about-electronics.eu

iPodNN: Sony Japan has introduced over-ear headphones that features the largest drivers so far available — 70mm, or 2.75 inches in diameter — called the MDR-XB1000, aimed at fans of music with deep bass and boasting an incredible 2-30,000Hz frequency range. The company also brought out two different lines of earbud-style headphones available in a range of colors and called the MDR-XB41EX and MDR-XB21EX, also with extra bass response. The new models will be released in Japan on February 10th, and hopefully appear in the US and other countries shortly afterward.

The MDR-XB1000′s incredibly low frequency range — topping even the XB700′s 3Hz bottom end — is well beyond the range of human hearing, but helps to add punch to bass notes, the company says. The drivers are padded with elastic polyurethane foam “cans” to isolate the sound, resulting in a top sound pressure of 106 decibels with a 24Ω impedance.

The MDR-XB41EX in-ear headphones feature a 13.5mm (.53 inch) driver, while the MDR-XB21EX uses a 9mm (.35 inch) driver, but both deliver sound pressure of over 100 decibels with a 16Ω impedance. Top sound pressure reaches 105 dB for the 41s and 103 db for the 21s. The 41s use an angled design to allow the driver to be larger than normal as well as act as an isolating “umbrella” that partially covers the ear canal, allowing for more focus on the sound, where the 21s are more conventionally-designed earbuds with a smaller driver. Both come in various colors, including black, blue and red, along with some multi-color combinations.

Retail price for the large MBR-XB1000 headphones in Japan translates to approximately $377, while the MDR-XB41EX sells for around $75 and the MDR-XB21EX costs $45.

read more

Pioneer.eu: Mid February, Pioneer introduces 2 digital media receivers, made to enjoy music and movies on the road without having to take CDs or DVDs into your car.

The MVH-7300 and MVH-8300BT are specifically designed for the sources which are used most – whether that’s iPod, iPhone, USB, SD or other portable video and music sources via Aux-in. Now, the MVH-7300 also supports DivX video playback from SD and USB.

Both are single DIN receivers that feature an elegant 3-inch full-colour TFT Display. To add a personal touch, the display’s background and screen colours can be changed. As well as providing great video playback quality, it gives full access to all the playlists, album art, videos and more on a connected iPod or iPhone.

App mode

A new App mode even enables listening to music or watching video and navi content from various iPhone and iPod touch Apps, including games, video, internet radio, musical instrument simulators etc., provided the App supports analogue audio or video output.

With SDHC compatibility (32GB), it’s easy to take your whole library of film and video entertainment along on a journey.

Pioneer’s highly regarded 7-way rotary commander enables straightforward navigation and control. It allows you to browse or search through lists and quickly jump to new functions using just one handy dial.

USB and SD card slot on front panel

Detailed video playback is complemented by excellent audio quality. Both units play MP3, WMA and iTunes AAC music files via USB and SD memory card.

For easy access, the USB port is located directly on the front panel and the SD memory card slot is positioned discreetly behind the partially detachable front panel.

Pioneer equipped the receivers with its Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR) to enhance the listening experience, particularly for compressed digital formats. This patented technology helps to restore the musical details lost when compressed music files are created.

With the 8-band graphic equalizer you can adjust the sound of the system to suit your vehicle and preference, while dedicated hi-volt (4 V) pre-amp outputs for front, rear, and subwoofer allow for flexible system building.

For hands-free safety and convenience, the MVH-8300BT integrates a Parrot Bluetooth module, enabling you to hear the conversation through the vehicle’s speakers while your voice is broadcast through the included external microphone, which guarantees optimum speech quality.

read more

T3: Overpriced? Yes, but the BeoSound 8 looks and sounds simply gorgeous.

For anyone that appreciates design, this is a coupling that makes the pulse race. B&O’s achingly stylish products share an aesthetic with Apple’s own gear, so it’s fitting that they are together at last in this sophisticated-looking sound system.

Minimalism is the name of the game here and the BeoSound 8 has an interface almost as elementary as the Apple iPad itself. Track forward and back, source select and volume are all you need for everyday use, so that’s all you’ll find on the central dial. The way the circular remote control replicates this precisely is a nice touch.

The distinctive outer circles are of course the stereo speakers, but behind the interchangeable grills (six colours are available, including yellow and purple) are a total of four drivers in a two-way design driven by 10W digital amplifiers. The conical shape of the speaker housings reduces the perceived bulk of the system, but it also prevents standing waves from building up behind the drivers.

Behind a plastic flap at the rear are USB and minijack inputs if you don’t mind ruining the minimalist design by plugging in a non-Apple device. Other than that, there are few additional features. Given the asking price, it’s surprising that B&O didn’t hang on for Apple to launch its wireless Airplay feature and include that. As it is, there is no wireless option here.

Instead, the emphasis is on sound quality and the sky-high production value translates into a crisp and dynamic performance. The wide speakers radiate a deliciously detailed treble and an agile bass far and wide into the room. It’s an open and expressive sound that works particularly well with classical and acoustic music. There’s also ample extension in the bass and that lends an ambience and authority to movie soundtracks too.

And thanks to a little switch that alters the sound mode between three settings, the BeoSound 8 works just as well freestanding on its own metal and rubber legs as it does mounted on the wall or pushed back into a corner. It doesn’t have the deep resonant bass and epic scale that the B&O Zeppelin commands, but the sound is just as sweet.

It’s a shame there’s no wireless connectivity to help justify that price tag and we have to say the B&W Zeppelin sounds bigger and better than this. That said, this is one stylish iPad dock that’s sure to impress your friends. It could also become a design classic like so many of B&O’s wonderful creations.

read more

iPodNN: Harmon Kardon has introduced a new 2.1 home theater soundbar, the SB16. It is designed for situations where users want a quality home theater experience but don’t have the room, or don’t want a multi-speaker surround solution. It can be connected directly to a television, DVD player or game console with the convenience of being able to place the subwoofer at any position within the same room as the soundbar, the result of its wireless connectivity. (more…)

read more

DVICE: These aren’t just cool looking speakers. They’re cool looking ultrasonic speakers. The reason you want ultrasonic speakers is that they project focused sound in one single direction, creating audio that only you can hear.

The sound waves that the Klang Ultrasonic Speakers are generating are somewhere in the neighborhood of 30,000 Hz, which is a way higher pitch than humans can hear. When this high frequency wave interacts with the air, it breaks up into three different waves. One of these waves is normal sound that we can hear, but it gets constrained by the other two waves, and so it stays in a focused beam until the beam disperses or something gets in the way, meaning that the sound is only audible in a narrow beam and can’t be heard anywhere else.

The upshot of this is that if you move into the beam, you hear the sound from directly inside your head, and if you bounce the beam off of something, it sounds like the sound is coming directly from that thing. So, you could create a rear channel by using front speakers to bounce sound off the back wall of your room, or you can listen to music in your head while the rest of the room is silent. Plus, the reason these speakers look like little satellite dishes is that they can be “focused” to adjust where the ultrasonic beam spreads out to and where the audible portion disentangles itself, meaning that you can even create invisible mid-air virtual speakers.

The only problem with the Klang speakers is that they’re just a concept, but the underlying tech is real, so consumer products can’t be too far off. Ultrasonic speakers are currently operational in commercial settings like museums and libraries where you’re allowed to listen to music as loud as you want, as long as you’re the only one who can hear it.

Watch a video of a directional ultrasonic in operation, just below.

read more

Newlaunches.com: JVC’s awesome showing at CES this year included the KW-NT30HD and KW-NT50HD navigation systems that come in handy in times of bad traffic. Well, besides a forewarning, it also dishes out some palatable music for those who walk right into the traffic trap. So, what’s special you’re wondering? Well, they both sport 6.1-inch displays with HD radios, USB iPhone connectivity and good integration with ClearChannel’s iheartradio app. The main difference between the two is that the KW-NT50HD offers lifetime free subscription to Total Traffic HD+ network. Now there are additional features that you can exploit from that, such as all-US, Canada and Puerto Rico maps.

Both systems are expected in March. The KW-NT30HD will cost $1,000, while the KW-NT50HD will come for $1,200.

read more

TG Daily: Ask someone in America if they have a 3D Blu-ray player and they’ll probably either say they can’t afford one, don’t have a 3D TV, or – the most likely – they have no idea what you’re talking about. But ask the same question in Japan, and your response is likely to be very different.

The technology-forward country now has more 3D-enabled Blu-ray players than non-3D players, according to a report from local research firm BCN.

The firm says about 57% of the Blu-ray players shipped in Japan are now 3D-ready. That’s an enormous increase from just 6.7% last September.

In Japan, Blu-ray players without 3D cost around the equivalent of $600. Those with 3D technology are at least 30% more than that, or $900. Here in the US, it’s possible to get a Blu-ray player for around $100, while 3D players will run as high as $300. So unlike in Japan where the premium is about 30%, in America it’s more like 300%. That would explain why the adoption rate is so sluggish over here.

Japan is latching on to 3D at a faster pace than us, but not overwhelmingly so. The country has the same concerns as everyone else, including the lack of comfort in wearing 3D glasses and cost associated with buying those glasses.

Nevertheless, the market seems to be doing well enough over there such that the 3D side of things is overpowering the non-3D side. That’s encouraging for manufacturers that have poured countless resources into making the leap to 3D.

read more

Gizmag: From keeping the kids amused to giving you something to do while stuck in a snow drift, in-car video entertainment systems are becoming an increasingly important component of the modern automobile. For videophiles who demand the very best in onscreen visuals, news that the Audiovox Corporation is set to release the industry’s first automotive Blu-ray Disc player will no doubt be very welcome indeed. The compact device can be connected to any in-vehicle monitor, comes with an infrared remote and also has wireless streaming capabilities.

As you might expect, in addition to allowing users to choose from the 1,600 or so Blu-ray titles currently available, the player can also read from DVD and CD disc format. The unit can be horizontally or vertically mounted under the seat or hidden away inside a storage compartment and connected to any in-vehicle monitor from the unit’s HDMI, composite or component output ports.

It’s powered from a 2-pin, 12-volt connector to the vehicle’s accessory power source and the disc slot is illuminated by a blue accent light. There’s an infrared remote control with an extension included, for when the device is hidden away. The player is also Wi-Fi capable to cater for wireless media streaming.

The AVDBR1 Blu-ray player carries a suggested retail price of US$349.99, with a Q2 availability window. Product details will appear on the company’s mobile product site nearer to release time.

read more

Gizmag: Retailers, hotels and real estate agents have been using aromas to entice us to part with our cash for years now and there have even been a few attempts to transmit smells via the internet and mobile phones. California-based company Scent Sciences is now looking to bring an olfactory dimension to computer games with its ScentScape personal digital scent delivery system.

Scent Sciences’ President and CEO, Bill Wiles, told Gizmag the ScentScape system uses a combination of hardware, software & algorithms and chemistry – all covered by patents – to produce the smells. The system consists of a unit that plugs into a PC or gaming console via USB and generates smells using scent cartridges.

Each cartridge provides 20 basic scents and last about 200 hours, depending on personal use. The scents come in standard, which produce a range of more general smells, or media-specific versions to suit particular games, with smell strength controlled via a “volume control”.

Wiles says that gamers will also be able to use the company’s SDK along with the ScentEditor application to create their own scent-enabled games. Players will even be able to share the code they have created with other gamers who have their own ScentScape system to allow them to enjoy their creation.

Similarly, the ScentScape system and ScentScape Editor can be used to add smells to home videos. Specific themed cartridges such as holiday, summer, ocean, etc. will also be available for this purpose, along with special cartridges for aromatherapy and other applications.

Scent Sciences was showing its ScentScape system at CES 2011 and will be introducing the ScentScape Gaming Suite at the Game Developers Conference 2011 in February, where it will be continuing talks with game and game platform developers regarding building ScentScape capabilities into games. Wiles says the company will also work with the game developers to develop scent cartridges to suit their particular games.

Scent Sciences plans to begin shipments of the ScentScape Gaming Suite later this year at a price yet to be announced.

read more

The Audiophiliac: I recently wrote about how to improve the sound of your speakers by fine-tuning their placement in your room. Hey, it’s a free “tweak” and can make a big difference in your sound.

The same logic applies to subwoofers. So if you just plopped your sub down in the corner, chances are you haven’t even begun to hear how good it can sound. Optimizing subwoofer placement within your room is the key to achieving the best possible performance.

To judge the potential for changing the sound, move the sub 5 or more feet from wherever it is, and listen for the difference. If you like the sound, live with the new position for a few days, and then move it again. Try moving the sub to different corners of the room to see which one maximizes deep bass output. Or do just the opposite and place the sub closer to the center of the wall; that may result in smoother, more accurate bass response. Experiment and see for yourself.

Next, examine your subwoofer’s connectivity options, and hook up your interconnect cable to the input labeled “Sub In,” “LFE,” “Direct,” or “Bypass,” and not the Left/Right Main RCA inputs. I’ll cover speaker level inputs and output connectivity in a future blog.

Look for the Sub In, LFE, Direct, or Bypass input on your subwoofer; it is the best connection option.

(Credit: Steve Guttenberg) To use the Sub/LFE RCA input you’ll need a long interconnect cable; most consumer electronics dealers stock these cables, or try Radio Shack. How long is long enough? Measure the distance between your receiver and sub and remember to include the distances up and down over doorways and furniture. Buying a cable that’s a foot or two too short is a drag, and after you’ve opened the package you may not be able to return it for a refund or exchange.

If your receiver is equipped with an auto speaker calibration program such as Audyssey, run it every time you move the subwoofer to a new position in the room.

If you don’t have auto setup, try turning the sub’s crossover control knob to its maximum, highest numerical setting (you’re going to rely on the receiver’s internal crossover control to route the mid- and high frequencies to the speakers and the bass to the sub). You’ll find the crossover setting in the speaker setup menu, and on some receivers you’ll be presented with a wide range of settings from 40Hz up to 200Hz. Your speaker and/or subwoofer’s user manual may offer specific guidance in this area. If not, here are my crossover recommendations: for small speakers with 2- or 3-inch woofers, try between 150Hz and 200Hz; for midsize speakers with 4- or 5-inch woofers, use 80Hz or 100Hz; and with large bookshelf speakers or skinny floorstanding speakers, try a 60Hz or 80Hz crossover.

The real key to getting the best out of the sub lies in achieving a seamless blend with your speakers. Ideally, you should never be able to hear the bass coming from the sub; it should appear to come from the speakers. Try to keep the sub within a few feet of small left front or right front speakers.

read more

Akihabara News: Pioneer introduced this week two new digital USB controllers, the DDJ-T1 for TRAKTOR DJ and the DDJ-S1 for Serato ITCH. Sold bundled with special editions of the software they are intended for, they will allow direct mixing of computer stored music. Sold respectively for around 1400 and 1700$, they should be available mid-February.

A perfect integration of each software’s functionality and our leading-edge hardware, the Pioneer DJ Controllers offer the same operability and layout as our pro-DJ equipment – whilst enabling DJs to play music files from the computer.

DDJ-T1 for TRAKTOR

Bundled with TRAKTOR Pioneer DDJ-T1 Edition software, this new controller delivers all of the most popular TRAKTOR features – without the need to upgrade the software. 4-channel deck control, 6 effects and recording all come as standard, meaning that the DDJ-T1 helps DJs unlock the full potential of the software at no extra cost.

The DDJ-T1 combines the familiarity of TRAKTOR with Pioneer operability to deliver high-level performance. Due for release in mid-February, the DDJ-T1 will retail with a suggested retail price of £899 including VAT – offering an affordable solution for bedroom or mobile DJs.

Features include:

* Effect area exactly mirrors the software interface, delivering the same look and feel
* 115mm jog wheel and Needle Search
* Unique laptop integration design places the screen in the DJ’s line of sight at all times
* Optimized audio circuitry in the master output area borrowed from our pro-DJ equipment ensures high quality sound
* Plug and Play through USB: all buttons are pre-assigned to the software functions
* Built-in sound card.

DDJ-S1 for Serato ITCH

The perfect home or mobile DJ set-up, the DDJ-S1 features balanced XLR input/output for connection direct to professional PA equipment, and a microphone talk-over feature to make MC’ing a breeze.

Add to this the simple Plug and Play connection, amazing software features and superior hardware control, and the Pioneer DDJ-S1 is a major force to be reckoned with. Suggested retail price is £1099 including VAT.

Features include:

* Tight integration with Serato ITCH software: play music files direct from your laptop without ever touching the keyboard
* Pioneer functionality layout including alphabetic search and slip mode
* Equipped with various inputs and outputs, including a balanced XLR inout/output (1 of each)
* Unique laptop integration design places the screen in the DJ’s line of sight at all times
* Optimized audio circuitry in the master output area, borrowed from our pro-DJ equipment, ensures high quality sound
* Needle search function allows DJs to quickly skip through a song to a preferred playback point
* Built-in sound card.

read more

Cnet UK: Until last year, we all agreed that a computer without a keyboard was as useful as a wicker soup bowl. But this year the touchscreen wonder-windows poured out of CES like ants from an overturned log. Never fear, though — we won’t let you flail around with the fails. Here’s our pick of the best tablets from Las Vegas.

Motorola Xoom

The Motorola Xoom could be the 10.1-inch iPad-smasher that Android fans have been waiting for. This sleek but heavy tablet sports a dual-core processor, cameras front and back, and a mini-HDMI port for hooking it up to your telly.

It’s also the device that Google used to show off the tablet-centric version of its Android software, Android 3.0 Honeycomb. Android’s user interface has received a refresh that means it should take full advantage of the Xoom’s big screen. We loved the Samsung Galaxy Tab, a 7-inch tablet that runs on Android 2.2, so the Xoom should be even better.

The Xoom could prove something of a shock to the wallet, though. It’s early days, but a listing on UK site Handtec offered the Xoom at the eye-watering price of £720, although the price has since been removed from the listing.

Check out the hands-on photos in our Xoom preview, which we’ll be updating with a full review just as soon as the tablet zooms into our office.

Asus Eee Pad MeMo

The Asus Eee Pad MeMo runs Android 2.3 Honeycomb and is a more portable package than the Xoom. This 7-inch tablet looks classy and elegant, and, at 389g, the MeMo is considerably lighter than the 730g Xoom too.

Its 1,024×768-pixel resolution makes the MeMo’s relatively small screen as sharp as the edge of an oatcake, and we found we could use the tablet with one hand. But, despite its diminutive dimensions, the MeMo is still packed with features, including a stylus that works with the capacitive touchscreen to allow pressure-sensitive writing and drawing.

Hold your mitts up to the screen against our hands-on photos to see how the MeMo could look in your hands, and read our Memo preview to get all the gory details on this upcoming gadget.

BlackBerry PlayBook

RIM has ducked out of the Android and Windows 7 tablet battle, instead chucking its own operating system onto its first tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook. This could prove especially handy if you also use a BlackBerry phone, but we’re reserving judgement on the fledgling software until we can put it through its paces properly.

The PlayBook’s dual-core processor is all about multi-tasking. An all-new browser that supports Flash and HTML5 should help repair BlackBerry’s reputation for supplying out-of-date surfing software.

Like the Xoom, the PlayBook eschews buttons on its face — there’s no big home button, as there is on the iPad, or multiple menu buttons, like on most Android tablets. Instead, there’s a power button on the top, along with some media-control buttons.

Take a look at our hands-on photos of this bloated ‘Berry and read our extensive PlayBook preview for all the details you can stomach.

Samsung TX100

Windows tablets haven’t exactly set the world on fire, and now the world’s biggest OS is running scared, what with the rise of Android and iOS on big screens. But, for some people, staring through Windows is the only way they can get any work done.

The Samsung TX100 could be the solution for Windows fans who aren’t ready to abandon the Land of a Thousand Menus in favour of a mobile phone on steroids. This 10.1-inch tablet packs a cunning surprise — it has a slide-out keyboard that transforms it into a touchscreen netbook.

When we copped a feel of the TX100, we found it felt slim, despite its Qwerty keyboard, and its USB and HDMI ports should help it compete for bag space with your laptop. With a claimed 9 hours of battery life and an Intel Atom CPU, we’ve got high hopes that the TX100 will represent the best of both worlds, rather than the horrific result of a cross-breeding exercise that should have been exposed at birth on an ice flow.

read more