AUDIO TECHNICA: The ATH-S220BT and the ATH-M50xBT2 headphones

Audio-Technica has introduced two new wireless headphones in the shape of the ATH-S220BT and the ATH-M50xBT2. The Japanese company says the former: “offers exceptional audio reproduction with crystal-clear call clarity”. With a claimed 60-hour battery life and support so that a 10-minute charge will top the battery up by 3.5 hours, the ATH-S220BT also incorporates […]

Read More

CAMBRIDGE AUDIO: CXA60 integrated amplifier and what was said at the time

The most fun you can have with 60 watts. An amplifier is the heart of any hi-fi system and ours – What Hi-Fi?’s ‘Best Stereo Amplifier’ two years running – is hugely entertaining. With those 60 watts of power comes 4 analogue, 3 digital and optional Bluetooth inputs so your connectivity is sorted too. Continues […]

Read More

PS AUDIO: Knowing clearly how your amp will perform within the range of human hearing is a lot more valuable than just simple specs

It might not make much sense when we see an amplifier’s frequency range specified as 10Hz to 60kHz. After all, this kind of extreme frequency range is unusable to humans. Our hearing is limited to 20Hz and 20kHz (and that’s on a good day). But here’s what might be missing. To be flat at the […]

Read More

BLUE LOLA: Headphones

They say ….. A set of headphones with a sealed over-ear design and custom 50mm drivers, the same as the company’s own Mo-Fi headphone. Blue’s default headband design features a four-point multi-jointed linkage system and pivoting arms that allow the headphones to stay parallel at all times. Lola furthers this design with a new slimmer […]

Read More

HEADPHONES: Factors that Influence Listeners’ Preferred Bass and Treble Levels in Headphones?

Sean Olive writes: Most people would agree that headphone purchase decisions are heavily influenced by the brand and styling (size,  weight, color, quality of  materials).   But what is considered stylish and fashionable  by me is not shared by my 15-year old daughter (this week donning purple hair), and vice versa. In other words, the […]

Read More

PLASTICITY

What a great word. noun:1. The quality of being easily shaped or moulded.2. The adaptability of an organism to changes in its environment or differences between its various habitats. Plasticity very much describes our ever-adapting ear/brain mechanism. Unlike our test equipment which we rely upon to be solid and unchanging, our ear/brain mechanism is constantly changing, […]

Read More

BOOTHROYD STUART MERIDIAN: Designs … the very rarest of the rare

Quite a few facts here that are unknown to many. Meridian 102. A concept with possibly only one prototype of a stand-alone phono stage and/or step-up. Never put into production. Meridian 101B with hard anodized finish over the raw aluminium. An experiment to test surface-finish durability. It was indeed resistant to even a heavy set […]

Read More