Reah Keem is just like you and I — she loves working on music, vacationing abroad, and is pretty bummed out about not being able to visit any cool places right now. The biggest difference, however, is that Reah Keem isn’t a real person.
LG introduced Reah Keem as a virtual influencer who appeared during its live-streamed CES keynote to unveil the company’s new line of LG CLOi UV-C robots. The robot, which was announced by LG in December, is designed for areas with high traffic, like hotels, and roams around shining UV-C light that should reduce exposure to harmful germs. Keem’s job was talking about how important the CLOi UV-C was to her own life, using the chance to talk about how excited she was to start traveling again in the real world — a world in which she technically does not exist.
She may not need oxygen to breathe, but Keem is definitely leaving her mark on the real world (including living in Seoul, apparently). She has around 6,000 followers on Instagram and a SoundCloud page with exactly one song. For what it’s worth, it’s pretty good.
Virtual influencers aren’t new, but the appearance of a virtual creator at a highly virtualized and socially distant CES really hammered home how weird this event was. It’s nothing short of bizarre watching a creepily accurate virtual influencer say things like “I’m going to chill in my studio,” working on some sick beats, until the pandemic comes to an end and safe travel can happen again.
Although, paying an influencer to promote something they don’t really care about seems entirely accurate to the influencer ecosystem. It’s unclear if LG actually created Reah Keem, or if LG paid her for her services at all; a press release only says that LG “introduced” Keem.
Will Keem have a future outside of this one LG live stream? Will she face competition from other big-time virtual influencers, including Miquela Sousa (better known as Lil Miquela) or Shudu? Right now, she’s working on her sick beats in her cool home studio, but the virtual influencer scene is heating up.
Parents can now influence more of their kids’ music taste through Spotify. The audio streaming platform announced a new feature for Spotify Kids today called Shared Playlists, which allows parents to share playlists they’ve created with their kids. The Spotify Kids app gives kids access to child-approved audio content with the goal of gating them into a safe place to click around and access music and stories. This new feature allows kids to gain access to the content that lives outside those walls, however, with parents acting as the main gatekeeper. Spotify says the idea is to give parents a way to share the music they loved growing up or that they enjoy regularly as a family.
To share a playlist, parents have to access the PIN-protected area of the kids app. They can then select the music playlists they want to share, which have to have been created by the parent. Songs with potentially explicit tracks will be marked with an E, and if a parent wants to remove those tracks, they’ll have to do so from their Spotify app. The first time they share a playlist, a pop-up will appear asking the parent to confirm this decision.
Spotify launched its Kids app in 2019 and has continued to expand its reach, along with the introduction of new features. Parents can now view their kids’ listening history and block tracks. Shared playlists is another incremental feature but one that parents might appreciate.
RESUME A sound character that produces minimal listening fatigue, a design that provides comfort, and ANC by as much 13 positions together provide a pleasant experience that you can enjoy for a long time. We just miss that little bit of musical emotion that would complete the picture.
PLUS POINTS Price Comfort Build Quality Service MINUSES Missing musical emotion ANC cannot be turned off completely Battery life
Today’s technological innovations are hard to keep up with, because we seem to be making leaps and bounds every day. VR, AR, Motion control, flexible screens and 20191114160511 degrees sound, these are just a few examples from the world of audio and video. The big and sometimes slightly less big tech giants behind it really can’t go fast enough. From the maker who has been helping you for years with text files in Word, spreadsheats in Excel and your most ambitious PowerPoint presentations, we have now received the Surface Headphones 2. And no, the -s in the end is not a typo.
Laptops, smartphones, tablets and all-in-ones, Microsoft has been at the forefront of innovation for decades. Electronics for the head should not be missing. That the manufacturer also adheres to the business user will come as no surprise. What we do see is that, just like with Apple, a brand-specific ecosystem is emerging. And that Microsoft also supplies both the hardware and the software. Surface Headphones 2: a job well done We received a test sample from France where we received no less than 40 days. That should be enough. The reception, unpacking and getting hold of it promised a good experience. Everything exudes solidity and reliability. The Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 seems (seem?) To be made of aluminum, plastic and (artificial) leather. The band for the over the head stands out. It is different in design than, say, a Bose or B&W. There is a bend upwards above the left and right unit. But something else also stands out. On the outside of both units we also see a beautifully milled ring. It gets even better, because that ring can turn. At the bottom we find the button for switching the Microsoft Surface headphone 2 on and off. There is also the port for USB-C charging and a 3.5 mm connection.
Microsoft likes to use beautiful marketing terms. For example, the Surface 2 is equipped with ‘Omnisonic sound’ for an ‘immersive experience’. What is more practical is the operation. This can be done with touch, but also by turning. That Microsoft is indeed looking forward to the business user who wants to get started undisturbed, becomes clear with the whopping 13 modes of active noise cancellation. And not 1, but 2 microphones for clarity during conversations. Should we also report voice control? Nice for at home, but not in public.
Comfortable with the capital letter C Every headphone is different again. What we see with the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2, as with the DALI IO6 by the way, are the round shapes of the earpads. Some people prefer the oval shape, while others prefer the round shape. The ear cushions are extremely comfortable and almost vacuum themselves against the head. Wearing glasses with the MS Surface 2 is therefore no problem. The cushions still seal well. The weight when carrying is fine. It is not so light that the feeling of wearing completely disappears, but it is absolutely not disturbing. We have been able to listen to music for quite a while, but a good two hours is no problem anyway.
On the inside of the headband is a kind of rubber / plastic strap. It is sensitive to fat. Especially if you are bald that is something to take into account. A cloth over it and it is clean, but this is something you would like to know in advance. To listen and use the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2, we link the iPhone and the HP laptop. It is therefore possible to link two devices. When turning on the Surface, we are greeted by a neat lady voice, who tells us the remaining battery time.
Pinch of more music The music turns on and the eyebrows are raised; in surprise. This is not what we expected. The music sounds subdued and reserved. This period of acclimatization does not last very long. Between 5 and 7 seconds later, the eardrums are used to it again and we can start listening. For convenience, we pack a regular Top 40 or 50 add a list, and we ‘just’ start listening. This gives us a little idea of where the sound character lies. We now have quite a bit of comparison material â ???? the DALI IO6, B&W PX7 and the PX5 and the Nitro-X, for example. For the sake of completeness, we even have a Bose. This allows us to form a good picture of Microsoft’s strategy.
In terms of sound reproduction and musical experience, the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 comes across as reticent. As if he doesn’t give everything. The sound is reserved. In The Air Tonight â ???? Phil Collins, after building up all the tension, has the moment when emotion and feeling are released. And that moment is crucial to the musical emotion that is in the song. And that is exactly what is not well reflected. It doesn’t sound bad, not at all. The sound scores very well, but it just lacks that pinch of musical experience of, for example, the DALI or Bowers. The downside of the preserved character is that you can listen for hours without any form of listening fatigue. However, that is an important consideration that Microsoft has made. It also directly shows which audience Microsoft is targeting.
If we then use the ANC which is in 13 positions can be adjusted, start scanning by means of the rotating ring, then the puzzle pieces really stand out its place. The ANC is arguably the best in this price range. By combining this with a sound adjustment that results in hardly any listening fatigue, Microsoft focuses on long-term use. We also notice this in the comfort – the Surface 2 is great. Comfortable, not too heavy, and the build-up of heat is easily dissipated.
Final Verdict Microsoft has taken off the boxing glove and goes into battle with Bose. With the Surface Headphones 2, the computer giant focuses primarily on business and long-term users of wireless headphones with ANC. This strategy is confirmed by the sound character, comfort and variation in ANC â ???? although you can never completely turn off the latter. The build quality is better than that of the plastic Boses, and at this price it looks a bit like sprinkling sand in the eyes of this competitor. Depending on the use â € œbubbles for example consumes a little more energyâ €. we can get around the 16 hours ahead. That is slightly less than the competition, but much of that criticism is somewhat nuanced by the price. With a suggested retail price of 279 euro, Microsoft is clearly looking for a larger share of the market for wireless ANC headphones. For us, a pinch of musical emotion could really have been added.
Conclusion Microsoft is hungry for a bigger share of the ANC wireless headphones market. With the Surface Headphones 2, they clearly outshine the Bose. They target the business users. A sound character that produces hardly any listening fatigue, a design that offers comfort, and ANC with a whopping 13 modes together ensure a pleasant experience that you can enjoy for a long time. We just miss that little bit of musical emotion that would complete the picture.
Microsoft Surface Headphones 2
â ?? ¬ 279 | www.microsoft.nl
Rating: 4/5
Numerous reports have been confirmed. The eponymous manufacturer today unveiled its own smart fitness band to track the activity and monitor the user’s health. OnePlus Band, because this is the name of the gadget, is nothing more than a response to the wildly popular Xiaomi Mi Band accessories. Interestingly, the OnePlus proposal is, at least theoretically, cheaper and we will find some useful solutions. The band differs from the competition also in the stylistic field, although the shape, as such, strongly refers to the devices available on the market. Well, it’s impossible to reinvent the wheel, but the proposal from the OnePlus stable seems really attractive. This applies to both the functions and the appearance of the device.
OnePlus Band is a newly presented smart band designed to track user’s activity and monitor his health. So Xiaomi Mi Band has solid competition.
Review of the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 smartband – invariably invincible
The design of OnePlus Band is pleasing to the eye and the stylistic flavors used here, such as longitudinal concavities on the strap, make it easy to distinguish it from similar gadgets. The whole thing is only valid 22, 6 grams, so relatively little. The user is provided with a 1.1-inch AMOLED screen displaying the image in the resolution 294 x 126 pixels covered with a scratch-resistant coating. The structure is resistant to water and dust, which is confirmed by the IP certificate 68. Built-in battery with a capacity of 100 mAh should provide up to 14 working days on a single battery charge (USB Type A charging).
Fitbit Inspire HR smartband test – nice band, but with problems
OnePlus Band allows you to monitor heart rate and saturation (SpO2), and also for counting steps using a 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope. Communication with Android and iOS smartphones takes place using Bluetooth 5.0 BLE. What does the band offer apart from monitoring activity and displaying notifications? The user can use other functions such as stopwatch, alarm clock, music playback control and weather check. In total, we have up to 13 exercise modes, but if you want to enjoy the full functionality, you will need to download the OnePlus Health application. Converted into PLN, the band costs less than 130 PLN.
Sennheiser is a brand that basically every audiophile must have had once. The manufacturer has knowledge and expertise that goes back to the first half of the last century. That sounds nice and far away, but it shows that Sennheiser is a name that certainly belongs in the established order.
Bee 75 year you might think of seniors, or the anniversary of something very historic. But 75 year is also exactly the number of years of knowledge that Sennheiser has in his pocket. has been sitting. That’s a lot. Sennheiser likes to use that background to make good audio products. Usually they succeed. Yet we hold our hearts for a moment when we see the box of the HD 560. Especially when we hear the price. 199 euros for a pair of headphones that “spoil audiophiles and sound freaks”. The literal words of Sennheiser’s marketing department. Good story, nice and short too. We will see for ourselves whether we are “spoiled”.
My First Sennheiser
Once we get the Sennheiser HD 560 out of the box, we immediately notice the weight. The headphones are very light. 240 gram to be exact. That is light for a ‘home headset’, very light. It soon becomes clear why the Sennheiser HD 560 is so light. Plastic was chosen. We say that for a reason. Not plastic, but plastic. We take our hands on the Sennheiser HD 560 and it feels somewhat simple and cheap, not like a hi-fi headphone. We slide our thumbs over the grill that sits on the outside of the ear cup. On the inside we feel a soft fabric and give the impression of something of coarse velvet. We also find this fabric in the headband. Both the grill and the fabric contradict that cheap plastic feel. Sennheiser himself tries to describe it as’ the ultra-light comfort of HD 599, with the sound of the HD 660 s’. To us it comes across a bit like a “My First Sennheiser”.
The Sennheiser HD 560 is an open headphone, which uses a new transducer. These have been given a tilted position, so that an optimal listening triangle is simulated. The transducer membrane is constructed from a polymer mix and must provide “full” control across the board. There are two more things that strike us. The headphones are clearly intended for use at home. There is a cable of an untidy 3 meters. There is a 6.3 mm plug at the end of the cable. Included is an adapter for a 3.5 mm connection. The cable is stuck in the headphones and cannot be replaced.
Do not play outside We used the Sennheiser extensively for this test. Especially indoors, but also outdoors, for example during a walk with the dog. We quickly gave up on the latter. We have connected the AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt to the Apple iPhone for listening 11 . The Sennheiser HD 560 has an impedance of 120 ohm. Proper control will do the Sennheiser HD 560 well. Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve: for this construction we first have a gradient to USB, then the DragonFly Cobalt and then the gradient from 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm. As if that wasn’t enough, the 3 meter long cable also follows. This is anything but optimal. Hence again: only to be used indoors.
The comfort, on the other hand, is optimal. The light weight means that we hardly feel that we are wearing the Sennheiser HD 560. The ear pads provide good pressure against the head. This pressure is fine and ensures that we can also listen with glasses. The headband hardly carries any weight and most of it comes down to the pressure against the head. Without listening to music, we notice that a lot of the environment can be heard. With some music on, it also works the other way around. There is a fair amount of noise leakage to the environment. Of course that is something that belongs to Open back headphones, but the extent to this differs per brand and model.
A lot for little Armed with a Tidal Hifi and a Spotify premium subscription, we prepare for a tough test. On Tidal we choose Maggie Rogers – Alaska from the album Now That The light Is Fading. The vocals in the song have a small and soft velvet edge. At the same time, the mid-low and mid-low frequency range is rich and full. At Tidal we listen to the hi-fi quality, via the DragonFly Cobalt. The sound is at odds with the cheesy feeling we got when we got our hands on the Sennheiser HD 560. The sound is robust and rich. The stereo image is large and extends beyond the tactile ear cups. The open character also brings a kind of lightness with it. It provides a pleasant listening experience. The song Alaska sounds full and gives a good stereo headfi experience. We notice that the middle and the low come out well. It sets a clear tone in the music. The vocals and vocals are neatly placed on top of that.
Maggie Rogers sounds good, but that soft velvety edge that we are looking for, we just miss that. We’ll hear it’s there, but we don’t feel it. On the one hand, this is because the mid-low is very good and the high / mid-high just does not get the space. On the other hand, the high could use a slightly more refined tuning. But we are talking about headphones of just under 200 euro.
On Spotify we listen to the soundtrack of Interstellar by Hans Zimmer. The song Cornfield Chase is also in the playlist of HIFI.NL. We have turned up the volume a bit and then we notice that the organ that forms the melody is placed very wide. It sounds great and the mids and highs now get a better stage. This experience changes again when the low tones are used. We have to quickly turn down the volume and notice that the rich and full sound of the middle and low tones take over the stage. That’s not a bad feature, but it features the Sennheiser HD 560. It makes the headphones very suitable for a broad target group, especially for the money.
Final verdict
We can honestly say that we are happy to have the Sennheiser HD 560 listened. It is an extremely suitable pair of headphones for the beginning audiophile. And probably also for someone who wants an upgrade from the standard white earplugs. The Sennheiser HD 560 plays all Pop, Rock and Dance with ease. The character of the sound reproduction also fits well with this.
The Sennheiser HD 560 is only suitable for the home and benefits a lot from a (small) amplifier. A DragonFly Black or Red would easily provide the finishing touch. With the somewhat cheap plastic and the sound character, the Sennheiser HD 560 is only not suitable for the audiophile with a little more years of listening experience. It better reach for a Sennheiser HD 660 s or maybe even a step higher. But then some other brands come into play.
Conclusion The Sennheiser HD 560 has a rich and full sound character, feels as light as a feather and is an easy step into the world of head-fi. For a price under the 200 euro, it gives you a lot of quality as a user. The music lover with a little more listening experience should skip the Sennheiser HD 560 and watch an HD 660 s.
Sennheiser HD 560
€ 199 | www.sennheiser.nl
Rating: 4/5
OnePlus has announced its first fitness tracker, the OnePlus Band, featuring heart rate and blood oxygen saturation monitors, fitness and sleep tracking, and a battery life of up to two weeks. It works with Android at launch but not iOS; OnePlus says compatibility with iPhones will be added later. The OnePlus Band will be available in India starting January 13th for ₹2,499 (around $34), but a global release is yet to be announced.
The OnePlus Band is the company’s latest foray outside of smartphones, which has also included TVs and true wireless headphones. The wearable appears primarily designed for fitness, thanks to its ability to track heart rate and blood oxygen levels, and its support for 13 built in exercise modes. However, it also features sleep tracking and can act as a phone accessory with support for displaying notifications, as well as music playback and camera shutter controls.
The OnePlus Band is available in black, navy, and “tangerine gray.”Image; OnePlus
In terms of hardware, the OnePlus Band includes a rectangular 1.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 126×294 and a silicone watch strap. It’s available in black, navy, and “tangerine gray,” and it’s got a dust and water resistance rating of IP68. Its 5ATM rating means it’s water-resistant at a depth up to 50 meters for 10 minutes. Internally there’s a 100mAh battery, which OnePlus says should offer up to two weeks of battery life.
The OnePlus Band is managed via the OnePlus Health app, which is available now for Android, and which OnePlus advertises can analyze health data and be used to set personal fitness goals. However, for the “best experience” OnePlus says you should pair the Band with a OnePlus smartphone. A OnePlus Health app for iOS is due to arrive after the band’s launch.
HP announced a number of devices at CES 2021, all geared toward the people that need to work from home during the current pandemic.
Starting off with the two new additions to HP’s Dragonfly convertible lineup. The HP Elite Dragonfly G2 and Elite Dragonfly Max are both lightweight, can convert into a tablet and offer 13.3-inch screens, Intel 11th Gen processors, optional 5G and 4G LTE support and Tile tracking technology built in.
The HP Elite Dragonfly Max has a 1080p display (the non-Max is configurable up to 4K), a 5MP webcam with IR sensor, four wide-array microphones and the option to disable the webcam altogether. The Elite Dragonfly G2 has the option of an Intel 11th Gen i3, i5 or i7, while the Elite Dragonfly Max has a choice of i5 and i7. Both can be configured with up to 32GB of RAM, 2TB of M.2 SSD storage and have a USB-C 3.1 charging port, two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 and a single HDML 1.b port.
The HP Dragonfly G2 and Elite Dragonfly Max will ship later on this month. HP hasn’t announced pricing, but the range is usually around the $1,500 mark.
HP also announced a new pair of truly wireless earbuds. The HP Elite Wireless Earbuds have personalized audio tuning, active noise cancellation and sound situation presets. They feature seamless connection switching between devices through their Windows 10, iOS or Android app – it enables you to switch between a conference call and music in an instant.
The HP Elite Wireless Earbuds are expected to start selling in April. They’ll be available as a bundle to the HP Elite Dragonfly Max or at a standalone $199.
HP had a number of other announcements at CES 2021. The HP Elite Filio is a Surface Pro competitor with a 13.5-inch 16:10 FullHD display. It runs on the Gen 2 Snapdragon 8cx platform with built in 5G and support for up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB storage. The weight is 1.29kg and HP promises all-day battery life for work and 24 hours of video playback.
HP will bring the Elite Folio to store shelves in February.
Rounding off HP’s CES announcements are four laptops – HP EliteBook x360 1030 G8, HP EliteBook x360 1040 G8, HP Elite x2 G8 and the HP ENVY 14, as well as a lineup of monitors, a wireless mouse and a travel backpack.
Apple wants to expand its business with services even more than before. This is the starting point for a new study published by the analysis company Loup Ventures, for which the renowned Apple market observer Gene Munster works. In addition to the premium services available so far, Apple will offer up to five more. However, there are still few indications that Apple is planning this – the study names above all areas that would be “low-hanging fruit” for Apple because the company already operates free services here.
Productivity, Health, Cards Loup Ventures does not see future Apple services only in the content area, as you already know from TV, Music, Arcade, News + and Fitness +. Instead, the group could offer new e-mail productivity functions for iCloud as “Mail +”, expanded mapping features as part of “Maps +” (for example with improved traffic routing) and more precise health data analyzes with “Health +”. All three services are already available in their current form and can be used free of charge.
More podcasts and a stock market service In the content segment, the analysts see growth potential in the areas of podcasts and the stock market. “Podcasts +” could collect premium content that, as we know it from Spotify or Audible, is only accessible to members. “Stocks +” would be a stock exchange service that, in addition to share recommendations, could possibly even allow portfolio management – Apple has long had a foothold in the financial business with the Apple Card and Apple Pay.
Apple One not yet complete in Germany Apple recently had a growth plus of 16 percent achieved – in total in the financial year 2020 53, $ 7 billion in sales. Apple uses its enormous user base for this. With Apple One, there is also a package for content including iCloud for the first time. However, this service is not yet complete in Germany – both the news app “News +” and the fitness service “Fitness +” with courses and videos are missing. The latter should be implemented relatively quickly, as Apple has the necessary rights. “News +”, on the other hand, currently only contains English-language content. (bsc)
The Copland CSA 100 is a well-equipped and impressively capable amplifier. It’s one of the class leaders at this level
For
Transparent and detailed
Agile and precise sound
Good range of features
Against
No display
Needs care with headphone matching
Copland is one of the unsung talents of the high-end hi-fi industry. Despite being in business for almost 40 years, the company has rarely grabbed the limelight. But that has more to do with the way the brand operates than the quality of its products.
This small Danish company only makes a limited range of electronics (often valve based) and goes about its business in an understated manner. Its products’ life cycles tend to be fairly long, and new introductions are rare and done without much fanfare. So, when a new product does appear we’re keen to have a listen. And in the case of the CSA 100, we’re glad we did.
Features
(Image credit: Copland)
As far as features go, this integrated could be all the amplifier most music fans will ever need. Despite retaining the company’s trademark clutter-free appearance, this elegant design packs in a digital module, headphone output and a phono stage into its well-constructed chassis.
At its core is a hybrid electronic design, which uses a single 6922 double triode valve in the line stage feeding a high power MOSFET power amplifier section. The result is a solid 100W per channel into an 8ohm load that rises to a healthy 180W as impedance halves.
Copland CSA 100 tech specs
(Image credit: Copland)
Power 2x 100W (8ohms), 2x 180W (4ohms)
Inputs XLR, 3x RCA, coaxial, 2x optical, USB
Outputs 2x RCA
Bluetooth version aptX HD Bluetooth
Frequency response 10Hz – 150kHz
Dimensions (hwd) 13.5 x 43.5 x 37cm
Weight 14kg
Those figures suggest that the CSA 100 will be able to drive most speakers to serious levels in all but the largest of rooms. We try both our usual ATC SCM50 and the more price-compatible KEF LS50 Meta without issues.
There’s an impressive degree of connectivity here. For vinyl fans, a phono stage suitable for moving magnet or high output moving coil cartridges sits alongside single-ended (three) and balanced XLR (one) line-level inputs.
As for digital, there’s the usual trio of USB, coaxial and two opticals. These digital inputs feed an ESS Sabre ES9018 Reference DAC used in a quad mono configuration to improve resolution. The use of this chip means the CSA 100 is compatible with up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM files and DSD128 – enough to play just about any file potential users are likely to have.
Build
(Image credit: Copland)
It’s a shame the amplifier doesn’t have a proper display that shows the resolution of the incoming digital signal, though. All we have is a small LED indicating whether the signal is DSD or not.
Unusually for an amplifier of this type, Bluetooth (in aptX HD form) is on the menu. It’s a £198 optional extra, not fitted to our review sample, and is a box we would tick for anyone looking to bring the convenience of phones, tablets and computers into the equation.
There’s a preamp output for those that feel the need to add additional muscle and an un-attenuated line-out for recording purposes. Add a 6.3mm headphone socket and the CSA 100 should slot into pretty much any stereo set-up with ease.
If you really want to hear how good this Copland can sound you’ll need talented sources. We use our reference Naim ND555/555 PS DR music streamer and Technics SL-1000R/Goldring 2400 record player, but also draft in an Apple MacBook Pro loaded with Audirvana music software and plenty of hi-res music. Cyrus’s CDi integrated CD player also sees some use.
Of course, you don’t need to go to the extremes of the Naim or Technics to appreciate the Copland, but this remains a revealing and transparent amplifier, so it pays to give it a suitably capable signal feed.
Our review amplifier is a used demo unit, so doesn’t take long to come on song. If Copland’s use of a valve leads you to expect a stereotypical warm and comfortable presentation, you’ll be disappointed. The CSA 100, just like every other Copland product we’ve heard, doesn’t do that.
This is one of the most neutral sounding amplifiers we’ve heard at this price. It makes class leaders such as the Rega Aethos and Naim Supernait 3 sound a little uneven in comparison.
Sound
(Image credit: Copland)
We listen to the third movement of Mahler’s Symphony No.2 and the Copland sounds right at home. It has a spacious presentation and renders an expansive soundstage. It’s a nicely layered image with instruments sharply focused. The presentation remains stable, too, even when the piece becomes demanding or volume levels rise.
We’re pleased with the CSA 100’s scale and authority, though both the Rega and Naim sound even more muscular when it comes to punching out crescendos. The Copland counters with sonic precision and a sense of fluidity that’s hugely appealing. It’s an impressively detailed performer, picking up low-level instrumental strands with ease.
We switch to Björk’s Homogenic set and the differences between the Copland and its main rivals are clear. This amplifier is all about clarity. It excels in the subtleties and displays a level of finesse and sonic sophistication that puts us in mind of far pricier alternatives. It sounds impressively natural with Björk’s distinctive vocals, communicating all the idiosyncrasies that make her delivery such a treat.
The presentation is nice and open, even in an album as densely produced as this. It’s an organised and entertaining sound, one that captures the various moods of the album really well. This isn’t an amplifier that stamps its signature all over the sound, and that means it isn’t long before we simply sit back and enjoy the music rather than being concerned with the mechanics of the hi-fi system.
If you value rhythmic coherence and dynamic punch above all else, its rivals move ahead. It’s not as if the Copland can’t step onto the dance floor; it’s just that it prefers to stand on the side and tap its toes.
(Image credit: Copland)
Our view of the amplifier stays positive whether we use the digital or analogue inputs. The digital module is a good one overall, though the USB input loses doesn’t quite match the coax or optical when it comes to dynamic expression and overall clarity. We think the module is broadly on a par with the better stand-alone DACs at around the £500 ($500) mark.
The phono stage is good too. It retains much of the insight, agility and energy of the line inputs and doesn’t add too much in the way of noise. Equally, we’re pleased to report that the headphone output is a good one, though its relatively high output impedance of 40 ohms means that you’ll have to match with care. Our long-serving Beyerdynamic T1 Mk2 headphones (600 ohms) work really well, but the Grado RS1 (32ohms) and Focal Stellia (35 ohms) sound a little uneven.
Verdict
Overall, the CSA 100 offers an excellent alternative to the established class leaders and has an equally convincing, but different, blend of attributes. It’s the kind of amplifier that puts the attention on the music rather than on itself, and that’s something we can certainly get behind.
SUPER, while stocks last: Huawei P 30 Lite New Edition has the Google services, 6GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, excellent cameras even with wide angle and AI, dual SIM. They end quickly!
Xiaomi Poco X3 128 GB at a great price and with availability for today. Hurry up, because it is one of the most requested smartphones now on Amazon. Also on offer is the new fourth generation Echo Dot and the popular thermostat Tado !
Here are today’s offers for iPhone and AirPods!
Back in stock Apple Watch Series 5 and 6 . And this Xiaomi ultra wide curved monitor for gaming is very interesting, now discounted by 100 Euro.
Don’t miss these excellent hair clipper beard rule Braun ! Caffitaly Compatible Yespresso Capsules now at a super price!
Pay attention to the sales on branded shoes !!! Other examples? All offers Timberland between 50 and the 100 Euros can be found here, but there are also Geox and Clarks (always under the 100 Euro),
Various offers on electric toothbrushes Oral-B , available in various versions, with replacement heads and different assortments.
Super price for headphones Sony WH-CH 510 , but also the excellent Sabrent PCIe 3.0×4 from 256 GB less than 50 Euro does not joke. The price of the external hard disk Seagate from 2.5 inches (no power needed, just the USB) is really low 4TB !
Disposable face masks on offer on Amazon : we have two packs of 50 pieces and the special washable cotton solution with the hair band. It is also worth buying the antibacterial hand sanitizing gel on Amazon.
By checking how the oxygenation in the blood is going, the oximeter can give an indication of how the lungs are working.
Great this HP laptop with Intel Core i5 – 1035 G1, RAM 8GB, SSD 512 GB and once again Full HD screen. But also Honor Band 5!
Very interesting price also for Huawei Redmi Note 9 Pro , in the version 6GB / 128 GB ! Huawei P 30 Lite New Editon is truly a bargain: 6GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, active Google services , great camera and also the highly appreciated AI ecosystem of the Huawei / Honor world. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it.
There are two very good high quality TVs on offer from Sony . A 55 “and a 65 “, price lowest ever .
Also in promotion AVM FRITZ! Repeater 600 International. Always staying at home AVM FRITZ! strong price cut for FRITZ! Box 6820 LTE , the famous router for connections LTE from the German company.
Great offers Sennheiser : three models, all excellent, super discounted !
Also Surface PRO X models with 128 and 256 GB now in offer.
Big discounts on various headphones Jabra .
An always appreciated idea are the Amazon Gift Vouchers , freely configurable as regards the amount.
Staying in the Amazon house, Echo Show 5, Echo Flex and Echo Auto are on offer .
Also worth mentioning are these excellent smartwatches as well as one of the FreeBuds 3 models in promotion.
Shoes! The price varies according to the number
Here are the two electric scooters now on offer on Amazon, both by brand Ninebot .
Apple Mac Book Pro 13 latest model, in versions with 1TB SSD or 512 GB, with 200 Euro discount . Check out the Apple store!
The discount goes up to 300 Euro for MacBook Pro 16!
The Promo of is back Amazon Music Unlimited : 3 months of FREE music for listen to millions of songs in an unlimited way and without advertising Click here for all the details
Remember what time it is Amazon Prime Student is also available: the same Prime services but at half price for students! Try it for free!
OnePlus is the latest company joining the world of wearables with the OnePlus Band – an affordable smart band with heart rate and SpO2 sensors, color display, long battery life, and plenty of sports modes.
The OnePlus Band comes with a 1.1” AMOLED display with touch controls – there are no physical buttons on the device. The resolution of the screen is 126×294 pixels and you get dozens of customization options. There are 37 different watch faces (with five being stored on the device), and some can be tweaked further.
The device is extremely light – the tracker is 10.3 grams, the rubber band is 12.3 grams, making the total weight just 22.6 grams. Speaking about the bands, there are three options – Black, Navy, and Tangerine Gray (Orange on the inside, grey on the outside), but only the first one comes in the retail box; the other two are purchased separately.
The smart band has 12 different exercise modes and a Free Training option for all the non-listed sports and activities. It is certified for 5ATM and IP68 water resistance and it has Bluetooth 5.0 to connect with any Android phone (Marshmallow and above). Two pogo pins let you attach the dedicated (sigh!) charger, and you get some niceties such as music playback control and remote camera shutter for your phone, while those that have one of OnePlus’ devices can also enjoy Zen Mode synchronization.
OnePlus Band
While OnePlus did not reveal the Band’s exact battery capacity, it said one charge could last up to two weeks. Of course, this can take a hit when some features are turned on, including the tracking of blood oxygen (SpO2) saturation via the infrared sensor, the heart rate monitor, and the sleep tracker.
All this data can be adjusted and tracked in the new OnePlus Health app available on the Google Play app store.
The OnePlus Band is said to cost for INR2,799, but the launch price is discounted to INR2,499 – that’s just above $35/€27. Extra bands cost INR399 ($5.50/€4.50), with the actual market launch date yet to be announced. We got the chance to test the Band ahead of the launch, so head to the review and read all about it.
Many think that the iPhone was the first phone with a capacitive touchscreen, but that’s not the case – the LG KE850 Prada was announced a month earlier (December 15, 2006) compared to Apple’s unveiling at the Macworld Expo (January 9, 2007). Sales of the KE850 started in May of 2007 at a price of €600 while the iPhone first became available in June.
The design of the phone was a collaboration between LG and fashion brand Prada, which lent its name to the final product. The phone was even bundled with a swanky leather case, which underlined its status as a piece of fashion.
The LG KE850 Prada is an attempted union of technology and fashion
The close launch and similar design of the Prada and the iPhone did not escape notice. The head of LG Mobile Handset R&D Centre, Woo-Young Kwak, was quoted saying: “We consider that Apple copied the Prada phone after the design was unveiled when it was presented in the iF Design Award and won the prize in September 2006.”
That’s silly, of course, Apple can’t possibly design a new phone between September and January. No lawsuit came out of this either way (fun fact: Cisco did sue Apple because it already had a device called “iPhone”).
The LG KE850 Prada featured a 3” screen with 320 x 480 px resolution (for comparison, the iPhone had a larger 3.5” 320 x 480 px screen). It only had three physical buttons on the front – pick-up, hang-up and back – everything else was handled by the touchscreen.
A stylish monochrome interface
The interface was designed to use with your finger rather than a stylus like the PocketPCs that were common at the time. The UI was mostly monochrome with white outline icons on a dark background in stark contrast to the colorful and skeumorphic interface of the iPhone (we guess Prada had a hand in this minimalist design).
For texting, there was an on-screen keypad (not a full QWERTY) with T9 support. The phone could send and receive SMS and email thanks to its tri-band GSM connection. Data speeds were comparative with with the iPhone as both featured EDGE support, a stopgap between 2G and 3G (the Apple phone was a quad-band device, though).
Messaging on a touchscreen with a virtual T9 keyboard • Basic web browser • Calendar
Opera Mini could run on the phone, making the best out of the slow data connection and allowing you to browse the real Web (instead of WAP). There were Office document and PDF readers too, in case you received one in an email.
To be clear, this wasn’t a “smartphone” but a feature phone instead. You could run simple Java apps (J2ME), games too, but there was no Symbian or Windows Mobile hiding underneath. Interestingly enough, the Prada used Flash technology for its user interface.
The KE850 Prada came with a 256MB microSD card pre-installed (it had only 8MB storage built-in) and you could swap that with a 2GB card. The phone supported MP3 and AAC audio files and even had a dedicated button to launch the music player (it had an FM receiver as well).
Another button launched the 2MP camera with Schneider-Kreuznach optics and an LED flash. It could record 400 x 240 px videos at 15 fps, which wouldn’t have impressed anyone in 2007, but the iPhone wouldn’t get video recording capabilities until 2009’s 3GS.
2 MP camera with Schneider-Kreuznach lens and LED flash • Camera samples
The LG KE850 Prada sold a million units over the first 18 months of availability. The iPhone outsold it hands down, but even worse was that LG never released the original Prada in the US. Perhaps that is why it is mostly forgotten today while the original iPhone is still fondly remembered. Plus, Apple’s touch UI was miles ahead of LG’s – that was the true innovation of the iPhone, the capacitive touchscreen merely made it possible.
PS. If you want an extra hit of nostalgia, check out our review of the Prada.
Although on Netflix you should not always count only on relatively fresh cinematic titles, the platform often brings a lot of proven hits and its own interesting productions (often, unfortunately, not always). Admittedly, Netflix is still gaining attention, as is this weekly list. So, as every week, we check what will appear on the website more or less interesting. Counting also on PurePC readers, I encourage you to share in the comments the titles of interesting productions that you have recently managed to watch both on Netflix and on competing platforms. In addition to a few selected, promising titles, at the end of the news you will also find a summary list of all premieres in the new week.
We check what the week will bring 11 – 17 January 2021 on the Netflix platform. The repertoire includes six hit seasons from the years. 90. In the 1980s (Lake of Dreams), the third part of the animation for adults (Disappointed) and a drama about the life of Elton John (Rocketman).
Netflix: Movie and TV Series Premieres for 4 – 10 January 2021: New products include the first season of the series Lupine and Survive Death
Outside the Wire
Description : In the near future, a drone pilot goes to the war zone alongside a top-secret android soldier. Together they are to stop a nuclear attack. Starring : Anthony Mackie, Damson Idris, Emily Beecham World release date : 15 January 2021 On Netflix from : 15 January 2021 Original title : Outside the Wire Genre : Action, sci-fi Country of Manufacture : USA IMDb Rating : Not yet available Rating on Filmweb : Not yet available Production page : click
Disappointed: Some 3 (Disenchantment)
Description : Rebellious Princess Bean drives the king crazy with her madness in the company of a familiar elf and demon. What about duties? Pour it, let’s go for a beer. Starring : Abbi Jacobson, Eric André, Nat Faxon World release date : 15 January 2021 On Netflix from : 15 January 2021 Original title : Disenchantment Species : Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure Country of Manufacture : USA Rating on IMDb : 7.2 Rating on Filmweb : 7.2 Production page : click
Rocketman
Description : The life story of Elton John, showing the artist from his early years at the Royal Academy of Music to his long-term collaboration with songwriter Bernie Taupin. They are present : Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden World release date : 16 May 2019 On Netflix from : 16 January 2021 Original title : Rocketman Genre : Biographical , drama Country of production : Canada, USA, UK Rating per port alu IMDb : 7.3 Rating on Filmweb : 7.2 Production page : click
The Lake of Dreams: Season 1-6 (English title)
Description : The series is about four friends from a small coastal town who help each other as they enter adulthood. Present : James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams World release date : On Netflix from : 15 January 2021 Original title : 20 January 1998 Genre : Drama, fiction, for youth Country of manufacture : USA Rating on IMDb portal : 6 , 6 Rating on Filmweb : 7.0 Production page : click
Carmen Sandiego : Season 4
Description : Thief, who uses her skills for a good cause. Carmen Sandiego travels the world, frustrating VILE’s sinister plans Starring : Gina Rodriguez, Finn Wolfhard, Abby Trott World release date : 15 January 2021 On Netflix from : 14 January 2021 Original title : Carmen Sandiego Genre : Animation, Adventure Country of manufacture : USA Rating on IMDb : 7.9 Rating on Filmweb : 7.3 Production page : k lik
The full list of Netflix releases in the days 11 – 17 January 2021:
11 January 2021 (Monday): Crack: Cocaine, Corruption and Conspiracy
13 January 2021 (Wednesday): Richard Ramirez: The Hunt for a Serial Killer: Miniseries
14 January 2021 (Thursday): The Heartbreak Club Tanda Tanya
15 January 2021 (Friday): Bling Empire Two Fathers In the war zone Disappointed: Part 3 Carmen Sandiego: Season 4 The Lake of Dreams: Season 1-6 Kuroko’s Basketball: Season 1 Empire Glamor: Season 1
OnePlus has announced it will unveil its first smartband called OnePlus Band on January 11 in India at 11AM local time. The company also confirmed the smartband will come with an SpO2 sensor to measure blood oxygen saturation.
— OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) January 8, 2021
The OnePlus Band will be sold through Amazon.in and the e-commerce giant has set up a promo page on its website revealing a few more features of the wearable, which include sleep tracking, real-time heart rate monitoring, music control, and dust and water resistance.
The OnePlus Band will support a total of 13 exercise modes, including Yoga, Swimming, and Cricket. And while its battery capacity is currently unknown, OnePlus claims the cell will offer 14 days of autonomy.
The OnePlus Band is rumored to pack a 1.1″ AMOLED touchscreen and cost INR2,499 ($35/€30) in India.
Earlier today, Sony announced that it would be releasing two new speakers compatible with 360 Reality Audio, its spatial audio technology that replicates the feel of live music by placing different sounds and vocals in a virtual sphere around you. It said its plan is to release them this spring, but it didn’t share what the speakers would look like. We didn’t have to wait to learn more about them, though, as Sony’s UK website now has full product pages for the upcoming SRS-RA5000 and SRS-RA3000 speakers.
The higher-end SRS-RA5000, pictured at the top of this post, will have three up-firing speakers, three side speakers, and a woofer. It’s also certified for High-Resolution Audio. The SRS-RA3000, pictured below, has two tweeters, two passive radiators, and a full-range driver.
Sony’s SRS-RA3000 speaker.Image: Sony
Both speakers can calibrate themselves to the room they’re in with an internal microphone and a “unique Sony algorithm,” too. With the SRS-RA5000, you have to press and hold a button on the speaker, while the SRS-RA3000 can calibrate itself automatically. The two speakers also have Sony’s Auto Volume feature, which adjusts the volume of each track automatically to play them at a consistent volume. And both speakers support Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant.
The SRS-RA5000 will cost approximately £500 / €599, while the SRS-RA3000 is priced at about £280 / €359, according to the press release on Sony’s UK website. That also says both speakers will arrive in February 2021, which is a bit sooner than the previous “spring” date we had heard before, so perhaps there will be different release dates in different regions.
Sony said it is expanding the 360 Reality Audio platform from audio to video earlier on Friday, and the company is working with major music labels and service providers to begin streaming video content with the codec later this year. Approximately 4,000 songs currently support the format, according to Sony.
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