Review: Sennheiser HD600 headphones

For the past 10 years, I have been using the Sony MDR-7506 headphones for all my audio listening. Having recently upgraded to a Topping DX5 II DAC/headphone amplifier, I decided it was time to upgrade to more audiophile-quality headphones as well.

After doing some research, I found the Sennheiser HD600 highly recommended by everyone (including ChatGPT, Gemini, and AVScience).

It's one defect - the low subbass can be relieved by using Topping DX5 II's equalizer.

Sennheiser HD600 Review

Positives

• The benchmark for uncolored sound. The tonal balance is nearly perfect and consistent across the range.
• Reasonable Price ($279 on Amazon.com)
• The HD 600 is renowned for its natural, lifelike, and forward-midrange sound
  . Vocals and acoustic instruments sound exceptionally correct and articulate.
• The high frequencies are extended but smooth and controlled, avoiding harshness or sibilance, making it ideal for very long listening or mixing sessions.
• Very lightweight (260g) with plush velour earpads and an elliptical cup shape that fits around most ears.
• Known for lasting decades. The entire headphone is modular—virtually every single part (cable, pads, headband, grille) is easily replaceable and available from Sennheiser.
• Its 300-ohm impedance means it benefits noticeably from high-quality amplifiers like your Topping DX5 II, revealing more detail and dynamics.

Negatives

• The most common criticism. The bass is tight and clean, but the deep sub-bass frequencies lack the presence, impact, and "rumble" expected in modern music or from planar headphones.
• The soundstage is accurate but generally small and "in-your-head." It lacks the expansive width and airiness of competitors like the HiFiMan Sundara.
• Out of the box, the headband clamping force can be quite tight, especially for larger heads. It needs a "break-in" period or manual stretching to become comfortable.
• Its 300-ohm impedance makes it unusable or poorly driven by most phones, laptops, or portable music players without a dedicated amplifier.
• Being an open-back headphone, sound leaks out significantly, making it unsuitable for use in shared spaces like offices or libraries.

Topping DX5 II PEQ Settings for Sennheiser HD600

Here are 3 complete, ready-to-enter EQ profiles for HD600 using the Topping Tune DX5 II PEQ software. You can copy these directly into Topping Tune → PEQ → Add Filter.

All three profiles are safe, non-distorting, and tuned specifically for the HD600’s response curve.

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🎧 PROFILE 1 — “Neutral + Clean Bass Fix” (Recommended)

This corrects the HD600’s weak sub-bass without changing its neutral sound.

Filters

#	Type	Freq	Gain	Q
1	Low-Shelf	105 Hz	+4.0 dB	0.70
2	Peak	3500 Hz	-2.0 dB	2.00

Why this works

• Filter 1 adds gentle, natural bass.

• Filter 2 smooths the HD600’s 3–4 kHz glare (optional but improves balance).

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🎧 PROFILE 2 — “Warm & Full-Bodied” (HD650-like tone)

Adds warmth + density without losing detail.

Filters

#	Type	Freq	Gain	Q
1	Low-Shelf	95 Hz	+5.0 dB	0.70
2	Peak	300 Hz	+1.5 dB	1.20
3	Peak	3200 Hz	-2.0 dB	2.00

What it sounds like

• Weightier bass

• Thicker lower mids (more body)

• Softer upper mids
  Closest to HD650 warm tuning.

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🎧 PROFILE 3 — “Fun / Bass-Boost” (still clean, not muddy)

For electronic, hip-hop, pop, or movies.

Filters

#	Type	Freq	Gain	Q
1	Low-Shelf	80 Hz	+6.0 dB	0.65
2	Peak	45 Hz	+2.0 dB	1.00
3	Peak	2800 Hz	-1.5 dB	2.20

What it does

• Strong bass impact

• Better sub-bass extension

• Mild smoothing of upper mids to avoid harshness at high volume

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📌 How to Apply These in Topping Tune

1. Open Topping Tune

2. Select your DX5 II

3. Go to PEQ → Local Config

4. Click Add Filter for each line

5. Set Filter Type, Frequency, Gain, and Q exactly

6. Save as “HD600 Neutral,” “HD600 Warm,” etc.

7. Load into a device slot

8. On the DX5 II front panel → PEQ → Select Slot

Links

• Topping Tune for DX5 II (Windows & macOS)

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Review: Topping DX5 II Fully Balanced DAC & Headphone Amp

 For my newly built Windows 11 PC, I initially planned to install an Xonar Essence STX PCIe audio card, but it is no longer manufactured. As a replacement, I decided to purchase a standalone DAC and headphone amplifier to use with my Sony MDR-7506 headphones.

Initially, I tried the Topping DX3 Pro+ DAC/headphone amp, achieving excellent results. However, I realized that a newer, significantly improved version of the Topping DX5 II DAC had been recently released, and I wanted to see whether any audible improvements were possible. Fortunately, the DX5 II does sound slightly better than the DX3 Pro+ DAC.

I had read very positive review results on the Topping DX5 II on the AudioScienceReview website, where laboratory measurements are done in a controlled environment.

• Dual ES9039Q2M】Each channel (left and right) utilizes an independent ESS new DAC chip-ES9039Q2M.This design delivers higher SNR, greater DNR, and lower distortion compared to the DX5, offering high-resolution audio performance.
• 【X-Hybrid Headphone Amplifier Circuit】X-Hybrid represents a new technological breakthrough following NFCA architecture. Utilizing an all-new triple-stage hybrid amplification design*, it not only retains the signature ultra-low distortion and high dynamic range of the NFCA, but also achieves significantly improved efficiency by optimizing circuit topology-resulting in reduced static power consumption and heat generation.
• 【Wide range of adaptation to headphones】The DX5 II is equipped with 6.35mm single-ended, 4.4mm balanced, and 4-pin XLR headphone jacks, meeting the needs of low-sensitivity headphones to high-sensitivity lEMs. With a low noise floor of just 1.8uVrms, even the most sensitive lEMs remain free from any audible background hiss.
• 【Ten-band high-precision PEQ adjustment】We develop a brand new PEQ adjustment* that supports ten customizable frequency bands. Topping's brand new PEQ algorithm and desktop software allow you to fine-tune the frequency, gain, and bandwidth of each PEQ band.
• 【LDAC wireless available】Equipped with QCC5125 chip, DX5 II supports Bluetooth 5.1 and can support up to 96kHz/24bit. Also, it fully supports LDAC/aptX-Adaptive/aptX/aptX HD/AAC/SBC and other audio encodings, allowing high-quality audio to be transmitted wirelessly to provide a music experience beyond CD level.

Topping DX5 II DAC/Headphone Review

Positives

• Standalone DAC with excellent audio specs, SNR (133dB), THD 
• Supports all the latest audio standards
• A high-power headphone amplifier that drives my Sony MDR-7506 easily
• Remote control
• Bluetooth streaming support
• Reasonable price ($299)
• Clear, unfiltered sound over USB
• Automatic power-on/off when the CPU is turned on/off
• When playing a new song, it briefly displays the bitrate
• Beautiful, customizable display with a 10-band equalizer

Negatives

• The USB-B cable supplied is very short
• Using an iPhone, the Bluetooth streaming quality is sub-par (iPhone's IOS does not support the higher-end audio standards)

Configuration

1. Driver and Software Installation (Crucial for Best Performance)

While the Topping DX5 II is often "plug-and-play" (class-compliant) for basic functionality, installing the dedicated Topping USB Driver (often a Thesycon driver) is highly recommended.

• Install the Driver: Visit the official Topping website's download section (or the dealer's site if the main site is unavailable) and download the latest USB driver for Windows. This driver is essential for achieving bit-perfect playback and for using advanced low-latency protocols like ASIO (required by some audiophile playback software).

• Install Topping Tune Software (Optional but Recommended): This software allows you to configure the unit's powerful, built-in 10-band Parametric Equalizer (PEQ). You can create, save, and upload custom EQ profiles directly to the DX5 II hardware, which is a fantastic feature.

• Update Firmware (Check First): Check the Topping downloads page for the latest firmware. If you are not on the latest version, follow the official instructions to update it for stability and to access new features.

2. Windows Sound Settings

After installing the driver and connecting the DX5 II via USB, you need to configure Windows to use its full capabilities.

• Select the DAC:

  • Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select "Sound settings."

  • Under "Output," select the Topping DX5 II (it will typically be named something like "Speakers (XMOS USB Audio)" or similar) as your primary audio device.

• Set High Bit-Depth and Sample Rate:

  • In the Sound settings, click the device entry for the Topping DX5 II to open its properties.

  • Scroll down to "Format" or "Advanced" settings.

  • Under "Default format," choose the highest available bit-depth and sample rate. For the DX5 II via USB, this is typically 32-bit, 768000 Hz (or 768 kHz) for PCM. Selecting the highest rate ensures that Windows is not downsampling high-resolution files.

• Disable Enhancements:

  • Make sure all "Audio enhancements" (like spatial sound, loudness equalization, etc.) are turned OFF in the same device properties menu. These are digital signal processing (DSP) features that can degrade the quality of the DAC's output.

3. Dedicated Playback Software (For Audiophiles)

For the best possible sound quality, bypass the Windows audio mixer entirely using playback software that supports exclusive audio modes.

• WASAPI Exclusive Mode: Most music players (like Foobar2000, JRiver Media Center, Tidal, Qobuz) can be set to use WASAPI Exclusive Mode. This gives the application direct access to the DX5 II, bypassing all Windows mixing and processing for a cleaner, bit-perfect signal.

• ASIO Mode: Some professional or dedicated audiophile players will use ASIO (Audio Stream Input/Output) as the preferred low-latency protocol. This will only be available if you have installed the dedicated Topping USB driver.

4. Topping DX5 II Hardware Settings

The DX5 II has several internal settings you can adjust via the front panel knob and remote

• Digital Filter: The DX5 II uses ESS Sabre DACs and offers several digital filter options (often 8 choices, with Minimum Phase as the default). Experiment with these to see if one sounds better to your ears. Minimum Phase or Fast Linear are common starting points.

• UAC Mode: Ensure the UAC (USB Audio Class) setting is on UAC 2.0 for full high-res support. (UAC 1.0 is generally only for older devices like the PS5.)

• Output Mode: Decide if you want a fixed-level Line Out (DAC mode) for connection to a separate amplifier, or a variable-level Preamp Out (Preamp mode) to connect directly to powered speakers or a power amplifier. The headphone output level is always variable.

• Gain Setting: The DX5 II has a 2-stage gain setting (Low or High). Use Low Gain for sensitive headphones/IEMs to minimize background noise, and switch to High Gain only if you need more volume for hard-to-drive headphones.

Links

• Topping DX5 II Balanced DAC Review (ASR)
• Topping Downloads Page
• Topping Firmware: DX5 II version V1.78 firmware update
• Topping Tune 

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Two Nights in Sonoma

Inna and I planned a two-day weekend at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa from Friday, December 5, to Sunday, December  7, 2025. 

I precharged our Tesla Model Y's battery to 95% capacity, anticipating the long drive ahead.

Friday,  December 5, 2025

We started the long drive to Sonoma in the late afternoon. There were periods of heavy traffic on I-680 and in San Francisco, and we arrived in Sonoma at around 20:05. It was quite chilly outside, with temperatures reaching 42 degrees Fahrenheit (as cold as Incline Village!) Fortunately, we brought our warm winter jackets.

Inna had made dinner reservations at the El Dorado Kitchen for 20:15, and we drove there.

We drove for about 10 minutes to El Dorado and found parking nearby. Upon checking in, we were immediately seated at our table. It was a bit noisy (with our table overlooking the kitchen), but our waiter was welcoming and brought us water and a freshly printed menu. After looking it over, we ordered the following items:

• Appetizer: Roasted Maitake Mushrooms, Mixed Salad
• Boris: Pan-seared Salmon, Hot Tea
• Inna: Pan-seared Salmon, Hot Tea
• Dessert: Molten Chocolate Cake

Inna and I loved Roasted Maitake Mushrooms. Our Pan-seared Wild Salmon was excellent. The Molten Chocolate Cake was small, but delicious.

After dinner, we strolled around downtown Sonoma for a bit to work off the calories and get some exercise. 

We drove back to the Fairmont Sonoma Inn & Spa, using valet parking to drop off and recharge our Tesla (Note: Tesla chargers are available in the self-park as well). 

Our room #361 on the 3rd floor was a bit cold, so we turned on the room's heater.

Saturday, December 6, 2025

 

We woke at around 08:00, showered, and dressed. We decided to eat breakfast at Sante, downstairs. 

After being seated, we ordered the following breakfast items:

• Appetizer: Sante Banana Bread
• Boris: Duck Confit Hash, Hot Coffee
• Inna: Yogurt & Berries, Hot Coffee

My Duck Config Hash was amazing, as was Inna's Yogurt & Berries (excellent quality yogurt). The Banana bread with peanut butter was not bad, but not my favorite.

After breakfast, we decided to visit the Jack London State Historic Park to do some hiking. We hiked for 100 minutes (3.4 miles), following the Jack London Mountain and Quarry trail. Note, the iPhone Alltrails.com app was very helpful in guiding us along the multiple trails and providing proper turn-offs. See the Jack London State Park Trail Map for more details on other available hiking trails.

• Jack London Mountain and Quarry
• Mountain Trail
• Lake Trail
• Old Fallen Leaf Trail
• Upper Lake Trail 

The trails were beautiful, with tall redwoods and many deciduous trees shedding colorful leaves. Although the morning air was initially chilly (with plenty of fog everywhere), we warmed up halfway through the hike. The Jack London State Historic Park was nearly empty, and we encountered very few other hikers.

For lunch, we decided to stop by The Mill in Glen Ellen. Unfortunately, the Mill was closed for a special event, and we decided to eat at Yeti Restaurant, a nearby Indian/Nepalese restaurant (also highly rated by the Michelin guide).  

Once seated by the window, we ordered the following items from our waitress, Lata.

• Drinks: Hot Tea x 2
• Appetizer: Garlic Naan
• Salads: Organic Green Salad
• Entrees: Yeti Special Lamb Kebab
• Boris: Himalayan Pepper Soup, Steamed White Rice, Sweet Mango Chutney
• Inna: Himalayan Pepper Soup, Raita

The freshly baked Garlic Naan was amazing (one of the best I've ever had). The Green Salad was just ok (the tomatoes were out of season). The Himalayan Pepper Soup was warm and a bit spicy. The Yeti Special Lamb Kebab was spectacular. It looked like a Mexican Fajita, but the lamb slices were tender, juicy, and full of exotic flavors. The Lamb was by far the best dish!

There were also multiple modern sculptures nearby and a small shop that sold freshly made chocolates: Wine Country Chocolates. We purchased 4 small chocolate candies to share for dessert. The chocolate with orange was especially delicious.

After lunch, Inna and I decided to try out the Fairmont Spa. Since we arrived after 15:00, the cost was $49/person.

We first started outdoors, floating around in a mineral outdoor pool. At around 16:00, we decided to head indoors for the main spa, following the recommended procedure (the cold plunge bucket was unavailable):

1. Steam Room
2. Sauna with Mineral Salt
3. Scrub with a Hot Shower
4. Relaxation Room
5. Warm Pool

The relaxation room was especially tranquil, where I managed to start reading The Brothers Ashkenazi by J. D. Singer on my new Kindle Colorsoft. We stayed until the spa's closing time of 18:00.

Fairmont Spa’s enviable location atop an ancient thermal mineral spring makes this a spectacularly unique destination, boasting naturally heated geothermal mineral pools for year-round enjoyment.

For dinner, Inna made reservations at the Girl & The Fig restaurant (located inside the Sonoma Hotel). On arrival at 19:15, we were seated in the center of a room. Upon looking at the menu, we ordered the following items:

• Drinks: Golden State Apple Cider
• Appetizer: Fig & Arugula Salad
• Boris: Duck Config
• Inna: Pan-seared Scallops & Chanterelles

The Fig & Arugula salad was pretty good, and my Duck Confit was excellent (though the portion was small). Inna's Pan-seared Scallops were delicious, but they were small.

After dinner, we strolled around Sonoma downtown (most of the shops were already closed), and then returend to our Fairmont Hotel. We hoped to play Scrabble in the lobby, but the game was missing (though other games were available).

Sunday, December 7, 2025

We woke at around 08:00, showered, and dressed. We decided to eat breakfast at Sante, downstairs. 

After being seated, we ordered the following breakfast items:

• Boris: Duck Confit Hash, Hot Coffee
• Inna: Yogurt & Berries, Hot Coffee
• Dessert: Lemon Pancakes

The Duck Confit was delicious as usual, and the Yogurt & Berries were excellent too. The Lemon Pancakes were also amazing (a big surprise for us). It was a fantastic way to start the day! 

After breakfast, we decided to go for a short swim in the hotel's outdoor heated pool. Before swimming, Inna asked for a late checkout and was offered to check out at 13:00 (instead of the usual noon).

We swam around the pool for about an hour (from 10:30 to 11:30). After we finished the swim, we returned to our room to pack and check out. We checked out around noon, loading our Tesla Model Y and driving to the Sonoma Overlook Trail.

This is a beautiful trail to do for sunrise or sunset, featuring a gentle climb with a rewarding view from Sonoma Overlook at the end. Enjoy traversing the switchbacks as you rise up through tree-covered slopes and cross a small stream. The trail itself is well-maintained, and there are stone benches at optimal viewpoints along the way. The trail begins and ends at the parking lot on 1st Street.

The Sonoma Overlook Trail was an easy 2.6-mile round-trip hike, with a gentle ascent to the top. It was not as scenic as the previous day's Jack London Mountain and Quarry hike. However, it was pleasant with a beautiful view of the surrounding Sonoma. Unfortunately, the skies were quite overcast and foggy, so distant landmarks were difficult to see.

After we finished the hike, we returned to downtown Sonoma, where we parked our car and headed to the El Dorado Kitchen for brunch. We ordered the following items:

• Drinks: Hot Tea x 2
• Boris: Tuna Poke Bowl
• Inna: Tuna Poke Bowl (without rice)

The Tuna Poke bowls were excellent - light and refreshing. We had the same waiter as the day before, who recognized us.

After lunch, I headed to Ohm Coffee Roasters to relax, while Inna strolled around nearby stores.

Links

• Sonoma
• Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa 
• Sante Restaurant (inside Fairmont Sonoma Hotel)
• El Dorado Kitchen
• Girl & The Fig 
• Sonoma Overlook Trail (Alltrails.com)
• Ohm Coffee Roasters
• Glen Ellen
• The Mill at Glen Ellen
• Yeti Restaurant (Indian restaurant at Glen Ellen)
• Wine Country Chocolates
• Jack London State Historic Park 
• Jack London State Park Trail Map
• Jack London Mountain and Quarry (Alltrails.com)

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Review: Topping DX3Pro+ LDAC Headphone Amplifier

For my newly built Windows 11 PC, I initially planned to install an Xonar Essence STX PCIe audio card, but it is no longer manufactured. As a replacement, I decided to purchase a standalone DAC and headphone amplifier to use with my Sony MDR-7506 headphones.

I had read very positive review results on the Topping DX3 Pro+ on the AudioScienceReview website, where laboratory measurements are done in a controlled environment.

I really enjoyed the DX3 Pro+ DAC headphone amp, but I replaced it with the slightly better Topping DX5 II DAC/headphone amp. 

I found no issues in Topping DX3 Pro+. It worked out of the box and sounded beautiful. The amber display was clear. It went to sleep and woke up automatically.

• 【High-Resolution Wireless Audio】 Supports LDAC, aptX-HD, aptX-LL, AAC, and SBC via Bluetooth 5.0 using the QCC5125 chipset, with decoding handled by the ES9038Q2M DAC for superior wireless sound quality.
• 【Plug-and-Play HiFi DAC】 Powered by the 2nd-gen XMOS XU208, the DX3Pro+ supports PCM 32-bit/768kHz and DSD 512 native, fully compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android systems.
• 【Optimized NFCA Headphone Amplifier】 Delivers ultra-low noise and distortion with 1800mW x2 @32Ω output, easily driving both sensitive IEMs and high-impedance headphones.
• 【Dual Gain Settings】 Switch between +6dB low gain and +19dB high gain to match different headphone sensitivities and achieve ideal performance.
• 【High-Performance ES9038Q2M DAC】 Achieves extremely low distortion (THD+N 0.00015%) for accurate, detailed, and natural sound reproduction.
• 【Versatile Output Modes】 Offers four output modes: Headphone Amp, DAC, Pre-amplifier, and Headphone Amp + Line Out, adapting to a variety of audio setups.
• 【Perfect Pairing with PA3s Amplifier】 Pairs seamlessly with the TOPPING PA3s power amplifier for a complete, high-performance desktop audio system.

USB/ASIO Driver for bit-perfect playback in Windows

• Official TOPPING downloads page — that’s the canonical source for the unified USB/ASIO driver. Look for the “V5.74 driver for most of TOPPING DACs” (or the newest driver listed):
• topping.audio

Topping DX3 Pro+ Firmware

• The DX3 Pro+ firmware/update page also links to the required drivers/tools for Windows — useful if you’re updating firmware too: 
• topping.audio

Topping DX3 Pro+ DAC Review

Positives

• Standalone DAC with excellent audio specs, SNR (120dB), THD 
• Supports all the latest audio standards
• A high-power headphone amplifier that drives my Sony MDR-7506 easily
• Remote control
• Bluetooth streaming support
• Reasonable price ($199)
• Clear, unfiltered sound over USB
• Automatic power-on/off when the CPU is turned on/off
• When playing a new song, it briefly displays the bitrate

Negatives

• The USB-B cable supplied is very short
• The A/C power adapter supplied is very short
• Using an iPhone, the Bluetooth streaming quality is sub-par (iPhone's IOS does not support the higher-end audio standards)

Links

• topping.audio

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Review: Dyson V11 Cordless Vacuum

Our ancient Dyson V7 was still working ok (with its original battery replaced by a 3rd party version), but there was a large Black Friday sale (50% off), and I thought it might be a good time to replace it.

• Dyson V11 Cordless Vacuum, Wand, Docking Station, Charger, Mini Soft Dusting Brush, Crevice Tool, Hair Screw Tool, Motorbar Cleaner Head, Lithium Ion Battery (1)
• Versatile and cordless for whole-home deep cleaning.
• 60% more power.¹ Up to 60 minutes of run time.²
• Three power modes. Auto mode for everyday cleaning tasks—the optimal balance of power and run time to preserve the lifespan of your battery. Eco mode for maximum run time. Boost mode for intensive spot cleaning.
• LCD screen shows power modes, maintenance alerts, and remaining run time to the second.
• Motorbar cleaner head deep cleans all floor types. De-tangles wrapped long hair and pet hair as you clean.
• Converts to a handheld vacuum for cleaning cars, stairs, and upholstery.

• The Hair screw tool sucks up long hair and pet hair. Fast. Its anti-tangle conical brush bar removes long hair and pet hair from pet beds, car seats, stairs, and more.
• Advanced whole-machine filtration traps 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.³ Expels cleaner air.
• Made from strong materials selected for their durability and lightweight properties. With a 2-year limited warranty and lifetime Dyson support. Register your machine on the MyDyson app for personalized machine guides, maintenance and support.

Dyson V11 Cordless Vacuum Review

Positives

• Better suction than my previous Dyson V7
• Much longer run time (60 minutes vs 15 minutes on V7
• Nice small display, showing power modes and charging status
• An easier method of clearing the dust bin

Negatives

• Slightly heavier than my Dyson V7
• More expensive ($399 on Black Friday, normally $629)

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Review: Sonicake Travel Guitar QGT-01

To enable practicing guitar while traveling, I purchased the Sonicake Travel Guitar QGT-01. It was 30% off during the Amazon Black Friday sale ($209.99) and seemed like an excellent alternative to the Yamaha SLG200s series of silent travel guitars. It had received positive reviews on YouTube and was worth trying. I had tried two Donner Travel guitars previously: Hush I Pro and Hush C, but was not satisfied with their handling or sound.

• Advanced Digital Pre-amp： High-quality digital front-end with multiple Body-Shape simulations, high-quality Reverb and Chorus effects, Resonance Enhancement effect, 2-band EQ adjustment, and excellent tone shaping ability.
• Rechargeable Lithium Battery: Equipped with a 2000mAh rechargeable lithium battery, long endurance of 10 hours, and designed with energy-saving power to easily cope with various scenarios.
• Classic Acoustic Guitar Body Design: Traditional design restores the original guitar feel, bringing you excellent balance and a warm playing experience.
• Ultra-Lightweight Portable Body: Detachable wooden frame; the assembled guitar weighs around 1.7kg, ensuring complete portability. Travel-friendly companion, designed for the musician on the move.
• Solid Rosewood: Solid rosewood fingerboard and bridge, restoring the classic feel of an acoustic guitar.

Sonicake Travel Guitar Review

Positives

• Extremely portable, with removable wooden frames that make it very easy to take on an airplane
• Built-in headphone amplifier for quick connection to headphones
• Low price ($209 during Black Friday)
• Output to an external amp
• Built-in rechargeable Lithium battery (10 hours of play time)
• Reasonably decent acoustic sound
• Electronic settings to simulate 8 acoustic guitar bodies (OM, Concert)
• Free Accessories include a gig-bag, a digital guitar tuner, a truss-rod adjuster, and a USB-C charging cable

Negatives

• The bolt that holds the removable wooden frames could be easily lost. I would have preferred a better system (the Donner Hush series had much better attachments)
• No guitar strap included

Links

• Sonicake Travel Guitar QGT-01

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Review: Kindle Colorsoft 16GB

When I showed Inna the newly available Amazon Colorsoft (Color E-Ink) Kindle ebook reader, she was eager to try it and upgrade from her older Paperwhite. There was an Amazon Black Friday sale that made the new Kindle device ($169) an attractive purchase option.

• Read in color – The new 7" Colorsoft display is high-contrast and easy on the eyes, with paper-like color that brings covers and content to life.
• A brand-new experience – The Kindle Colorsoft display is optimized for color reading and differs from the Kindle Paperwhite display, which is optimized for black-and-white reading.
• Color your pages – Highlight your favorite scenes in yellow, orange, blue, and pink.
• Marathon reading – A single charge via USB-C lasts up to 8 weeks.
• Read in any light – Adjust the display from white to amber to read in bright sunlight or in the dark.
• Waterproof and worry-free – Take your stories by the pool, in the bath, or anywhere in between.
• Massive selection – Instantly access over 15 million titles in the Kindle Store worldwide, and add a Kindle Unlimited subscription for all-you-can-read access to a catalog including best sellers.
• Try the Page Color feature to invert the black text and white background of pages inside books. While different than Dark Mode, it enables comfortable reading while still displaying colorful images and covers.

Kindle Colorsoft Review

Positives

• 7" color screen (nice to browse book covers in color!)
• Low price ($169 during Black Friday)
• 16GB of storage

Negatives

• Clarity is slightly lower than the existing black & white Paperwhite version

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Review: Sarah McLachlan - Better Broken Tour

On Wednesday, November 26, I found some reasonably priced tickets ($200/ticket for floor-4 seats in Masonic using StubHub) to Sarah McLachlan's Better Broken Tour at The Masonic in San Francisco (for Friday, November 28, 2025, at 8:00 p.m.)

Though I have been a fan of Sarah's music for a long time, I was not sure what to expect at her concert.

Here is a video clip of Sarah playing "Gravity" on the grand piano:

Better Broken Tour setlist

• Better Broken 

• Possession

• Only Human

• I Will Remember You

• Adia

• Building a Mystery

• Reminds Me 

• Wait

• World on Fire

• One in a Long Line

• Sweet Surrender 

• The Last to Go

• Answer

• Elsewhere (with guest)

• Ice Cream

• If This Is The End… 

• Fear

• Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

Encore:

• Gravity 

• Angel 

Sarah McLachlan - Better Broken Tour Review

Positives

• Sarah was in top form, playing piano and both acoustic and electric guitars, and singing all her favorite songs.
• Despite her age (58), she was able to hit many high notes.
• The band wasn't overly loud (or annoying)
• Sarah played for two hours (non-stop)
• Favorite songs included:
• Adia
• Gravity
• Angel
• Building a Mystery
• World on Fire
• Sweet Surrender

Negatives

• Almost all of her songs are sad/depressing (except for Ice Cream), setting a somber mood.
• The concert started 20 minutes late.
• A lot of people were arriving late (after the concert had already started) and disrupting our view

Links

• Sarah McLachlan
• StubHub (concert tickets)
• Masonic

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Hike to Lands' End, San Francisco

After seeing the beautiful Manet & Morisot exhibit at the Legion of Honor Museum, we decided to hike to the Lands' End trail nearby.

See the Google Maps link for directions.

We started our hike around 15:30 from the grounds of the Legion of Honor Museum, following the coastal trail. There were lots of people on the trail (probably families trying to burn off excess calories from the previous day's Thanksgiving dinner)

The weather was a bit chilly (colder than the 55°F showing on my iPhone). Luckily, the trail was not very muddy. There was a beautiful view of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

We saw the Sutro Baths and walked by them (but did not stop).

On reaching Ocean Beach, we saw a few surfers trying to catch the large rollers coming from the Pacific Ocean. A couple were successful, but most were missing the fast-moving rollers.

After finishing the hike, we drove to the Sutter/Stockton Parking garage to be closer to the Sarah McLachlan show, playing at the Masonic, nearby.

Inna had made dinner reservations for 6:00 pm at the nearby Parthenon Greek restaurant. After a short walk from the garage, we were seated near the window and ordered the following items:

• Drinks: Golden State Apple Cider, Hot Tea x 2
• Appetizer: Pita Bread, Greek Salad, Manitari (mushrooms)
• Boris: Pomegranate Ground Beef Souvlaki
• Inna: Lamb Souvlaki

The Manitari (mushrooms) were excellent, as was the Greek salad and pita bread. I liked the Pomegranate Souvlaki, but Inna's Lamb Souvlaki was better.

Links

• Legion of Honor Museum
• Lands' End
• Sutter Stockton Garage
• The Parthenon (Greek restaurant)

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