More from the AXPONA audio show: In the weeks to come I will be sharing more from AXPONA 2026, and this week brings budget speakers with good looks and pleasing sound. In a convention center filled with million-dollar sound systems it may seem out of place to display $229.98/pair speakers, but Dayton Audio (a Parts Express brand) did exactly that with their Classic T65 Floor-Standing Tower Speakers. Demonstrated with a small subwoofer, these fine-sounding speakers did not sound out of place at the high-end show, with their satisfying sound that draws you into the music. The wood-tone finish is retro-stylish and the speakers can be used without a subwoofer in small to medium-sized rooms, matching well with the inexpensive amplifiers I reviewed in previous columns. They list for $298.99 and regularly sell for $229.98 on Amazon or parts-express.com, with no coupon codes needed.

Q. I purchased the Hifiman HE400SE planar magnetic headphones and iFi GO Link combo you wrote about a few years ago and have been very happy. The new iFi GO Link Max is interesting, and I want to upgrade my headphones to take it to the next level. What would be a good headphone upgrade, and should I upgrade to the iFi GO Link Max as well? Budget would be up to $500.

—J.L., Seattle

A. Before I started to answer your questions I looked up the column featuring the Hifiman HE400SE and iFi GO Link combo. It ran exactly three years ago to the week! The first time I reviewed the HE400SE headphones was almost five years ago, in October 2021. It seems like yesterday that I wrote those columns, and while time may fly, great sound is timeless and the Hifiman HE400SE has endured. They are still available for only $109 and represent one of the greatest hi-fi bargains in the universe. They use exotic planar magnetic technology to create a pure, musical, transparent and eminently listenable sound that is unlike traditional headphones, and most listeners prefer that sumptuous planar magnetic sound over conventional headphones. The downsides are they need a good bit of power to operate them (hence the GO Link amplifier dongle recommendation, rather than the underpowered headphone dongle included with phones) and the open-back design, which allows exterior sound in and lets a bit of sound out. Given this they aren't a great choice for airplanes or public places, but if you use them for serious music listening in a quiet environment you will be very happy. At under $200 for the HE400SE/GO Link combo, they remain a standout value.

Since you already have a GO Link I would stick with it, as the incremental improvement from the Max would not be worth $80. For those without a GO Link the logical choice is to buy the $79 iFi GO Link Max, which is only $20 more than than the successor to the original GO Link, the $59 GO Link 2.

I am recommending Hifiman headphones again because not only have you been very happy with them, they also make one of the best headphones under $500, the critically acclaimed Hifiman Edition XV. They sell for $399 and are a significant step up from your current headphones, with a much more advanced planar driver. They fit very comfortably and are orders of magnitude more transparent and open, improving fine detail and texture in the sound. The tonal quality is slightly warm while remaining true to the recording, and bass is natural without artificial boominess. For those without a GO Link, adding a GO Link Max makes for a formidable sub-$500 combo. hifiman.com

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