Items tagged with sound
In the world of high-profile audio, you can easily count the names that everyone knows: Bose, Shure, Pioneer, Sony, Dolby, and perhaps just a handful of others. Sadly, a pioneer in the world of audio has passed away this week, with Ray Dolby leaving behind his wife and two sons at the age of 80. Ray Dolby fired up Dolby Laboratories in 1965, and according to the official remembrance page, he "built an environment where scientists and engineers push the limits of sight and sound." He is best known for his role in crafting a noise reduction system that has remained popular to this day, and Dolby has grown in a major way during his life. Now, it's a staple in the motion picture industry. You can't...
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What separates a premium headset from a blue light special? It's a combination of things, from well designed drivers to comfy ear cups that kiss the sides of your head with a gentle yet firm caress (we're being melodramatic...a little). And then there's the overall feature-set and premium extras like a noise-canceling microphone and 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound. Unfortunately, there's only so much you can discern from a headset's spec sheet, and with so many to choose from, you'd have to invest an obscene amount of time and money auditioning each one. We don't want you to have to do that, so we went and rounded up five high-end headsets from four different manufacturers, including Corsair, Creative...
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If our eyes are the windows to the soul, then what does that make our ears? Doorways to our internal sound stage, that's what. But listen up, it doesn't matter how gnarly the guitar riffs your favorite musician is playing or how intense the in-game effects are, if your headphones aren't up to the task, then you might as well go back to the days of MIDI files Ad Lib sound cards. Second-rate headsets rob you of delightful high notes and brain rattling bass, of the subtle sound of footsteps when an opponent tries to sneak up behind you or the blast of a grenade you just hurled behind enemy lines. Conversely, a high-quality headset doesn't just upgrade the audio, it unlocks a brand new experience....
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Although the idea of a 2.1 speaker system isn’t terribly exciting to some users in this era of multi-channel gaming audio and 5.1 channel speaker systems, the technology employed by the Corsair SP2500 2.1 channel speaker system is intriguing. Not only that, but the simple fact of the matter is, most PC users don’t have the right room and / or desk setup to properly install and configure a surround sound speaker system. If you own a high-end, 5.1 channel speaker system and your rear satellites aren’t positioned properly, at the right angle and distance from your ears, don’t scoff at the idea of an advanced 2.1 channel system. Odds are the 2.1 channel setup sounds better...
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It was back at the Consumer Electronics Show that we first caught a glimpse of the Corsair SP2500 2.1 channel speaker system. Dave and I were traversing the show floor while our compadres Mat and Jennifer were off gallivanting at a few private meetings at some lavish Las Vegas hotels. As we headed straight into the Corsair booth to check out some new cooling gear, new solid state drives, and a slick, white 600T case, we walked right passed the SP2500s, which were positioned on and end-cap at one of the corners of the booth. As our discussion with reps from Corsair winded down, we asked if we had seen all that Corsair was featuring for the show. The answer was no. At that point we were escorted...
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Turtle Beach had a good thing going with the PX5 headset, and they still do. In fact, good is getting even better. The company has just announced the PX5 Advanced Sound Editor, and Dead Space 2 by Visceral Games is the first title to receive a custom developer-made preset list. The idea is simple: the PX5 accepts customized presets based on individual games, so each one could theoretically be custom tailored for use with the headset. If you're a fan of precision audio, you'll be a fan of this concept. The idea was revealed at GDC 2011, and we highly doubt this marks the end of them. The PX5 Advanced Sound Editor software tool for the soon to launch PX5 Programmable Wireless Dolby Surround Sound...
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Is the surround sound system dead? Not quite, but it's not nearly as necessary as it was just five years ago. At that point, running miles of speaker cable around your den was a dreadful requirement to get legitimate surround sound, but audio technologies have evolved quite substantially in the span of just a few years. Sound bars in particular offer a great balance; there's the compromise of not actually having 5, 6 or 7 independent speakers, but the size and ease of installation usually makes up for that. Harman Industries are today introducing the new Harman Kardon SB 16 2.1-channel soundbar home theater speaker system. This system is designed for those seeking great surround sound, but aren't...
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Have you ever built your very own PC, piece by piece? If so, there's a good chance that you've heard of Antec. These guys make some of the best PC enclosures and power supplies in the industry, and even if you selected other components, you probably came across Antec gear while shopping. But as the years have flown by, Antec has grown tired of just sticking with convention. To remedy that, the company is branching out and creating something entirely new: a Rockus audio brand. Soundscience is the name of the newly formed subsidiary of Antec, with the new Rockus 3D being the spin-off's first product. It's a simple 2.1 sound system, but it's one of the most interestingly designed sound systems that...
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If you think PC gamers have an expensive hobby, well, you're right, but holy moly do those $150 headphones feel like Blue Light specials compared to the new Bose A20 Aviation Headset, the latest pair of earbuds aimed at pilots. These things run $1,095, or $995 without the the Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity feature thrown into the mix. So what does this have to do with PCs? Nothing really, but we're suckers for technology, and the A20s have that in spades. And if we're to believe Bose, the A20 is the "most advanced aviation headset ever." Ever!? Part of the reason Bose makes that claim is because the A20s come equipped a new way of battling noise reduction. As Bose explains it, a proprietary...
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There's no question that graphics get the bulk of the attention. Be it movies, video games, whatever -- people are really concerned about frame rates and how smooth an image is, but they often overlook the audio that fills in and completes the experience. Logitech has never been a company to overlook that aspect, and they have been providing killer audio rigs to PC and console gamers for years now. The company's all-in-one kits have generally been impressive, but their price tags were often out of reach for most bargain gamers. But now, Logitech is introducing a set of speakers that even the cash-strapped gamer should be able to save up for. The $99 Logitech Surround Sound Speakers Z506 offer...
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Bose has never been a company to shy away from the high-end luxury market, despite what the pundits may say. Some slam the company for not publishing very many specifications about their products, but the trick--as they say--is in the sound. The company has today introduced a new Lifestyle V-Class and T-Class product line, two home theater sound systems that combine 5.1 channel audio with Bose's new intelligent integration system. That new tech enables the systems to "overcome much of the growing complexity of setting up and using HT systems." Basically, Bose is making it easier than ever to actually set up a true 5.1 system, which has generally been a huge pain in the past. The Unify technology...
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Yamaha has been creating sound bars for years now, and they've been growing increasingly popular in homes where size is a problem. Apartments and one-bedroom studios haven't been able enjoy true surround sound due to the inability to shove 5, 6 or more speakers into their cramped living space. Sound bars have enabled those living places to enjoy faux surround sound, and these two new ones add even more to the mix. The YSP-5100 and YSP-4100 are the company's two newest Digital Sound Projectors, with each one using just a single speaker but "dozens" of audio beam drivers. They're designed to sit underneath the front of flat-panel HDTVs, and they include four 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs, UniVolume...
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Audio-Technica added to its lineup of QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones with the new ATH-ANC1. These compact, on-ear headphones use Audio-Technica’s active noise-cancelling (ANC) technology to block up to 85% of outside noise. In addition, the headphones are compact and fold for easy storage and travel in the included carrying pouch. These headphones are expected to be available next month for a suggested retail price of $129.95. Audio-Technica Expands Its QuietPoint® Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones Lineup with Introduction of Ultraportable ATH-ANC1 on-Ear Model STOW, Ohio--Audio-Technica today announced the introduction of its ATH-ANC1 QuietPoint® active noise-cancelling...
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If you've been around audio for awhile, you definitely know Klipsch. It's a mainstay in the industry, particularly the home A/V market and the PC audio market. Awhile back, the company introduced a set of computer speakers that would change the way people viewed PC speakers: the ProMedia 2.1. It led companies like Logitech to develop killer 5.1 systems in a box for PCs, something that was rarely or never done beforehand.Now, Klipsch is unveiling the wireless version of its ProMedia 2.1 system. Just like the originals, the wireless set is totally THX-certified. The different here is the USB nature, which allows users to plug a transceiver into their USB port and then continue sending signal even...
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When Graham McKenna, the PR guy at THX, contacted me and asked me if I’d like to borrow a new Lincoln MKT SUV for a few days, I jumped at the chance. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t care a whit about the MKT itself. I wanted to check out how THX and Ford engineered the sound system in the vehicle. When McKenna arrived with the MKT, I was a little taken aback. The MKT is built on Ford’s Flex platform. So although it seats up to seven people, it’s relatively low slung. It is, however, long. As it turns out, the MKT isn’t the car for me (even if I could afford the price tag), mostly because it seems to be engineered for fairly tall people – and at 5 foot 7 inches in socks, tall I’m not. Still,...
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I once bought a car because of its sound system...Okay, so I didn’t buy the car only because of the sound system, but it was a key component in my decision making. The car was a Subaru Outback H6-3.O VDC, back in 2001. The car was classic Subaru, spare and lean, all-wheel drive and not very exciting to look at.Then there was the tricked out audio system: an 11 speaker sound system, complete with 200W McIntosh (yes, that McIntosh) amplifier. Part of the speaker system was an 8-inch, long throw subwoofer. The H6 was about 200 pounds heavier than a stock Outback due to the extra sound deadening material under the hood and in the door panels.The audio was phenomenal: neutral, clean and loud when...
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The greatest name in sound? The only name in sound? Yeah, something like that. Whatever Bose's slogan happens to be these days, the company is doing itself proud by introducing yet another glorified set of cans designed to help you tune out mortar fire and crumbling buildings, not to mention airplane noise and rowdy children.Dubbed the "quietest Bose headphones ever," the fresh QuietComfort 15 acoustic noise-cancelling headphones are said to be the company's best performing, ever. While details are scant on the product itself, Bose tells us that the QC 15s "offer more attenuation in louder environments and across a wider range of frequencies -- without compromising the audio quality and comfortable...
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iHome has been pushing out iPod and iPhone docks for as long as we can remember. The company has to have literally dozens of options ranging from bottom-end to fairly nice, some of which actually double as alarm clocks. The company's latest, however, is uniquely upscale, with sound from Bongiovi Acoustics and a design that'll have anyone swooning.The iP1 is the first item in iHome's Studio Series, and the Bongiovi Acoustics Digital Power Station technology includes a processor that actively scans the recorded material and compensates for any deficiencies across the audio frequency spectrum, effectively restoring it to the sound the artist originally intended to be heard. The device outputs 100...
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Love 'em or hate 'em, Bose has been making music for years now, and it doesn't sound like the company is planning on slowing down anytime soon. While it has seemingly been quiet on the consumer electronics front of late (after it got done with all of its Apple-related wares), the outfit is introducing an all new system today that should catch the attention of those who store all of their music on their PC, but wish to listen to it elsewhere. The simple-yet-effective SoundLink is a two-piece system that is comprised of a USB dongle and a flat-faced stereo. But simply, users just plug the USB dongle into their machine, and if you're within a reasonable distance (not surprisingly, Bose doesn't mention...
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Two sound cards in a week -- could it be true? Believe it or not, yes. Just days after Asus introduced its Audiophile Xonar DS 7.1 7.1, the company has unveiled its Xonar HDAV1.3 Slim Sound Card. Described as the planet's first HDMI 1.3 audio card with true Blu-ray audio playback designed to fit HTPCs of all sizes, the card can actually bitstream true Blu-ray audio from one's PC -- something that BD enthusiasts have been clamoring for. The card features Protected Audio Playback Systems (PAPS) and full Advanced Access Content System (AACS) certification, both of which join to enable true Blu-ray audio output without downsampling. Utilizing ArcSoft's Total Media Theater, the Asus Xonar HDAV1.3...
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Placing a product in the "audiophile" category automatically opens it up for scrutiny of the highest order. The new Asus Xonar Essence STX "headphone amp card for audiophiles" is Asus' latest in a line of audio card offerings that pretty much cover the spectrum of PC audio applications. Asus now offers audio cards designed for gaming to Home Theater PC applications. Today we're looking at the latest iteration of the product, targeted at those of us with a more discerning ear--The Xonar Essence STX. The Xonar Essence STX audio card boasts a host of features that are clearly aimed at end users wanting the best possible listening experience their PC can offer. In this HotHardware evaluation, we...
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SRS Labs Introduces the Much Anticipated Premium Sound™ Suite for PCs Advanced audio solution delivers a high-quality, immersive audio experience for playback of music, video and game content over any speaker configuration Platform and development support available for immediate implementation on PCs SANTA ANA, CA, October 28, 2008 -- SRS Labs (NASDAQ:SRSL), the industry leader in surround sound, audio, and voice technologies, announced today the introduction of SRS Premium Sound™ for the PC market. SRS Premium Sound is a comprehensive suite of state-of-the-art audio technologies that deliver a superior entertainment experience for playback of music, video and game content on the...
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