Electronics | Imagination Works

Samsung Galaxy J3 – 5″ Super AMOLED Android smartphone with 4G LTE, GLONASS+GPS and 1.5 GB of RAM

Company Samsung released new Android smartphone Galaxy J3 with 5″ multitouch Super AMOLED screen with HD 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, 4G LTE, GLONASS+GPS satellite navigation and 1.5 GB of RAM for approximately 180 USD. In it following are also built-in : 4-cores processor, working on 1.5 GHz frequency, 8 GB of on-board memory with ability to extend via Micro SD flash cards with 128 GB max size and 2 Micro SIM cards slots. It supports 2G ( GSM 800, 950, 1800 and 1900 ), 3G and 4G LTE networks and has only acceleration and proximity sensors.

Smartphone Samsung Galaxy J3 ( back and side panels )

In Samsung Galaxy J3 two good for smartphones cameras are built-in : 8 MP main one and 5 MP frontal one with CMOS sensors and ability to record HD 1280 x 720 pixels video. On external panels of device following are placed : 1/8″ mini jack headsets and headphones connector; Micro USB 2.0 for battery charging and connection to computer; microphone and speaker; and also power and volume control buttons. Smartphone supports wireless Bluetooth 4.0 ( A2DP, AVRCP, DI, HFP, HID, HOGP, HSP, MAP, OPP, PAN and PBAP ) and Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n, +Direct ) connections for remote data transfers and communications with other devices and does not support NFC. It is supplied in white, black and gold color variants; its sizes are 142.3 ( height ) x 71 ( width ) x 7.9 ( depth ) mm and mass is 138 g; charge of interchangeable battery is 2600 mAh, which is a good value for smartphones.

Package with Samsung Galaxy J3 contains : USB cable, recharger, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all smartphone is good : with large Super AMOLED screen, powerful system ( usually in such smartphones only 1 GB of RAM is built-in, this one has 1.5 GB ), good cameras and both most used satellite navigation systems. Its price is adequate to its functions and even lower, than many close smartphones have; however, there is need to note, that for much smaller sum there is ability to buy optimal Windows or Android smartphone and tablet PC with large screen.

Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 – high-quality ADAT audio interface for DA and AD conversions

ADAT audio interface Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000

One of the most functional audio interfaces of Behringer company is an ADAT device ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000, supporting 48 kHz and 24 bits work mode and oriented on high-quality digital to analogue and analogue to digital conversions fulfillment. On its frontal panel following can be found : 8 sets of microphone balanced XLR inputs, linear balanced TRS 1/4″ jack inputs, signal and clipping indicators and gain control knobs; work and locking indicators; phantom power +48 V switch; and power button. On its back panel there are : line power input; optical digital TOSLINK ADAT input and output; time synchronization connector with external devices with work mode switch; and 8 balanced XLR linear outputs.

ADAT audio interface Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 ( back panel )

Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 handles DAC with dynamic range 100 dB, ADC with 103 dB dynamic range; its THD is 0.01 %, channels isolation is 86 dB. Devices draws maximum 25 W of electric energy; its sizes are 215 ( depth ) x 44.5 ( height ) x 482.6 ( width ) mm and mass is 2.59 kg; it can work with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others, and specialized sound recording and editing software.

In the package with Behringer ULTRAGAIN PRO-8 DIGITAL ADA8000 there are : line power cable, warranty card and user’s guide. This audio interface is oriented on high-quality fulfillment of DA and AD conversions with use of large amount of analogue and digital inputs and outputs, it does its job very good and oriented on use in large studios. For in-home and small studios there is ability to buy USB or Firewire audio interface with smaller price and high components quality of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other companies production.

Audio-Technica ATH-AVA400 – 40 mm monitor headphones with 18 Hz – 25 kHz for 80 USD

Among new dynamic monitor headphones there is device Audio-Technica ATH-AVA400 with 40 mm membranes, 18 Hz – 25 kHz sounds frequencies reproduction support, open architecture and around 80 USD price. Their impedance is 35 Ohms, sensitivity is 93 dB/mW, maximal input power is 500 mW and mass is 240 g ( without cable accounting ). It is connected to one of the cups, is not detachable, has 3 m length and is connected to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector with gold-plated contacts. Double headband automatically adjusts to different sizes of heads of users, soft earpads provide comfort during long-time music and sounds listening.

Drivers of Audio-Technica ATH-AVA400 are created with use of coils with CCAW wire for reduction of mass, more free movements of sound emitter and more precise reproduction of all audio frequencies, especially high ones; in each cup there is only 1 dynamic driver. Headphones are not foldable, in place of entering into cup cable is additionally reinforced with resin tube for increased toughness and wear resistance against bending and tear-off forces. They have no active noise cancellation function, as some other monitor headphones have, but have good noise isolation. Cups and honeycomb fence are made of aluminum for increased rigidity and reduction of chatter during music and sounds playback.

Package contains : Audio-Technica ATH-AVA400 headphones themselves, adapter to 1/4″ jack connector, warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are great : they have large 40 mm diaphragms, wide sounds frequencies reproduction support, open architecture and comfortable headband and earpads; wherein their price is even not big for professional monitor headphones. However, there is need to note, that for most users such characteristics are not needed and there is ability to buy much cheaper consumer-level 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones. Also, if compactness of device is must have, then there is ability to look on in-ears headphones, which do not reproduce sounds as good, as monitor headphones, especially basses, but have much smaller sizes and mass, which is very important in sportive exercises and trainings, also such kind of headphones often have slider and clip on their cable, to prevent its tangling and clinging to clothes and surrounding objects.

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.

Apple iPhone SE – 4″ Retina 1136 x 640 pixels smartphone with 4K video, 12 MP camera, 4G and GPS+GLONASS

Company Apple presented its new smartphone iPhone SE under iOS 9 operation with 4″ multitouch Retina screen with 1136 x 640 pixels resolution, 4K video recording support, 12 MP main camera, 4G LTE and GPS+GLONASS satellite navigation. In it following are built in : 64-bits processor A9 and coprocessor M9; 16 or 64 GB of on-board memory; as well as 1 Nano SIM cards slot; manufacturer tells nothing about RAM size and flash cards support. It supports 2G ( GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 ), 3G and 4G LTE networks and has proximity, lighting and acceleration sensors, electronic compass, gyroscope, fingerprints scanner and iBeacon, Cellular and Wi‑Fi additional navigation systems.

In Apple iPhone SE two good for smartphones cameras are placed : 12 MP main one with HDR, autofocusing, image stabilization, flash and lens with f/2.2 aperture and 5 glasses, as well as 1.2 MP frontal one with flash, HDR and lens with f/2.4 aperture. On its external panels there are : 1/8″ mini jack headsets and headphones output, Micro USB 2.0 port for battery charging and connection to computer, volume control and power buttons and speaker and microphone. Smartphone supports wireless NFC, Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi‑Fi ( 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac ) connections for remote communications with other devices and data transfers. Its battery charge is enough for 14 hours of talking or 10 days in stand by mode; its body sizes are 58.6 ( width ) x 123.8 ( height ) x 7.6 ( depth ) mm and mass is 113 g.

In package with Apple iPhone SE there are : USB cable, recharger, headset Apple EarPods, warranty card and user’s guide. Smartphone is good with Retina screen with hight resolution, 4K video recording support, good cameras, 4G LTE, all wireless connections options and GLONASS and GPS satellite navigation systems; there is ability to anticipate, that Apple will set high price on it. I personally would not buy such smartphone and would buy instead optimal Windows or Android smartphone + tablet PC with large screen + good camera with interchangeable lenses and, probably, for much smaller sum; but, if somebody wants top level Apple smartphone, then iPhone SE is capable to perform this role.

LG K8 K350E – 5″ IPS Android 6.0 smartphone with 4G LTE, 4-cores CPU and 1 GB of RAM

Among new Android 6.0 smartphones very recently new device appeared : LG K8 K350E with 5″ multitouch IPS screen with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, 4G LTE, 4-cores processor MediaTek MT6735, working on 1.3 GHz frequency, and 1 GB of RAM. Following are also built into it : graphical chip Mali-T720, 16 GB of on-board memory with ability to extend via flash memory cards with 32 GB max capacity ( larger ones are, probably, also supported ) and 2 Nano SIM cards slots. It supports 2G ( GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 ), 3G ( 850, 900 and 2100 ) and 4G LTE ( B3 1800, B7 2600 and B20 800 ) networks; and have GPS+A-GPS satellite navigation.

In LG K8 K350E two good for smartphones cameras are built-in : 8 MP main one with LED flash and 5 MP frontal one; it supports wireless Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n, +Direct ) connections for remote data transfers and communication with other devices; without NFC support. On its panels following can be found : Micro USB 2.0 port for connection to computer and battery charging; 1/8″ mini jack headsets and headphones connector; volume control and power buttons; as well as microphone and speaker. Device’s body is made from plastic; its sizes are 71.5 ( width ) x 144.6 ( height ) x 8.7 ( depth ) mm and mass is 140 g; battery charge is 2125 mAh – this is quite small value for smartphones. It is supplied in blue indigo, white and gold color variants.

Package with LG K8 K350E contains : USB cable, recharger, headset, warranty card and user’s guide. Smartphone is good, it has large IPS screen, 4G LTE, powerful system, good cameras and GPS satellite navigation; when it will be available in shops, there’ll be need to look on its price to say how big competition it can make to other Windows and Android smartphones and whether it worth buying or it is better to acquire other device.

Focusrite Clarett 4Pre – new Thunderbolt audio interface with 192 kHz, 24 bits and 119 dB dynamic range

Thunderbolt audio interface Focusrite Clarett 4Pre

Company Focusrite released new Thunderbolt audio interface Clarett 4Pre with support of 192 kHz and 24 bits work mode and 119 dB dynamic range. On its frontal panel there are : 4 combined XLR/TRS 1/4 jack microphone/instrumental Hi-Z/linear inputs with gain control knobs with backlight and instrumental mode and Air function activity indicators; buttons with backlight for phantom power +48 V switching for 1 – 2 and 3 – 4 inputs; main outputs volume control knob; power, Thunderbolt connection and device blocking indicators; as well as 2 TRS 1/4 jack monitor headphones outputs with volume control knobs. On its back panel there are : power button; power adapter input; RCA coaxial digital S/PDIF input and output; Thunderbolt port for connection to computer; digital optical ADAT input; MIDI input and output; Kensington Lock slot; 4 TRS 1/4 jack linear outputs; and 4 the same type linear inputs.

Thunderbolt audio interface Focusrite Clarett 4Pre ( back panel )

Dynamic range of microphone inputs of Focusrite Clarett 4Pre equals to 118 dB, THD+N 0.001 % and noise level is -128 dB; linear inputs have the same dynamic range and THD+N; instrumental inputs dynamic range is 116 dB and it has the same THD+N. THD+N of linear and monitor outputs is a 0.0007 % and dynamic range of frist ones is a 119 dB and second ones is a 117 dB; dynamic range of monitor headphones outputs is a 116 dB and THD+N equals to 0.0008 %. Currently interface works only in Mac OS X 10.9 and newer with support of Core Audio interface; manufacturer promises to add Windows support in near time; through this interface device interacts with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. With it following programs are supplied Focusrite Control ( mixer ), VST/AU plugins suite Softube Time and Tone Bundle and AAX, AU and VST plugins Red 2 and Red 3, emulating compressor and equalizer.

Package contains : Thunderbolt audio interface Focusrite Clarett 4Pre itself, disks with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio interface is great : it has large amount of connectors, high audio characteristics and quality equipment; there is need to note, that interface is mainly designed for large amount of digital connections for mixing of digital signals into completed analogue. If such amount of digital connections is not needed, then there is ability to buy much cheaper USB audio interface of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other companies production.

Novation Launchkey 25 – functional mini MIDI keyboard with 16 drumpads and LED screen

One of the compact MIDI keyboards is a device Novation Launchkey 25 with 16 velocity-sensitive drumpads with RGB backlight and LED screen for showing information about device’s state. It has : 25 velocity-sensitive synthesizer-style keys, 8 knobs, 1 slider, 6 transport control buttons, pitch-bend and modulation control wheels, 2 octaves control buttons, 2 tracks and MIDI channels control buttons, 2 InControl buttons and 2 round buttons with RGB backlight. On its back panel there are : USB port for powering and communication with computer, TRS 1/4″ jack input for sustain pedal, power adapter input and Kensington Lock slot. There are variants of device with 49 and 61 keys, which have additional controls.

MIDI keyboard Novation Launchkey 25 ( back panel )

Novation Launchkey 25 is oriented on tight work with DAW Ableton Live and also allows to control other DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others, and their VST/AU instruments and effects. Device works in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X without additional drivers via Plug and Play technology. MIDI keyboard is powered from USB port or power adapter and draws maximum 250 mA of current; it can be used with iOS devices via Camera Connection Kit or USB cameras connection adapter. Device’s sizes are : 450 ( width ) x 270 ( depth ) x 90 ( height ) mm; with it following software is supplied DAW Ableton Live Lite, Novation Bass Station and V-Station and 1 GB of free Loopmasters samples. Package with Novation Launchkey 25 contains following : USB cable, warranty card and user’s guide. MIDI keyboard is good : with large amount of drumpads and other control elements, it also has power adapter input for work with tablet PCs without load on their batteries.

Stenn SH-750T – 40 mm over-ears headphones with 20 Hz – 20 kHz and 110 dB sensitivity for 14 USD

One of the new over ears headphones is a Stenn SH-750T – device with closed architecture, 40 mm membranes, moved by neodymium magnets, 20 Hz – 20 kHz reproducible sound frequencies range and 110 dB sensitivity for 14 USD. Their impedance is 32 Ohms and maximal input power is 100 mW; cable is attached to both cups, its length is 1.5 m, it is connected to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack nickel-plated connector.

Headphones are foldable for compact carrying and storage; package contains : Stenn SH-750T headphones themselves, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all headphones do not have some extra characteristics, but they have very small price for 40 mm headphones, so, if there is need in device with neodymium magnets and 40 mm membranes, then these ones are adequate for the purpose. But there is need to note, that adding small sum to their price, there is ability to buy better 40 mm headphones; so, if there is need in real high quality music listening headphones, then it is better to invest more money in their purchase and acquire device with better characteristics.

RoverPad Air Q10 3G – 10.1″ Android 5.1 tablet PC with 4500 mAh battery, GPS and 4-cores CPU for 80 USD

One of the new Android 5.1 tablet PCs is a RoverPad Air Q10 3G – device with 10.1″ multitouch screen with 1024 x 600 pixels resolution, 4500 mAh battery, GPS satellite navigation, 4-cores processor Spreadtrum SC7731G, working on 1.5 GHz frequency and 80 USD price. Manufacturer does not tell what kind of matrix is used, but judging by angles of view, it is an IPS or simillar high-quality one; in tablet PC following are built-in : graphical chip Mali-400 MP2, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of built-in memory with extendability via Micro SD flash cards with 32 GB max size ( larger ones are, probably, also supported ) and slot for SIM cards. It can be used as phone with 3G networks support and without 2G and 4G LTE; it has only acceleration sensor.

Tablet PC RoverPad Air Q10 3G ( side view )

In RoverPad Air Q10 3G two minimal for tablet PCs cameras are placed : 2 MP main one and 0.3 MP frontal one. On its external panels following modules are placed : Micro USB 2.0 port for external devices connection via OTG cable, battery charging and connection to computer; microphone and speaker; 1/8″ mini jack headsets and headphones connector; and power and volume control buttons. It supports wireless Wi-Fi ( 802.11 b/g/n ) and Bluetooth 2.1 ( +EDR ) connections for remote communications with other devices and data transfers, without NFC support. Device’s body is made from plastic, its sizes are 240 ( width ) x 166 ( height ) x 10.5 ( depth ) mm and mass is 550 g; battery charge is 4500 mAh – this a very good value for tablet PCs.

Package with RoverPad Air Q10 3G contains : USB cable, recharger, warranty card and user’s guide. Main pluses of this device are : large screen, capacitive battery, GPS satellite navigation, powerful system and optimal for its functions price. If there is no need in large screen, then there is ability to buy for smaller price Windows or Android tablet PC with smaller screen.

Audio-Technica ATH-PRO5MK3 – 44 mm monitor headphones with microphone, 10 Hz – 25 kHz and 1300 mW output power

Monitor headphones Audio-Technica ATH-PRO5MK3

Another one novelty of Audio-Technica company is a professional monitor headphones ATH-PRO5MK3 with microphone, 10 Hz – 25 kHz reproducible sounds frequencies range, 1300 mW input power and closed architecture. Their impedance is 38 Ohms, Sensitivity is 101 dB and mass is 250 g ( without cord ); headphones can reproduce sound from both or only one cup for selective channels monitoring; powerful magnets and high input power provide uniform sounds frequencies reproduction. Detachable cables are connected to only one cup ( there are 2 of them in the package : coiled one and straight one with microphone and smartphones control button, their both length is 1.2 m ); they are attached to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector with gold-plated contacts. Microphone sensitivity is -41 dB ( this is a good value ) and perceivable frequencies are in 100 Hz – 10 kHz frequencies range.

Package contains : Audio-Technica ATH-PRO5MK3 headphones themselves, 2 cables, screw-on adapter to 1/4″ jack plug, warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are great : they have wide reproducible frequencies range, high input power, large membranes, two detachable cables and microphone; they are oriented on professional studio use and have according price : around 100 USD – for professional monitor headphones this is an adequate sum. There is need to note, that for high-quality sounds and music listening by usual users consumer-level monitor headphones cab be used with much smaller price.

Tag: Electronics