Home » september
Can You visYoualize Yourself Wearing Denon Headphones?
With their Music Maniac line, Denon targets listeners completely obsessed with music and willing to put down the dough to reflect their commitment—essentially, the audiophile. Their product literature shows a middle-aged man, handsome (an audiophile?), and with time on his hands to dive into his collection. He listens to his over-ear Music Maniac Artisan AH-D7100 ($1,199) plugged into a Denon receiver while lounging. A cool breeze blows back his curtains. He could be at his beach house in the Bahamas or just taking a break at home. Either way, in this moment it is just him and his music.
The Denon Music Maniac Artisan
The Artisan rocks a patent-pending 50mm “Free Edge Nano Fiber Driver”. This technology circumvents permanently affixing the driver to the baffle by fixing the headphone’s driver to a polypropylene rubber surround first, which is then fixed to the baffle. The ultra-rigid nano-fiber driver, an improvement on their previous micro-fiber driver, is given room to breathe behind itself with the space provided by the rubber surround. With the Free Edge Nano Fiber Driver technology, Denon promises “the high performance sound of a box speaker in such a small form factor, expanding the frequency range to lower levels while reducing distortion.” The Artisan model features hand-carved African mahogany ear cups that rotate a full 360 degrees on a ball & socket design allowing the ear cups to rest comfortably at whatever angle fits the listener’s bone structure the best. Per the specifications, the Artisan has a 110db sensitivity, 5—45k frequency response, and 25ohm impedance.
Also in the Music Maniac line is the more “affordable” over-ear AH-D600 ($499) which has a lower sensitivity at 108db and 25ohm impedance. It also uses the 50mm Free Edge Nano Fiber Driver technologyand a patent-pending pentagonal earpad design. The reasons for the price difference between the $499 AH-D600 and the more than twice as costly Artisan model include:
- Hand-carved African mahogany wood ear cups which are not featured on the AH-D600s
- The 99.9999999% oxygen-free 10-foot long cable that comes with the Artisan is measured to spec unlike the AH-D600s 10-footer which is not measured to spec and only states itself as “oxygen-free”
- The Artisan model comes with an aluminum stand to hold your cans; the D600s do not.
The dual balanced armature based Music Maniac AH-C400 in-ears are housed in shiny and stiff Zinc Die-Cast housing. Like the two on-ear Music Maniac designs, it features an iPhone/iPod microphone and control. I listened to the AH-C400s at a September press event, and despite the loud surroundings, I could still tell this pre-production model sounded sick. I found their sound similar to the in-ear UE900s ($399.99). D&M Headphone Category Manager Petro Shimonishi informed me the AH-C400’s designer was actually listening to some Ultimate Ears while designing the AH-C400s. While similarities existed in their up-front and clear projection and palpable but uncolored midrange, the Denons offered more air and sense of recording space height while the UEs opted for depth within the sounds. The UE900s’ high end was more smoothly resolved compared to the Denon’s crisper high-end extension. This could lead one to consider the UEs highs a touch blunted compared to the Denon’s, but the Denon’s also came along with a slightly harsh treble.
The Denon Globe Cruiser: elegance and culture can be bought for $499.
The Globe Cruiser line positioned towards business travelers and others constantly on-the-go includes the on-ear noise-cancelling AH-NCW500 ($499) and the in-ear noise isolating AH-W200 ($179). The AH-NCW500 offers sophisticated style. It reminds me of an old leather couch, worn down by rears over the years. If personified, the Globe Cruiser is refined and experienced and prefers Caetano Veloso to Cream. His life is stressful, but his music is relaxing, like his old leather couch.
The on-ear Globe Cruiser models use a Bluetooth connection exclusively over the apt-X codec and claim CD quality audio over a wireless connection. Ballsy, like the Global Cruiser himself.
This guy is an asshole.
The Globe Cruiser on-ears integrate microphones into the headpiece and one can control incoming calls, volume, and music playback via the pinwheel on one side of the earcup. When testing these out for a short period, I listened via Bluetooth connection to some of Feist’s Let it Die, a modern audiophile classic. Through the Globe Cruiser on-ears, the guitars sounded relaxed and surrounded by air. When connected via Bluetooth, one does not control the volume of playback from one’s phone but instead on the built-in integrated amp within the headphone. The amp volume is turned up or down by rotating the wheel on the right ear cup forwards or backwards. If the battery on the integrated amp runs out (it’s supposed to last for 10 hours), the headphones can run in passive mode via 3.5mm connection. The on-ear Globe Cruisers are designed to fold flat for storage and run on a rechargeable battery. The two models of the Globe Cruiser, the AH-NCW500BK/Black and 500SR/Silver, retail for $499.
For those who prefer to travel light, Denon also offers the AH-W200 Globe Cruiser in-ears for $179. Featuring an adjustable neckband, these in-ears wrap behind your neck, and their lightweight look and feel more truly match the nature of someone constantly on the move. The in-ears also utilitize a Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connection and a 5-hour rechargeable battery.
Heaphones from the future…the Denon Exercise Freaks.
The third division in the Denon’s new line of headphones is the Exercise Freak obviously made for people who need their jams while running or lifting. Unlike the penny-loafer feel of the Global Cruiser, the Exercise Freak is more like an Adidas sandal: bouncy, rubbery, and colorful. Available in tarmac black, pool-water blue, or a finish-line yellow, the Exercise Freak AH-W150s are sweat-proof and use a reflective band on the neck to make yourself visible while running at night. Each color retails for $149. Be careful though, the Exercise Freaks cannot run without Bluetooth connectivity i.e. it does not come with/allow connection via a 3.5mm cable. If your playback device does not have Bluetooth connectivity, avoid these.
Finally, we have Denon’s Urban Raver line of headphones, designed specifically for bass-lovers. The over-ear AH-D400s ($399) have an LED ring on the ear cup which glows in Skrillex blue when activated. While charging the headphone’s integrated amp battery, the LED ring pulses in red.
Reminds me of…
Denon specifically states the type of music the Urban Raver is made for: “perfect for bass-heavy Techno, Trance, Drum & Bass tracks.” Listening to Andy C’s Jungle/Dub/Trance remix of Major Lazer’s “Get Free”, the Urban Ravers went incredibly DEEP reproducing the track’s throbbing hoovers and bass blasts with hefty weight and pressure but lacked textural detail in the bass opting for size, depth, and impact in the lower frequencies. Using a 50mm driver and massive cushy earcups, these headphones look as powerful as they promise. The on-ear AH-D400s have a 115db sensitivity, a 5—37k frequency response, and provide 12 hours of Bluetooth playback via a rechargeable battery but also work in passive mode.
The in-ear AH-C300 Urban Ravers use two 11mm drivers mounted in parallel in each earpiece. Each driver uses Denon’s patent-pending Double Air Compression Driver technology. The in-ears retail for $249.
Both the over-ear and in-ear Urban Ravers utilize a built-in control wheel for iPod/iPhone/iPad volume control, phone calls, and playback.
The AH-C300s use a nozzle profile for extended comfort.
Each of the four Denon Headphone lines has a suggested accompanying smartphone app. The Denon Club app for the Urban Raver connects listeners to TuneIn radio, as does the Denon Music app for the Music Maniac series. The Globe Cruiser app connects listeners to their devices travel apps instantly all from one screen. The Exercise Freak’s Denon Sport app uses your phone’s GPS to map and measure the distance and speed of your workouts. All three of these apps allow users to create custom EQ curves and share them with other Denon app users.
But as introduced and then totally ignored for the majority of this article, Denon has also just released another app: their new VisYOUalize yourself app, which allows listeners to connect to their iTunes libraries or to the online Soundcloud catalog, create a three-dimensional image-mapped version of their own face (or a friend’s) based on an uploaded photo, and manipulate the graphics. This 3-D-ified head is fitted with the Denon headphone of your choice and then bobs along with the music. The image’s face is overlaid with different styles of graphic EQs with adjustable color and intensity settings. Watching your disembodied head bob along with the music thing is actually pretty darn creepy. The folks at Denon showed me their renderings with their cats. Definitely cuter. The image at the top is of my dad bouncing along to some Rodrigo y Gabriela.
The new Denon website (http://usa.denon.com/us/headphone) features the same little programmable head game but looks way cooler/more terrifying on a bigger screen. There one can also find out more about the various new Denon headphones.
So which is right for you? Most of the grimey-raver kids I’ve chilled with probably would not spend/have over $400 to spend on headphones and would rather opt for some nitrous unless they DJ professionally or if their daddy gave them the cash, two possible subdivisions of the Urban Raver market. I guess Wall Street bros into the club scene dig trance too. So this headphone’s target expands to everyone who digs the music indicated by Denon (“Techno, Trance, Drum & Bass”) that can also afford it. Maybe they are targeting the Wall Street club bros. $499 is always a lot to pay for headphones, especially if they are targeted to a youth-based music demographic.
The Exercise Freaks are sleek and futuristic and look great for actual exercise freaks, but only offer Bluetooth compatibility. If working out with a chunky iPhone on your hip is a hindrance, think twice before buying these (a hip-attachable case is provided with the Freaks in case you are still interested).
The Music Maniac line is directed obviously at people who love music, a target so large by people who would admit to being part of it, only people with the wallet big enough to show their love will matter, but maybe that’s their intended target to begin with: music lovers with money.
The Globe Cruiser is the most clearly and correctly targeted headphone of the line with a price-point and image both matching their intended target. People constantly travelling for their job most likely earn the disposable income to shell out $500 for some sophisticated ‘phones that match the cultured and confident feel of the Globe Cruisers. I predict success with this line.
One question these clearly targeted and designed products make me ask is does sound even matter to the non-audiophile when deciding their headphone purchase? Consumers hope that purchases are reflections of who we are on the inside, and the headphone, an incredibly personal and often-used tool, should be the ultimate expression of our personalities. This is why there are so many companies jumping into the headphone market. It’s not a competition based on sound. It’s one based on who can connect the clearest to the customer as to how the music one listens to makes them feel as a person. Denon does a great job of having their headphones embody the suggested music and lifestyles with each of these ‘phones, and since they are so specific with their targets, hopefully customers will more easily identify themselves with the ‘phones.
In a recent meeting I had with another headphone manufacturer, one that was selling their luxurious appeal and color options rather than their sound technology, the majority of our conversation was spent discussing “price points” and how that would determine success in the headphone market. While the price point of the Urban Raver lines may be mismatched to its intended target, at least Denon is effectively differentiating their products with a strategy other than using a celebrity (Simon Cowell! Michael Phelps?) or by different color options (mustard yellow cans does not equal good sound). Instead, Denon is targeting people by specific lifestyles and hopefully the consumers will be able to identify themselves with their message.
Source : stereophile[dot]com
Breaking News: Erick Lichte's New Live Reference
Lichte's appointment follows a string of prestigious conducting positions that include Artistic Directorship of Cantus, one of only two full-time vocal ensembles in the United States (2000–2009). Lichte's work with Cantus, beautifully captured on several oft-breathtaking CDs engineered by Stereophile editor John Atkinson, earned him the 2009 Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, the highest honor granted by the professional choral organization Chorus America.
"I initially knew of Chor Leoni by reputation," Lichte told Stereophile shortly before his appointment became public. "They're respected as one of the best if not the best male choirs in North America. I initially got to know them when they sang with Cantus at a summer festival in 2002 and then at an international choir festival in Minnesota."
Once the appointment takes effect, Lichte will rehearse the choir for three hours every week, and lead them in a host of performances in Vancouver and beyond. He will also conduct their frequent appearances on the CBC Radio Canada network.
"People who are into male choral music are definitely aware of this group," says Lichte. "I'm hoping to extend their reach and reputation even further. One of my top priorities is championing some real larger-scale masterpieces for male choir that don't get performed much."
Erick Lichte (right) with composer Edie Hill during the production of Cantus performing her "A Sound Like This" recorded by John Atkinson.
After leaving Cantus, Lichte spent two years in Minneapolis, conducting college choirs, community groups, and Music of the Baroque. In 2011, he and his wife moved to Portland, OR, where he became Associate Conductor of the Oregon Repertory Singers, a "fantastic church choir," and choirs at Portland State University. Lichte relocated in order to help Dr. Ethan Sperry lead a new, fully auditioned men's choir at the university. That choir is now off and running, and, according to Lichte, "creating a new tradition of choral music in the Northwest."
Together with Sperry, Lichte also created the Male Choir Commissioning Consortium. This association of 13 male choirs from North America commissioned a sizable number of new works from distinguished living composers, including Lee Hoiby's "Last Letter Home," featured on Cantus's eponymous 2007 album.
When asked why he devotes so much of his energy to male choirs, Lichte replied, "There is something absolutely magical to me about the sound of a male choir. When you think about how the overtone series works, when a male choir sings, you not only can have all of the bass and that wonderful rich midrange, but also the overtones. To me, the pairing of the rich bottom with what happens in the overtones is such a complete sound. When a male choir locks a chord, it's absolutely stunning."
As he assumes leadership of Chor Leoni, Lichte will step away from his work with the Oregon Repertory Singers and Choirs at Portland State. The decision will allow him to continue to review equipment for Stereophile.
"I'm so excited to be working with a group of this caliber and reputation, and happy to share their music with Stereophile readers," he declares. "Lest anyone think I don't know what live unamplified music sounds like..."
Source : stereophile[dot]com
Yet Another Show: TAVES Starts Friday in Toronto
"I'm pretty excited about the preponderance of manufacturers, because they tend to have more elaborate set-ups and bring a lot more product with them," Kajko told Stereophile.
Exhibitors will get a sonic boost from the King Edward's larger than average hotel rooms. Because of the building's age and construction, sound dampening between rooms is superior to that in new facilities, and ceilings are an impressive 10'8" high. Kajko has also done his best to spread exhibitors out in the 100% sold-out show.
Among TAVES' highlights will be the display, in the King Edward's historic Sovereign Ballroom, of a 2012 Porsche Carrera S sports car outfitted with an extremely expensive Burmester audio system. Burmester also has a special display awaiting Saturday attendees. Another exhibit from MK Sound, Marantz, and L•G promises a state-of-the-art Home Theater system. No show premieres have been announced—these seem to be saved for the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, which opens a mere two weeks later, on October 12, a mere 1506.9 miles away in Denver.
A distinct draw for the average consumer is the diversity of exhibitors and product categories. "We're trying to distinguish TAVES from other shows by introducing product categories other than audio and video," says Kajko. "We're making it into more of a consumer audio show. We consider ourselves very lucky, given that this is only the second edition of the show, that we have several new categories, including automobiles, security and lighting systems, and even new commercial products such as L•G's mirror and glass TVs. And we're super-excited that Porsche is our major sponsor, because that has enabled us to connect the categories of entertainment and automobiles."
For entertainment, on early Saturday eve, multi-lingual and multimedia electronic pop, urban, and rock diva Cindy Gomez flies in from Germany to, in Kajko's words, "do something definitely out of the ordinary." For Neanderthals such as myself who don't know Cindy Gomez from Rand Paul, Ms. Gomez made history of sorts when she became the first artist to debut in a mobile game on no less than 40 million mobile handsets worldwide.
Kajko has invested in advertising on three major radio stations, and is enticing people with contests that include radio giveaways of 10 different Paradigm products and TV giveaways of Totem Acoustic loudspeakers. "We are not promoting the show only to those already interested in A/V," he says. "We want to reach out to the main consumer market so they can discover the various high-end products and brands, and realize there's so much more to audio and video than what you can find in a big box store." Such as Cindy Gomez.
While Kajko declined to predict attendance in advance of the show, he expects to attract far more than the impressive 3000 attendees who showed up the first year. Given that he has invited several well-known TV personalities to participate—North American technology expert Marc Saltzman will present a daily seminar designed to introduce people to the realm of digital music file playback, and one of Canada's top interior designers, Yanic Simard, will host daily seminars on entertainment rooms and interior design that culminate in the giveaway of a half-hour entertainment room design consultation—he will surely reach beyond the circle of the already-initiated.
Nor will Saltzman and Simard be the only seminar presenters. This year's offerings have jumped from four to ten, and cover both audio and TV. Mark Waldrep of AIX Records and iTrax.com will discuss "The Future of Music Entertainment," and others will educate people in the realm of TV purchase and calibration. Thanks to Nordost and support from Moon, KEF and Stillpoints, TAVES is even bringing in the UK's Roy Gregory, European Editor for The Audio Beat.com and founding editor of Hi-Fi+ magazine, who will lead folks through the intricacies of set-up and system optimization.
"It's a very young show," says Kajko, "and we still have plenty of work to do. I believe we have the potential to turn TAVES into a major North American show in the next few years."
Source : stereophile[dot]com
Loudspeaker Pioneer Bill Hecht Passes at 89
Hecht's contributions to the consumer electronics industry were numerous. He invented the true soft-dome tweeter (patented in 1962), which is ubiquitous in speaker designs. Later inventions included a manufacturing process for solid flat-piston drivers, a basket-less woofer/midrange driver mounting system, a self-damping woofer voice-coil and silicon-injected drivers.
Hecht remained involved in the speaker industry through the rest of his life and retained an office at United Speaker Systems in Jacksonville. United Speaker Systems produced more than 600 different speaker systems.
"All of us at MSE Audio greatly enjoyed our association with Bill and are deeply saddened at his passing," said Chris Combest, President of MSE Audio. "Bill was a legend in the speaker industry and brought a wealth of ideas to the manufacturing world. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the Hecht family and their friends."
Hecht is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sonia Hecht, his son Kenneth Hecht and wife Joan, his two daughters, Lauren Penny and Diane Hecht and five grandchildren.
Source : stereophile[dot]com
Happy Birthday, John Cage
Here are just a few:
Australian sound artist, Room40 curator, and all-around sweet dude, Lawrence English, has recorded For/Not for John Cage as “an homage to the aspects of his life and work that have inspired me over the past two decades (ironically, those in which he has been physically absent, but philosophically more present than ever).”
It was while English and Scott Morrison were working on the score for One11 (refocused), an adaptation of Cage’s 1992 film One11, that English realized the audio material was taking on a life of its own.
Each of the pieces presented in this edition bare John Cage’s influence—some direct, others less so. The title of the edition reflects the sources from which the music was created—specifically from the One11 (refocused) project ( For John Cage) and other pieces, created entirely by chance during one recording session ( Not for John Cage).
The title of the film, “Entoloma Abortivum,” takes its name from a type of edible mushroom; the image in the album art is also a mushroom: John Cage was an avid mycologist.
For/Not for John Cage will be released on September 18, in CD and digital formats, by LINE.
The Japanese label, EM Records, has compiled John Cage Shock, a three-CD series of live recordings from concerts held in 1962, in Tokyo and Osaka.
In October 1962, John Cage and his great interpreter/co-visionary David Tudor visited Japan, performing seven concerts and exposing listeners to new musical worlds. This legendary “John Cage Shock,” as it was dubbed by the critic Hidekazu Yoshida, is the source of this series of releases, three CDs and a “best hits” double LP compilation. Recorded primarily at the Sogetsu Art Center in Tokyo on October 24, 1962 (with two performances from October 17 at Mido-Kaikan in Osaka), all recordings in this series are previously unreleased. A major historical trove, unearthed.
These recordings feature Cage and Tudor, accompanied by Yuji Takahashi, Kenji Kobayashi, Toshi Ichiyanagi, and Yoko Ono, performing pieces by Toru Takemitsu (Corona for Pianists), Christian Wolff (Duo for Pianist & Violinst), and Karlheinz Stockhausen (Klavierstucke X), as well as Cage’s own Variations II and the infamous 4’33”.
In addition to the three CDs, a two-disc LP version compiles highlights from the concerts. All packages include rare photos and liner notes written in English and Japanese. A major historical trove, indeed. You can find them now at Forced Exposure.
Perhaps the most exciting of all the new John Cage releases is Sonatas and Interludes, a 3LP box set brought to us by the John Cage Trust. Generally considered one of Cage’s finest achievements, Sonatas and Interludes comprises 20 pieces for prepared piano, and was composed between 1946 and 1948, shortly after Cage’s introduction to Indian music and philosophy. While there are over two dozen recordings of Sonatas and Interludes, this edition, mastered by Kevin Gray and pressed at Chad Kassem’s Quality Record Pressings, is the first to be released on 45rpm, 200gm vinyl—expressly with the audiophile in mind. Limited to just 433 (ha) numbered sets, the package includes a full-color, 40-page booklet with photographs by Chad Kleitsch; John Cage’s “How the Piano Came to be Prepared”; essays by Mark Swed and James Pritchett; and an introduction by Anthony B. Creamer III.
Nurit Tilles plays the piano.
Says Creamer: “It is my hope that listeners will marvel at the breathtaking sonics of the recording, but more than that, the superlative performance by Nurit Tilles… [H]er preparation and playing is nothing short of magnificent. And as wonderful is her playing, Nurit’s beautiful spirit comes through with verve in these grooves…This recording is historic.”
Want! Available now, the limited-edition, audiophile-approved 3LP set costs $145. You can find it at Forced Exposure or at your favorite hi-fi dealer.
Source : stereophile[dot]com
Magico S5 at David Michael Audio
Photo: Magico LLC
Saturday, September 29, 11am–6pm: David Michael Audio (4341 Delemere Court, Royal Oak, MI) will host a demonstration of the Magico S5 loudspeaker ($28,600/pair), which had impressed John Atkinson at the 2012 Newport Beach Show. Irv Gross, Magico’s director of sales, will be on hand to present the speaker and answer any questions. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited. For more info, call (586) 244-8479. RSVP: info@davidmichaelaudio.com.
Source : stereophile[dot]com
