Podcasts about 192khz

On this week's show we preview the upcoming WiFi 7 specification and we review the Technics SU-GX70 Network Audio Amplifier Review. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Roku just announced a free NBA channel ESPN's Stand-Alone Streaming Service Will Be Available Through Disney+ Apple TV+ share grows in the US, but still lags behind its competitors LG TV owners should update their firmware, webOS vulnerability found in a few models Other: Ridiculous 150" AWOL Vision Theater Setup Roku patent invents a way to show ads over anything you plug into your TV | Ars Technica A Giga-Sunset For Gigaset IoT Devices | Hackaday WiFi 7 May be What We Have All Been Waiting For Why WiFi 7 is the future of wireless technology As of now, the finalized specifications for WiFi 7 (also known as 802.11be) have not been officially released, as the standard is still in development. However, based on industry discussions and proposals, some expected features of the proposed WiFi 7 specification include: Increased Speeds: WiFi 7 is anticipated to offer even higher data rates than its predecessors, potentially reaching multi-gigabit speeds  Enhanced Efficiency: Improved spectrum efficiency will allowi for better performance in crowded environments and increased capacity for simultaneous connections. Low Latency: WiFi 7 is likely to target reduced latency to support real-time applications such as online gaming, video streaming, and video conferencing with minimal delay. Advanced Security:  Multi-User MIMO: More advanced Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology  Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA): The use of OFDMA will enhance spectral efficiency and enable better resource allocation for various types of traffic. Improved Beamforming: Enhanced beamforming techniques will optimize signal transmission and reception, improving network coverage and reliability. Wider Spectrum Utilization: WiFi 7 may explore the use of new frequency bands or spectrum sharing techniques to accommodate more devices and applications and deliver better performance. IoT Optimization: Features tailored for Internet of Things (IoT) devices to support the increasing number of connected devices and diverse IoT applications. Power Efficiency Enhancements: Efforts to improve power efficiency to extend battery life in wireless devices and reduce energy consumption overall. It's important to note that these features are based on expectations and early proposals for WiFi 7. The final specifications may vary as the standard progresses through the development and approval process. Technics SU-GX70  Network Audio Amplifier Review Listening to music takes three elements, the music itself, the speakers, and the amplification. If one of these elements is not up to the task, your entire experience will be less than desired. Great speakers take high quality audio to even higher levels. The converse is also true, poor quality audio files will sound even worse.  There is a middle layer that we don't talk about as much, and that's the amplification. Back in the 70's all we cared about were watts! The more, the better! As a teenager I did not appreciate that not all power is created equal. Smart amplifier design can make your music sound even better and that's what the engineers at Technics have done with the SU-GX70 Network Audio Amplifier (MSRP $1999.95). The GX70 is a box that has something for everyone. First and foremost it's a digital amplifier that outputs a total of 80 Watts into 8 ohms and supports a ton of physical connections including: Line level x2, phono, HDMI ARC, optical x2, coaxial, USB Type A, USB Type B. Supporting HDMI ARC allows you to connect your own speakers as a soundbar alternative.   As far as wireless connection goes, you have Wi-fi, ethernet, Bluetooth, Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2. DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) and  FM. You can also get access to Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz through the app.  Hi Res is supported via the USB port with a DAC that can decode 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD512 files and it can handle MQA streams from Tidal. This is one versatile integrated amp!! Setup To connect the GX70 to the network you use the Apple Home (or Google Home) app. Which seemed odd to us since there is a remote control and display screen. But once you are connected to your network you can use the Technics Audio Center App to control the system. Actually, the only reason you would need the app is if you want to send MQA streams to the amp. All the radio stations that are available through the app are available on your phone or tablet via apps source apps like iHeart Radio. You can tweak the amp to dial it in for your speakers through a calibration on the amp. But it sounded really good right out of the box.  We'll give it an 8 out of 10 for setup, knocking off two points because you have to use Apple/Google Home to get it connected to your network. The aforementioned remote is a better way to use and interact with the amp. You pretty much just need to connect your speakers and you are good to go. Sound To test the audio we turned to the HT Guys Listener Playlist (Playlist available on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify)  and listened via Airplay2, Bluetooth, and USB. All the music was played in the highest fidelity available on the platform. Both Airplay and Bluetooth lowered quality to fit within the limits of the protocol. It should be noted that the GX70 does not support AptX.  We'll discuss Airplay and Bluetooth together and sum it up by saying the quality was good. The only thing we'll say is that these formats work well for convenience without sacrificing too much quality. When listening to music while doing something else, this is a nice feature. But for really listening to music we used the USB connection. Once connected to Listened to Steely Dan, Deacon Blues (24 bit 192kHz) across three different speakers and found that the GX70 helped capture nuances in the music that we had never heard before. The sound was clean and precise. In Stevie Ray Vaughan's Tin Pan Alley his voice was so smooth and raspy but in a good way! It's like the amp gave it more power and weight! But can it make your walls rattle? You would think at 80W total that this was not a possibility and depending on your speakers it's not. If you have power hungry speakers they will push the amp to its limits. However, if you have efficient  speakers, it will fill the room with sound. More than we were expecting. For that we turned to UFO Strangers in the Night Live, which is an excellent album from the 1970's, but the recording wasn't the best. We'll say this, the GX70 attached to Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1s, which are not extremely efficient speakers, got loud enough to where family members asked to turn down the music! Conclusion What we liked A plethora of input sources (both wired and wireless)  Build Quality is first rate LCD and Remote make it easy to use and setup Outstanding detailed sound quality Needs Improvement Two app setup Would like to see Aptx for high quality audio from mobile devices. Needs a tad more power The GX70 offers an elevated listening experience that brings music to life with clarity, depth, and immersive soundstaging making it a top choice for those who are serious about their music.

「FX-AUDIO-、192kHz/24bitのUSB入力に対応したDAコンバーター「DAC-SQ5J+」」　ノースフラットジャパンは、レシーバーICの強化で最大192kHz/24bitのUSB入力に対応したFX-AUDIO-のDAコンバーター「DAC-SQ5J+」を、本日7月20日21時から発売する。価格は12,480円（税込）。

Welcome back from your Holiday break! This week we have a review of the SVS Soundbase Pro. A powerful and compact integrated amplifier that should be on any music lover's short list of products to buy in 2023. CES started this week but due to the timing of our show schedule we'll have that for you next week. We also have a backlog of your emails as well as the week's news. News: YouTube Wins Rights to NFL Sunday Ticket LG's 2023 OLED TVs: smarter, lighter, and significantly brighter Roku does the obvious thing and announces its own TV line SVS Prime Wireless Pro SoundBase A few weeks ago we had Gary Yacoubian and Nick Brown of SVS on the show talking about their new Wireless Pro line of products. The Prime Wireless Pro Powered Speakers are a feature rich set of powered speakers which are available for $899.99 for the pair. The Prime Wireless Pro Soundbase is a smart wireless integrated amplifier that will add connectivity options to your older beloved speakers that were never dreamed of when they were originally built.  Ara owned the original version of the Soundbase for years and was extremely satisfied with sound but it lacked an important feature for him, Apple Airplay 2 support. The new Soundbase Pro fixed that issue and added many more features making the upgrade no-brainer. The original Soundbase cost $500, the new version costs $200 more. You may be asking, is the new Pro worth $200 more? The answer is yes! And we'll tell you why.  The full specs are: Amplifier Specs 300 Watt (150 watts x 2) Class-D Power Amp Acoustic Data Rated Bandwidth: 10Hz-20kHz (±1 dB) SN Ratio: 90dB @1V input, 2 x 150W output Power Amp: 300 watts RMS (150 watts x 2 into 4ohm) Input Specs HDMI audio input. Supports ARC and eARC Left/Right RCA Input: Input Impedance: 20K 3.5mm Aux Input: Input Impedance: 20K Toslink Optical Input: S/PDIF receiver works at a wide range of sampling frequencies up to 96kHz Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC and aptX 6 front panel presets for one-touch access to music services and playlists Ethernet USB service port also for powering wireless accessories (See SoundPath Wireless Audio Adapter) 3.5mm IR control input Wireless Streaming Options DTS Play-Fi: Lossless 192kHz/24-bit via Critical Listening Mode over WiFi Apple Airplay 2 for iPhones and iOS devices, Chromecast for Android Phones and Devices: CD Quality Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC and aptX Spotify Connect WiFi Connectivity for Wireless Streaming - Native control via Apple Airplay 2 for iPhone and iOS, Spotify Connect, & Google Chromecast for Android Phones and Devices App-Based Control over WiFi - Smartphone, tablet, or PC control with the DTS Play-Fi app 6 Custom Presets - 6 custom preset buttons on the front panel and remote provide instant access to your favorite podcast, playlist, streaming station, or other content, with a single touch. Voice Control - Alexa, Siri, and Google voice commands via supported devices Setup Like the previous Sounbase, setup was simple. The first thing to do was get the unit onto your wifi and for that you need to download and use the DTS Play-Fi app. You will need to use this app if you want to listen to your music at 192kHz/24-bit for lossless streaming. More on that in a bit. You can also pair your devices via Bluetooth if you choose. Our primary listening mode was wifi for Airplay 2 and DTS Play Fi. We did, however, connect our MacBook Pro to the Sounbase via Bluetooth so we could listen via AAC just for comparison. Unfortunately Apple removed a developer option to allow you to connect via AptX so we were not able to evaluate this codec.  You can also use an RCA, 3.5mm, HDMI (Arc and eARC) or Toslink Optical to connect external devices to the SoundBase. There is also a Subwoofer output in case you want to connect a subwoofer. We could not find at what frequency the amp is crossed over for the subwoofer. The SoundBase also has an Ethernet jack for a hardwired connection to your network and a USB port for firmware upgrades. The other thing worth noting is that the Soundbase Pro is small! It roughly measures 12X12X6 inches. It can fit anywhere. Also new for the Pro is a 3.15” wide display that will show you what is playing should you feel the need to walk up to it and look. The display lights can be dimmed or turned off making the front panel completely black. A great feature if you are using the amp to power some speakers for your TV. Performance Our listening was performed on CSS Audio Criton 2D speakers that Ara built a while back. They have great frequency response and good tight bass. We primarily listened to Heart Like a Truck by Lainey Wilson and Unholy by Sam Smith and Kim Petras (warning you won't get this song out of your head when you hear it!). We also mixed in other songs that we are very familiar with for specific segments that we thought would push the Soundbase.   What can we say? We have come to expect high quality sound from SVS and the new Soundbase Pro delivers! It takes everything we loved about the original Soundbase and adds the features we were clambering for in the original.  The amplifier has plenty of power and it was put to the test. Ara's neighbors can attest to that. It's probably more power than you will need but hey, it's always good to have power. They will drive anything from desktop to tower speakers with ease. Sound quality is excellent, as good as any two channel amp that we have used. Details come alive and are bright. One complaint we had was there is no way to adjust the treble. With my speakers the brightness of the sound was exaggerated at times.  Then it was time to have fun with test tones. Many amps can go low but can they rattle walls? This one can! To the point where Ara's wife walked into the room asking if he was trying to shake things off of the shelves in the room next door. Speakers matter here so your results will vary depending on whether your speakers can handle low frequencies. Our testing went down to 20 hertz where it pushed the Criton 2Ds to its limits. One complaint we had about the original Soundbase was a lack of Remote Control. SVS heard us and now includes a remote that allows you to select inputs, presets and control the volume from the comfort of your seat.  If you want to make use of the Critical Listening (192kHz/24-bit lossless streaming) mode you need to download the DTS Play-Fi app which is easy enough. But that's where the ease stops. The DTS app is cumbersome to use and not intuitive. But once you figure it out you can activate the Critical Listening mode by tapping the Hi-Res button and listen in Hi-Res.  After listening via wifi and Airplay2 we switched over to Tidal. And the best way to describe the experience was that it sounded “louder and more defined”. It's not like we could hear frequencies that we couldn't before. Its more like it sounded clearer and more detailed with a fuller bass. You could feel the kick drum in your chest. We could feel this with AAC as well but it's hard to explain, the Hi-Res just seemed to have a more pronounced impact.  We really wish we didn't need a Tidal subscription and could listen to Hi-Res via Apple Music! Conclusion The new Soundbase Pro takes everything we loved about the original and then adds a bunch of great features. After spending time with it, you'll wonder how SVS packed all these features into a small yet powerful amp! If you are really into music you probably have some speakers that you really love. Odds are they are not wireless though. The SVS Prime Wireless SoundBase brings those speakers into the connected era with enough power to drive anything from bookshelf to towers. This is a great addition to any music lover's setup. But hey, you don't have to believe us. SVS offers a 45 day risk free in home trial with free shipping both ways. We will wager that if you try it you won't ship it back!  

2526 風とあそぶ：） 20221117THU 録音♪ オープンリールから、32 bit float/192kHzまでをふりかえりつつ：） 気合・気愛で555!!! アラキ：） KOJI ARAKI Art Works Copyright KOJI ARAKI Art Works All Rights Reserve --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kojiarakiartworks/message

This week we take an extended look at an email from Chris who is paying for two sports packages but still can't watch all his team's games. Is there a VPN solution? Did you know you can get Sunday Ticket from DirecTV without a Satellite? There are some limitations but we have the info. Finally we have a brief review of two portable amplifiers from Fosi Audio that pack a huge punch. All that plus your emails and the week's news! News: Netflix Estimates Ad-Supported Tier Will Reach 40 Million Viewers by Late 2023 ELAC Announces Powered Bookshelf Speakers With HDMI ARC Platin Audio's wireless (WiSA) home theater speaker system now handles Dolby Atmos Other: Commando - 'Let off some steam Bennett' PREDATOR  - STICK AROUND - KNIFE THROW VPN for dummies I use Xfinity for cable & internet service in Central PA but also have an apartment in Central NC with ATT internet.  Back home, if I subscribe to MLB.tv, I can watch all games except for the Pirates and Phillies.  My team is the Orioles.   In Central NC, the Orioles are blacked out even though the stadium is 5.5 hours away (it's only 3 hours from Central PA).  Figure that one out... Your show on 9/16 talked about Sling Box and VPNs.   I don't mind paying for a service but when you are paying (sometimes multiple times), it is frustrating to not get what you pay for. (((Ara, you'd appreciate this-I am a Washington Capitals fan.  I pay for the NHL Network, I subscribe to the ESPN+, and when I go to a youth hockey tournament, I cannot use my Roku in the hotel to watch a Caps game that night because it's on the NHL Network...which I pay for back home!))) There are alot of YouTube videos about VPNs but a simple questions is: what is the best way to use my laptop in Central NC and make it think I am in Central PA?  Xfinity will only let you watch certain "To Go" channels if you are on your home wifi.  NHL Network is one of them.  I can record the event but then only watch it after it completes the recording. Thanks guys. Chris Sunday Ticket without Satellite NFL Sunday Ticket Offer Details: NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV service is only available to non-DIRECTV customers who live in select multi-dwelling unit buildings (apartments, condos, etc.,) nationwide in the U.S. where DIRECTV service is not available Live in select areas within various metropolitan cities  Live in a residence that has been verified as unable to receive DIRECTV satellite TV service due to obstructions blocking access to satellite signals  Actively or previously enrolled college students  NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV U only available to students actively enrolled or previously enrolled within the last 18 months in post-secondary educational institutions from the date of purchase.  NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV consists of all out-of-market Sunday regular-season NFL games (based on customer's device location) broadcast on FOX and CBS.  Games broadcast by your local FOX or CBS affiliate will not be available in NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV.  Access via NFL SUNDAY TICKET App to only one game at a time based on device location. If you qualify, here are the packages and prices: NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV TO GO - $69.49 for four months or $277.96 INCLUDES Enjoy every live out-of-market game every Sunday afternoon.(Eligibility restrictions and other conditions apply) Watch on your compatible tablet, smartphone, laptop, or connected device like a game console Get real-time stats and scores Customize your Game Mix to watch up to 4 games of your choice on one screen Track up to 20 of your favorite players with Player Tracker Short Cuts: see whole games, commercial free, in 30 minutes NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV MAX - $93.49 for four months or $373.96 INCLUDES Enjoy every out-of-market NFL game LIVE, every Sunday(select int'l games excluded) Watch on your compatible tablet, smartphone, laptop, or connected device like a game console Get real-time stats and scores Customize your Game Mix to watch up to 4 games of your choice on one screen Track up to 20 of your favorite players with Player Tracker Short Cuts: see whole games, commercial free, in 30 minutes RED ZONE CHANNEL® DIRECTV FANTASY ZONE CHANNEL® Add NFL+ PREMIUM $48.00 Exclusive offer! Add NFL+ Premium to this NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV package for $48.00 (currently retails for $79.99). Enjoy replays of NFL games all season long and more Payment for MAX + NFL+ Premium must be made in full at checkout. Fosi Audio Digital Amplifies  I was looking for a new amplifier to test my speakers more in different rooms of my house. So the amp needed to be small, high quality, and inexpensive. My searching around the internet landed me on Fosi. A company I had never heard of. From the company's web site: Audio equipment company with a focus on HiFi sound Fosi Audio was founded in 2017 by a team of engineers and music lovers with the objective of delivering high-quality audio products. After years of research and development, we have mastered the art of miniaturizing HiFi sound and bringing it to any space, big or small. Fosi Audio's range of products includes speakers, amplifiers, headphones, turntables, and other hi-end audio equipment. Our goal is to make audiophile-grade sound accessible to everyone and to further the advancement of music technology. I first bought the BT20A ($75 direct from Fosi) which sounded really good.  Features: Frequency Range: 20Hz - 20kHz (±1 dB) Output power: 100W + 100W Input mode: Bluetooth and Analog Bluetooth 5.0 core, up to 33ft connection range Size Product Size: 130 x 100 x 35mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 1.4 inches) Product Weight: 700g (1.5 lbs) The device worked great and connected instantly.The sound was quite good and would work for any desktop or temporary use outdoors. This was just the thing I needed for verifying that any speaker I build passes audio. But being so impressed with how good they sounded without Hi-Res or even AptX I looked into their higher quality amp, the  DA2120C ($160 direct from Fosi)  The 2120 is far more capable but only 80W a channel, which is imperceptible even at max volume. It takes twice the wattage to hear 3dB difference at the ear.  Features: Frequency Range: 20Hz - 20kHz (±1 dB) Size: 180 x 130 x38mm (7x5x1.5 inches) USB Chip: Cmedia CM6642 SUPPORT 24bit/192Khz Bluetooth Chip: Qualcomm QCC3031 Bluetooth 5.0 chip supports aptX, aptX-HD, SBC, AAC Output Power: 2 × 80W at 10% THD+N Into 8 Ω The main reason I decided to upgrade is that I want to put the highest quality audio through my speakers to determine their quality. The 2120 gives me a lot of connection options, Bluetooth, USB, optical, coaxial, and RCA. There is also a remote that you can use to select the inputs, switch modes, adjust the volume, bass, treble and EQ to dial in your sound. The sound was outstanding. Listening to my favorites sounded as good as they did when using my SVS amp. Deep tight bass and bright highs. I find my latest speakers are a bit brighter than my typical JBL 2500 makeover. That is due to the fact that I ended up using a Dayton Audio 1 inch Titanium tweeter instead of the ones that come with the 2500. There is a video that goes along with this on our Youtube channel but we'll link it here as well.  In my comparison of 24bit 192Khz audio vs what was being sent via AptX Bluetooth, I couldn't hear a difference. As much as I tried I just couldn't. It could be my ears, the speakers, or even the recording. But it did sound really good. So good that it may replace my SVS amp as my main amp for my office.  If you are looking for a small portable amp check out the Fosi Audio BT20A and the DA2120C you will thank me! For our listeners who listen to the end of the show. We are giving away the BT20A. Send an email to htguys@htguys.com with Bluetooth Amp in the subject line. We'll pick a winner at random and announce it on next week's show. We won't mention this anywhere else so entries will be small.  Contest open to anyone with a US mailing address. Entries must be received by Wed October 28th at Noon Pacific Time. Void where prohibited. 

This week I share the details about my podcasting gear set. The audio interface that I have been using is the Behringer U-PHORIA UMC404HD. Later I'm joined by the hosts of Elevator Talks & Random Thoughts podcast. If you're putting together a home studio, the Behringer U-Phoria UMC404 USB 2.0 audio interface is worth a look. With 4 inputs and 4 outputs, the U-Phoria UMC404 is an excellent choice if you're a self-recording musician with a minimum of outboard gear. Add four remarkably pure, world-class MIDAS-designed mic pres and studio-grade 24-bit/192kHz converters to the mix, and you've got yourself a complete studio-in-a-box - right on your desktop. Make no mistake, the Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD USB 2.0 audio interface is packed with value! Buy on Sweetwater Jillian and Michaela from the podcast Elevator Talks & Random Thoughts. We talked about movies, Netflix shows, and how their podcasting journey has been. It was a really fun interview and we all had a great time. Thanks once again for stopping by. The Kris and Kristine Show Podtastic Audio podtasticaudio@gmail.com https://anchor.fm/etart https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UMC404HD--behringer-u-phoria-umc404hd-usb-audio-interface

ポッドキャスト収録のお悩みについて話しました。 SHURE ダイナミックマイク ボーカル用 XLR・フォーンケーブル付属 PGA48-XLR https://amzn.to/3wStGUf Steinberg USB2.0 24bit/192kHz オーディオインターフェース UR12 https://amzn.to/3sdiBtB Rogue Amoeba | Audio Hijack: Record Any Audio on MacOS https://rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack/ ドングリFM公式サイト https://donguri.fm/ #dongurifm へのお便りはこちら https://goo.gl/forms/WlhFWl5MKqpp2VXQ2 裏ドングリFM https://community.camp-fire.jp/projects/view/206637 https://donguri.fm/circle

If loudspeakers can only reproduce 20kHz why is it necessary to have digital audio the goes up to 192kHz?

Hypocrites created by Daniel Yap. "In Autodox, the hypocrite hordes of hell chant a verse while they trod upon Caiaphas. Is the chant what it appears to be — cultic gibberish — or does it conceal a deeper truth about how we wind up as hypocrites? "I took Dante's lead on hypocrisy in religion, and made a concept piece based on the scene in his writing. I chose to explore hypocrisy that is unaware of its self-delusion. Its fault is not in conscious self-contradiction, but rather a reluctance to look itself full in the mirror and run the risk of discovering flaw and mistake. It is satisfied with its moral performance, and doesn't consider inconsistencies or impure motives. I posited that this stems from some need to preserve a perfect self-image.  "The bulk of pre-production was examining this concept. I wondered how to express the idea of facade and hidden self-obsession and wrote down lines I imagined the consummate hypocrite might say to himself.  The most concise and potent one was, "I'm so thankful I'm not like you."  "Jesus used the same sentiment to describe the hypocritical Pharisee in Luke 18:11: The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.' "Then I recalled the controversy surrounding backmasking and rock music in the '90s. Concerned Christians were alleging satanic lyrics were lying buried in the songs of popular bands. You only had to play the tracks backwards to hear the smeary, scandalous proclamations.  "Backmasking would make an interesting method of producing facade and hiddenness. I though to place the forward sound in ironic tension with the backward sound. "I started by recording 6 takes of myself singing choir-boy style "I thank God I am not like you" with a Sanken CUX-100K in 24/192kHz. The tune was not meticulously crafted but quickly improvised and then iterated upon. Earlier versions featured overly sweet intervals.  "Then I experimented with playing back the recording at 96kHz and 48kHz. The CUX-100K preserved the high-frequency detail. I was going for that monstrous, ritualistic vocal sound that comes from drastic octave bombing, but didn't want it too woolly and indistinct.   "96kHz did the trick. One octave down. Then I reversed it. Now, I had an evil-sounding clip which when flipped back forwards and raised an octave was the recording of a devout, deluded choir boy thanking God for the wrong thing. Next, I exported the 6 takes alternately panned hard left and right. I wanted to re-amp the sung lines with my OKM binaural microphones while standing at various distances from my spare KRKs, deployed to the living room for this occasion.  "I'd not done this before, but wanted to try creating a sense of motion and to see if I could generate depth by standing 1m, then 2m, then 3m away from the speakers. I also walked towards, away, and in-between the speakers. I wanted a "cloud" of my voices, and to use the variance in spatial characteristics to generate versions of the vocal takes so it wouldn't sound like just thrice-doubled vocals. It's a promising technique, but I didn't have the luxury to spend more time refining it.  "Then I took the binaural recordings and edited them in an effort to create a horde of hypocrites, singing this infernal chant. The idea came later to just pan the voices from left to right because I didn't think the vocal part generation technique resulted in a truly natural sounding group of 6.  "This is a bit of a shame because there were some subtle spatial nuances that the binaural re-amp / layer approach generated. Nevertheless, I felt this would create a more obvious sense of movement in the story for the listener. Caiaphas' shrieks are actually downpitched samples of an angry porcine animal. I hope nobody is offended by this choice.  "I would've recorded and layered the footsteps, cloth and movement foley but ran out of time and gas. In Inferno, the hypocrites wear robes that glitter on the outside but are lined with lead." Part of the Inferno project to imagine and compose the sounds of Dante’s Hell, marking the 700th anniversary of The Divine Comedy. To find out more, visit http://www.citiesandmemory.com/inferno

Amazon will launch a new location-tracking mesh network system later this year Amazon is preparing to launch an ambitious networking and location system later this year under the name Amazon Sidewalk. Sidewalk will link smart home devices and other Amazon products using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), connecting beyond the range of a standard Wi-Fi network. Meant to be operated at the scale of a neighborhood, Sidewalk would turn devices like smart floodlights and home assistants into network bridges, passing along security updates and commands from a central Wi-Fi hub. In addition to transmitting software, the signals allow Sidewalk to triangulate a device's approximate location based on its contacts with other Sidewalk-enabled devices. The system will be built into the Echo, and Tile has also joined the project as the first third-party platform to support the system. Amazon plans to add Ring cameras to the network later, notifying device owners directly when Sidewalk is available to use. A full list of Sidewalk-compatible devices is available on the project landing page. More info here... Hearing Loss and Hi Res Audio A good friend of ours sent us a link to a Youtube video called “Hearing Loss at Age”. This video tries to explain the physical degradation of hearing as we age. The video was produced by Hans Beekhuyzen a Dutch Hifi expert and member of the Audio Engineering Society. The video is a little technical but essentially says that as we age we can not hear the upper octave of the ten octaves between 20 Hertz to 20kHz. That tenth octave starts at 16.7kHz. He says not worry because we still hear 90% of the sound spectrum. So why do we need Hi Res files? We'll get to that. He mentions Nyquist in this video to discuss sampling. This is where the video gets quite technical. He has another video that goes into much more detail about this subject  (The truth about Nyquist and why 192 kHz does make sense).  What is Nyquist?  It is named after electronic engineer Harry Nyquist. Nyquist's theorem states that a periodic signal must be sampled at more than twice the highest frequency component of the signal. In practice, because of the finite time available, a sample rate somewhat higher than this is necessary. Since we want to sample sound up to 20Khz, for those of us lucky enough to hear sound at that frequency, the sample rate should be no lower than 40Khz. Just for completeness, sampling is a representation of sound recorded in, or converted into, digital form. In digital audio, the sound wave of the audio signal is encoded as numerical samples in a continuous sequence. For example, in CD audio, samples are taken 44100 times per second each with 16 bit sample depth. We'll cover sample depth in a bit If a CD is sampled at 44.1Khz. That means it can recreate frequencies up to 22.05Khz, far above what people can hear! So we're all good right? Again why do I need Hi Res Files? Sampling Errors One of the issues with sampling is that it's not perfect and there are errors. This is where the video lost me because I am not an electrical engineer. We'll try to sum it up here. There is an error that is induced because of the sampling rate and that error can show up in the audio spectrum that you can hear. Filtering can reduce this but that too affects the sound as well. The solution is that you can sample at a higher frequency. Hi res files are sampled at 192Khz. That means technically it is capable of capturing frequencies up to 96Khz which is way above what any human can hear. However, there is a benefit in that the errors that are created fall outside what the human can hear. Thus leaving you with a more pure recording of the original signal. There is a price to be paid for this, the file size is much bigger.  Bit Depth The other element to this discussion is bit depth. The bits store the amplitude of the sound wave. CDs use 16 bits which equate to 65536 possible values. Hi res files use 24 bits or 1,6777,216 possible values. If you think visually, consider a 16 bit color monitor vs a 24 bit color monitor. The 24 bit monitor will be able to display much finer color gradations and be less blocky. The audio version is that the sound will have finer detail. And it will be at ALL frequencies, more importantly, the ones us old people can actually hear. This to us is the best argument that can be made for Hi res files that we can see… or hear. At least mathematically.  Does it Matter? Only you can be the judge of that. It really depends on the style of music you listen to. Is there subtlety in the frequencies that you can hear or is it just loud? Do you want to pay the higher price for hi res audio? Do you have enough storage for the files? Can your equipment play the music? Are you listening on good equipment, especially speakers? By the way, good equipment doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. But it will cost more than a few hundred dollars.  What environment are you listening in?  To some there is no other way to enjoy music. To others it doesn't even matter. To us, it's in the middle. Sometimes it doesn't matter but on Friday night with a good bourbon it can be magical.  

Hello and welcome to podcast vs player episode 179, this week - Thoughts on the Square Enix Avengers game, Star Trek Lower Decks and more!This weeks episode is brought to you by Sudotack, and their new ST900 cardioid condensor microphone, that offers zero latency monitoring, a one touch mute button, and a sampling rate of 192kHz. Check out www.podcastvsplayer.com/review to see our full length review once it goes live.

On today's show we ask the question whether a $300 toaster with a touchscreen is worth buying.  We take a look at Klipsch's Soundbar killer the Fives and we give you a rundown of the Alexa Live 2020 conference. All that plus your emails and news! The Revolution R180 Toaster has a touchscreen. It's ridiculous and I love it Refrigerators, countertop ovens, microwaves and even multicookers all adopted touchscreen displays in the wake of the birth of the smart home. Now there's a toaster with a touchscreen. This won't be the first time I question the idea of putting a touchscreen on an appliance, and it likely won't be the last.  Full article here... LIKE Fast toasting Sleek design East to customize cooking DON'T LIKE No Wi-Fi or connected smarts Expensive Bill S - I see no reason to have a screen on a toaster at all

Listen To Your Audio With The Detail It Deserves!

Listen To Your Audio With The Detail It Deserves!

Introducing the S880DB the first Hi-Res Audio certified speakers from Edifier. These speakers are compact desktop bookshelf speakers designed to connect to computers, gaming consoles, and all types of devices. Achieve a full range of audio from the S880DB bookshelf speakers. These bookshelf speakers come with a wireless remote for controlling sound from any point of the room including from the comfort of your own couch or chair.The S880DB has a range of inputs including RCA, AUX, USB, optical, coaxial, and Bluetooth. The USB, optical and coaxial inputs have a sample signal rate of up to 192kHz. Adjust volume, bass, and treble controls with knobs located on the back of the speaker with a built-in amplifier. Stream your music wirelessly to the S880DB using Bluetooth v4.1 technology. Connect your laptop, tablet or phone using Bluetooth and get the party started from your playlist.Need more bass bumps? The S880DB uses a 3.75-inch metal diaphragm mid-range bass speaker unit. The aluminum frame allows for higher power and minimal vibration for crossover. This leads to exceptional sharp dynamics for the S880DB. This 19mm dome treble tweeter driver unit is made from a highly polished titanium-laminate. The S880DB provides a highly sensitive and optimal resolution with a bright and clean performance.The XMOS processor used is to add the addition of USB audio as an option. Connect your speakers to your computer via USB. USB memory sticks are not supported. Eliminate the need for an external amplifier or receiver with the help of the built-in amplifier. Connect directly to your source with these speakers.

SVS Prime Wireless SoundBase Ever since Ara has begun building speakers he has been searching for ways to drive them. He has tried small desktop amplifiers with some real success. His current go to is the AudioEngine N22 (MSRP $199) desktop amplifier 40W a channel. That works great for most desktop and some booksehelf setups. If you wanted to go wireless you had to add the Audio Engine B1 (MSRP $189) Bluetooth receiver. This did add AptX, including AptX HD support  which allowed for high quality listening. The cost of the two totaled almost $400 and was cumbersome to “assemble”. Then Ara saw that SVS had release the Prime Wireless SoundBase for $499.99. About a $100 more expensive than his current solution. The SoundBase is 150W a channel and has a rated bandwidth of 10Hz to 20kHz. Much more powerful and a little more on the low end of the audio spectrum. But the big thing for use is that it's all in one unit. No need for separate amp and wireless adapter. The full specs are:   SN Ratio: 90dB @1V input, 2 x 150W output Left/Right RCA Input 3.5mm Aux Input Toslink Optical Input Subwoofer output Left/Right RCA Output Front 3.5mm headphone output 192kHz/24-Bit DAC   Dual-Band WiFi Connectivity for Wireless Streaming - DTS Play-Fi app enables direct connection to Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, SiriusXM, Tidal, iHeart Radio and all the top music streaming sources as well as your personal playlists. App-Based Control over WiFi - DTS Play-Fi app control lets you access music streaming services and audio content from any smartphone or tablet via WiFi and distribute it throughout your home. 6 Custom Presets - 6 custom presets for instant access via WiFi to your favorite playlists, Internet Radio stations and streaming music services without needing a phone or tablet. Voice Control - Voice control of music from any Alexa device on your WiFi network is as simple as “Alexa, play reggae in the living room” and you can adjust volume, skip track forward, mute, pause and stop the music. Setup Setup was simple. Connect your speakers, pair your Bluetooth and you are good to go. But if you want, you can also connect the device to your wifi and use the DTS Play-Fi app to listen in critical listening mode which enables 192kHz/24-bit lossless streaming. More on that in a bit. If you don't want to use wireless you can use an RCA, 3.5mm, or Toslink Optical to connect CD or other external devices to the SoundBase. There is also a Subwoofer output in case you want to connect a subwoofer. The SoundBase also has an Ethernet jack for a hardwired connection to your network and a USB port for firmware upgrades. Our test configuration was using a Bluetooth connection to both our iPhone and MacBook Pro. The Macbook's connection was using aptX which provides a higher quality Bluetooth connection.  We also used the DTS Play-Fi app to listen to 192khz audio. Performance You can hear the difference as soon as you turn the SoundBase on! Strong booming bass crystal clear audio and a lot of power. You could feel the desperation of life in Stevie Ray Vaughan's Tin Pan Alley. The bass was strong and full. Feeling it more than hearing it. The Guitar sounding like it was being played right in front of you. Yes good speakers help, but the Soundbase made the ELAC Debuts come to life! Even at loud volumes there was no noticeable distortion. It just sounded like Stevie was in the room giving a private performance! Drums are a difficult instrument to recreate. Howard Rogers from RSL Speakers told us, in an interview on our show, that he spent a lot of time perfecting speakers to recreate the sound of a drum. It's hard to AB a live drum with a recording but if your speaker/amplifier can't handle the low end you can tell there is something not quite right. It will sound soft, muddy, or not even there. The SoundBase is spec'd to go to 10Hz which is more like a feeling than hearing but give it something like “When The Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin and you know right away that you are listening to something really special.  There was a presence about the drums that enhanced the listening experience. If you want to make use of the Critical Listening (192kHz/24-bit lossless streaming) mode you need to download the DTS Play-Fi app which is easy enough. But that's where the ease stops. The DTS app is cumbersome to use and not intuitive. But once you figure it out you can activate the Critical Listening mode by tapping the Hi-Res button at the top of the screen in the Zone selection. Then only sources that are compatible with this mode are visible We listened to the same music from iTunes but this time through Tidal. It sounded very good but Ara's old ears could not hear a noticeable difference. If you are able to discern the difference between Hi-Res and high quality AAC this device makes it easy to wirelessly listen to all your high resolution audio. One thing we didn't like, and it has nothing to do with the SoundBase, was the DTS Play-Fi app is not an intuitive way of playing music on the Soundbase. However, if you want to natively make it part of a multiroom wireless system it is required. The only complaints we had was there was not a remote control nor was there a power button. We reached out to SVS and asked about the power button and this was their reply: Prime Wireless SoundBase is designed to remain on at all times so you can stream music to it instantly without waiting for the product to boot up and connect to the network every time. Worth noting that Prime Wireless meets all low power Energy Star requirements for products of their type. Conclusion If you are really into music you probably have some speakers that you really love. Odds are they are not wireless though. The SVS Prime Wireless SoundBase brings those speakers into the connected era with enough power to drive anything from bookshelf to towers. This is a great addition to any music lover's setup. But hey, you don't have to believe us. SVS offers a 45 day risk free in home trial with free shipping both ways. We will wager that if you try it you won't ship it back!  

In this week’s Production Expert podcast Mike, Julian and Dan discuss 192KHz. The workflow, the differences in sound, the equipment and ask why we don’t all record at the “best” quality? The team also answer your questions and share their finds of the week.

Not all migratory bats migrate.  We don’t know why some choose to stay behind at their summer roosts.  But according to the University of Washington’s Sharlene Santana, the bats that stay tend to die.  Content Note: Fleeting languageIn this episode, HBM host Jeff Emtman attempts to make a metaphor about bats and humans.  Perhaps it’s anthropomorphic, perhaps it’s unnecessarily poetic, or perhaps it’s a fair one.  Jeff leaves his home in Seattle to move cross-country to Boston.  Along the way he takes a five day layover in Colorado to meet up with an old friend (Helen Katich) and her girlfriend (Laura Goldhamer).  The three drive from Denver to the San Luis Valley of Central Colorado.  They visit Valley View Hot Springs and walk to the mouth of an abandoned iron mine 10,000 feet above sea level called “The Glory Hole.”  The Glory Hole houses an estimated 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats each summer.  These bats migrate in from Central and South America to eat bugs and raise their pups.  They fly together at dusk in gatherings visually similar to the murmurations of starlings.   This bat species, also known as the Brazilian free-tailed bat, is extremely social, and perhaps nature’s most gregarious mammal species.  Despite this, their social and hunting calls are completely inaudible to humans.  They produce ultrasounds, sounds too high pitched for human ears. But some audio equipment (see below) can still record these sounds, then computer algorithms can pitch them down into human-audible sounds.  One evening, Jeff and Helen and Laura hike to the mouth of the mine.  At this vantage point, they watch some of the bats flying out and Jeff manages to record some of their loud, ultrasonic vocalizations, before the storm forces them back downhill.  The next day, Jeff flies to his new home in Boston.Jeff recorded the bat calls in this episode with a Tascam DR100MK3 at 192kHZ sample rate and an Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro at sample rates of 256kHZ and 384kHZ.  The calls were recorded at frequencies of approximately 21kHZ to 36kHZ and time/pitch-shifted with Elastique 3.2.3 Pro.Producer: Jeff EmtmanEditor: Bethany DentonMusic: The Black Spot and Laura Goldhamer

Not all migratory bats migrate. We don't know why some choose to stay behind at their summer roosts. But according to the University of Washington's Sharlene Santana, the bats that stay tend to die. Content Note: Fleeting languageIn this episode, HBM host Jeff Emtman attempts to make a metaphor about bats and humans. Perhaps it's anthropomorphic, perhaps it's unnecessarily poetic, or perhaps it's a fair one. Jeff leaves his home in Seattle to move cross-country to Boston. Along the way he takes a five day layover in Colorado to meet up with an old friend (Helen Katich) and her girlfriend (Laura Goldhamer). The three drive from Denver to the San Luis Valley of Central Colorado. They visit Valley View Hot Springs and walk to the mouth of an abandoned iron mine 10,000 feet above sea level called “The Glory Hole.” The Glory Hole houses an estimated 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats each summer. These bats migrate in from Central and South America to eat bugs and raise their pups. They fly together at dusk in gatherings visually similar to the murmurations of starlings. This bat species, also known as the Brazilian free-tailed bat, is extremely social, and perhaps nature's most gregarious mammal species. Despite this, their social and hunting calls are completely inaudible to humans. They produce ultrasounds, sounds too high pitched for human ears. But some audio equipment (see below) can still record these sounds, then computer algorithms can pitch them down into human-audible sounds. One evening, Jeff and Helen and Laura hike to the mouth of the mine. At this vantage point, they watch some of the bats flying out and Jeff manages to record some of their loud, ultrasonic vocalizations, before the storm forces them back downhill. The next day, Jeff flies to his new home in Boston.Jeff recorded the bat calls in this episode with a Tascam DR100MK3 at 192kHZ sample rate and an Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro at sample rates of 256kHZ and 384kHZ. The calls were recorded at frequencies of approximately 21kHZ to 36kHZ and time/pitch-shifted with Elastique 3.2.3 Pro.Producer: Jeff EmtmanEditor: Bethany DentonMusic: The Black Spot and Laura Goldhamer

  El tipo de podcast que más está creciendo en algunos países es el que se usa con el objetivo de atraer más clientes para un negocio. Entérate de lo que ocurre en el podcasting en cinco minutos o menos. NotiPod: Tu resumen diario para mantenerte al día con el podcasting Tendencias ‘The Native Advertising Institute’ premió a una agencia de marketing digital que duplicó su tamaño gracias a un podcast que crearon. ‘Site Strategics’, creó el podcast ‘Edge of the Web’ para educar a la audiencia y generar contactos para la agencia de marketing digital que lo produce. Cada semana, hablan con un experto en ese campo y recogen sus consejos, lecciones aprendidas y la información táctica que los oyentes pueden utilizar para mejorar sus estrategias de marketing digital. Escuchar podcasts y la radio pueden ayudarte a escribir diálogos más realistas. Una escritora asegura que escuchar podcasts y radio interesante te puede ayudar a escribir mejor; de la misma manera que leer poesía te podría ayudar a mejorar tu habilidad para escribir este tipo de literatura. La autora dice que escribir un diálogo de una historia corta (o piezas largas) es técnicamente escribir lo que alguien está diciendo. Escuchar a la gente hablar de una manera "natural" puede ayudar a un escritor a mejorar el diálogo que escribe. Escuchar frecuentemente noticias y artículos (que son más estructurados) o podcasts te pueden ayudar a escribir mejor historias una vez que comprendes la estructura utilizada. Cuanto más expuesto estás a algo, dice la escritora, más fácil te será hacerlo por ti mismo. ↳ Desde la perspectiva de un podcaster podríamos también concluir: “Entrena tu oído escuchando podcasts de buen contenido, bien estructurados y aprenderás a producir un mejor podcast. Escuchar podría ser como practicar. Herramientas RØDE y Focusrite anuncian nuevas interfaces RØDE, uno de los principales fabricantes de micrófonos, anunció recientemente el lanzamiento de una interfaz sencilla de audio de calidad de estudio. Esta es la primera interfaz de audio USB AI-1 que lanza la compañía, la cual añade alta calidad a la entrada y salida de un ordenador, facilitando la grabación de podcasts, audio libros, voice off e instrumentos musicales. Viene con un preamplificador clase A de alta calidad para conectar un micrófono, guitarra o un instrumento de nivel de línea. La interfaz llama la atención por una calidad no común en interfaces básicas. Por ejemplo, el soporte de 24 bit / 96 kHz, conector combo Neutrik y conexiones 1/4" para auriculares y salida estereo. Es una interfaz class-compliant, compatible con el iPad o el iPhone. Están ofreciéndola en un Kit completo de estudio con el micrófono condensador RØDE NT1, un filtro, un cable XLR de 20 pies y cables USB C/A. El costo aproximado será de 100 euros ($122). Por otro lado, Focusrite presentó la Clarett USB: la misma interfaz que tenían con puerto Thunderbolt que lo cambiaron a USB 2.0. Focusrite anunció tres interfaces: Clarett 2Pre USB (10 entradas y 4 salidas), Clarett 4Pre USB (18 entradas y 8 salidas) y Clarett 8Pre USB (18 entradas y 20 salidas). Todas con rango dinámico de hasta 119dB y conversión A/D y D/A a 24-bit/192kHz. Mantente al día con el podcasting Recibe en tu email diariamente información y recursos sobre los podcasts y el audio bajo demanda. Todos los lunes te enviaremos un boletín con recursos y entrevistas sobre buenas prácticas en el podcasting. De martes a viernes recibirás un boletín con enlaces a la información diaria que descubrimos en la web sobre tendencias en los podcasts. Únete a ambos y recibe todos estos recursos en tu email. Suscríbete aquí y no te pierdas nada. ¡Suscríbete!  

Oppo UDP-203 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Player   Many of you (us included) have gone out and purchased a 4K TV sets but still have Blu-ray players connected to them. Sure these TVs do a good job at upconverting your 1080p content but we want more. We want native content at full bandwidth! There have been UHD players on the market for about a year that run about $300. Still many decided to wait. Some hoping for lower prices and others waiting for Oppo Digital to release their UHD player. If you were like us and waiting on the Oppo, your wait is over! The Oppo UDP-203 Ultra HD/Blu-ray player is available and it's only $549. We say only because it packs a lot of features in for that $549: Audio and Video Processing that has made Oppo a staple among those who are particular about their entertainment. Oppo has designed a custom quad-core processor for the video processing and they use a 32 bit 8 channel DAC from AKM to support audiophile grade audio. Fast Disc Loading using an optimized laser mechanism. HDR/Dolby Vision, the UDP203 supports the HDR10 format and will support Dolby Vision via a firmware upgrade. Upscaling is what put Oppo on the map in the early days of HDTV. Their new play takes that to a new level with the ability to upscale your Blu-ray discs to 4K. For the audiophile there is support for lossless audio All the latest surround formats are supported 7.1 Analog Output Well integrated with IR, RS-232, third party IP Control system, and HDMI CEC commands. The player also supports Trigger In and Out, so it can automatically turn on and off other devices connected to it for the ultimate convenience. Setup Setup was easy! We pulled out the old Oppo player and put this one in it's place. We did have to swap out all but the Ethernet cable. The HDMI cable only needs to be swapped out if it's not certified as high speed. Since Oppo includes one in the box we just used the one that came with the player. Since our receiver is HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 certified we went through it. But if you have a situation where you don't have a receiver that supports the latest standards you can use the HDMI 1.4 output on the Oppo to go to the receiver and use the HDMI 2.0 output to go to the TV. This will make it possible for a lot of people to enjoy high quality video and audio without having to buy a new receiver! For our testing we used two TVs. One that was 4K but did not support HDR and another one that did support 4K and HDR. The entire chain is described below: Oppo UDP203 ----> Yamaha RX-850A ---> Vizio 70 inch P-Series UHD TV Oppo UDP203 ---> LG 65UH6150  The Vizio was used for watching HDR content on TVs that don't support HDR and the LG was used for the full experience. BTW, you can find the LG 65UH615A at Costco or Sam's club for about $200 less than the 65UH6150 and from what we can tell they are identical in specs. After everything was connected we updated the firmware which took about 20 minutes. After that we were on our way. The menus are very basic but very functional. There are menus for Music, Photos, Movies, Network, Setup, and Favorites. The only menu we explored however is the network. We were somewhat surprised to see our Plex Server show up. It was a crude implementation but all our content was there. We were able to play some movies but the results weren't very good,. The playback was choppy. This was with a hardwired connection as well. Since that wasn't our main purpose of the review we got a few UHD discs and pushed forward. The Oppo allows you to tweak some video parameters. For our review we did not touch any of them. In fact the TVs were also left in their respective movie/cinema modes. We felt that this is how most people watch their TVs. If you have a professional calibrate your TVs you can expect even better results than what we experienced. Performance Our evaluation was conducted with The Magnificent 7, Independence Day Resurgence, and Keeping up with the Jones. By the way, buy the UHD version of any movies you plan on watching in the future even if you don't have a UHD player since they all have a Blu-ray option for purchase. First up was watching Blu-rays on the Vizio. For this we went back in our vault and pulled out Blackhawk Down. We were really looking at the night scenes and in particular the scene looking through the night scope. In these cases we were looking at how much detail was present. There would be no way to compare it against an HDR version but we were hoping that we would see more than the Blu-ray. And for this we were surprised. It did look better than the Blu-ray. The black levels were deep but not so deep that you couldn't see detail. You could easily make out details in people's faces and see the sweat and grime from a day of fighting. The night vision shot had clarity and a crispness that seemed to be enhanced by the player. The upconverter in the Oppo is very good. When examined up close we could not see any artifacts like in the old days of upconverting SD to HD. We wouldn't say that it made the picture and more detailed or sharper, but it certainly didn't make it worse. Then we watched Magnificent 7. For this movie the UDP-203 had to go from HDR to SDR on the Vizio. What we saw was very impressive. The movie was sharp and detailed. Colors were natural and warm. With that said, we didn't find the improvement over the Blu-ray really compelling. We felt the same about Independence Day and Keeping Up with the Jones. The audio in all cases sounded like it was at another level. Whether it was Dolby or DTS the audio made the movie. We did experience a few lipsync issues while watching however. We hit pause and then play and it got better. We had to do that about 6 times over the course of five movies. We only experienced this on the Vizio and attribute the issue to the video processing. The LG has a newer processor and did not have this issue. The real test was going to be with a TV that supports HDR. For that, Ara took the UHD player to his condo where he setup his recently purchased LG 65UH6150. Full review of the TV in an upcoming show. There is no receiver in this setup.  Braden was not able to view on the LG so the remainder of this section is written in the first person.  First up was “Keeping up with the Joneses” Other than the noticeable improvement in detail there wasn't much of an improvement. There were scenes where I could notice more realistic color and shadow details. This is a limitation of the disc not the player or the TV. Which brought us to a revelation. You really need to pay attention to your entire chain to get the most out of HDR. That includes the content. While I felt the Oppo did a great job with the movie, I  was let down by the movie itself. But that's OK I knew Magnificent 7 was going to be awesome! Next up was Independence day Resurgence. This was another disc that didn't meet my expectations. There are a lot of dark scenes and HDR should have made a bigger difference. The shadow detail really didn't look better than the Blu-ray. Again this is a limitation of the content. But that's OK I knew Magnificent 7 was going to be awesome! I had high expectations for Magnificent 7. It looked really good on a non-HDR 4K TV after all. The Movie, TV and most importantly the UDP-203 did not disappoint! The detail and color were so lifelike it felt as though I was transported to the wild west. I found myself watching the detail at times and not the movie. It felt like I was being introduced to HDTV for the first time. Skin tones were the most natural I have ever seen. The beard/stubble on Chris Pratt's face was so detailed I felt that he looked too groomed for the wild west. The detail in the dark scenes were more pronounced than on the Vizio. In fact the blacks seemed almost plasma like. The war paint on Red Harvest's face looked so good, again, it was almost too good! There were no visible artifacts that I could see even when I got up very close to the screen.  This is why you want to upgrade your HDTV and Blu-ray player. Odds and Ends Load Times are very good. Nothing like the first Blu-rays. In general we were up on screen in less that 15 seconds The menus are simple and easy to navigate. Quite honestly you won't be in them very much. The remote has a ton of buttons. Most you will never use. If you have a Harmony or other remote you can reduce it to the essentials. Dolby Vision firmware upgrade is slated for early 2017. To us that mean by tax day. Let's see if Oppo agrees For the audiophiles out there the UDP-203 can pretty much handle any file you throw at it. Multi-channel DSD64/128, as well as 192kHz/24-bit PCM in all the popular formats are supported. HDMI Input so external devices can take advantage of the UDP-203's audio and video processing. Conclusion If you have upgraded your HDTV to a UHD set that supports HDR you would be committing a crime if you didn't upgrade your Blu-ray player. There are a few options out there and while the Oppo costs a little more you get so much more. The best audio playback support of any UHD player on the market today, coupled with ability upconvert to 4K video streamed over your local network or played through the USB and HDMI inputs makes the UDP-203 the most capable UHD player available at any price. Support for Dolby Vision via a firmware upgrade makes this player the only one on the market today that is future proof!

FireConnect Since almost the beginning we have been looking for ways to ditch wires. They are a pain to run across rooms, create unsightly bulges in carpet or even require drywall cutting. There are a few technologies that have been out for some time now. We have AirPlay by apple, Chromecast by Google, Bluetooth, and few other lesser known technologies. They all work pretty well and have support from various receiver manufacturers. A newer technology was brought to our attention by a listener called FireConnect. FireConnect is the brainchild of San Francisco based Blackfire Research Corp. Fireconnect has the usual feature list but goes beyond what the typical wireless protocols support today. Features: High-res and multichannel -  Streaming of up to 24-bit/192kHz audio, and multichannel 2.1, 5.1 or 7.1 audio. Lossy or lossless BT and Aux Input Rebroadcast - Auxiliary inputs and Bluetooth devices will be rebroadcast wirelessly. Multi Source Play -  You can sync zones or play them independently. Video streaming -  Currently if you want to stream video you need an add on device. FireConnect is hoping to make streaming video as simple as sending it to your A/V Receiver or TV. Their spec supports the ability to stream HD Video and lossless 24-bit/192kHz Studio Quality HD audio to any device. Google Cast included - Why not? It's open to the world! To keep everything running smooth and in sync, Fireconnect gets down to the packet layer of your network data. RPM (Real-Time Packet Management) Delays in receiving packets is one of the most challenging issues in real-time video delivery over wireless networks. A late packet becomes useless for the decoding and display even if it is received correctly at the receiver. RPM allows Fireconnect devices to stream HD Video and lossless 24-bit/192kHz Studio Quality HD audio to any device in any room - it's how they make sure that there are no gaps or drop-outs in your music and video. TIS (Traffic Independent Synchronization) No matter how busy your network is, your content stays in sync. Delays are adjusted in real time so that a speaker in the family does not drift too far off from the rest of the zones. These adjustments are happening constantly and are not noticeable by the listener. DSB (Dynamic Stream Balancing) When streaming to multiple devices, DSB keeps it all in balance.  - Not quite sure what this is but keeping things in balance is always a good idea! The goal is to wirelessly transmit your audio and video to your media devices, which include Multi-Room smart speakers, A/V Receivers, smartwatches and smart TVs across different manufactures so long as they use the Fireconnect technology.  The technology will be able to turn your smartwatch into a music hub that can wirelessly send audio to your wireless headphones or music zones throughout your house. Video does not have to be point to point. You will be able to stream a video signal to multiple screens. So you'll be able to watch the same video throughout your home whether it's on the big screen or tablet. Where can I get it? Pioneer and Onkyo have receivers that support this tech. Pioneer VSX-1131 7.2-Channel AV Receiver with MCACC built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi $539 - Firmware update required Onkyo TX-NR555 7.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver $449 Firmware update required. Multi-room audio enabled by this technology requires an optional Onkyo wireless speaker scheduled for release in late 2016. Onkyo cannot guarantee the compatibility of its A/V receivers with other devices featuring FireConnect. Uh-Oh!! HTC One  Play music simultaneously to multiple Blackfire compliant speakers from HTC One M9. As far as speakers go we couldn't find any. That's not saying there aren't any, but a simple search revealed nothing. So pretty much as best as we can see it. You'll be able to send audio from your HTC One to an Onkyo or Pioneer receiver and have it play through your wired speakers. This technology was announced in 2010 and may only be coming on the scene. We'll keep our eyes on it for you and see how it develops. But right now we have a hard time seeing how it will be able to beat Google and Apple's entrenched technology.

DTS Play-Fi We had a chance to check out the WiSA standard in our review of the Axiim Q Wireless Home Theater System on Podcast 728 a couple weeks ago. On top of that, Ara is a big AirPlay fan for whole house audio and Braden is invested in Sonos.  Since we can't have just one, or even four, standards, it looks like another competing technology, this one from DTS, is hoping to fulfill our dreams of wireless audio around the home. The technology, called DTS Play-Fi, looks pretty promising and has some solid companies in its corner. What is it? DTS markets Play-Fi as a premium, whole-home wireless audio ecosystem. They are quick to point out that the technology is open and available to anyone. Not open as in free, but open as in unrestricted access. They claim to have the largest ecosystem of brands in the world, allowing you to build an AirPlay or Sonos like system, without the restrictions that come with those platforms. Since all Play-Fi products are seamlessly interoperable, you have the freedom to select the perfect speaker for each room, and know that they will all work together as if they came from one manufacturer. With AirPlay from Apple, you get a lot of freedom to select the right speaker, but you're pretty limited on the control side. Apple really wants you to control the system from one of their products. There are third party apps that allow you to stream to AirPlay devices from an Android phone, but nothing like the native support you get from an Apple device. Sonos is the complete other side of the spectrum. You have total freedom in how you control your audio system, use a Mac, a Windows PC, an iPhone or iPad, or any Android phone or tablet. But you have to buy Sonos speakers. There aren't any non-Sonos speakers that will work in that system. DTS actually came by the technology via their acquisition of a company called Phorus in July 2012. Phorus was using the technology in their PS1 speakers. Staying consistent with how DTS tends to operate, they decided to open the platform and license it, hoping to get on as many devices as they possibly could. They didn't want to make the devices themselves, they wanted to build a technology to allow their partners to enable wireless, whole-home streaming and take a little cut. It has worked out pretty well for them with other technologies. What does it do? In a nutshell, it allows you to essentially build your own Sonos with any devices you like. Prefer the tonal quality of one speaker brand over another? Go for it. Buy their Play-Fi speakers. Prefer the aesthetic look of a particular speaker, have at it. Want to control it from an Android phone? iPhone? Windows PC? Go for it. All with native support. Bottom line, stream your favorite content at high audio quality from every device that you've got. Like Airplay, Play-Fi sends audio from your devices to speakers throughout the home over WiFi using their proprietary streaming, synchronization, and authentication technology. Features include: Lossless audio transmission Multi-room, multi-zone, multi-user options Advanced Left/Right speaker configuration for stereo speakers Support for high-resolution audio (24bit/192kHz) New features and services delivered wirelessly Works over standard Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Powerline networks For Android, iOS, Kindle Fire, and Windows PCs Just like Sonos and AirPlay, Play-Fi works over your home WiFi network. If you have spotty WiFi coverage in some rooms, this could be an issue. And you need to make sure your router is up to the task of streaming all that music simultaneously. Play-Fi support streaming the same source to up to eight devices simultaneously. Of the three, only Sonos offers the ability to create its own dedicated network by connecting one of your devices via hard-wire to your router. In this mode each Sonos device also operates as a wireless repeater, extending the range of the dedicated network and helping you overcome spotty WiFi issues. And, of course, Play-Fi comes with a bunch of music options from around the world.  The native app has support for Spotify, Pandora (enabled for select Play-Fi products only), Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Deezer, Songza, Sirius XM, KKBox in Taiwan, QQ Music in China, and multiple others. They also support DLNA for access to content from your local network. And they're adding new sources all the time. Since the sources come from the control devices, the speakers don't need to be updated to support new ones as they come out. Doing a feature for feature comparison, Sonos and Play-Fi are fairly neck and neck, while AirPlay lacks a few capabilities they both offer. We already know Apple doesn't do Android, but AirPlay also only supports multi-zone streaming from an iTunes collection on a computer, not from your iPhone or iPad. AirPlay can't stream from multiple sources, and doesn't support left/right stereo pairing, while both of the others do. Play-Fi differentiates itself from both of the other options with support for High-Resolution (24bit/192kHz) files and a 5GHz Wi-Fi option for interference-free playback on most devices. What doesn't it do? WiSA gives you up to 7.1 surround sound, all wirelessly. Sonos provides a surround sound experience by pairing two Play:1 speakers for rear surround with a PlayBar sound bar for front L/C/R and a Sub to make it go boom. Not really a full surround sound experience, but absolutely better than a sound bar all by itself. Like AirPlay, Play-Fi does not have an option right now for wireless surround sound in your home theater. They have sound bar options from a few manufacturers, but nothing for the rear or side surrounds.   To be frank, this really surprised us when we started looking into the tech. We naturally assumed that a company best known for surround sound would use their wireless technology to enable that in your home theater. No such luck. There are even a couple receiver and processor options from Anthem that have native Play-Fi support. Just not for surround sound. You can use them to stream music to your home theater speakers, but only in stereo. Device Options Play-Fi has an impressive lineup of technology partners. Anthem offers two receivers and a pre/pro. There are speaker choices from Definitive Technology, MartinLogan, McIntosh, Paradigm, Phorus, Polk Audio, and Wren. Many of whom also offer a sound bar option or two. Other partners include certain Hewlett-Packard tablet models and Fusion Research who make the first multi-source server designed specifically for the custom installation market so you can integrate Play-Fi into your home automation system. They have partners announced with products to come in the future like Klipsch, Rotel, Dish Network, Acer, Arcam, SVS and more. Conclusion We aren't looking at another VHS vs Beta, Blu-ray vs HD-DVD format war for wireless audio protocols in your home theater just yet, but it could happen. Right now for whole-house audio, much like automation protocols, if there are enough devices, or more specifically the right devices to meet your needs, in the technology camp you select, you should be fine. With the relationships they already have from licensing surround sound technology, and the established expertise in audio, DTS should be able to build a solid ecosystem that only grows over time. They already have more options that just about any competing technology.

CES 2016 It's that time of year again, the time when hordes of people descend on Las Vegas, Nevada to get a glimpse of all the new technology manufacturers are showing off. Last year over 170,000 people attended. This year, there will be two less. With one HT Guy in Seattle, we weren't able to attend in person. But luckily many of our peers were, so we get to sift through their highlights without having to walk for miles through countless booths and crowds to see everything. Samsung, Philips and others bring Dolby Atmos Soundbars Samsung introduced a soundbar (HW-K950) that will attempt to create a Dolby Atmos experience using a wireless speakers. The system includes a soundbar with three forward facing speakers and two pointed towards the ceiling. The system uses wireless surround speakers that also include Atmos speakers. Finally, there is a wireless subwoofer that gets you a 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos system with only four speaker enclosures.  No pricing or ship date was announced. Philips is also shipping a Dolby Atmos Soundbar. Called the Philips Fidelio soundbar it includes 18 drivers, including two upward-firing speaker modules. Angled tweeters create a wide soundfield. Total output is 400 watts, including 8-inch 220-watt wireless subwoofer. Other features include Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 decoding, dedicated center-channel speaker, two HDMI 1.4a inputs, HDMI audio return channel, and optical and coaxial inputs. no pricing was announced. Samsung's Family Hub Is A Fridge Of The Future Among the reasons why this is deemed a smart home technology of the future is it touts 21.5-inch 1080p monitor outside and few cameras and sensors within so you will know what is inside the refrigerator without the need to open its door or view the interior of the fridge remotely on your smartphone. This is specifically advantageous if you are in a grocery store but do not know what particular foods to buy. You can tag expiration dates on refrigerator items so you use them before you lose them. The giant screen is more than just a peek inside the box, you can use it as a family message board, sync your family calendar to it, shop for groceries or surf the web for recipes. It has speakers, so you can listen to music, and we assume the web interface would allow you to get to Netflix or YouTube as well, but we don't know for sure. LG Annouced Premium LCD-Based Super UHD, 8K TVs LG announced a premium line of UHD TVs (UH9500, UH8500 and UH7700). According to LG, they will all be brighter, better contrast ratios, and include a wider color gamut and HDR. LG will also introduce their first 8K TV, the 98 UH9800. For reference, Sharp's 8K screen goes for close to $130,000! According to LG the UH9500 and UH8500 increase the color gamut to approximately 90% of the Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) P3 color space. LG is also claiming high quality sound from the UH9500 due to a Harman Kardon speaker system. Pricing was not available LG's rollable OLED display LG is showing the 30R 18-inch rollable display. They claim the display can be "rolled-up like a newspaper." They have been showing flexible OLED for a couple years, so how this display improves on concepts we saw in 2014 and 2015 isn't obvious, but we expect it to have better resolution and perhaps some built-in electronics for use as an actual television/monitor. The benefit of a rollable display in a consumer environment is pretty obvious. As TVs get to be rediculously large, transporting them, getting them in the door, etc. will become very difficult. If the screens could be rolled up, then just tacked up on a wall once you get them home, it could make 100” screens in every home a reality. Not to mention video walls that can turn into faux-windows ala Total Recall would be pretty sweet. Simple Control Adds Amazon Echo Integration Simple Control announced that its popular iOS apps for control of AV gear and smart home devices have been certified by Amazon for use with their Amazon Echo product. Amazon Echo includes Alexa, a cloud-based voice service that can be used to give commands to Simple Control. Once Simple Control is paired with Amazon Echo, users can control the home environment simply by speaking commands to Alexa, such as "Alexa, tell Simple Control to turn on the TV in the kitchen." The Simple Control and Simple System apps operate thousands of devices like TVs, cable and satellite boxes, receivers, Blu-ray players, lights, switches, thermostats and more. Ford A Ford Mustang you can order online with free shipping for Amazon Prime members? No, but the automotive company is partnering with Amazon to let you control your smart home from your car through Ford's Sync Connect and AppLink services and Amazon's Echo home-automation hub and Alexa voice-concierge service. Beyond Amazon, Ford announced it plans to work with the Wink smart home platform to provide similar levels of voice commanded functionality straight from your driver's seat. HARMAN's Mark Levinson® Previews № 519 Audio Player: High-Resolution Wired and Wireless Streaming, Network, Disc and Digital Inputs HARMAN International Industries previewed the forthcoming Mark Levinson № 519 Audio Player, an ultra high-end source component designed to accommodate every digital audio format. The № 519 was designed to be the heart of high-performance audio systems, with the ability to play back virtually any audio format from streaming music services to networked storage, to CD to high-resolution digital inputs and even Bluetooth® wireless. In addition, it includes high-performance headphone connectivity and integrated digital volume control allowing it to serve as a fully integrated digital music source. Designed and engineered at HARMAN's Engineering Center of Excellence in Shelton, CT, USA, the № 519 provides a full compliment of wired and wireless digital audio inputs and as well as an integrated slot-loading CD player, making it a truly universal digital audio playback device. The integrated high-resolution DAC receives its nine digital inputs including USB asynchronous streaming and mass storage, Gigabit Ethernet, Balanced, Optical, Coaxial, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless featuring aptX® technology for maximum resolution. The Mark Levinson № 519 offers high-resolution digital decoding up to 24-bit, 192kHz from PCM and double-speed DSD. Its DAC incorporates an ESS Sabre32 Reference converter for superlative musical accuracy with exceptional resolution and dynamic range. The Mark Levinson № 519 Digital Player will be available in July 2016. No official pricing at this time but the buzz on the street is that it will run about $8,000. UHD Alliance Defines Premium 4K Ultra HD Experience The UHD Alliance (UHDA) has defined performance criteria that Ultra HD TVs and content must meet to deliver what the group calls a premium 4K experience. The association also introduced a logo that will appear on certified content to guarantee a premium experience for consumers. The Ultra HD Premium logo is reserved for products and content that comply with minimum requirements for resolution, bit depth, high dynamic range (HDR), peak luminance, black levels, and wide color gamut. The UHD Alliance said its technical specifications "prioritize image quality and recommend support for next-generation audio.” Home Kit Kwikset  announced the launch of its first HomeKit-compatible product, the Kwikset Premis. Available in 2016, no pricing announced. iDevices - Introduced their Socket, Wall Switch, Dimmer Switch and Wall Outlet. The socket allows standard light bulbs to be used with homekit. The wall switch/dimmer and outlet bring Home Kit support to your lights and devices in your home. The new HomeKit accessories will be released throughout 2016, but pricing was not disclosed Honeywell announced the Lyric Round™ Wi-Fi Thermostat Second Generation is available for pre-order $250. Hunter Fan Company announced new Wi-Fi & Apple HomeKit-Enabled Celing Fans. Named Symphony and Signal the Symphony's MSRP is $329 and  Signal's MSRP is $379. Both fans will be available spring 2016 UHD Players Samsung announced that the UB-K8500 is available for pre-order right now, and will sell for $400. Panasonic unveiled its Blu-ray player which it promised will be available in the US this year. A similar player was introduced in Japan in November which retails for roughly $3,300 USD. No word on pricing for the US version. Philips will introduce a player that supports the optional Dolby Vision HDR technology LG and Sony did not introduce UHD players.

Nummer vier des Technik-Podcasts aus dem Keller bespricht Windows 8.1, Digitales Audio mit 24bit/192kHz (24/192 Music Downloads ...and why they make no sense, LG G2 is first smartphone to support 24bit/192kHz hi-res music), Gibson HD.6X-Pro Digital Guitar, MIDI, Valve Steam (Steam Machine, Steam OS), Playstation 4, Durovis Dive, OLEDs drucken, Sharknado, MacGyver, Raspberry Pi Überwachungskamera, Flattr, Cicada 3301 (Joel Erikssons Erfahrungen), GWUP und GkD, Stanislaw Lem (Der futurologische Kongreß) und anderes. Die nette Nummer am Ende war Richard Cheese mit "Welcome to the Jungle". Gäste: Bernhard, Thomas und Ulrich

TASCAM's HS-P82 offers 8 tracks of the highest quality recording, yet it's built for the rigors of location recording with reliable solid-state performance. The HS-P82 is built for location television and film production audio, with eight microphone inputs for big shoots or reality programs. The standard XLR microphone inputs include phantom power and analog limiting, with trims controlled from recessed front-panel controls. In addition to the eight individual tracks, a stereo mixdown can be recorded for instant use during editing. Audio is recorded at up to 192kHz/24-bit WAV format to a pair of Compact Flash cards. This solid state media is completely reliable with no moving parts, and you can record to both cards simultaneously for extra security. The Broadcast WAV files include iXML metadata for quick import into nearly any video or audio editing system, either via the USB 2.0 connection or a standard card reader. The HS-P82 offers several options for power. It runs on either AA or NP batteries, an included AC adapter, external DC input or a V-mount adapter for Endura batteries. An internal slate microphone is available for naming takes. Functions like a 5-second pre-record buffer, front panel lockout and headphone output alert signal further inspire confidence. For high-resolution music recording, a set of AES/EBU connectors is available for attaching pedigree A/D converters and preamplifiers. SMPTE timecode in and out, video and word sync are provided. All of this is controlled from a color touchscreen interface which makes operation fast and simple. The HS-P82 from TASCAM is built on 30 years of reliable field recording. See how affordable the state of the art can be with TASCAM's flagship production recorder, the HS-P82.