Company JVC at the beginning of year released whole line of new headphones, among them there are JVC HA-SR50X – over ears headphones with 40 mm membranes, microphone and ability to reproduce sounds in 8 Hz – 23 kHz frequencies range. Membranes are moved by neodymium magnets; sensitivity of headphones is 107 dB/mW, impedance 16 Ohms and maximal power input 1000 mW. To both cups 1.2 m cable is connected with 1/8″ mini jack gold-plated connector, compatible with Apple iPhone, and volume control module with built-in microphone and smartphones control buttons; cable mount is additionally reinforced for increased durability. Package contains : JVC HA-SR50X headphones themselves, warranty card and user’s guide. Their price is around 40 USD, which is adequate to their functions ( some manufacturers would ask 5 – 10 times more for similar devices ); however there is need to note, that similar headphones can be bought for smaller sum and for approximately the same price 50 mm headphones can be bought.
Among over ears headphones there is novelty : JVC HA-S520 – headphones with 36 mm membranes and support of 10 Hz – 25 kHz frequencies sounds reproduction. Their sensitivity is 112 dB, impedance is 32 Ohms, maximal input power 500 mW, membranes are moved by neodymium magnets. To both cups 1.2 m cable is connected with 1/8″ mini jack gold-plated connector, compatible with Apple iPhone; headphones are foldable and their mass is 132 g; they are supplied in 3 color variants : black, maroon and white. Package contains : JVC HA-S520 headphones themselves, warranty card and user’s guide. Their price is around 30 USD, which is quite good for such device; however, there is need to note, that similar headphones can be bought for smaller sum and for approximately the same sum there is ability to buy 50 mm headphones of other manufacturers.
One of the most professional studio-level USB audio interfaces of Focusrite company is Scarlett 18i20 – device with 18 audio inputs and 20 outputs with support of 96 kHz and 24 bits mode. On its frontal panel following are placed : 2 combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack microphone/linear/instrumental Hi-Z inputs; phantom power +48 V switch for inputs 1 – 4 with indicator and the same for inputs 5 – 8; gain control knob, instrumental mode and PAD switches with indicators for inputs 1 and 2; gain control knobs for inputs 3 – 8; screen with outputs’ levels indication and USB signal and locking indicators; volume control knob and Direct Monitor and mute switches with activity indicators; 2 independent TRS 1/4″ jack outputs for monitor headphones with volume controls; and power on switch button with indicator. On back panel there are : line power input ( power from USB or adapter is not enough for interface ); digital coaxial S/PDIF input and output; MIDI input and output; USB 2.0 port; clock signal synchronization port; digital optical ADAT input and output; 10 analogue TRS 1/4″ jack outputs ( 1 and 2 are balanced ); and 6 combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack inputs.
USB audio interface Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 ( back panel )
To all combined analogue inputs of Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 preamplifiers Focusrite are connected. Device has following characteristics : dynamic range of analogue to digital conversions is 109 dB; digital to analogue 108 dB; microphone inputs ( THD+N 0.001 %, noise level -122 dB ); linear inputs ( THD+N 0.007 %, noise level -105 dB, maximal input signal level +28 dB ); instrumental inputs ( THD+N 0.007 %, noise level -103 dB, maximal input level +8 dB ); analogue linear outputs ( maximal output level +16 dB, THD+N 0.001 % ). Fore device drivers are released for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 and Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion OSes with support of ASIO 2.0 and Core Audio interfaces, accordingly, through which it works with modern DAWs : FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase and others. Device sizes are : 482 ( width ) x 265 ( depth ) x 45 ( height ) mm and mass is 3.4 kg. Following programs are bundled with device : DAWAbleton Live Lite, mixer Scarlett MixControl, Scarlett Plug-in Suite ( VST/AU/RTAS versions of compressor, reverberation, gating and equalizer ), AU/VST digital version of analogue synthesizer Novation Bass Station and 1 GB of free samples Loopmasters.
Package contains : Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 USB audio interface itself, USB cable, power cable, optical disks with drivers and software, warranty card and user’s guide. Interface is very professional, has large amount of connectors and functions and is designed for use in large studios, for them – it is one of the best devices. For small studios such amount of connectors is not needed and there is ability to buy devices with smaller price and the same level of quality of internal components of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite itself, Roland, ESI, M-Audio and other manufacturers production.
One of the most advanced external audio interfaces of Roland comapany is a FA-66, designed for professional studio work via Firewire connection. It can receive signal from other devices with 96 kHz sampling rate and 24 bits per sample precision, wherein internally signal is converted from digital to analogue and vice versa with 192 kHz frequency. On its frontal panel there are : 2 combined XLR/TRS 1/4″ jack connectors with sensitivity control knobs, instrumental Hi-Z mode switch and clip indicator for second one of them; digital inputs switch with power, output and synchronization indicators; mono/stereo and control switches and volume control knob for Direct Monitor function; TRS 1/4″ jack headphones output and main outputs’ volume control knob. To both inputs +48 V phantom power can be connected, they are balanced; device can work in full-duplex mode ( playback and record sounds simultaneously ). On back panel of interface there are : ground connector; power adapter input; Firewire/adapter powering switch; Firewire inputs of different sizes; internal sampling rate switch; phantom power and limiter switches; MIDI input and output; optical digital input and output; 4 balanced TRS 1/4″ jack outputs; 2 RCA gold-plated inputs; and their sensitivity control knob.
Firewire audio interface Roland FA-66 ( back panel )
Noise level of analogue inputs of Roland FA-66 is -95 dB, signal to noise ratio for outputs is 105 dB, for inputs 102 dB; device can be powered from adapter or Firewire connection and draws 650 mA maximum. In Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 audio interface works via specialized drivers with WDM and ASIO 2.0 interfaces support; in Mac OS X via built in drivers with Core Audio interface support; via which it works with modern DAWs : Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Cackewalk Sonar, REAPER and others. Device’s body is made from aluminum and has nice rounded corners; its sizes are 164 ( width ) x 148 ( depth ) x 44 ( height ) mm and mass is 0.7 kg.
Package contains : Roland FA-66 audio interface itself, FireWire cables with connectors of different sizes, CD-ROM disk with drivers and different programs, power adapter, warranty card and user’s guide. Audio interface is very good with great characteristics and large amount of connectors and functions; wherein there is need to note that FireWire ports are available not in all computers, so, studio computer should have them in order to work with device. It can do the job, which USB audio interfaces can perform ( for example of Steinberg, Behringer, Focusrite, ESI, Roland itself, M-Audio and other manufacturers production ), and among them there are devices equal to it in quality and connectors amounts and types terms. So, here is need to look on devices’ prices, accordance of their characteristics to tasks, which interface will perform; and availability of different ports of studio computer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
