Company Yamaha released new monitor headphones HPH-100 with closed-back architecture. They can reproduce sounds in 20 Hz – 20 kHz frequencies range, their membranes have 40 mm size, impedance is 46 Ohms, sensitivity is 103 dB and maximal power input is 1000 mW; manufacturer does not tell which magnets are used, but, most probably, neodymium. To one of the cups 2 m cable with 1/8″ mini-jack plug is connected ( there is 1/4″ jack adapter in the package ). Device’s mass is 148 g ( they are very light for monitor headphones with such membranes ). Package contains : Yamaha HPH-100 headphones themselves, 1/8″ mini-jack – 1/4″ jack adapter, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all headphones have no some very notable technical characteristics, but they are produced by very long well-known manufacturer, which produces high-quality devices without some kind of overbranded with marketing stuff, and quite interesting price : 40 – 50 USD.
There are different tablet PCs available, for example, there are devices with boom-box functionality, combining portable computer and advanced portable audio system, among them there is BQ 7063G DISCO mini-computer. Having 7″ multitouch IPS screen with 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, OS Android 4.4 and powerful system. In it following are built in : 4-cores processor Spreadtrum SC5735, working on 1.2 GHz frequency, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of built-in memory with ability to extend via Micro SD flash cards with 32 GB max capacity ( probably, larger cards are also supported ) and 2 SIM cards slots. Tablet PC can be used as phone with support of 2G ( GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 ) and 3G ( WCDMA ) networks, without 4G LTE support; it has GPS and A-GPS satellite navigation as well as orientation and gravity and acceleration sensors.
Tablet PC BQ 7063G DISCO ( back panel )
In BQ 7063G DISCO two weak cameras are placed, as in all not pricey Windows and Android tablet PCs : 2 MP main one and 0.3 MP frontal one without LED flash. It supports wireless Wi-Fi ( IEEE 802.11 b/g/n ) and Bluetooth 2.0 connections for remote data transfers and communications with other devices, without NFC support. On outer panels of device following can be found : Micro USB port for connection with computer and Li-ion battery charging, 1/8″ mini jack headphones output, memory cards slot, microphone and large speaker. Battery capacity is 2000 mAh ( this is a small value for tablet PCs ), it is enough for 3 hours of work; device’s body is made from plastics, its sizes are 188 ( width ) x 108.7 ( height ) x 12.8 ( depth ) mm and mass is 297 g.
Tablet PC BQ-7063G DISCO ( side panel )
Package contains : BQ 7063G DISCO tablet PC itself, Micro USB cable, recharger, warranty card and user’s guide. Tablet PC is good with adequate price, powerful system and relatively large speaker, which allows to use it as advanced portable audio system. Its minus is only weak battery. There is also need to note, that for similar amount of money Windows tablet PC can be bought with close performance, but without satellite navigation and ability to use as phone.
Company Lenovo recently released new powerful smartphone K80M with 5.5″ multitouch IPS screen with Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, Android 4.4 OS, 4-cores processor Intel Atom Z3560, working on 1.8 GHz frequency, and 2 GB of RAM, which costs 180 – 200 USD ( this is an adequate price for its characteristics ). In it following are built-in : 32 GB of memory with ability to extend via flash memory cards with 128 GB max capacity and 1 slot for Micro SIM cards. Device can work in 2G ( GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 ), 3G and 4G LTE networks; in it GPS ( + A-GPS ), GLONASS and BDS satellite navigation is built in, along with lighting, proximity, acceleration and gravitation sensors and gyroscope and electronic compass.
Smartphone Lenovo K80M ( side view )
Lenovo K80M has 2 relatively good ( for smartphones ) cameras : 13 MP main one with double LED flash, HDR, f/2.2 aperture, optical image stabilization and Full HD 1080p video recording support; and 5 MP frontal one. Device supports Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n ), Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC wireless connections for remote data transferring and communications with other devices. On it external panels following can be found : Micro USB 2.0 port for connection with computer, Li-ion battery charging and external devices connection via OTG; 1/8″ mini-jack headset connector; microphone and speaker; and power on and volume control buttons. Li-ion battery is built-in, its charge is 4000 mAh; device’s body is made from plastic, its sizes are 77.44 ( width ) x 149 ( height ) x 8.47 ( depth ) mm and mass is 165 g.
Package contains : Lenovo K80M smartphone itself, recharger, Micro USB cable, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. Smartphone is very good : with large IPS screen, powerful system, good cameras for smartphones, satellite navigation systems and other functions, which costs adequate amount of money for its characteristics. Its minuses are built-in battery and only 1 slot for SIM cards. There is also need to note, that there is ability to buy for smaller sum Android tablet PC with powerful system, larger screen and ability to use as phone.
Company Audio-Technica is one of the manufacturers, creating high-quality devices with adequate prices, recently it released new closed-back dynamic monitor headphones ATH-AVC500 with 53 mm membrane and 10 Hz – 25 kHz reproducible sounds frequencies range. Their sensitivity is 106 dB/mW, impedance is 40 Ohms and maximal input power is 1800 mW; manufacturer does not tell which magnets are used, but probably, they are neodymium. To one of the cups 3 m not detachable cable is connected with 1/8″ mini-jack connector ( in package adapter to TRS 1/4″ jack is included ) with gold-plated contacts for connection to sound source, cups themselves are made from aluminum to reduce vibration, headband automatically adjusts for comfortable wearing.
Ears-pads of Audio-Technica ATH-AVC500 are made from soft material for convenient carrying during long-time listening. In cups there are bass ports for high quality and loud low-frequencies reproduction, which allows to made frequency response more even. Headphones are released only in black color variant; they are not foldable, have no microphone and smartphones and volume control buttons, as well as active noise-cancellation function, however they have good noise isolation.
Device’s mass is 270 g without cable accounting; package contains : Audio-Technica ATH-AVC500 monitor headphones themselves, 1/8″ mini-jack – TRS 1/4″ jack adapter, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all device is very good and has great characteristics; yes, it costs around 80 – 90 USD, but for such headphones this is an adequate price; many other manufacturers would ask 2 – 4 times more for such devices. However, there is ability to find headphones with similar characteristics and smaller price, for example, Superlux HD-681 B.
There is also need to note, that Audio-Technica – is a Japanese company, established in Tokyo in 1962 year, as phonographs cartridges producer. Then it started to develop and introduced among its products microphones and headphones, among which now there are wired and wireless models. At current moment it is one of the leading foreign consumer sound electronics and government organizations devices supplier in USA. And in the country of a rising Sun audio devices are usually made with high quality of components and assembling.
One of the not pricey Android tablet PCs with powerful system is Irbis TX35 of Russian manufacturer with 4.4 version of this OS, lets look on it in more details. It has : 7″ multitouch LCD TN screen with 1024 x 600 pixels resolution; 4 cores processor Spreadtrum SC7731, working on 1 GHz frequency, graphical chip Mali-400, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of built-in memory with ability to extend via Micro SD flash memory cards with 32 GB max capacity ( probably, larger cards are also supported ), and 2 slots for SIM cards. Tablet PC can work with 3G networks, without 4G LTE support and can be used as phone; it has GPS navigation with A-GPS and has no GLONASS; among sensors it has only gravity and acceleration sensor.
Tablet PC Irbis TX35 ( back panel )
In Irbis TX35 two weak cameras are placed : 2 MP main one and 0.3 frontal one without flash; it supports wireless Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n ) and Bluetooth 4.0 connections for remote data transfers and communications with other devices, without NFC support. On its outer panels following can be found : Micro USB port for connection with computer, Li-ion battery charging and external devices connection via OTG cable; memory cards slot; 1/8″ mini-jack headphones output; microphone and speaker; it has no HDMI port. Battery charge is 2500 mAh, body is made from plastic, its sizes are 192 ( width ) x 107 ( height ) x 10 ( depth ) mm and mass is 280 g.
Package contains : Irbis TX35 tablet PC itself, Micro USB cable, recharger, warranty card and user’s guide. This tablet has good performance, but TN screen matrix, so it should not be bought, because for the same or slightly larger amount of money Android-tablet with powerful system and IPS display can be bought.
Company ESI has USB audio interface UDJ6, oriented on playback of 6 sound channels ( mainly this is needed on live performances ) and able to work with 96 kHz sampling rate and 24 bits per sample precision. On frontal panel of device 4 RCA gold-plated outputs are placed, on back panel : USB port for communication with computer and powering, power indicator and TRS 1/4″ jack headphones output ( its contacts are inside and they are nickel-plated ). Audio interface works with maximal sampling rate only with 2 channels, with larger channels amount it works with sampling rates up to 48 kHz.
USB audio interface ESI UDJ6 ( back panel )
ESI UDJ6 has following characteristics : output signal level -10 dB, 100 Ohms impedance, digital to analogue converter works with 112 dB dynamic range and THD+N -94 dB, headphones output ( maximal power 60 mW, signal to noise ratio 110 dB and ( THD+N )/S -70 dB, 0.03 % ); device is powered from USB port and draws maximum 250 mA. Audio interface works in Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 via specialized drivers with ASIO 2.0, GSIF, MME, WDM and DirectSound interfaces support and in Mac OS X 10.4 and newer via built-in drivers with Core Audio interface support; via them device works with modern DAWs ( Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others ) and applications for DJs. It sizes are 6 ( width ) x 7 ( depth ) x 2 ( height ) cm.
Package contains : ESI UDJ6 audio interface itself, USB cable, optical disks with drivers and Image-Line Deckadance v2 LE program, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio interface is good, but it has narrow specialization and here is need to look on its price and prices of audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, M-Audio and other manufacturers : among them can be interfaces with the same or larger amount of analogue audio outputs, much wider functionality and the same or even lower price.
Among not pricey Android 5.1 smartphones there is new deice appeared : Micromax Q338 with 5″ multitouch IPS screen with HD resolution 1280 x 720 pixels and around 90 USD price. In it following are built in : 4-cores processor, working on 1.3 GHz frequency; 1 GB of RAM; 8 GB of built-in with ability to extend via Micro SD flash cards with 32 GB max size; and 2 SIM cards slots. Device can work in GSM ( 900, 1800 and 1900 ) and 3G networks and does not support 4G LTE networks; in its GPS navigation and proximity and lighting sensors are built in.
Micromax Q338 smartphone ( side view )
Micromax Q338 has 2 relatively good ( for smartphones ) cameras : 8 MP main one with LED flash and 5 MP frontal one; it supports Wi-Fi ( 802.11n ) and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connections for remote data transfers and communications with other devices, without NFC support. It has Micro USB port for connection with computer and Li-ion battery charging and 1/8″ mini-jack headset connector; battery charge is 2000 mAh; device body is made from plastic; its sizes are 71 ( width ) x 142.5 ( height ) x 9.3 ( depth ) mm and mass is 157 g.
Package contains : Micromax Q338 smartphone itself, Micro USB cable, recharger, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all, smartphone is good and has not big price for its functions, however, for smaller sum there is ability to buy Microsoft Lumia smartphone with roughly the same features or Android tablet PC with larger screen and ability to use as phone, but with weaker cameras.
Company M-Audio released new external sound card Micro DAC, allowing to reproduce sound with better quality, than built-in sound cards of mobile devices, and having sizes of flash drive. Device has : 1/8″ mini-jack analogue headphones output and digital optical, high/low impedance switch for headphones, USB plug for connection to computer ( desktop or portable ). Sound card supports 48 kHz and 16 bits work mode; is powered from USB port; and its body is made from aluminum.
External sound card M-Audio Micro DAC, connected to notebook
Package contains : M-Audio Micro DAC external sound card itself, warranty card and user’s guide. From one side : novelty is interesting and allows to receive sound of higher quality, than built-in audio cards of mobile devices, and has small sizes and mass. From the other side : its price is 100 USD – for smaller sum there is ability to buy high quality entry-level studio audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer, ESI and other manufacturers and receive much more functions and support of 192 or 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample work modes. Yes, they are larger and have bigger mass, but give much more possibilities and the same way allow to receive sound of much higher quality, than built-in audio cards of mobile and desktop computers give.
Among dynamic monitor headphones with great value/price ratio there is need to note Superlux HD-681 B device with semi-open acoustic architecture, 50 mm membranes and 30 USD cost ( many other overbranded manufacturers would ask 10 times more for devices with simillar characteristics ). Their membranes are moved by neodymium magnets, they can reproduce sounds in 10 Hz – 30 kHz frequencies range, sensitivity is 98 dB, impedance is 32 Ohms and maximal power input is 300 mW. To one of the cups 2.5 m not detachable cable is mounted with 1/8″ mini-jack gold-plated plug for connection to sound source; device’s mass is 276 g; earcups are covered with leather.
In each cup of Superlux HD-681 B there is only 1 audio emitter, device’s mass without wire accounting is 235 g; headband automatically adjusts to listeners with different heads sizes and forms, it and cushions have soft structure for comfortable wearing during long-time listening of sounds and music. Headphones have no active noise-cancellation function, as some other monitor headphones have, they are not foldable and are supplied only in black color variant. Their cable has no clip and slider for tangling and clinging to clothes and surrounding objects prevention.
Package contains : Superlux HD-681 B headphones themselves, carrying and storage case, warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are great and with such price they have no analogues among monitor headphones with 50 mm membranes, so when one search for such device, these ones are the first to look on. They ‘ll fit very good to professional work in studios and on concerts, as well as high-quality every day sounds and music listening.
Superlux – is a company, which main office is located in Taiwan development and testing laboratories and facilities in Hong Kong and other China cities. This name is a brand of company Goang-Fann Co. Ltd., which in 1997 year acquired Tenlux – company-producer of microphones and started to release headphones, microphones and other audio equipment under this name. Company is known for production of very functional devices with very attractive prices; so, when according sound devices are being choosen, it is useful to look on products of Superlux.
Russian company Irbis released new tablet PC TW80 with 8″ multitouch IPS screen with 1280 x 800 pixels resolution and 189 PPI density and installed Windows 10 OS. In some sources it is said, that it supports satellite navigation and work in phone mode, but this is not so : it supports only 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. In it following are built-in : 4-cores processor Intel Atom 3735G, working on 1.83 GHz frequency; Intel HD Graphics video chip, integrated into CPU; 1 GB of RAM; 16 GB of built in memory with ability to extend via Micro SDHC flash memory cards with 32 GB max capacity ( probably, larger memory cards are also supported ); and SIM cards slot. It supports only 3G connections for data transferring without support of GSM and 4G LTE connections and work in phone mode; it has no satellite navigation; and has only acceleration and gravity sensor.
Tablet PC Irbis TW80 ( back panel )
In Irbis TW80 two weak cameras are placed : 2 MP main one and 0.3 MP frontal one without LED flash; tablet supports Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n ) and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connections for remote data transferring and communication with other devices, without NFC connections support. On its external panels following can be found : Micro USB port for Li-ion battery charging and external devices connection via OTG cable; 1/8″ mini-jack headphones output; memory cards slot; and mono speaker; without HDMI port. Battery charge is 4000 mAh : this is enough for 6 hours of work and 170 hours in stand-by mode; body of device is made from plastic; its sizes are 208 ( width ) x 126 ( height ) x 9.6 ( depth ) mm and mass is 380 g.
Package contains : Irbis TW80 tablet PC itself, Micro USB cable, OTG cable, warranty card and user’s guide. Device does not differ from other 8″ IPS Windows tablet PCs, its price is around 70 USD, there is ability to buy tablet PC Prestigio MultiPad PMP881TD for 65 USD; and there is ability to look on Chinese devices Aoson R83C with metal back panel and Onda V820w with 2 GB of RAM and 2 operating systems, which cost more, than current device.
