Electronics | Imagination Works

Lenovo K80M – 5.5″ Android 4.4 smartphone with 4-cores Intel Atom processor and 2 GB of RAM for 180 – 200 USD

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.

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.

Audio-Technica ATH-AVC500 – 53 mm monitor headphones with 10 Hz – 25 kHz and 1800 mW power for 80 – 90 USD

Monitor headphones Audio-Technica ATH-AVC500

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.

Irbis TX35 – Android tablet PC with 4-cores processor and 1 GB of RAM

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.

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.

ESI UDJ6 – 6 channels USB audio interface for DJs

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.

Micromax Q338 – new not pricey 5″ Android 5.1 smartphone

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 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.

M-Audio Micro DAC – external sound card with size of flash drive

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.

Superlux HD-681 B – great monitor headphones with 50 mm membranes for 30 USD

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.

Irbis TW80 – powerful 8″ IPS tablet PC with installed Windows 10

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.

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.

Pioneer SE-CL541i – new in-ears headphones with 10 Hz – 24 kHz frequencies range

Company Pioneer in the beginning of year released whole series of headphones of different types, among them there are in-ears SE-CL541i with 10 Hz – 24 kHz frequencies range. Their sensitivity is 108 dB, impedance 16 Ohms and maximal imput power is 100 mW. Membrane diameter is 10.5 mm, cable length is 1.2 m with microphone and smartphones control buttons, compatible with Apple devices, in volume control module; to signal source they are connected via 1/8″ mini-jack with gold-plated contacts; cable is reinforced with polymer for better toughness and entanglement prevention, it also has clip for comfortable connection to clothes. Device mass is 7 g; package contains : Pioneer SE-CL541i headphones themselves, 2 sets of 4 interchangeable heads, carrying and storage case, warranty card and user’s guide. Device is quite good for in-ears headphones, but its price is quite big at launch time : around 40 USD, probably, after some time it will go down and they’ll become more acceptable; in the meantime there is ability to look on other headphones of different types of this one and other manufacturers.

Behringer FIREPOWER FCA610 – professional FireWire/USB/MIDI audio interface

Audio interface Behringer FIREPOWER FCA610

Among professional audio interfaces for large studio use there are devices, which can work through FireWire/USB/MIDI ports, for example, Behringer FIREPOWER FCA610; it can work with smapling rates up to 96 kHz and 24 bits per sample precision. On its front panel there are : 2 combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack inputs, able to work in instrumental Hi-Z and microphone modes, instrumental mode, compressor, +48 V phantom power and PAD function switch buttons and their LED work indicators and amplification level control knobs for both inputs ( to them MIDAS preamplifiers are connected ); 2 TRS 1/4″ jack headphones outputs with volume control knobs, stereo/mono and Direct Monitor function switch buttons with their states LED indicators; indicators of states of analogue inputs and outputs, FireWire, USB, MIDI, optical and coaxial inputs and outputs, digital connection selection switch, volume and mixing balance knobs and button-selector of channels for volume control. Back panel of card has : power adapter input; MIDI input and output; USB and FireWire ports; Kensington Lock slot; optical and coaxial inputs and outputs; 8 balanced linear TRS 1/4″ jack outputs; and 2 linear balanced input connectors of the same type.

Audio interface Behringer FIREPOWER FCA610 ( back panel )

Connectors of Behringer FIREPOWER FCA610 have following characteristics : frontal inputs ( 102 dB dynamic range, impedance 1 MOhm in instrumental Hi-Z mode and 3 kOhms in microphone mode ), back panel inputs ( dynamic range 100 dB, 47 kOhms impedance ), outputs ( 200 Ohms impedance, 8 dB maximal output level ), headphones outputs ( 10 Ohms impedance, 22 dB maximal output level ); device can receive power from 100 – 240 V and 50/60 Hz power lines and consumes 20 W of energy. Audio interface sizes are 50 ( height ) x 241.3 ( width ) x 161 ( depth ) mm and mass is 1.1 kg ( it seems, that its body is made from aluminum ). For it drivers are released for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 with ASIO 2.0, WDM and MIDI interfaces support; in Mac OS X device works without additional drivers with support of Core Audio interface; through them device works with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others.

Package contains : Behringer FIREPOWER FCA610 external audio interface itself, USB and FireWire cables, power adapter, warranty card and user’s guide; after purchase there is ability to download from manufacturer’s website DAW Tracktion and VST/AU effects and instruments sets. Audio interface is great : with large amount of connectors and good characteristics, it is designed for professional studio use and has according price; for smaller sized studios there is ability to find audio interfaces of Steinberg, Behringer itself, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other manufacturers production with smaller connectors amount, the same quality of components and lower price.

Tag: Electronics