Beyerdynamic Creator 24 Mobile Recording Bundle Review

Blogging and podcasting is very popular and continues to grow. Whether you are blogging , podcasting, or looking for a recording kit, Beyerdynamic has you covered. Up for review today is their creator 24 Mobile Recording Bundle. It consists of a pair of Beyerdynamic DT240 Pro headphones, Fox USB microphone, and CUBASE recording software.

Features and specs:

Bundle consisting of: FOX USB Microphone, DT 240 PRO Headphones, Cubase LE 9.5 License

Circumaural, professional headphones in compact design

Powerful transducers to suit any studio and mobile application

24 Bit 96 kHz studio grade quality as in professional recording studios

Accurate signal conversion by a large diaphragm condensor capsule

The Beyerdynamic Creator 24 Mobile Recording Bundle comes in a great looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the headphones, mic, and software. Opening the box revealed a box for the headphones, one for the mic, and a card with the license code for the software. Opening the box for the headphones showed the headphones held in place by custom molded plastic sleeve. The headphones were made of mostly plastic with some metal in the headband and earcups. The headband and earcups were a soft vinyl and foam. Also included were the detachable cable, ¼” adaptor and soft cloth bag.

Opening the box for the fox microphone, I was even more impressed. It was held in place by custom molded foam. And pulling out the mic my jaw dropped. This mic is heavy and screams quality! My heft test of holding it in hand, showed a high quality well made product. Materials used was almost all metal with a little plastic for the mute button, mix and volume knob. And the base appeared to be a soft silicon, which would be safe for furniture. The mic itself was protected behind two metal mesh screens. Also included was a pop shield, desk stand, USB cable and screw adaptor.

I was impressed with the design of both products. The Beyerdynamic DT 240 Pro has an MSRP of only $79. Yet you get a well made product that not just all plastic. It has metal in the adjustable headband and earcup mounts. All of the components are well made. And not only does it have a detachable cable at this low price point, you can connect the cable to either side earcup.

The Beyerdynamic Fox mic also very much impressed me with its design. Not only does it appear to be built like a tank, it’s also easy to use. The back holds the USB-C port for power, and gain level switch. The front has the headphone monitor jack, as well as mute button, and level knobs for mix and volume. And when you consider the two layers of metal mesh screen, as well as the pop shield, the internal mic is also well protected. Considering the low MSRP of only $139 for this high quality studio grade mic, the bang for the buck appears to be off the charts! Now let’s see how they perform.

 To test the headphones, I went to a few of my favorite tracks. Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, the clarinet was smooth with good texture. Piano sounded natural. Dynamics were good, flutes had good air. And they threw a big soundstage with sufficient imaging. Kansas: Carry on My Wayward Son, vocals were very smooth with great texture. Drums were dynamic with crisp and clean cymbals. Keyboard was just a tad bright. Kickdrum had good impact and low end extension. Lady Gaga: Starstruck, vocals were smooth with nice harmonics. Bass deep, played with a lot of authority and was only a tad boomy. $79 headphones should not sound this good.

Now it’s time for the mic.  I did not test any instruments with it, just vocals.  But it did a great job.  There was really good resolution, texture, and timber in the vocals, and provided really good resolution and harmonics.  Dynamics were also really good.  Compared to the built-in mic on my Canon camcorder, the camcorder audio sounded less dynamic, less resolution, and just sounded a bit thin with less energy.

The Beyerdynamic Creator 24 mobile recording studio kit proved to be a great performer. The jewel of the kit was the fox mic, but the DT 240 Pro headphones was a great performer as well, great for monitoring the audio from the mic. And with an MSRP of only $219 for the kit, the bang for the buck was hit out of the park. Based on it’s design, features, quality and performance, has earned our Highly Recommended award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.beyerdynamic.com.

ASUS Republic of Gamers Teams Up with Microsoft’s Mixer Community

ASUS Republic of Gamers Teams Up with Microsoft’s Mixer Community ASUS ROG joins Mixer and welcomes its first six Mixer Partners to the ROG Stream Team

Boston, MA (February 27, 2020) — ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced its debut on Microsoft’s interactive livestreaming platform, Mixer, in addition to welcoming its first six Mixer Partners to the ROG Stream Team: Driggsy, Exellion, JordinLaine, LuckyShots, Simby and VinnyB. ASUS ROG will kick off its first interactive stream featuring ROG Stream Team Partners at mixer.com/ASUS_ROGNA at the Mixer booth during PAX East, taking place from February 27 to March 1 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. “ASUS partnering with Mixer streamers shows the community that anything is possible with hard work. It is possible to partner with your favorite company no matter the platform,” said Simby, one of the newest members of the ROG Stream Team. “I’m so excited to finally be able to tell everyone about my first sponsorship, and it being with ASUS is absolutely mind-blowing!” ASUS Republic of Gamers is more than just hardware. Since 2006, ROG has played an active role in the global gaming community through partnerships at events and with gaming personalities and organizations, with the goal of fostering greater gaming experiences for all. By joining Mixer’s interactive community-driven approach to livestreaming and supporting up-and-coming Mixer talent through the ROG Stream Team, ASUS ROG continues to empower present and future gamers, streamers and gaming talent with the tools they need to compete at their best. “This is an exciting time to join a community-focused platform like Mixer as both an active member and sponsor for the latest additions to our ROG Stream Team family. We’re looking forward to bringing gamers new experiences through continued innovation, community involvement and support for emerging talent in the gaming and esports scenes,” said Gary Key, Head of Marketing at ASUS North America. Since the beginning of Mixer in 2017, the team has put its thriving community at the center of its vision for the future of livestreaming. Mixer is focused on creating the best experience and building a truly next-generation streaming service for its community. “We’re thrilled to welcome ASUS Republic of Gamers to Mixer at PAX East,” said Jenn McCoy, Head of Mixer Marketing at Microsoft. “ROG is one of the most active and recognizable PC gaming communities globally, and it’s fantastic to see a respected hardware company like ASUS support our talented streamers on Mixer and provide them with even more opportunity for growth and expansion.” Please join ASUS ROG in welcoming the latest ROG Stream Team family on Mixer: Driggsy at mixer.com/Driggsy Exellion at mixer.com/Exellion JordinLaine at mixer.com/JordinLaine LuckyShots at mixer.com/LuckyShots Simby at mixer.com/simby VinnyB at mixer.com/vinnyb Learn more about ASUS Republic of Gamers at asus.com/us/ROG-Republic-Of-Gamers/ and join the ROG Elite Rewards loyalty program at rog.asus.com/us/elite.

AquaTech Introduces AxisGO for iPhone 11

Capture Incredible Moments with AxisGO, a Professional Grade iPhone Water Housing and Imaging System

Wouldn't it be cool to take some high-quality underwater photos? The answer is yes, it would be very cool, and AquaTech has the answer with AxisGO, because today we all carry a pretty amazing camera around with us, handily built right into our smartphones.

Drawing on 20 years of experience making professional water housings and accessories for professional photographers and cinematographers, AquaTech developed AxisGO, a professional grade iPhone water housing and imaging system that's ready to capture amazing images in any water conditions, from rough surf to fishing and wake boarding to a family swim session in the pool.

The iPhone easily drops into the AxisGO water housing, which is sealed tight against the elements yet remains easy to operate:

And while the basic AxisGO setup is ideal to get started, AquaTech offers a variety of grips and mounts, lens ports, accessories and bundle kits that support specific needs and uses, such as the Action Kit for surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, shorebreaks, and more, and the Over-Under Kit, which includes all the lenses necessary to get that perfect "split shot" above and below the water line.

Surf, swim, snorkel, dive, wake, fish, boat, SUP - you name it - AxisGO is a must-have piece of gear that makes water photography fun, safe and simple.  

AxisGO is available for the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, among other iPhone models.

Key Series Proudly Releases their Premium T18NC True Wireless Active Noise Canceling Earbuds

High Quality Hi-Fi Sound, Superior Clarity, and Voice Control Support

Los Angeles, California, February 18, 2020, Key Series, the earbud and headphone specialists, have just released its latest best in class product – the true wireless T18NC. In keeping with its moto of delivering lossless sound quality, active noise cancelling, and a powerful wireless capability, the T18NC provides a premium, quality experience you expect from a high-end quality earbud manufacturer.   Active Noise Cancellation Removes Outside Noise Or ANC for short delivers noise reduction levels of -25db to isolate sounds around you without compromising music playback. The noise cancellation analyzes ambient sound, creates an inverse soundwave and mixes it with the sound from the earbuds. This gives music creators the ideal balance of ambient noise reduction and audio performance.   13mm Titanium Driver Provides Premium Sound The T18NC, as part of the Key Series, produces hi-fi quality sound from its 13mm titanium driver and outputs highly accurate sound with superior clarity. The sound quality is mesmerizingly close to being there in person. It delivers pure sound with a dynamic range holding a frequency range of 20Hz to 20KHz.   Extended Battery Life for Longer Use Users can get up to 7 hours of talk time and music on a single charge (4-5 hours consecutive playtime at high volume), and when placed in the charging case that total playtime is bumped up a notch to 24 hours which can be very useful for long haul flights or trips. Furthermore, if you are close to a wall socket, you can easily wirelessly charge the earbuds from the base station.   Audio Controls at your Fingertips with One Tap Using the T18NC is as simple as implementing the integrated touch controls which gives you the option to tap either earbud to play/pause music or answer/reject calls and going from track to track is just as easy with a double tap or tap and hold the panel on either earbud for 1 second to reach active noise cancelling.   Dual-Mic Noise Reduction Makes it Easier to Remove Outside Interferences These tiny earbuds fit snug into your ears and with the dual-mic noise reduction technology the in-ear design improves wind-noise reduction thus limits background noise to ensure a flawless communicative experience and exceptionally clear voice quality calls. The dual-mic capability means your voice is clear and provides a premium sound quality. Part of delivering good sound quality is using class-leading audio processors so that no matter the environment you’re in, you will receive precise noise reduction that optimizes the sound in real-time to capture the distortion and cancel background noise no matter the situation.   IPX5 Rated – Waterproof and Dustproof Need to go for a run or a workout? No problem. The T18NC’s are IPX5 waterproof leaving you protected from the elements. This means it can sustain any low pressure water jet-like spray meaning it blocks out sweat or other unwanted drops of water. And, if you need to make a call while being active the dual-mic noise reduction technology helps to remove all outside clutter so you can hear clearly.   Audio Series Family Available in many Varieties The T18NC is part of a series of earbuds and headphones recently released by Key Series to up the ante on its audio line. At CES 2020 we released 1 TWS-T18NC, 2 sport headphones (B60P & B80P), 1 neckband earphone – the N33, 2 over-ear headphones (N60 & B90), and a hi-fi Bluetooth receiver – the C90. Last year we released 1 TWS-T10 (for which we received an iF Design Award), 1 neckband earphone – B33, and the year prior to that (2018) we released 2 sport earphones – the B60 and B80.   Availability and Pricing The T18NC earbuds is available for US$139 on the Key Series official website and Amazon US now. Watch the T18NC earbuds video at Key Series Channel.   About Key Series Key Series is an innovative audio brand providing the best premium quality materials to produce comfortable and durable products. Our aim is to deliver lossless sound quality, active noise cancelling, and a powerful wireless capability. In early 2019 we won the coveted iF Design Award for true innovative design concepts and to complement this we have released “2” sports headphones, a true wireless pair of earbuds, and a pair of neckband earphones over a period of only a year. Learn more about Key Series at www.keyseries.com or check us out on our Facebook @keyseriesaudio and Instagram @Keyseries.

RBH SOUND DEBUTS 45TH ANNIVERSARY SVTRS LIMITED EDITION SYSTEM

RBH SOUND DEBUTS 45^TH ANNIVERSARY SVTRS LIMITED EDITION SYSTEM

TAMPA, FL – FLORIDA AUDIO EXPO 2020 – SUITE 609 – FEBRUARY 7-9, 2020 – This week, award-winning loudspeaker manufacturer RBH Sound debuted their 45th anniversary SVTRS Limited Edition speaker system at the 2020 Florida Audio Expo in Tampa. Attendees were treated to a demonstration of one of only twenty systems to be produced by RBH Sound. The company developed this system for those seeking a truly unparalleled reference-grade audiophile experience. The system consists of two RBH SVTRS modular tower speakers, an RBH 6α six channel amplifier, and Marani’s flagship DSP speaker management processor. Also included in the SVTRS Limited Edition system is delivery, setup, and on-site calibration by a member of RBH’s staff.

The flagship SVTRS modular tower speaker includes three modules per channel, one SV-831R in-between two SV-1212NR subwoofers, one below and one above. Each module has the same teardrop profile and, fully assembled, reach a towering 92-inches in height. The SV-831R has three 8-inch proprietary aluminum cone woofers and an Aurum Cantus AMT tweeter. Each SV-1212NR subwoofer uses dual proprietary 12-inch long-throw aluminum cone subwoofers. RBH uses steel plates to secure each module to the one below.

Designed for superior fidelity and to work seamlessly with the Marani processor, RBH’s 6α amplifier includes six channels of class D amplification: two channels at 250 Watts (AMT tweeters), two channels at 500 Watts (8” woofers) and two channels at 1,500 Watts (12” woofers). For the demonstration system, RBH used their 8α amplifier which included two extra channels (one at 250 Watts and the other at 500 Watts) for a matching SV-821CR center channel.

The adept combination of Marani’s digital signal processing and RBH’s 6α six-channel amplifier permit the 45th anniversary speakers to be free of any power-robbing passive crossover components. The processor’s granular control includes digital crossover networks with slopes of up to 108dB/octave and finite impulse response (FIR) filters which correct phase and frequency response errors in the system to a finer degree of precision.

Each SVTRS tower weighs 310 lbs and has dimensions of 15-3/16" W x 92" H x 22-3/16" D, a sensitivity of 94dB (2.83V @ 1M) and has a frequency response of 17Hz-35kHz (±3dB). The suggested retail price for the SVTRS Limited Edition system is $44,995.95. It is available now through the company’s authorized dealer and distributor network and will soon be available for purchase via the company’s website at https://rbhsound.com.

About RBH Sound (RBH)

A privately held, Utah based company, RBH is a global provider of high performance loudspeakers and other audio products for the home audio custom integration, professional audio, and light commercial industries. The company also produces high performance personal and portable audio products. RBH has been designing, engineering, and crafting products with superior acoustic reproduction at sensible prices since 1976.

For more information, please visit rbhsound.com.

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.

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.

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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.