SIVGA is a Chinese HiFi audio brand that was founded in 2016. They’re an end-to-end organization, running their own R&D, branding, and manufacturing, in-house. This all-original approach gives SIVGA freedom to experiment and innovate, but also creates a distinct “SVIGA-iness” across their lineup. The company builds both over-ear headphones and in-ear monitors, and its latest release, the Nightingale Pro, revisits the original planar magnetic Nightingale IEM with revised tuning and execution.
The first Nightingale earned a loyal following but never crossed into broad market relevance. The question now is simple and unavoidable: does the Nightingale Pro finally have the balance, refinement, and accessibility to break out of the niche—or is it still speaking mainly to the faithful?
About My Preferences
This review is a subjective assessment, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest. I do my best to separate personal taste from performance-based criticism, but bias never fully disappears—it just gets managed. So consider this your calibration point. My ideal sound signature prioritizes competent sub-bass, textured mid-bass, a slightly warm midrange, and extended but controlled treble. I also have mild treble sensitivity, which means I’m quick to notice glare, edge, or artificial sparkle.
Sources, DAPs, and Dongles Used
Listening was split between dedicated digital audio players and dongles to reflect how most people will actually use the Nightingale Pro. DAPs included the HiFiMAN SuperMini, Hidizs AP80 Pro MAX, and the Astell&Kern PD10, covering everything from ultra-portable to genuinely high-end. Dongle testing included the Astell&Kern HC5, Audioengine HXL, Meze Audio Alba Dongle, and the ubiquitous Apple USB-C dongle.
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Testing equipment and standards can be found here.
Build
As is typical for SIVGA, the Nightingale Pro is constructed from a carefully chosen mix of high-quality, tactile materials. The faceplate is carved from polished zebrawood and set into a precisely anodized aluminum chassis, giving the IEM a premium, handcrafted feel that’s immediately apparent in the hand and consistent with the brand’s design ethos.
The Nightingale Pro uses metal nozzles with an integrated debris filter positioned just below the lip, a practical touch that should help with long-term durability and maintenance. At the top of each shell is an extruded 0.78 mm two-pin socket, firmly set into the housing to ensure a secure cable connection and reduce long-term wear from repeated swaps.
Because of the extruded design of the Nightingale Pro’s sockets, the pool of compatible third-party cables is smaller than with a standard flush 0.78 mm connection. Fortunately, that limitation is softened by the fact that the included cable is genuinely solid.
It uses a two-tone twisted braid paired with metal hardware and feels purpose-built rather than disposable. SIVGA also employs a substantial spring as strain relief near the base of the fixed 4.4 mm termination, lending the cable an almost industrial look while adding real-world durability. From a construction and longevity standpoint, there’s nothing here that raises red flags.
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Comfort
Comfort is inherently personal and heavily dependent on individual ear anatomy, so mileage will vary. The Nightingale Pro features a shallow fit profile, with nozzles that are slightly shorter than average. As a result, some experimentation with eartip sizes and shapes is likely required to achieve an optimal seal.
That said, the IEMs themselves are neither heavy nor bulky, and once dialed in, they proved comfortable for multiple consecutive hours of listening. The trade-off is isolation. The shorter nozzle and shallower insertion mean passive noise attenuation is below average, especially compared to deeper-fitting designs. For that reason, the Nightingale Pro isn’t an ideal choice for air travel or consistently noisy environments, where isolation matters as much as comfort.
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Accessories
The Nightingale Pro’s accessory bundle is fairly bare-bones. Inside the box, you’ll find a semi-hard carrying case and six pairs of silicone eartips—and that’s about it. Unfortunately, the included eartips are the weak link here. Paired with the Nightingale Pro’s shallow fit profile, they simply didn’t work well for my ears and made achieving a consistent seal more difficult than it should be.
For an IEM in this price range, the accessory selection feels underwhelming. At a minimum, higher-quality silicone eartips would be a welcome upgrade. Including a pair or two of Comply-style foam tips would also go a long way toward improving comfort, seal, and perceived value out of the box.
The Nightingale Pro’s carrying case is a bright spot in an otherwise modest accessory bundle. It offers enough internal space to comfortably store the IEMs, the attached cable, and even a compact dongle without feeling cramped. With a bit of careful arrangement, you can also fit a few spare pairs of eartips. Protection is solid but not exceptional—best described as average—making the case well suited for static storage and light travel rather than heavy-duty, throw-it-in-a-bag use.
Technical Specifications
The Nightingale Pro is built around a 14.5 mm planar magnetic driver, a relatively large diaphragm for an in-ear monitor. With a 16 ohm impedance and 107 dB sensitivity, it’s an easy IEM to drive and performs well from dongles and portable sources without requiring excessive power.
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Its rated frequency response of 20 Hz to 40 kHz aligns with the Nightingale Pro’s airy top-end and controlled low-frequency extension, while the supplied 1.25 m cable terminates in a 4.4 mm balanced connector, reinforcing its intended use with modern balanced sources. At 14 g, the shells remain light enough for long listening sessions, even with the slightly shallow fit. Overall, the specs point to a planar IEM designed for portable versatility rather than source dependency, with few practical barriers to entry for everyday listening.
Listening
The Nightingale Pro presents a largely linear tuning with a subtle warm tilt. Its low end is well extended and lightly emphasized in the lower registers, while the midrange remains even and neutrally voiced overall. The upper mids receive a modest lift to improve instrumental separation and vocal clarity without pushing the presentation forward.
Treble is expressive but deliberately restrained, never asserting itself as the focal point. By carefully attenuating energy around the 8, 10, and 12 kHz regions, the Nightingale Pro avoids sharpness and metallic timbre. Extension, however, is excellent, reinforcing the point that convincing air and detail don’t require aggressive treble peaks to fully articulate the upper registers.
Glittering, Gleaming, Subtlety
The Nightingale Pro is not an in-your-face IEM, and that restraint is most evident in its treble tuning. While planar drivers are often associated with a boisterous or overly dramatic upper register, that reputation is more a byproduct of inconsistent tuning than an inherent trait of the technology itself. Here, the Nightingale Pro operates firmly in the realm of linearity, delivering strong resolution, texture, and dimensionality while integrating treble information naturally into the soundstage rather than spotlighting it.
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The gentle, muted snares in the background of “Anna Sun” by Walk the Moon peek through the edges of the soundstage during the intro, then open up and sit more forward in the mix during the chorus. The Nightingale Pro’s carefully measured treble makes that kind of finesse easy to follow. A brighter treble would have been more “exciting,” sure—but it also would have been more likely to smear that detail and mask what the track’s mastering is actually doing.
Muted Mids
SIVGA tuned the Nightingale Pro’s midrange to be deliberately linear, resulting in a warm, smooth presentation that stands in clear contrast to the more aggressive upper-midrange peaks often associated with planar IEMs. This predictable, even-handed approach makes the Nightingale Pro a strong candidate for reference-style listening, but it also places it outside the comfort zone of more mainstream tastes. Certain genres and mastering styles can come across as overly warm, which in turn affects the perceived width and scale of the soundstage.
EDM tracks like “Light Up The Sky” by Wooli are largely unaffected by this tuning, retaining their drive and structure. Rock recordings, however, such as “Lost in the Echo” by Linkin Park fare worse. On tracks like these, the soundstage can feel compressed, with vocals and guitars sounding dense and constrained.
Male vocals, while full-bodied and weighty, can lean heavy at times. Female vocals and higher-pitched male vocals are better served by the tuning and tend to sound clearer and more balanced. Even so, lyric intelligibility remains strong, and instrumental layering is consistently well handled. The Nightingale Pro presents music in an intimate, close-up manner, but it avoids sounding muddy thanks to its solid technical performance. Listeners accustomed to a more recessed lower midrange may take issue with this tuning choice, as it meaningfully reshapes how instruments and vocals are positioned within the mix.
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Gentle and Firm Bass
Thanks to its mildly lifted bass shelf, the Nightingale Pro is reasonably well equipped to resolve low-frequency information. Drum hits carry a touch of punch and a hint of rumble, though not to the extent you’d expect from a traditional dynamic-driver design. The lower register isn’t boisterous, but it is clean, quick, and well controlled, which makes the Nightingale Pro a capable partner for fast-moving genres like metal.
Electronic music can also fare well, depending on the mastering. The Nightingale Pro is able to dig into the sub-bass to resolve deep synth lines and will occasionally deliver a convincing sense of rumble. This gives it enough low-end contrast to support tracks like “Swimming in the Sky” by ARMNHMR, helping establish tonal depth without overwhelming the rest of the presentation. It won’t shake your skull, but it also avoids the flat or anemic low-end character that plagues some planar IEMs.
Comparisons
Kiwi Ears Aether
The Kiwi Ears Aether is a $170 planar IEM built around plastic shells with metal nozzles and a thin 0.78 mm two-pin cable. It uses a fixed 3.5 mm termination, rather than the fixed 4.4 mm balanced termination found on the Nightingale Pro. At roughly $130 less, the Aether clearly targets more cost-sensitive buyers—and it looks the part. Build quality and material choices fall short across the board, from the faceplates and nozzles to the cable itself. Nothing about the Aether’s physical execution approaches the Nightingale Pro’s level of refinement.
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Sonically, however, the gap narrows considerably. The Aether ranks among the stronger planar IEMs currently available, offering a well-balanced, natural tuning and solid technical performance at an accessible price. The Nightingale Pro, by contrast, caters more directly to listeners who favor linearity and a flatter, reference-leaning presentation. The Aether brings slightly more mid-bass presence and a less emphasized lower midrange, while its upper mids are marginally more forward. Treble is another point of divergence: the Nightingale Pro is more restrained overall, whereas the Aether’s lower treble is noticeably more forward, making it easier to create a sense of air and openness.
Between the two, the Aether is the easier recommendation for everyday listening. Its broader genre compatibility and less linear tuning make it more forgiving and more enjoyable across a diverse music library. Listeners who are treble-averse or specifically seeking a more reference-oriented presentation, however, will likely find the Nightingale Pro better aligned with their preferences.
7Hz Divine
The Divine is a relatively recent planar IEM from 7Hz, typically priced around $150. It features polished metal shells and a detachable cable that’s noticeably thicker and heavier than the Nightingale Pro’s. That cable terminates in a fixed 3.5 mm plug rather than a 4.4 mm balanced connection. Despite costing roughly half as much as the Nightingale Pro, the Divine ships with a larger carrying case and a more generous selection of eartips.
In terms of tuning, the Nightingale Pro leans more linear and reference-oriented, with a warmer overall balance than the Divine. Both IEMs employ modest bass shelves, but the Divine’s low end comes across drier and more matter-of-fact. The Divine also features a larger upper-midrange lift and a more pronounced upper treble, giving it a cooler, airier presentation. From a technical standpoint, both perform competently, though the Nightingale Pro does a better job of capturing fine vocal inflections that the Divine tends to smooth over. The Divine can surface certain details more readily, but it misses some of the subtler mastering nuances that the Nightingale Pro renders more convincingly.
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Between the two, the Nightingale Pro edges ahead. While the Divine offers broader genre flexibility, the Nightingale Pro’s bass tonality is more satisfying, and its overall presentation is easier to live with over long sessions. Comfort also plays a role: despite its attractive design, the Divine can become fatiguing to wear, whereas the Nightingale Pro proves more accommodating for extended listening.
Juzear Harrier
The Juzear Harrier is a tribrid IEM built with resin shells and metal nozzles, typically priced at $330, though it was available for $300 at the time of writing. It includes a modular 0.78 mm two-pin cable with both 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm terminations. The cable itself is quite good—noticeably thicker than the Nightingale Pro’s—and feels more substantial in hand. In terms of construction, the Nightingale Pro’s metal-and-wood chassis is clearly sturdier than the Harrier’s resin build, though the Harrier does fit my ears more comfortably.
Sonically, the Harrier takes a very different approach. It is the bassier of the two, with a much more pronounced low end and a particularly forward mid-bass. The Nightingale Pro counters with tighter, more controlled mid-bass and sub-bass performance, along with stronger technical discipline. The Harrier leans cooler overall, with a larger upper-midrange lift and greater treble emphasis.
By comparison, the Nightingale Pro sounds more linear and noticeably more cohesive from top to bottom. While the Harrier’s treble is more forward, it can also come across as grainier. The Nightingale Pro generally exhibits superior technicalities, though it can sound congested when directly A/B tested against the Harrier on certain tracks.
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Between the two, the Nightingale Pro takes the nod. Its sturdier build quality, stronger technical performance, and greater tonal cohesion work in its favor. The Harrier is still an appealing option, but it feels like a less fully realized execution of its tuning vision. Listeners who are sensitive to warmth or prefer a more open, brighter midrange and treble balance may gravitate toward the Harrier. Personally, I’m comfortable sticking with the Nightingale Pro.
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The Bottom Line
The Nightingale Pro is a thoughtfully built planar IEM that sticks closely to SIVGA’s established design language and tuning philosophy. Its presentation leans linear and reference-minded, with real sub-bass reach, a touch of warmth through the mids, and a treble response that stays extended without ever tipping into sharpness or sibilance. The craftsmanship is legitimately excellent—shells and faceplates feel premium in a way that’s immediately apparent—but sound quality, not aesthetics, is where buying decisions are made.
And this is where the Nightingale Pro becomes selective rather than universal. The restrained mid-bass and more relaxed treatment of male vocals and electric guitars limit its emotional punch, especially for listeners accustomed to more forward or dynamic presentations. In a price range crowded with strong alternatives, build quality alone isn’t enough to move it to the top of the list.
That said, there is a clear audience here. Listeners chasing a clean, sharpness-free planar sound, engineers looking for balance over excitement, and anyone drawn to a controlled, reference-style tuning will find a lot to respect. Bassheads, V-shaped devotees, and those who want vocals pushed front and center should keep moving. The Nightingale Pro doesn’t try to win everyone over—and that may be its most honest trait.
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Pros:
Sibilance-free tuning that stays composed even on hot recordings
Expressive, nuanced midrange with strong vocal and acoustic texture
Genuine sub-bass extension with reach and control
High-quality craftsmanship that feels deliberate, not mass-produced
Excellent layering and separation, especially in complex mixes
Impressive upper-treble extension that adds air without bite
Cons:
Mid-bass lacks authority, limiting slam and rhythmic weight
Cable feels wiry above the Y-split, detracting from overall ergonomics
Included silicone eartips are sub-par and do the IEM no favors
Shallow shell profile demands careful tip selection to get proper seal
Below-average passive isolation, especially for commuting or travel
Male vocals and electric guitars sound muted on select tracks
The Apple Watch Series 11 is a smartwatch worth upgrading to. It’s the best smartwatch for iPhone owners, and the base price is reasonable. It tends to swing back and forth in cost between its MSRP of $399 and a sale price of $299. Right now, it’s back to a match of that low price, meaning it’s the perfect time to make the upgrade if you’ve been hunting for a new Apple Watch.
Note that this sale price is for the 42-millimeter case size without GPS. If you want cellular connectivity or the larger 46-millimeter case, you’ll pay a bit more. But across all retailer options, nearly every color-and-size combination is discounted. Available finishes include Gold, Natural, and Slate titanium options, and Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, and Jet Black if you opt for aluminum.
The Apple Watch Series 11 finally has a battery that can last at least a full day. An actual full day, as in 24 hours, meaning you can wear it while you’re at the gym and while you’re sleeping. This will allow you to better take advantage of its myriad of tracking capabilities. (As the owner of an Apple Watch Series 8, I often consider upgrading for this reason alone.) Aside from the typical fitness stats and workout tracking, plus the AI-enabled Workout Buddy feature, this watch can monitor for signs of hypertension and track blood oxygen levels. It also has Fall Detection and satellite messaging capabilities (on models with cellular connectivity).
All in all, while new tech is neat, it’s not always worth upgrading for. But last year’s Apple Watch introduces meaningful changes that you’ll notice in your day-to-day life. If you’re still rocking an older model, or you’re shopping for your first smartwatch, this is absolutely worth considering—especially at this sale price. Afterward, check out our favorite Apple Watch bands to spruce up your new gadget.
Vornado Box Fan Model 80X for $100: While most people who need a box fan are, frankly, going to run out to Walmart or Home Depot and grab one for 20 bucks, you should be aware that there exists a Rolls-Royce of box fans. “It has 99 speeds,” the brand’s rep told me when it came out. “Yeah, right,” I thought. But, sure enough, this thing actually has 99 speeds, accessible via up and down buttons. I have no idea under what circumstances one might need this many speeds, but there they are. It’s also got a kickstand to reduce wobbling, a digital display, and a 1-to-12-hour timer. Plus, the silver-and-black casing looks good—like you meant to have it in your house, not a remnant from that one summer your AC broke during a heat wave.
Photograph: Kat Merck
Shark TurboBlade (Bladeless) for $250: Though this 2025 blade-less model is billed as a tower fan, it doesn’t look or act like any tower fan I’ve ever seen. It evokes a windmill more than it does a fan, with a horizontal bar that sits on a telescoping base, like a big “T.” The ends of the bar, which are articulated, feature the vents, and each end can be bent straight up, straight down, or at any point in between for fully customizable air direction. The whole bar can also be turned vertically to look more like an “I,” if you’d rather have a tall, thin breeze as opposed to a long, thin breeze. It has all the usual features you’d expect of a fan at this price point, including 10 speeds, oscillation, a magnetic remote, and three settings, including “Sleep,” which makes sense as the TurboBlade, in its “T” configuration, is about the right height for a bed. It’s a great choice if you need airflow in different directions at once, but be forewarned that it makes a fairly loud, jet engine-like whine, which is noticeable even on lower settings. There’s also now a TurboBlade Heat + Cool ($400), which adds a 1,400-watt heater to the middle, but WIRED reviewer Matthew Korfhage tested it and didn’t find the heat feature to be worth the extra $150.
Shark FlexBreeze for $200: This was my favorite misting fan of last year. I love that it’s rechargeable, so it can be used without an electrical outlet nearby, and I love that the head detaches from the pedestal with legs that fold out, allowing it to double as an easy-to-transport floor fan. Shark claims the FlexBreeze can reduce nearby ambient temperature by 10 degrees with the misting attachment. Though I was never able to measure a reduction of more than 6 degrees using multiple thermometers, the difference in air temperature using the FlexBreeze versus without is dramatic enough to make the difference between an unbearable summer dinner outside and a pleasant one. However, the mist deployed by the detachable misting attachment (Shark now makes a version with a tank, but I haven’t tried it) is a bit on the heavy side—it made most of my deck quite wet and dampened the clothes of anyone sitting within 5 or so feet. On the plus side, this meant the mist didn’t immediately blow away, as was the case with the FlexBreeze’s portable sibling, the HydroGo (below).
Photograph: Kat Merck
Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo for $150: I loved the original Shark FlexBreeze (above), but not the fact that it had to be connected to a hose, so I was very excited to see a rechargeable, portable version in fun colors. Shark says it can run for 30 minutes with the mister consistently on, or 60 minutes in “interval mode,” and after testing it at my son’s soccer practices, I found these estimates to be more or less accurate. However, the mist that comes out of the middle is so fine and in such a small stream that it blew away quickly before it had a chance to cool anyone, unless they were sitting just inches from it.
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Lasko Whirlwind Orbital Pedestal Fan for $85: This fan looks a lot like Dreo’s TurboPoly 508S, and indeed sports some of the same features—it oscillates vertically 105 degrees or horizontally 150 degrees, it’s quiet (I clocked 27 dB on low), and it’s got a remote. It’s not smart, it doesn’t have RBG lights, and there are some occasional noises from the oscillation, but if you’re looking for a more affordable pedestal fan that offers 3D oscillation, this honestly isn’t a bad option.
Among the global brands at AXPONA 2026, Mimic Audio did not have the biggest booth or the loudest presence, but it ended up being one of the more worthwhile stops in the EarGear section. The Chicago dealer, owned by TJ Cook, was positioned between Campfire Audio and Austrian Audio and only a few steps from the always swamped ZMF booth, which made it easy to overlook in the rush. That would have been a mistake. Mimic first caught my attention before the show when it supplied the AudioByte components for the Von Schweikert pre-event, paired with NUR Audio’s Harmonia.
My initial listen there was promising, but with the Von Schweikert VR.thrity or Ultra 7 commanding the room and the Harmonia’s open-back design letting all of that noise pour in, it was impossible to draw more than a few early conclusions. That made a return visit at AXPONA essential, where I sat down with all three NUR models on display for a longer listen and a better sense of what this Italian headphone brand is actually bringing to the table.
NUR Audio Headphones: Italian Design, Planar Magnetic Ambitions
NUR Audio is not some legacy brand trading on decades of goodwill. It was founded just northeast of Rome by Angelo De Mattia and feels very much like a passion project finding its footing in a crowded category. Right now, the Harmonia open back is the only model you can actually buy, priced at $3,750, while the Shanti open-back reference and Miah closed back are still listed as coming soon with pricing to be determined. That split matters because NUR is already drawing a line between audiences. The Harmonia is built for listening at home, while the Shanti and Miah mark the start of a professional series aimed at engineers who need precision more than romance.
The two open-back designs share a lot of DNA. Similar materials, similar construction, and very similar planar magnetic drivers. The Miah goes a different route with a dynamic driver inside a closed back design, which should make it the more practical option for studio work or less than ideal environments. All three, however, are physically imposing. Think Audeze LCD-4 sized ear cups and the kind of weight that can turn a long session into a short one if the ergonomics are off. Early impressions suggest NUR understands the problem. The suspension system is well padded, the clamp feels reasonable, and the weight distribution does not immediately raise red flags.
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The real test, as always, will be whether that comfort holds up after a few hours rather than a few tracks.
Using the AudioByte stack (more on that soon), I was able to spend time with all three NUR models and come away with a clearer sense of how each is voiced. With both the Shanti and Miah still in prototype form, nothing here should be considered final, but the direction is already apparent.
The NUR Harmonia is a large-format open-back planar magnetic headphone built around a 105mm PEEK diaphragm and a double-sided toroidal magnet system using high-grade N52 neodymium magnets. That combination is designed to deliver fast transient response, low distortion, and wide bandwidth, which is reflected in the rated 8Hz to 55kHz frequency response.
With a 48 ohm impedance and 107 dB/mW sensitivity, it should be relatively easy to drive for a planar of this size, though it will still benefit from a capable amplifier. The dual 3.5mm cup connections allow for balanced operation out of the box, with either 4.4mm or XLR cables included, along with a 6.35mm adapter for single-ended use. At 630 grams, it is firmly in the heavyweight category, making the suspension system and overall ergonomics critical for longer listening sessions.
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The Harmonia leans toward a clean, controlled presentation with a touch of warmth that you don’t always get from planar magnetic designs. Bass has solid presence without sounding pushed, the midrange comes across as slightly lush with very good detail retrieval, and the treble extends well past what my ears are willing to admit at this point. It strikes a balance that feels intentional rather than trying to impress on first listen.
The Shanti prototype shifts gears toward a more analytical presentation. It is crisper, more forward in its detail, and less forgiving overall. The name was a bit of a clue, but the tuning confirms it. This feels like the model aimed squarely at those who want to dissect recordings rather than relax into them.
The Miah, as the closed-back option, moves in a different direction. It is warmer and a bit thicker sounding than the two open-back models, which is not surprising given the design. Detail is still present across most of the range, but the top end has slightly less extension and sparkle. That trade-off is typical for closed-back headphones, especially ones that appear to be targeting studio use rather than chasing an artificially boosted sense of air.
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The Bottom Line
I came away impressed enough to spend a good amount of time talking with TJ Cook about getting all three NUR models in for proper review once they hit the market. That says more than any quick show impression. AXPONA has no shortage of big names pulling crowds, and it is easy to fall into the trap of chasing logos instead of sound. The problem is that you end up walking right past booths like Mimic Audio and missing some of the more interesting listens of the weekend.
The NUR lineup, paired with the AudioByte components, proved to be far more than a curiosity. It was one of those setups that rewarded anyone willing to sit down, block out the noise, and actually listen. Not perfect, not finished in two cases, but clearly headed somewhere worth paying attention to.
Expect a deeper dive once review samples land. In the meantime, NUR Audio is a brand to keep on your radar, and if you happen to be in the Chicago area, Mimic Audio is absolutely worth a visit.
Most audio brands guard their designs like trade secrets, but Head(amame) showed up at AXPONA 2026 and did the exact opposite. The Vancouver-based company is handing over schematics, specs, and build plans for its 3D printed headphones, inviting users to print and assemble their own at home with a parts kit for what cannot be fabricated on a desktop printer. While 3D printed speakers have been circulating in DIY circles for years, this is the first time I have seen the concept executed this openly and completely in the headphone space.
Morgan Andreychuk explained that Head(amame) gives away the files to 3D print the cups, yoke, and headband whether you buy the finished headphone or build it yourself. The price difference is a big part of the appeal: the completed Head(amame) Pro starts at $369 for Kickstarter backers, while the Head(amame) parts kit sells for $130 through the company’s site. That means buyers can pay more for a finished product with QC and warranty coverage, or spend a lot less on the kit and print most of the structure themselves.
Either way, the open design is the real hook. Owners have the files needed to recreate most of the structural parts if something breaks, wears out, or if they want to tweak the design later. The tradeoff is straightforward: choose the DIY route and you give up the company’s finished-product QC process and warranty, but not its support. Andreychuk and the team were clearly willing to discuss materials, printing options, and possible improvements, which makes this feel less like a sealed consumer product and more like a headphone platform built for people who actually want to tinker.
Head(amame) Pro 3D Printed Headphones
The Head(amame) Pro uses a semi closed back design that will feel familiar in concept to the Fostex T50RP, even if it looks nothing like it. The structure is unmistakably its own. The headband and yoke form a plus shaped frame that dominates the face of the cup, while a series of radial baffles wrap around the perimeter, giving it an almost floral appearance. You do not see the driver from the rear, but each “petal” hides a vent that becomes visible from the side.
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Head(amame) Pro Headphones at AXPONA 2026
Even the cable placement refuses to follow convention, mounted vertically on the rear face but closer to the front. My first instinct was that I had them on backwards. Morgan acknowledged that clearer left and right markings are still a work in progress.
The first real surprise comes when you pick them up. For something this large, the Head(amame) Pro is extremely light. That is not by accident. The goal is to go even further, with plans to swap a brass pin for aluminum and replace another internal component with carbon fiber. It is already more than 100 grams lighter than the AirPods Max and still trending downward.
That kind of weight reduction changes the equation. A non padded headband might raise eyebrows on paper, but here it is not the liability you would expect because there simply is not enough mass to make it one.
The Head(amame) Pro uses dynamic drivers with a glass diaphragm intended to improve speed and clarity, but the platform is not locked down. Builders can experiment with a range of 40 mm dynamic drivers as long as the specifications line up, which reinforces the open, modular nature of the design. Head(amame) shared a booth with Capra Audio, who assisted with tuning the Pro.
That collaboration came after some disagreement over the voicing of an earlier model, prompting Morgan to bring Capra into the process for this revision. Given Capra Audio’s presence in the DIY space with aftermarket parts and headbands, the partnership makes sense and will likely resonate with the community this product is aimed at.
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Sound, at least in that environment, leaned close to reference with a slight roll off in the lowest octaves and a bit of lift up top. It is an easy signature to listen to and, more importantly, one that invites experimentation. That matters here because the entire premise is that you are not stuck with a fixed outcome. The reality of a busy show floor limits how far I am willing to go with sonic conclusions, but the early impression was positive enough to warrant a deeper look. If I can get a set printed for review, there is clearly more to unpack.
As a concept, Head(amame) is doing something few others are willing to try. It is a more sustainable approach than most full size headphones, and at roughly 280 grams with plans to go even lighter, it is also one of the more comfortable options for listeners who usually tap out early because of weight.
Prominent leaker MEGAsizeGPU recently claimed that a long-rumored version of Nvidia’s RTX 5050 with increased memory capacity has been delayed and might never see release. Meanwhile, the still-popular RTX 3060, originally expected to have returned to the market by now, could instead fill the gap in the release schedule in June. Read Entire Article Source link
The Brave browser “has introduced Brave Origin, a stripped-down version of its browser that removes built-in monetization features like Rewards and other extras tied to its business model,” writes Slashdot reader BrianFagioli”
The stripped-down browser is available either as a separate browser download or as an upgrade to the existing Brave install, unlocked through a one-time purchase that can be activated across multiple devices. The idea is simple on paper: pay once, and you get a cleaner, more minimal browsing experience without the add-ons that fund Brave’s ecosystem. What makes the move unusual is the pricing model itself. While paying to support a browser is not controversial, charging users specifically to remove features raises questions about whether those additions are seen as value or clutter.
The situation gets even stranger on Linux, where Brave Origin is reportedly available at no cost, creating an uneven experience across platforms and leaving some users wondering why they are being asked to pay for something others get for free.
A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Sunday’s puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, April 19 (game #1546).
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,400 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.
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SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
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Quordle today (game #1547) – hint #1 – Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
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Quordle today (game #1547) – hint #2 – repeated letters
Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.
Quordle today (game #1547) – hint #3 – uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today’s Quordle answers.
What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?
• Q
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• T
• S
• E
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
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Quordle today (game #1547) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1547, are…
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A really tough game this one, and it took me a good deal longer to complete than usual.
Getting the rare letter Q ended up being the easy part as the remaining words had a few possibilities. Fortunately I got away with it, making just one mistake — but it felt lucky.
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Daily Sequence today (game #1547) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1547, are…
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Sunday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, April 19 (game #777).
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
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SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
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NYT Strands today (game #778) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Gloriously glaring!
NYT Strands today (game #778) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
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SHEATH
CRAG
CHEAT
TOTAL
LINT
MILE
NYT Strands today (game #778) – hint #3 – spangram letters
How many letters are in today’s spangram?
• Spangram has 13 letters
NYT Strands today (game #778) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First side: bottom, 3rd column
Last side: top, 4th column
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Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
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NYT Strands today (game #778) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Strands, game #778, are…
GLINT
GLITTER
GLISTEN
GLEAM
GLOW
GLIMMER
SPANGRAM: CATCHTHELIGHT
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
The theme was a little bit confusing initially, but after spotting GLINT and GLITTER I understood that every light-associated word we were searching for began with the letter G.
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There was no place then for shimmer or sparkle in this gaggle of G words.
The spangram was harder to spot, but with “light” not featured among the game words I worked backwards to find “catch” and then CATCHTHELIGHT.
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Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Sunday, April 19, game #777)
ADJUST
MODIFY
TWEAK
REFINE
IMPROVE
ALTER
SPANGRAM: THEREIFIXEDIT
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the app is technically ready and will be available to citizens soon.
The European Commission yesterday (15 April) unveiled a digital age verification app aimed at shielding children from harmful content online, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen declaring there are “no more excuses” for platforms that fail to act.
Announcing the tool in Brussels on Wednesday (15 April), von der Leyen painted a stark picture of the risks children face in the digital world. “One child in six is bullied online. One child in eight is bullying another child online,” she said, warning that social media platforms use “highly addictive designs” that damage young minds and leave children vulnerable to predators.
Users set up the app using a passport or ID card, after which they can confirm their age anonymously. The free app, which the Commission says is technically ready and will soon be available to citizens, allows users to verify their age when accessing online platforms “without revealing any other personal data”, according to von der Leyen. “Users cannot be tracked,” von der Leyen stressed, adding that the app is fully open source and compatible with any device.
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Drawing a comparison with the EU’s Covid certificate – adopted in record time and used across 78 countries – von der Leyen said the age verification tool follows “the same principles, the same model.” Seven member states, including France, Italy, Spain and Ireland, are already planning to integrate the app into their national digital wallets.
The announcement comes ahead of the second meeting of the Commission’s Special Panel on Children’s Safety Online, which is due to deliver its recommendations by summer. Von der Leyen was unambiguous about the Commission’s direction of travel on enforcement. “Children’s rights in the European Union come before commercial interest. And we will make sure they do.”
Platforms were put on notice that voluntary compliance alone will not suffice. “We will have zero tolerance for companies that do not respect our children’s rights,” she said, adding that the Commission is “moving ahead with full speed and determination on the enforcement of our European rules”.
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