The high-end headphone market continues to expand with some excellent products from Apos Audio, and Topping at T.H.E. Show 2022 in Long Beach. Apos is no longer just an online retailer but a manufacturer as well in the headphone category.
Both eCoustics Senior Headphone Editor, Will Jennings and I reviewed the Caspian earlier this year (linked below), and came away with an appreciation for the chance Soundphile & Apos took in the design and sound of the product. I also came away feeling the rating he gave his own design of 4.25 out of 5 was a fair assessment.
- Apos Caspian review by Lynn Miller
- Apos Caspian review by Will Jennings
It is a smooth sounding headphone but nothing about it really jumped out at me in regard to its performance with any genre of music.
Headphones can sound dramatically different with any changes downstream and that’s exactly what happened with the Caspian this weekend at T.H.E. Show.
The Topping D90SE & A90 provided for T.H.E. Show by Apos Audio have made me reassess my impression of the headphone; a steady diet of classical music provided by eCoustics Sr. Headphone Editor, Will Jennings, opened my ears to the realization that I was wrong. Reviewers can be wrong. Imagine that.
Listening to “Appalachian Spring” by Aaron Copland, the midrange of the Apos Caspian came alive though the Topping duo; something that I felt was lacking in my own tests at home using different source gear and amplification.
Detail which seemed missing in my initial tests was suddenly present and the quartet demonstrated a greater sense of vibrancy and airiness.
Kennerton supplies the guts of the Apos Caspian and it’s clear that this is a headphone with a lot more potential.
The Topping gear is very well built and I’m increasingly surprised by its level of affordability. It supports almost all of the digital formats and codecs and it’s very easy to use.
The Apos is certainly not just excellent with classical music; it delivers a rather detailed and dynamic presentation with jazz, pop, and rock as well.
Apos is offering a 10% discount on their website when you use the code “HEADPHONIUM” and there are some excellent deals to be found.
For more information: Apos.Audio
Where to buy:
- Apos Caspian – $499 at Apos. Audio
- Topping D90SE – $899 at Apos.Audio
- Topping A90 – $499 at Apos.Audio
Continue reading: Show Reports from T.H.E. Show 2022
