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If you’re looking for high-end audio quality without running wires all over your living room, you don’t have too many options. Usually wireless sound suffers from terrible compression and signal loss when you send it through the air. Aperion Audio wants to fix that problem, and promises audiophile-grade sound quality with its new Zona Wireless Surround Sound Speaker System.
Simply plug the speakers into power and plug the wireless transmitter into your audio source, and the speakers automatically sync with one another and stream from the base station. Aperion specifically created the system so setup was simple, and the transmitter even has a USB port on it so you can use the speaker system as a wireless set for your home computer. The speakers have a range of up to 150 feet from the transmitter. If you’re interested, the set is available now for $499 list, and includes two speakers and the wireless transmitter.
Old school DJs everywhere (myself included) are weeping right now: Panasonic, parent company of Technics, announced last week that they would stop production on their long-running series of analog turntables, including the legendary Technics SL-1200 series.
The SL-1200 line of turntables have been a favorite for DJs who spin records for the past 30 years, and Technics had been updating it every couple of years, but according to a statement, Panasonic cites “a decline in demand for these analog products and also the growing difficulty of procuring key analog components necessary to sustain production” as the rationale behind their decision.
It’s no secret that DJs of both the home and club varieties have been for years moving steadily to CDs and digital DJ equipment that require only mp3 players, hard drives, and laptops. For those DJs who still use records primarily for or in addition to digital equipment for their sets, there are always other companies like Stanton and Numark, but it won’t be long before they follow suit. The turntable, unless it’s a USB turntable, may well become a relic of an analog age.
[via SlashGear]
Aperion Audio’s Home Audio Link is already enabling content speaker owners to enjoy the spoils of wireless, but if you’re in the market for a set of bookshelf speakers, the outfit’s Zona system might just fit the bill. Essentially, these monitors combine high-end audio fidelity with the aforementioned 2.4GHz wireless technology, allowing owners to plug a transceiver into a USB source up to 150 feet away and shoot all sorts of sine waves over to their two speakers. Of course, we wouldn’t recommend these to casual listeners given the $499 asking price, but at least that gets you a pair of 20-watt Class D amplifiers, 4.5-inch woven fiberglass woofers, 1-inch soft dome silk tweeters and a feeling of pride that simply cannot be described in mere words. Or so we’re told.
Continue reading Aperion’s Zona wireless bookshelf surround system frees up your sound studio
Aperion’s Zona wireless bookshelf surround system frees up your sound studio originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
If you’ve ever been a DJ, known a DJ, or listened to a DJ, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Technics. Panasonic’s analog turntables are legend among scratchers and spinners. And now they’re gone. More »
So, what’s a company to do when turning the big one-oh? The same thing that it always has, of course! Tivoli Audio’s classic styling has somehow found its way back around again on the 10th anniversary Model 10 AM/FM clock radio, a highly compact music maker with a 7.8-inch cabinet, a pair of independent alarms (which can be set to music or a tone), inbuilt LCD and a menu screen with an adjustable backlight. As you’d expect, the pizazz is coming mostly in the form of exterior color options, with “furniture grade wood” being offered in walnut, cherry, blue, black and red. For the true historians, a Celebration Collection is available in light and dark aluminum wood finishes, with the Superior Collection adding a high gloss Frost White and Chesnut Brown (along with the ‘Lines’ pattern shown here). The auxiliary input allows pretty much any source to be connected, with all functions dictated by a single top-mounted rotary control or a bundled remote. As for pricing? They’re going for $199.99 to $379.99, or precisely 19.2 times more than you ever expected.
Tivoli Audio fails to deviate with Model 10 clock radio, still celebrates Tin anniversary originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
It’s hard to say what exactly Portable Sound Laboratories is going for with its latest iMainGo speaker, but for those who are still shedding tears over Sony’s decision to axe the Walkman cassette player, it’s probably a sight for sore eyes. The iMainGo X portable speaker doubles as a PMP enclosure, with a clear back that still allows for access to on-unit controls. It also packs a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, an internal speaker, a 3.5 millimeter auxiliary input and the ability to daisy-chain with other X devices. At $69.95, it’s not exactly an impulse buy, but at least they’re tossing in a travel bag, wrist strap and carrying case, right?
Continue reading iMainGo X portable speaker doubles as a case, looks like a cassette
iMainGo X portable speaker doubles as a case, looks like a cassette originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Anyone who’s used to wearing the earbuds that come with an iPod or almost any other media player will tell you the first purchase worth making after buying a new device is a decent pair of earbuds or headphones. Too many people crank up the volume in their stock earbuds to try and improve the audio quality of their music and in the end just cause damage to their ears. Future Sonics wants to fight that trend with the new Atrio Special Edition Earphones.
The Atrio earphones feature Future Sonics’ proprietary “Power of 1” audio technology that reportedly delivers superior sound at lower volumes, resulting in a more natural sound that won’t damage your ears but still sounds great. They also feature some passive noise isolation to keep out unwanted sound while you focus on what you want to hear. The Atrio Professional line is available in red, blue, and black, while the Special Edition earphones come in a soft chocolate brown. All models are available now for $229.00 list price.
Speaker company Portable Sound Laboratories has just announced the iMainGo X, a compact case that promises high-end sound quality combined with ultra-portability. It works with the iPhone, iPod, Zune, or nearly any other MP3 player. Since it uses a standard 3.5mm audio jack, you can even use it with a laptop, electric guitar, or more. Its daisy-chain feature lets you connect more iMainGo Xs for a bigger sound.
The idea behind the speaker was to create a compact product with great sound and design at an affordable price. It includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and ports for two headphones and a microphone. I like the styling. Is it a cassette tape, a freaky little skull, or both? Get one for $69.95.
I own a pair of Sennheiser headphones – I wouldn’t game without my trusty PC 350s, but today the company upped the ante by unveiling the full line of new Sennheiser PC Gaming Headphones. Among them are the PC 360, the successor to my PC 350s, a pair of new compact models that feature 7.1-channel Dolby surround sound called the PC 163D and the PC 333D, the latter of which features a right ear-cup with a “DJ hinge,” which DJs and gamers alike will appreciate as it lets you twist the right ear-cup up and away from your ear to mute the headphones quickly.
Also in the new lineup is the PC 330 headphones, which also feature the DJ hinge, but come in a little cheaper and lack the 7.1-channel surround sound. All of the new models feature Sennheiser’s high quality noise isolating microphones and strike a balance between serious audio quality and clear voice quality. The PC 360s cost $299.95 list, the PC 163D and 333D are $209.95 and $239.95 respectively, and the PC 330 is $169.95 retail. All of the new models are available now.
[via SlashGear]
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