Among the many speaker brands, Klipsch has always played a very special role for generations of enthusiastic music lovers with their striking design and the systematic use of horn-loaded speaker drivers. The Reference Premiere series is the latest product from Klipsch to enter our listening room. Klipsch Reference Premiere Sound Quality – 98% Features – 90% Build Quality/Finish – 92% Price/Performance – 98% SUMMARY The new Reference Premiere series from Klipsch sounds awesome across the board with its enthralling dynamics and audiophile sound quality. 95% PLUS Dynamic, powerful and detailed. As close as you can get to a real cinema sound experience without going bankrupt....
In September this year, Audio-Technica announced a new Limited Edition Red version of the ever-popular ATH-M50x. Reviewer, Matthew Jens, didn’t have to think twice and purchased a pair immediately. AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50X LIMITED EDITION OVER-EAR HEADPHONES I have a problem. I can’t stop collecting headphones. My Fiancé thinks it’s “hoarding,” but I still hold on to the idea that I am a merely a “collector.” Admittedly, I’ve started to lose count of the number of headphones I own, but it’s somewhere north of twenty-five pairs. This madness all began when I was starting out mixing bands in the live audio industry. I required...
You may or not be aware that we have now been in our NEW location coming up 5 years at 49 Hutt Road, Petone, Lower Hutt Our commitment to you is still the same… Our aim, very simply, is to satisfy all our customers so they will want to choose us again and maybe even recommend us to their friends. We only select products for sale that are really good quality – brands you will probably recognize; we stand by the manufacturer’s warranties – we won’t be dodging our commitment to you; and by fulfilling just those two pledges we’ll be here for you tomorrow and...
Pros Can sound better than a Sonos Play:5 Excellent mids Lots of wired and wireless options Cons Needs to be positioned carefully Subwoofer-style bass, not flat-friendly Key Features Review Price: £449 Google Home Wi-Fi Bluetooth Aux input Optical input Device charging What is the Riva Festival? The Riva Festival is a large £450 wireless multiroom speaker. It’s in the same price bracket as the Sonos Play:5 – and is from a name most people won’t have heard before. Confident. However, thee Riva Festival justifies its price through its even more realistic-sounding vocals than the Sonos, alongside a far more open approach to...
One of the best and most versatile headsets we’ve seen in a while. These cans are a revelation. After all my bitching and moaning in the last issue about how not one set of decent gaming headphones have come my way for a year, or more, these wonders arrive, and do it all. Comfort – check! You can wear them for hours and not for a second experience anything less than warm soft ear hugging bliss. Sound quality – big yes! Music is delicate and superbly balanced and defined, with tight bass doing what it should do and never making...
Score: 5 Stars Pros Excellent noise cancellation Adaptive noise cancelling totally works Comfortable, stable fit Auto-connect/disconnect Great sound Cons Charging case is a little chunky Key Features Review Price: £200 Wireless Noise cancellation Earbud design Adaptive sound control Charging case What are the Sony WF-1000X? Wireless earbud-type headphones are cool, but they don’t generally sound amazing. That’s because sound is often not the priority. The Apple AirPods, for instance, put a lot of emphasis on connection stability. The Jabra Elite Sport are designed for sports. But now we have the Sony WF-1000X, which happily take a sound-first approach. They’ve taken a few elements...
The history of reversing sensors and reversing cameras Reversing cameras and reversing sensors have been conceptualised on vehicles since before 1950. The first sensors were simple kerb sensors which gradually grew in sophistication through to the 1980s. These consisted of a flexible wand which triggered an audible signal inside the vehicle when it came into contact with a kerb. But it was hardly a proper reversing sensor; more of a parking aid. True reversing sensors need to scan behind the car and warn the driver if there’s an obstacle. Manufacturers had trialled a number of systems in the 1970s and...
Mid-Fi at its finest. The last time I reviewed an audio HiFi product was a few months back when I wrote about my love for the Devialet Phantom Gold system I purchased. That system is amazing, and rocks the house down. It can do so with grace, ease or all out grunt and force and remain composed while doing so. Many nights…yes, many nights I had a concert in my home thanks to those Gold Phantoms. Incredible. For many though, those are overkill and too expensive. What about if you just want a nice set of stereo speakers that do not...
Excellent sound quality from a standalone soundbar, just don’t expect the full surround effect Pros Decent bass without a subwoofer Highly flexible wireless connectivity Infrared passthrough Cons No HDMI connectivity Sound sometimes lacks subtlety A touch pricey The Yamaha YAS-306 is a standalone soundbar with an unusual twist. It comes without a subwoofer, normally a signal for below-par audio performance, yet it manages to pack a sonic punch far above its station. Packed into its chunky, understated case is not only a pair of 2.13in drivers and two 0.75in tweeters aimed at producing virtual surround sound, but also a pair...
Pros Class-leading mid-range and treble detail Small Good top volume Cons Expensive Sound lacks a little bulk in some areas Key Features Review Price: £299.00 2x 50mm UniQ drivers Aux input Bluetooth with aptX What is the KEF Muo? The KEF Muo is a high-end Bluetooth speaker of tiny proportions. It’s dinky enough to slip into a handbag, or a small pocket inside a rucksack. But at £299, the price is anything but small. For those raising an eyebrow, I’m not surprised – for this money you could easily get your hands on a seriously good wireless home-bound speaker. But...
