Pragmatic Products Picks 2025

2025 was another remarkable year for audio enthusiasts, perhaps even more impressive than 2024. The combination of some technical innovations becoming mainstream (like PEQ), refined tuning philosophies (we are getting more and more ’neutral sounding’ devices), and aggressive pricing from brands like FiiO, Kiwi Ears, Truthear, and others made this a year when excellent audio gear became more accessible than ever. All the products I’ve picked below were reviewed by me in 2025, though some were released earlier and I have mentioned a few that will have reviews pubished very soon.

As with last year, I’ve focused on categories where I feel I had enough breadth and depth of experience to make a fair recommendation.

Read on for my favorite audio products of 2025 across categories ranging from desktop amplifiers to portable DACs and everything in between.

Overall Product of the Year

Winner:FiiO K17

The FiiO K17 is a true do-everything device that excels in every role it attempts. As a streamer, it’s Roon Ready and supports AirPlay, Bluetooth, and multiple digital inputs. I picked it as my product of the year as I feel it is almost a showcase for everything that was interesting this year with its retro design, yet objectively excellent internals and so many features it is hard to keep up, including PEQ. So as a DAC, it features dual AK4499EX chips delivering exceptional performance. As a headphone amplifier, it outputs up to 4W of power capable of driving even the most demanding planars and high-impedance headphones. As a preamp, it provides both balanced and unbalanced outputs with excellent signal quality.

What truly sets the K17 apart is its combination of power, features, and usability wrapped in a gorgeous retro-inspired design. The parametric EQ implementation is comprehensive and easy to use, the screen is beautiful and informative, and the remote control makes it a joy to use from across the room. During my testing with everything from the Modhouse Tungsten to HiFiMAN HE6S V2, the K17 never showed any weakness.

At its price point, the K17 makes devices costing twice as much look overpriced, though FiiO almost outdid themselves when they released the similar yet even cheaper K15 later in the year. But I think the performance of the K17 is worth the difference in price, and it is the centrepiece of my listening room setup, where I use as many of the various input and output options to allow me evaluate many products at the same time.

Headphone Amplifier of the Year

Winner: Luxsin X9

While obviously the K17 is an excellent headphone amplifier, if headphones are your main thing, then the Luxsin X9 is probably the ultimate headphone amplifier for enthusiasts who love to tinker. While the K17 wins overall for its versatility, the X9 is the purest expression of what a dedicated headphone amplifier should be when designed for serious enthusiasts.

What makes the X9 special isn’t exotic components or boutique parts—it’s the thoughtfully implemented features that make audible differences. The comprehensive PEQ with an excellent companion app, multiple gain settings, impedance compensation, and even stereo width adjustment give you unprecedented control over your headphone’s presentation. The gorgeous touchscreen interface makes navigating all these options a pleasure rather than a chore.

During the last few months I have been fortunate enough to be testing over 20 different headphone amplifiers, the X9 earned pride of place at the centre of my dedicated headphone listening setup. It’s the first amplifier I reach for when evaluating new headphones because I know it will have the tools to help me reveal everything they’re capable of.

Honorable Mentions:

• Topping DX5 II: An incredibly feature-rich DAC/amp that delivers nearly 6W of balanced power, comprehensive PEQ, and excellent measurements at an aggressive price point. Any other year this would be the winner given its price point it is an incredible bargain.
• FiiO K15: The baby brother to the K17, offering similar aesthetics and most of the features at a lower price point. An excellent value proposition, though for pure value I would probably still go for the Topping DX5 II.

Headphone of the Year

Winner: FiiO / Jade Audio JT7

The FiiO / Jade Audio JT7 is my pragmatic pick for Headphone of the Year, mainly because at its price I don’t believe there is a better sounding planar. It may not quite match the absolute sonic ceiling of the very best flagships and FiiO themselves have some very strong competition like the FT1 Pro and especially the exceptionally good FT7, but as a 2025 release it delivers truly extraordinary price‑to‑performance. At $109.99, this open‑back planar offers a balanced, engaging tuning, solid technicals for the class, and all‑day comfort in a compact, foldable design. It’s the kind of product that moves the hobby forward by making great sound far more accessible.

Note: I’ve not yet reviewed the HiFiMAN XV, the Ananda Unveiled, or the Meze 99 Classic V2. Of the headphones I have personally reviewed this year, the JT7 stands out as the most pragmatic choice. The Meze 105 Silva, ZMF Bokeh Closed and the FT7 are very good in their price ranges, but nothing approaches the JT7 for what you get for the money.

Pragmatic Runners Up:

• Fosi Audio i5: A guilty pleasure that won my heart despite not being strictly neutral. The luxurious build quality, exceptional comfort, and unique sound signature made this my go-to evening headphone. While not perfectly tuned, there’s something special about how it presents music that kept me coming back.
• FiiO FT7: Premium materials and features combined with two excellent tuning options via different earcups make this a high-end headphone at mid-range prices. The build quality and versatility set a new standard for what’s possible in this price bracket. Only minor niggle would be the headband adjustment mechanism.

Retro Product of the Year

Winner: FiiO Warmer R2R

The FiiO Warmer R2R wins this category mostly because of what it offers for the price. At its asking price, FiiO has created something that makes a lot of the boutique gear I spotted at Munich High End 2025 look overpriced and underwhelming.

Yes, it doesn’t measure objectively great and does ‘colour’ the sound, but that’s entirely the point. Sometimes it’s fun to hear what “retro” migth have sounded like, and the Warmer R2R delivers that vintage nostalgia with a 24-bit R2R DAC, with beautiful VU meters and user-replaceable tubes. It’s a conversation piece that also happens to sound interesting and enjoyable with the right material. Paired with the right amplifier and using the OS mode it also sounds as transparent as you will need while you can quickly switch to the OS mode for some interesting ‘retro’ tonality.

For those wanting to experiment with a tube sound (though only a tube buffer) or try R2R DACs without spending thousands, the Warmer R2R is the perfect entry point.

Honorable Mentions:

• Fosi Audio Luna3 Turntable: A turntable that impressed me with its combination of modern convenience and analog charm at an accessible price point.
• Aiyima T20: An amazing tube preamplifier that brings genuine tube warmth and character to your system. The build quality is impressive and the sound is genuinely pleasing.

IEM of the Year

Winner: Truthear Pure

The Truthear Pure takes IEM of the year by just edging out some exceptional competition. At $89.99, the Pure represents the “new neutral” - a carefully balanced approach that takes cues from the JM-1 target with refined mid-bass presentation and a relaxed, safe treble response.

With tuning guidance from Listener at Headphones.com, the Pure delivers a mature, refined sound signature that works beautifully with almost any genre. The laid-back treble makes this an IEM you can listen to for hours without fatigue, while the enhanced mid-bass adds just enough warmth and body to keep things engaging.

The Pure succeeds where its predecessor, the Hexa, sometimes fell short—it’s more forgiving of source quality and poor recordings while still delivering excellent technical performance when fed high-quality material.

Honorable Mention:

• Crinear Daybreak: An excellent first major release from Crinear that delivers great all-around performance. While the Pure, Orchestra II, and Astral edge it out in my personal preference, the Daybreak is still a fantastic IEM that many will love.

Portable Audio Gear of the Year

Winner: Crinear Protocol Max

The Crinear Protocol Max wins this category for delivering exceptional power and performance in a truly portable package. This compact DAC/amp punches well above its weight class with impressive power delivery that can drive even demanding headphones while maintaining excellent sound quality and comprehensive features.

The Protocol Max represents the evolution of portable audio gear - no longer are we forced to compromise on power or features when going portable. It offers the flexibility and capability that serious portable audio enthusiasts demand without becoming unwieldy or impractical.

Strong Contenders:

• FiiO Snowsky Melody: A beautiful wooden dongle DAC with excellent sound quality, comprehensive features including PEQ, and an incredibly aggressive price point.
• ddHifi TC44Pro E3: A capable portable DAC/amp that delivers solid performance in a super compact format, well-built package with dual outputs.

Amplifier of the Year

Winner: Ampapa D1

The Ampapa D1 takes amplifier of the year in what was an incredibly competitive category. This Class D stereo amplifier delivers exceptional performance with its dual TPA3255 chips providing clean, powerful amplification with excellent measurements and real-world performance. What sets the D1 apart is its thoughtful implementation—the build quality is outstanding, the feature set is comprehensive without being overwhelming, and it offers genuine high-end performance at a price point that makes traditional Class A/B amplifiers look dated.

The D1 just edges out the Aiyima A20 through its cool VU Meters and slightly more refined sound character when you factor in the subwoofer HPF options, though both represent the remarkable value that modern Class D amplification can deliver.

Strong Contender:

• Aiyima A20: An exceptional amplifier that came incredibly close to winning. The A20 offers similar performance to the D1 at an even lower price point, making it an absolute bargain for those prioritizing pure value with excellent build quality.

Miscellaneous Awards

Best True Wireless Earbuds

Winner: Earfun AirPro4 +

The Earfun AirPro4 + delivers flagship TWS performance at a mid-range price. With excellent active noise cancellation, solid sound quality, comfortable fit, and impressive battery life, these earbuds punch well above their price class. Earfun has consistently delivered value in the TWS space, and the AirPro4 + represents their best effort yet—a truly complete package that doesn’t make you feel like you’re compromising by not spending twice as much.

Honorable Mention:

• Moondrop Space Travel 2: Getting parametric EQ in TWS earbuds at this price point is exceptional. The Space Travel 2 offers impressive customization capabilities that were previously reserved for much more expensive models.

Best Active Speakers

Winner: Argon Forte A5 MK2

The Argon Forte A5 MK2 takes the active speaker award with its combination of refined sound quality, excellent build, and thoughtful features. While more expensive options like the FiiO SA1 and Aiyima S600 offer compelling value and impressive performance for their prices, the Argon Forte A5 MK2 delivers a more complete, refined package that justifies its premium. The sound quality is noticeably more controlled and nuanced, the build quality inspires confidence, and the overall experience feels more polished and mature.

Strong Contenders:

• FiiO SA1: Excellent active speakers that deliver impressive sound quality and features at an aggressive price point. A fantastic choice for those prioritizing value.
• Aiyima S600: Another strong value proposition that brings quality active speaker sound to an even lower price bracket without significant compromise.

Conclusion

2025 proved to be a year where audio manufacturers delivered exceptional value across all price points. From the $109.99 FiiO JT7 to the Luxsin X9, this year’s winners represent products that don’t just offer good performance for the money—they often match or exceed products costing significantly more.

The common thread among all these winners is that they’re designed for enthusiasts who care about sound quality first, but also appreciate thoughtful features, good build quality, and sensible pricing. FiiO in particular had an exceptional year, with products appearing across multiple categories. Kiwi Ears continued their impressive run with multiple excellent IEMs that each fill specific sonic niches.

If you’re in the market for quality audio equipment, any of the winners or honorable mentions here would be a sensible, pragmatic choice. These are products I genuinely use and enjoy, and that’s the highest recommendation I can give.