Steam Deck Handheld Gaming PC Debuts as Valve makes PC gaming portable like a Nintendo Switch OLED
The Steam Deck has a form factor similar to that of a slightly larger Nintendo Switch but with the capabilities of a full gaming PC.
It runs a modified version of Valve’s SteamOS, complete with a new console-like interface for easy navigation of both the Steam store and your Steam library, but it also provides access to an unrestricted computer desktop where any third-party applications can be installed (including non-Steam games or launchers).
The Steam Deck has a 7-inch, 1280x800 resolution, 60hz LCD screen, a custom AMD APU featuring a 4-core, 8-thread CPU paired with 8 RDNA 2 compute units for the GPU, and 16 GBs of LPDDR5 RAM.
the Steam Deck has bluetooth support for any device you could connect to a regular PC (including headphones like Apple AirPods). It can also be “docked” and hooked up to an external display, as well as a mouse and keyboard if you want to use it as a more traditional PC. While Valve will be selling an official dock separately, any third-party USB-C adapter should work just as well – and those who simply want an experience closer to that of a regular handheld or console can ignore the more computer-y aspects entirely.
Steam Deck will be available in three different models – importantly, however, the only major difference between them will be storage size and speed, with their graphical capabilities otherwise identical.
The base version will cost $399 and have 64 GB of storage, followed by a $529 model with 256 GB, and finally a $649 version that has 512 GB and an anti-glare etched glass screen treatment. The latter two Steam Decks will also have faster NVMe SSDs, and all three will allow you to install and play games off of a Micro SD card to expand storage capacity further.
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Yamaha YH-L700A wireless ANC headphones Debuts with 3D Sound Field audio, head tracking at $699
It might not be the first to do so, but Yamaha is going big on 3D audio and head-tracking features for its latest pair of headphones. With its all-new Yamaha YH-L700A, the company promises an immersive 360-degree listening experience courtesy of its 3D Sound Field technology.
It works with any stereo content from “virtually any source” and the effect is customisable depending on user preference and the type of content being played. This is done with a series of sound modes – Cinema, Drama and Music Video (for video content), Audio Room and Background Music (for music), plus Outdoor Live and Concert Hall modes. These can be selected within the Yamaha Headphones Controller App, which is available on Android and iOS.
Head tracking, meanwhile, combines with the 3D technology to emphasise the immersion, responding in real-time to the orientation of the listener’s head in relation to the device playing the content.
The YH-L700A’s features don’t stop there. As well as the two headline features, the headphones boast Yamaha’s Listening Optimizer, which works to ensure optimal performance based on the fit, and Listening Care, which encourages lower volume listening by adjusting audio frequencies in an effort to maintain the full range of sound no matter the volume.
Noise-cancelling, complete with an Ambient Sound mode, is also onboard. And the impressive specification continues with support for Bluetooth 5 with aptX Adaptive, up to 34 hours of wireless battery life, and a swiveling earcup design with on-cup controls.
On paper at least, that’s more than enough to trouble the class leaders in the premium wireless headphones space. They’ll have to perform excellently to do so, of course – not least as their asking price is a hefty £449.
The Yamaha YH-L700A will be available from August
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Lenovo ThinkStation P350 Desktop Workstations Debuts powerful workstations without breaking the bank
Lenovo has announced the next generation of its family of entry-level desktop workstations.
The new ThinkStation P350 Tower offers a full desktop PC experience while the Small Form Factor (SFF) and Tiny are more akin to thin clients in their appearance though they still pack a punch performance wise.
Lenovo's trio of new workstations all come equipped with support for PCIe Gen 4 for faster access to cutting-edge storage technologies as well as enhanced professional graphics support.
ThinkStation P350 Tower, SFF and Tiny
According to a press release, Lenovo's new desktop workstations come equipped with the latest high-performance Intel Core or Xeon processors and the ThinkStation P350 Tower and SFF can even support up to 11th Gen Intel Core or Intel Xeon W processors.
The Tower and SFF also offer Nvidia RTX professional graphics though the Tower can support up to the Nvidia RTX A5000 graphics card. In addition to the standard 500W power supply, Lenovo's tower chassis also now has a new 750W PSU option so that users with a high-end GPU have the power they need to tackle sophisticated workflows.
Meanwhile the ThinkStation P350 Tiny, which is powered by 11th Gen Intel Core processors, is the industry's smallest workstation at less than 1L and offers excellent performance in a form factor that is 96 percent smaller than a traditional business PC.
The Lenovo ThinkStation P350 Tower, SFF and Tiny workstations will be available later this month on July 23 starting at $969 (£699), $949 (£684) and $899 (£648) respectively.
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Wyze Light Strip and Wyze Light Strip Pro Debuts with dazzling 16 different colors simultaneously
The smart lighting market is full of innovative, attractive products, all of which are equally likely to blow a hole right through your wallet. Philips Hue and LIFX are particularly guilty of high-priced products, but no one can deny their quality. Now Wyze is back to its usual game, providing that same high level of quality on a product with a much lower price point. The company has announced two new products: The Wyze Light Strip and the Wyze Light Strip Pro.
The Wyze Light Strip comes in two lengths. The 16.4-foot version is $26, while the 32.8-foot version is $36. Both sizes have free shipping. The downside is that the strip can only display a single color at a time, but there are more than 16 million colors to choose from.
The Wyze Light Strip Pro also comes in a 16.4-foot version at $31 and a 32.8-foot version at $45. Again, both options include free shipping. What sets the Light Strip Pro apart is that each strip can display up to 16 different colors at a time and is capable of displaying more advanced lighting effects.
You can also create custom automations through services like IFTTT and sync the Wyze Light Strip to other devices in your home to give you more ambiance while watching your favorite TV shows, during date night, and much more.
Both light strips are available for preorder now through Wyze’s website.
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Amazfit PowerBuds Pro Earbuds Debuts with ANC just upstaged Apple’s next AirPods
It has been rumored that the next version of Apple’s popular AirPods Pro true wireless earbuds will have fitness tracking features built-in. But why wait for an unknown amount of time (and money) when you can now order Amazfit’s PowerBuds Pro for just $150? They’re the first true wireless earbuds we’ve come across since Jabra’s 2017 Elite Sport that can track your heart rate and monitor your workouts. They come in white and will be available to pre-order starting July 15.
Amazfit is best known for its series of ultra-affordable fitness-oriented smartwatches, but the company clearly has its sights set on appealing to a much wider audience. The PowerBuds Pro possess a seemingly endless list of features, including active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, customizable EQ and touch controls, IP55 dust and water protection, up to 30 hours of battery life when you include the charging case, Google FastPair compatibility, volume level monitoring, and in-ear detection.
They’ll keep tabs on your posture and nag you when you’ve been in a fixed position too long (if you want). The only feature that’s missing is wireless charging, but considering the PowerBuds Pro’s price, this seems like a reasonable omission given everything else on offer.
The in-ear heart rate sensor monitors heart rate during exercise. A tap on an earbud provides current heart rate status, and the Amazfit says the earbuds will play an alert when your exercise heart rate is too high (we assume you enter your personal data like age, sex, and weight in the free Zepp app)
For runners, the PowerBuds Pro can recognize when running starts and automatically start tracking relevant activity data.
It’s impossible to say how the PowerBuds Pro compare to the AirPods Pro in terms of ANC — it would be miraculous if they were as good. Amazfit claims they can cancel up to 40 decibels of sound, and you can choose from four noise cancellation modes — Indoor, Travel, Sports, and Adaptive. This doesn’t tell us whether it’s better for low or high frequencies or how well it can adapt to these different environments.
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Razer Barracuda X Gaming Headphone Debuts & seamlessly connects to PC, Android, Switch, and PS5
This headset is called the Barracuda X, and it should do more things well than just be easy to connect.
Razer aimed for a simple but effective design with the headset, and it looks to tick all the right boxes: It’s very light at just 250 grams, has a removable microphone for better looks in public, the cans swivel so that it can comfortably rest on your neck, and it should have pretty decent battery life, too.
For connectivity, the Barracuda X uses a horizontal USB Type-C dongle, which may seem a little odd, but the idea is that it also fits underneath your Android phone, tablet, and Nintendo Switch without protruding out as much as other wireless headset dongles. For the PS5, or PCs with inconveniently located ports, Razer includes a USB-A to Type-C cable so that the awkward shape doesn’t stop you from being able to use the headset.
Of course, it’s still not ideal as it’s still a dongle nonetheless, and using Bluetooth with the Apt-X codec would solve not only that problem but also offer better sound quality, albeit with higher latency. However, that design choice would also significantly increase the cost — there’s a reason most gaming headsets don’t come with Bluetooth — it’s slow and expensive.
And it’s thanks to this dongle that the Barracuda can come in at a price of just $99 yet connect to PC, Android phones, the Nintendo Switch, and PS5 consoles. The Barracuda X is available worldwide immediately directly through Razer and select retailers.
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HomePod Beta 15 software brings Hi-Res lossless audio support
Apple has released a new beta version of the HomePod 15 software that appears to bring support for Apple Music lossless audio to both the HomePod and HomePod Mini. The new update, now allows HomePod owners in the invite-only AppleSeed program to stream audio in much higher, 24-bit quality.
With any luck, the new HomePod 15 software will become available to the general public soon. The firmware is thought to contain a host of upgrades, although recent versions of the beta software are reported to have caused a number of issues, including overheating.
Apple announced that lossless audio was coming to Apple Music back in June, but it quickly became apparent that not all Apple devices would be compatible. According to Apple's support page: HomePod and HomePod mini currently use AAC to ensure excellent audio quality. Support for lossless is coming in a future software update.
Apple's support page also confirms that Apple's AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max don't support lossless. There's no mention of any plans to change that, either. It's quite a blow for owners of the AirPods Max, who reasonably assumed their wired connection would enable lossless.
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UGREEN HiTune X5 True Wireless Earbuds Debuts as the company's budget ANC Earphone for $49
UGREEN has brought a ton of electronic accessories to the consumer tech market from power adapters and USB hubs to styluses and wireless earbuds, and the company has just introduced the latest product to its lineup of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) solutions: the HiTune X5 Wireless Earbuds.
The HiTune X5 True Wireless Earbuds ($49.99) offer a unique design and come at an affordable price point, but they still squeeze in a Qualcomm QCC3040 SoC with aptX to deliver higher-fidelity audio. Best of all, they’ve been designed to meet the needs of every user.
With low-latency transmission, a dependable Bluetooth 5.2 connection, CVC 8.0 Noise Cancellation and up to 28 hours of playtime, the HiTune X5s are ready for whatever situation comes their way, whether that’s lengthy calls, marathon streaming sessions or frantic mobile gaming.
The HiTune X5s are powered by a Qualcomm QCC 3040 SoC, providing them with the benefits of the aptX codec. That means you’ll get a greater depth of sound and a more precise audio experience, whether listening to music, making calls or gaming on the go.
That audio will come through a pair of 10mm dynamic drivers with dual-flexible diaphragms, boost performance in mid-to-low frequencies. Also, UGREEN's signature Superbass Low-frequency Enhancement Technology pumps up the audio experience for rock, rap, and hip-hop tracks. Together these two features provide a punchy bass well beyond what you’d normally expect from a compact earbud
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Definitive Technology Descend DN12 & DN8 Subwoofers Debuts as the company's new Cinema subwoofers
Definitive Technology has announced two new models joining its Descend Series of affordable subwoofers designed for both music and movies.
The additions to the line-up, the DN8 and DN12, are compact subs comprising 8-inch and 12-inch drivers respectively.
Both of the new models utilise a Definitive specific technology called ‘3XR Architecture’, which employs a symmetrical dual-radiator array to increase the amount of bass-producing surface area compared to that found in a traditional ported subwoofer. Definitive claims that the unique design of the two radiators, which are the same size as the woofers, generates a deeper bass sound and higher output levels from within a small form factor.
The Descend DN12 is powered by a 1500-Watt Class H sliding rail amplifier, which offers bass extension down to 25Hz, and uses 56-bit digital signal processing. It features three built-in performance EQ modes (Flat, Deep, and Loud), to accommodate different spaces or personal listening preferences and there’s also the option to tweak the phase with a full 360-degrees of customisable phase adjustment.
A slim remote and built-in front LED display lets you control volume, phase and EQ settings while a 12V trigger and IR pass-through enables integration with 3rd party control systems.
Meanwhile, the more discreetly sized (just over 30cm-squared ) DN8 uses a 500-Watt Class D amplifier matched with custom drivers and the same 3XR dual-radiator design found in the 12-inch mode.
The Definitive Technology Descend Series subwoofers will be available from August with the Descend DN12 costing £999 ($999) and the DN8 priced at £499 ($499). Both models are available in Midnight Black while the DN8 also comes in Glacier White.
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Sony LSPX-S3 candle wireless speaker Debuts and looks like candles made in the 1800s
Two years ago, Sony released the LSPX-S2 Glass sound speaker. It looked a lot like a candlestick but was actually a wireless speaker, and it’s now repeated the trick with LSPX-S3.
There don’t appear to any visible upgrades in terms of features or design over the older model, with the latest wireless speaker carrying over the Advanced Vertical Drive Technology. It uses three Actuators to vibrate the glass tweeter to spread sound in every direction.
Sony says the organic glass tweeter is capable of producing “clear and powerful high tones”, with a 46mm speaker for mid-range frequencies and passive radiator included to enhance the low-end. More bass can be added by enabling the Bass Boost mode in the Sony Music Centre app.
Battery life hits the same mark with up to 8-hours of battery, as well as USB-C connectivity for charging. Having a built-in battery also means the LSPX-S3 is portable, so it can be taken to wherever in the house, subtly illuminating the area around it.
There’s Bluetooth wireless support as well, with the glass speaker featuring Sony’s LDAC codec for playback of high quality music streams Tidal Master file over Bluetooth. There’s also a built-in microphone, so calls can be routed via the speaker if you’re bored of taking Zoom calls in the conventional way.
Design-wise the Glass Sound Speaker exudes minimalism, designed to blend into a room’s surroundings. While the speaker’s stated purpose is to play music, the candlelight mode features four different lighting modes and 32 brightness levels, which can be adjusted by the sliding the touch sensor on the speaker.
Small and compact in size, the Sony LSPX-S3 is environmentally focused, too. Less than 10% of the packaging is made from plastic so a fair chunk of the packaging can be put into recycling boxes.
The Sony LSPX-S3 goes on sale in August 2021, and will be significantly cheaper than the previous model at approximately £315 / €350 / $349 more than £200 cheaper than before.
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Astrotec BX70 Bluetooth Earphone Debuts as a hybrid wireless and wired style IEM for Audiophiles
Astrotec BX70 Bluetooth Earphone Debuts as a hybrid wireless and wired style IEM for Audiophiles.
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Nokia BH-805 Noise Cancelling TWS Earbuds Debuts with premium ANC and priced at €99.99
The Nokia BH-805 is Nokia’s first-ever earbuds with active noise cancellation and matches commercial-grade hearing protectors. The Nokia BH-805 earbuds can actively cancel and modulate the noise in the environment up to 25 decibels. The Nokia noise-canceling earbuds also feature an Ambient mode that enables the user to listen to the surrounding.
Nokia had earlier quietly released the BH-805 earbuds in India and China where the company’s license holders in both countries, Flipkart and Richgo respectively, have been selling the earbuds for some months. Nokia, however, just officially unveiled the BH-805 earbuds for the European market. The device carries a price tag of €99.99 ($118), and it is currently available in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany.
The BH-805 bears a close semblance with the Nokia Lite earbuds, with several similar features. It is powered by 13 mm graphene buds. A 400mAh charging case combines with the two 45mAh batteries in each earbuds to provide up to 5 hours of playback without the charging case and 20 hours when the charging case is attached. When Active Noise Cancellation is activated on the BH-805, the battery capacity is slightly reduced.
the device has USB-C charging capability for quick charging. Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, IPX5, and Google Assistant are some other functionalities present in the
Nokia says two color variants will be available for the BH-805 active noise canceling earbuds. Intending customers could either pick the Charcoal model or settle for the Polar sea color variant.
The complete package consists of the earbuds, a charging case, ear tips of three sizes, a USB-C cable, and a Quick Guide, all inside a box made of recycled paper. Nokia has not stated any plans on the availability of the product in other countries subsequently.
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OnePlus Buds Pro Earbuds are coming very soon with ANC and you can apply to test them
OnePlus is having a busy year. Not only is the company preparing to launch its fourth handset of the year, the OnePlus Nord 2, but it’s now clear that it has a new set of wireless earphones in the works. What’s more, it’s looking for volunteers to test both them and the Nord 2.
The reveal comes on the OnePlus Lab website, where the company merely mentions the name of the product: Buds Pro. While that may not be an awful lot to go on, we can still infer quite a lot: it clearly refers to an advanced version of the $79 OnePlus Buds, a set of true wireless earbuds we gave three-and-a-half stars when we reviewed them a year ago. Crucially, for other wireless earphones, the word “Pro” has been used to indicate the presence of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
This is the case with the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro and the AirPods Pro, so it feels likely that OnePlus will be doing something similar with the Buds Pro, although we’d also hope for improvements to the muddy sound quality and comfort in the new version. While OnePlus doesn’t give a release date for the Buds Pro, testers will get the product very soon indeed, raising hopes of an imminent wider release.
The company says that applications for tests closes on July 17, with the successful applicants announced on July 21 with the product to be received “around the launch event date” which has already been confirmed for July 22.
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KZ SK10 1BA+1DD TWS Earphone Debuts as the company's new budget Wireless Earbuds for Audiophiles
KZ SK10 1BA+1DD TWS Earphone Debuts as the company's new budget Wireless Earbuds for Audiophiles
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XDUOO TA-26 Headphone Amplifier Debuts with premium Tube Amplification designed for Audiophiles
XDUOO TA-26 Headphone Amplifier Debuts with premium Tube Amplification designed for Audiophiles.
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F.Audio XS04 Headphone Music Player Debuts as the company's Flagship player for Audiophiles
F.Audio XS04 Headphone Music Player Debuts as the company's Flagship player for Audiophiles
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Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders Debuts as Qualcomm collaborates with Asus to make ultimate phone
Qualcomm has collaborated with Asus to make its definition of the ultimate Android smartphone. It’s called the Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders, and as the clunky name suggests, it’s designed primarily as a perk for Qualcomm’s army of dedicated fans. To put it into better context, think of it like a Nexus smartphone commissioned by a chipmaker, rather than a software maker.
Like Google when it launched the Nexus range of hardware in 2011, Qualcomm is not a device manufacturer, hence it has worked with Asus to make the Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders. To be clear, this isn’t a Qualcomm phone, it’s an Asus phone, and it will sell the phone through its own online store. Although it’s made to appeal to the 1.6 million-strong team of Snapdragon Insiders, anyone with $1,499 to spare can buy one.
Yes, the Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders (from here on, I’ll refer to the phone as the SSI) costs $1,499, so what do you get? After all, this is more expensive than the most powerful phones available today, such as the Galaxy S21 Ultra, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, and Asus’ top ROG Phone 5, so it better be good. From Qualcomm’s perspective, the SSI is a showcase for the Snapdragon 888 processor, paired here with 5G and a massive 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage space.
The SSI provides a fast 5G connection using the third-generation X60 modem, with every key Sub-6 and mmWave band covered for true global 5G connectivity. If you have a 5G contract and a 5G signal is available, the SSI will be your best bet of making the most of 5G wherever you are in the world. It’s joined by a dual-SIM slot with 5G support for both, plus Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC. Android 11 is installed without any additional apps or alterations to the user interface.
On the front is a 6.78-inch, Samsung-made AMOLED screen with a 2448 x 1080 pixel resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+. It’s covered by Gorilla Glass Victus.
Along with Qualcomm’s Elite Gaming features, its Spectra 580 Image Signal Processor, and Quick Charge 5 on the 4,000mAh battery for a 52-minute fast charge time, the phone also introduces Snapdragon Sound. Think of this like a Qualcomm stamp of approval for audio based around the use of key Qualcomm components. The SSI phone has dual stereo speakers, quad microphones, a WDA8835 amplifier, and a QCC5141 audio system-on-a-chip (SoC) with support for 24-bit files and 96kHz streaming, plus AptX Adaptive and AptX Voice.
Qualcomm and Asus bundle a special pair of Master & Dynamic MW08 true wireless earbuds with the phone, which come in a matching color. A 65W Quick Charge 5 charger is also included, along with a bumper case and a pair of USB Type-C cables.
The Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders will launch in August for $1,499 through the Asus online store in the U.S., U.K., China, Japan, South Korea, and Germany, with India to follow in the future.
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Edifier NeoBuds Pro earbuds Debuts and promises wireless hi-res audio for $99
Edifier, a company that has been making a name for itself as a designer of audio gear that offers very good quality at affordable prices, is taking to Indiegogo for its latest product: The NeoBuds Pro.
The $99 true wireless earbuds offer active noise cancellation (ANC), plus a feature that is hard to find at any price — hi-res audio. Pre-orders start now and Edifier says they will ship in August, which is also when we can expect the NeoBuds Pro to show up at retailers like Amazon.
Edifier’s Indiegogo campaign page claims that the NeoBuds Pro are the “first hi-res ANC earbuds,” but technically, that title belongs to Sony, which introduced the hi-res-capable WF-1000XM4 earlier in 2021. Edifier’s press release makes a more nuanced (and more accurate) statement, in which it says, “the Neobuds Pro are the first hi-res-certified, noise-canceling, truly wireless earphones in the market that boast a dynamic driver, Knowles balanced armature, and LHDC+ACC codec.”
Edifier says the NeoBuds Pro qualify on both fronts, thanks to their hybrid driver configuration and LHDC support. But the slight catch here is that even though LHDC (which stands for Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec) is officially supported by Android 10 or higher, mobile phone companies still have to add LHDC to their handsets in order for folks to be able to use it — and only a few manufacturers have done so. These include Poco, Xiaomi, and Oppo, but the biggest brands selling Android phones in the U.S., like Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and Motorola, do not support LHDC yet. Apple still only supports SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs and shows no signs of adding either LDAC or LHDC support to iOS.
This means that while the NeoBuds Pro may indeed be wireless hi-res-capable, you won’t be able to experience that higher level of audio quality unless you own an LHDC-compatible phone.
Still, if you’d prefer to wait and buy from a retailer like Amazon, the NeoBuds Pro should show up by the end of August.
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Sony SRS-NB10 neckband speaker Debuts as a personal Wearable audio for work and play all day
Sony doesn't want you to ever take off its just-launched Sony SRS-NB10 wireless neckband speaker. Part headphones, part necklace, it's for both your day time work and your after-hours entertainment. You can probably remove it while you sleep.
The lightweight, flexible band houses an upward-firing full range speaker unit aimed right at your ears and your ears alone. There are passive radiators at the rear to help with bass production and Sony states that everything coming out of them will be easily heard, even at low volumes, no matter how noisy your environment
While working from home, it should be handy for video conferencing or taking calls.
You can connect by Bluetooth to two devices at the same and switch between them at the touch of an on-device button. So, you might be listening to music one moment and then step straight into some business chat.
Sony's Precise Voice Pickup technology claims to ensure that your voice will be clear down the line and uninterrupted even if your family or housemates are having a screaming match in the background. There are two directional microphones and some signal processing which aim to reduce feedback and echo, and to maximise call quality.
The 20-hour battery should be enough for the aims of the Sony SRS-NB10, offering plenty of juice for listening to the radio while you cook and for watching films and TV later in the day too.
There's a USB-C port for charging with a 10-minute fast charge that brings an extra hour of use in a pinch. It's also IPX4-certifed to make it splash-proof, and that could come in handy while washing up or when spluttering your tea when you're told how much something is going to cost.
The Sony SRS-NB10 is available to buy from September 2021 and will cost around £150 / $150 (about AU$250).
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Wilson Benesch GMT One System announced as a turntable like no other on the audio market
Wilson Benesch GMT One System announced as a turntable like no other on the audio market
Wilson Benesch has shared further details of a built-from-the-ground-up turntable system it says "sets the new benchmark from which all other analogue replay systems will be judged by".
The GMT One System – named after the reference GMT time zone – is the outcome of the South Yorkshire company's latest collaborative R&D project and has been created primarily to preserve valuable recordings, promising to minimise the impact of transcription and deliver "unprecedented levels of accuracy".
The project was funded with the help of £327,000 of Innovate U.K. funding, won by a Consortium comprised of Sheffield Hallam University (namely Dr F. Al-Naemi, Dr J. Travis and Professor G. Cockerham) and CAAS Audio (helmed by Dr C. Broomfield and N. Broomfield).
Together, they developed a new and "innovative" motor and dedicated poly-phase motor power supply system called The Omega Drive, which patents are being applied for and which comprises many design registrations. Within the motor drive system, poly-phase drive signals are synthesised by a microprocessor-controlled DAC module that controls each critical variable in real-time, while analogue, linear amplifiers then handle the transfer of these synthesised signals.
The GMT One System turntable sits within the R1 rack Wilson Beneach created for it years ago and features its N6 Carbon-reinforced, low-mass Moment tonearm (pictured above), which was developed collaboratively with a team of five engineers at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Sheffield. We believe it to be one of three tonearms that will be made available, alongside the higher-mass, reference Graviton – made from a single piece of carbon fibre tube – and the low-to-medium mass CTi-30.
The GMT has been designed and developed in-house, which is where it will also be manufactured (including the electronics supplied by CAAS Audio). Pricing is yet to be confirmed but, following previous unveilings of prototype models (one at High End Munich back in 2019), Wilson Benesch is hoping to publicly launch the turntable in January. We'll keep an eye out for more details.
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Atacama NeXXus Debuts as the first modular and upgradable speaker stand
Manufactured entirely in the UK, the new NeXXus speaker stands embody everything the firm has learned in the last 30 years. The firm says it has created a product that is flexible enough to grow with your system upgrades.
With a planned choice of heights ranging from 220mm to 1020mm, NeXXus is the first series of Atacama speaker stand to feature tube diameter combinations to match the performance of the supported speakers. There's also a wide range of optional alternative-sized top plates, making NeXXus the most versatile speaker stand in the company's range.
There are three specifications:
Essential uses twin 50.8mm support tubes on each stand, doubling the mass-loading capacity of the previous generation to 15kg. Essential speaker stands can also be updated in future to Hifi-Audio or Pro-Studio specification by purchasing the optional 76.2mm tube packs.
HIFI-Audio are, says Atacama, "designed for the serious hifi enthusiast", featuring a 50.8mm rear and a 76.2mm front steel tube. The mass-loading capacity is increased to 22.5kg per pair, and these can also be upgraded to Pro-Studio by purchasing a 76.2mm tube pack.
Pro-Studio is, as the name suggests, the option most suited for professional studio applications, high-end domestic speakers, or for those who just want to maximise the performance of their favourite speakers. Using twin 76.2mm tubes on each stand, they are supplied with a set of Atacama’s top-of-the-line HLP (High Load Trapezoidal) Gel pads. The mass-loading potential is 30kg.
The Atacama Nexxus series starts at £199 (about AU$350) per pair for the Essential 600, which comes with 130mm x 170mm top plates as standard, but additional sizes can be added at a cost of £30 to £35.
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KBEAR KS1 is better than Moondrop Aria vs IBasso IT00 vs Whizzer Kylin HE01 vs TinHifi T5
KBEAR KS1 is better than Moondrop Aria vs IBasso IT00 vs Whizzer Kylin HE01 vs TinHifi T5
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Moondrop Aria Review An Average to mediocre sounding Earphone that does not compete
Moondrop Aria Review An Average to mediocre sounding Earphone that does not compete.
SONGS USED TO TEST
1 Majid Jordan Waves of Blue
2 Fredo Money Talks
3 Sia Floating Through Space
4 Armin van Buuren Weight Of The World
5 Morray Reflections
6 London Grammar How Does It Feel
7 Nick Jones Deeper Love
8 BRS Kash Kash App
9 Nasri Do With Me What You Want
10 Cally Rhodes Call Me Again
MOVIES USED TO TEST
1 Zack Snyder's Justice League
2 Godzilla vs Kong
3 Nobody
4 The White Tiger
5 The Tomorrow War
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Tanchjim HANA New Version Earphone Debuts as the company's retuned version of its Hana IEM
Tanchjim HANA New Version Earphone Debuts as the company's retuned version of its Hana IEM
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Nintendo Switch OLED Debuts with a 7 inch OLED screen designed for gamers on a budget
Nintendo announced a new model for its mobile console, the Nintendo Switch this morning. Titled the Switch OLED, the console will release on October 8 for $350.
The Switch OLED’s biggest difference from the original Switch model is in its name. The original Switch sported a 6.2 inch LCD screen capable of hitting a max resolution of 720p. The Switch OLED won’t be improving on that handheld resolution, but will instead sport a 7-inch OLED screen.
Contrary to rumors, the Switch OLED will not be capable of displaying extremely high-resolution video while docked, retaining the same 1080p resolution found on the base Switch.
Switch OLED’s specs page doesn’t say that users can expect a longer battery life or better performance for that matter. While the new model will have twice the memory, totaling up to 64GB of internal storage, it seemingly sports the same Nvidia custom Tegra processor CPU/GPU combo.
The Switch OLED will have the same battery life and charging time as the original Switch. In almost every metric, the Switch OLED is the same as the base Switch, save for its screen and internal storage space.
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