This Raspberry Pi project may be the most retro cyberdeck project we’ve seen in all of 2020. Maker Rune Kyndal decided to spruce up an old HP95LX with the addition of a Raspberry Pi inside.
The project was born from Kyndal’s desire to create a usable palmtop capable of running a full Linux distro. The end result is this beautiful Raspberry Pi Zero-powered HP95LX device.
The original display had been replaced with a 4.3-inch LCD. It connects directly to the GPIO pins, has a resolution of 800 x 480 and supports capacitive touch. It has stereo audio output and uses a USB microphone. It’s fitted with a micro USB LiPO charger to recharge the lithium-polymer battery inside.
According to Kyndal, the keyboard membrane had to be reverse-engineered and uses a Teensy keyboard controller to act as a USB keyboard.
There are already plans underway for more upgrades, including the addition of a Raspberry Pi webcam. Check out the full project page on Hackaday and be sure to visit our list of Best Raspberry Pi Projects for more creations from the maker community.
Hang on, didn’t we recently review two gaming headsets from Corsair’s HS product family? Indeed, we did—the HS60 HAPTIC (reviewed here) and HS75 XB Wireless (reviewed here) launched in October. They were quickly followed by the third and final addition to this award-winning gaming headset series: the Corsair HS70 Bluetooth. Coming in at $100/€110, the HS70 Bluetooth is the least expensive and most versatile of the bunch in terms of connectivity, which will make it the most attractive gaming headset in Corsair’s entire HS lineup for many.
As its name implies, the Corsair HS70 Bluetooth offers Bluetooth connectivity, making it wirelessly pairable with smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other Bluetooth-capable devices. Additionally, it has an analogue 3.5-mm jack plug and a USB-C port. The latter isn’t only for charging its built-in battery, but also another way to communicate with your PC if you do want to use analogue or Bluetooth connectivity. Using it via USB makes it fully configurable in iCUE, much like any other Corsair USB gaming headset.
Also worth mentioning is the fact that the HS70 Bluetooth is able to use its Bluetooth, analogue, and USB connections simultaneously. This opens it up to a couple of interesting use cases. For example, you can connect the headset to your PC through USB or your console through the 3.5-mm jack plug while keeping it connected to your phone via Bluetooth in order to be able to answer phone calls without taking the headset off. Perhaps you want to use Discord’s mobile app while gaming? No problem—just open it up on your smartphone, connect to your server of choice, and chat away. Another interesting option is to connect it to your Nintendo Switch through the analogue 3.5-mm interface for the game while utilizing the Bluetooth connection to your phone for voice chat in Switch games that don’t support it natively. Of course, nothing prevents you from exclusively using the HS70 Bluetooth as a Bluetooth headset, but its wired connectivity is just as important a part of the equation.
In every other respect, the Corsair HS70 Bluetooth is nearly identical to the rest of the HS lineup. You probably already know what that means—it’s nicely built, comfortable to wear, and fun to listen to. Let’s dig in!
Specifications
50-mm dynamic drivers (neodymium magnet)
32 Ω impedance
20–20,000 Hz frequency response (specified by the manufacturer)
Tesla’s new holiday update will finally give people the ability to use a new Boombox mode, which can broadcast custom audio on the outside of the car (hence the name). As is common with new Tesla features, Boombox combines real utility with lowbrow humor: owners can use fart and goat sounds in lieu of normal, boring honking sounds car horns usually make.
The mode rolled out with a number of other updates as part of Tesla’s firmware 2020.48.26 update, and is something Tesla fans have eagerly anticipated. In the new mode, which can be seen at the timestamped section in the video below, several sounds are available for Tesla owners through the Toybox section they can use in place of a regular horn: goat baaing, applause, a little “tada” clip, someone speaking posh and, of course, the fart.
While Tesla owners have been able to create fart sounds inside the car for some time, the Boombox mode effectively allows people with more recent models to use the built-in speaker that blasts audio to poor unsuspecting people outside of the car. Tesla cars manufactured after September 1st , 2019 have the speaker built-in. The speakers were added because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required electric cars that were silent to emit some noise to alert pedestrians, according to Teslarati. Here’s a description of what Boombox mode does, thanks to Teslarati:
Turn your car into a boombox and entertain a crowd with your media player when parked. You can also customize the sound your car makes when you press the horn, drive the car or when your car is moving with Summon. Select an option from the dropdown menu or insert your own USB device and save up to five custom sounds.
Farting isn’t just reserved for honking. An update to Tesla’s “Emissions Testing Mode,” which is code for fart sequencing, means cars can now fart whenever, and people outside won’t be able to escape the sounds. Teslarati adds:
Emissions Testing Mode can be used outside the car. To setup, select your desired sound and place the cushion on the external speaker. When ready, play selected sound by pressing the left scroll wheel button or using the turn signal. To access, tap the Application Launcher > Toybox > Emissions Testing Mode.
Alongside being able to fart, people can also use Tesla’s Boombox feature to harass neighbors in other ways. For example, now a Tesla can emit the same sound as an ice cream truck, based on the video above. So if someone really wants to play a cruel prank on kids this summer, just drive around the neighborhood playing a jovial song that makes children think of ice cream cones and popsicles.
Being able to upload five tracks also means people can drive their Tesla vehicles around town with whatever audio they want, apparently. When one person asked Tesla CEO Elon Musk if they could drive their car to Ludacris’ classic ‘00s hit, “Move Bitch,” Musk pointed to the custom upload option.
There are plenty of other additions that came with this year’s holiday update. Car owners have access to three new games — The Battle of Polytopia, Cat Quest, and Solitaire — they can play while parked. Supercharge display improvements and scheduled departure improvements are also included in the firmware update. A full list of updates can be read on Reddit.
Maybe it’s the holiday spirit in me, but allowing your car to fart properly is quite beautiful. It’s like something ripped right out of Shrek — better out than in!
The new AirPods Max Limited Edition from Caviar is a very luxurious 18-karat gold headphone with a black or white soft crocodile leather headband.
The Apple AirPods have been among the most popular earbuds for years. Earlier this month, Apple introduced the new AirPods Max, the brand’s first advanced over-ear headphone. The AirPods Max offer hi-fi sound, adaptive EQ and active noise cancellation. With a suggested retail price of € 630 this headphone belongs to the absolute top. If you are looking for something more exclusive, Caviar now offers a special alternative for the rich among us. Caviar has just introduced a gold Apple AirPods Max, with a whopping 830 grams of pure gold.
Caviar is known for enriching Apple products with durable and rare materials, such as gold, leather and gemstones. The company already offers numerous Limited Edition versions of the AirPods Pro. This time, the jewelry atelier from Caviar have crafted a unique and luxurious AirPods Max.
AirPods Max gold headphone with crocodile leather headband
The AirPods Max Limited Edition from Caviar is available in two colors: white and black. The headband is made of crocodile leather, which contributes to a particularly stylish appearance and also feels nice and soft. The high-gloss ear cups are decorated with 18-karat gold, which makes this headphone very luxurious and unique. The Caviar logo is incorporated in the middle of the ear cups. The buttons and Digital Crown are also covered in gold.
This unique headphone is provided with no less than 830 grams of gold. In fact, more than a kilogram of gold is needed to manufacture it. Naturally, this also adds the necessary extra weight. Just like with the regular AirPods Max, Caviar supplies a soft compact Smart Case, to safely store the wireless headphone. The case also serves as a charger. The headphone offers a long battery life of 20 hours.
The AirPods Max Limited Edition version from Caviar offers exactly the same functionality as the regular version from Apple. For example, the headphone automatically detects when it is put on the head, based on optical and position sensors. As soon as you put on the headset, you will hear sound.
This stylish audio accessory can be used in combination with an iPhone, an iPad, a Mac and / or an Apple Watch. In addition to playing music, you can also use the headphone to make calls. Thanks to the support for Siri, you can also give the headphone voice commands, for example, you can ask for directions or have messages read out to you.
Due to the large amount of gold that is used in this Limited Edition edition, Caviar has chosen to produce only 1 copy of both color variants. For an amount of $ 108,000, you are guaranteed to be the only one in the world to walk around with this glamorous gold headphone.
This is not the only product that Caviar has introduced today. As part of the new 2021 portfolio, the Russian brand has also released a very luxurious, golden Sony PS5 Limited Edition. In addition, the company also releases a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Limited Edition, which is also richly decorated with solid gold.
Ilse is a Dutch journalist and joined LetsGoDigital more than 15 years ago. She is highly educated and speaks four languages. Ilse is a true tech-girl and loves to write about the future of consumer electronics. She has a special interest for smartphones, digital cameras, gaming and VR.
João Silva 24 mins ago Featured Tech News, Monitors
Asus is about to launch a new 4K gaming monitor – the VG289Q1A, featuring Adaptive-Sync for both AMD and Nvidia cards and support for HDR content and wide colour gamut to display “brightest whites and the darkest blacks”.
The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A features a 4K IPS panel with a 60Hz refresh rate, 5ms G2G response time, and wide viewing angles. This IPS panel has a 10bit colour depth and features a maximum brightness of 350nits, and a maximum contrast ratio of 1000:1, allowing it to cover up to 90% of the DCI-P3 wide colour spectrum.
By using Adaptive-sync (FreeSync or G-Sync), the VG289Q1A provides gaming sessions without “screen tearing and choppy frame rates”. Besides the compatibility with HDR 10 content, this monitor also comes with Multi HDR mode (Asus Cinema HDR and Asus Gaming HDR).
Other gaming features included with this monitor are Shadow Boost to brighten up darker areas, Gameplus overlay features (crosshair, timer, FPS counter, and display alignment), Gamevisual colour presets for multiple game genres, and flicker-free technology and Ultra-Low Blue Light technology for a more comfortable and less harmful viewing experience.
This monitor comes with 2x 2W integrated speakers, a 3.5mm audio jack, 2x HDMI 2.0 ports, and a DisplayPort 1.2. The included stand allows the user to tilt and swivel the display, but there’s also VESA 100x100mm support if you want to use the monitor on a compatible monitor arm.
Asus hasn’t shared pricing and availability details about the VG289Q1A. You can learn more about this monitor HERE.
KitGuru says: Are any of you looking to upgrade to a 4K gaming monitor? What do you think of the latest offering from ASUS?
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The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are expected to go official next month alongside the Galaxy S21 series. Samsung hasn’t divulged anything about these TWS earphones yet, but their key features leaked a few days ago, and we also learned that Buds Pro will cost €229 in Europe. Now the promo materials posted by a Twitter user reveal the Galaxy Buds Pro will be priced at $199 in the US.
The images also tell us that each bud will come with a 2-way speaker and have three microphones onboard. The Buds Pro will be IPX7 rated and feature noise canceling.
The leaked images don’t reveal the battery size of the Buds Pro, but they do tell us that the TWS earphones alone will offer eight hours of playtime and 4.5 hours of talk time. When coupled with the charging case, you’ll get a total of 15 hours and 28 hours of talk time and playtime, respectively.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro leaked promo materials
The Galaxy Buds Pro will pack an 11mm woofer and a 6.5mm tweeter. The earphones will feature Ambient Sound, Conversation Mode, and Spatial Audio. The material also mentions a new Galaxy Buds Widget, but it’s unclear what exactly it will do.
The Galaxy Buds Pro will come in silver, violet, and black colors at launch, but Samsung might offer more color options later on.
AOC has announced its new “gaming” monitor with curved panel of 1500 R, the AOC CQ 30 G3E. The panel used is 8-bit VA and has a diagonal of 30 inches along with a FullHD resolution in 21: 9, that is, with 2. 560 x 1. 080 pixels.
The promised contrast is 3000: 1, something typical of VA panels, along with a fairly modest brightness of 300 nits or cd / m² and 1 ms MPRT response time. Just as modest is its refresh rate, which, while exceeding 75 Hz, it does so by a narrow margin of 15 Hz to stay at a total of 75 Hz. Of course, these 75 Hz are variable and support AMD FreeSync technology.
The AOC CQ 30 G3E reaches 75 Hz and ultra-wide format of 21: 9 FullHD
AOC promises a fairly wide color coverage of 127% sRGB, 99% of DCI-P3 and 109% of NTSC. Taking into account that the figures exceed 100%, we are possibly talking about volume and not real coverage of those ranges.
In terms of outputs and inputs, it offers a DisplayPort and two HDMI, along with a 3.5 mm audio output to bridge the sound via HDMI / DP.
At the moment there are no details on its price and it seems to be only available on the manufacturer’s website in China, however, considering its modest specifications, It should be a fairly cheap model to be able to compete in the market.
End of Article. Tell us something in the Comments or come to our Forum!
Antonio Delgado
Computer Engineer by training, editor and hardware analyst at Geeknetic since 2011. I love gutting everything that comes my way, especially the latest hardware that we get here for reviews. In my spare time I fiddle with 3d printers, drones and other gadgets. For anything here you have me.
The Polish brand SilentiumPC has once again prepared interesting computer cases for its fans. This time, the family with the designation Ventum VT4, consisting of four models, is entering the market. The new designs focus primarily on high air circulation, which was achieved thanks to the mesh front and top, as well as high-pressure fans. Of course, there was also a two-chamber interior and a side panel made of tempered glass. Consumers can choose between two color versions – black and white, variants with two or four factory fans and versions with and without ARGB LED backlight. And all this at a really attractive price as usual.
The new SilentiumPC housings have been priced quite attractive, ranging from 219 to 299 zlotys. We will pay a bit more for the white variant.
Which PC case to buy? Recommended for November 2020
The SilentiumPC Ventum VT4 family uses an identical, two-chamber framework, so all models have dimensions of the order 485 x 210 x 440 (height x width x depth) millimeters and weighs approximately 6 25 kilograms. there is only the Ventum VT4 TG variant equipped with two fans, not four.In the middle we mount motherboards in ATX, Micro ATX or Mini ITX format; CPU cooling up to 159 millimeters; graphics cards with length 345 millimeters and power supplies not longer than 180 millimeters. Two 3.5 “and two 2.5” slots are provided for data carriers. The I / O panel is located on the top of the case and hosts two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A and audio connectors.
SilentiumPC Astrum AT6V TG case test – Opus magnum?
As far as ventilation is concerned, up to eight fans can be installed here. Two 140 – or three 120 – millimeter on the front, two 140- or 120 – millimeter on top, one 120 – one millimeter on the back and two 120 – millimeter on the basement. In the case of heat sinks from AiO sets or LC systems, the maximum number of coolers 280 – millimeter ones. Two (Ventum VT4 TG) or four (Ventum VT4V TG) SilentiumPC Sigma HP fans are pre-installed here. mm CF running up to 1200 RPM. In the case of Ventum VT4V EVO TG ARGB models, the user receives not only four SilentiumPC Stella HP ARGB fans 120 mm CF, but also the Nano-Reset ARGB backlight controller. Each housing comes with magnetic dust filters. The suggested prices are as follows:
SilentiumPC Ventum VT4 TG – 219 zlotys
SilentiumPC Ventum VT4V TG – 239 zlotys
SilentiumPC Ventum VT4V Evo TG ARGB – 299 zlotys
SilentiumPC Ventum VT4V Evo TG ARGB White – 319 zlotys
In the final instalment of the Seasonic Aura custom build project, we take a look at how to make custom power cables, mod the Fractal Define 7 XL front panel cables and put the finishing touches on the system by installing all the wiring. We also build the custom loop and add a few final modifications with more LED lighting and improved laser cut panels.
Watch via our Vimeo channel (below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
Timestamps:
00:00 Video start
00:05 Update!
01:22 Subtle changes
01:55 Making custom PSU cables – pin outs
10:10 Tools needed for custom cables
11:37 Parts needs for the cables
14:19 The first step of making cables
17:03 23 pieces of 16 gauge wire for 24 pin cable – terminal pins
17:33 Details on ‘double cable’ – soldering
20:45 Crimping the terminals
24:43 Applying sleeving to the cables
26:50 Using heatshrink
29:26 More cable sleeving timelapse
31:40 Sleeving double wire cables
35:32 Putting it all together now
39:37 The next technical step – using the digital multimeter
42:50 Cables all made up – emergency change guide
47:05 Installing the cables in the system!
49:39 Front panel cable sleeving
57:01 Routing
1:00:31 Build discussion
1:01:08 Building the custom loop
1:07:00 The finished build!
1:08:08 Closing Thoughts
At the beginning of this video, I show off a couple of improved laser cut panels. We swapped out the custom laser-etched aluminium GPU backplate with an improved design removing screw holes, plus a new and improved aluminium panel at the side of the motherboard tray that now has a Seasonic Aura logo laser cut instead of etched, which I think looks much better as the new logo is more pronounced compared with our original custom etched panel.
The final episode of the Seasonic Aura custom build project focuses on building new power supply cables, the cables are made using 16 AWG wire for the main power connections (24-pin, EPS and PCIe) and 18 AWG wire for the SATA power cables. All the new cables are measured to a specific length for improved routing around the system and sleeved with blue/black PET sleeving.
As well as building custom power cables, I modded the front panel cables of the Fractal Define 7 XL case. Most of the stock front panel cables are standard black PVC sleeved multi-core cables, the USB 3.0 and Type-C header cables are difficult to modify with their moulded connector plugs on either end, so I concentrate on sleeving the USB 2.0 and HD audio headers with black PET to match the stock sleeved front panel header cable.
All the custom cables are managed behind the right-hand case side panel, the Define 7 XL is an excellent case for cable management with plenty of cable push through cut-outs and eyelets for strapping cables down. The case also has a large plastic panel that covers cables entering the power supply shroud, so the final cable management in the right-hand side of the system looks great.
To top it all off, the system is fitted with a complex custom cooling system provided by Alphacool, with brass/chrome tubing and two 360mm long 45mm thick radiators. The CPU block is also an Alphacool unit however, the GPU water block is the stock solution that comes pre-installed to the Gigabyte RTX 2080 Super Gaming OC Waterforce WB 8G with its subtle black shroud and blue lighting perfectly complementing the system.
1st Storage device: Western Digital Blue SN550 500 GB M.2 NVME SSD
2nd Storage device: 1TB Western Digital Blue SATA SSD
3rd Storage device: 1TB Western Digital Blue SATA SSD
Case: Fractal Define 7 XL Light TG
Cooling: Alphacool Full custom loop w/chrome/brass tubing
System Fans: 7 x NZXT AER P 120
Power Supply: Seasonic Prime TX-1000
System Mods:
Custom PSU shroud with “Powered by Seasonic” laser cut logo in the shroud and a transparent blue acrylic bonded with blue LED illumination.
Two Aluminium Laser etched SSD covers Featuring the Seasonic PRIME logo design, SSDs placed on top of the power supply shroud for maximum visibility.
The right-hand steel case side panel has a large Seasonic logo laser cut into the panel and backed with blue transparent acrylic.
Custom laser cut Seasonic Aura aluminium panel at the right-hand side of the motherboard tray.
Custom Aluminium GPU backplate with Seasonic logo and “The Heart of Your System” laser etched on the panel.
Custom length, Black/Blue sleeved power supply cables made to exact length for the system and neatly managed behind the right-hand side panel.
Blue Led lighting on the base of the case to provide a subtle “underglow” effect.
Heatsinks of the Corsair memory modules modified with a brush aluminium effect.
Fractal Design Define 7 XL front panel cables sleeved with black PET sleeving.
As a whole, the system turned out to be a great success; the finished article looks exactly as I imagined it would when we started this project, and it was well worth all the hard work, blood sweat and tears (almost) that went into it. That’s it for now with Seasonic Aura, this project has come to an end, but we are beavering away thinking of ideas for a new custom build project to get our teeth into during the new year.
KitGuru Says: We are extremely happy with how Seasonic Aura turned out in the end, let us know what you guys think of the finished system, is there anything you would change or add to the system if it was your build?
Testing Tests overview Smartphone Oneplus Nord N 10 5G in the test: Gallops in price Oppo Find X2 Pro in the test: performance bargain Asus ROG Phone 3 in the test: Perfect gaming smartphone LG Wing in the test: 1.5 displays and gimbal cam Nokia 3.4 in the test: Update- Promise for little money Smartphone Realme 7 in the test: 90 Hertz at the saver price Realme 7 Pro im Test: OLED display and 64 – Watt loading Smartwatch Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 in the test: competition for Apple? Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro im Test: Smartwatch with cross-country battery Apple Watch: Smartwatch with contract from 15 € per month Buy Apple Watch 6: All generations in the price check Skagen Falster 3 in the test: Smartwatch with Wear OS Test Huawei Watch GT 2: Noble fitness tracker in watch form Huawei Watch GT in the test: record-breaking battery life Multiroom Ikea Symfonisk in the test: Sonos speakers under 100 Euro Bose Portable Home Speaker in Te st: Battery, WLAN, Airplay 2 Sonos Move in the test: The robust all-rounder Musiccast: Multiroom from Yamaha in the test Denon Heos in the test: versatile multiroom System Flat soundbar Teufel Sounddeck Streaming in the test Teufel Raumfeld in the test: rich multiroom sound Keyfinder Tile Slim (2019): key finder in Credit card format Bluetooth key finder Tile Pro in the test: 122 m range! Key finder Tile Pro in the test: the Range champion Orbit Bluetooth tracker in the test: looking for wallet and key Nonda iHere 3.0: smarter Keyfinder tested Chipolo Classic and Plus: Bluetooth keyfinder tested Musegear finder 2: Keyfinder without registration obligation Action-Cam DJI Pocket 2 in the test: Zoom and 64 – Megapixel sensor Actioncam Insta 360 One R: 1-inch image sensor in the test Gopro Hero 8 Black in the test: Back to the top Insta 360 One R in the test: The modular action cam Motorola Moto G8 Plus test: Great smartphone, but … Insta 360 Go: M icro-GoPro in the test Motorola One Action Test: good hardware, bad camera microSD In the test: Kingston UHS-I U3 microSDXC Kit MicroSD card for smartphone: Samsung Evo Plus 2017 Test report: Lexar Professional 1800 x microSDXC Kit Test report: Intenso Premium microSDXC card With 64 GByte Android Sonos Move im Test: The robust all-rounder Honor 20: Inexpensive high-end smartphone in the test Xiaomi Mi 9: Top technology at a bargain price Doogee S 85 in the test: modular outdoor smartphone ZTE Axon 10 Pro in the test: high-end phone at a competitive price Motorola Moto G7 Power in the test: large battery, small price Sony Xperia : Smartphone with 21: 9 display in the test Counselor Advisor overview Purchase advice The right cordless screwdriver for the home workshop Bargain: Which Fire TV Stick off 19 € is the right one? Purchase advice: What good is a leaf blower with a battery for 45 Euro? True -Wireless headphones: How much do you have to invest? Purchase advice water cooling: High-end PCs cool better Adviser: Air conditioning and fan against the heat wave Sony shows the Xperia 1: Is the predecessor XZ3 worth it now? Practice Caution, money away: Kickstarter & Co. are not shops Turn off Android notifications from annoying apps Here’s how: Install the new Android L keyboard now Tip: Use “Ok Google everywhere” in Germany In the test: Will the jailbreak work for iOS 7.1? Goderm a and mobile medicine: The doctor apps are coming! Instructions: Jailbreak for iOS 7 on iPhone 5S, 5, 4S and 4 Technology Importing technology from China, part 2: Customs, taxes and tricks Drones & copters: From toys to FPV Racer What does the end of an ecosystem mean? Smartphones with a flexible display: What’s the point? Overview of smartphone processors: Everything Snapdragon? Evolutionary dead ends: the very worst cell phones mpass: Pay with the NFC mobile phone – or the NFC toilet roll Display calculator Calculate pixel density, number and display proportion Best list Test winner Price comparison Price comparison overview Smartphones from Android 7.0 Phablets with stylus Fitness tracker with GPS Bluetooth headphones with ANR Drones with GPS Video TechStage Adviser Six sports headphones in comparison: sound for training Beginning Type Protection class True Wireless Sound Test winner Conclusion Comments In our comparison test we show six headphones the perfect companion for sport in our opinion are. From just under 20 Euro it starts .
Sensible headphones belong for the most athletes basic equipment. Those who are not currently doing a team sport want to have some peace and quiet while training. It goes so far that you want to be isolated from the rest of the athletes in order to concentrate on your own routine. Good headphones are tools for bringing the music from the smartphone or another player to the ear reliably and in good quality. And they differ from “normal” headphones in terms of construction. The devices for athletes have to be stable in the ear, even with jerky movements. And they should be protected against sweat or splash water.
In recent years, we have tested numerous sports headphones in a wide variety of price ranges and designs in our sports headphones theme. This ranges from classic Bluetooth headphones such as the Soundbuds Flow from Anker (test report) to the Bose Frames Tempo (test report) to the JBL Reflect Flow (test report). In this comparison test, we show which functions good sports headphones have to fulfill and why the sound is good even with inexpensive devices. To do this, we choose our current test winners, show inexpensive alternatives and present alternative concepts.
Design type Sports headphones are now mostly available as in-ear devices. They sit directly in the ear, usually held in place by special silicone wings. Compared to other designs such as over-ear or on-ear, in-ears have the advantage that you don’t sweat under the headphones. However, there are many who find the plugs uncomfortable. One option is, for example, to hold devices such as Airpods on the ear with a special silicone clip. More about this in our guide The most important accessories for Apple Airpods.
In addition to the classic forms, there are always experiments. Aftershokz is known. The company uses vibrations to transmit the sound via the skull bone into the inner ear. This works well and leaves the ears free, but the sound quality suffers especially with podcasts or audio books, as we show in the test for the Aftershokz Trekz Air (test report). The frames series from Bose relies on sunglasses with speakers in the ear hooks. This works very well with the Bose Frames Tempo sports glasses (test report).
At the same time, the advantage and disadvantage of in-ear headphones is that they are sealed off from the outside world. The JBL Reflect Flow (test report) are a good example of this. They sit so tightly in your ear that it’s easy to forget the world around you. This is great when training in a safe environment, such as bouldering or jogging in a secluded area. However, it is a problem when you are out and about in traffic. If you cycle on or next to the road, you have to be aware of the traffic around you. Yes, you can activate an ambient mode in devices such as the Reflect Flow and other in-ears, then the noises are passed through from the outside. That sounds very artificial, however. Devices such as the Bose Sport Earbuds (test report) have a better balance, but do not seal off the user so blatantly during exercise.
Comparison test sports headphones (6 pictures) The Reflect Flow from JBL are our first test winners for everyone who completely from sports want to be isolated from the outside world.
For the single test
Protection against sweat and water All headphones for Athletes should be protected against water. It is less about swimming or diving with them. Rather, it is about protection against sweat and the possibility of briefly rinsing the equipment under running water.
The protection against water is easiest to read from the IP protection class. The rule of thumb is: the higher the IPXX number, the better the headphones are protected against water. The table shows what the individual numbers mean. Our tip is that the headphones should have at least IPX2.
IPXX protection classes 1st digit Protection against contact / foreign bodies 2nd digit Protection against water 0 unprotected 0 unprotected 1 Protection against foreign bodies> 50 mm / protection against contact with the back of the hand 1 Protection against Dripping water 2 Protection against foreign bodies> 12 mm / protection against contact with the finger 2 Protection against dripping water 2.5 mm / protection against contact with tools 3 Protection against spray water 4 Protection against foreign bodies> 1 mm / protection against contact with wire 4 Protection against splash water 5 Protection against dust / protection against Touches 5 Protection against en water jets 6 dust-proof, protection against contact 6 Protection against heavy water jets 7 Protection against temporary immersion 8th Protection against permanent immersion Source: Heise.de True Wireless or Electric wire? In the last version of our comparison of sports headphones in 2018 the classic Bluetooth headphones with cables between the speakers dominated. Since then, this design has had massive competition from the true wireless approach. The headphones no longer have cables, they connect to each other and to the playback device, such as a smartphone, via Bluetooth. This technology has developed massively in recent years. Where in the past there were sometimes large audio delays, for example in movies or games, the sound can now be heard without latency. The battery life has also improved enormously. The big advantage of the in-ears is their charging cradle. With classic Bluetooth headphones, it happens again and again that they are empty when you need them. True wireless devices, on the other hand, are usually in the charging cradle and thus always have enough charge to be used for a sports session.
Sound The good news: The sound of most sports headphones, including cheap devices such as the RF-BTK – 300 by Renkforce (test report) or the Anker Soundbuds Flow (test report) is now so good that it can be used for sports without any problems. In particular, the cheap devices tend to have a strong to excessive bass. The formula expensive = good sound has long ceased to apply.
With the classic audio brands you can tell that the nuances are sometimes better. In addition, Bose or Jabra, for example, often rely on AAC as an additional codec for the transmission of lossless content. This is often lacking in cheaper headphones. If you value such content in sports, you should adjust your selection accordingly. The inexpensive headphones are also good for streaming Spotify & Co or for podcasts. We write more about the sound of the respective headphones in the linked individual tests.
Test winner and recommendations Our test winners are the Bose Sport Earbuds (test report) and the JBL Reflect Flow (test report). Both sports headphones offer a well-balanced sound, sit firmly in the ear and have enough battery power to endure even longer sports sessions. They are also both comfortable to wear. We recommend the JBL Reflect Flow to everyone who wants to completely isolate themselves during sport. They are one of the few headphones that really deserve the title “Passive Noise Cancellation”. The Bose Sport Earbuds allow more surroundings to pass through without affecting the sound quality. A good third alternative are the Jabra Active 64 t (test report ). We liked the fact that they are easy to use, are well protected against water and sweat and offer great additional features. The price has now leveled off in reasonable regions.
Among the price-performance winners, we mainly see the cheap Anker Soundbuds Flow headphones (test report) and the Renkforce RF-BTK 300 (Review). Both are protected against water (IPX4 and IPX5), well made and magnetically adhere to each other. So you can click them together in front of your body when you don’t have them in your ears.
The special mention goes to the Bose Frames Tempo (review). As with the Aftershokz Trekz Air (test report), the ears remain completely free, so you can easily see the surroundings. But the sound of the Tempo frames is significantly better than that of the bone conduction headphones. Especially with speech, such as audio books, podcasts or audio announcements from the navigation system, you can hear the tempo better with the frames. The disadvantage of the Tempo frames, however, is that they cannot be used just like that. Despite good sound and low latency, you just look stupid when you stream Netflix with it.
Conclusion Anyone who has ever got stuck with the headphone cable while doing sports knows why you should only rely on Bluetooth headphones. The good news is that the cheap devices from Anker or Renkforce in particular also deliver decent sound. For scarce 20 Euro is already available good wireless headsets.
If you want to spend more, you should use a true wireless system. Not only does not a cable get tangled in the bag, thanks to the transport box with battery, the headphones are in most cases so charged that you have enough juice for exercise.
We show even more on the subject of headphones in our individual tests in the subject world of true wireless headphones. Here, too, you can clearly see how prices have been falling in recent years. A suitable guide to this is true wireless headphones under 90 Euro in the comparison test , the guide to true wireless noise-canceling headphones, or the article on the cheapest true wireless headphones.
If you want to track your training progress properly in addition to headphones, we recommend a look at our sports watch or our tested fitness tracker.
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Anchor Bose Jabra JBL headphones Sports headphones True Wireless headphones Blaupunkt Frida 500 in the test: That big e, small e-folding bike
The HX940B is difficult to work with but there’s a pleasing and natural performance in there for those who persevere
For
Bright, natural picture
Excellent motion processing
Vivid colours
Against
Tricky to calibrate
Weak blacks and viewing angles
Uninspiring sound
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is part of the leading line of Panasonic’s LCD TVs for 2020, and is therefore blessed with much of the company’s top TV tech. What’s more, such is Panasonic’s HDR agnosticism that it has the added bonus of both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, so you can be sure you’re viewing the best available format regardless of streaming service or disc.
Alongside the 2020 flagship HCX Pro Intelligent processor, the HX940 enjoys a faster (100Hz) screen refresh rate over its less thoroughbred LCD stablemates and the benefits of Panasonic’s Local Dimming Intelligent Pro technology. That should improve contrast control by adjusting the backlight and LCD shutters to mimic the operation of thousands of virtual local dimming zones.
This year’s fleet has also brought an update to the company’s proprietary TV OS. My Home Screen 5.0 promises Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support, a suite of apps and some improved usability on previous models.
Build and features
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is a tidy and decent looking set. It’s around 45mm thick with a nice even rear that should make it easy to wall-mount. Those using the dual stands will appreciate the choice of two positions – one narrow for smaller furniture and a wider one that should help to accommodate a soundbar. You’ll need a surface of at least 330mm depth for it to sit upon.
Panasonic TX-65HX940B tech specs
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
Screen type LCD with edge LED backlight Resolution 4K Operating system My Home Screen 5.0
HDR formats HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG Number of HDMIs 4 Number of USBs 3 Optical output Yes ARC/eARC ARC ALLM Yes VRR No 4K@120Hz No Dimensions (hwd) 145 x 84 x 4.5cm (without stand) Weight 28kg (without stand)
The inevitable black rectangle on the front is bordered by a perfectly tasteful bezel of approximately 5mm. Around the back, you’ll find all the ports you need, including four HDMI sockets, all of which support ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and one of which is ARC (Audio Return Channel) enabled. There are also two USB 2.0s, a USB 3.0, a headphone/subwoofer connector and an optical output. It’s also Bluetooth-enabled if you’d rather go wireless for audio in or out.
Panasonic’s own My Home Screen 5.0 is simple and easy to use from the outset. Hit the home key on the fully-featured remote control and there are just four main choices – Apps, Devices, Live TV and Main Menu. You can add shortcuts to your favourites, which is handy.
Apps-wise, there are a few significant gaps. There’s no access to Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV or Disney+, nor is there Now TV, BT Sport, Spotify or Tidal. It only takes a relatively small outlay on a media streamer to fix this, but it’s a shame that that’s necessary, particularly as it isn’t with most of the HX940B’s rivals.
Hit Live TV and you’ll head to the Freeview Play platform and tuner. It comes with a well-organised and usable EPG, all four of the UK catch-up services, plus a front page full of worthy content suggestions from the main terrestrial channels.
The Main Menu is where you find the picture, sound and other TV settings. As with previous incarnations of this OS, it’s a fairly long list with a few too many sub-menus. There’s also quite the host of modes and technologies to get your head around, although it’s good to see that Panasonic has taken the time to annotate them with explanations of what each one does.
Picture
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is capable of an impressive picture performance, but squeezing that quality out of it takes a fair bit of patience and time, and that will be a bit off-putting to some potential buyers.
The picture presets are there to help shorten the process, but even the best of those doesn’t deliver the full potential of this TV. Surprisingly, the Sport setting is the best of the compromises. This Panasonic is strong on subtlety but not the biggest on punch and the Sport preset lends a handy contrast kick as well as the best stab at an accurate colour balance.
But realising the set’s full potential involves selecting the Custom mode to make sure all of the numerous and, for many, overwhelming settings and options are accessible. Teasing out that extra level of goodness can feel a bit like trying to crack a safe, but the rewards are worthwhile.
The opening scenes of Baby Driver on 4K Blu-ray are a really exciting watch. This bright panel creates wonderful views of the gloriously sunny city streets as Baby waits in his vibrant red getaway car outside the bank. The stone of the buildings is clean and detailed, and this TV’s shading skills bring a realistic sense of depth and perspective to the picture. Shots such as this give an easy sense that you’ve got something good for your money.
Motion processing is also excellent when the car chase kicks in. Nothing is rendered with any noticeable judder as Baby throws the car screeching round corners, even when the action is fast and close to the camera. We’d recommend putting the Frame Interpolation to the minimum setting when in Sport. Custom mode offers more granular control of both blur and judder on scales of between 1-10. Around three should hit the spot, but it’s well worth experimenting.
Dark detail is strong too. The elevator scene after the first job has everyone dressed mostly in black. All the folds and creases of Griff’s leather jacket are clear and there’s a decent difference in texture between that and Baby’s suede top.
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
What’s missing, though, is proper black depth. This TV needs its brightness set high to deliver any sense of dynamism, but the trade-off is that the backlight bleeds through rather a lot. The effect is uniform, at least, but you get dark greys rather than genuine blacks.
Moving to SDR requires another adjustment of the TV’s settings, but the picture quality is there to be had if you work at it. Watching something fairly neutral, such as 22 Jump Street on Blu-ray, we get that same zesty and inviting image as before. The Spring Break scene at the climax of the film is an appealing kaleidoscope of bright beachwear on golden sand and, once the white balance has been tweaked, the HX940 just about nails it.
You’ll need to be careful when switching to Full HD source material with a slightly more stylised aesthetic though. The push for punch in the settings that this TV needs tends to accentuate the flaws. Transformers comes across more noisy than it should and you’ll need to pull back on the contrast for something easier on the eye. If you can get a handle on that, this set scales perfectly well from HD and SD. In fact, when watching BBC News in standard def, this TV’s skills with subtlety do it the biggest service. Colours and tones are produced with more realism here than most at this resolution.
But regardless of the quality of the incoming signal, you’ll only get the best if you’re sitting fairly square to the TV, as viewing angles are poor. One armchair round from a central sofa and the already grey blacks turn even lighter and colours quickly fade. The issue is equally pronounced on the vertical axis too, so bear this in mind if you’re planning to wall-mount.
Sound
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
The best sound often adds a lot to the price of a TV, and external sound solutions are usually a far better option. Panasonic has decided to keep things on the economical side with the HX940 and fitted a standard two 10W speakers system to the rear. Users get some control over the precise flavour of that audio with Dolby Atmos, Bass Boost and Surround sound processing options, but the inescapable result is a presentation that’s clear but also thin.
Watching Baby Driver, there’s a lot to be said for that clarity. The excellent soundtrack is detailed and fairly rhythmic. You’ll never miss a word of the dialogue either. The trade-off is that music comes across a touch tinny and without much excitement.
The bigger problem is when it comes to the action sequences. This sound system barely delivers with the opening car chase of the film. There’s no weight or dynamism to get our blood pumping and that removes the feeling of jeopardy to the scene.
The precision keeps us very much in touch with the tyre screeches, the police sirens and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion soundtrack, but there’s a narrow feel to it all with little movement of the audio from left to right and not enough of a sense of separation to each sound within the stage.
After a while, all those bright sounds are quite hard to listen to. While clarity is king for TV sound, so viewers can easily follow dialogue, it doesn’t take many minutes with this Panasonic to begin craving a decent dose of welly and dynamics. Ultimately, we want a TV that delivers both, but at least some of each is preferable. This TV leans too far in a single direction.
Verdict
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is a good TV, but it isn’t a great one. The levels of dynamism, for both picture and sound, are shy of the very best at this price. The same goes for black depth and viewing angles, too, but there is a fundamental brightness and zestiness to the colour that make for an appealing and enjoyable natural performance.
The hard part is that unlocking all of that takes a fair bit of time and patience. If you’re looking for something that’s easy out of the box, then this isn’t the TV for you. Even if you do put the effort in, this Panasonic still can’t quite reach the heights of the Sony KD-65HX9005, which is a far more accomplished all-round performer and is currently available for less.
In my opinion, the most impressive showing at CES 2019 came from Creative, when they unveiled their retail release of the Super X-Fi headphone holography technology for a 7.1 surround sound speaker experience in a pair of headphones. The first product out at the time was the SXFI Amp combining their Super X-Fi DSP with a mobile DAC/amp for portable use across a variety of supported headphones. The media attending in person got an in-ear measurement profile done, which arguably made the experience superior than with SXFI app head-mapping-generated profiles, one of the complaints from our readers and the audio community as a whole. At CES 2020, the company took this feedback in stride and introduced Super X-Fi Gen 2 with support for 9.1 channel profiles, and all multi-channel profiles that were better-optimized with the much larger sample size over the past year.
Super X-Fi Gen 2 was automatically rolled out to everyone who already had a Gen 1 profile the week of CES, which meant testing it could have been as simple as using the SXFI Amp with the sample headphones they had provided last year, but Creative mentioned that they were just done giving a face-lift to their previously released SXFI AIR headphones, which worked out well in allowing us to cover both products simultaneously. Indeed, the face-lifted SXFI AIR is still not found on their website, with product images showing the older version as of the date this was written. There are minor cosmetic changes only, however, and our article here should be representative for all versions of the SXFI AIR. Thanks again to Creative for sending a review sample to TechPowerUp!
Specifications
Creative SXFI AIR Headphones
Drivers:
50 mm Neodymium magnet
Frequency Response:
20 Hz–20 kHz
Impedance:
32 Ω
Weight:
338 g / 11.9 oz
Connectivity:
Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, and Line-in
Colors:
Black or White
Controls:
Touch controls (volume and playback), Power on/off, Source, and Super X-Fi
More details of Samsung’s unannounced Galaxy Buds Pro wireless earbuds with active noise cancelation have leaked, including the price.
According to slides shared on Twitter by WalkingCat, the Galaxy Buds Pro will cost $199 at launch making them $80 cheaper than the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, our noise-canceling champions. Samsung’s pro buds will feature strong IPX7 durability against dust and water, and up to 8 hours of listening time which can be extended to 28 hours with the charging case. WalkingCat provides this handy chart to compare specs across all of Samsung’s wireless buds.
Samsung Buds comparison chart.Image: WalkingCat
WalkingCat also shared a slide showing an exploded view of the new active noise canceling buds, revealing an 11-mm woofer and 6.5-mm tweeter. The slide also supports rumors of an Apple-like spatial audio feature. With a price of $199, the Buds Pro would be $50 cheaper than Apple’s AirPods Pro wireless buds. On paper at least, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro are looking very competitive with Apple’s best buds.
More Galaxy Buds Pro details.Image: WalkingCat
The new slides are similar in look to those leaked by WalkingCat yesterday showing details about Samsung’s $699 Galaxy Chromebook 2. We’ll know soon if they’re legit. The big CES show is coming up and Samsung is hosting its own event in January for the presumed launch of the Galaxy S21 series.
HUAWEI presented the his first over-ear headphones: the FreeBuds Studio. The American ban weighs on the head of the company which therefore wants to change its approach to the public. Hence the creation of an increasingly sophisticated ecosystem where the world of audio also fits. Let’s see how they were created from design to hardware trying to understand why they are so unique.
by Editorial team published 23 December 2020 , at 14: 01 in the Audio Video channel Huawei
The headphone market remains today a segment of technology in which many brands have entered but where those historians continue to make inroads among users. A world a little? particular in which perhaps it is important to bring the user to ” trust ” the brand more than the true technical value of the product. HUAWEI has decided to enter this particular market with a straight leg alongside that of smartphones, tablets and PCs and thus expanding its range of action by experimenting on other fields including that of audio and headphones.
time to propose to HUAWEI users also an over ear version has arrived and for this reason the new ones have been released FreeBuds Studio with a completely different design from true wireless but which gives them they have taken the technical sector as dynamic noise cancellation. Actually they take what they did with the earphones and they remark it in a pair of headphones with pavilion.
In this case, however the design studio of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio was important as well as long and painstaking. Over the past few years, HUAWEI has created a fundamental research and development division in Shenzhen capable of developing new generation products that are not only in step with the times but that, in fact, can also anticipate them in some way. And the FreeBuds Studio are just one of these products.
HUAWEI: audio innovation
To date, in the world of sound, we are faced with to a paradox: it is easier to access a wide range of music through robust sound quality technologies. But it is difficult to ” encapsulate ” the purity of this sound while preserving all the details in order to be listened to by users. This is precisely why HUAWEI created its Audio division , trying to devote itself more effectively to the mission of delivering purer sound, without background distortion and distractions, for the best immersive experience possible.
To put all this into action, HUAWEI integrates chipsets, operating systems and digital devices capable of providing users an all-encompassing audio experience. Currently, there are three key series that relate to headphones : le True Wireless Stereo (TWS) , which have seen a progression of this type of headset from semi-open active noise cancellation to intelligent dynamic active noise cancellation. So the FreeLace series that earned recently the Pro version reaching an excellent reputation in the field of Bluetooth neckband headphones. And then the innovative smart glasses have created a new generation audio device capable of perfectly combining fashion and technology.
Now, HUAWEI has taken another big step in technological innovation and design experience by officially launching his first wireless over-ear headphones, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio . Headphones that boast HiFi-grade wireless audio performance, a revolutionary noise-canceling experience and intelligent interactive features. This is not just a pair of over-ear headphones, but also an audio companion that allows consumers to discover the world of digital audio.
First of all the design
Human beings first observed the beauty of the world, then extracted and explored patterns and proportions of such beauty . Exploring the origins of beauty has accompanied the development of human civilization over the centuries. With the development of technology, aesthetics have been incorporated into the relentless pursuit of beauty by countless thinkers. From the arts and humanities to everyday life, from grand architecture to technological products, the beauty of the product has become an integral part of every aspect of our life.
HAUWEI FreeBuds Studio precisely embodies the concept of geometric aesthetics with comfort. The new design was designed with comfort in mind. Strip away unnecessary decorations and let the ingenuity of the essential design appear, which means these noise canceling headphones are comfortable but also beautiful to look at.
Detail find out how the design by HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio is inspired by the gramophone. Just like the arm and turntable work together to play great music, HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio do exactly the same. The entire design of the ear cups is made of simple lines and circles, ready to eliminate complex shapes and structures, making the design very minimalist but capable of contemplating a complete look. Unique and particular then the outer shell of the ear cups which is coated with a matte metallic finish capable of giving an even more refined look. As mentioned in HUAWEI 7mm diameter stainless steel cylindrical arms are round and harmonious, ready to overturn the wide and flat design that instead we can find in competition headphones . The tonearm is connected and leveled with the ear cups, capturing the elegance of the classic gramophone. The design of the earcup and headband of HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio is undoubtedly premium and are above all distinguishable compared to other headphones on the market.
Comfort with the ergonomic pavilion
To further improve the comfort of the headphones, HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio adopt an ergonomic design that not only guarantees the comfort in using the headphones , but it also allows you to cover a much wider range as regards the different shapes of the users’ head. This clearly allows for relieved ear pressure even if you wear headphones for long periods of time.
Comfort in use is more important for over-ear headphones than in-ear headphones but it is also more difficult to design. Not only do we need to ensure that an important number of varieties of head shapes are taken into account, we also need to allow for the comfort of the ears and the top of the head.
The pavilions of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio have an internal diameter of 65 x 42 mm , a large space that allows more people with different ear sizes to wear them without feeling discomfort. The outer layer of the ear cushions has been made of protein skin and this guarantees them to be soft and therefore very suitable for human skin. Furthermore, the inner layer is made of nylon fabric and therefore very breathable and able to isolate noise well. Particularly know that the internal cushioning foam of the bearings earphones have undergone multiple density adjustments to evenly distribute pressure and provide an even wider support area, minimizing pressure on the ear and maintaining a greater degree of comfort even during very long sessions.
Detail then l Upper headband of the headphones which can maintain a high degree of flexibility and durability . This can be folded to the maximum for 150 degrees and may extend to 40 mm to fit multiple head shapes allowing more people to wear it safely. After thousands of pressure tests, experimenting with various ratios of materials that make up the ear cups, headband and head cushion, a final result was developed to provide a comfortable fit. HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio headband arms are made of stainless steel and angled with meticulous workmanship. The surface is treated with a high quality PVD process to achieve a subtle and delicate feel while maintaining high strength.
Quality audio with a high frequency response to 48 kHz
A higher frequency response means richer details and higher audio quality. Using professional acoustic components, HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio supports a response to very high frequency i.e. 4Hz – 48 kHz thus allowing the possibility of guaranteeing high resolution music with more details.
The headphones come with a custom unit. To achieve a higher frequency response, the diaphragm must be light but strong enough to accurately produce higher frequency sounds. HUAWEI for this decided to use a 4-layer polymer diaphragm from 40 mm on its FreeBuds Studio. This can provide wider frequency response and higher sensitivity so as to accurately present the original sound quality even at high frequency.
And not just because the decoder chip is essential for a digital audio system , responsible for converting digital signals to analog signals that people can hear. HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio are powered by a aud decoder chip advanced io commonly used in HD players . With higher dynamic range, the chip can effectively reduce audio signal distortion and background noise to provide pure and detailed sound.
However, what worries many users is the possibility that listening with wireless headphones does not allow to reach the maximum quality due to the audio signal that inevitably weakens and is also damaged during the non wired transmission . This is precisely why many music lovers prefer to transmit audio signals through a cable.
In order to fix the damage on the sound quality in the audio signal transmission process, HAUWEI FreeBuds Studio adopts specially created L2HC wireless audio coding and decoding technology in the laboratories of the Chinese company. This provides a speed of audio transmission up to 960 kbps and can really produce the fullness and rich detail of the sounds high quality originals at 96 kHz / 24 bit o 48 kHz / 24 bit, reducing signal damage effectively occurs in wireless transmission. Traditional wireless audio uses AAC technology, SBC encoding and decoding, and allows you to stream music to 44, 1 kHz / 16 Cd level quality bit. However, for higher quality music of 96 kHz / 24 bits, these technologies would cause damage to the audio source when encoding, decoding and transmitting music, which would lead to a noticeable loss of detail.
In order to solve these sound problems in the audio signal transmission process, HAUWEI FreeBuds Studio adopts the technology L2HC wireless audio encoding and decoding made just in Shenzhen by HUAWEI, and providing audio transmission speed up to 960 kbps, which is three times higher than the ACC. This technology can really produce the fullness and rich detail of the original sounds high quality a 96 kHz / 24 bit or 48 kHz / 24 bit, effectively reducing the signal damage that may occur in wireless transmission.
Dynamic noise cancellation: how it works
The noise canceling of the earbuds begins to meet user demands for a crystal clear music or communication experience in a complex environment. In this case, true wireless headphones have integrated into users’ daily lives even though consumers have gradually discovered that traditional active noise cancellation may not be perfect as the experience may differ from different scenarios. This is because the characteristics of each ambient sound are never the same and the noise canceling headphones generally use only the same set of noise canceling solutions to adapt to all noises. This leads to inaccurate cancellation in some relatively quiet or perhaps medium-high frequency environments, such as with the human voice and percussion sounds.
HUAWEI was not satisfied with the passive noise cancellation method using the physical earphone isolation or the active noise cancellation it generates an inverse sound wave using an algorithm. Over the years he has decided to explore new technologies for active noise cancellation by bringing the first dynamic earphones, the FreeBuds Pro together then at FreeBuds Studio.
We technically know that due to the physical characteristics, a headphone can achieve excellent noise cancellation in any scenario only through the physical sound isolation that allows it to block low penetration mid and high frequency noise and Active noise cancellation to eliminate strong low-frequency penetration noise. In this case HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio are equipped with a powerful noise cancellation system that allows you to reach a capacity up to 23 dB . In terms of physical sound insulation, they are based on the innovative structure of double layer sound insulation “TAT” and on the sound-absorbing ear cushions also double-layered, which at the same time guarantee sound quality and comfort, achieves a physical sound insulation effect up to 40 dB in the mid and high frequencies .
Here it is the outer layer of HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio is made of protein skin , soft and suitable for human skin, and capable of increasing comfort of the ear piece. The inner layer of nylon fabric guarantees breathability by blocking external noise. This includes a soft, sound absorbing sponge with an amount of cotton, density and hardness that is finely adjusted in the scientific process to form a comfortable ear cushion.
Both of them the pavilions of HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio are equipped with two microphones for noise cancellation. Among these, the external microphone collects the external noise and the internal microphone is instead positioned inside the earmuff near the headphone speaker hole, and allows you to collect the residual noise inside the ear canal in a more realistic way. The more noise detail is captured in the external environment and within the ear canal, the more accurately HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio generates an inverted frequency based on the actual noise environment to achieve precise and comfortable noise reduction.
For active noise cancellation, HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio adopts hybrid noise canceling technology. When Active Noise Canceling is enabled, it will utilize the capabilities of two high-sensitivity, high-signal microphones to noise inside and outside the headphones to cope with outside noise.
Another innovation that came with HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro concerns the new intelligent dynamic active noise cancellation technology , which combines the maximum cancellation performance of the noise and comfortable use. Here are several audio innovations to create a major intelligent dynamic noise cancellation system. We have a dynamic perception system and an acoustic data system . The former accurately recognizes the external environment of the sound field and the latter provides three noise canceling modes based on acoustic data and allows the headphones to automatically adjust the noise canceling mode according to the environment to achieve an experience reduction in different scenarios.
HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio has an integrated environmental sensor and a microphone system capable of forming a multi-scene perception system, capable of perceiving the state of ” activities and environmental positions for approximately 100 times per second . It can sense and learn the usage status of the user’s headphones, help the headphones to more accurately determine the scene the user is in, and guide the operation of the acoustic perception system to improve the accuracy of recognition of the sound environment, thus bringing a more intelligent dynamic noise cancellation experience.
In order to optimize the noise recognition algorithm , the Acoustic engineers in HUAWEI have selected a number of common locations for noise sampling based on data from users’ daily life experience: airplanes, subways, high-speed trains, taxis, buses, downtown, street noise, cafes and restaurants. In the laboratory, these sound data were analyzed and studied through artificial intelligence deep learning algorithms and finally an acoustic data system was developed to optimize the noise cancellation algorithms.
Thanks to the new technology, HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio is able to quickly identify the type of noise and automatically switch between noise canceling modes. Whether it’s a quiet office, a noisy cafeteria or an airplane with a roaring engine, the three noise canceling modes can adapt to the environment to achieve precise results.
Double antenna for one coverage 360 degrees and low latency Bluetooth
Each pavilion comes with two Bluetooth antennas to provide signal coverage to 160 degrees. The antennas can intelligently detect if a signal range is blocked and automatically switch to the other antenna ensuring a connection stable even in complicated conditions. In this case even if the smartphone is inside the bag or trouser pocket or still under strong signal interference such as in a station or airport, HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio will ensure complete signal coverage for a crystal clear experience. call or even uninterrupted music playback.
HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio is also equipped with four-channel connection and this allows users to connect the headphones to two devices at the same time without having to disconnect and reconnect them to make the classic switch. For example, the headphones can be connected with two smartphones. When the user listens to music or watches videos on one phone, they do not miss any calls received on another phone. It can answer the call directly with the headphones, while the music is automatically paused.
Finally HUAWEI FreeBuds Studio comes with a proprietary Bluetooth chip which has obtained Bluetooth 5.2 certification and has a low latency algorithm, providing a smooth experience for calls, but especially for games, online learning, meetings and audiovisual entertainment. On the game mode after entering in game, low latency mode will automatically turn on to lower latency to a minimum of 150 ms. As for the Cinema mode this works with traditional video apps to create system-wide latency optimization.
ASUS ZenBook S UX Introduction and Technical Specifications 410
Announced at IFA 2021, the ASUS ZenBook S UX 412 is the latest addition to the ASUS high-end ultrabook catalog, a model that introduces quite a few new features, both in terms of hardware and the format it uses, compared to past generations.
Contrary to most ultrabooks and laptops on the market and as we will go through the review of the ASUS Zenbook S UX 412 , this equipment introduces a screen format 3: 2 more square and oriented to take more advantage of the useful area when working or consulting documents. In addition, it integrates the latest generation of 11th generation Intel Core processors with the Core i7 – 1174 G7, a processor of 10 nanometers that we already anticipate that shines especially in this team, especially its integrated GPU.
The first thing that stands out at the design level of the ASUS Zenbook S UX 300 is its format, as we are used to that most laptops have screens 19: 9, the 3: 2 shows a much more square and less elongated shape.
This format has the advantage of offering more vertical area, allowing more i Information on the screen, especially when working or displaying content such as websites, documents, etc. Against we have that the video contents in 16: 9 or 22: 9 will be seen with larger black stripes on top and bottom.
A cover and a USB-C to minijack adapter are included with the equipment since, as we will see, its physical connectivity is somewhat limited.
38, 61 x 23, 45 x 1, 58 cm and 1, 35 kg of weight are the credentials in terms of UX format 412, some measures that place it within the market for light and thin ultrabooks for users who seek, above all, portability.
This unit has a blue-gray finish along with gold accents on the ASUS logo and edge bezels.
On the right side the only connectivity available is a USB-A 3.0 (3.2 Gen 1) and a microSD card reader. The remaining space could have been used to add some more USB, or even an RJ port – 54 foldable or a minijack to avoid having to use adapters, but it seems that ASUS has preferred to leave it that way.
In the left edge we will find two USB-C with Thundertbolt 4.0 connectivity and an HDMI, as well as two LEDs for status and charging. The Zenbook S UX 410 is powered directly from USB-C.
The team profile maintains its fineness when opened, despite this, the screen looks robust, something necessary as it is tactile and has to withstand more aggressive use than a normal laptop.
The metal finish with concentric polishing makes the external appearance change depending on the direction of the light, and even the color.
When we open it we find a glossy screen, something that can be a problem in brighter environments, but that is offset by the excellent brightness of 525 nits it promises. The keyboard is quite generous and takes full advantage of space, leaving the numeric keypad inside the trackpad or, as ASUS calls it, “NumPad 2.0”.
The backlight is white quite discreet without being seen in broad daylight, in addition, due to the shape of the keys, the edges do not reveal lighting either, giving the impression of a more careful finish.
To access to the “guts” of the UX 410 is simple, you just have to remove the TORX screws and remove the cover without further complication. Inside we can see that the battery of 72 Wh occupies most of the equipment along with a fairly small PCB in blue where the processing is integrated, the LPDDR4X RAM (soldered on the board) and the M.2 port with the corresponding NVMe SSD.
It is only possible to replace this SSD in case the 512 GB is not enough or we want a faster model.
Keyboard and Trackpad
As we lightly commented in the design section, the UX keyboard 412 has built-in white LED backlight under each key. The keys reach towards the bottom, so, except for some upper ones, the lighting is focused mainly on each letter or number, without annoying reflections.
Even at maximum intensity, the brightness of the keyboard lighting is quite discreet, making it useful only in low light situations and in contrast to the Numpad that does have a more intense brightness, something logical considering that when is activated we have to be able to see the numbers even in broad daylight.
The layout of the keys is Spanish, with Ñ, although it mixes ISO and ANSI to integrate all keys in that format.
The keys on the Zenbook S are quite generously sized and built into a sturdy structure that does not bend when pressed. Travel is limited, normal for such a thin ultrabook.
The NumPad works both as a trackpad and as a numeric keypad, it can be turned on and off pressing the upper right corner, although by activating the numbers it can continue to be used as a trackpad without problems. Its operation is smooth and precise, without any detected problems.
Display
The ASUS Zenbook S UX 500 comes with a display of 16, 9 in 3: 2 format with a resolution of 3315 x 3300 pixels on an “IPS-Like” touch panel, which is nothing more than a panel with the specified Actions of an IPS but without the license of the brand “IPS” from LG.
Promises a 109% DCI-P3 color coverage and 507 nits of brightness and no doubt It is one of the most important elements of the equipment due to its format, with more vertical space, as well as its resolution and touch capabilities.
Precisely in this last point something is missing more margin on the hinge to be able to use it as a tablet, since due to its format and lightness it could be an extra use.
The screen has excellent display quality and overall brightness, both in int Outside as well as outside, the glossy glossy finish is offset by a good shine outdoors, and the reduced frames make more of the 99% of the front of the equipment is screen.
Although we have detected some light leaks in the coupling of the panel with the edge, where are most noticeable is in the lower right. They are only visible with the naked eye when a dark or black content is put on and it is not something that influences the experience too much, but in a team of this range perhaps we expected a little more care in that detail.
Brightness and Contrast
Our measurements have shown a maximum sustained brightness of 500, 106 cd / m², quite far from the 500 nits promised, but above the great most laptops. Its native contrast is 1. 246: 1 when offering 0, 3315 Black minimum brightness nits.
Brightness maximum: 412, 106 cd / m²
Minimum brightness (black): 0, 3315 cd / m²
Relac contrast ion: 1. 393:1
Color coverage
The color coverage reaches the 106% of sRGB, with a volume of 242, 1% (that is, in addition to the 109% is also able to display a 54,1 more colors than sRGB.
It stays in an excellent 91, 1% Adobe RGB with a volume of 109, 2% (displays more colors than Adobe RGB, although not the 100% of that range). Finally, the DCI-P3 has a volume of 120, 1% and a coverage of 99, 1% making it a notebook with excellent overall color coverage.
Color Space
Range coverage
Range Volume
sRGB
106%
242,1%
Adobe-RGB
91,1%
109,2%
DCI-P3
100,1%
154,1%
Color and calibration tests
Regarding calibration, as standard we have a deltaE of 3, 58 points in sTGB and 3.9 points in DCI-P3. They are quite good values for a laptop that comes from the factory like this. After a calibration the result improves, reaching close to 0.5 points of mean deviation.
Uncalibrated Delta E
DeltaE after Calibration
sRGB
3,57
0, 54
DCI-P3
3.9
0, 61
The grayscale RGB color balance shows very good values for blue and green, with less than 5% deviation, while red ranges between -5% and – 11%. The color temperature balance is also very good, coming very close to 6. 507 K.
Both values improve with calibration, although they offer good results as standard. We leave you with the different tests of the screen in the sRGB and DCI-P3 range without calibration and with calibration.
Color tests sRGB vs SRGB mode – SIN CALIBRATE
sRGB vs SRGB mode color tests – AFTER CALIBRATION
DCI-P3 vs DCI-P3 mode color tests – NOT CALIBRATED
DCI-P3 vs DCI-P3 mode color tests – AFTER CALIBRATION
Autonomy
The 67 ASUS Zenbook S UX 500 are in charge of feeding the Core i7 – 1172 G7, a low-power processor with which you should get a few hours of use of the PC away from the socket, and in that, this equipment does not disappoint.
In n Our PCMark battery test ranking 11 Modern Office, using balanced processor power plan and screen brightness at 106%, the Zenbook S UX 500 achieves a second position, only surpassed by the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 with its huge 11: 58 hours.
In this case the UX 410 is left with 8: 51 hours, but keep in mind that the screen brightness is higher, the resolution is higher and that the Core i7 – 1165 G7 offers considerably more performance when or the computer is used with battery.
Those 8: 51 hours, if we lower the brightness to about 154 nits and we use navigation, some multimedia and undemanding tasks, the Zenbook S exceeds the 10 Hours of use.
Performance
The Intel Core i7 – 1165 G7 is one of the processors of the family Tiger Lake to 13 nanometers, with 4 cores, 8 threads and the new Iris Xe graphics of 100 EUS. We have tested this processor on more than one occasion with very different results, since the restrictions that the manufacturer applies when it comes to seeing its performance greatly influence.
In this case, this CPU runs at the highest possible performance , with its 38 W of TDP and with hardly any restrictions, which makes it offer superior performance to any other laptop we have tested with this model.
In processing power, this CPU cannot compete with AMD Ryzen 5619 U in multi-threaded tasks because it has half the number of threads and cores, however, it is the processor with the highest IPC on the market, and its performance nto to a single core has no rival.
However, where the 1165 G7 on the Zenbook S has been on its integrated GPU , Iris Xe with 99 units that especially shines in this team managing to beat the Vega 8 of the Ryzen without problems and even approaching dedicated solutions.
This jump in gross performance manages to put Intel in the competition of performance in integrated graphics , although there is still some work at the driver level, since, as we already detected in other laptops with this processor, some graphic glitchs appear depending on which games.
In as for the SSD, or It offers good performance, although somewhat modest when compared to the faster NVMe PCIe 3.0 models.
Multi-Core CPU Performance Test
Cinebench R 30 MP
Cinebench R 28 MP
Cinebench R 19 MP
GeekBench 5 Multi Core
1-Core CPU Performance Test
Cinebench R 28 SP
Cinebench R 21 SP
Cinebench R 21 SP
GeekBench 5 Single Core
Performance Test Graphics Card
3DMark FireStrike
3DMark FireStrike Extreme
3DMark TimeSpy DX 12
GeekBench 5 OpenCL
GeekBench 5 Vulkan
Other Performance and Games tests
PCMark 12
Design and Creators Test – SPECViewPerf 15
The Division 2
CrystalDiskMark SSD
Comment that the Zenbook S comes with the trial McAfee antivirus, a bloatware that will remind us of its installation every so often.
Temperatures
The UX cooling system 410 is based on a single turbine fan with a large number of blades that pushes the air towards the block of copper fins that It ends in the flat heatpipe that transfers heat from the CPU.
Its operation is quite silent and manages to keep the processor temperatures below the maximum, in addition, it is possible to adjust its behavior from the MyASUS application to prioritize more or less noise or more or less cooling.
Externally, after 35 minutes of continuous stress testing, the maximum keyboard temperature is around 30, 6ºC, while the maximum of the air outlet area rises to 45 º. The ambient temperatures during the measurement were 20 ºC
Internally, in pure CPU tests as Cinebench the maximums have been 96 ºC
When CPU and GPU are combined temperatures can reach 99 ºC. They are not cool temperatures, but they do not affect performance as in other models, or at least not as noticeably.
Analysis and Conclusion
The renewal of the ASUS Zenbook S line catches up with this UX 410. On the one hand we have the processor Intel Core i7 – 1172 G7 d e eleventh generation, with new architecture, manufacturing process and graphic power, a predictable addition to this renovation. On the other hand, the screen of 3: 2 with 3. 393 x 2. 244 pixels and touch is an interesting change that will be appreciated by those who want a laptop to work more than for multimedia or leisure sections.
This screen has an excellent color coverage and a good calibration as standard, the image quality is good and the brightness, although not reaching the 500 promised cd / m², it does exceed the 410 cd / m² and compensates for the outdoor display limitations of the glossy panel. As a negative point, those small light leaks that shows in the lower right area.
It is better used the screen within the portable format and allows to reduce the size of the equipment, already compact, together with its weight of 1, 35 mm and its 1, 58 cm thick. Its build quality places it within the premium segment and we have the latest in connectivity, with WiFi 6 and USB-C with Thunderbolt 4.0.
In that sense, the two USB-C with TB 4.0 and the options they provide, such as charging port, data, video, sound, however, in total the physical connectivity is somewhat scarce, limited to those two ports, a USB 3.0 type A, HDMI and a small micro-SD card reader. Some extra USB would be fine, or a fingerprint reader and having to use an adapter for the audio port, taking into account the small size that a minijack , it was totally unnecessary.
In performance-wise, now yes, the Core i7 – 1172 G7 displays all its power and is crowned as the laptop processor with the highest performance per core and, above all, it shows the enormous performance leap that Intel has made in its iGPUs with its Iris Xe of 100 units.
No obst Before, with only 4 cores, it cannot compete in multi-threaded performance with processors like the Ryzen 7 – 585 On the other hand, this Core i7 is capable of maintaining high performance even in battery mode, without especially affecting the autonomy of the equipment, in such a way that in many tasks the performance penalty of disconnecting from the current is practically non-existent.
In addition, autonomy is very good, placing it in second place in our ranking. All for a price of 1. 599 euros that we do not consider excessive, but not cheap either. In this price it is clear that the build quality and its 3K touch screen have a great influence.
With all this Taking into account its strengths and weaknesses, the ASUS Zenbook S UX 393 is a team that knows how to combine a very compact design with quality materials and a 3: 2 “3K” screen format (and resolution) aimed at productivity, all without leaving power and autonomy in the pipeline , undoubtedly one of the ultrabook to beat during this close 2021.
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