before.
Vivaldi – The New Four Seasons – Nigel Kennedy – background is dark, no floor noise. The violin is incredibly sounding. You can hear the strings when they are plucked. The track starts calmly and then suddenly the tempo takes off and so does the T+A dancing musically and with sheer brilliance. The whole music spectrum from bass, mid, treble, soundstage and timbre is off the charts incredible. So much detail is present too.
Mountains – Hans Zimmer – the mood within the track is rendered so realistically. I am on edge and the soundtrack builds up. The music scales up instantly as the track reaches its climax. Again tons of detail present, excellent separation.
Highway to Hell – AC/DC – changing the genre to rock, and it’s time to rock out with some AC/DC. Drums, guitars and vocals all knocked out of the park.
Symphony No. 8 Movement 1 – Philip Glass – this is a fast tempo track. The speed is excellent with a wide soundstage, superb positioning of the instruments. Huge sways of details.
Layla – Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton – finally a live piece of music featuring 2 legends. All the instruments, placement and the live atmosphere are beautifully reproduced. Eric Clapton’s voice is stunning.
Video Review
Conclusion
The ultimate audio listening experience. Top quality build, design and execution. Musically perfect. Gold award. Verdict 10/10.
x 35 (h) mm
