Etymotic EB1 and EB15 earplugs hands-on

Etymotic, a company we’ve seen here at CES and in the past, has developed a pair of earplugs that protect your hearing against things like loud explosions and gunfire. The EB1 and EB15 Electronic Blast PLG Earplugs, retailing for $449 and $499, respectively, are aimed toward buyers such as hunters, musicians and soldiers — folks who are exposed to loud noises and need protection. The analog earpieces are powered by a 312 hearing-aid battery and will last three weeks. There’s no on/off switch — just a high and low gain control. High gain is used for environments that require an amplification and the opposite applies for low gain. In other words, if a soldier is out on the battlefield and needs to hear an enemy inside a house, he’d switch to high gain to generate a louder sound. The difference between the plugs is simple: the EB1 is for people who are going to be around one-off noises and the EB15 are for those who are going to be exposed to prolonged noises. We got a chance to test out the plugs on the loud show floor and we gotta say, the difference between high- and low-gain modes is easily recognizable and we feel like these earplugs will make superb head-hole protectors. Plenty of complicated graphs and numbers in the gallery below.

Etymotic EB1 and EB15 earplugs hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Library of Congress receives 200,000 vintage master recordings from Universal, will stream them online

The US Library of Congress hasn’t been shy about embracing the modern age of digital media, though in this case it’s having to deal with some decidedly lower-fi data storage. Universal Music Group has announced it’s donating over 200,000 master recordings of early 20th century music to the Library, which will be cataloged and digitized — for future safekeeping and in order to be streamed online starting in the spring. It doesn’t seem, however, that the intellectual property rights will be passing with these recordings, as the press release states this agreement continues the Library’s “unprecedented authority to stream commercially owned sound recordings online.” Either way, it’s good to know that the original copies of works by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Billy Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald will reside in the hands of an organization dedicated to their preservation. Full press release follows after the break.

Continue reading Library of Congress receives 200,000 vintage master recordings from Universal, will stream them online

Library of Congress receives 200,000 vintage master recordings from Universal, will stream them online originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skullcandy Fix versus Yurbuds Ironman … battle of the in-ear headphones! (video)

Skullcandy is hitting CES with a characteristically bold claim: its new Fix in-ear headphones are touted as the first to never fall out of your ears, irrespective of the intensity of your physical activity. We’ve matched them up against the Yurbuds Ironman Series, a rather larger pair of in-ear speakers, which makes the exact same assertion. Both companies have patented their particular technology and both claim to be the one and only true solution. Obviously targeting runners, vigorous exercisers and discreet headbangers, they’re priced at $70 for Skullcandy’s Fix and $50 for the Yurbuds Ironmans. We’ve had a pair of each to play around with for a few hours here and sound quality is generally satisfactory on both. The Ironmans are much punchier in the bass range and offer significantly better sound isolation — a lot of external noise leaks in through the Fix’s seal, but the oversized Ironman buds netralize the vast majority of it. Both sets feel comfortable in the ear and shouldn’t cause any grief if you opt to wear them for prolonged jogs outdoors … or impromptu indoor moshing sessions.

Skullcandy Fix versus Yurbuds Ironman … battle of the in-ear headphones! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Misa Digital Kitara hands-on preview (video)

Ambidextrous, capacitive, programmable, open source, five simultaneous touch inputs. The Misa Digital Kitara has quite the laundry list of goodies to boast about, but we couldn’t let it slide through CES without getting our fingers on it and exploring for ourselves. The first thing that strikes you about this guitar-shaped synthesizer is its weight distribution — it’s no heavier than a good electric guitar, but a lot more of that weight is contained within its neck — and the second will inevitably be its lightning-quick response to touch. Misa tells us latency is less than 5 milliseconds and it felt like it.

There are two main modes of operation: a string mode, as seen above, and a ball mode allowing for even more adjustability. Both modes can then be further tweaked by choosing between the red and blue setting, with the former allowing for the performance of hammer-ons. Sliding your finger around the 8-inch touchscreen can do all sorts of wonderful things as well, such as altering pitch, tempo and volume, while those fearful of having no tactile feedback in string mode can apply a clear sheet over the screen that has tiny little ridges where the strings would usually reside. We say “usually,” because you’ll be able to configure the distance between the imaginary strings for yourself. The Kitara runs an open source Linux OS, which will be updatable via USB and is already compatible with Mac, PC and, naturally, Linux machines. It also has more than a hundred sound presets and we’ve been promised the option to customize them and create new ones by playing around with the algorithms in the future.

The black Kitara is made out of good old plastic (but it’s made very well) and costs $849 whereas the silver one you see in the gallery below is constructed out of a single block of aluminum and will set buyers back $2,899. Pre-orders are going on now through Misa Digital’s online store and shipping is set to start on April 3. Video follows below.

Continue reading Misa Digital Kitara hands-on preview (video)

Misa Digital Kitara hands-on preview (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 10:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beamz laser instrument gets upgraded to please hardcore laser rockers and gamers alike

The demonstration of four-player Rock Band Mobile at Samsung’s CES 2011 press conference was pretty slick, but to the folks at Beamz, that kind of music gaming is still so amateur compared to its laser switch-activated jam sessions. That’s because they’ve redesigned their original product to be more living room-friendly thanks to a black paint job and a slimmer profile. They’ve also tried to appeal more to the gaming set by expanding the Beamz song library beyond the original 80 developed by independent artists to include “top hit jams” – aka cover versions of top 40 tracks — and 35 licensed “video songs” from Disney and EMI. So if you’d like to laser thump the bass to Blondie’s Heart of Glass music video, you can. Additionally, the Beamz software has been upgraded to support up to three laser instruments on the same track and recording for a real band experience — though it still only runs on PCs. For $200, we don’t expect these to fly off shelves, but for those who’ve mastered the whammy bar, it’s at least another way to get your faux music-making fix.

Beamz laser instrument gets upgraded to please hardcore laser rockers and gamers alike originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Corsair SP2500 review

Corsair is sending out another raiding party into gaming audio waters today with the introduction of its very first set of speakers, the SP2500. Priced at $249 and boasting 232 watts of floor-shaking power, this jumbo 2.1 package is an unabashed play for PC gamers’ hearts. We’ve spent some quality time with the SP2500s hooked up to our own desktop and can tell you that the company’s boasts about these speakers’ full volume range being usable is no lie. They’re basically designed to be loud … really, really loud. Check out the gallery to see just how massive they are and hop, skip, jump, or leap past the break for our fuller impressions. Spoiler: we’ll be discussing loudness a lot.

Additionally, lest your wallet’s not padded enough or your aural needs not quite so extreme, today sees the debut of Corsair’s more modest SP2200 2.1 set for $99 alongside the introduction of an HS1A gaming headset, the latter being an almost carbon copy of the well received HS1 from last year, save for the replacement of the USB connector with a more conventional analog one.

Continue reading Corsair SP2500 review

Corsair SP2500 review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yeti Pro USB condenser microphone touts 24-bit / 192 kHz digital recording, XLR output, we go hands-on

Who says you have to wait until NAMM for new audio gear? Blue Microphones is on-hand here in Vegas to introduce its newest and Yeti-est USB condenser microphone to date: the Yeti Pro. Picking up where the original Yeti left off, this professionalized version offers a 24-bit / 129kHz digital recording resolution, analog XLR output and a proprietary triple capsule array. We got a chance to fondle a unit a little early and, as expected, it feels decidedly top shelf. Knobs turn smoothly and with just the right resistance, stand is heavy and secure. It’ll ship later this month for $249, and you can catch the entire release just after the break.

Continue reading Yeti Pro USB condenser microphone touts 24-bit / 192 kHz digital recording, XLR output, we go hands-on

Yeti Pro USB condenser microphone touts 24-bit / 192 kHz digital recording, XLR output, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orbitsound T14 soundbar debuts at CES, will take its sweet time getting to market (hands-on)

You’ll be forgiven for being a little misty on who exactly Orbitsound is — the British company has only sold its T12 soundbar in the domestic market — but today it’s reminding everyone of its presence with a brand new product for CES-goers in the T14 you see above. The company’s patented “spatial stereo” sound is still the big selling point, promising a revolutionary aural experience that eliminates the need to occupy the traditional sweet spot for enjoying stereo sound. That’s achieved via six 2.5-inch drivers and a studio-class amp that “senses” surrounding acoustic conditions and calibrates output for best results. A bold claim, to be sure, but you’d expect no less for something that will cost $600 when it becomes Orbitsound’s first global launch later this year. Wireless technology is also put to good use, with the T14 communicating through the air with its accompanying subwoofer and wireless iPod / iPhone dock. We’ll be tracking one down while here in Vegas and trying to figure out just how spaced out its sound really is.

Continue reading Orbitsound T14 soundbar debuts at CES, will take its sweet time getting to market (hands-on)

Orbitsound T14 soundbar debuts at CES, will take its sweet time getting to market (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Misa Digital’s stringless Kitara goes up for pre-order: $849 for a truly unique musical instrument

Remember the Misa Digital Guitar? Well, it’s called the Kitara now, it’s taken on a fresh lick of paint, and it’s ready to be pre-ordered now for an April delivery. The Kitara discards old fashioned strings and has you strumming along on a multitouch display instead, populating the fretboard with a litany of buttons that modify the aural output from your digital input. It has an onboard synthesizer, but the real magic will happen once you plug it into your own audio equipment and start experimenting. Basically, it’s like the Kinect of electronic music — just needs a few inventive souls to harness its potential properly. They’ll need fat wallets too, mind you, as turning this invention into a viable product has meant a lofty $849 starting price in the US. See a video demo and the full Kitara press release after the break.

Continue reading Misa Digital’s stringless Kitara goes up for pre-order: $849 for a truly unique musical instrument

Misa Digital’s stringless Kitara goes up for pre-order: $849 for a truly unique musical instrument originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 04:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Congress’s CALM Act Stifles Ear Blasting TV Commercials

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Don’t you hate it when you are lying on the couch lazily watching a TV show, and then BOOM it turns to a commercial and kicks the volume up to an ear blasting level, which leaves you fumbling for the remote to turn it down. Then, you have to readjust the sound when your show comes back on and again for all the commercial breaks that follow. What a pain!

Well, it looks like Congress agrees that it’s a pain in the butt, as well is very painful and harmful to viewers hearing, because they passed a bill this week to control the volume level of TV advertisements. The bill entitled the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, or very appropriately the CALM Act is currently waiting to approved by President Obama. But, really, why wouldn’t he approve it? Nobody wants to get their ears blown off every time a commercial comes on.

Once the bill is passed, the Federal Communications Commission would be required to adopt industry standards that coordinate ad decibel levels to those of the regular program within one year and the regulation would go into full effect a year after that. This bill would affect all broadcast providers, including cable and satellite. So here’s to hoping that one day soon our lazy TV Sundays will be full “CALM” commercials.  

Via msnbc