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What is NS-01? The NS-01 is a small DIY headphone amplifier. It is not the simplest possible project, since it was designed with size and performance in mind. The version presented here should be able to output 90 mA at 7 volts RMS, and work with even low-impedance headphones. To keep the physical size small, the board is designed using surface mount components. These are rather small, so some care is required not to lose any parts inadvertently, but the assembly itself should be relatively straightforward....

Continental and Sennheiser have merged to bring in a technology that took center stage for automotive audio demonstrations at the Consumer Electronics Show 2020. Called the Ac2uated Sound, the solution is designed by Sennheiser for Continental. It takes inspiration from the audio manufacturer’s patented AMBEO 3D audio processing technology, enhancing reproduction inside the vehicle with an immersive 3D effect. Combined with Sennheiser’s AMBEO Mobility Audio, the concept is said to achieve “breathtaking 3D sound reproduction” that allows passengers to enjoy audio entertainment to the fullest....

Despite their convenience and functionality, nothing can justify using AirPods if they continuously irritate your ears. What’s worse is that taking them out constantly to try and adjust them only interrupts your meetings, calls, games, or music listening. You’d be left asking: Is this really worth the cash I spent for AirPods? We understand how frustrating this can be. That’s why we’ve created this guide to explain why your AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max are causing you discomfort....

Every good headset manufacturer aspires for its products to be used by professional gamers around the globe. Astro made this its goal since its inception in 2007 when they signed a deal making Astro the official headset of MLG (Major League Gaming). Since then, Astros are worn by esports professionals across many different games and leagues. An MLG calibur headset – now that sounds like something worth trying out. Today, we will look at the Astro A10 headset, which are the very base model in the Astro series....

Compared to the AirPods (Gen 1, 2, and 3), AirPods Pro can get dirty faster because of their in-ear design – which also means there are more parts to clean, such as the silicone ear tips. Unfortunately, aside from aesthetic concerns, dirt in your AirPods Pro can result in functionality issues like muffled sounds, disconnections, or even charging hiccups. But a quick clean now and then should prevent this from happening....

I’ve been interested in the ATH-W1000X for some time (actually, any wood can from Audio-Technica, but especially these headphones since they are the cheapest over-ear woodies from Audio-Technica). They were released in 2010 and are just behind the top-of-the-line model, the W5000. The W1000X is a semi-closed model, mostly designed for home use, and is easy to drive (42 ohms, 100 dB/mW). The headphones preceding the W1000X, the original W1000, were released in 2002....

Effect Audio, based in Singapore, is mostly known for its cable offerings. Not completely alien to IEMs, the King Arthur Limited Edition IEMs launched a few years ago. Now, Effect Audio is back with the Axiom, a triple-driver hybrid pair of high-end IEMs, priced near USD$1500. Instead of supplying a budget stock cable, Effect Audio decided to remove it entirely from the Axiom package. The idea is that most TOTL-range buyers should already have a collection of cables that they can re-use with the Axiom....

KZ ATE vs KZ ATE S There are two models of KZ ATE that you can buy – KZ ATE and KZ ATE S. The “S” stands for sports. The sports version had the metallic elements replaced with plastic parts and it also has an over-the-ear configuration. It is less attractive than the original version but those modified features such as the ear hooks are crucial to function as a sports IEM....

It’s completely overwhelming. “30? 40? Uhh…” Trick question. You forgot to include the related sister brand IEMs. “So, like 45?” Something like that. Your guess is as good as mine these days. There is only one way that KZ can overcome the consumer, market and reviewer confusion and inevitable fatigue: they must continue to get better. Better sound. Better price. Better build. If KZ products do not constantly improve, the industry is going to stop paying attention....

In the budget CHI-FI arena, IEMs are released on an almost weekly basis, the vast majority of which are, unfortunately, sidegrades and forgettable. A week or two later, another pair of IEMs or, dare I say – hype-train – gets pumped out, and we repeat the cycle ad nauseum. How many of these IEMs are still talked about weeks after release? Therein lies the rub: those that stand the test of time may very well be worthy of being in our collection, but they are the minority; many others fall by the way-side and remain a footnote in audio forums....

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare posed the immortal question that Chi-Fi manufacturers seem to be determined to ignore. These manufacturers appear to go out of their way to make it impossible to differentiate the really great products from the chaff. Almost all the products are named some impenetrable code of letters and numbers. Consider a company like Chord Electronics that has a memorable and easy to understand product lineup. Mojo....

Big Picture: The Supsoo B131 are wireless Bluetooth headphones with ANC technology that let you enjoy music without any disturbance from the outside world. Add that to their comfortability, battery life, and foldable design, these headphones promise a stress-free experience anytime, anywhere. Key features: Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) The Supsoo B131’s advanced Hybrid ANC can remove all external sound and noises to help you get away from stress and have an undisturbed listening experience....

Is vinyl better than digital? It’s an age-old question that’s been asked (and argued about) time and time again. And one that has never been answered conclusively. Why, you ask? Simply because the answer hinges on subjective things like personal preference, musical taste, and your ear for music. With the hope of adding a bit more clarity to this discussion, we’ll highlight a few objective factors you can consider when approaching this debate....

After news broke out yesterday about Sonos discontinuing software support for its oldest audio products, long-time customers began showing their disdain for the sudden move. The hashtag #SonosBoycott is now trending among audiophiles, prompting Sonos CEO Patrick Spence to issue a public apology. Spence took to his own Twitter account to make the announcement. He began by apologizing for the delay in his response to the issue and that he wanted to get it right before saying anything....

How to Pick the Best Bone Conduction Headphones Bone conduction headphones (also called jawbone or inductive headphones, or “bonephones”) use transducers to change audio signals into vibrations. These vibrations then travel to the inner ear via the bones in your cheeks and jaw. Unfortunately, choosing the right pair of bonephones can be difficult. They’re in a league of their own, so you can’t compare them to traditional headphones. They also fulfill a purpose for consumers with specific needs, meaning the criteria for choosing good bonephones are slightly different....

How to Pick the Best Headphones for Teaching Online Since the pandemic started, online classes have almost become the new normal for many countries around the world. Because of that, gone are the days when teachers only needed to rely on a board, the lesson plan, and their voices. Now, there are three additional things an online teacher needs: a PC, a reliable internet, and a good pair of headphones. Headphones have now passed the point of being a luxury and a want....

Sonos’ customers took to Twitter their disappointment over Sonos’ decision to stop providing software updates or new features to its older speakers come May this year. California-based Sonos made the announcement recently in its blog, citing old products “have been stretched to their technical limits in terms of memory and processing power.” Affected legacy products are namely original Zone Players, Connect, and Connect:Amp (launched in 2006; includes versions sold until 2015), first-generation Play:5 (launched 2009), CR200 (launched 2009), and Bridge (launched 2007)....

Getting your first pair of flashy, premium quality Bluetooth headphones can truly be exciting. Our first instinct is always to connect them to our phones to enjoy its optimum portability with no wires. But connecting Bluetooth headphones to our mobile phones is easy. And we can’t really say the same for Windows PC, especially if you’re inexperienced. What more if Bluetooth problems arise? This can be extremely frustrating particularly to people who are non-tech savvy....

Imagine wearing your headphones and listening to a podcast, and Google Assistant pops up out of nowhere. You dismiss it and press play, only for it to happen again a few seconds later. These constant interruptions can be extremely annoying and even ruin your media plans. To add to your woes, you’re not sure what is triggering Google Assistant. It keeps interrupting your media experience seemingly at random. We feel your frustration....

Knowledge Zenith (KZ) was founded in 2008 by Zen Li, a classical musician, and Keith Yue, a former Audio-Technica engineer. KZ is a public brand for the Shenzhen Yuanze Electronics Company located in Guandong China. KZ has generated a huge amount of industry buzz by creating products that have seriously redefined the ratio of price to performance. There has been seemingly unending hype for KZ (as of writing: 2700 pages in a single Head-Fi post)....