Friday, January 31, 2020

Denon AVR-S950H 7.2 Channel Home Theater Receiver Review


If you’re in the market for a surround sound receiver, you are in luck. They continue to improve with more features, and every year the features work their way down the model lines. Up for review today is the Denon AVR-S950H. It’s a 7.2 Dolby ATMOS and DTS X receiver designed around Hi-Res Audio, 4K video and wi-fi. It’s designed to work with Google Assistant, Alexa, Air Play 2, HEOS and others.

 

Features and specs:

Amplification

Number Of Channels :  7

Stereo RMS Power (watts) :  90

THD in Stereo :  0.08 %

Frequency Bandwidth (stereo):  20-20k Hz

Minimum Impedance L/R :  4 ohms

Minimum Impedance Center :  4 ohms

Minimum Impedance Surround :  4 ohms

General Features

Internet-ready :  Yes

Bluetooth :  Built-in

Apple AirPlay:  AirPlay 2

Alexa-compatible :  Yes

Google Assistant-compatible :  Yes

Chromecast built-in :  No

DTS Play-Fi :  No

App Remote Control :  Yes

USB port for iPod/iPhone :  No

FM Sensitivity :  12.8 dBf

HD Radio Tuner :  No

On-Screen Display :  Thru HDMI

Auto Speaker Calibration :  Audyssey MultEQ

Plays Copy-protected 4K :  Yes

HDR-compatible :  HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG

HDMI Standby Pass-through :  Yes

4K Video Upscaling :  Yes

HDMI to HDMI Upconversion :  Yes

DLNA Certified

MHL-compatible :  No

Multibrand Remote Control :  No

Learning Remote :  No

LCD Remote

Width (inches) :  17-3/16

Height (inches) :  6-9/16

Depth (inches) :  13-11/16

Weight (pounds) :  21

Parts Warranty :  2 Years

Labor Warranty :  2 Years

Multi-room Audio/Video

Powered Multi-room Audio Output :  Yes

Preamp Multi-room Audio Output :  No

Multi-room HDMI Output :  No

Playback from Digital Audio Inputs : No

Playback from Streaming Sources :  Yes

Surround Processing

Dolby Digital

DD, TrueHD, DD+ Dolby Atmos :  Yes

DTS

DTS, HD, HDMA, ES, 96/24 , DTS:X :  Yes

Inputs & Outputs

Phono Input :  1

Audio-Video Inputs:  6

Audio-only Inputs :  2

Component Video Inputs :  2

Component Video Monitor Outputs :  1

Optical Digital Inputs :  2

Coaxial Digital Inputs :  1

Optical Digital Outputs :  None

Coaxial Digital Outputs :  None

HDMI Inputs :  8

HDMI Monitor Outputs :  2

Subwoofer Outputs :  2

Discrete Subwoofer Outputs :  No

Multi-Channel Analog Input :  No

Multi-channel Preamp Output :  No

Main Speaker Output Pairs :  1

Main Speaker Terminals :  Posts

Ethernet Port :  1

USB Connections :  1 Front

Removable Power Cord :  No


The Denon AVR-S950H came shipped in a standard brown box with color photos and features of the receiver on the box. Opening the box revealed a well protected receiver held in place by custom molded Styrofoam. Taking out the receiver, I see a very well made product. Materials used in the construction is mostly metal with some plastic. Quality of materials used, as well as the fit and finish was excellent. Also include was the calibration mic, portable mic stand, and quick start guide. The owner’s manual is found online.

 

I really liked the design of the Denon AVR-S950H. It’s part of Denon’s S series, which is Denon’s value series. But just because it is part of what is considered Denon’s value series, does not mean that it is a cheap receiver. The S series is a mainstream line, and gives a big bang for the buck.  The AVR-S950H is Denon’s top of the line for the S series.  And it includes the networking features to work with your home network through Google Assistant and Alexa.

 

Setting up the Denon AVR-S950H was pretty simple. The Quick Start Guide was well written, and easy to follow. And the on screen assistant walks you through the rest of the set-up. Download the apps and through the HEOS App is where you are able to listen to your online music apps through the receiver.

 

There are also a ton of options for fine tuning your sound through the Denon AVR-S950H. You have all of the standard surround sound formats to choose from. And there are also several different DSP sound modes to choose from as well. There are actual sound modes of Movie, Music, Game and Pure. And there’s different sound options in the modes, such as Music Mode has Rock Arena and Jazz Club.

 

In finalizing the setup through the setup assistance, the last step is the sound calibration. Included was the setup mic, and card board stand. You put together the cardboard stand, which holds the mic, and putting together the stand gets the mic to ear height. The setup assistant takes you through setting the mic at different listening positions, and then does a sound test at all the different positions. Once done, setup is complete.

 

Now the receiver is ready to use. The front of the receiver is very well laid out and easy to use. There are two large rotary knobs. The one on the right is for volume. The one on the left is for source select. With the source select knob, you can toggle between the different sources. On the front panel there are also quick select buttons. So rather than using the same select knob to select a source, you can just use the source select buttons. On the front panel are also found buttons for the various sound modes. Additionally, the front panel also houses the auxiliary HDMI input, USB input, and headphone jack.

 

The last part of the setup was the additional features of the HEOS app and Google Assistant. To listen to your online music sources, such as Spotify, you do this through the HEOS app. Setting up these features was a little harder, but not too difficult. And if you end up needing help, there is always the customer support number. For HEOS, you download the app onto your phone, and you link it to the receiver using your wi-fi. To be able to use Google assistant you need to go into your Google Home setting, search for the receiver, and add it to your network.

 

Now that the receiver, as well as the apps are set up, let’s see how it performs. I started off with the HEOS app. Setting the source to HEOS on the receiver, I was able to listen to my Spotify account through the receiver. And controlling the receiver through Google Assistant was cool. Functionality was limited, but using Google to turn the receiver on or off, and control the volume was cool.

 

I was very impressed with the sound of the Denon AVR-S950H. For a receiver at this price point, I wasn’t expecting an amplifier to be this transparent. In listening to my go to tracks, I was not disappointed. I listen for depth and width of soundstage, spot on imaging, and resolution to bring out all of the nuances of the instruments in a track. And of course, also resolution, texture, and harmonics of vocals. While speakers do most of the heavy lifting in this regard, the receiver was not a weak link.

 

I was equally impressed when it came to movies. I’m a huge movie buff, especially for action films with all of the surround sound effects. The Denon AVR-S950H performed in spades here as well. There seemed to be plenty of power on tap for my Klipsch reference system with tower front speakers. Even at volume levels that had my teenagers telling me to turn the volume down, the sound was clean, unstrained, with no noticeable distortion. In fact, I had a hard time with the listening, because I kept getting sucked into the movie. Fight scenes, explosions, they sounded natural and life-like. I kept getting drawn into the movie. And I guess that’s one of the greatest complements that can be given.

 

The Denon AVR-S950H proved to be a very capable receiver. and with all of the current features like Dolby Atmos, DTS X, Bluetooth, wi-fi, and even Google Assistant, it has you covered for all of your source needs. It’s not perfect. But with an MSRP of only $599, it performs much better than it should for its price! Based on its design, features, quality and performance the Denon AVR-S950H has earned our Highly Recommended Award for more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.denon.com.


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Thursday, January 23, 2020

Audience Introduces Its Hidden Treasure SATA Data Cable, for Upgraded Performance in Music Servers and Computer Audio Devices


Audience Introduces Its Hidden Treasure SATA Data Cable,for Upgraded Performance in Music Servers and Computer Audio Devices


San Marcos, CA, January 22, 2020 -- Audience is now shipping its Hidden Treasure SATA Data Cable. The new SATA (Serial AT Attachment) cable is designed as an upgrade for internal connections of music server/computer storage devices, solid-state and disk drives and other hardware.

The new Hidden Treasure SATA cable provides better data transfer by reducing jitter and RF contamination, resulting in a lower noise floor and notably improved sound quality in audio components such as computer-based music systems. It can be easily installed as a DIY upgrade.

"More audiophiles are turning to music servers and other data storage, drive-based devices for their music listening, and these devices require a SATA cable for connecting the drive to the rest of the internal electronics," noted John McDonald, president of Audience. "As a cable manufacturer it was a logical area for us to look into. We've discovered that upgrading the stock SATA cable with our Hidden Treasure cable can significantly improve the sound."

Transmission of data including digital audio signals through a SATA cable happens at a much higher speed than via a USB connection and as a result, is more susceptible to jitter and internal system noise. The Audience Hidden Treasure SATA cable employs newly developed proprietary design techniques intended to block noise and ensure optimum signal condition and data integrity. By removing layers of sonic "grunge," the audible result is greater low-level detail and a smoother, more inviting sonic presentation.

Although the retrofit of a component's stock SATA cable with a Hidden Treasure SATA cable is a simple un-plug and re-plug function, Audience recommends that the upgrade be performed by a qualified technician. Audience also recommends consideration of the manufacturer's warranty that could potentially be voided when modifying a particular music player. Audience accepts no liability for damage caused by improper installation.

The Audience Hidden Treasure SATA data cable is currently available. Suggested retail pricing is as follows: 12-inch cable, $180; 18-inch cable, $200; 24-inch cable, $220.


# # #
About Audience
Audience was formed in November 1997 by John McDonald and the late Richard Smith, as a design and production company focused on building the best possible audio and video equipment. To pass the Audience test, each product must truly make a significant contribution to the reproduction of audio and/or video. Audience offers loudspeakers, electronics, cables, power conditioners, high-resolution capacitors and the Auric Illuminator optical disk resolution enhancement.


Audience's commitment is to develop the very best products possible, and the company is committed to unexcelled customer service and product support. All Audience cables have an unconditional lifetime warranty and power conditioners have a ten-year warranty. For more information visit www.audience-av.com.


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Friday, January 17, 2020

Parasound Debuts Flagship Halo JC 1+ 450-Watt Monoblock Power Amplifier

Parasound Debuts Flagship Halo JC 1+ 450-Watt Monoblock Power Amplifier

Five years in the making, John Curl’s innovations make the new Parasound Halo JC 1+ the finest amplifier in Parasound’s 38 year history.
JC1+

JC1+
Parasound Halo JC 1+ Monoblock Amplifier in silver or black. Click here for additional photos specs on web.
JC1+ JC1+
SAN FRANCISCO (1/16/20) -- For nearly two decades, the Parasound Halo JC 1 monoblock power amplifier, designed by the legendary John Curl, wasParasound's flagship product, and the aspirational amplifier for thousands of audiophiles world-wide.
A five-year effort by Curl and Parasound, and sweeping circuit improvements, have resulted in the amazing Parasound Halo JC 1+ monoblock amplifier. With 450 watts into 8 ohms, 850 watts into 4 ohms, 1300 watts into 2 ohms, and a peak current of 180 amperes, the JC 1+ excels even with speakers that can dip to 1 ohm. It operates in pure Class A up to 25 Watts and Class AB to full power, reflecting Curl's attention to detail and sound quality.
"In early 2003, the JC 1 was an immediate success," said Richard Schram, Parasound's president. "We couldn’t imagine how to improve it. I was surprised and excited when John called me in early 2014 to discuss his ideas for a new amplifier that would significantly outperform the JC 1. During 2015 and 2016 we built numerous prototypes to confirm Curl’s theories, and the sonic improvements he’d predicted. The results were outstanding. We decided to create a new amplifier to honor the JC 1’s legendary reputation. The JC 1+ is a technological masterpiece, raising the bar for amplifier performance and value for years to come.”
At 83 pounds, the new JC 1+ is 30 percent heavier than the JC 1. Its new power transformer has 20 percent higher capacity, while additional Nichicon power-supply filter capacitors increase from 132,000 uF to 198,000 uF. The new amp boasts 24 Sanken 15A/230V output transistors compared to 18 — a 33 percent peak current increase, for music that truly soars.
The Parasound Halo JC 1+ is remarkably quiet and is thefirst commercially built product to employ active high-frequency noise filtering with Bybee Music Rails™, eliminating input stage noise that compromises sound quality. Curl’s newly-designed driver stage employs a cascode circuit with greater open-loop bandwidth and increased linearity. In another first for the JC 1+, the input and driver stages reside on FR-408 printed circuit board material. Until now FR408 was used in super-computer and aerospace applications. The input-stage power supply is totally independent from the main power supply. Its R-core transformer isolates sensitive circuitry from high-frequency power line noise. This input stage power supply employs quiet high speed/soft recovery diodes and 22,400 uF filter capacitance, to deliver +/- 112 VDC rail voltage, virtually eliminating distortion. Premium Wilson Audio REL capacitors use a proprietary design, which resists micro vibrations that typically degrade the sound quality of other caps. The addition of an XLR Loop Out as well as a 12V-trigger/delayed-turn-on improve the connectivity and utility when multiple JC 1+s are used in bi, tri, and quad amp configurations.
Parasound’s Halo JC 1+ has a fast-start bias circuit that enables it to sound its best within minutes after turn-on. A bias level selector switch enables cooler operation, with virtually no performance compromise. To optimize performance with high gain preamps and high sensitivity speakers, a two-position toggle switch selects 23dB or 29dB gain.
Premium Neutrik balanced locking XLR connectors, and Vampire unbalanced RCA output connectors facilitate bi-amping. Rugged Parasound-designed CHK Infinium speaker terminals accept spade lugs up to 16mm wide, banana plugs, and 5-AWG bare speaker wire. The front panel design not only matches the updated Halo family appearance, but also complements the inner beauty of the JC1+.
The Parasound Halo JC 1+ power amplifier, in black or silver finish, will be available from authorized Parasound dealers in Q1, 2020, with a USA retail price of $8,495 each.
Founded in 1981, Parasound Products, Inc., is a privately-owned U.S. company that specializes in providing affordable audio components to the critical listener. The company's ever-improving line of audio products has garnered a reputation for performance, value, and reliability. The highest quality standards are assured by Parasound's close relationships with their Taiwan manufacturers that date back to 1982.
For more information, visit www.parasound.com or call 415-397-7100.


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Saturday, January 11, 2020

Introducing the EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 KO


Introducing the EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 KO - The new EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 KO enters the ring with a ONE-TWO Punch to any contender willing to step in. EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 KO and RTX 2060 KO ULTRA are the new editions to EVGA’s RTX line up. Experience superior cooling, superior overclocking, and superior performance.

Powered by NVIDIA Turing Architecture

GeForce RTX graphics cards are powered by the Turing GPU architecture and the all-new RTX platform.

This gives you higher performance compared to previous-generation graphics cards and brings the power of real-time ray tracing and AI to games.

RTX ON

See every game come alive with ray tracing that delivers physically accurate shadows, reflections, and lighting. And tap into Tensor Cores for super-powerful AI-processing. Advanced memory, performance boosts, and processing technologies make these GPUs the perfect weapon for hardcore gamers....

All Metal Backplate, Pre-Installed



EVGA Precision X1

Introducing EVGA Precision X1. With a brand new layout, completely new codebase, new features and more, the new EVGA Precision X1 software is faster, easier and better than ever.

The new EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 KO is here to knock out the competition at a value you cannot pass up. To learn more about the new EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 KO graphics cards, please visit https://www.evga.com/articles/01387/evga-rtx-2060-ko/


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Wednesday, January 8, 2020

LG INTRODUCES ATSC 3.0-ENABLED OLED TVS IN USA, USHERING IN ‘NEXTGEN TV’ ERA



LG INTRODUCES ATSC 3.0-ENABLED OLED TVS IN USA, USHERING IN ‘NEXTGEN TV’ ERA

Co-Developer of New Television Standard Helps Jumpstart Market as
Broadcasters Launch NEXTGEN TV Services Across America in 2020
 

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8, 2020 — LG Electronics (LG), co-developer of the ATSC 3.0 next-generation television standard, is ushering in the era of NEXTGEN TV with the introduction of six advanced new LG OLED TV models equipped to receive new services with enhanced content, pictures and sound.

Unveiled at CES® 2020, these new TVs – with screen sizes from 55 to 88 inches –  represent the powerful combination of LG OLED and NEXTGEN TV technologies, winning three 2020 CES Innovation Awards. Their introduction dovetails with U.S. broadcasters’ plans to launch NEXTGEN TV services in dozens of U.S. markets this year – with signals reaching the majority of TV viewers in America.

Billed by broadcasters as “The Future of Television,” NEXTGEN TV powered by ATSC 3.0 unlocks new features, additional content, more control and personalization for broadcast viewers. Initial enhancements (which may vary by broadcaster) include improved pictures with more 4K UHD and high dynamic range content; immersive audio for movie-theater-like sound; and enhanced content such as an advanced TV guide, additional program information, and an on-demand video library.
 
“This is a milestone year for NEXTGEN TV, and we welcome LG’s announcement,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “Early-adopter consumers with these TVs will benefit from NEXTGEN TV’s new services being launched by local TV stations across America. We’re delighted that TV manufacturers like LG, which contributed significantly to the cutting-edge ATSC 3.0 standard, are leading the way.”
 
The six 2020 LG OLED models earning the NEXTGEN TV logo from the Consumer Technology Association are: the 55-, 65- and 77-inch class GX Gallery Series 4K Ultra HD models, the 65-inch class WX Wallpaper 4K model and 77- and 88-inch class ZX Real 8K models.
 
The minimalist Gallery Series takes design to a new level with an ultra-thin form factor that hangs on the wall like a piece of art, while the razor-thin 65OLEDWX Wallpaper TV becomes one with the wall and includes a high-performance Dolby Atmos® soundbar for immersive audio. The 2020 LG OLED ZX Real 8K models, delivering four times more detail than 4K TV and 16 times more than HDTV, exceed CTA’s strict requirements related to the official industry definition for 8K Ultra HD TVs.
 
Along with LG’s proven third-generation ATSC 3.0 receiver/demodulator, the LG OLED NEXTGEN TVs include the new α9 (Alpha 9) Gen 3 AI Processor that leverages upgraded processing power and artificial intelligence to further enhance picture quality and enable specialized features for movies, games and sports. Combining OLED’s self-emitting pixel technology and perfect blacks with support for Dolby Vision IQ and the UHD Alliance’s new Filmmaker Mode,™ 2020 LG OLED TVs bring the cinema into the living room with new levels of realism.
 
“As the first TV manufacturer to support the Phoenix Model Market ATSC 3.0 project starting in 2018, LG is helping to set the foundation for the launch of NEXTGEN TV in the Top 40 markets this year by demonstrating the new NEXTGEN TV broadcaster application framework with Pearl,” said Anne Schelle, Executive Director of the Pearl TV broadcaster business group that represents more than 400 network-affiliated TV stations.
 
In addition to its work with Pearl TV, LG also is demonstrating robust ATSC 3.0 reception at CES in cooperation with Sinclair Broadcast Group in the Advanced Television Systems Committee’s booth (#11329, just steps from the LG booth in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center).
 
NEXTGEN TVs jumpstarting the U.S. market follow LG’s early leadership in ATSC 3.0-enabled products in South Korea since 2017. The U.S. NEXTGEN TV launch also reflects LG’s key role in the Advanced Television Systems Committee’s suite of ATSC 3.0 standards that merges the capabilities of broadcast and broadband for the first time.
 
ATSC President Madeleine Noland applauded the debut of LG’s NEXTGEN TV enabled products at CES. “LG is among the strongest leaders and contributors within ATSC across the development, testing and commercial deployment of NEXTGEN TV, initially in South Korea, and now here in the U.S. LG was the first to develop an ATSC 1.0/3.0 tuner/demodulator chip. Now this time-tested technology is embedded in the new lineup of LG OLED TVs as NEXTGEN TV makes its way into viewers homes across the country.”
 
Core technologies developed by LG and its U.S. R&D lab Zenith are included in the majority of the ATSC 3.0 Physical Layer Standard. With literally thousands of related patented inventions, LG contributed to all layers of the ATSC 3.0 standard. Noteworthy contributions include the A/322 transmission system standard and A/330 link-layer protocol standard, among others.
 
Development of ATSC 3.0 technologies over the past decade represents the latest LG/Zenith innovations in digital television. In addition to LG’s pioneering work on the ATSC 3.0 Standard, its Zenith subsidiary, which was a founding member of ATSC in 1982, invented the core transmission system at the heart of the ATSC A/53 Digital Television Standard, approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in 1996.
 
# # #
 
About LG Electronics USA
LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $54 billion global innovator in technology and manufacturing. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, mobile phones, commercial displays, air conditioning systems, solar energy solutions and vehicle components. The “Life’s Good” marketing theme encompasses how LG is dedicated to people’s happiness by exceeding expectations today and tomorrow. LG is a 2019 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. www.LG.com.


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Monday, January 6, 2020

ASUS ROG Announces the Zephyrus G14 and the Zephyrus G15 for Powerful, Ultra-Portable Gaming


ASUS ROG Announces the Zephyrus G14 and the Zephyrus G15 for Powerful, Ultra-Portable Gaming

With an ultra-slim form factor, the Zephyrus G14 and G15 bring premium innovations and gaming-friendly features to a wider audience
LAS VEGAS, January 6, 2020 ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the new Zephyrus G14 and Zephyrus G15 gaming notebooks, bringing unprecedented power to an ultra-slim form factor for portable gaming and content creation.

Ultra-slim gaming laptops usually come with a premium price due to how difficult it is to get good performance and cooling in a sub-20mm chassis. ROG has worked hard to make the category more accessible, especially to students, freelancers, and creators who need powerful laptops they can carry everywhere. The latest examples debut at CES 2020 in the new Zephyrus G14 and G15, which wrap powerful processors in a compact chassis portable enough to go anywhere at a price that brings gaming and creation capabilities to an even wider audience.
“ASUS continues to drive innovation on Windows 10 with their latest ultra-slim laptops,” said Nicole Dezen, VP Device Partner Sales, Microsoft. “The Zephyrus G14 and G15 provide exceptional gaming and content creation experiences without compromising power or portability, and now at price points that will make them even more affordable for students, freelancers and creators.”

Despite a chassis only 17.9mm thin, the Zephyrus G14 has carefully customized cooling that brings out the best of its new AMD Ryzen™ 4000 Series Mobile Processors built on the groundbreaking “Zen 2” core architecture combined with industry leading 7nm process technology and up to an NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2060 GPU with more than 10 hours of battery life charged by compatible Type-C power packs. Users can optimize for gaming or creative pursuits with a choice between high refresh and high resolution displays, both with Pantone® Validated colors and adaptive sync technology. Subtle styling in Moonlight White or Eclipse Gray is clean and professional, while the all-new, optional AniMe Matrix™ LED display deepens personalization, enabling users to show custom graphics, animations, and other effects across over a thousand mini LEDs embedded in the lid.

The powerfully versatile new Zephyrus G15 introduced at CES 2020 refreshes the best features of the previous generation Zephyrus GA502 and make them even better, putting premium features like an ultra-slim form factor at 19.9mm thin and weighing just 2.1kg, a 240Hz IPS-level gaming panel with Pantone Validation and compatibility with adaptive sync technology, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and the latest powerful processors in a package more affordable to a wide variety of gamers.

Small size with big impact in the Zephyrus G14 and G15

Packed into a much smaller footprint than other gaming laptop alternatives, the Zephyrus G14 is only 17.9mm thin and 1.6kg in models without the custom LED AniMe Matrix. The magnesium-aluminum alloy deck is precisely machined and finished for a professional polish that’s fingerprint-resistant, and its high durability and low weight make aluminum an ideal material for the lid, with a distinctive dot matrix design.

The ROG splash across the lid comes to life with the AniMe Matrix display available on select models. This display uses 1,215 mini LEDs that emit a white glow with 256 levels of brightness control to give gamers a new medium to express their individuality. Users can import animated GIFs and other graphics, build custom animations frame by frame, and type text messages with different fonts. Visualizations react to music and other audio, creating a unique platform for DJs and other artists. ROG engineers were also careful to balance the number of mini LEDs to minimize heat, controller hardware, and power requirements.

With the G14’s support for USB Power Delivery, it can handle lighter work powered by up to a 65W Type-C adapter that’s much smaller than the 180W unit required to unleash the discrete GPU. If the battery runs low, Type-C charging allows users to extend their life to keep users gaming. USB power flows in the reverse direction as well, with fast-charging support capable of supplying up to 3A to compatible smartphones and other devices.

The Zephyrus G15 also maintains its portability at only 19.9mm thin and 2.1kg, and its super-narrow bezels frame the 15-inch display on three sides, squeezing it into a 14-inch footprint. To keep it looking professional, the G15 forgoes RGB lighting for tasteful white backlighting.

Type-C charging extends the G15’s working time on the go. Support for USB Power Delivery and USB power packs like the ASUS ZenPower Pro PD give users more time to finish up work anywhere. For lighter tasks that don’t engage the discrete GPU, the laptop can also be run off smaller Type-C adapters up to 65W.

Both the G14 and G15 have superfast Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) connectivity. When paired with a compatible router, Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) boosts peak interface bandwidth up to 2.4Gbps and improves efficiency for busy networks. Lower latency leads to less lag for sensitive activities like online gaming, and expanded upstream capacity provides more bandwidth for live-streaming.

Immersive gaming visuals with top-notch GeForce RTX graphics

The Zephyrus G14 and G15 comes with up to a GeForce RTX 2060 augmented by ROG Boost up to 1298MHz at 65W. The discrete GPU is based on the latest NVIDIA Turing architecture, which melds dedicated cores for programmable shading, real-time ray tracing, and artificial intelligence. This combination enables improved lighting, shadows, and other in-game effects, and it also offers a diverse array of compute resources for accelerating demanding workloads like content creation, 3D modeling, and deep learning.

Turing’s dedicated video encoder is largely responsible for the G14’s ability to game and stream simultaneously. The specialized hardware allows higher stream quality with minimal performance impact, and it’s compatible with Open Broadcaster Software (OBS), a popular capture tool among burgeoning creators and aspiring Twitch streamers.

Nonstop speed with the latest AMD processors

For the Zephyrus G14, ROG and AMD teamed up again to create an exclusive series tuned specifically for the smaller chassis. The Zephyrus G14 uses a special CPU that generates less heat, enabling an unprecedented level of performance for such a compact chassis. The chips retain up to 8 cores and 16 threads to blast through demanding workloads, but are tuned to make thermals more manageable. There’s still ample power for demanding applications like video editing and 3D rendering, and for heavy multitasking like mixing gaming with streaming, recording and chats.

On the Zephyrus G15, an all-new AMD® Ryzen™ 7 4800HS mobile APU doubles the core count of the previous generation. With 8 cores and 16 threads based on the latest Zen 2 architecture alongside 7nm fabrication technology, it muscles through heavy multitasking, content creation, and other demanding work.

Both the G14 and G15 CPUs pair with up to 32GB of fast DDR4-3200 RAM divided between dual channels, enabling gamers to easily switch between tasks with enough headroom for bigger projects. Up to 1TB of superfast NVMe SSD storage offers ample space for a game library, personal portfolio, and media collection.

Stunning displays for high refresh, high resolution

The Zephyrus G14 offers a choice between two premium panels tailored for different needs. Users can select a faster Full HD display that goes up to 120Hz (doubling the speed of typical laptop displays for smoother, high-intensity action) or opt for a higher WQHD resolution.

Adaptive sync technology adds another level of smoothness by coordinating frame delivery between the GPU and display to eliminate visual tearing that can ruin immersion, and also minimize stuttering and input lag. Although adaptive sync technology has existed for years, it gains greater functionality with new AMD Ryzen™ 4000 Series Mobile Processors. Their integrated Radeon™ graphics allow adaptive sync variable refresh-rate technology to work with adaptive sync technology-enabled monitors and adaptive sync enabled devices.

Adaptive sync technology support extends to the WQHD display, and it can be even more effective at the lower FPS associated with the higher resolution. Thanks to smaller dimensions, the WQHD panel has a higher pixel density than typical 4K desktop monitors. Even the Full HD panel matches the PPI of a 28-inch Ultra HD display.

The Zephyrus G15 is available with refresh rates up to 240Hz—four times the output of standard screens. The panel’s 3ms gray-to-gray response time makes the picture especially sharp at speed, for lining up targets in a fast-paced shooter or scrolling through web pages, and adaptive sync technology makes the experience even smoother

The displays on the Zephyrus G14 and G15 are both factory calibrated and Pantone Validated for superb color accuracy. The IPS-level panels have wide viewing angles and cover 100% of the sRGB range and are framed by super-narrow bezels that create an expansive 85% screen-to-body ratio on the G14 and 81% screen-to-body ratio on the G15 respectively.

One-of-a-kind cooling design

The Zephyrus G14 is the first ROG laptop to feature an ErgoLift hinge that tilts the keyboard at a more comfortable angle – the bottom of the display lifts the back of the machine when the lid is opened, giving the vents in the base more room to breathe.

Self-cleaning cooling on the G14 helps to avoid accumulation of dust and other particles that can compromise performance and stability over time by using anti-dust tunnels to catch particles and direct them out the back of the chassis. Even the n-Blade fans are tweaked to optimize acoustics in the super small chassis.

On the Zephyrus G15, ROG’s Intelligent Cooling philosophy allows the G15 to get more from its silicon with a strategic blend of hardware and software that optimizes and maintains performance and acoustics with a self-cleaning thermal module and anti-dust tunnels. The G15 has the highest-density fan in our arsenal, and it improves airflow by up to 17% over previous generations.

Fan speeds on the Zephyrus G14 and G15 are controlled by an intelligent algorithm that responds automatically to temperature changes. Different tasks require varying levels of performance and cooling, so the G14 and G15 also use operating modes to adapt to those needs. Users can switch between modes on demand with a convenient keyboard shortcut, or let ROG Armoury Crate software change automatically with Scenario Profiles that can be customized to associate games and applications with specific modes and other system settings.

Flexible options on the go

For both the Zephyrus G14 and G15, a Type-C port with USB Power Delivery is also capable of driving an external monitor via DisplayPort 1.4. The HDMI 2.0b port makes it easy to game or watch movies on 4K monitors and TVs. There’s plenty of connectivity for external devices through a Type-C port focused on USB functionality, plus two Type-A ports for the G14 and three Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports for the G15 allow anyone to create the perfect gaming battlestation – no dongles needed.

Key switches with ROG Overstroke technology on the G14 and G15 actuate earlier in the stroke for quicker, more responsive input, while N-key rollover ensures that every press registers, even when entering multiple keys at once. Spaced keys mimic desktop layouts to let users fire off function commands more intuitively, and access essentials like volume and mic mute instantly with dedicated hotkeys.

The Zephyrus G14 is also the first ROG laptop to integrate fingerprint login into the power button.

Experience Dolby Atmos Immersive Audio

A leap forward from surround sound, Dolby Atmos brings moving audio that flows above and around you with crisper voice and greater depth to a wide range of audio experiences, and it can even provide a competitive advantage for gamers[1]. In the Zephyrus G14, Dolby Atmos enhances spatial immersion by delivering a breakthrough audio experience with sound that moves all around you in three-dimensional space whether listening via headphones or built-in speakers.

Dolby Atmos also creates breathtaking realism with optimized sound for greater detail and maximized loudness without distortion from the G14’s integrated speakers. A quad-speaker setup delivers perfectly balanced audio across the spectrum. With these technologies, users can pump up the volume on movies, music, and games without losing clarity or detail.

The Zephyrus G15 pumps sound through two front-firing speakers powered by Smart Amp technology that keeps them within thermal and excursion limits, so users can turn the volume up higher without distorting the output or damaging the cones. Hi-Res Audio certification ensures a richer acoustic experience for audiences that appreciate higher fidelity. Headphone experiences are made more immersive with 7.1-channel virtual surround sound powered by Sonic Studio III software.
 
[1] According to a recent study conducted by Dolby, players react more quickly on average with Dolby Atmos as compared to other audio solutions.



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