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Puro Sound Labs Launches IEM-100 In-Ear Headphones with Volume Locking Function[teaser]The new headphones make safe listening easier. [/teaser] Puro Sound Labs has announced the latest addition to its headphone lineup. The IEM-100 In-Ear Monitors are designed with quality and healthy listening in mind. "Puro Sound is dedicated to helping all music lovers enjoy the best sound quality possible for as long as possible, without damaging their ears." says Puro Sound CEO, Brett Lacey. "With the IEM-100s, now we've brought this outstanding combination to a new, lower price point so that everyone can enjoy great sound at safe listening levels," he added. The IEM-100 In-Ear Monitors feature the company's unique frequency response curve called Puro Balanced Response, which "recreates the natural sound produced at the listening position from high-end speakers in a perfectly tuned listening room." Likewise, the headphones use an ergonomic design for comfort and noise attenuation to block over 92% of ambient noise. Finally, the IEM-100 also incorporates a patented switch that can limit the volume to a safe listening level below 85 dB, helping users avoid hearing damage. The Puro Sound Labs IEM-100 In-Ear Monitors are now available for a suggested retail price of $30. Source: Puro Sound LabsPosted Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 10:30 AM PST by: -
Acer Announces New Iconia One 8 B1-850 HD Tablet, Prices Start at $100[teaser]The affordable tablet is geared toward families. [/teaser] Acer has detailed its latest tablet model. The Iconia One 8 (B1-850) is a budget priced tablet designed for families, children or novice users. The tablet features an 8-inch HD IPS display with 10-point multi-touch. Under the hood, the device is powered by a MediaTek quad-core processor and 1GB DDR3L RAM running Android 5.1. A 5MP rear camera and a 2MP front-facing camera are integrated as well. In addition, the model includes 16GB of internal storage and a microSD slot. Battery life is rated for about nine hours. Likewise, the tablet offers parental controls and a special Kids Center app with a simplified interface and child-friendly content. Acer's Iconia One 8 (B1-850) will be available in February with prices starting at $100. Source: AcerPosted Tue Jan 12, 2016 at 09:45 AM PST by: -
Acer Readies R1 Series, H7 Series, and XR Series Monitors, Prices Start at $130[teaser]The company's latest monitors have been revealed. [/teaser] Last week at CES, Acer detailed the newest additions to its monitor lineup. The upcoming displays include the R1 Series, H7 Series and XR Series. The R1 series features a resolution of 1920x1080 and will be available in 21.5, 23, 23.8, 25, and 27-inch screen sizes. In addition, the models also offer ultra-thin enclosures under 7mm, ZeroFrame designs, Acer Flicker-less and Blue Light Filter technologies, and a 5 to 15 degree adjustable tilt. Meanwhile, the H7 series features a WQHD resolution of 2560 x 1440 and will be available in 25-inch and 27-inch versions. In addition, the monitors include USB Type-C and HDMI 2.0 ports, along with support for 100 percent of the sRGB color gamut. Finally, the 34-inch XR series features an UltraWide QHD resolution of 3440 x 1440 and a 21:9 panel with a 1900R curvature. In addition, the display supports 100 percent of the sRGB color gamut, and includes 6-axis color adjustment, DTS Sound, PIP/PBP and daisy-chain modes, and AMD FreeSync technology. All three series use IPS panels and offer Acer EyeProtect technology. The Acer R1 series will be available in Q1 2016 with prices starting at $130. The H7 series will be available in February with prices starting at $500. US pricing and availability for the XR series have not been announced yet. Source: AcerPosted Mon Jan 11, 2016 at 04:00 PM PST by: -
Monster Spotlights Portable Wireless Speakers with EZ-Play Technology[teaser]Several new portable speakers have been revealed. [/teaser] At CES last week, Monster unveiled its latest wireless audio products. The lineup includes the currently available BTW218 ($120) and BTW249 ($217), and the upcoming Rockin’ Nomad, the Rockin’, Rockin’ Roller 2, and the Rockin’ Roller Mini.. The "Tower of Music" BTW218 is a 20-watt portable speaker with a 2.5" full range, 2 x Tweeters and 2 x passive design. In addition, the model offers 270 degree omni-directional sound, an auxiliary in-port for direct connect playback, a hands-free speaker phone option, and an integrated USB charging port. Meanwhile, the BTW249 is a water-resistant and splash-proof portable speaker with 360-degree, omni-directional sound. In addition, the device offers an auxiliary in-port for direct connect playback, a wall mountable option, and the ability to split into two separate speakers. Both models also include EZ-Play technology and Bluetooth (NFC), enabling wireless music streaming and support for connecting up to eight individual speakers wirelessly at the same time. Monster will also be launching its new Rockin’ wireless speaker line. The IPX4 water and splash resistant collection will include the Rockin’ Nomad, the Rockin’, Rockin’ Roller 2, and the Rockin’ Roller Mini. All three models include Bluetooth support, FM radios, and USB ports for charging mobile devices. Prices have not been announced yet, but the new Rockin’ wireless speaker line will be available in March. Source: MonsterPosted Mon Jan 11, 2016 at 11:45 AM PST by: -
1MORE Releases New Triple Driver In-Ear Monitors, Price Set for $100[teaser]The company has launched its newest flagship headphones. [/teaser] 1MORE has announced the release of its latest audio product. The E1001 Triple Driver In-Ear Monitors use patent pending tech to offer full-frequency audio with low distortion. "With the Triple Drivers, we intend on taking ear/in ear audio technology to the next level," says 1MORE USA President, Dave Russell. "We always side with our consumers, so we will continually be bringing out products that will have spectacular quality and surprising prices," added Russell. The E1001 features a triple driver design with a dynamic driver and dual-balanced armatures in each ear piece, specifically tuned to the frequency range they are most adept at producing. Lower mid-range and bass is handled by the dynamic drivers, while the armatures take on the mid and high frequencies. Aerospace-grade metal diaphragms, a comfortable ergonomic design, and durable cable construction are featured as well. 1MORE's E1001 Triple Driver In-Ear Monitors will be available in mid-January for a suggested retail price of $100. Source: 1MOREPosted Mon Jan 11, 2016 at 11:15 AM PST by: -
CES 2016 Highlights Include a Star Destroyer, Ultra HD Blu-ray, DTS:X Wireless, & More[teaser]We had a deal. [/teaser] Here in Sin City, it's become quite clear to me that CES 2016 has become a playground, one that is full of beautiful displays and damn near wireless everything. As I continue presenting my highlights from the show, I'm still struck by the plethora of amazing home theater options that have been realized here. I can't see it all, but I will be seeing more tomorrow. In the meantime, let's continue to talk about not just amazing things at CES 2016, but real products that to one degree or another ought to come under actual purchase consideration. The MSI Powered Star Destroyer When I mentioned accessible, affordable, and attainable products, I was definitely not talking about the custom laser aluminum Star Destroyer PC case mod. It's currently being shown behind closed doors by MSI, and indeed the hardware that can be spied at its heart is MSI. But this stunning work, which can't be done justice in pictures, is a competitive build from the community. Before anyone gets too worried about what will happen to this dark ark after the show, my understanding is that it will be joining its new owner who elected to purchase via some big private bucks. You could say this is just a case mod, or just another example of fan-made 'Star Wars' stuff, but when you look at each facet up close, and then again move back and see how the lights mark the outline, you'll know that this beast will still be awing in 50 years' time. Not far from the Star Destroyer is a phalanx of kitted out PCs assembled by various important MSI partners like Origin and ABS. They even have a Pro shaking, twin card, silently cooled Vortex. And yet, while MSI had several sexy gaming PCs, notebooks, and PC components spread throughout the room, one item in particular really spoke to me. It was in fact, an All-in-One PC. If you know what an All-in-One is, then you would expect that a decent sized display like 27" had been surrounded by laptop parts and a normal mouse keyboard to make some kind of un-upgradable and ultimately disposable PC with a small foot print. Right -- but not this time. The MSI Gaming 27XT 6QE not only features a 144 khz touch display, but it also has a i7-6700 desktop class processor. What it doesn't have is a built-in video card. Instead, the rear module houses a slot ready for any serious card, even a Titan X. With a card in place, the HDMI in and twin Display Port out become pretty nice bonus features. Thus, this all-in-one has a serious processor, display, upgradable hard drive, RAM, and full-on video card. Its existence is in complete defiance of the all-in-one concept. Mad Catz Tritton Katana HD Wireless & the DTS Demo 2016 Yesterday, I was teasing the 2016 DTS Demo Disc, and today, I got to hear it through the Mad Catz Tritton Katana HD Wireless. We're talking about 'Gravity' in DTS:X uncompressed coming to the wireless base station via an HDMI 1.4a pass-through and transmitted in 2.4Ghz to the Katana HD headset. (DTS:X virtual surround sound that is.) This is a wireless gaming headset, but it's also the only way in the world that I know of to get Blu-ray quality audio to a wireless headset. On top of that, the two driver reproduction has been designed with DTS:X 7.1 surround sound in mind. One big key to this HDMI passthrough -- it works even when the headset is off. The Katana HD set I used isn't quite the final build, so I'm not ready to swear to its audio quality. Having the pre-prod in my hands, however, has me looking towards the March launch with heavy anticipation. The comfort level seemed good, and the headset is frankly nicer to hold and wear than to look at. I have little doubt that this is the wireless headset of 2016 to watch and consider for both gaming and for watching Blu-ray quality movies. Having both the 2016 and 2015 DTS demo discs on-hand was just a wonderful excuse to exercise the Katana HD. SVS Prime Elevation Speaker While I continue to be impressed with the strides being made in wireless home theater, I have no plans to pull up any speaker wires in my main home theater. Today, in concord with a 5.4 channel SVS Ultra set-up, I listened to two Prime Elevation speakers produce their Atmos-sourced signal from high up on the walls to the left and right of the main listening position. With the Prime Elevation, SVS figures that users can choose exactly how to add in the immersive sound formats. High up on the wall is ideal, and loads more practical than directly overhead, but Atmos bounce style is supported in the very same speaker. Much of what makes the Prime Elevation is shared with the Prime Satellite, which I'm on record as loving, but with a different enclosure. The screen even has a magnetic logo to accommodate the speaker's versatile functionality and positioning ability. Here I heard Furiosa attempt to trade gas for a covered escape, fail, and then be left with the other motley war rig occupants to fight their way out. I also heard the pounding heart beat resulting from Bullock and Clooney's extended spacewalk. I can't wait to hear more. Panasonic DMP-UB900 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player & TX-65CZ950 OLED Without even having to exaggerate, I could do an entire CES 2016 highlight article with just what Panasonic has brought to the show. For now, I'll restrict my description to two products, the Ultra HD Blu-ray player, and the TX-65CZ950 OLED 65" 4K HDR display. Have you seen 'Mad Max: Fury Road' in Ultra HD Premium? Well I have, at least part of it. I've been hearing rumors about this presentation since at least last summer. I think it's safe to say that our readers here are fans of the film, and have gotten to know its sights and sounds well. But within that world there is even more to experience visually and that is thanks to HDR playback. I expect side-by-sides of this footage to find its way into places like Best Buy. That is, if the HDR push felt here makes it to the consumer level in full force. Now for the TX-65CZ950. Without trying to put down any other new TV this year, including the lovely DX900, the gently curved, ink black, and luminescent OLED display presents both color and fine detail (even in the show environment) to a standard that will make many prospective buyers want to throw their current display down a flight of stairs. To Be Continued Once more, I must try to get a little rest. Stay tuned for more tales of CES 2016 wonder; did I mention my trip to Aperture Science?Posted Sat Jan 9, 2016 at 02:00 PM PST by: -
CES 2016 Highlights Include The Martian VR, Atmos, Dolby Vision, LG Signature, & More[teaser]This man is over-gasped.[/teaser] As day two of CES 2016 drew to a close, there were still plenty of meetings, demos, and displays on my docket. And of course, even with around the clock convening from last Monday through this Saturday, it's only possible to see a small percentage of what is available at the show. Heck, I haven't yet gotten to experience my 2016 Demo Disc from DTS, which features among other things a DST:X clip from 'Gravity.' With that in mind, I wanted to put together a preliminary list of the standout sights and sounds from CES 2016. Anyone currently in Vegas ought to try to see these things, but fortunately, in many cases, these are products that can come home in the future… for the right price. The LG G6 Signature OLED 4K Smart TV Just a year ago, the idea of experiencing Dolby Vision titles outside of a Dolby demonstration seemed like a far off and nebulous thing. Much has changed, but my experiences with Dolby Vision at AMC Prime, which were capped off in 2015 by 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens,' have only made my desire to get the tech in-house and begin a deeper study more intense. Combine that possibility with LG's OLED display tech and a new era of 4K, (while keeping the price on this planet) and the result is a TV well worthy of highlight. The Martian VR While this might be tricky to come by even here at CES 2016, 'The Martian VR' is well worth some serious effort to experience. What Fox Innovation Lab has done is take 20th Century Fox's 'The Martian' film, and boil it down to a series of vignettes that manage to enthrall the user while staying in the can-do ABBA world of Mark Whatney on Mars. I was able to pilot a Rover, harvest potatoes, shift some plutonium, and even deal with suit punctures (both intentional and unintentional) using both the latest Oculus Rift and Touch combo and the HTC Vive. (Heck, even the Gear VR got in on the action). It's great to see the competing Rift and Vive being used side by side to deliver something worthwhile. Along with the headset, the sound, and the motion controllers, it's important to point out the effectiveness of the D-Box chair that made Mars seem rough and inhospitable. And yes, before you can say "Matt Damon," there was plenty of in-character Damon on-hand to help make this film and book derivative seem worthy of carrying the themes of the story. Creative X-Fi Sonic Carrier In a surprising move, Creative has introduced a two piece home theater solution that manages to not only imitate a proper five channel set-up, but also an Atmos set-up. While everyone with a toe dipped into home theater has heard a front channel solution try (and likely fail) to present a surround sound stage, I guarantee that hearing the X-Fi Sonic Carrier in person, whether with Atmos content or a conventional 5.1 source, will be effective enough to leave you looking around the room for hidden speakers in disguise. The X-Fi Sonic Carrier is something of a halo product, with full aluminum construction and 17 functioning drivers which Creative is terming an 11.2.4 configuration. This piece of kit has its own smart suite of apps that are accessible via remote VPN. The prototype that I used was 550w, but the final version is rated at 800w. One key for this design is calibrating towards that specific couch sized sweet spot to really nail the surround presentation. Unfortunately, my time with the Philips Fidelio Sound Bar was completely overtaken by the environment. I had a better time with the Samsung HW-K950, and I can see users getting very exciting over the wireless rear surround/Atmos speakers. Samsung Ultra HD Blu-ray Player I'm due to spend more time with the Samsung Ultra HD Blu-ray Player later on this week, but getting to handle the hardware briefly, to see Ultra HD Blu-ray in the flesh, should be enough to warrant the attention of any home theater fan. Remember two years ago when 4K was too expensive, and too difficult to deliver? And then even early last year, the UHD Alliance existed on paper and nowhere else, and now there are Ultra HD Premium discs and TVs to enjoy. This player is the bridge, and the key to ensuring 100mb/s. Polk Audio & Definitive Wall of Sound Polk is introducing a new line of marine application ready car audio products and they've had ICON put together a sexy FJ 40 to show them off. But nestled next to vehicle, and next to a lovely Definitive Atmos outlay, is the Polk Audio & Definitive Wall of Sound. The wall includes a full array of home theater speaker options, including some of my favorites from Definitive Technology. This is easily worth a pilgrimage into the Central Hall. PlayStation VR From Sony's London Studio, the latest version of 'The London Heist's interrogation flashback has the player caught in the middle of a jewel robbery. Forced to take cover behind a desk in a plush two level executive office environment, I grabbed the .45 and began eliminating the encircling foes. This is easily the best response from the PS Move controllers that I have seen, and I was able to make headshots while aiming through openings in the desk and around the various pieces of furniture that the enemies were hiding behind. Threading the needle with the gun sight while also being able to sort of manually load magazines made for a great 180 degree experience. More importantly, getting to see so many non-gamers tackle this demo, ducking and shooting with such enthusiasm, goes a heck of a long way towards making the PlayStation VR seem like an eventual success whenever it releases. Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 90 Bang & Olufsen wants people to invite the BeoSound 35 into their living rooms, and indeed it is a work of art. A single piece of brushed aluminum makes up the primary housing and gives the wireless sound bar its excellent three position shape. But it's no shame that a nearby pair of BeoLab 90 speakers stand so prominently over everything in their vicinity. This 8200w, $40K speaker can be used to fill a room, but is meant to focus on a sweet spot. Having two of these exquisite pieces focused on me made for a smooth, powerful sound that will likely standout in my memory for the rest of my life. For those who can indulge, I strongly advise doing so. Klipsch Reference Premiere HD Wireless Coming back to earth, and one of last year's impressive debuts, the Klipsch Reference Premiere HD Wireless is ready to roll. For that full-on 7.2 set-up, I'm not sure that Klipsch can be beat in terms of simplicity and wireless quality. For years, I've been trying to come up with a plan to replace my dad's home theater with something capable, but still easier for him to both use and (equally important) set-up. The plug/sync/done for each speaker alleviates the user from dealing with speaker connections, and from dealing with the challenges (love ya dad) of an AVR. Klipsch is talking about giving buyers new features both through firmware updates and through a new HD Control Center whenever the time is right. As simple as I make it sound, checking it out in person ought to make it seem even simpler. To Be Continued As I stated in the open, this is just a part of what I've seen that is significant. I've got more to see, and even more to write about. CES 2016 has been a joy in Audio, Video, and VR. To be continued.Posted Fri Jan 8, 2016 at 01:15 PM PST by: -
Panasonic Reveals More Details for DMP-UB900 Ultra HD Blu-Ray Player[teaser]Full specs have been detailed for the upcoming Ultra HD Blu-ray player. [/teaser] Though a price and launch date have not been announced yet, Panasonic has offered more details on its first Ultra HD Blu-ray player. The DMP-UB900 supports many premium features. Pansonic's DMP-UB900 will offer playback for Ultra HD Blu-ray discs along with HDR (high dynamic range) and BT.2020 wide color gamut support. In addition, the player features a new 4K High-Precision Chroma Processor which uses "an original high-accuracy multi-tap process to interpolate the decoded 4K (4:2:0) signals of Ultra HD Blu-ray content to 4K (4:4:4)." Likewise, THX certification, Wi-Fi, DLNA, Full HD Blu-ray 3D disc playback, and support for various apps and video services will be included as well. Finally, the player also features twin HDMI & 7.1-channel analogue audio outputs, and high quality audio parts with high-res audio support (including WAV/FLAC/MP3/AAC/WMA formats, DSD and ALAC). The DMP-UB900 will launch later this year. Additional Ultra Blu-ray players from Samsung and Philips have also been announced. Source: PanasonicPosted Fri Jan 8, 2016 at 12:45 PM PST by: -
Creative Technology Announces X-Fi Sonic Carrier Dolby Atmos Soundbar System[teaser]An advanced Dolby Atmos soundbar model has been detailed. [/teaser] Creative Technology has announced its newest audio/video product. The X-Fi Sonic Carrier Dolby Atmos Soundbar features an advanced 11.2.4 speaker configuration along with 4K video capabilities. The soundbar system uses a 17-driver configuration with nine front-firing drivers, two side-firing drivers, four up-firing drivers, and a separate subwoofer with two subwoofer drivers. The front and side firing channels are made up of eight 2.75" aluminum cone midbass drivers and three 0.75" titanium super tweeters. Meanwhile, the up-firing channels consist of two 2.75" aluminum cone drivers and two 0.75" super tweeters. Using Dolby Atmos or Creative's EAX 15.2 Dimensional Audio processing, the up-firing channels are able to bounce sound off of the ceiling to simulate overhead audio. In addition, the device features 7 processors with 14 cores to offer 24-bit 192kHz high resolution audio playback and Android-based video playback that supports 4K 60fps video and services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and HBO Go. Ethernet, HDMI 2.0a, digital optical, analog, micros SD, and USB connections are integrated as well. Finally, the unit also sports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, along with support for a zero-latency speaker-to-speaker link to up to 4 subwoofer units. Creative Technology's X-Fi Sonic Carrier Soundbar with Dolby Atmos is expected to start shipping in September. The soundbar is now available for a special pre-order price of $1,750 for the first 100 units. The pre-order price will increase in stages as more units are ordered, and the final retail price is listed as $5,000. The X-Fi Sonic Carrier now joins previously announced Dolby Atmos soundbars from Yamaha, Samsung, and Philips. Source: Creative TechnologyPosted Fri Jan 8, 2016 at 12:00 PM PST by: -
Hisense Details 2016 4K Ultra HD TV Lineup with HDR, Prices Start at Just $400![teaser]Affordable 4K Ultra HD models with high dynamic range processing have been revealed. [/teaser] Hisense has announced its latest lineup of Ultra HD TVs. The upcoming collection includes the H10, H9, H8, and H7 series. "At Hisense, the customer is central to everything we do – from product concept through post-purchase experience and support," said Jerry Liu, Chief Executive Officer of Hisense Americas. He added, "as an agile and modern brand, our global and local capabilities allow us to execute new technologies faster than competitors. We look forward to advancing our distinctive offering in the U.S. by bringing more TVs to market in 2016 than ever before, while continuing to provide our customers and retail partners with exceptional performance, choice and high-quality technologies at more attainable price points." The flagship 65-inch curved H10 series will feature the company's third generation ULED technology, quantum dots, high dynamic range, expanded colors, and Ultra Black full array local dimming. Meanwhile, the 55-inch curved H9 series will also feature Ultra Black full array local dimming, along with HDR processing -- which is based on the UHD Alliance HDR specs to enable HDR content through proprietary algorithms that remap luminance and color information to the capabilities of the TV. The H8 and H7 series also include HDR processing. In addition, the H8 series features multi-zone local dimming. Here's a rundown of the entire Hisense 2016 Ultra HD TV lineup with specs, prices, and release dates: Hisense H10 Series - 4K Curved Smart ULED™ 3D TV Ultra PureColor™ | Quantum Dot Ultra Smart Peaking™ Ultra Black™ Full Array Local Dimming Dynamic Gamma High Dynamic Range | Wide Color Gamut Built-in Apps Ultra Smooth Motion™ UHD Upscaler dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser 4K Media Player & Receiver 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi | 802.11ac $2,799.99 | 65H10C (Shipping Second Half 2016) Hisense H9 Series - 4K Curved Smart ULED™ TV Ultra Smart Peaking™ Ultra Black ™ Full Array Local Dimming Dynamic Gamma HDR Processing Built-in Apps Ultra Smooth Motion™ UHD Upscaler dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser 4K Media Player & Receiver 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi | 802.11ac $999.99 | 55H9B (Shipping February 2016) Hisense H8 Series - 4K Smart TV HDR Processing Multi-zone Local Dimming Built-in Apps Ultra Smooth Motion™ UHD Upscaler dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser 4K Media Player & Receiver 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi | 802.11ac $699.99 | 55H8C $599.99 | 50H8C ***All sizes shipping April 2016 Hisense H7 Series - 4K Smart TV HDR Processing Built-in Apps Ultra Smooth Motion™ UHD Upscaler dbx-tv® Award Winning Sound App Store & Web Browser 4K Media Player & Receiver 2x2 Dual-Band Wi-Fi | 802.11ac $1,299.00 | 65H7C $649.99 | 55H7C $549.99 | 50H7C $399.99 | 43H7C ***All sizes shipping February 2016 Source: Hisense via Business WirePosted Fri Jan 8, 2016 at 10:30 AM PST by:
