About Electronics

Pioneer.eu: Pioneer introduces its new range with, at the top of the line, the flagship models DEH-9300SD and DEH-8300SD. These models will be available from January 2011 at Pioneer car audio dealerships.

You can seamlessly connect your iPod, iPhone, CD, USB device, SD card or portable MP3 player. For those looking to add some extra power, both models offer complete flexibility when it comes to connecting extra amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers.

An SD card slot is discreetly hidden behind their front panels, compatible with SD and SDHC cards, and plays back a host of file formats from SD, including MP3, WMA, WAV and AAC files. A front USB input allows you to easily link USB audio devices.

The DEH-9300SD features a flap-type front panel that flips open at the touch of a button to reveal the CD and SD slots, and flips back once a format is inserted to maintain a clean dashboard look. With its Music Browser function it can automatically read the music from an SD/SDHC memory card or USB device and lists tunes alphabetically by artist, album, song or genre.

iPod Direct Control allows you to connect your iPod straight to the front USB terminal and enjoy superior sound, free from the static of an FM transmitter. As a handy extra, your iPod will charge while connected. A new “App mode” enables listening to music from various iPhone and iPod touch Apps, including games and internet radio (provided the app supports analogue audio output). An improved “Control mode” allows browsing through the songs on your iPod or iPhone with the tuner’s rotary knob.

With iTunes Tagging (currently in the UK only) on the DEH-8300SD, you can tag music to your iPod or iPhone as you listen to FM. When the iPod syncs to a computer, iTunes builds a tagged playlist so you can preview, buy, and download your selected songs.

Audiophiles can be assured of high-quality and pure audio with both units integrating high-grade audio parts such as a first-rate capacitor for the back-up line, a copper screw for PCB, Mecha and Power IC and a top-quality register for the audio line.

Full-dot OEL Displays make searching and selecting tracks from various sources more convenient. OEL technology also allows for wide viewing angles, active 3D visuals and high contrast and brightness, even in sunlight. All functions are managed through the single Rotary Commander or the optional IR remote.

The tuners boast many of the same features found in high-end home receivers including:

- high power output with the celebrated MOSFET 50 x 4 amplifier set-up for powerful sound reproduction
- a 5-band Graphic Equaliser (GEQ) to perfectly match the acoustics of your car
- Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR) technology to restore musical detail lost in the creation of compressed music files
- built-in crossovers and flexible audio/video connections utilising three pairs of pre-amp outputs (4-Volts).
 

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T3: iPod/iPhone docks offer high-volume playback of your music library, charging your device at the same time. Most have a remote control but some offer wireless connectivity so you don’t have to leave your Apple docked. They all claim to have audiophile-grade sound but who’s telling the truth? Court is in session…

Best: Overall
Arcam rCube
£500
Love: Smart, timeless design. Superb sound. Eight-hour battery life
Hate: A little expensive. Wi-Fi dongle costs extra
Arman rCube pics I Arcam rCube review I Link: Arcam

Best: Easy Listening
SoundFreaq Sound Platform
£200
Love: Groovy retro styling. Effective Bluetooth connectivity. Useful online app adds iPhone control. Reasonable VFM
Hate: Speakers lack projection and distort
SoundFreaq Sound Platform pics I SoundFreaq SoundPlatform review I Link: SoundFreaq

Best: Rock
TEAC SR-100I Aurb
£240
Love: Powerful audio. Good value. Interesting elliptical design. Useful CD and USB playback
Hate: Some may find the boomy bass a bit much
TEAC SR-100I Aurb Pics I TEAC SR-100I Aurb review I Link: TEAC

Best: Dance
Geneva Sound S
£300
Love: Very cool styling. Powerful, seductive bass
Hate: Not much in the way of extra connectivity
Geneva Sound S pics I Geneva Sound S review I Link: Geneva

Best: Acoustic
B&W Zeppelin Mini
£300
Love: Potent sound from a small dock. USB input
Hate: Lacks the bass warmth to fill a big room
B&W Zeppelin review I Link: B&W

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iPodNN: Kenwood Japan has launched the CLX-70 iPod and iPhone speaker dock. The designer speaker system incorporates DTS Envelo speakers, which provide a three-dimensional soundstage and are powered by a 30W amp. In addition to the 30- pin dock connector, it also includes a USB port, an SD card slot, and an MP3 compatible CD slot for playing music from a wide range of alternative sources.

The CLX-70 is compatible with the iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPhone 4. It is also compatible with the iPod touch, second gen iPod nano and the iPod classic. The Kenwood CLX-70 is available in three colors and will hit the Japanese market this month.

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Dvice: True tech classics never die as exampled by TDK’s new Three Speaker Boombox, a slick mutation of an old school favorite.

The Boombox features an AM/FM radio, and a USB port for media stick playback and iPod or iPhone music playback. Composed of two 10 watt speakers and a 15-watt woofer, the Boombox is scheduled to go on sale in January for $499.

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iPodNN: H2O Audio has just introduced new waterproof earbuds with the Flex All Sport Buds. They can be submerged in up to three feet of water without any ill effects. This also makes them ideal for workouts when wearers sweat, and can be rinsed out for reuse later on.

Each ships with three sizes of earplugs to get an ideal fit. The headphones are available in green, pink, black and blue, each of which is priced at $30.

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Electronista: The Libratone Beat is a wireless speaker tailored to Apple users and has a unique prism-like design that puts out sound in a 360-degree arc, theoretically removing the need to sit in a given area for the best sound. The systems are also draped in cashmere wool and non-traditional speaker colors like blood orange to fit into the middle of a room without disruption. (more…)

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iPodNN: Urbanears today brought out its limited-edition Tanto headphones at the Wired Pop Up Store in New York City. The retro styled over-the-ear headphones are assembled with parts of random colors, including the headband, earpads, cord, remote, jack and speaker. An inline remote and microphone are integrated into the cord of the headphones, which ends in a 3.5mm audio jack.

Like the regular Tanto headphones, they sport 40mm handmade drivers with a frequency response of 20-20kHz, a sensitivity of 112dB and an impedance of 32 Ohms. Their max input power is 40mW. The multi-colored Tanto headphones cost $45 at the Wired Pop Up Store and online for a limited time, though exactly for how long is unknown.

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Engadget: Looking for more than just a regular standalone iPad dock? Then you might want to consider Xtreamer’s new iXtreamer system, which is an iPad dock that also doubles as a media streamer. Of course, it will also work with iPhones and iPods, and the “dock” is quite capable all by itself as well — it’ll accommodate a 3.5-inch hard drive and up to two USB hard drives, and it’ll support just about any audio or video content you can throw at it, including content stored on your computer or networked hard drive. Interestingly, Xtreamer also notes that it would like to let you use iOS apps on your TV as well, but it says that’s up to Apple to allow — in other words, don’t bet on it. Head on past the break for a video overview, and look for the device to set you back €175, or roughly $235.

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iPodNN: Marshall today finally launched its two inaugural headphone sets with promises of both the outer design as well as their sound. The over-ear Major is designed the most closely to recall Marshall’s amps and uses both the vinyl from its stacks as well as a guitar-like coiled headphone cable. They have an optional quarter-inch plug for amps and stereos and have a collapsible design that folds the ear cups into the headband area.

Each cup has an 0.6-inch moving coil dynamic speaker that can handle a 115dB signal-to-noise ratio and a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz. It costs $99.

The Minor caters to in-ear listeners and has a unique shape designed to keep the earpieces in place without having to go to in-canal designs. They also use fabric anti-tangle cords and have an in-line microphone and remote that supports typical iOS (and some other smartphone) features. Although it puts out less power due to its size, the Minor shares similar speakers to the Major and has the same signal-to-noise and frequency range as its larger sibling.

The Minor comes with an adapter to support devices that don’t properly recognize two-way headphone plugs and costs $59, although it’s currently listed as “sold out.”

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iPodNN: Altec Lansing on Tuesday introduced its first iPad dock, the Octiv Stage. The device will charge the iPad and allows it to be positioned either vertically or horizontally thanks to a rotating arm. The arm also lets users tilt the screen for viewing or more comfortable typing.

A wireless remote is included, allowing users to control the music playback from across the room. The two 50mm neodymium speakers are tuned to provide a more center channel-like performance for better dialogue in addition to stereo audio depending on the source. The dock can also accommodate iPods and iPhones. A 3.5mm auxiliary jack supports non-Apple hardware.

The Octiv Stage is now available in stores and online, priced at $150.

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iPodNN: iHome today explained some of the workings of its upcoming AirPlay speaker. Now called the iW1, the audio system will primarily stream from an iTunes computer to the speaker and should mostly use an iOS 4.2 device as a remote, although the feature should theoretically allow direct-from-device streaming. The hardware will allow a Sonos-like multi-room audio system with the option of piping audio to every iW1 on the local network or just individual units.

Most other details are refinements of what was teased after the iW1 was first shown in September. Audio quality should be a focus with both class-D amplifiers as well as Bongiovi Acoustics tuning for the pairs of tweeters and woofers. A row of capacitive touch buttons on top will provide basic physical controls, and iPhone or iPod owners will have the option of charging directly from a USB port on the back.

iHome hasn’t yet given an estimated battery life for the lithium-ion pack in the iW1 other than “hours,” but it did mention that the speaker will support the native iOS app for setting up and delivering firmware updates.

Release dates, prices and other launch details still aren’t known for the wireless audio system, though its release hinges on iOS 4.2′s posting, which could come by Friday.

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iPodNN: As part of the same launch that brought the Ziio tablets, Creative today put out both a sequel to its Zen Touch MP3 player and a new set of Bluetooth headphones. The Zen Touch 2 is a rare Android-based MP3 player and outputs Bluetooth audio with the same apt-X compression as the Ziios, theoretically supplying lossless wireless sound over Bluetooth. Equally unique is the option of GPS in some models that lets them use stand-alone GPS apps without having to use a cellular connection.

All versions of the new Zen Touch have a 3.2-inch touchscreen, 802.11n Wi-Fi and a two-megapixel camera. They carry microSDHC slots to add to the built-in storage and have their own RCA video out for viewing on a TV. The plain version without GPS comes in 8GB and 16GB capacities at the equivalent prices of $217 and $248 in Singapore; GPS is only available with an 8GB model and costs $232.

The WP-300 headphones can recognize apt-X but are platform-independent and should work with iPads, iPods and other devices that can send out stereo Bluetooth audio. It can charge up from USB and has its own physical controls on an ear cup to skip through tracks. Creative hopes to charge $116 for a pair.

Both the Zen Touch 2 and the WP-300 should be available in Singapore by the end of the year, although they should get an international launch not long afterwards.

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