When the high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) standard first came to the market, it ushered in a new era of visual and audio quality for consumers. Unlike the earlier standards, the HDMI standard enabled devices to send visual and audio information digitally, thereby allowing consumers to experience visual and audio information at a previously unheard-of level …
Bought yourself a new TV and want to immerse yourself in a movie? Chances are the built-in speakers are lacking the oomph and audio fidelity you want—which is perfectly understandable given how thin flat screen TVs have become. Sound-wise, you just can’t beat a fully fledged 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound system for a home …
Most listeners plug their headphones straight into their laptop or smartphone headphone jack. Simple, right? Which begs the question, why would anyone be interested in buying a headphone amp? The short answer is the 3.5mm audio jack on computers or devices like the iPhone or iPad aren’t very powerful. This means they often can’t provide …
Vinyl has made a big comeback. When the average consumer moved away from CDs to digital downloads and audio streaming services, many others regained interest in the good old record. Some people miss having physical copies of music which they can see and feel. Others want to experience the unique sound that only a truly …
So, you’ve just bought a new turntable and want to put it through its paces… Testing a new HiFi setup requires records covering a wide spectrum of sound signatures to see if it can hit those highs, lows, and everything in between, just right. Fortunately, there are many different genres and styles of music out …
Some of my earliest memories of listening to music were of vinyl played on record decks around three decades ago. Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Cream, the origins of my love of music. The lovely crackle of the audio before the song begins, the giant headphones with the curly wire and huge plug, the …
The bestselling type of speaker for home listening, bookshelf speakers are compact yet capable of delivering rich and room-filling audio. While most commonly used in HiFi setups, they make great desktop speakers and are also a more compact alternative to floorstanders as front L/R surround speakers in a home theater system. Loudspeaker technology has come …
When you think of headphones you most likely think of closed back headphones. These are the headphones with a hard plastic shell on the earcup. While they don’t give you the same sense of openness in the sound you get with open-back headphones, they don’t leak sound and they block more outside noise. That makes …
Floor standing speakers, often simply referred to as floorstanders, are typically the biggest kind of speaker designed for home use. The cabinets are bigger than those of bookshelf speakers, allowing them to project sound further across the room and with more presence and scale. Despite their size and weight, floorstanding speakers don’t leave a big …
It’s impossible not to be blown away by how far PC and video games have come over the last few decades. But it’s not just the graphics. The improvements to audio are just as important when it comes to creating the most immersive experience possible. It’s no secret that headphones are the way to go …