Author Archive for shigzeo
Beyerdynamic T50p Manufaktur hitting the IFA; sporting sexy new leather
Beyerdynamic have been kicking out new products at what amounts to breakneck speed. Their new flagship 32Ω ultraportable headphone, T50p, was released last year has quickly developed a strong following among music lovers. At the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) Berlin, from September 2-7 of this year, Beyer will unveil the T50p Manufaktur, a customisable version of the T50p featuring hot colours and new materials. Their studio and professional line have offered Manufaktur options for years. (I’ve owned two Manufaktur DT880 headphones in my tenure as a music lover can say that without a doubt, Manufaktur is the way to go if you’ve got the wonga.)
No one has done this before; the T50p Manufaktur will be the first truly customisable headphone for portable music lovers. Now, I’m not holding my breath that Beyer will allow customers to choose Ω options, especially as the T50p is specifically targeted at portable music lovers who need sensitivity and isolation to hear the great Tesla acoustics.
Update: The standard T50p starts has an MSRP of 349$ US. The T50p Manufaktur will start at 420$ US.
Pics and press release after the gap:
MEElectronics A151 inner earphone in Review – KICKASS!!
MEElectronics are hit makers. The M6 and M9 earph0nes defined perfection within their price points, sporting great build quality, good sound, and an impressive array of accessories. With the introduction of the A151, MEEl have outdone themselves in a number of areas, making on of the truly must-have earphones. Caveats aside (and yes, there are a few), this new single armature earphone is a must have for every music lover with a medium-sized budget.
[Bef0re y0u ask: my little 0h and bracket keys have been damaged by a stray glass 0f water. Please bear with me till I can aff0rd a new c0mputer!]
Photojojo iPhone SLR Mount turns your iPhone into Nikon or Canon mirrorless camera
Photojojo’s new iPhone SLR Mount may just turn your iPhone into the elusive (and rumoured) Canon/Nikon mirrorless camera system. It is a case, threaded filter ring, extension tube with aperture coupling and included Nikon or Canon mount. It is fair to guess that since the lenses share no electronic coupling with the iPhone itself, you’ll have to meter, guess at apertures, and experiment like the very oldest of days. Thankfully, you’ll have at least 8GB of space to do it with as the iPhone SLR Mount works with the iPhone 3G/3GS or iPhone 4. A tripod mount fits the butt of your iPhone 4 or iPhone 3G/3GS, but the weight of the entire unit with a lens might be a stretch for the Turtle Back (the threaded mount) unless you use a Voigtlander pancake.
Hit the gap for more from Photojojo.
Sleek Audio CT7 custom earphone in Review – masterless sound
In 2009, Sleek Audio officially released the CT6, their first custom earphone. At its introductory price of 300$, the single driver earphone dominated the budget custom earphone world with great sound and a slew of innovations at a great price point. A LOT has happened since then, and while the CT6 remains a great earphone, it has been outclassed by newcomers. Naturally, Sleek Audio couldn’t leave it at the top of their portfolio. Enter the CT7, a completely redesigned custom iem sporting dual drivers, higher sensitivity, better artwork, and one of the rawest, fastest, most impressive sounds I’ve heard at any price.
Eight apps for a broken arm
After breaking my arm a couple of months ago, I learned a bit of biology. Bones are serious buggers, you know; they don’t just Lego into place after snapping. But even at 31 and five fingers down, I applied myself very fastidiously to apps that I could use one-handed. At first, they may seem eclectic, but I assure you that they were the best medicine. If you’re intent on joining my club, send in your resumes, apply something heavy/swift to your long bones, and then follow the gap!
Gay Cure app pulled from App Store – expect precedential backlash
Not that it’s my strong suit or anything, but I certainly take issue with Apple’s wording of Exodus International’s Gay Cure rejection letter, which went something like this:
“We removed the Exodus International app from the App Store because it violates our developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people.” (Cult of Mac emphasis kept).
Presumably, the ‘large groups of people’ Apple reference is – in this instance – the gay community. The problem, of course, is that the wording is otiose and could be construed to fit anyone’s purposes. Imagine Canon camera fans taking issue with Nikon Learn & Explore app. Or, Oxford dictionary devs taking issue with (admittedly inferior) Webster dev counterparts. Without even touching the political/religious debate, Apple have opened a can of worms by failing to properly copy edit their marketing literature. They aren’t some two-bit blog, they’re the most iconic tech company in the world, and their moves (no matter how small) vibrate around the world.
On the other hand, Exodus International’s rebuttals are hardly convincing, either. Exodus’ next editions: The Mormon Cure, the Jewish Cure, the Liberal Cure, the Evolutionist Cure, to be followed by: the Mormon Solution, the Jewish Solution, etc.. Both sides adroitly prove just how flawed a system of checks and balances can be.
Thanks Cult of Mac.
Ricky Gervais gets an iPad 2 from Jony Ive, yeah!
Crazy how the world’s worst boss still receives tribute from the rich and famous, though admittedly, a gift from Ive (an iPad 2) ain’t quite centre stage at the Golden Globes. Gervais got another gift that day, signed boxing gloves from Mike Tyson (remember him?). Evidently, the old biter wants to get on Gervais’ show.
I’ve bought tickets, have you? What’s cringeworthy is that the world is queueing for these things, international iPad 2 orders backed up by 2-3 weeks, and all Gervais can say is: “it’s a work of art”. Come on mate, people are starving in Apple Store queues around the world!
Thanks Culf of Mac via RickyGervais.com
Touchgrind BMX coming Spring 2011
Remember Touchgrind, the excellent skateboard simulator? My fingers still dance awkward steps across my iPod when I’m looking up hard dictionary words like ‘cluster’ and ‘shill’ ’cause Touchgrind rocked them to the memory core. It made this crappy sk8tR into something special, and kept my hands busy in the best ways possible. Well, come this Spring, Illusian Labs will release its sequel, Touchgrind BMX. The same sort of free style physics will get things going on pipes and over rails from the relative safety of your iDevice. That means no more pinchin’ the biscuit. For now, enjoy the above video. We’ll have more as it comes.
Wanna get prepped for Touchgrind BMX on one of the iDevice’s first truly innovative titles? Check out Touchgrind now!
Illusion Labs, Touchgrind (TMA Review), 6.87MB – $4.99
MST Audio supporting Red Cross Japan with proceeds from Red Tide sales
I’ve been following #Japan on Twitter since the horrible earthquake and corollary tsunami last week. Among the myriad voices, the Japanese audiophile community has been rallying support. MST Audio, maker of the fabulous FiQuest headphone amp, will be donating 32% of the proceeds from their new, limited edition Red Tide interconnect cable, to the Japan Red Cross. Red Tide uses 15cm long CV4.2 cabling from AudioQuest and will hook up your iPhone/DAC to a headphone/car/home amp. Red tide will cost 95$ of which, 30$ will be donated to the Red Cross. Cables should be ready to ship out one in April. Since many of Japan’s supplies are constrained after the devastation, only 50 of MST’s Red Tide will be made. Shipping information is as follows:
Via EMS
ASIA:$12; Oceania and Northern America:$15; Europe:$18; Southern America and Africa: $20Via first class international
ASIA, Guam & Saipan:$4.5; Oceania, North America & Europe:$5.5; South America and Africa: $6.5
Purchasing will be handled through MST’s sales account: [email protected]
MST Audio are located in Tokyo and have seen first hand the devastation wrecked by the earthquakes and tsunami. They’re a nice bunch of lads who have their ears on one thing: audio perfection, and their hearts in the right place. Thank you MST!
NOTE: Watch this post for information on where to sign up for Red Tide.
hippo box+ headphone amp in review – petty in pink
Just slightly bigger than iBasso’s fabulous T3, hippo audio’s second self-branded portable headphone amp is a diminutive, but well-punctuated statement product. iBasso’s effects-be-damned neutral sound is damned in return as the box+ sways the portable audiophile with ‘rich’ sound, the sort made possible only through a Butterworth low pass filter: the sort of sound that has made Head-Direct’s Hifiman series famous.
