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Headphone News: April 29, 2013
News
Tyll Hertsens • Apr 29, 2013 • 15 comments

The Oculus Rift is coming on strong...I want. A subwoofer for headphones? Yupper! Golden Ears is putting their headphone measurements to good use. More about mind reading headsets. New cans from KEF, B&O, and Skullcandy. DIY headphones are starting to appear, I can't wait for a serious attempt.

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Headphone News: February 11, 2013
News
Tyll Hertsens • Feb 11, 2013 • 4 comments

Oh my! Great news week. Gizmodo dishes the dirt on Dre and Monster. Dre sues Yamaha, Monster sues Dolby---sheesh! Onkyo releases new cans. Meridian puts their brains in a tiny aluminum tube. And 1964 Ears has a cool new video.

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Headphone News: January 28, 2013
News
Tyll Hertsens • Jan 28, 2013 • 11 comments

Editor's Note: I used to tweet interesting news items, but I don't think it did justice to some stories. So, I'm going to keep surfing the news for headphones stories and make comments as I see the need, and when I build up a little chunk of interesting news stories post them here. I expect you'll see something about every two weeks or so. Here's the first.

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Stereophile Recommended Components iPad App Now Available for Free Download
News
Jon Iverson • Jun 25, 2012 • 0 comments
Stereophile is pleased to announce the availability of the free 2012 Recommended Components iPad app.

Available Now
The app is available right now for free download to your iPad in the iTunes store. In iTunes, search for "Stereophile Recommended Components" or follow this link to the iTunes store from your web browser.

This app includes all current Recomended Components as listed in the recent issue of Stereophile as well as additional ratings and listings that could not fit in the print version. There are over 700 component rankings in all and the app is compatible with all iPad hardware versions including retina displays.

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Source Interlink Announces AnalogPlanet.com, a New Website Edited by Michael Fremer!
News
Jon Iverson • May 30, 2012 • 0 comments
Keith Pray, Publisher of the Source Interlink Home Tech Network, is delighted to announce the launch of the newest Home Tech Group website AnalogPlanet.com, edited by the world’s foremost proponent of analog technology, Michael Fremer.
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The Cable Company Offers a Headphone Lending Library
News
Tyll Hertsens • May 16, 2012 • 5 comments

Have you ever struggled through a long string of purchases to find just the right headphone for you? Ever wonder what some of the top-end headphones can deliver? Ever think to yourself, "Meh, headphones. How good can it be?" Well...now you can find out. The Cable Company makes a lovely offering.

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Chinese Speaker Maker Edifier Purchases Famous Electrostatic Headphone Maker Stax
News
Tyll Hertsens • Dec 20, 2011 • 28 comments

On December 9, 2011, the long-time electrostatic headphone maker, Stax, was purchased by Chinese speaker maker, Edifier Technology, for just over $1.5 million. Looked at another way, you could buy 288 SR-009 headphones ... or the company.

Don't flinch, I think we better get used to Chinese owners.

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MOG down!? :(
News
Tyll Hertsens • Dec 02, 2011 • 3 comments

I was merrily listening to Silent Strike (merrily may be the wrong word to use with them) on MOG through my Squeeze Server, when all of a sudden the music stopped. I look at my iPad, which is running iPeng to control everything, and things just start disappearing. I push the MOG button and a cryptic message shows up to reconfigure MOG on mysqueezebox.com. After a bit of fumbling, 'cuz everything looked fine, I pointed my browser at mog ... and was greeted with a bunch of weird posts about their service interuption.

Dontcha just love a company with a sense of humor?

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InnerFidelity Mentioned in NY Times Article
Tyll Hertsens Blog, News
Tyll Hertsens • Nov 21, 2011 • 12 comments
I don't want to break my arm patting myself on the back or anything, but heck, I do have a category for news.

And I reckon being mentioned in the NY Times is a bit of good news.

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FujiyaAVIC Headphone Festival Fall 2011
Tyll Hertsens Blog, News
Tyll Hertsens • Nov 09, 2011 • 0 comments
Photo credt: AnakChan - The Headphone Girls greeting attendees entering the show.
Headphone enthusiasm is alive and well in Japan! Fujia AVIC, an electronics on-line and brick-and-mortar retailer in Tokyo, organizes a bi-annual headphone festival that is headphone otaku at it's finest.
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AudioStream.com Launched For Computer Audio Enthusiasts
News
Jon Iverson • Oct 12, 2011 • 0 comments
AudioStream.com is a new website edited by Michael Lavorgna dedicated to making sense of the evolving world of computer audio and getting the best sound from your computer-based audio system.

The site's motto is "Computer Audio For Everyone" and will focus on the world of computer audio hardware, software and music resources. Topics will include hardware reviews from the mass-market right up to the bleeding-edge of what’s possible as well as in-depth analysis of music management software and an exploration of our newest music resources including HD download sites, streaming media and cloud services.

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Head Monster Noel Lee's Son Kevin Founds "SOL Republic" to Make Low Cost Cans
Tyll Hertsens Blog, News
Tyll Hertsens • Aug 23, 2011 • 0 comments

The web is abuzz with the news: a little monster has been unleashed upon the headphone market as Kevin Lee, son of Monster's Head Monster Noel Lee, breaks out on his own to start a new headphone company "SOL Republic."

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HTC pays $300mil for control Beats Electronics. What will consumers get out of it?
Tyll Hertsens Blog, News
Tyll Hertsens • Aug 12, 2011 • 5 comments

Yesterday HTC spent $300 million dollars to purchase control of Beats Electronics, makers of Beats by Dr.Dre headphones, in order to put "Beats Audio Technology" in their cell phones.

In an All Things D article Ina Freid reported:

(HTC CEO) Chou said the Beats deal should “help create an emotional connection to HTC’s brand.”

And ...

Beats CEO Iovine said the partnership with HTC is just the latest piece of his crusade to improve the sound in modern electronics.

What is "Beats Audio Technology?" This HP YouTube movie provides basic explanations of the Beats Audio technology included in some HP laptops.

Things cited are: no metal parts in headphone jack eliminates ground noise; re-routed wireing and seperate headphone amp reduces cross-talk; "souped-up" headphone amp increases dynamic range; audio components isolated on an "audio island" free from interference; and lastly an audio EQ and control app. These aren't propriety technologies. These are simply good audio electronics design practices.

Has HTC just payed $300m for a logo? Will it benefit consumers? Select the statement most true.

HTC pays $300mil for control Beats Electronics. What will consumers get out of it?
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Headphones.com Sponsors "Silent Disco" at "Gathering of the Vibes" Festival.
News
Tyll Hertsens • Jul 29, 2011 • 4 comments

It's starting to happen more and more. A silent disco is where the DJ plays music that is sent to an FM transmitter, and dancers wear headphones tied to FM radios. Sometimes two DJs spin discs and compete for the most people tuned in. I suppose you can tell who's winning by the beat of the bobbing crowd. I think it sounds like fun.

Evidently, so do the folks at Headphones.com ...

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Inventor Stephen Ambrose Claims Development of Safer Ear Tip
Tyll Hertsens Blog, News
Tyll Hertsens • May 16, 2011 • 11 comments

There is a story in Headphonedom that will not go away … ever: The Dangers of Headphone Listening. Studies show significant increases in hearing damage … especially to youngsters who tend to listen very loud. Other than the iPod’s new ability for parents to set a volume limit on the device, little has come along to mitigate the problem other than draconian legislative measures trying to control volume limits on devices. (Which is ridiculous in my view both from a personal liberty standpoint, and from the fact that it makes portable devices less able to drive a variety of aftermarket headphones.)

Well, Stephen Ambrose claims to have solved the problem ...

... and my skeptomometer has been beeping like crazy. Let’s have a look …

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