Archive for the 'Audio' Category
Hey, if you’re looking to notified via a pop-up message and a unique sound from a specific person, group, domain, or by subject line, then you’ll need to take a look at our review of the program for the iPhone called MailTones. Fully utilizing Apple’s Push Notification, MailTones will help you keep up on who’s emailing you without having to even pull your iPhone from your pocket.
If you in search for some sweet sounds coming out of your iPhone, or any other music device, then you must read the review we just put up for the AKG K 450. Impressive stuff from a well known audiophile company, the AKG K 450 may well be just the best solution for your sweet ears while jamming to the latest from the iTunes store.
Keep your eyes posted to our site for more great reviews coming your way!
Readers of SvenOnTech will know just how much we love the Sonos Multi-room Music System (review). Anyone that steps into our office or home is always shown or Sonos set-up as part of the tour and most go away with promises of getting a Sonos for themselves. The only con we can ever find with Sonos is cost.
Well, Santa Barbra-based Sonos has just announced the ZonePlayer S5, an all-in-one unit that drives cost down to a price point anyone can get excited about. By including the brains behind Sonos into a box filled with speakers, all one needs to do is plug the power, pull out an iPhone or iPod touch, and connect to a ZoneBridge and you’re jamming to some tunes (view demo). Like the other ZonePlayers, the S5 gives you a full-featured experience with access to your entire iTunes DRM-free library, Internet Radio, as well as services such as Napster and Pandora. You control all this from the free app available at the iTunes AppStore from the palm of your hand.
Now are you ready for the price? $399. Ya, just $400! Remember, you are getting, essentially, a Sonos ZonePlayer and killer sounding speakers. This is less than those Bose systems that does less and in our opinion has lost sight of its audiophile roots. Speaking of roots, the guys that started Sonos came from a loudspeaker background so you KNOW these things kick and trust us, they haven’t forgot their roots!
The Sonos ZonePlayer S5 will be available at the end of the month and we know it’ll be all treat and no trick.
Altec Lansing, a division of Plantronics, Inc., today introduced the new MIX™ (iMT800) digital boombox for iPhone and iPod. The MIX features a retro audio rack-style design and a powerful built-in subwoofer to thump big bass from the heart of your scene. Compatible with both iPhone and iPod, the MIX also includes two top-mounted auxiliary inputs plus onboard FM radio and a seven-band graphic equalizer. Its towering volume, perfect clarity and heavyweight bass make the new MIX the ultimate sound system for any party.
“The MIX is the genuine ‘next generation’ boombox for the way music enthusiasts are playing their music today,” said Ed Benforado, Product Category Director. “With rugged style and high end sound, the MIX is perfect for those ‘unofficial DJs’ who like to start their parties with sound. They can ‘mix it up’ between three music player inputs – a 30-pin dock connector for the iPhone and iPod and also two front-facing 3.5mm jacks — so everyone can jump in with their jams. And we’ve included heavy-duty carry handles and battery operation to take the MIX on the road or around the house just as easily.”
Geared to keep the party jumping, the MIX drives your favorite music through specially engineered horn-loaded tweeters and mid-range drivers. The 5.25” side-firing subwoofer and 5.25” tuned passive radiator pump out natural roaring bass, further enhanced with XdB technology for extra heavy punch. A digital 7-band graphic equalizer allows music lovers to quickly tailor the sound to their preferred taste. True to its retro boombox roots, the MIX runs on AC or gives 30 hours of play time on 8 D-cell batteries, even sporting a built-in battery life display.
Made for iPod and Apple-certified to “Work with iPhone,” the MIX is engineered to be immune to GSM signals, therefore preventing the speakers from picking up potential intermittent noises emitted by the iPhone or other mobile devices. The music pauses and resumes play before and after taking a voice call without ever switching the iPhone to airplane mode.
The MIX also includes a clip-on carabineer remote control so you don’t lose it at the party. Between parties, a built-in cubby secures the remote so it can always be found.
Go to www.alteclansing.com/fallpk2009 for the full MIX “inspiration” story.
Features
Crystal-clear high end – Specially engineered horn-loaded silk dome tweeters designed for smooth, wide dispersion.
Full mid-range – Two custom-designed drivers push room-filling mids and mid bass.
Fierce bass – XdB bass-enhanced side-firing subwoofer and tuned passive radiator deliver formidable bass.
· Audio Alignment™ – Drivers, enclosure and electronics are balanced for optimum sound.
Digital FM radio – Tune in to clean reception with telescopic antenna and four station presets.
AC or battery-powered – Plug in or lose the wires with up to 30 hours of play with 8 D batteries. Battery life is displayed on LCD.
Dual AUX IN jacks – Connect up to two additional audio players via front-facing 3.5mm jacks.
· Clip-on remote – Enhanced wireless carabineer remote provides song and playlist navigation.
Music Pause – Automatically pauses music when a call is received on the iPhone.
Interference Free – Unique design is immune to mobile phone interference, eliminating the need to switch to airplane mode.
· At-A-Glance LCD – Track, artist, album and station display.
Customizable EQ’s – Multiple EQ modes let you adjust your sound, including 7-band graphic equalizer, four EQ presets and separate Bass and Treble controls.
Onboard controls – Control most functions from the unit.
Universal dock for iPhone and iPod – Recharges while it plays your tunes.
Pricing and Availability
The Altec Lansing MIX (iMT800) is now available at Apple retail stores, BestBuy.com, Amazon and other leading consumer electronics retailers, as well as at www.alteclansing.com. MSRP is US$299.95.
For more information on the complete new Fall 2009 audio collection from Altec Lansing, visit www.alteclansing.com.
“Finding and playing music all over the house needs to be so easy that anyone who walks into a home can pick up the Controller and start playing DJ,” says John MacFarlane, CEO, Sonos, Inc. “Sonos has applied our seven years of experience designing wireless music systems for hundreds of thousands of customers in more than 60 countries to deliver the most innovative and intuitive way to find, play and control music anywhere in the home.”
The Sonos CR200 is 100% dedicated to providing a great music experience throughout your home so everything — from the hardware and industrial design to the software and user interface — works together to make controlling the Sonos system fast, easy and fun. The Sonos CR200 features a 3.5” full-color VGA display (640×480 pixels) and comes with a capacitive touch screen for accurate and responsive operation. The convenient touch screen keyboard enables rapid search of the world of music, including multi-million song jukeboxes (Napster® and Rhapsody®), more than 25,000 radio stations and podcasts, SIRIUS® Internet Radio, and of course, your own personal music library. It also makes the creation of custom radio stations from services like Last.fm and Pandora® incredibly easy. The quick intuitive interface provides rich graphics that display what music is playing and in what room all while making it a pleasure to view artist information, cover art and more. The CR00 is styled with an anodized precision machined extruded aluminum case and soft durable rubber backing that fits comfortably in your hand. The CR200 includes ships with the Sonos Charging Cradle 200 so it’s always easy to find and charge your Controller.
Other Sonos Controller 200 features include:
· Easy set up – A few simple steps are all that’s needed to get Sonos up and running using the new Controller.
· Instant on — Pick up the Controller or touch the screen and it’s instantly ready to play music.
· Dedicated buttons — Mute, Volume and Zones buttons provide shortcuts to the most often used functions.
· Quick, intuitive search — Instantly find the artist, song, radio station, or radio show you want to listen to by typing on the on-screen keyboard. Suggestions are provided as you type.
· Superior wireless performance — The CR200 works on SonosNet (Sonos’ proprietary mesh network) ensuring that you get the best wireless performance of any wireless music product on the market with no interference.
· Easy zone management — Take music with you as you move through the house by linking rooms with ease (and without interrupting music playback).
· Multi-room volume control — Change the volume in a single room, or in several rooms, all from the same screen.
· Great for using outdoors — The CR200 features a transflective screen, making it easy to use while listening to music outdoors on a sunny day.
· Long-life and replaceable battery — Comes with a high capacity lithium ion battery that gets about five days of usage between charges and can easily be replaced.
· Compatible — The CR200 is compatible with all existing and previously purchased Sonos Multi-Room Music System hardware.
Also today, Sonos Software 3.0, a one-button software update, was made available to all Sonos customers. Sonos 3.0 brings new music discovery tools to the Sonos multi-room music experience when using the Sonos CR200 or Sonos Controller for iPhone – Info View. This new feature provides one-touch access to rich music information, like artist bios, album reviews, concert listings, and lists of similar artists. Info View is available on Last.fm and Rhapsody and can be accessed using the Sonos CR200 or Sonos Controller for iPhone.
In addition to enabling the new features of the CR200, Sonos 3.0 allows the CR200 to work seamlessly with any existing Sonos Controllers, including the CR100, Sonos Controller for iPhone and Sonos Controller for Mac or PC. Sonos 3.0 also provides Controller support for the latest Operating Systems. Sonos now supports Mac OS 10.4 and above (including 10.6), Windows XP and above (including Windows 7) and iPhone OS 3.0. The new Sonos Controller for iPhone 3.0 is expected to be available via the iTunes App Store after receiving approval from Apple Computer.
Pricing & Availability
The Sonos Controller 200, which includes the Sonos Charging Cradle 200, has a suggested retail price of $349 in the United States and is available worldwide beginning today at authorized Sonos dealers and at www.sonos.com. Also, the CR200 is available today as part of the new Sonos Bundle 250 ($999 suggested retail) which also includes a Sonos ZonePlayer 90 and a Sonos ZonePlayer 120. The Sonos CR200 replaces the Sonos Controller 100, which has been discontinued.
“Designed for iPhone and iPod users, the Image S4i is a breakthrough product that simplifies on-the-go lifestyles—you can take calls while commuting or exercising, as well as control your music library,” said Don Inmon, Klipsch director of marketing and product development for personal audio.
The Image S4i works seamlessly with the iPhone 3GS, third generation iPod shuffle, second generation iPod touch, fourth generation iPod nano and the iPod classic 120GB. The headset features Apple’s advanced three-button microphone and remote system that easily handles the voice and/or music control of these Apple products.
Furthermore, the S4i remote is among the first to be fully compatible with the Apple VoiceOver feature on the third generation iPod shuffle, which allows you to hear the name of the playlist, song or artist with just the press of a button.
According to Paul Jacobs, president and COO of Klipsch Group, Inc., when you combine Apple’s incredible products with our 63 years of experience in high-performance audio, you can expect one of the coolest, most advanced headset designs out there. “It’s definitely a platform that will dynamically change the music experience for our customers.”
Unlike most headsets, the S4i positions its in-line microphone and remote at the yoke—where the two cables meet at chest level—to create a more natural feel when answering calls and controlling music. Because the microphone is a highly intelligible 360-degree design, you don’t have to talk down into it; you can speak as if you’re having a face-to-face conversation. Additionally, the microphone features echo cancellation, which keeps it from picking up the external noise around you.
Because durability is a major concern when it comes to headphone and headset cables, Klipsch has gone to great lengths to ensure the S4i cables are a well-balanced combination of being robust as well as discreet. The company has added appropriate strain relief at every cable connection point to help prevent wire damage, while also putting them through extensive “real world” testing.
The Image S4i utilizes the company’s exclusive oval ear tips that provide comfortable long-term wear. Unlike circular-shaped designs that put stress on the pressure points inside the ear, Klipsch’s oval ear tips naturally fit the contours of the ear canals. These ear tips also offer superior passive noise-cancellation, blocking out almost all ambient noise and providing excellent bass.
“Once you have the right fit and seal, these headsets are virtually impossible to feel,” said Mark Blanchard, senior acoustic design engineer for Klipsch and inventor of the company’s oval ear tips. “When we began studying three-dimensional ear impressions, it was discovered that nearly everyone has an oval-shaped ear canal. We couldn’t believe that no one else had yet considered the anatomical shape of the ear canal when designing in-ear headphones.”
Blanchard also mentioned that when you wear Klipsch headphones or headsets, you don’t need to turn up the volume as loud because a good seal dramatically reduces background noise—a feature that could definitely help preserve your hearing.
The key to the S4i’s dynamic music performance is a moving coil micro-speaker with controlled damping, a feature that allows it to deliver smooth, full-bodied sound similar to a more expensive design. A dual neodymium magnet motor structure, in each of the 8.5 mm drivers, establishes the S4i’s damping characteristics. It’s a quality that allows kick drums to “attack” and Intermodulation distortion, or IMD, to be significantly reduced.
Available in a piano black finish with chrome accents, the Image S4i comes with a two-year warranty and includes a premium carrying pouch; small, medium and large ear tips; small/medium dual flange ear tips; an ear tip cleaning tool; and a clothing clip. Priced at $99.99 (U.S. MSRP), the S4i will be available for purchase at klipsch.com, Apple, InMotion and Amazon in August.
“The Expressionist PLUS (FX3021) subwoofer packs tremendous punch for its tiny size,“ says Don Milks, Altec Lansing’s Senior Manager, Product Management for PC Audio. “By doing away with the enclosure and making the satellites angle-adjustable, we’ve made it easy for the listener to enjoy a remarkably deep, precise soundstage, no matter what distance or angle they listen from. We think this is the best performing $99 PC speaker on the market.“
The new Expressionist PLUS is a 2.1 channel subwoofer-satellite system featuring a dramatic cone-shaped, bottom loaded subwoofer that at its base is about the size of a small Frisbee disc. This sleek, modern looking sub utilizes a 5.25-inch, long-throw driver for authoritative bass that extends down to 50 Hz, even when placed on a desktop. The bass output is conveniently controlled within fingertip reach, letting the user tailor the optimum balance between sub and satellites. The entire system is driven by an impressive 24 watts of power.
The dual 2-inch full range satellites of the Expressionist PLUS complete the system, and are remarkable achievements of design and simplicity. Their innovative form utilizes Altec Lansing’s Audio Alignment™ craftsmanship that precisely aligns the drivers, enclosure and electronics for natural-sounding audio performance, the way the artist intended. The satellites can be aimed in any direction to focus the soundstage for the ideal listening position, distance and height. The end result is a deep and realistic stereo image that’s exactly proportioned to the listening area.
The diminutive size of the Expressionist PLUS makes it a perfect accompaniment for desktop and laptop computers and other 3.5mm-connected entertainment such as an iPod®. Power and volume controls are conveniently located for easy access.
Altec Lansing’s Expressionist PLUS FX3021 PC Speaker System will be available in June of 2009 at consumer electronics retailers and at www.alteclansing.com.
The impressive list of hardware for the Axess HD includes a powerful Core i7 processor combined with dual 9800 GT video cards in SLI to deliver a stunningly visual1080p experience. MAINGEAR also teamed up with NVIDIA to integrate GeForce 3D Vision so that gamers with Mitsubishi DLP’s or Samsung desktop LCDs can experience an unparalleled 3D gaming experience. MAINGEAR further enhances the luxurious home theater gaming experience by being the first company to offer the Phantom Lapboard, a unique keyboard that liberates users from desktop settings through an innovative 360-degree rotating design. The Axess HD Gamer also offers cutting edge media center capabilities including 7 channel pre amplified audio, Blu Ray and DVD Movies, Music, Home Videos, HD TV, Internet TV, based on Microsoft® Windows® Vista Home Premium which also provides access to Netflix’s online streaming through the Media Center interface.
”The Axess HD Gamer was conceived to deliver unsurpassed gaming performance fused with advanced media center capabilities all contained within a low profile case, making it the perfect cornerstone for any home theater environment” said Wallace Santos, CEO and Founder of MAINGEAR. “A lot of the media centers currently on the market don’t specifically address the PC Gamer and we want to give our customers a solution to game from the comfort of the living room without sacrificing quality or performance.”
“We’re thrilled that MAINGEAR is providing a Games for Windows solution that complements the wide range of media functionality that Windows Vista Media Center already provides,” said Megan Both, Snr. Director of OEM Sales at Microsoft. “This high performance 3D gaming system combined with the advanced functionality of Windows Media Center make the Axess HD Gamer a phenomenal option for the home theater enthusiast as well as the avid gamer.”
Gamers can purchase the Axess HD Gamer at MAINGEAR’s Web site www.maingear.com or order by phone at (888-MAINGEAR). The base price is $1,799. Axess HD Gamer comes with MAINGEAR’s standard 14 month warranty and is backed by the best in-house support team in the country.
Altec Lansing announced the addition of the BackBeat™ PRO to the award-winning BackBeat line of stereo earphones and headsets. The BackBeat PRO earphones includes high-end armature technology, engineered to deliver an in-studio sound experience at a price level far below competing headphones costing several hundreds more. The BackBeat PRO technology allows high-definition audio in a uniquely small package, providing a custom occluded fit for superior noise isolation and exceptional comfort.
Altec Lansing designs its audio products for authentic music reproduction, the way the artist intended the sound. The BackBeat PRO earphones use a single balanced armature to achieve musician-grade audio.“The armature is a high-precision microstructure that generates and moves the natural sound through the earphone chamber,” explains Will Squier, Product Manager for Altec Lansing Earphones. “The BackBeat PRO was inspired by custom fit monitor earphones that return only true, reproduced sound for the musical artist while on stage.”
There are three clear benefits to the BackBeat PRO’s armature technology. First, it generates highly-accurate audio frequencies that match the ear’s natural response to sound. Second, it requires less space than traditional speaker microdrivers, assuring a comfortable non-imposing fit within the ear canal. Third, the small size allows for a more custom-fit and a superior seal to block out ambient noise. The passive noise isolation is made possible with multiple sizes of ultra-comfort silicon ear tips, including a set of dual flange tips for extra noise reduction. The result is professional “studio quality” audio that doesn’t compete with outside noise.
Compatibility and Extras:
Compatible with iPod and other MP3 players, as well as the iPhone, the BackBeat PRO uses a standard 3.5 mm connector. The earphones are also ideal for use with desktop and laptop computers, making music editing more comfortable.
The BackBeat PRO cord goes well beyond the ordinary, featuring braided reinforcement for strength and tangle-resistance, smooth PVC coating for friction dampening, and oxygen-free copper for a superior audio conduit. A convenient neoprene carry case and eight-piece fit kit are included.
Best Buy Sound Matters Campaign
Altec Lansing is partnering with Best Buy and their Sound Matters Campaign, http://www.soundmatters.org, to raise awareness among young music listeners of the significance of hearing and hearing loss prevention. The audio performance and ambient noise isolation qualities of the BackBeat PRO earphones let the music enthusiast enjoy full sound definition at lower volumes.
Pricing and Availability
The new BackBeat PRO (model UHP606) is currently available exclusively at Best Buy and www.alteclansing.com for $99.95 U.S. MSRP. For more information visit www.alteclansing.com.
The LSR2300 Series includes: the LSR2328P Bi-Amplified 203 mm (8-inch) Studio Monitor with 165 Watts of amplification; the LSR2325P Bi-Amplified 133 mm (5-inch) Studio Monitor with 90 Watts of amplification; and the LSR2310SP Powered 254 mm (10-inch) Studio Subwoofer with an integrated 180 Watt power amplifier.
In developing the LSR2300 Series, JBL applied the same stringent Linear Spatial Reference criteria used in the design of the acclaimed LSR6300 and LSR4300 Series. While most manufacturers take only a single on-axis measurement of the speaker’s performance, JBL’s Linear Spatial Reference criteria requires 70 measurements, yielding more than 1,200 times more data. The data enables JBL to engineer a system that produces greater accuracy at the mix position. A trademark of LSR2300 design is the large waveguide and the elliptical tweeter aperture that work in conjunction with a 1” silk-substrate high-frequency transducer to deliver superior imaging and smoother frequency response.
Today’s music styles, film production and the demand for high-quality audio for HDTV require a monitor system capable of extended low frequency performance and high dynamic range. To address this, JBL engineered new long-excursion low-frequency transducers with high-flux motors and a custom tuned port that work in concert to produce deep accurate low frequency response, previously unavailable at this price point. The LSR2328P 8” model provides low frequency extension to 37Hz; the LSR2325P 5” model to 43Hz, and the LSR2310SP subwoofer provides deep low frequency performance below 28Hz. Each studio monitor in the LSR2300 line produces exceptional sound pressure level (SPL) achieved through the use of high-sensitivity transducers and careful attention paid to the thermal properties of the system.
Featured to integrate into professional systems, all models include balanced and unbalanced inputs that allow connection to a wide range of playback sources including computer audio workstations, professional mixing consoles, as well as consumer playback systems. The LSR2310SP Subwoofer includes a 2-channel bass management system with selectable crossover settings and balanced outputs for integration of the sub into any system. LSR2325P and LSR2328P enclosures include mounting points and are reinforced for safe wall mounting. Transducers in all models are self-shielded to allow use in close proximity to magnetically-sensitive equipment.
“Our objective was to introduce a line that provides an unprecedented level of accuracy and performance at affordable price points, an achievement that is confirmed by the tremendous response from the market,” said Peter Chaikin, Director of Recording and Broadcast Marketing, JBL Professional. “With the LSR2300 Series, it is now possible for any studio to have the professional quality and performance that have made our LSR6300 and LSR4300 models the choice of top engineers, artists and facilities worldwide.”
The C 565BEE boasts sample rate conversion up to 192kHz, Wolfson DACs in a dual differential configuration, Burr-Brown OP Amps, a heavy steel chassis, USB 2.0 and optical inputs, and a 12-volt trigger and RS232 port. It decodes MP3 and WMA-format music files via CD-R and draws less than 1 Watt in standby mode.
Chief among its features is a Sample Rate Conversion circuit that bumps the usual, and relatively low, 44.1kHz sampling frequency up to 96kHz and even 192kHz. The higher sampling rate allows NAD to take advantage of the latest state-of-the-art digital to analog converter (DAC) from Wolfson Microelectronics, which offers 24-bit resolution and a sampling rate up to 192kHz.
The C 565BEE also uses ultra-clean multiple regulated power supplies to feed its varied circuits and mechanical parts. Careful circuit layouts, short signal paths, and rigorous attention to detail further maximize performance. Because the Sample Rate Converter pushes the sampling frequency very high, NAD uses a better sounding digital filter that has a user-selectable roll off slope to allow fine tuning by ear.
NAD also uses the best quality FET audio OpAmps, selected for their wide bandwidth and low noise. They’re able to deliver ample current with a very low source impedance, making the C 565BEE less sensitive to cable capacitance.
A USB port on the front panel allows MP3 and WMA music files from a USB flash drive to be played back using the superior performance capability of the C 565BEE. Source inputs are easily selectable from either the front panel or the supplied IR remote. CD Text and Metadata from MP3 files are displayed on a two-line display on the front panel along with time, track, and other program data. A rotary knob on the front panel makes it faster and easier to browse large collections of music files. The C 565BEE is so intuitive to operate, users soon wonder how they lived without it.
The C 565BEE CD Player is available now for a suggested price of $799 (U.S. MSRP).