#high-impedance headphones

[girl4music]

So it turns out I didn't even need to buy a DAC/Amplifier for my MacBook Air M2. The headphone jack supports lossless listening and playing through high-impedance headphones. i just needed to change the MIDI settings to match the frequency of the tracks I have - which I don't ever go no lower than MP3 320kbps. And yeah, now my music collection sounds bloody incredible through my HD 600's.

I'm a happy music enthusiast now (Girl4Music, isn't my IM name for no reason, you know) I really only needed the DAC/Amplifier for my iPhone 15 Pro Max. Good thing too because this IFI DAC/Amp is tiny and I wouldn't listen through these headphones in public anyway because they leak sound like I don't know what. Sennheiser open back wired headphones are only ever meant for private listening. Unless I can figure out how to work this DAC thing on my iPhone, I guess I'm sticking with listening through my Bluetooth earphones - which unfortunately doesn't/won't ever support lossless listening.

I'm guessing anyway. I don't know if Apple will eventually invent its own audio codec that will support its Apple Music lossless feature through Bluetooth. I know that at the moment it doesn't with any of its headphone/earphone products. Including the high end ones. Not that I would ever use Apple's products for audio listening/playing 🤣

[sirfrogsworth]

Froggie's Guide to Budget Headphones

@nimrella I am more well versed in traditional audio and home theater with big honking speakers, so I don't have much personal experience with headphones and headphone accessories. But I can tell you what I've learned from other people who are in the headphone world. And since you are starting more within the "budget" range I think I am somewhat qualified to guide you at this level.

You have three paths to choose from...

Wireless, low impedance wired (no amplification required), and high impedance wired (amplification required).

Basically... easy, medium, and hard.

But also... good, better, best.

Wireless Headphones

Wireless headphones have come a long way. Audiophiles used to scoff at them but now there are options that really do sound fantastic and the Bluetooth data rates are good enough to deliver high resolution audio. They also have noise cancellation options which may be desirable. If you do not have a quiet, dedicated space for listening to music you might find high end noise cancellation a godsend. People love them especially for planes, trains, and automobiles.

I don't know if everyone knows how noise cancellation works or not, but basically the headphones have microphones that listen to the world around you. They measure the incoming sound and then generate an opposite sound that just about kills ambient noise. If you play the same sound 180 degrees out of phase it basically nullifies those sound waves. The tech works best between 50 Hz and 1000 Hz. For reference we hear between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz (lower if you are old). So anything super high or super low pitched can still get through.

In any case, if that sounds appealing, wireless headphones should be a consideration.

The other advantage of wireless headphones would be the ease of use. They pair to your phone, your laptop, your TV. They have controls to help you pause and skip songs and change volume. Some allow you to take phone calls.

But the big downside is the sound quality takes a bit of a hit. As I said, the bluetooth standards have actually gotten very very good. (Though there are audiophiles who will swear it still sounds like a 1990s MP3.) So streaming the actual media files are not really an issue. But trying to cram all of that tech into lightweight headphones you can wear around town all day requires compromises and added expense. Not to mention the battery has a limited lifespan. You may have more limited or inconsistent frequency response, poor dynamic range, distortion problems, weak output, and a high noise floor. Wireless options still can't match wired headphone systems in the same price range. And the wireless options that come close are quite spendy.

Wireless Headphones Suggestions

In your price range the two wireless options that I hear mentioned over and over again are the Sony WH-1000 series and the Bose QuietComfort. They are both well regarded for having a good mix of sound quality and noise cancellation while also being a decent value. You might be able to visit a Best Buy and demo them to see if you prefer the sound and comfort of one over the other.

The Apple AirPods Max are said to work really well within the Apple ecosystem. They have some interesting spatial sound modes and very good audio quality. I've heard the noise cancellation is some of the best currently available. But they seem too expensive and a lot of people feel they are too heavy. I also suspect they are due for an update. That said, if you wait for the new ones to come out and buy used, they could come into your price range. I'd really only suggest these if you have multiple Apple products that you will be streaming sound from.

Before we move into wired headphones, let's go over some terms that you might see pop up when doing research and reading reviews.

Froggie's Glossary of Audiophile Terminology

Driver A speaker is made up of drivers. Some speakers have a woofer, a midrange, and a tweeter. Each individual thing is a driver. And with headphones you will often hear "headphone driver" instead of speaker because it is more specific. Headphones typically have an all-in-one driver that does all frequencies. A woofymidteet.

That's not a thing.

I made that up.

Frequency Response This is the range of frequencies produced by the drivers from low to high. You want to make sure your headphones have good, deep bass. That will make more of a difference than anything else. It's the foundation of all sound and what is sorely lacking in devices with small/cheap speakers.

Music typically doesn't go much below 40 Hz in the bass range. So if you are only interested in music listening, that is plenty deep. Movies can go down to 20 Hz, but this isn't necessary for a good immersive experience unless you have giant subwoofers. So if you find something that can play ~40 Hz with decent output, you should be all good. Every speaker has a frequency response curve. It looks something like this.

The X-axis represents the frequency and the Y-axis represents the volume in decibels. We are most concerned with the 40 to 10K Hz section, as most sound happens there.

I'm not going to go super in-depth and overwhelm everyone, but typically you want this graph to look fairly flat in that range. A flat-ish line will give you a "neutral" response.

The above graph gets a little bumpy in the high frequencies. That means those frequencies will have a higher volume than the lower frequencies. If a higher frequency has a big peak, that could make your sound seem too bright or tinny.

Or you could have the opposite problem. You could have a null in the bass where the output dips below everything else. This can make your sound a bit anemic and lacking punch.

Whereas a more flat speaker will output all frequencies at about the same volume and sound much more balanced and smooth.

Equalization or EQ A flat response is good because it will accept EQ well. Equalization is where you add peaks and dips in volume deliberately to taste.

This can be as simple as 3 knobs.

Or it can be a more complicated parametric EQ.

A lot of digital EQ methods have presets to help get you started. I promise it isn't as intimidating as it looks.

Some people like to buy speakers/headphones that are EQ'd how they prefer out of the box. (Or if you get Beats by Dre they just turn the bass all the way up and say "Fuck them other frequencies!") But this is often a bit of a crapshoot because it is hard to EQ a speaker that sounds good in every room or every environment or just to varying individual preferences.

By making the speaker more neutral, it can be much easier to equalize specifically to your needs and enjoyment.

So if you like the bass a little bassier and the mids a little quieter, you have the power to dial that in with great specificity on a neutral speaker. You can apply any EQ you wish and you won't be fighting the speaker's predetermined response.

Basically if you are reading reviews and the headphones are described as "flat" or "neutral" that's a good thing (in my opinion). Just remember nothing is going to be perfectly flat. We're shooting for flat-ish.

If you do decide to get a neutral sounding pair of headphones you may find them a little bland out of the box. Do not panic. You just need to learn a bit about how to apply EQ, but thankfully YouTube is plentiful with tutorials.

The Harman Curve was researched to be most liked by the most people, so you might start there. (Also, SoundSource is a very popular EQ app for Mac.)

Dynamic Range This is the spectrum of how quiet to loud something can get. If you have speakers that can render both a pin drop and a big explosion with great fidelity and proper intensity, you will be in audio heaven. There is so much emotion and drama that can be expressed by expansive dynamic range and most cheap speakers compress it to an inch of its life. When the soft and the loud sounds are the same you miss out on so much audio information intended by the composer.

Distortion This is just how loud a speaker can go without breaking up. Low distortion is good. While every driver distorts at some point, usually that is at a much higher volume than you will use. This typically only plagues cheap, tiny drivers.

Sound Pressure Level (SPL) This is a measurement of how loud a speaker can get. While you don't want to listen to anything louder than a sustained average decibel level of 80 to 85, you do want peaks over 100, especially in the bass. Bass is less damaging to ears and hearing damage is all about sustained volume rather than quick peaks here and there. Most headphones can comfortably do an SPL between 90 and 110 dB. The ability to go louder is good, but only because that expands headroom, not because you should actually listen to them that loud. So if the headphones can get super loud, that means they will have a much easier time delivering normal levels.

Noise Floor Every sound system has background noise. You know that static you hear when you turn a radio up really loud when there is no sound playing? That is your noise floor. You want that to be as quiet as possible because if you turn up the volume, you don't just turn up the volume of the sounds you want to hear, you also turn up the volume of that background noise.

If you can find a headphone system with a decent low noise floor and you can also find a very quiet space to listen in, you could have a religious experience. I don't think people realize how much the room you are in matters, even when listening to headphones. When you are in a quiet room, you can play at lower volumes. And that can mitigate a lot of the problems associated with cranking the volume. You won't damage your ears for one thing. But the speakers won't have to work as hard so you'll have less distortion and better clarity.

Noise mostly comes from the amplifier, which I will talk about later on.

Froggie Pro Tip: If you want cheap speakers to perform better, go to a quiet room and move them as close as possible. This allows you to play them at a lower output while maintaining your desired perceived volume.

Okay, now we can finally talk about...

Wired Headphones

You have open back and closed back styles.

Open back tends to have a more natural sound and feels more comfortable. Like listening to regular speakers. People generally feel they are able to listen to them longer because they don't create a seal and cause pressure on your ear drum. However, if sound can get out, it can also get in. So with open back headphones people nearby will be able to hear what you are listening to. And if you are not in a quiet room, all of that sound will leak in. Meaning you have to increase the volume and the noise floor and the distortion.

Closed back seals off your ears and gives you a quiet and immersive experience. You can be in a noisier room without having to crank the volume as much. Some prefer this style just because it helps them feel like they are going into their own personal dimension of sound. These are great for ASMR too. But ear fatigue can become an issue and you may need to take little breaks to let your ears breathe and your ear drums rest.

And the last thing we need to discuss is impedance.

The impedance of headphones mostly determines how hard they are to amplify. Impedance is measured in ohms which is this little horseshoe symbol... Ω.

Lower ohms means less electrical resistance and easier to amplify.

Higher ohms means more electrical resistance and difficult to amplify.

If you get headphones rated below 100 ohms, they can typically be driven by smartphones and laptops just by plugging into a standard headphone jack. Though depending on the device, 100 may sound a little quiet so you may want to go lower. 30 ohms is fairly typical if you plan to drive your headphones with everyday electronics.

Above 100 ohms you are going to need some sort of amplification—usually a DAC with a headphone amplifier. (There are DACs without amplification so be sure to check that.)

A DAC, or digital-to-analog converter, is already built into your phone and laptop. But those are very small, don't have a lot of power, and might have a higher noise floor due to interference from other components and heat and just a lot of electrical signals nearby.

By getting an external DAC w/amplifier you separate out the components, make them larger and more powerful, and typically improve the sound quality. Because it is more isolated, the amplification can be much quieter despite being more powerful.

If you plan to stay in a static location and you have high impedance headphones, you can get a little box DAC that sits on your desk. It works like an external sound card for your computer. If you record music or stream, a digital audio interface works great as well (remember to check the Ω).

But if you need to be more mobile with your headphones you can get a little USB dongle DAC, though you will probably not get the same sound quality and power.

Both will be superior to the internal DAC built into your computing devices.

So, low impedance headphones are easier if you need to move around.

High impedance headphones are better for staying put in a single location unless you get a dongle DAC.

Just remember, high and low impedance doesn't necessarily indicate quality. It's just that in order to drive high impedance headphones you need the larger amplifier with the nicer components and, by necessity, you automatically get that quality bump.

You can get very good low impedance headphones. However, if you power them *only* with a smartphone, you may not use them to their full potential. Which is why getting an external DAC is a good idea regardless.

But the nice thing about low impedance is you can get the headphones and still use them until you save up for the DAC. Or you can use them as normal while out and about and have a special listening spot at home with the DAC.

To review...

Low impedance and high impedance can both be high quality.

Low impedance (less than 100 ohms) works with anything.

High impedance (more than 100 ohms) requires amplification.

Both will be used to their full potential with a DAC/headphone amplifier of some kind.

Wired Headphones Suggestions

Again, I have not personally listened to any of these. I am just relaying what experts I trust have mentioned as being nice quality in your price range.

The beyerdynamic DT 770 headphones are some of the most well-regarded budget headphones I've heard of. They come in low and high impedance versions.

The Sennheiser HD 560 high impedance headphones are also praised for their value and performance.

If you can go a little pricier...

The HIFIMAN Sundara headphones have low impedance and can be driven easily by all your devices.

And the HIFIMAN Edition XS are even lower impedance and about the same price.

And if you want to try a DAC, I've heard good things about both Fosi and Schiit (yes, like the poopies), though there are many different brands. Just make sure the DAC has a headphone amplifier rated for the ohms you need.

The FOSI K5 Pro is a cheap "beginner" DAC that will power anything up to 300 ohms. This is the kind that sits on your desk.

And if you want a more portable dongle DAC, you can get something like the iFi Go Link.

I've also heard good things about the AudioQuest Dragonfly, though I hate recommending AudioQuest products due to them claiming they can do magical things. They use scientific gobbledygook to scam customers most of the time. That said, the DragonFly might be their only valid product.

Note from Future Froggie: AudioQuest just can't help themselves. While the Dragonfly itself is a good product and not a scam, they developed the "DragonTail", which is a scam.

It's just a USB A to C Adapter for the Dragonfly. But they have to find a way to justify 30 fucking dollars so they came up with this bullshit.

Definitely need to stabilize my geometry. If I have unstable geometry that could lead to quixotic trigonometry. And we all know that could introduce vertices into dodecahedrons. Which leads straight to accelerated cosmotic entropy catalyzing the heat death of the universe.

Fucking AudioQuest.

ANYWAY...

An inexpensive DAC may be all you ever need but DACs can get crazy expensive—just like headphones. And if you are really fancy you can get a DAC and a headphone amplifier as separate items. Audiophiles claim when you simplify components to a singular function you increase quality. While I think there is some small truth to that, I suspect they just think the tubes look neat.

Froggie's Disclaimer: I am not telling you to get these specific things, but I do think you'll probably be happy with anything I've suggested. But sound is a subjective experience and it is always best to test things out before you buy them, if possible. Or make sure there is a return policy. You might see if there is a brick-and-mortar store nearby that allows you to demo headphones. Remember that comfort can be just as crucial as sound quality for long listening sessions.

Final Thoughts

Good sound has been life changing for me. And I am excited when anyone goes down this journey. While the stuff mentioned is considered "budget" by audiophiles, this can give you a good starting point if you want to upgrade down the road. You'll get to know your preferences and get a better understanding of how this all works and choose your own adventure from there.

Though it is very possible you'll be quite content with "budget" and the sound quality is more than enough.

Personally, while I am very happy with my current home theater setup, I am hopeful one day I can upgrade one budget tier above where I currently am and that will be my endgame. I've heard $10,000 speakers and it is mostly a land of diminishing returns once you reach that level.

I'm fine in "budget" land.

Further Research

I didn't mention the different types of headphone drivers because I didn't want to put too much data in everyone's head. But if you want to do additional research you can learn about the 4 main types... dynamic, planar magnetic, electrostatic, and balanced armature.

[outpost51]

Talus and Fira, 11! (please I just want them to be happy 😭)

Send me a Ship and a Number and I will Write a Kiss

uhhhhhhhhhhh i. tried? i think i fit the prompt

11. …in joy.

★・・・・・・★

high five for low lives

Let’s pretend tomorrow night never happened.

T+ || 614 words

Talus was ready to take a six-year nap, and they hadn’t even fully docked the Merkava. Fira's voice had gone hoarse yelling at Janus and Atria to quit fighting on the ship. They’d been in an on-and-off verbal sparring match since they offloaded their cargo on Korlus, and Janus was currently trying to shake the little human’s grip on his crest. Alion was glued to his Omnitool, occasionally lifting his feet to avoid his younger brother’s flailing legs. Nico was blaring some scream-rock band to drown them out; Talus could almost make out the lyrics through his eldest son's headphones.

He pinched the bridge of his nose to suppress the rapidly growing pressure behind his eyes. Shoulda wrapped it, he thought.

“You knock it off, too,” Fira chided. Had he said that out loud? “The VI’s yelling at you to do the thing with the airlock.”

He shook off the impeding migraine and finished the docking cycle. “Ready?”

Fira stepped over Atria's legs, the only part of her visible beneath Janus, who’d resorted to sitting cross-legged on his little sister to prevent any further attacks. She assumed her position at the airlock door, ready to punch the button and release four pent-up fledglings on the spaceport. She nodded to her husband.

Talus whistled.

All motion stopped on the ship as their kids’ heads snapped to attention.

The airlock doors creaked halfway, stuck, and then slammed open.

Her hoodie rustled in the slipstream left by her children.

Talus approved the pre-portioned allowance transfer to each of his kids’ chits, knocking off ten credits each from Atria and Janus. Fira collapsed against the doorway with a long sigh.

“We need a bigger ship. Or longer vacations.” Her voice sounded as tired as he felt, and as he crossed the short distance to his wife, he could see the droop in her mandibles.

“We could always drop ‘em off on Illium and run away to some beach,” he suggested, his subvocals light. Fira smirked, pinching his waist playfully. Her don’t-even-think-about-it look didn’t have its normal impact; her bright amethyst eyes had dulled significantly since they left the drop point. “Think about it,” he rumbled, leaning closer and cupping her delicate silver mandibles in his hands. “No screamin’, no shitty music, not havin’ to read a dictionary every time Ali talks.” Her giggle was accompanied by a soft cuff under his crest. “Ass in the sand, feet in the water, bottle a’ rum between us.”

She hummed. “That does sound nice, but you’d miss them the minute we left port.” Her manicured talon booped his nasal plates. “Big softie.”

Their browplates connected, and Talus let his eyes drift shut, taking in her scent. The hint of incense and vanilla drew him closer. He wanted to drown in it. In the silence of the ship, his mind wandered to white, sun-warmed sand sifting through his fingers and waves sloshing over his bare legs. The sweet cola on her tongue made a cocktail with the ghost of whiskey on his breath.

A shrill “Dad!” shattered their moment of peace. They sighed against each other’s mouthplates and disentangled their legs. Talus shoved himself back, turning to stomp his way off the ship. A sharp slap to his rear stopped him in his tracks.

“This isn’t over, Talus Cassi.” Fira sauntered by him with a wink, knocking her hip against his thigh.

One hand shot out to catch her by the waist while the other connected with the airlock control. The door slammed shut again. “They’ll be fine for a few hours,” he growled, already pulling his giggling wife back towards their bunk. “Maybe the next one’ll have your manners ‘steada mine.”

★・・・・・・★

Oneshots Taglist: @sparatus @thetrashbagswasteland @teamdilf @tabswrites @starknstarwars @sparrow-orion-writes @captain-kraken @cljordan-imperium @the-river-carrion

Ask to +/- in the tags, replies, DMs, or HERE!

[taperwolf]

The first thing I've ever built using vacuum tubes? Worked first try.

Here it is! I posted earlier about the build, and the 45 volt battery, so I'll just add some setup notes. I'm using a "short" wire antenna, at roughly 18 feet long, strung out from here across the living room. The earth ground is to the old plumbing system; the water comes to the taps via modern PVC pipes, but since this apartment building was constructed some time in the 1960s, there's still a stump of copper pipe under the kitchen sink. The headphones were a long ago thrift store find, magnetic high-impedance 'phones with pin connectors; I have no proof of their age, but I've got a big radio equipment catalog from 1956 that shows very similar ones, down to the cloth-covered headband and wires.

Tuning isn't quite as straightforward as it is on a modern radio. The regenerative circuit used here, which dates back to 1912 (!), requires you to tune the capacitor (left) to the station frequency, and then you need to use the regeneration feedback (right) to dial in just the right amount to pull the audio out. That said, it's much better and cleaner reception than the crystal radios I've built; on those, one strong local station would tend to swamp everything else, and the regeneration here is meant to filter that sort of thing out. I had it running for a couple of minutes, just poking around, and positively identified three separate local AM stations. Come nightfall, we DX hunt!

[spicykaraage]

Tenipuri Complete Character Profile - Akira Kamio

[PROFILE]

Birthday: August 26th (Virgo)

Blood Type: O

Relatives: Father, mother, older sister

Father’s Occupation: Company Employee (travel agency)

Elementary School: Fudomine North Elementary School

Middle School: Fudomine Junior High School

Grade & Class: Second Year | Class 2-3 | Seat 4

Club: Tennis Club (vice captain)

Committee: None

Strong Subjects: PE (short and long-distance running), music

Weak Subjects: Chemistry, English

Most Visited Spot at School: Class 2-2

Favorite Motto: “Hard work does pay off.”

Daily Routines: Choosing which CD to wake up to in the morning

Hobbies: Looking for music that will get him into the rhythm, karaoke ➜ Checking out mascot character programs, BMX [TP]

Favorite Color: Neon yellow, neon pink [TP]

Favorite Music: Rock

Favorite Movie: Action films

Favorite Book: Music magazines, books on outer space [23.5]

Favorite Food: Pot-au-feu, spinach ohitashi [removed], takuan [TP], Captain Tachibana’s gratin [TP]

Favorite Anniversary: The day he met Captain Tachibana

Preferred Type: A girl with a cute smile

Ideal Date Spot: “I’m fine with just being able to go to school together!” ➜ “Let’s go to a fast food place after school!” [23.5]

His Gift for a Special Person: A matching keychain

Where He Wants to Travel: “California’s Land of Dreams!”

What He Wants Most Right Now: A new bicycle ➜ An idea that would surprise Captain Tachibana [23.5]

Dislikes: Rain (since he can’t run) ➜ Maid cafés (Sengoku took him to one) [TP]

Skills Outside of Tennis: Tap dancing, can talk to cheetahs(?) [TP]

Spends Allowance On: CDs

Routine During the World Cup: Finding local keychains

[DATA]

Height: 165cm | 5’4” ➜ 166.5cm | 5’5.5” [23.5]

Weight: 52kg | 114 lbs ➜ 53kg | 116 lbs [23.5]

Shoe Size: 27cm

Dominant Arm: Right

Vision: 2.0 Left & Right

Play Style: Counter Puncher

Signature Moves: Sonic Bullet

50m Run: 5:09

Equipment Brands:

Racket: DUNLOP (XL MEGA IMPEDANCE TITANIUM)

Shoes: NEW BALANCE (WCT 800)

Overall Rating: Speed: 5 / Power: 2 / Stamina: 3 / Mental: 2 / Technique: 3 / Total: 15

Kurobe Memo: “Kamio has yet to fully make use of his speed. He should learn to use his abilities in a subtle way and not by showing off to his opponents.” <Official Description>

[POSSESSIONS]

What’s in His Bag [20.5]:

Headphones: High performance, state-of-the-art headphones. The sound quality is excellent, and the bass is very resonant

MiniDisc walkman: The source of his rhythm, it’s resistant to vibration and has a long-lasting battery

Cell phone: An ordinary cell phone with a camera. Ibu calls him every week and complains for long periods of time…

Chocolate bar: Meiji milk chocolate, to help replenish his energy

Two tickets to a concert: He’s had them in his bag for about a week, trying to find a way to ask out a girl he has a crush on

MiniDiscs: Techno, dance, rock, and hip hop… He has random songs to get him into the rhythm

Hairspray: Cape brand. He uses it to maintain his bangs whenever he gets a break

[TRIVIA]

The Prince of Tennis 20.5 Fanbook | Publication Date: 12/04/2003

He is described to be calm and have good judgement and insight, but is difficult to read which makes him unpopular with girls

He is described to not be good at interacting with others, like keeping secrets and not express much emotion

He is described to often get the short end of the stick in situations since he puts his friends before himself, but also has a mean streak where he’ll oppress those he dislikes

His ideal profession would be a novelist, since he has trouble with his relationships and interacting with others

His bangs do hinder him during matches, but he doesn’t mind it

He does not remember when or why he started his habit of “getting into the rhythm”

The Prince of Tennis 40.5 Fanbook | Publication Date: 12/04/2007

He is described to have a high level of pride and ambition, and dislikes being subordinate to others

He is described to be a man of foresight and planning, and grows rapidly when going with the flow, but also has strong emotional ups and downs and has trouble recovering when he’s down

In the previous fanbook, it stated that he had tickets to a concert for him and An and was trying to find a way to ask her out. It’s revealed that he did manage to go see the concert with her, ate food with her, and invited her again afterward, but nothing more happened after that

The Prince of Tennis II Official Character Guide: PairPuri Vol. 2 | Publication Date: 12/04/2009

He had overheard Sengoku saying he thought Fudomine’s manager was cute and got angry over it

The Prince of Tennis II Official Character Guide: PairPuri Vol. 3 | Publication Date: 01/04/2010

His music player had been broken, but was then quickly fixed by Gakuto

The Prince of Tennis II Official Character Guide: PairPuri Vol. 4 | Publication Date: 02/04/2010

He, Kenya, and Richard had competed to see who could get out of the bath the fastest

The Prince of Tennis II Official Character Guide: PairPuri Vol. 7 | Publication Date: 07/04/2011

He was seen enjoying rock music with Hirari and Tenjin

The Prince of Tennis II 10.5 Fanbook | Publication Date: 09/04/2013

He listens to ballads at twice their speed

He keeps an eye out for when his favorite bands’ new songs are released in karaoke

The Prince of Tennis II 23.5 Fanbook | Publication Date: 05/02/2018

He is not good at applying eye drops and asks Ibu to help him with it

He had asked An out on a date to go hold koalas, but she declined

The Prince of Tennis 20th Anniversary Book: Tenipuri Party | Publication Date: 08/02/2019

He is on the tennis club rather than track-and-field since he wants to enjoy actually playing a game

An thinks of him as a close friend who’s like a little brother to her

[mesimees]

I've been seeing some people being confused in the notes so,,,

While modern radios have way more elements than this, if the signal is strong enough that's technically all you need. ... okay and some wire i suppose.

Because radio waves are electromagnetic and they oscillate, they create a small current in a conductor (that's induction!). The diode together with a person holding it serves to "decode" the radio signal. The diode rectifies it and the person, acting as an antenna, both picks up the signal and acts as a crude low pass filter. That's all you need to decode an AM (amplitude modulated) signal. With the magnet and tin can, you can make a speaker to then listen to that decoded signal. Mind you that this would be an untuned radio, picking up many frequencies at the same time. You'd hear them overlap.

I intentionally said AM and not FM because the latter is not that easy to decode and would need additional materials.

In this post I'm slightly exaggerating how easy it'd be to listen to a signal like that with some quality but technically with a strong signal it's absolutely possible and even if you do add some more elements to make the signal clear and specific you still wouldn't need an additional power source. The only thing an AM radio typically needs a power source for is a sound amplifier, but if you use high impedance (2k Ohm) headphones you don't need that. The catch is that these can be hard to find these days, but you can still make them out of e.g. piezoelectric buzzers or indeed a magnet and a tin can.

AM radio is like literal magic. There is music all around us that we can't hear, and to hear it you just have to tap a crystal (diode) to the earth and listen to it with another magic rock (magnet) and a tin can. You dont even need electricity to make it work because this music around us is literally all the power you need. Oh and at night when the sun has set, the light of the day gets replaced by MORE music because the signals can travel further at night. This is magic. If you even care.

[charlesmwa]

How to Maximize Your Audio Gear Investment: Tips for First-Time Buyers

Investing in high-quality audio equipment can feel like a big leap, especially if you’re new to the world of sound gear. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your home studio, enhance your DJ setup, or finally get those headphones that will transform your listening experience, making the right choice is crucial. But with so many options out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by technical jargon and flashy marketing. As a first-time buyer, it’s essential to approach this decision strategically to ensure you get the best value for your money.

In this blog, we’ll break down how to maximize your audio gear investment by offering practical tips that will help you make informed decisions. From understanding your needs to choosing reputable shops and considering long-term value, these strategies will guide you towards making a purchase you won’t regret.

Know Your Needs Before You Buy

It might sound simple, but one of the most common mistakes first-time buyers make is not clearly defining what they actually need. Audio gear can range from entry-level to professional-grade, and the gear you choose should align with your specific requirements. Are you a budding DJ who needs portable speakers for gigs? Or are you a musician looking for studio monitors to mix your tracks? Or perhaps you’re a content creator in need of a versatile microphone and headphones?

Before diving into the vast sea of products, ask yourself:

What type of audio work will I be doing?

Will this gear serve my needs both now and in the future?

Do I have the space and technical setup required for this equipment?

Knowing exactly what you need will help narrow down your options and save you time and money. Many first-time buyers end up purchasing equipment that’s either overkill for their needs or doesn’t offer the features they actually require.

Prioritize Sound Quality Over Brand Names

It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of popular brands, but focusing on sound quality rather than labels will lead to a much better experience. Brand names can often be synonymous with premium prices, but the name doesn’t always guarantee the best sound for your specific needs. It’s the audio quality that truly matters, whether you’re mixing tracks, recording vocals, or simply listening to music.

When evaluating audio gear, consider factors like:

Frequency response (how well the equipment reproduces low and high sounds)

Impedance (especially for headphones or speakers)

Distortion (does the sound stay clear at high volumes?)

Build quality (does the gear feel sturdy and durable?)

Take the time to listen to different products in person, whether through demos or in-store testing. If you’re unsure, it’s always a good idea to consult expert opinions from reliable sources or ask for recommendations from fellow audio enthusiasts. When buying from a reputable audio shop, you’ll have the opportunity to test the gear before committing to a purchase.

Understand the Importance of Compatibility

One mistake that’s easy to overlook is whether the gear you’re purchasing is compatible with your current setup. Audio equipment comes in a range of formats and connection types—USB, XLR, 3.5mm, RCA—and each device has specific input and output requirements.

For example, you may fall in love with a pair of studio monitors, but if your current audio interface only supports headphone outputs, you won’t be able to connect them without additional adapters or equipment. Similarly, some microphones or mixers may require certain audio interfaces, while others are plug-and-play.

Before making any purchase, carefully check whether the gear is compatible with your existing equipment. This will help you avoid extra costs or frustration later on. Compatibility is one of those factors that can seem small at first, but it can become a major roadblock if you don’t pay attention to it early on.

Invest in Quality, Not Quantity

When starting out, it's tempting to buy everything at once, thinking you need all the latest gadgets to get the best results. However, focusing on a few high-quality pieces rather than buying a full setup of mediocre gear can make a huge difference. For example, a good pair of headphones or speakers can elevate your entire audio experience, while cheaper alternatives might leave you disappointed or unsatisfied.

Start by focusing on the core elements you need for your specific purpose. If you’re setting up a home recording studio, invest in high-quality microphones and audio interfaces. If you’re a DJ, prioritize speakers, controllers, and mixers. By starting with the essentials and building your setup gradually, you ensure that each piece of equipment serves a specific purpose without stretching your budget too thin.

Consider Future Expansion and Upgrades

One of the biggest advantages of investing in quality audio equipment is the potential for future upgrades. High-quality gear tends to last longer and can grow with you as your needs evolve. Rather than settling for entry-level equipment that may need to be replaced sooner, consider how your audio gear could fit into a more advanced setup down the road.

For example, a good audio interface can support multiple input devices, allowing you to add more microphones, instruments, or external processors as you expand your setup. Similarly, high-end speakers or headphones will deliver better performance as you refine your skills and grow into more demanding tasks.

Planning for upgrades allows you to invest in equipment that will serve you for years, saving you money in the long run and minimizing the hassle of frequent replacements.

Don’t Skip After-Sales Support

When purchasing high-end audio gear, it’s easy to focus solely on the specs and features, but after-sales support is just as important. A good warranty, tech support, and return policy can make a huge difference if anything goes wrong with your equipment after the purchase. Always check what kind of after-sales support the store or manufacturer provides.

Having access to reliable customer service means you won’t be left in the lurch if you encounter issues with your gear. Whether it’s troubleshooting, getting replacement parts, or returning a faulty product, you’ll appreciate knowing that support is just a phone call or email away.

When buying from a professional audio shop, you often get the added benefit of knowledgeable staff who can guide you post-purchase, helping you get the most out of your equipment.

Do Your Research and Read Reviews

Before you make your purchase, always research the gear you’re considering. Check out online reviews, forum discussions, and video demos to see what others have to say about the product. Look for feedback from users with similar needs, and pay attention to both the positives and the negatives.

Don’t rely solely on one source; the more information you gather, the more confident you’ll feel in your decision. It’s also helpful to get recommendations from friends or mentors who have experience with audio gear—they can offer valuable insights that you might not find in reviews.

Maximizing Your Budget

It’s easy to overspend when you’re excited about getting new gear, but sticking to a budget will help you maximize your investment. Setting a clear budget before you begin shopping helps you avoid impulse buys and ensures you’re prioritizing quality without breaking the bank. Look for sales or discounts, and consider buying gently used or refurbished gear from reputable sources. These options can provide significant savings while still offering high-quality equipment.

Make a Smart, Informed Investment

Buying audio equipment for the first time is an exciting experience, but it’s important to approach it with careful consideration. By understanding your needs, focusing on quality, and doing your research, you can maximize the value of your investment and avoid costly mistakes. Whether you’re building a recording studio or enhancing your home entertainment setup, the right audio gear can make all the difference.

Remember, purchasing from professional audio shop ensures that you’ll have access to knowledgeable support and high-quality products that align with your long-term goals. With the right mindset and strategy, you’ll be able to make a purchase that will not only serve you now but also grow with you as your skills and needs evolve.

[atplblog]

Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details) [ad_1] INTRODUCTION: The SRK CLOUD all in one machine G4 mixer which comes with two UHF Wireless Microphones, this mixer is a compact, powerful mixing console, which can meet your needs for the occasions such as daily-life concerts, family music making, Karaoke singing, network broadcasting or youtuber use. FEATURES: The mixer has upto 4-channel inputs with built-in 48V phantom power, a high-impedance guitar amplifier, a Bluetooth/MP3 player, a computer sound card, an effector, etc.. It has a compact size, easy for carry, and can be supplied with power by using a computer/power bank or power adaptor. KEY HEIGHLITES: 1) Mixed Mic./Line input on Mono input channel ½. 2) 48V Phantom Power Switch/Indicator. 3) Guitar/Line Input Switch in Mono input channel. 4) Gain Knob. 5) High/Low Sound Knob. 6) Effects-Send Keys. 7) Volume Knob & Peak Indicator. 8) Signal Switching Key of MP3 Player & CH 3-4. 9) Built-in High Quality Digital Effects Processor, to apply colors to the channel sound. 10) Main Output Voltage Knob. 11) Earphone Volume Knob. 12) Headphones Output Jack. 13) Power on LED. 14) Main Output Level Indicator. 15) BT/MP3 Player. 16) Inputs Ports in the Stereo Input Channel, include an RCA socket and a 6.5mm-spec jack, Divided into Left & Right sound channel. 17) Main Output Jack. 18) RCA socket for the recording output. 19) Mode select switch. 20) MICRO USB Socket. 21) Wireless UHF microphone switch. SRK CLOUD G4 4 CHANNEL WITH 2 Wireless UHF Microphones BLUETOOTH, USB INPUT, RECORDING, PC INPUT, EFFECTS. Stereo input jack used to connect line-level instruments such as electronic keyboards and audio equipment. Two types of jacks are available: Phone type and RCA pin type Professional 4-channel mixing console and monitor paths plus effects processor with two mono channels and one stereo tape channel With input gain and high bass adjustment, built-in +48V phantom power, UHF Microphone ON/OFF, high-definition headset output port, MP3 broadcast, Sound card function for the computer XLR plug and phone type plug can be connected when you want to use microphone or instrument Best for home karaoke [ad_2]

[aaryan-mwa-blogs]

What Are the Most Common Misconceptions About Buying Professional Audio Gear?

When you’re first starting to build an audio setup, whether it's for your home studio, a live DJ performance, or just to elevate your music-listening experience, it's easy to get lost in the overwhelming amount of information out there. Professional audio gear often comes with hefty price tags, and as a result, a lot of myths and misconceptions tend to float around about what you really need. If you’re someone who’s dipping their toes into the world of audio gear, it’s essential to sort out fact from fiction. So, let’s break down some of the most common misconceptions about buying professional audio gear—and what the truth really is.

1. Expensive Gear is Always Better

This is probably the biggest myth that surrounds professional audio gear. It’s easy to assume that if something costs more, it’s automatically the best choice for you. While it’s true that premium products tend to offer higher quality in certain areas, the price tag isn’t always an indicator of the best gear for your specific needs.

For example, if you’re setting up a home studio to record podcasts or music, you might not need the top-tier, high-end microphones that are used in large, professional studios. A more affordable option might still provide excellent sound quality and suit your needs perfectly. The key here is to understand the type of audio work you’re doing and invest accordingly. Sometimes, paying extra for features you don’t need can actually be a waste of money.

2. You Need to Buy Everything New

There’s this misconception that professional audio gear must always be purchased brand new to guarantee quality and performance. While new gear is often pristine, the reality is that the second-hand market is filled with great deals. Many professional audio products—like microphones, speakers, and headphones—are built to last, and buying used can help you stretch your budget without sacrificing much on quality.

Of course, buying second-hand comes with its risks, especially if you’re not familiar with the product's condition. However, reputable audio shops often offer warranties or return policies on second-hand gear, making it a much safer bet than buying from an unknown seller. If you're looking to save a bit of cash, don't overlook used equipment from trusted sources.

3. You Can Just Plug and Play

Another myth about professional audio gear is that once you buy it, you can simply plug everything in, hit "play," and expect perfect sound right away. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Professional audio gear often requires proper setup, calibration, and even a bit of learning on your part to get the best performance.

For instance, speakers and studio monitors need to be properly positioned to avoid distortion, microphones may require the right preamp to enhance their sound, and even headphones can sound different depending on their impedance (how much power they need to operate properly). Beyond just the physical setup, you may need to invest time in learning the software and settings that go along with your audio gear. Audio professionals spend years honing their skills for a reason—getting the most out of professional audio gear takes time and effort.

4. All You Need for Great Sound Is Expensive Speakers

While good-quality speakers can certainly make a difference, they aren't the only factor that contributes to great sound. Many people assume that if you buy top-of-the-line speakers, you’ll instantly have the best audio setup. In reality, sound quality is determined by a combination of things, including your room acoustics, audio source, and additional gear like mixers or audio interfaces.

For example, if you're using low-quality cables or have improper speaker placement, even the best speakers won’t give you the sound you expect. Acoustic treatment in your room—like foam panels, bass traps, and diffusers—is another important piece of the puzzle. If you want professional-level sound, you’ll need to consider your entire setup, not just focus on one component.

5. More Channels and Features = Better Mixer

Mixers are often marketed with tons of inputs, knobs, and features, which can be really appealing, especially if you're just starting out. But here's the thing—more channels and features don’t necessarily mean a better mixer. It’s about what works for your specific needs.

If you’re a solo podcaster or a bedroom producer, you probably won’t need a massive mixer with 20 inputs. A smaller, more compact mixer with the features you actually need (like quality preamps and built-in effects) will probably do the job just as well. If you’re DJing in a small venue, a simple two-channel mixer might suffice, while larger events might require something with more inputs. Understanding what you'll actually use your mixer for will help you make a more informed purchase.

6. You Can’t Mix Music Without a Professional Audio Interface

It’s easy to assume that to mix or record music at a professional level, you absolutely need an expensive audio interface. While high-end interfaces can offer more inputs, better preamps, and higher-quality conversion, many mid-range interfaces will still give you great sound for home recording or small-scale projects.

Audio interfaces are crucial because they convert the analog signal from your microphone or instrument into a digital signal that your computer can understand. However, the performance of an interface is often about the quality of its components, not necessarily its price. In fact, many budget audio interfaces can still offer surprisingly good sound quality. What you really need to focus on is compatibility with your computer, the number of inputs you require, and how much you’re willing to spend.

7. More Power Means Better Sound

When it comes to amplifiers and speakers, many people believe that more power automatically equals better sound. While having enough power is important (especially in live sound situations), more power doesn’t always equate to better performance. For instance, if you have a 100-watt amplifier for a small home studio, it will probably overpower your speakers, leading to distortion and poor sound quality.

Power is important, but so is matching the power of your amplifier to your speakers’ wattage rating. Your equipment should be balanced to ensure optimal sound. If you’re using speakers that don’t require a ton of power, a lower-wattage amp can actually provide cleaner, more efficient sound. So, don’t get caught up in the numbers—focus on ensuring your equipment is compatible.

8. Professional Gear Is Only for Professionals

There’s this idea that professional audio gear is exclusively for experts or high-budget projects, but that's not true. While it’s true that some equipment is designed for advanced users, a lot of professional gear can be used by anyone—especially if you’re willing to put in the effort to learn. In fact, many musicians, podcasters, and even hobbyists use pro-level gear in their home studios because of its reliability, durability, and superior sound quality.

Just because something is marketed as "professional" doesn’t mean it’s too complex for beginners. With the right knowledge and a little practice, you can get great results using high-quality equipment, whether you're an experienced pro or just starting to explore the world of audio.

Final Thoughts: The Truth About Professional Audio Gear

When it comes to buying professional audio gear, knowledge is power. There’s a lot of hype and misinformation out there, but the most important thing is to understand your own needs. You don’t need to break the bank to get good-quality gear, and you don’t need to buy everything new or with tons of unnecessary features. Instead, focus on understanding the role of each piece of equipment and how it fits into your overall setup.

The best way to make informed purchasing decisions is to shop from reputable audio stores like VIP PRO AUDIO that can guide you through the process. They’ll help ensure you’re getting equipment that fits your needs and offer professional advice to make sure you're investing in quality gear that will last.

In the end, the right gear is the gear that works for you—not the most expensive or feature-packed equipment.

[accidentalaudiophile]

Fiio K11

Upgrading my desktop pc at the start of this year showed me an unfortunate side to having good headphones: if something down the line is having some issues, you're going to notice them more. In this case, the way the tower was set up meant that the front headphone jack caught a bunch of interference (by no means a terrible amount, I'm just a tad sensitive to it now).

The easiest solution is to get an external DAC (Digital to Analog Converter, turns the ones and zeroes into the analog signal needed to drive speakers/headphones). I figured, might as well get a decent one so it can also drive heavier headphones I might end up owning down the line. Hence, the K11: a relatively budget-friendly desktop DAC (around 130 euros) with a good set of in- and outputs. I currently only use the USB interface as input and the headphone jack as an output, but it's got more option than that. It does use the big jack (no worries, an adapter is included for the standard jack, if you're using the balanced jack you're deep enough in the weeds you probably have that covered already), which makes it feel decidedly serious. That said, the majority of people aren't going to need one (want is another matter entirely), with how well thought-out most designs for computers are these days.

Now, a DAC shouldn't have too much of an impact on your music, though they often do tend to colour the experience slightly. The K11 seems fairly neutral in this regard, at least not too different from what you'd expect to encounter as part of a standard computer setup, just a bit cleaner and more capable. Currently, I'm using it on the low power setting, as my various headphones don't need high power to work well. The controls on the device itself are kept very simple, a single dial also functions as a button, which normally controls the volume. Short press on the button switches over from front to rear output, allowing quick changes between headphones and speakers, a nice touch. Longer presses enter the menu where various things can be adjusted, and even longer functions as the off button (could've been good to have a separate one for that, but this is fine).

Without additional drivers the K11 works perfectly fine on modern computers, with the additional drivers you can push the sound quality up a bit more, to the frankly ludicrous. A sample rate of 48 kHz at 16 bit is pretty typical of laptops, with the drivers you can get (off the top of my head) a sample rate of 192 kHz at 24 bit, which only really makes a difference if your source is similarly detailed (the average CD very much isn't). Still, it feels nice to have the option, and with good audio staying good, it's nice to have a bit of space open for where my journey takes me.

All in all, a decent device if you find yourself in need (or want, that's valid!) of a DAC and want to have the option of driving somewhat higher impedance headphones. I can see it being very useful for switching between speakers and headphones as well, so if that's a usecase that comes up a lot for you it might be worth a look.

[tech-rabbit]

Acer Predator Helios Neo 14 Gaming Laptop

If you want to have a laptop on which to play video games, then I have an offer for you. Acer Predator Helios 14 gaming laptop.

The laptop contains an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H central processor. It provides a special mechanism that unlocks the experience of artificial intelligence on a PC, which takes graphics to a higher level. It also has low power consumption, which means you can work for longer without plugging your laptop into the power grid.

The player will also be most interested in the video card, as it is an important computer hardware for video games. The laptop has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card based on artificial intelligence and enhanced DLSS 3.5 technology.

As for cooling: The laptop has cool 5th generation AeroBlade 3D fan technology, vector heat pipes, and liquid metal thermoplastics. This allows this laptop to maintain high performance even when it gets too hot! The dual-fan system with VortexFlow improves system cooling by continuously pulling cooler air inside the laptop.

This laptop also features Purified Voice 2.0 technology. This revolutionary technology uses artificial intelligence to eliminate unwanted background noise, ensuring the best clarity of your voice. With a three-microphone setup and beamforming, your commands stand out without other ambient noise.

The laptop includes the following components: 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, microSD card reader, Killer Wirelees Wi-Fi 6E AX1675 with support for dual-stream Wi-Fi in the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz band, 2x2 MU-MIMO technology, Bluetooth 5.3 or higher, Bluetooth LE Audio, DTS support: X Ultra Audio.

The laptop has the Microsoft Windows 11 Home operating system with the Copilot AI assistant installed.

Personalization with PredatorSense 5.0: Control and personalize your notebook with the PredatorSense 5.0 utility program. Get creative and combine colors to your heart's content. The app gives you full control to personalize the RGB keyboard lighting in three zones, switch between four gaming-oriented operating modes, and adjust fan dynamics while monitoring system health. All of these features are conveniently placed in one accessible program.

The laptop has the following ports: one Thunderbolt 4 port, USB Type-C port, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps), microSD card reader slot, DisplayPort via USB Type-C, USB Charging & Power Delivery, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 port with power off option, HDMI 2.1 port with HDCP support, and ports for headphones, speakers, line out with support for high-impedance headsets.

[bizonmark]

Sleep Bluetooth Headphones Noise Cancelling Painless Wireless Music High Quality

  Parameters: ●Bluetooth version :Bluetooth 5.3 ●Sensitivity：96db + 3db ●Charging interface :TYPE-C ●Frequency response range：20HZ-20KHZ ●Impedance：32Q±15 % ●Ultra long standby：240 hours ●Charging times of charging compartment：4-6 times ●Single use time：6-8 hour ●Standby time：240 hour ●Product size：76*57*36 mm Feature: * IPX5 Waterproof and Dustproof * High Capacity Battery * HD Voice * HiFi…

[govindhtech]

Apple Mac mini: Mighty, Tiny & Built For Apple Intelligence

Apple unveiled the new Apple Mac mini, powered by the M4 and M4 Pro CPUs and developed around Apple silicon, to deliver excellent performance in a 5 by 5 inch compact size. M4 Mac mini features 1.8x quicker CPU and 2.2x better GPU than M1. Innovative M4 technology are scaled up for severe workloads with M4 Pro. Front and back ports improve communication, and the M4 Pro supports Thunderbolt 5 for faster data transfer. New Mac mini features Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system that boosts productivity, communication, and self-expression while safeguarding privacy.

Mac mini m4 Release Date

The first carbon-neutral Mac, Mac mini, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 80% in materials, manufacture, transportation, and consumer usag The new Apple Mac mini with 16GB of memory costs $599 and ships November 8.

Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, said Apple silicon’s power efficiency and unique thermal architecture give the new Apple Mac mini enormous performance in a little package. M4 and the new M4 Pro chip, expanded front and back connectivity, and Apple Intelligence make Apple Mac mini the most competent and adaptable device yet.

What is a mac mini?

Apple makes a little desktop called the Mac mini. It’s known for its compact size, packing power inside a sleek, square body a few inches broad. The Mac mini can be used in the home, business, or media production and development studios since it performs like a desktop but takes up less space.

Small, but Fierce

The new 5×5-inch Apple Mac mini takes significantly less desk space than the old one. Apple silicon’s power efficiency and a new thermal architecture that feeds air to different system levels and vents through the foot enable the super-compact system.

At 20% the size, Apple Mac mini is 6x faster than the best-selling PC desktop in its price category. The Mac mini with M4 is powerful for students, creatives, and small businesses. The Mac mini M4 includes 16GB of unified memory and a 10-core GPU and CPU. Work app multitasking, video editing, music composition, and code writing and compilation benefit from M4’s performance.

When compared to the Mac mini with Intel Core i7, Mac mini with M4:

Increases Logic Pro audio effect plugins by 2.8x

Accelerates Warcraft: The War Within 13.3x.

Photomator image upscaling speed increases 33x.

When compared to the Mac mini with M1, Mac mini with M4:

In Microsoft Excel, the Mac mini with M4 calculates spreadsheets 1.7x faster than M1.

On-device AI speech-to-text MacWhisper transcribes 2x faster.

Combines panoramas 4.9x faster in Lightroom Classic.

Introducing M4 Pro for Pro-Level Performance 

Mac mini with M4 Pro features the fastest single-threaded CPU core for pro performance. With up to 14 cores 10 performance and efficiency M4 Pro excels at multithreading. For the first time, the Apple Mac mini supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing with the M4 Pro GPU, which has up to 20 cores. Apple Intelligence models operate quicker on M4 Pro’s 3x faster Neural Engine than Mac mini with M1. For AI task acceleration, M4 Pro supports 64GB of unified memory and 273GB/s of memory bandwidth, twice as much as any AI PC CPU. M4 Pro supports Thunderbolt 5, which doubles throughput and speeds Apple Mac mini data transfers to 120 Gb/s.

Upgraded Connectivity and Display Support 

New Apple Mac mini offers multiple ports for every setup. Two USB-C ports with USB 3 and a high-impedance headphone jack are front-facing for quicker access. Back of Apple Mac mini with M4 has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, M4 Pro has three Thunderbolt 5. Mac mini includes Gigabit Ethernet, configurable to 10Gb, and an HDMI port for connecting to a TV or display without an adapter. Mac mini supports two 6K screens and one 5K display with M4, and three 60Hz 6K monitors with M4 Pro for over 60 million pixels.

A New Era with Apple Intelligence on the Mac

An era of personal intelligence on the Mac begins with Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence helps Mac users work, communicate, and express themselves with powerful generative models and industry-first privacy protections using Apple silicon and the Neural Engine. It supports U.S. English in macOS Sequoia 15.1. Systemwide Writing Tools let users rewrite, revise, and summarize almost anywhere.

Siri now answers thousands of Mac and Apple product questions and effortlessly switches between spoken and typed requests to speed up daily tasks. December will bring new Apple Intelligence features, with more planned. Genmoji generates innovative emoji in seconds, and Image Playground allows users create fun graphics. Siri will perform system-wide tasks and deliver individualized insight using user context. In December, Siri and Writing Tools will incorporate ChatGPT, letting users apply its expertise without switching tools.

Apple Intelligence safeguards privacy. Private Cloud Computer gives advanced operations access to Apple’s larger server-based models and breakthrough data protection. On-device computing is its foundation. ChatGPT is free, IP addresses are hidden, and OpenAI doesn’t store requests without an account. Data use by connected accounts must meet OpenAI’s rules.

The First Carbon Neutral Mac

Apple Mac mini helps Apple 2030 reach carbon neutrality by 2030. Apple-designed printed circuit boards are gold-plated, the Mac mini shell is 100% recycled aluminum, and all magnets use rare earth elements. Powering Mac mini is 100% renewable. Apple has invested in global sustainable energy initiatives to power Mac minis with 100% consumer electricity. Apple prefers ocean freight to cut pollution. These approaches reduced Mac mini’s carbon footprint by 80%. Apple offsets residual emissions with high-quality carbon credits from nature-based projects like its innovative Restore Fund.

The Apple Mac mini fiber-based packaging is another first, bringing Apple closer to eliminating plastic packaging by 2025.

An Unrivaled Experience with macOS Sequoia

The new Apple Mac mini comes with iPhone Mirroring, which lets users wirelessly connect with their iPhone, apps, and notifications from their Mac. Safari, the world’s fastest browser, contains Highlights, which quickly retrieves site information, a smarter, redesigned Reader with a table of contents and high-level summary, and a distraction-free Video Viewer. Hide irritating webpage elements using Distraction Control. Personalized Spatial Audio, Game Mode improvements, and intriguing games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows enhance immersion. Customers can customize their windows with easy window tiling. The new Passwords app collects passwords, passkeys, and credentials. Users can upload photos or use the new, appealing built-in video call backgrounds, including color gradients and system desktops.

Pricing and Availability

Customers can pre-order the new Apple Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro starting today, Tuesday, October 29, on apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app in 28 countries and regions, including the U.S. It will start arriving to customers, and in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, beginning Friday, November 8.

Mac mini with M4 starts at $599 (U.S.) and $499 (U.S.) for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/mac-mini.

Mac mini with M4 Pro starts at $1,399 (U.S.) and $1,299 (U.S.) for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/mac-mini.

New accessories with USB-C including Magic Keyboard ($99 U.S.), Magic Keyboard with Touch ID ($149 U.S.), Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad ($179 U.S.), Magic Trackpad ($129 U.S.), Magic Mouse ($79 U.S.), and Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable ($69)  are available at apple.com/store.

Apple Intelligence is available now as a free software update for Mac with M1 and later, and can be accessed in most regions around the world when the device and Siri language are set to U.S. English. The first set of features is in beta and available with macOS Sequoia 15.1, with more features rolling out in the months to come.

Apple Intelligence is quickly adding support for more languages. In December, Apple Intelligence will add support for localized English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K., and in April, a software update will deliver expanded language support, with more coming throughout the year. Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and other languages will be supported.

With Apple Trade In, customers can trade in their current computer and get credit toward a new Mac. Customers can visit apple.com/shop/trade-in to see what their device is worth.

AppleCare+ for Mac provides unparalleled service and support. This includes unlimited incidents of accidental damage, battery service coverage, and 24/7 support from the people who know Mac best.

Every customer who buys directly from Apple Retail gets access to Personal Setup. In these guided online sessions, a Specialist can walk them through setup, or focus on features that help them make the most of their new device. Customers can also learn more about getting started with their new device with a Today at Apple session at their nearest Apple Store.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[itscarshub]

Audio and Entertainment Accessories for Ultimate Enjoyment

Introduction - The importance of audio and entertainment in the driving experience - Overview of the evolution of car audio systems - Introduction to the wide range of audio and entertainment accessories available for vehicles Section 1: In-Car Audio Systems - The evolution of in-car audio: from AM radios to advanced infotainment systems - Key components of modern car audio systems: head units, speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers - Understanding audio specifications: wattage, impedance, frequency response, and signal-to-noise ratio Section 2: High-End Audio Upgrades - Aftermarket audio upgrades: replacing factory systems with premium components - High-fidelity speakers and amplifiers: enhancing sound quality and clarity - Custom subwoofer enclosures and sound tuning: maximizing bass response and spatial imaging - Digital signal processing (DSP) systems: optimizing audio performance for the vehicle's acoustics Section 3: Connectivity and Integration - Smartphone integration: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and other mobile connectivity solutions - Bluetooth audio streaming: wirelessly playing music from smartphones and other devices - USB and auxiliary inputs: connecting external media devices for playback - Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities: providing internet access for streaming music and other online content Section 4: Entertainment Systems for Passengers - Rear-seat entertainment systems: LCD screens, DVD players, and gaming consoles - Headrest and overhead monitors: providing individual entertainment options for passengers - Wireless headphones and remote controls: allowing passengers to customize their entertainment experience - Interactive features: touchscreen interfaces, apps, and gaming options for long journeys Section 5: Audio Enhancement Accessories - Sound deadening materials: reducing road noise and vibrations for a quieter cabin - Speaker baffles and enclosures: improving sound quality and preventing distortion - Acoustic treatments: optimizing the vehicle's interior for better audio reproduction - LED lighting and visual effects: enhancing the ambiance of the audio experience Section 6: Customization and Personalization - Custom audio installations: building unique audio systems tailored to individual preferences - Vehicle-specific upgrades: accessories designed to complement the aesthetics of specific car models - Interior trim and upholstery options: coordinating audio upgrades with interior design elements - Brand collaborations and limited-edition releases: exclusive audio accessories for enthusiasts and collectors Section 7: Emerging Technologies and Future Trends - Advanced audio processing algorithms: immersive audio experiences and virtual surround sound - Integration with smart home systems: seamless connectivity between car and home entertainment systems - Augmented reality (AR) audio interfaces: interactive audio displays and spatial audio technologies - Sustainable materials and eco-friendly audio solutions: reducing environmental impact while enhancing the driving experience Article Segment In-Car Video Systems In today's fast-paced world, our cars have become more than just modes of transportation—they are mobile entertainment hubs, providing us with music, podcasts, and other forms of digital content to enjoy on the go. As technology has advanced, so too have the audio and entertainment accessories available for vehicles, offering drivers and passengers a truly immersive experience behind the wheel. In-Car Audio Systems The journey of in-car audio systems has been nothing short of remarkable. From the early days of AM radios to today's advanced infotainment systems, car audio has undergone a significant evolution, driven by innovations in technology and consumer demand for high-quality sound reproduction. Modern car audio systems consist of several key components, each playing a vital role in delivering an optimal listening experience. At the heart of the system is the head unit, which serves as the control center for audio playback and connectivity. From basic CD players to touchscreen displays with built-in navigation and smartphone integration, head units have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years. Accompanying the head unit are the speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers, which work together to produce rich, dynamic sound throughout the vehicle. High-fidelity speakers deliver crisp highs and detailed midrange frequencies, while amplifiers provide the power needed to drive the speakers to their full potential. Subwoofers add depth and impact to the music, reproducing low-frequency bass notes with authority. Understanding audio specifications such as wattage, impedance, frequency response, and signal-to-noise ratio is crucial for selecting the right components and achieving the desired sound quality. Higher wattage amplifiers and speakers with wider frequency responses can deliver greater dynamic range and clarity, while low impedance speakers are more efficient at converting electrical signals into sound. High-End Audio Upgrades While many vehicles come equipped with factory-installed audio systems, enthusiasts often opt to upgrade to aftermarket components for superior performance and customization options. Aftermarket audio upgrades can range from simple speaker replacements to complete system overhauls, depending on the desired level of improvement. High-end audio upgrades typically involve replacing factory speakers and amplifiers with premium aftermarket components. High-fidelity speakers from brands like JL Audio, Focal, and Hertz offer superior sound quality and durability compared to factory-installed speakers. Similarly, high-performance amplifiers from companies like Alpine, Rockford Fosgate, and Audison provide the power needed to drive these speakers to their full potential. Custom subwoofer enclosures and sound tuning tools are also popular upgrades for audiophiles seeking to maximize bass response and spatial imaging. Custom enclosures can be tailored to the vehicle's specific acoustics, ensuring optimal performance and integration with the rest of the audio system. Sound tuning tools such as digital signal processors (DSPs) allow users to fine-tune the sound characteristics to their liking, adjusting parameters such as equalization, crossover frequencies, and time alignment. Connectivity and Integration In addition to sound quality, connectivity and integration are key considerations for modern car audio systems. With the proliferation of smartphones and digital media, drivers expect seamless integration between their devices and their vehicles' audio systems. Smartphone integration technologies such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have become increasingly common in newer vehicles, allowing drivers to access their favorite apps and media content directly from the vehicle's touchscreen display. These systems provide a familiar and intuitive interface for controlling music playback, making phone calls, sending messages, and navigating with popular mapping apps like Google Maps and Waze. Bluetooth audio streaming is another popular feature that allows drivers to wirelessly play music from their smartphones, tablets, or other Bluetooth-enabled devices through the vehicle's audio system. Bluetooth technology provides convenience and flexibility, eliminating the need for cumbersome cables and allowing passengers to easily switch between different audio sources. USB and auxiliary inputs are also common features found in many vehicles, providing additional options for connecting external media devices such as USB flash drives, MP3 players, or portable music players. These inputs allow users to enjoy their favorite music stored on these devices without relying on Bluetooth or smartphone integration. Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities have become increasingly prevalent in newer vehicles, providing internet access for streaming music, downloading apps, and accessing online content on the go. Wi-Fi hotspot functionality allows passengers to stay connected and entertained during long drives, making it an essential feature for modern car audio systems. General Questions Q: What are audio and entertainment accessories for cars? A: Audio and entertainment accessories for cars encompass a wide range of products designed to enhance the in-car audio and entertainment experience. These can include aftermarket audio systems, smartphone integration solutions, rear-seat entertainment systems, and various accessories aimed at improving sound quality, connectivity, and passenger enjoyment. Q: Why are audio and entertainment accessories important for cars? A: Audio and entertainment accessories play a crucial role in enhancing the driving experience by providing entertainment options for both drivers and passengers. Whether it's listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks, or enjoying movies and games during long journeys, these accessories contribute to a more enjoyable and comfortable ride. Audio Systems Q: What components make up a car audio system? A: A car audio system typically consists of several components, including a head unit (stereo receiver), speakers (front, rear, and sometimes subwoofers), amplifiers, and signal processors. These components work together to reproduce sound from various audio sources. Q: What is the difference between factory-installed and aftermarket audio systems? A: Factory-installed audio systems are pre-installed by the vehicle manufacturer and often have limited customization options. Aftermarket audio systems, on the other hand, are aftermarket upgrades that offer greater flexibility in terms of sound quality, features, and customization, allowing users to tailor their audio experience to their preferences. Connectivity and Integration Q: What is smartphone integration in car audio systems? A: Smartphone integration allows users to connect their smartphones to their car's audio system, typically via USB, Bluetooth, or wireless technologies. This integration enables features such as hands-free calling, music streaming, navigation, and access to smartphone apps directly from the car's infotainment system. Q: What is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto? A: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are smartphone integration platforms that enable users to connect their iPhones (CarPlay) or Android smartphones (Android Auto) to their car's infotainment system. These platforms provide a familiar interface on the car's touchscreen display, allowing users to access their phone's features, apps, and content while driving. Entertainment Systems Q: What are rear-seat entertainment systems? A: Rear-seat entertainment systems typically consist of LCD screens, DVD players, gaming consoles, and wireless headphones installed in the rear of the vehicle. These systems are designed to entertain passengers, especially children, during long journeys by providing access to movies, games, and other multimedia content. Q: Can rear-seat entertainment systems be integrated into the car's audio system? A: Yes, rear-seat entertainment systems can often be integrated into the car's audio system, allowing passengers to listen to audio from DVDs, gaming consoles, or other sources through the car's speakers or wireless headphones. Customization and Personalization Q: What are some ways to customize and personalize a car's audio system? A: Some ways to customize and personalize a car's audio system include upgrading speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers for improved sound quality; adding LED lighting and visual effects for ambiance; and installing sound deadening materials for a quieter cabin. Q: Are there any car audio accessories specifically designed for enthusiasts or collectors? A: Yes, there are car audio accessories designed for enthusiasts and collectors, such as limited-edition speakers, amplifiers, and head units featuring custom designs, premium materials, and exclusive branding. These accessories are often sought after by enthusiasts looking to enhance the aesthetics and performance of their audio systems. Emerging Technologies and Future Trends Q: What are some emerging technologies in car audio and entertainment? A: Some emerging technologies in car audio and entertainment include advanced audio processing algorithms for immersive sound experiences, integration with smart home systems for seamless connectivity, augmented reality (AR) audio interfaces for interactive displays, and sustainable materials for eco-friendly audio solutions. Q: How do manufacturers address safety concerns related to in-car entertainment systems? A: Manufacturers address safety concerns related to in-car entertainment systems by implementing features such as voice commands, steering wheel controls, and hands-free calling to minimize driver distraction. Additionally, some systems have built-in safety features like automatic volume adjustment based on vehicle speed and road noise. Read the full article

[headfonics]

The last of the classic Audeze 'house sound'?

Marcus reviews and compares Audeze's long-standing and still available LCD-4z, a flagship planar headphone that is just as home on a DAP as it is on a dedicated amplifier.

Now published on Headfonics!

[teardownit]

The Cheapest and Simplest Audiophile Headphone Amp

This small amplifier finds its use not only with headphones for listening to your favorite tunes in good quality or for playing the electric guitar without causing any annoyance to your close ones.

It can also amplify line-level audio if any of your audio system components have too low sensitivity or output levels.

Our amplifier also has a low output impedance and a reasonably high input impedance��50 kilo-ohms. So, the amplifier serves dual purposes as a buffer with gain and as a power amplifier for headphones.

The design is inexpensive and quite compact, so it can be used in almost any project. The bipolar power supply is not required; any stabilized power source or 12 to 18-volt battery is sufficient.

This amplifier has a linear stereo input, not a Hi-Z instrumental input, for connecting an electric guitar. Therefore, if you play the guitar, you will need an additional preamp.

Headphone amplifiers are assembled using transistors, tubes, and microchips. The tubes add a pleasant warmth to the sound by adding even harmonics to the signal. We have already looked into this in a post on the DIY tube amplifier.

That sweet little amplifier is an excellent buffer for a hi-fi audio system. It can happily work with an electric guitar. But its output power is not enough for headphones. (Yet it can be an excellent preamp for our headphone amp today.) A tube amplifier needs to be powered with an AC transformer, which is not a portable solution.

Discrete transistor amplifiers can be decent, but they contain many elements. They need to be carefully configured, pairs of transistors with the same parameters must be picked, and a large quantity of high-quality capacitors must be used.

Some audiophiles say the best sound is created only with special carbon-fiber resistors. If the influence of the design and materials of capacitors on the quality of sound reproduction is objectively proven and has been measured, valuable parameters for resistors, from a technical standpoint, are accuracy and temperature stability. Metal film resistors are primary candidates, as they are known for this feature.

If you didn't already know, low-power carbon resistors are usually beige (modern film) and brown (vintage composite), and metal film resistors are often blue. But there are many exceptions.

Be that as it may, music is for pleasure. Music is an art, and this applies not only to composing and performing but also to playing back, listening, and making musical instruments and equipment. Therefore, subjective opinions and feelings must be respected because music is just about them. And the components should fit the person who creates the amplifier and the person who will listen to it.

Any way you approach it, creating transistor and tube amplifiers costs money and time, takes up space, requires skills, and sometimes requires special equipment for adjustment. Integrated circuits make everything much more compact, accessible, and simpler.

And if we talk chips for audio processing, first, we need to discuss operational amplifiers.

By the way, LM386 is an op-amp, too, designed to work with a loudspeaker or a headphone. I'm sure you've already used LM386 on your devices. Clearly, it is not at all an amplifier for high-quality sound reproduction through headphones or a small speaker.

Although, oddly enough, with a large 12-inch guitar speaker (not the 80-watt Celestion Seventy 80, better something like a 25-watt Greenback), the LM386 can sound very good in the room, it has just enough volume to be used as a bedroom amplifier.

But guitar amplification is a totally separate thing. You need to amplify specific guitar frequencies; the LM386 can handle this fine. And when you need to reproduce with high fidelity the sound of an entire orchestra, a rock band, or birds chirping in the forest, you'll need something bigger.

So, we will use NE5532.

The best op amp for audio

"There is probably no music on the planet that has not passed through a hundred or more 5532s on its way to the consumer." Douglas Self, British electronics engineer.

Please do not confuse NE5532 for NE532. The NE532 is just a complete analog of the good old LM358, developed in 1972 as an industry standard for operational amplifiers.

Surprisingly, the LM358 circuitry is built into many other integrated circuits. For example, the TL494 PWM controller contains two error amplifiers constructed according to the LM358 diagram.

We often use the LM358, sometimes even for audio processing, but in most cases, we still prefer the TL072 and NE5532. Why is that? This is precisely what we will talk about today.

NE5532 are considered operational amplifiers for enthusiasts, and rightfully so, one can find them in even the most expensive and prestigious audio equipment. From 1979 to 2007, that is, for 28 years, NE5532 was unattainable—the best in class! And then LM4562 came along.

There are several more expensive and more advanced operational amplifiers for audio, including those assembled on a printed circuit board from discrete components rather than an integrated chip design. After all, progress never stops, and there is no limit to perfection.

In fact, in the vast majority of cases, the characteristics of the NE5532 are more than sufficient for high-quality audio signal processing. This is confirmed by its application in various professional music and sound recording equipment and household high-fidelity audio systems.

This is all thanks to the fact that the NE5532 has very low noise, extremely low harmonic distortion (THD) with an appropriate switching circuit, and, very significantly, a high slew rate. It is equal to 9 V/uS versus 0.3 9 V/uS for the LM358.

It would seem that even LM358 has a gain bandwidth of 1 MHz (according to datasheets from different manufacturers, from 700 to 1200 kHz). However, gain bandwidth does not mean the effective gain band but just the frequency at which the unity gain is preserved.

When the voltage is amplified by +20 decibels, i.e., 10 times, the LM358's gain begins to decline already at a 10 kHz frequency. In contrast, for the NE5532, this frequency is 200 kHz.

Why does an audio signal need wide bandwidth anyway? An average human cannot hear sounds with a pitch above 20 kHz. Besides frequency, the attack of sound matters. The wave's shape matters, too, and to avoid distorting it, you need a bandwidth 10 times wider.

So, our amplifier is called "47" and consists of two identical channels - left and right. Each channel is built on a dual NE5532 operational amplifier. Resistors R1 and R2 divide the supply voltage in half, forming a common virtual ground for both channels.

Op-amp U1A is used in a non-inverting configuration: the input signal is applied to the non-inverting input, and resistors in the feedback loop set the gain from the output to the inverting input.

In our case, the coefficient equals (4.7 + 10) / 4.7 = 3.13, 9.9 dB.

Operational amplifier U1B is connected as a repeater with unity gain and simply doubles the channel output current. Resistors R8 and R9 limit the current to protect the headphones and amplifier.

The second channel is assembled according to the same diagram as the first one on a separate U2 chip. If you don't need a second channel, you can build just one using one chip.

This amp sounds very clean. Unlike guitar equipment, it does not alter the sound but simply reproduces the input signal with high quality.

So, high fidelity is not always difficult and expensive. Sometimes, you can achieve excellent results simply by finding a suitable scheme.