MPL-0 Review from Headfonics

Honest reviewers are the backbone of the audio community, providing valuable insights and feedback that help consumers and manufacturers make informed decisions. We are grateful for their dedication and commitment to the industry. That's why we want to thank Marcus from Headfonics for taking the time to review our latest headphone, the MPL-0. His honest and objective assessment of the headphone will help others make informed decisions about its quality and performance. We would also like to extend our appreciation to our partners at Zeppelin and Co. for connecting us with Marcus at CanJam Singapore. We are proud to be featured on Headfonics and excited to share our passion for audio with the community.

Rosson Audio Design MPL-0 Review — Headfonics

Asia’s first Audio Café | Audio Store Singapore | Zeppelin & Co. (zeppelinandco.com)

My first set of cans....

Everyone has that one pair of headphones that holds a special place in their heart. For me, it was the Sony MDR-V6—the headphones that became the gateway to my personal musical escape.

Back in the day, as a young music enthusiast, I longed for a way to immerse myself and escape the realities of my 90minute bus ride to school. After saving up, I finally got my hands on the Sony MDR-V6—a cherished pair of headphones that would forever change my journey.

When I unfolded those headphones for the first time, I felt a surge of excitement. They were more than just a piece of audio equipment to me; they represented a newfound freedom to explore sound.

With the MDR on my ears, I embarked on a sonic adventure every time I stepped out of the house. Whether it was riding the bus to school or finding solace in walking or riding somewhere, these headphones became my trusted companions, transporting me to a world where the noise faded away, replaced by the music and the ability to dissect it with my senses.

Those headphones were more than just a means to listen to music—they became a portal to my own emotional sanctuary. They allowed me to fully immerse myself in the beauty of sound, unlocking a world of possibilities and creativity and faithfully translated the emotions and intentions of the music.

As time passed, Sony introduced newer models, but it was the MDR-V6—the headphones that started it all—that held a special place in my heart. They were a symbol of my passion and dedication to the world of music—a reminder of the transformative power that music holds.

Looking back, I am grateful for the profound impact the Sony MDR-V6 had on my life. They were not just a pair of headphones; they were the catalyst that ignited my love for music and shaped the way I experience sound. They taught me the importance of cherishing those moments of escape, where music becomes a personal journey of self-expression and emotional connection.

To all the dreamers and music lovers out there, cherish your own personal musical journey. Embrace the power of your headphones, for they have the ability to transport you. May your headphones be the key that unlocks your own personal escape into the music, just as the Sony’s did for me.

What piece of gear or headphones did it for you?

Headfonics.com Takes a Close Look at the RAD-0 Headphones

Headfonics.com published a review of our RAD-0 a few years ago, followed by being awarded a top gear rating. Marcus, a well-respected reviewer on the site and someone we've known for years, put the RAD-0 through its paces and provided an in-depth analysis of its features and performance.

We were particularly excited to have Marcus review the RAD-0 because we knew that he would give an honest and thorough assessment of the product. His review did not disappoint, and we're grateful for the time and effort he put into testing our headphones.

Receiving a top gear rating from Headfonics.com is a great honor, and we're proud of the recognition our product has received. We want to thank Marcus and the team at Headfonics for their support, and we hope that this review will help others discover the quality and performance of our RAD-0 headphones.

Headfonics RAD-0 Review

Happy and RAD "The RAD-0 is God’s way of telling me that he loves me and that he wants me to be happy."

Welcome to our new blog series featuring emails from satisfied customers! As a business, there's nothing quite as rewarding as hearing from happy customers who love your products or services. These messages can be a powerful reminder of why you do what you do, and they can also serve as valuable social proof for your brand.

In this blog series, we'll be showcasing some of the most heartwarming, inspiring, and insightful emails we've received from satisfied customers. From glowing reviews of our products to heartfelt expressions of gratitude for our service, these messages are a testament to the impact that our business is making in people's lives.

But this series isn't just about patting ourselves on the back – it's also about sharing the stories and experiences of our customers. We'll be highlighting the ways in which our products and services have made a difference for them, and how they've helped them achieve their goals, solve their problems, or simply brighten their day.

So if you're looking for a dose of positivity and inspiration, or if you're curious about what our customers have to say about us, this blog series is for you. We're excited to share these emails with you, and we hope you'll enjoy reading them as much as we did!

Message: I got an email today asking me to review my order. It started by asking me to rate the stock cable, so I did. It's a cable, so there really wasn't much to say. I was expecting to also be asked about my headphones, but I wasn’t given the chance to review the headphones. Here is my review of the RAD-0:

The RAD-0 is God’s way of telling me that he loves me and that he wants me to be happy. It has excellent tone, timbre, and imaging. The RAD-0 stomps all over any other headphone that I have heard. I can play them stupid loud, and they still sound clean as a whistle. Zero fatigue. Zero regrets. One big smile on my face.

After a week of listening to only the RAD-0, I once again reached for my Clear MG’s. Suddenly, the Clear MG didn’t sound very good anymore. By comparison, the Clear MG sounded kind of anemic, shouty, and fatiguing. I put them back on the shelf, and that is where they sit. After listening to the RAD-0, I have plans to sell the Clear MG’s.

Anyways, that is my review of your awesome RAD-0. I am still totally stoked to be the proud owner of unit #XXX

Ear Fidelity Review

Check it out here

RAD-0 Review

“To summarise, the RAD-0 might look like an artisan pair of headphones where you’re just paying extra for the looks, but it is very far from the truth. This is an insanely good-sounding pair that is tuned so well, that it will appeal to most people. The RAD-0 is a perfect blend of technicalities, musicality, and a piece of art that will satisfy you while both listening to them and just looking at them and praising that striking build quality and design. This is literally a much better product than I expected it to be, and for that, I’m very grateful that I was finally able to try it, and now it became my go-to headphone for rock, metal, and electronic music, which I listen to a lot lately.”

— Paweł Szachno

2022 Editors choice via Eacoustics.com :)

Thanks to Eacoustics for the much appreciated mention in their editors choices of 2022

Check it out here.

My last stop at CanJam NYC was with the very kind people from Rupert Neve Designs who were demonstrating the $4,995 Precision Digital-to-Analog Converter which is part of their Fidelice Series. 

Rupert Neve products are now manufactured in Texas and I was slightly floored by the quality of the sound with a pair of Rosson Audio RAD-0 Planar Magnetic Headphones.

Alex Rosson co-founded Audeze before leaving to start his own brand and he’s clearly not lost one step when it comes to design. 

Rosson Audio RAD-0 Planar Magnetic HeadphonesRosson Audio RAD-0 Planar Magnetic Headphones

The 32-bit/384kHz PCM DAC can also handle MQA and DSD; the Precision DAC is also a fully balanced headphone amplifier and pre-amplifier making it rather ideal for active loudspeakers. 

I’ve definitely listened to headphone amplifiers with more force and control but the tonal accuracy of this combination was breathtaking with horns and vocals. 

After almost 8 years of listening to some of the best headphones and headphone amplifiers available, I would rate this combination near the top of the list; instruments sound so natural and real with no unnecessary fireworks. 

The Rosson Audio RAD-0 sounded complete effortless in their delivery of the human voice and I only left the booth because so many people were standing in line awaiting their opportunity to listen.

These are planar headphones that certainly benefit from a lot of power and they are certainly on the larger side, but they transport you into the heart of the performance and I spent most of NJ Transit ride home to the Shore reading their website and debating which organ to sell.

Shop Updated with New Units - August 2022

New units are now available in our shop!

TylersEclectic's Thoughts and Impressions on the RAD-0

Thank you to Tyler for his thoughts and slick video about the RAD-0!

“Phew, these are stupid good...”

— Tyler Oak, TylersEclectic

Check out more of Tyler’s work

ProfFalkin's RAD-0 Review

“I think RAD-0 gives one of the best interpretations of perceptually neutral frequency response out of all of the headphones I’ve heard thus far. With all of the other qualities I’ve already mentioned, it gives you one of the best overall presentations to music from a headphone that I’ve heard to date.”

— ProfFalkin

Check out ProfFalkin’s full review of the RAD-0 on the headphones.com forum.

How Do You Develop Mix Confidence?

Excellent philosophy from Grammy Award winning engineer and producer Dom Morley on developing mix confidence. Couldn’t agree more!

“…I’m a big fan of mixing on headphones. Headphones are great for mixing because they don’t care what sort of room you’re in, and the bang-for-buck with headphones is significantly greater than with speakers. I realise some people may take issue with this last point but look at it this way: the best headphones I’ve ever heard in terms of flat-response, un-coloured, detailed sound are the Rosson Audio Rad-0, a pair of which will set you back somewhere in the region of £2500. That’s some pricey headphones! But, if I wanted to buy a pair of speakers that gave me the same level of un-coloured, super-detailed mixing confidence then I’d probably need to spend around ten times that. And I would need to treat my room to the same level as well. All of a sudden, expensive headphones are starting to look pretty cheap…”

- Dom Morley, ProTools Expert

Check out the full article here.

RAD-0 Now available in the U.K. at Val Hifi

As we are just starting to expand our partner network we’re pleased to announce our exclusive partner in the UK.

After special consideration we could not be happier partnering with Val Hifi , based in Ashford, owned and operated by Greg Chapman. Val Hifi champions boutique brands and we are excited to be one of the very few and curated brands he represents. If you haven’t heard of Val Hifi go check them out and check out the other amazing brands he represents. Additionally here’s a great interview HiFi+ did on Greg followed by excerpt that will give you some insight as to why we are so grateful to be working with Greg from Val Hifi.

HIfi + to Greg Chapman -

“What is your ethos?VAL Hi-Fi takes a curated approach to hi-fi retail. Our passion is for discovering, supporting and championing boutique brands that give our customers a transcendent audio experience with products that give huge ‘bang for buck’ and can hold their own against products costing many times the price. The very best in hi-fi does not necessarily come from the most well known brands and we believe we have the ultimate alternatives.”

If you are in the UK and are interested in a demo of our cans don’t hesitate to contact Val Hifi.

Audiophile Style RAD-0 Review

Thank you Josh Mound for the wonderfully in-depth review of the RAD-0! Check out the full review here.

“After months with the RAD-0, I can say without hesitation that it’s my favorite planar headphone bar none.”

— Josh Mound, Audiophile Style

John Darko, Alessandro Cortini, and John Tejada Talk RAD-0

An incredibly in-depth and informative chat between John Darko, Alessandro Cortini, and John Tejada about their experiences with the RAD-0. Blurring the lines between audiophile listening pleasure and accurate engineering, each find common ground in their enjoyment and usefulness of the RAD-0. This one is definitely worth your attention and time. Check out John Darko’s write up here!

Shop Updated with New Units - December 2020

New units are now available in our shop!

Headfonia 2020 Best of Year Awards

A HUGE thank you to Headfonia for naming the RAD-0 as the winner in the “Best-Headphone Large Pockets” category! Feel free to check out their full review here.

“The RAD-0 is a high-end headphone for the music-lover and so far we love every bit of it.”

— Lieven, Editor in Chief - Headfonia.com

Darko Audio Product of the Year

A big thank you to John Darko for the humbling words and mention in your Products of the Year 2020 roundup.

“...I just can’t really criticize them for anything.”

— John Darko, Darko.Audio

Make sure to check out Darko.audio for more HiFi news and reviews.

Headband Stretching: Do's and Dont's

If you find the clamping force of your RAD-0 to be a bit too intense, here’s a guide to help you properly stretch your headband.

Inside of the headband’s leather is a single piece of stainless steel, so there’s no need to worry about something snapping if bent too far, unlike a plastic or carbon fiber insert. If after stretching the clamping force is too weak, you can always bend it back.

---

DO:

Hold the headband in the center with both thumbs, and your middle and index fingers aside the center padding. Gently push outwards until your desired clamping force is reached.

DON’T:

Grip the blocks while stretching.

DON’T:

Hold the ear cups while stretching.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Part - Time - Audiophile Review

Thanks to Brian Hunter from Part-Time Audiophile for taking the time to review the ZERO.

While we hate to jump to conclusions, below is an excerpt from the review.

Click here to read the full review.

Conclusion

The bespoke nature of the Rosson Audio Design RAD-0 is a nice bonus at this price point. Surprisingly, it’s not common in the space outside of custom in ear monitors, which by their very nature have to be customized to fit the wearer’s ear. The colors are art in and of themselves, and the way the material is crafted pushes the quality to something above and beyond the average. It’s very original in that way, a slight escape from the black plastic or sanded wood options from the rest of the competition.

Sound quality is equally unique to the headphone. It’s artful and constructed with purpose. The low bass is tasty, while the vocals have weight and presence to them. One of the best constructed headphones I have ever reviewed. Sturdy, heavy and audiophile to the core. It’s surely one to add to your collection, the variation from the pack is just enough to add something (aka fun) without detracting. But if it’s your only top tier headphone, you probably wouldn’t need another to fill the space. 

The truth is “fun” is not, and should not translate as “inferior”. In the case of the Rosson Audio Design RAD-0 the slight variations are not enough to pull the frequency response far enough off axis to disrupt the neutrality of the presentation. It is exciting and engaging in a way that brings something a little extra to the sonic impression, a nice touch to the otherwise linear Audeze-ish response. Bring on the tube amplification, explore any type of music to your heart’s delight. The resolution is enough to supply both audiophile and production engineer alike. Rosson delivers art while being a piece of one in and of itself. Nicely done. 

Behind the Scenes: Ring Polishing

Here’s a little insight to how we get our rings so glassy.

Check out more shiny things!

Shop Updated with New Units - September 2020

New units are now available in our shop!