About

Audiovault is a small review desk for personal audio. We publish measurement-led write-ups on headphones, in-ear monitors, loudspeakers and the amplifiers and converters that feed them. The site is run by one reviewer and one bench, which keeps the method consistent from unit to unit.

What we cover

Over-ear and on-ear headphones, wired and wireless in-ears, desktop and bookshelf speakers, headphone amplifiers, portable DACs and audio interfaces. We also publish buying guides that compare several units against a fixed set of criteria.

How we test

Every unit runs the same sequence. We measure frequency response on a calibrated coupler, record impedance and sensitivity, and log isolation with a noise source at a fixed distance. Listening follows the bench work rather than the other way round: the plots tell us what to listen for, and the notes confirm or contradict them.

Where a unit is available on loan we return it after the review window. Where it is not, we buy it. Both cases are stated on the page only when the distinction would change how a reader should weigh the review.

How we rank

We avoid a single score. A pair of headphones can measure cleanly and still be a poor fit for commuting, so we write recommendations against a use case: desk listening, transit, tracking, calls, and room playback. The quick reference table on the front page lists the metrics that decide each case.

Editorial independence

Some outbound links on this site are affiliate links. If a reader follows one and makes a purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to the reader. Commissions do not influence which units we test, the order in which they appear, or the conclusions we publish. We do not accept payment for a review, a rating or a placement, and we do not publish sponsored articles.

Corrections

If a measurement is wrong we want to know. Send the correction with the figure and the method you used to [email protected]. Substantive corrections are appended to the article with a date, and silent edits are not made to conclusions.