Clarity HeadLite 2 - Balanced Input
Reviews
Audio Media Review of Headlite (2007)
"The HeadLite's technical specifications read well, citing distortion below 0.002%, A-weighted signal to noise better than 124dB, a flat frequency responce from 1Hz to 20kHz and so on, but as usual that says little about how it actually sounds and some careful listening was called for. To begin with I hooked up the XLR outputs of one of my Benchmark DAC1 digital to analogue converters in 'calibrated' mode to inputs A and B of the HeadLite, and compared the sound to the DAC1's built-in headphone amp (the HPA-2, itself a good design and my usual choice with beyerdynamic DT990 Pro Headphones for editing and QC) by jacking between the two. Although not an instant comparison, once I'd got the levels matched a pattern started to emerge with the DACS unit exhibiting a greater top-end clarity against the Benchmark, the latter sounding smoother and warmer by comparison. This was particularly apparent with the job I was working on at the time, mastering and denoising some Brahms orchestral pieces: at first I thought I hadn't set the HeadLite's output level correctly as there seemed to be more hiss than with the Benchmark, but, in fact, I was just perceiving the hiss in the recording to a greater extent along with clicks and other artefacts, which because they were more clearly apparent were easier to deal with. This was very useful, not to mention impressive, but then I became a little concerned that this was a 'hyped' presentation and that mulititracked popular music was going to take my head off: I needn't have worried as the HeadLite's sound turned out to be clear but natural throughout."
To read the full review, click here.
Sound on Sound Review of HeadLite (1997)
"...The sound quality and technical performance of the device is fine...no apparent added noise, the switching is clean, and the sound remains undistorted up to the point where your phones start to complain...build quality suggests a long and reliable life...this one is certainly worth a closer look - and listen."
To read the full review, click here.
