HDMI 2.1 should make televisions, AV receivers and players fit for the coming years. HDMI has made a big technical leap with version 2.1.
(Image: Thorsten Hübner)
HDMI 2.1: technology and first practical experience Dynamic HDR formats Extended audio return channel Resolutions and refresh rates DSC compression method Variable refresh rate Conclusion Article in c’t 1 / 2021 read With the latest specification of the HDMI interface, one can really not speak of a snap shot: Although the beginning 2017, audio / video receivers and players – namely Microsoft’s Xbox Series – have only been available for a few months after televisions , Sony’s Playstation 5 and Nvidia’s RTX – 30 – graphics cards – available with HDMI 2.1. AMD’s Big-Navi series graphics cards have just started.
In defense of the HDMI forum behind the interface, it must be said that some of the innovations introduced with HDMI 2.1 compared to the last version 2.0b bring significantly more changes to the basic technical structure than the numbering suggests. On the other hand, HDMI 2.1 also includes functions that impatient system developers and manufacturers have already cleverly integrated into devices that use even older HDMI versions, some in a slimmed-down form.
Dynamic HDR formats These include the dynamic HDR formats Dolby Vision and HDR 10 +, where film studios create the desired image impression scene for Set scene and not only – as with the previously specified static HDR 10 – once for the entire film. Dolby and Samsung succeeded in converting the metadata from Dolby Vision and HDR 10 + as a workaround to “hide” in the video data stream, so that streaming clients and UHD Blu-ray players have been able to deliver HDR images in these formats to suitable TVs for years.
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With its upcoming Galaxy Buds Pro, Samsung is planning to counter one of the differentiating features of Apple’s AirPods Pro (and now AirPods Max): spatial audio. Spatial audio crams an immersive, surround sound-like experience into a set of earbuds or headphones. And it accurately keeps the sound source anchored to your iPhone or iPad, so if you turn your head, you’ll notice that the audio stays in front of you. Wherever you move the device, that’s where it’ll sound like the audio track is coming from.
But Samsung seems to be readying its own take on spatial audio. As is becoming oddly common, the company’s mobile Galaxy Buds app has prematurely spilled some of Samsung’s latest earbud tricks. As noted by 9to5Google, an updated version of the app was found on Samsung’s servers with screenshots and features for the unannounced Galaxy Buds Pro. One of those new software capabilities is referred to as “3D audio for videos,” and the app says this will let you “hear vivid, immersive sound coming from all directions so you feel like you’re right in the scene when you watch videos.” Yep, sounds like spatial audio.
There’s also this note: “To get the best experience, keep your earbuds near your phone.” According to a teardown of the app, it looks as though Samsung will try to replicate the positional awareness / head-tracking aspect as well. Apparently, you’ll need a Samsung phone running Android 11 or newer for the feature to work. Other headphones (like those from Sony) offer 3D audio, but this is for music rather than movies from streaming apps.
The app also reveals that the Galaxy Buds Pro will have a “voice detect” feature that automatically enables transparency mode and lowers the volume of your audio when the earbuds sense that you’re speaking. Again, Sony has something similar to this on its 1000XM4 headphones where music immediately pauses when you start talking.
The Galaxy Buds Pro are expected to be announced in January alongside the Galaxy S21 series at the next Unpacked event.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds wireless in-ear headphones have enjoyed well-deserved popularity since the first generation. Although of course (as befits Samsung) you could add a price that is too high, both Budsy and Budsy + regularly find themselves in quite good promotions. The last musical construction of the Koreans was a slightly different model in terms of construction, i.e. Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, but it looks like the company wants to return to a more classic look with the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. The first renders and elements of the headphones specification appeared on the network. What can we count on and when will the new “fleas” be presented?
An almost full specification of the next Samsung TWS wireless headphones has appeared on the network. The Galaxy Buds Pro will finally receive ANC. However, this is not the end of the news.
In fact, it is currently unknown how much the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro headphones will cost. We know when they will be presented (along with the Samsung Galaxy S series of smartphones 21 – so next month), we also know their appearance and specifications. The new headphones are finally to offer active noise reduction (ANC) as well as 3D surround sound known from competitor audio devices (Apple, Creative). The specification also includes such elements as gyroscopes, Dolby Atmos and SoundAlive (a list of pre-installed equalizer settings, dedicated to different types of environment).
The Great In-Ear and In-Ear Headphones True Test Wireless
Voice detection also seems to be an interesting option. Well, when we start talking to someone using headphones, the intensity of the music is reduced, and the Ambient mode will also be activated, amplifying the sounds coming to us from the outside. In addition, cooperation with BIxby and the gaming mode already known from Galaxy Buds Live will also be on board. The new Buds are to have one battery with a capacity 61 mAh for a “flea” and a case that is also a powerbank with additional capacity 472 mAh.
There are many wrong approaches to targeting users and customers through social media. Our tips and checklists show how to use social media correctly.
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Alexandra-Katharina Kütemeyer Success with social media: 15 Tips for a better appearance Social media: the three pillars 1 It’s not about you, but about the user 2 Know your destination – and Your resources 3 Posting rhythm: how much and when? Understand and use 4 algorithms Interaction, goal, content, teaser, tonality Image selection, formats, personalization, networking, community and conclusion Checklists: The perfect teaser, finding the right language, moderation rules Article in Mac & i 13 / 2020 read Does not cost anything? Do we! The competition is there? Do we! The trainee can Facebook? We do, well … him! There are many wrong approaches to opting for social media. But the biggest mistake is to think only of yourself.
Content: You need competent, credible, informative and entertaining (!) Content. And not primarily those that you would like to communicate, but those that interest and move your target group (at best this is appropriate from the start, but experience shows that this is only the case to a limited extent). The content should also be prepared in such a way that it matches the reading and viewing habits in the social web – this means that your content must also and above all work on the move. And that content for the social web, if not specially produced, should be created differently.
Service: Little works in the social web as well as service topics – if they are well thought out and made. This is why how-to videos, for example, are so successful: Because they can solve people’s specific problems and thus create immediate added value for the individual. And the higher the perceived added value, the greater the likelihood that this content will be shared, which can significantly increase your reach!
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Register and read Register now and read the article read immediately More information about heise + Success with social media: 15 Tips for a better appearance Social media: the three pillars 1 It’s not about you, but about the user 2 Know your destination – and Your resources 3 Posting rhythm: how much and when? Understand and use 4 algorithms Interaction, goal, content, teaser, tonality Image selection, formats, personalization, networking, community and conclusion Checklists: The perfect teaser, finding the right language, moderation rules Article in Mac & i 13 / 2020 read
Windows Server includes a role that installs Windows over the network. This avoids sneaker administration and saves installation sticks / DVDs.
(Image: Albert Hulm)
The times when a silver disk, be it CD or DVD, was the common installation medium for Windows installations are long gone – today it is mostly USB storage media that the admin plugs from computer to computer. A task that really annoys at the latest when you need to quickly install a delivery of fresh PCs for an entire department or quickly set up notebooks for all new home office employees. An alternative is to install over the network via PXE boot – once set up, the Windows Deployment Services (WDS) of Windows Server save a lot of work.
A machine with Windows Server is required – in Server 2000 is used for this article, but this feature has not changed for years. The server can usually do other work as well, for example as a WSUS server distributing updates to clients. Only rarely will a machine be busy delivering installations around the clock and thus be fully utilized. The machine should definitely have a gigabit connection to the local network; it is better to have several network cards as a so-called NIC team or one 10 – GBit card. After all, the server should deliver Windows packages of several gigabytes in size quickly, sometimes to several computers at the same time.
Who really has many clients (maybe even hundreds) have to install in parallel, but don’t have to worry about the network card becoming the bottleneck. The Windows provisioning services can also deliver the data via multicast over the network and thus install almost any number of computers in parallel without adding up the amount of data sent. Since such a multicast environment also requires adjustments to the network, it is not part of this article. In this article, the WDS server is set up so that it can deliver the first Windows images.
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Start Spotify Connect Session Playback Conclusion Comments Spotify Connect lets music, audio books and podcasts run on networked speakers. We show how the technology works and which devices are compatible.
music streaming doesn’t always have to be on the phone. The output can be redirected to loudspeakers, TVs and other end devices via Spotify Connect. The function is an integral part of Spotify, all you need is an account and a compatible speaker in the same WLAN.
This is not only great for listening to music. Podcasts and radio plays in particular, for example for children in lockdown, can be easily redirected to proper speakers via the smartphone.
What is Spotify Connect? Put simply: Spotify Connect connects speakers and TVs with the streaming service so that music or podcasts can be played there directly. It is controlled via the app, the desktop software or the web player.
Spotify Connect has several advantages over playback via Bluetooth. The bit rate is up to 50 kbps, this corresponds to the quality setting “Very High” for premium users. The end devices connect directly to Spotify and pull the music directly from the web. In other words, there is no mobile phone in between that has to convert the songs and send them via Bluetooth. This also means less stress on the cell phone battery, the smartphone can still be used for phone calls and it does not have to be constantly within range of the loudspeaker. At the same time, every installed Spotify instance that is logged into the same account becomes a remote control. An example: If you listen to music on your laptop through headphones, you can control playback via the smartphone app or transfer the sound from the headphones seamlessly to other speakers. This even works with smart watches, such as the Fitbit Versa 2 (test report).
With Spotify Connect, a wide variety of end devices can be controlled from Spotify. Spotify Connect works similarly to Apple’s Airplay. The technology searches for all compatible end devices in the current WLAN network. Pairing is not necessary, all devices found in the same network can be used immediately for playback.
The control is simple: In the app, desktop program or the web player you click on the icon for “Connect to a device”. This shows a monitor behind an MP3 player; it is located in the lower right corner of the desktop and web app, between the playlist display and the volume control. For the smartphone app, it is at the bottom left, below the shuffle icon.
A click on it shows all speakers and other Spotify instances that are active in the same network or with which the user is currently logged in. Another click starts the connection with the device, shortly afterwards the playback switches over automatically. Spotify Connect can be activated during playback in the same way as before.
Spotify Connect (4 pictures) Spotify Connect transmits the audio output to other devices and speakers.
Spotify Connect is not a real multi-room solution. From Spotify you can output the content on one device, but not on multiple speakers in the selection. A real multiroom system is required here (adviser). Because Spotify can stream to speakers that are coupled to each other. So if you have several Sonos devices (theme world), for example, you can define them as a group in the Sonos app and then access them from Spotify.
On the other hand, Spotify Connect has an advantage over most multiroom systems: it can be used with the free one Account possible. However, the usual restrictions (bit rate, advertising) apply. However, there may be restrictions depending on the country and manufacturer.
Spotify Session: Together Listening to music A new premium feature from Spotify are the sessions. You can invite up to five people to listen to a playlist together afterwards. It doesn’t matter whether the people are in the same room or somewhere else on earth. That allows for a few cool scenarios, for example when you celebrate alone at the turn of the year but still listen to the same music together. The playback itself continues to run normally, that is, the songs can also be played back on a Spotify Connect-enabled device. You start a new session via the dialog in which you can also find the external playback devices.
End devices: speakers , TVs, systems, soundbars Spotify is now extremely widespread. Almost every multiroom system is compatible, plus Alexa devices and every end device with Google Cast or Chromecast. In other words, the user is spoiled for choice. It is important that the respective device has WiFi, this is the basic requirement for Spotify Connect. Then it is worth taking a look at the technical data. Wherever Spotify Connect or Chromecast is mentioned, you are on the safe side.
The cheapest entry is a simple networked loudspeaker, Medion and other manufacturers offer devices from just under 40 Euros. Sure, nobody expects a sound technical revelation, but as a device for the workshop or the kitchen it easily does. If you want to pick up more, you should consider a real multiroom loudspeaker right away. Sonos is still the top dog, but other manufacturers are also worth a look, as our guide Multiroom: Sound in every room shows.
Alternatively, there are compact systems that now also support streaming. Anyone who already has a “real” hi-fi system has several options. There are network streamers that can play music from the LAN and from Spotify and are integrated like normal audio components. Alternatively, the amplifier can be exchanged for a new variant that has integrated streaming.
If you are looking for a portable speaker that has streaming functions and a battery, you have something heavier. There are devices such as the Sonos Move (test report), the Bose Portable Home Speaker (test report) or speakers from Libratone. When it comes to televisions, you are largely limited to devices with Google Cast. They can safely handle Spotify Connect. In our opinion, it actually makes more sense to play the music on a loudspeaker or soundbar.
Conclusion If you buy a new loudspeaker or a compact system, you should at least roughly have the Spotify Connect function in mind. This applies twice to everyone who is already using Spotify. Everyone else can at least use the free access, albeit with restrictions.
In addition to music, this is especially worthwhile for radio plays. Spotify has an enormous library especially for children, from Bibi Blocksberg and Ninjago over the three ??? to stories by Otfried Preussler, Michael Ende and Co. That is why it is our favorite over other systems, especially when you want to hear a lot. More on this in the article Radio plays for children: Tonies, Spotify and alternatives.
Ever since PlayStation cut ties with Facebook, streamers can no longer broadcast live or upload clips directly to Facebook. It’s easy to livestream directly to Twitch, YouTube, and Twitter, though. You can start the stream from your console, know that your voice and game audio will be leveled, create a title, click start streaming and watch the stream from your phone, tablet, or computer.
What You Need to Livestream from PlayStation
● PlayStation 4 or 5: the user interface is similar.
● Headset with a 3.5 mm output to plug into the PS controller.
● A Controller to navigate through the menus and monitor audio levels
● A Monitor to see how high or low the volume
● A PSN account to access the party function.
Setting Up Voice Audio for PS4 Livestreams
To ensure sure that your livestream includes your voice
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
2. Slide to the right and select Settings
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
3. Select Sharing and Broadcasts
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
4. Select Broadcast Settings.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
5. Then select Advanced Settings
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6. Navigate to Audio Sharing Settings
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
We see three different options
● Include Microphone Audio in Video Clips is for when you’re recording gameplay. For example, 15-minute clips can be recorded and saved in your gallery with or without your commentary. Select this to include any commentary made during the 15 mins. Include Microphone Audio in Broadcasts is for livestreaming. Check this box to ensure your microphone is heard during your livestreams. Share Party Audio: checking this box will include party audio in video clips and broadcast. This one needs to be selected in order for your livestream to hear the people in your party chat. Selecting this will also override the first one Include Microphone Audio in Video Clips. Your voice will be included in every clip made.
Now that you have made your party chat sharable with your livestream, let’s setup allowing your voice to be broadcast in your friend’s livestream.
How to Set Your Broadcast to Capture Friends’ Party Chat Audio
These are the settings you need to change and have others in your party change on their ends so the stream can hear you and your buddies.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
2. Press theOPTIONS button on the right of the touchpad on the controller to see Party Settings & select Party Settings.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
3. Scroll down to Allow Your Voice to Be Shared
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
4. Select Always Allow
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Now your voice is available in your buddies’ stream.
Once you’re in a party and you notice someone’s mic is too low or too high they can be adjusted in party settings.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Since PlayStation’s recent update, joining parties and in-game sessions are different. Once you select party, the software will automatically take you to the party that you’re in. Or it will show you parties that you are invited to. You can no longer view other people’s parties without an invitation.
3. Select Party Settings from the right-side menu.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
You’ll see the top three options are now available to select
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
4. Select Adjust Microphone Level, if you wish to change your microphone sensitivity.
If the bar is yellow in the Too Low zone, you’re a quiet talker, slide the bar up to increase your volume.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
If the bar is red and in the Too High zone, you’re a loud talker, slide the volume down to lower your volume.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
5. Select Adjust Audio Mix
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The bar will adjust the game or your party chat. If you’re playing a game like Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout and don’t need to hear the game audio slide the bar to the left.
If you’re playing a game like Apex Legends and you need to hear the game audio slide the bar to the right. This adjusts settings for you and your broadcast as well.
6. Select Chat Audio to prioritize which chat is being used, the game voice chat or the PlayStation party voice chat.
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Adjusting these settings can increase the production value of your stream. And it combats people who like to put their mics close to their mouths. You are able to control anyone’s volume from your PlayStation.
Setting Up Voice Audio for PS5 Livestreams
1. Click the Settings button on the top right-hand side
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
2. Select Captures and Broadcast
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
3. Select Broadcast on the left side of the screen.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
4. Select Audio.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
5. Toggle onInclude Voice Chat Audio. This allows other streamers to broadcast your voice, your livestream to capture your voice and your commentary to be captured when you save Game Clips.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
A shortcut to including your Mic Audio and Party Audio is included your Save Game Recording Menu
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
How to Balance Voice Chat and Gameplay Audio
1. Press the PS button on the controller. You’ll see a menu appear on the bottom
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
2. Scroll to the right to the Sound icon. A menu box will appear that will have a bar underneath Voice Chat Balance.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
3. Move the bar to the left to turn up the Voice Chat or move it to the right to turn up the Game Chat Audio.
As we mentioned above, if you’re playing a game like Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout and don’t need to hear the game audio, slide the bar to the left. If you’re playing a game like Apex Legends and you need to hear the game audio, slide the bar to the right.
How to Access Party Settings
1. Press the PS button on the controller.
2. Slide to the right toward Game Base.Game Base is four icons over
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
3. Create a party by pressing the square button on your controller.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
4. Press the PS button
5. Select Game Base and scroll to the right of Create Party button to the Settingsbutton
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
6. Select Voice Chat Settings
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
How to Adjust Your Mic Settings
1. Select Microphone Level Voice from the Voice Chat Settings menu.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
2. Slide the bar to the left to turn down your mic sensitivity and slide the bar to the right to turn up the mic sensitivity
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Also in Voice Chat Settings, you see Share Your Voice.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Here is another place where you can allow your voice to be shared through your buddies’ livestream.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
There is a shortcut available in your Game Base to adjust or mute your mic.
The PlayStation 5’s UI is slightly different, with newer icons and functions. So you’re able to do the same things with fewer steps. The mini-menu that pops up when you press the PS makes it easy to create shortcuts.
In the early days of despair, I looked at Spotify and decided that everything sounded bad. All songs were boring, and I was sick of everything. What that really meant was I was sick of myself. But by the summer, I’d found the solve: ambient music. The best music I heard this year was barely music at all.
The notion of “ambient music” is pretentious, sure, but the concept is simple. If most music is centered around some alchemy of melody and rhythm, ambient music eschews that for whatever else: tones, moods, atmosphere.
I’ve listened to Peel by Nairobi-based artist KMRU roughly once a day since I first heard it in July. Like most music in the genre, the album is concerned with timbre and texture — a lot of shapeless, ambiguous noise that slowly escalates and envelopes you. (Or, if you are my sister, you might describe it as “scary” and “ominous” and “please turn that off.”) Still, it was nice to put on something consistent in the mornings, which became as much of a ritual for me as taking coffee with oat milk and refreshing the Times’ updated COVID maps.
Peel — and two other KMRU records released this year, Opaquer and Jar — were quiet revelations for me, especially as someone who tends to listen to the same handful of pop songs on repeat. Though its production is often lush and maximalist, pop music is compact. It’s designed to be played in many places: on AirPods, blasted from a car radio, through your tinny laptop speakers. It has to sound good everywhere, which is another way of saying that it has to sound the same everywhere. Pretty depressing when you’re going nowhere.
Peel took on a different shape, depending on where I was listening to it — though this year, that just meant which room of the house I was in. The Sonos in the kitchen made the record sound expansive and often distant. In my office, where I listened to Peel passively while staring at Google Docs during the workday, the resonance seemed to fill every square inch of the room, making me constantly aware of the space’s small dimensions. I’d sometimes play it through my phone after waking up — a calm and steadily escalating thrum. Yet listening to KMRU in the bathroom was too claustrophobic, too annoying, so I’d put on Dua Lipa instead. I even bought Peel on vinyl, not really so I could hear how it sounded, but because I’d gotten really used to soothing boredom and anxiety by ordering things online. And like a lot of things that went through the mail in 2020, the record still hasn’t arrived.
I struggled to find any formal interviews with KMRU, but I did come across a few videos he’d done on YouTube. In one video, he sampled a broken piano he came across on the street, captured on a fuzzy portable mic. Like a lot of things on YouTube, it turned out to be an ad (this one for Ableton Live). But there was something romantic about seeing KMRU’s field recording — someone out in the world, collecting precious little sounds, even if the finished product obfuscated their origins too much to be identified. At least it left something to the imagination.
KMRU doing field recordings.Courtesy of KMRU
Browse YouTube for long enough and you start to recognize that video titles have their own kind of SEO. More than word choice, you see similar constructions over and over that declare what a thing is and who it’s for. This likely makes it easier for a robot to parse and for a recommendation service to serve.
It also allows us to reverse-engineer people’s intentions. Look up footage of nature, and most of it will identify itself as a “relaxation” video, which is more of an intention than a genre. A one-hour 4K video of sunsets in Seattle sells itself as perfect for “sleep, relaxation, distress, insomnia.” The meme equivalent is YouTube’s anime-inflected “lofi hip hop radio – beats to relax/study to,” which has spinoffs for anxiety and even depression. It’s background noise by design. It’s basically Muzak.
In its heyday — the better part of the 20th century — Muzak was the soundtrack of the mall: familiar, pleasing, and most importantly, inoffensive. The company went bankrupt over a decade ago, and its assets now operate under a conglomerate called Mood Media. But if Muzak the corporation left us, its spirit never did.
In many ways, this is what we do to ourselves when we hit shuffle on a playlist or let YouTube guide our listening. Across platforms, a recommendation engine is reactive and reinforcing a suggestion that is, again, familiar, pleasing, and inoffensive. In the absence of Muzak, we just Muzak ourselves.
Brian Eno coined the term “ambient music” to put his work in opposition with Muzak. As the myth goes, stuck for several hours in a terminal in Cologne, Germany, Eno believed he could write better music for a public space — something calming to ease the bustle of frenzied travelers. The result was the seminal 1978 record Music for Airports. Not long after, in the mid-‘80s, Japanese electrosynth polymath Haruomi Hosono would write a suite of dulcet songs specifically for Muji stores to set the tone for a pleasing shopping experience. There’s an argument that the sound design of hospitals could save lives.
And in a year when far fewer people around the world traveled or frequented malls and more people were going to the hospital and never leaving, what do you do with Music for Airports and for Muji and for the morgue? You bring it home.
In the days when escapism was fruitless and indulgences were unsatisfying, the music I listened to felt less like feeding an algorithm and more like asserting control over a nonsense year. Like every personal revelation, it feels obvious in hindsight. But awareness — mindfulness! — is an active pursuit: introduce some friction, stay in the present. I think I always knew what that looked like. It wasn’t until this year that I knew how it sounded.
Five ambient-ish albums for 2020
Blink a Few Times to Clear Your Eyes – Grand River
Telas – Nicolas Jaar
Shall We Go on Sinning So That Grace May Increase? – The Soft Pink Truth
Harbors – Ellen Fullman and Theresa Wong (debatably ambient, mostly abrasive)
Testing Tests overview Smartphone 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 im Test: 90 Hertz at the saver price Realme 7 Pro in the test: OLED display and 65 – Watt loading Huawei Mate 40 Pro in the test: Great, but without Google Smartwatch Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 in the test: competition for Apple? Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro in the 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 Bose Portable Home Speaker in the test: 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 Technisat Digitradio 580 in the test: The gray all-rounder Keyfinder Tile Slim (2019): Key finder in credit card format Bluetooth key finder Tile Pro in the test: 120 m range! Key finder Tile Pro in the test: the range champion Orbit Bluetooth tracker in the test: looking for wallet and keys Nonda iHere 3.0: smart key finder under test Chipolo Classic and Plus: Bluetooth key finder under test Musegear finder 2: Keyfinder without registration obligation Action-Cam DJI Pocket 2 in the test: Zoom and 64 – Megapixel sensor Actioncam Insta 300 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 Actioncam Motorola Moto G8 Plus test: Great smartphone, but … Insta 360 Go: Micro-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 in the test: The robust one All-rounder Honor 20: Inexpensive high-end smartphone in the test Xiaomi Mi 9: Top technology at a bargain price Doogee S 90 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 10: Smartphone with 21: 9 display in the test Counselor Guide overview Purchase advice Bargain: Which Fire TV Stick from 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? Buying advice water cooling: High-end PCs cool better Advice: Air conditioning and fan against the heat wave Sony shows the Xperia 1: Is the previous XZ3 worth it now? Euro Practice Caution, money away: Kickstarter & Co. are not shops Android notifications from turn off annoying apps This is how it works: Install the new Android L keyboard now Tip: Use “Ok Google everywhere” in Germany In the test: Does the jailbreak work for iOS 7.1? Goderma and mobile medicine: The doctor apps are coming! Instructions: Yes ilbreak 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 racers What does the end of an ecosystem mean? Smartphones with a flexible display: What’s the point? Smartphone processors at a glance: 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 Leaderboard 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 Adviser: The best Fritzbox for VDSL, cable, LTE and fiber optics Beginning VDSL Cable LTE Glass fiber No modem Conclusion Comments by Thomas // 19. 12. 2020 10 : 00 Clock
AVM has numerous Fritzbox routers in its range. TechStage shows which router is suitable for which Internet technology and presents the advantages and disadvantages of all important models.
Long awaited, finally available: The new Fritzbox 7530 AX is the first VDSL router from AVM with the new WiFi standard WiFi-6 (11 ax). Also the Fritzbox Cable 6660 for the cable internet as well as the 5530 Fiber for the fiber optic connection work with WiFi-6. The WLAN speed is an important criterion when deciding on a Fritzbox. But the router, as a home network and switchboard at home, should simply connect all devices and bring them to the Internet. Therefore, features such as telephone, USB and LAN connections as well as the capabilities of the built-in modem are important.
In this article we examine in detail the differences between the models for VDSL , Cables, fiber optics and LTE and recommend the right Fritzbox for every network. The article appears as part of our WLAN theme world. In addition, we have already tested several Fritzbox routers and other products, such as the inexpensive Fritz Repeater 600 (test report) or the tri-band mesh repeater Fritz Repeater 3000 (Review).
Fritzbox router for VDSL The Fritzbox 7590 (test report) for around 185 Euro is the current top -Model for the VDSL connection. Your modem supports the profile 35 b for supervectoring (up to 300 MBit / s in the download), the WLAN works with the 11 AC standard and four parallel data streams . There are hardly any WLAN remote stations with a corresponding speed. But since the 7583 Mastered multi-user MIMO, it can transmit data to several clients at the same time, which is particularly advantageous in a larger WLAN network is. The Fritzbox offers a wide variety of connections 7583 Fritzbox for telephony: It supports one ISDN device, two analog devices via RJ 11 or TAE and up to six cordless telephones via DECT.
Especially in the case design, the more expensive Fritzbox differs 7580 of the 7590, because she stands upright. Otherwise it offers the same equipment, but its modem is only for vectoring connections up to 100 MBit / s suitable. More about this in our Fritzbox guide 7430, 7580 and 7590 compared.
For new models, AVM relies on the current Wi-Fi 6 standard, for example the Fritzbox 6660 Cable and the VDSL Fritzbox 7430 use AX. With 169 Euro is the new Fritzbox 7490 AX slightly cheaper than the 7590, but has fewer connections: For example, it lacks an additional WAN port to connect it For example, to connect to an Internet connection via cable or fiber optic with an upstream modem. One of the four Gigabit LAN ports must be used for this. In addition, it has no socket for an ISDN telephone and only one connection option for analogue telephone devices.
Your plus point is the future-proof WLAN standard: The advantages of WiFi-6 do pay off especially noticeable when several end devices are transmitting in the network that also support WiFi-6. The new WPA3 encryption supports the Fritzbox 7530 AX of course – but also all Fritz boxes with 11 AC- WLAN, on which at least Fritz OS 7. 20 is installed. This also applies to the Fritzbox 7530 for round 115 Euro, which apart from the WiFi like the 7530 AX : Your wireless network works with the 11 AC standard and a maximum of two parallel data streams. It is therefore recommended for smaller WLANs and if a quick switch to WiFi-6 is not planned.
Who the seven years ago presented Fritzbox 7490 does not necessarily have to switch to a more recent model. Because AVM regularly provides the veteran with the latest updates and new functions. But the router is no longer recommended for new purchases, especially since it is usually more expensive than the better equipped Fritzbox 7583.
Fritz router with VDSL modem Model Fritzbox 7590 Fritzbox 7580 Fritzbox 7530 AX Fritzbox 7530 Fritzbox 7490 Fritzbox 7430 Fritzbox 3490 Fritzbox 7583 Fritzbox 7580 Modem VDSL 2 (supervectoring , 300 Mbps) VDSL 2 (vectoring, 100 Mbps) VDSL 2 (supervectoring, 300 Mbps) VDSL 2 ( Supervectoring, 300 Mbps) VDSL 2 (vectoring, 100 Mbps) VDSL 2 (vectoring, 100 Mbps) VDSL 2 (vectoring, 100 Mbps) VDSL 2 (supervectoring: 300 Mbps, bonded: 600 Mbps), G.Fast Bonding 4 Gbps (212 MHz) VDSL 2 (supervectoring 300 Mbps); G.Fast 1 Gbps (100 MHz) WLAN: Standard / MIMO streams 11 AC / 4×4 11 AC / 4×4 Wi-Fi 6 / 3×3; 2×2 (75 MHz) 11 AC / 2×2 11 AC / 3×3 11 N / 3×3 11 AC / 3×3 11 AC / 4×4 11 AC / 3×3 WiFi speed: Mbps (5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) 1733 + 800 1733 + 800 1800 + 600 866 + 400 1300 + 450 450 1300 + 450 1733 + 800 1300 x 450 MU-MIMO Yes Yes Yes Yes no no no Telephony DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, 1 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, 1 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, 1 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 no DECT, ISDN S0 (4 B channels; second ISDN via adapter), 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, ISDN S0 (4 B-channels; second ISDN via adapter), 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 LAN 4x Gbit LAN / 1 Gbit -WAN 4x Gbit LAN / 1 Gbit WAN 4x Gbit-LAN 4x Gbit LAN 4x Gbit-LAN 4x FE 4x Gbit-LAN 4x Gbit-LAN / 1 Gbit-WAN 4x Gbit-LAN / 1 Gbit-WAN USB 2x USB 3.0 2x USB 3.0 1x USB 2.0 1x USB 3.0 2x USB 3.0 1x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0 2x USB 3.0 2x USB 3.0 Price 185 225 169 115 200 70 130 440 280 Technically speaking, there is also little for the Fritzbox 7430 that only 11 n-WLAN in single-band operation with 2.4 GHz and a maximum of 450 offers Mbit / s as well as only Fast Ethernet for the LAN ports. However, it only costs around 70 Euro: That’s why she can in connection with a faster Fritzbox on the Internet connection as a cheap mesh repeater, expand the WLAN and serve as an additional DECT base.
The equipment of the Fritzbox 3490 is the same for Internet (VDSL vectoring up to 100 MBit / s) and WLAN speed (11 AC over 5 GHz with 1733 Mbit / s and 11 n over 2.4 GHz with 450 Mbit / s) and the connections (4x Gigabit LAN and 2x USB 3.0) of the Fritzbox 7490. But it lacks the connections for ISDN and analog telephones and the DECT function. Anyone who calls via VoIP telephone via the LAN socket or via smartphone via WLAN can access it.
Fritzbox models for internet via cable connection As with the Fritz boxes for VDSL, the same applies to the models for the cable connection: The latest Fritz box does not offer the best equipment. For the Fritzbox 6591 Cable (test report) for around 190 Euro speaks its support for WiFi-6, especially since it in contrast to the Fritzbox 7530 AX beautiful 160 – MHz radio channels over 5 GHz supported and therefore up to 2400 Mbit / s over 5 GHz. To ensure that this speed also arrives at devices connected via LAN such as a NAS, the 6660 Cable one 2.5 Gbit connection next to the four Gigabit LAN ports.
For telephony the Fritzbox is 6591 Cable for round 235 Euro more suitable: It has an additional connection for analog telephones and a socket for an ISDN telephone. It lacks the 2.5 Gbit LAN port as well as WiFi-6. But for 11 AC it offers the maximum speed with 1733 Mbit / s and up to 800 Mbit / s over 10 n and 2.4 GHz.
Fritz router with cable modem Model Fritzbox 6660 Cable Fritzbox 6591 Cable Modem Docsis 3.1 6 Gbit / s (2×2), Euro-DOCSIS 3.0 (32 x8) Docsis 3.1 6 Gbit / s (2×2), Euro-DOCSIS 3.0 (32 x8) WLAN: Standard / MIMO streams Wi-Fi 6 / 2×2 (160 Hz) 11 AC / 4×4 WiFi speed: Mbps (5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) 2400 + 600 1733 + 800 MU-MIMO Yes Yes Telephony DECT, 1 a / b or TAE / RJ 10 DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b, RJ 11 or 1 TAE (2. TAE via adapter) LAN 4x Gbit LAN , 1x 2.5Gbit 4x Gbit-LAN USB 1x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0 Price 190 235 Both cable Fritzboxes are future-proof, because their modem supports the Docsis standard 3.1, which allows Internet connections with 1 GBit / s and more. At Vodafone, for example, this standard comes off for all connections 450 Mbit / s is used, the provider is increasingly upgrading its infrastructure to it. That’s why Fritzbox models for Docsis 3.0 are like the 6590 Cable, 6490 Cable or 6430 Cable no longer recommended.
Fritzbox models for LTE The Fritzbox 6890 LTE goes through your Cat.6 modem with up to 300 Mbit / s on-line. But the router can also access the Internet via VDSL via its supervectoring-capable modem. The Gigabit WAN port can also be used to connect to an existing cable or fiber optic modem, so that the 300 Euro expensive router allows all connection types to be used. A separate tariff is required for each access, because the Fritzbox is not suitable for Telekom’s LTE-DSL hybrid offer. In terms of WLAN and telephony, their equipment largely corresponds to the VDSL and cable top models 7590 and 6591.
The Fritzbox 6850 for round 175 Euro corresponds to the equipment of the VDSL Fritzbox 7530, so offers among other things 11 AC WLAN with two parallel data streams and MU-MIMO, a connection for analog telephones in addition to the DECT function and a USB 3.0 port.
Fritz router for LTE Model Fritzbox 6890 LTE Fritzbox 6820 LTE Fritzbox 6820 LTE v3 Modem LTE Cat.6 Mini-SIM (300 Mbit / s) + VDSL (supervectoring: 300 Mbit / s); LTE band: 1,3,7,8, 20, 28, 32 LTE Cat.4 Mini-SIM (150 Mbit / s); LTE band: 1,3,5,7,8, 20, 28; 38, 40, 41 (TDD) LTE Cat.4 (150 Mbit / s) (Band 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 32; TDD 38, 40, 41) WLAN: Standard / MIMO streams 11 AC / 4×4 11 AC / 2×2 11 N / 3×3 WiFi speed: Mbps (5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) 1733 + 800 866 + 400 450 MU-MIMO Yes Yes Telephony DECT, ISDN S0, 1xRJ 11 (adapter for TAE), 1xTAE DECT, 1 a / b (RJ 11 or TAE) – LAN 4x Gbit LAN / 1 Gbit WAN 4x Gbit-LAN 1x Gbit-LAN USB 1x USB 3.0 1x USB 3.0 – Price 290 175 120 The Fritzbox is even cheaper 6820 LTE for around 120 Euro: It does without the telephone functions and a USB connection. With WLAN it only offers 11 n with up to 450 Mbit / s. The LTE modem of the 6850 and 6820 delivers a maximum of 99 Mbit / s.
You should take a close look at the LTE Fritzboxes: AVM brings new versions onto the market without prior notice, which differ mainly through the built-in LTE modem . Currently, for example, version 2 of the Fritzbox is 6890 LTE and version 3 for the Fritzbox LTE 6820 – the version number is on the nameplate on the underside of the housing. An improved LTE modem provides a faster or more stable connection as it supports additional LTE bands and advanced carrier aggregation. However, a new version can also mean that the Fritzbox can no longer be used with tariffs from certain providers, although the model is on their compatibility list.
Fritzbox models for fiber optics and G.fast Fritz boxes for these types of connection can hardly be found in free trade. The provider usually offers them for free or for rent at the appropriate tariff. The fiber optic models Fritzbox 5530 and 5490 are like the Fritzbox 7490 fitted. The 5491 fits the connection variant GPON, which Telekom uses for its fiber optic tariffs use. For providers whose fiber optic networks are based on AON, the 5490 suitable.
Fritz router for fiber optics Model Fritzbox 5491 Fiber Fritzbox 5491 Fritzbox 5490 Modem GPON, AON GPON (Gf-TA) AON WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS: Standard / MIMO streams Wifi-6 / 2×2 11 AC / 3×3 11 AC / 3×3 WiFi speed: Mbps (5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) 2400 + 600 1300 + 450 1300 + 450 MU-MIMO – – Telephony DECT, a / b DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b (RJ 11 or TAE) DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 LAN 1x 2.5Gbit LAN; 2x Gbit LAN 4x Gbit-LAN 4x Gbit-LAN USB 2x USB 3.0 2x USB 3.0 Price 169 240 190 The Fritzbox 7583 masters VDSL with bonding: bundling two connections doubles the data rate, but the provider must support this. In addition, the 7583 on the G.fast standard: In Germany, some local providers use this for home networking via copper cables when the building is connected via fiber optics (FTTB, Fiber-to-the-Building). In the individual apartments, a bandwidth of 1 GBit / s or more is possible via telephone cable.
Fritz boxes without modem The cheapest Fritzbox models 4040 (round 70 Euro) and 4020 (round 45 Euro) are used behind the provider modem, to which they are connected via LAN cable via the WAN port. The devices in the home network brings the 4020 per 11 AC WiFi with two parallel data streams and four gigabit ports online. The 4020 only transmits via 11 n-WLAN with a maximum of 450 Mbit / s, your LAN ports only support Fast Ethernet speeds. Telephone connections and DECT capability are both missing.
Fritz router without modem Model Fritzbox 4040 Fritzbox 4020 WLAN: Standard / MIMO streams 11 AC / 2×2 11 N / 3×3 WiFi speed: Mbps ( 5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) 866 + 400 450 MU-MIMO – – LAN 4x Gbit LAN / 1 Gbit WAN 2x FE-LAN / 1 FE-WAN USB 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0 1x USB 2.0 Pr ice 70 45 Conclusion AVM offers a suitable Fritzbox for every type of connection. Choosing the right model depends on how many devices in the home network the router should bring online and which telephone connections it should have. The top models 7590 for VDSL, 6591 Cable for the cable connection and 6890 LTE for Internet via cellular nothing to be desired.
The Fritzbox 7530 AX and 6660 Cables already come with future-proof WiFi-6, but they lack the ISDN connection and another one Connection for analog devices. For smaller home networks that do not require top speed for WLAN, the cheaper variants Fritzbox 7530 for VDSL and 6850 LTE in question. Even more about the network and WLAN are featured in our WLAN theme world. For example, we test WiFi mesh systems there, including those with WiFi-6.
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Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto led a video tour of the company’s Mario-themed Super Nintendo World attraction at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka during the company’s latest Direct livestream.
The theme park looks to be packed with Mario iconography that will be familiar to Nintendo fans. Even the entrance Mario-themed: you enter the park by walking through a giant pipe that spits you out in the atrium of Princess Peach’s castle that first debuted in Super Mario 64.
Miyamoto showed how you can you use a special smart wristband, called the “Power-Up Band,” to interact with different parts of the zone. In one example, he punched a question mark block with the hand wearing the device, and the block made the classic Mario coin-collecting sound. In another moment, Miyamoto hit a POW block near a spinning Koopa shell at the right time to make it bounce up and collect a key coin. The band links to your smartphone so you can track your activities around the park.
Miyamoto also walked through an underground area that had oversized elements to create the illusion of being a smaller Mario, a vast cafe with video screens of Toads making food, and Bowser’s Castle, which is where the AR Mario Kart-themed roller coaster is located.
As a long-time Mario fan, the park looks delightful, and I hope I can experience it for myself someday. Super Nintendo World is scheduled to open on February 4th. The zone was originally set to open before the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, but the opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic (which also pushed back the Olympics). At some point, Universal Studios also plans to open Super Nintendo World zones in Hollywood, California; Orlando, Florida; and Singapore.
You’ll likely use your headphones more than any other piece of hi-fi equipment. At any one time in the What Hi-Fi? office at least half of us are using them, and not exclusively due to our questionable personalities (though this figure will spike, depending on who’s talking).
We’re well aware there is personal preference in what you want from your headphones – even we aren’t precious enough about hi-fi to assume the success of companies such as Beats is reliant only on good marketing. But by and large there’s no reason you ought to expect a radically different performance to that of your amplifier and speakers. (We’ve also suggested best songs to test your speakers.)
You may already have your own playlist to test equipment before you buy it – if not, it’s a worthwhile exercise – but we’ve put together this collection of ten tracks to help highlight what we believe to be the most important aspects of your headphones’ performance. If they’re found lacking in any department, you may want to consider an upgrade.
Find the accompanying playlist on Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify or Tidal
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Best headphones 2020: all styles, all budgets
Explosions in the Sky – Wilderness
To test overall balance
Why? Balance isn’t always an easy one for headphone manufacturers to get right. Quite often we find them overloading the bottom end in an overzealous attempt to keep their product from sounding lightweight or rolling off the treble to avoid any sharpness nearer the top of the frequency range.
In order to test the overall balance, you want a track that covers as much of the frequency range as possible. You’ll get that from a lot of orchestral works – but more contemporary pieces can work as well, such as this from Explosions in the Sky. There’s plenty of low-end heft in Wilderness‘s percussive pulse, while some of those guitar harmonics will reach high into the treble frequencies.
View Explosions in the Sky at Amazon
Fleet Foxes – Fool’s Errand
To test midrange quality
Why? By and large, the midrange is where you’ll find your vocal lines: pretty important, then. Clarity is, of course, a primary concern, as are stability and warmth. If there isn’t enough midrange support from lower frequencies, vocals can sound thin and lack human quality.
Finding a track with a clear, prominent vocal line is all you need do, but it’s even better if it includes such gorgeous vocal harmonies as Fool’s Errand from the latest Fleet Foxes record. Robin Pecknold’s voice ought to soar, flanked by those luscious harmonies without disappearing into them.
View Fleet Foxes at Amazon
Darkside – Paper Trails
To test bass control
Why? We mentioned some brands’ tendency to skew the balance toward the bottom end, which we understand suits a certain section of the market. But if that’s what you like, it is perhaps even more important those bass frequencies are articulate and suitably agile.
It isn’t enough for your headphones to make your earlobes wobble if you can’t actually hear what’s going on down there. A track with a moving bassline will either drive or confuse a performance, depending on the aptitude of your kit. Darkside’s Paper Trails has the added benefit of testing a vocal line deep into the frequency range, which will really highlight the clarity of the bass – or lack thereof.
View Darkside at Amazon
Pharoah Sanders – You’ve Got to Have Freedom
To test treble quality
Why? Coarseness in treble frequencies is probably one of the first things you’ll notice in headphones because it’ll make your ears hurt. If that’s happening once you’ve given your headphones a day or two to run in, you’ll end up wanting to bin them altogether. But sometimes it can go the other way – perhaps in an attempt to rid a performance of any sharpness, manufacturers will roll the frequency range off at the top end.
Either way, you aren’t getting the rich treble frequencies you and your ears deserve. This particular track from Pharoah Sanders finds his saxophone in full-on attack mode. Without making your ears bleed, it ought to sound like a mother goose being prodded with a knitting needle, and you should accept nothing less.
View Pharoah Sanders at Amazon
20 of the best albums of 2020
Havergal Brian – Symphony No1 in D Minor (The Gothic)
To test level of detail
Why? It’s rare we really criticise a product for lack of detail alone, but when we hear something particularly insightful it can really make a difference. The term itself is pretty self-explanatory: it’s about digging deep into what is being performed, rather than how.
Large-scale orchestral pieces, with a grand range of instruments and timbres, will highlight just how much insight is being delivered. This particular symphony, written by Havergal Brian, is a veritable behemoth, spanning the piccolo to the timpani via two harps and a children’s choir. Live recordings are another decent test: hand-claps are one of the more difficult sounds to reproduce.
View Havergal Brian at Amazon
John Martyn – Small Hours
To test space
Why? Space may appear a peculiar concept when it comes to sounds being played directly into your ears, but a claustrophobic performance can be the enemy of deeper listening. You don’t want instruments to sound detached from one another, but each line should have space to breathe.
Again, live performances are a good test as to whether your headphones are able to judge the size of an auditorium – or you can go a step further with this album closer from John Martyn. It was recorded outside, so there is no excuse for Martyn’s guitar to sound at all boxed in.
View John Martyn at Amazon
BadBadNotGood – Speaking Gently
To test rhythm and timing
Why? Anyone who was ever in a school band will know how infuriating it is to play with somebody who can’t keep time – if you didn’t know that, it was probably you. The same goes for hi-fi, and your headphones should be able to make sense of polyrhythm just as adeptly as they lock into a rigid 4/4.
This particular track from BadBadNotGood’s album IV offers a simple, solid beat as it opens, before sprawling into a freer percussive mindset. Timing also feeds into how instruments interact, how they question each other and then answer. If the performance sounds loose, disorganised or dull, it’s probably down to timing.
View BadBadNotGood at Amazon
Arvo Pärt – Tabula Rasa
To test dynamic range
Why? As good as your four-year-old nephew may be at playing the recorder, you probably don’t want your headphones to play like they’re at a school assembly. A dearth of dynamic range will give you a flat performance, sometimes sounding almost like a rehearsal, undermining any emotion on the original recording.
Pick a piece where small- and large-scale dynamics fluctuate as they do in Arvo Pärt’s Tabula Rasa and you’ll hear whether your headphones are up to the job. It’s often the smaller-scale dynamics that make the greatest impression: those are what will give voices their expression, which will be especially important if you use your headphones for watching films and TV as well.
View Arvo Pärt at Amazon
Ólafur Arnalds – Ljósi∂
To test subtlety
Why? Getting you out the door and enthused for your run is one thing, but if you use your headphones for anything else then a little subtlety and restraint will be as important as that drive.
This Ólafur Arnalds piece, from his album Found Songs, is a lesson in refinement, with piano keys wanting to be stroked rather than hammered, violin weeping rather than in the midst of a full-on gin-sob. If your headphones can render this as well as they do Black Sabbath, it’ll really pay off in the subdued moments of tracks before they end up letting fly.
View Ólafur Arnalds at Amazon
Joe Goddard – Lose Your Love
To test excitement, enthusiasm and drive
Why? All of this may seem like arbitrary box-ticking if your headphones’ performance doesn’t make you want to move. Really, this kind of enthusiasm and drive is a combination of timing, low-end stability and a good grasp of dynamics – but we have heard products seemingly adept at each of these that ultimately fail to enthuse.
You can insert your favourite groove-laden track here, but we’ve opted for Lose Your Love from Joe Goddard’s 2017 album Electric Lines. If your headphones are doing it right, you’ll be anticipating the beat dropping, and you’ll look unhinged to your co-workers as soon as it does.
View Joe Goddard at Amazon
MORE:
10 of the best songs to test your speakers
10 of the best vinyl albums to tell someone you love them
The Xbox Series X and Series S have just taken delivery of a shiny new streaming app – BBC iPlayer.
The early Christmas present means Xbox owners can finally stream live BBC TV channels and binge on Beeb boxsets through their console. (Here’s where to buy the Xbox Series X, if you’re struggling to find stock).
According to the BBC: “From this morning, BBC iPlayer is now available on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Owners of the new consoles can download the BBC iPlayer app for free from the Microsoft Store on Xbox.”
Back in November, at the launch of the new Xbox, Microsoft apologised for the lack of iPlayer and promised to ‘work tirelessly’ to fix the issue. Now that diligence has paid off, Xbox users with a TV license can kick back in front of BBC TV channels or catch up on boxsets such as Normal People, Peaky Blinders and the darkly-brilliant Inside No.9.
The Xbox Series X launched with a pretty strong line-up of streaming apps, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, Sky Go, Now TV, Spotify, Twitch and YouTube TV. In the US, that list extends to HBO Max, Hulu, Peacock, Vudu and FandangoNOW.
In other words, if you’re after a console that doubles as an entertainment hub, the new Xbox is a good shout. It’s also the first console to support both Dolby Atmos sound (from launch) and Dolby Vision (due 2021).
It’s not all sherry and mince pies, though. As we recently reported, Samsung TV owners have been disappointed to discover that the Xbox Series X doesn’t support HDR10+.
MORE:
Read our Xbox Series X review
Read our Xbox Series S review
Or check out where to buy the PS5
Alternatively, browse our list of the best streaming services
(Pocket-lint) – Gaming mice are the high-end devices of the mouse world. They are designed to be more accurate, offer a more comfortable experience and are built to last – as gamers are likely to spend more time with their mouse than anyone else.
Top-of-the-range gaming mice also have multiple buttons, highly adjustable dots per inch (DPI) accuracy and a mass of settings that include everything from custom lighting to macros for specific games.
However, finding the right mouse for you can be tricky. People hold their mouse in different ways and have different sized hands that make purchasing a tricky business. A wide mouse with thumb rests and grips might be perfect for someone with large hands, but others might find a small and sleek mouse preferable, both in terms of fit and agility.
We run through a variety of gaming mice to see which are the best around, taking into account all the things gamers love most – RGB, responsiveness, number of buttons and, of course, value for money.
Best overall gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro
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2.4GHz wireless, low-latency Bluetooth 4.0 or wired USB connection
Swappable side grips and ergonomically textured design
Nine individually customisable RGB lighting zones
1.8 metre braided USB cable
Corsair Utility Engine (iCUE) compatible
18,000 max DPI, on-the-fly DPI switching via buttons and sniper mode
Eight programmable buttons
2,000Hz polling rate
The Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro is a true work of art and gaming precision. This is an ergonomically designed mouse with a comfortable textured grip that fits perfectly in the hand. It comes with a swappable side grip which keeps your fingers and thumbs off the gaming surface and allows for accurate mouse movements.
It’s wireless by design – capable of connecting either via wireless or low-latency Bluetooth. A USB wireless transceiver included in the box ensures an instant and responsive connection to your gaming machine via ultra-fast 1ms 2.4GHz wireless. But you can take the Dark Core RGB Pro with you and quickly connect to any other machine that supports Bluetooth in a flash.
As standard, this mouse can manage up to 50-hours of gaming on a single charge. If that doesn’t sound like enough then there’s also the Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE – a version that’s compatible with the MM1000 Qi wireless charging mat meaning you can keep the mouse going and going by popping it on the charging zone when not in use. The Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE is Qi capable – so not only can it be charged on the mat, but also with any other Qi charging pad you happen to possess. The standard version is not.
Using Corsair’s iCUE software you can do everything from changing the lighting to programming buttons and more. Here, you can customise the Dark Core’s nine main lighting zones with a number of different effects that including static, rainbow, colour pulse and colour shift or choose instant lighting to set the same colour across multiple Corsair devices with a single click.
The Dark Core RGB Pro has been upgraded over the previous model, with more RGB zones including a lighting bar under the thumb buttons that is split into sections and can be individually tweaked.
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This mouse supports up to 18,000 max DPI switchable on-the-fly with the buttons on the top. You can change between three main DPI modes which can be customised in the CUE software.
You can also add to your DPI options by changing one of the eight programmable buttons into a “Sniper” button. This is a fourth ultra-low DPI level for tiny and accurate movements. This needs to be pressed and held, but means you can quickly get back to your standard DPI much more easily too.
High-performance Omron switches provide a lightning-fast response and continue the theme of precision and accuracy. Easily accessible thumb buttons mean you can masterfully activate any setting or macro you want with a small movement of your hand too. Corsair has upped the polling rate of the new Dark Core RGB Pro too. So it’s accurate, responsive and agile.
1/10Pocket-lint
Verdict
The Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro is a solid all-rounder. It’s a multi-button mouse with great battery life, a comfortable design and brilliant specs too.
It’s superbly agile, accurate and customisable too. The highlights of this mouse include wired, wireless and Bluetooth connectivity options that make it easy to use on multiple machines with ease. We also really like the dual side grip setup which means your fingers are very rarely interfering with movement and you can keep on gaming until your heart’s content.
Best weight adjustable gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Logitech G502 Lightspeed
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Ergonomically textured thumb rest
114-gram standard weight with extra adjustable weights
Powerplay compatible
Lightspeed wireless technology
11 programmable buttons with hyper-fast scroll wheel
Logitech G Hub compatible for lighting controls, macros and various customisation options
25,600 max DPI, on-the-fly DPI switching via buttons with four custom settings and DPI shift mode
11 programmable buttons customisable with macros, actions and G-shift settings
Up to 60 hours battery life, fast charge capable
This is a mouse that’s not only crammed full of all the usual options, but also has a customisable weighting setup that allows you to adjust its heft to your personal preference.
Logitech’s G502 Lightspeed is a real looker, but it’s much more than that. It’s very much a right-handed mouse, with a mass of easy-access buttons on the left side and very little catering to lefties.
It’s incredibly light and nimble in the hand. It is also customisable in various ways. This mouse comes with 16 grams of extra weights that can be installed within the mouse via hidden flaps in the underside.
Lift the flap with the little G on it and you get access to a hidey-hole which is perfect for storing the USB wireless dongle when you need to travel with the mouse. The underneath of that flap also has room for some of the weights. You can install the two 4 gram weights here and the rest go under the other flap which surrounds the sensor.
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The G502 uses Logitech’s Lightspeed wireless technology to ensure it maintains a low-latency and reliable connection constantly and never lets you down. It also has fast charge capabilities which mean you can get around two and a half hours of battery life from a five-minute charge this way.
The G502 Lightspeed can manage as much as 60 hours of battery life and is also compatible with the Powerplay wireless charging system so it never needs plugging in if you splash out some extra cash.
One of our favourite features of this mouse is the mouse wheel. This is a hyper-fast scroll wheel similar to the one we saw on the Logitech G903. Click a button and you either have a tactile mouse wheel that gives a clicky feedback each time your scroll or an ultra-smooth, ultra-fast wheel that just spins and spins. This setup has a variety of potential uses, but is brilliant for just smashing through long webpages and documents in the blink of an eye. It’s also incredibly satisfying to use.
The Logitech G502 Lightspeed is controlled by Logitech G-Hub – a free download for Windows and Mac that allows you to tweak the various settings on the mouse and customise to your liking.
From within it, you can control the lighting of the two main RGB capable zones, adjust DPI levels, report rates and customise the setup of the buttons. This mouse has 11 different buttons, two of which are sideways presses on the mouse wheel, and they can all be tweaked in here. You can set specific commands (like Windows shortcuts), individual keypresses, macros or actions within this software. It’s possible to do things like assign a button press to start/stop OBS recordings for example. This system is incredibly flexible.
Then there’s G-Shift mode. This lets you add an additional action, button customisation or macro to any button on the mouse. This is then accessible when you activate G-Shift mode (via a key or button press). Essentially you then have 22 buttons instead of 11. Though you will have to remember which is programmed with what.
1/10Pocket-lint
Verdict
The G502 Lightspeed is one of our favourite gaming mice when it comes to customisation options. We love many of the little design features of this mouse that make a big difference. The ultra-smooth scroll wheel, the mass of programmable buttons, the reliable wireless connection and the utterly incredible battery life.
This mouse does come with a hefty price tag and it is a tad smaller in the hand than other mice we’ve tested, but its almost certainly worth adding to your shortlist if you’re shopping for a new gaming mouse. It’s bound not to disappoint.
Best RGB gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Corsair Nightsword RGB
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Customisable weight system
Four RGB lighting zones controllable in the iCue software
Six pre-set illumination effects
Patterned rubber grips, ergonomic design and thumb rest
Customised button mapping, surface calibration settings and macro settings
18,000 DPI max, 10 programmable buttons
1000Hz/500Hz/250Hz/125Hz report rates
We’ve seen a fair few gaming mice with RGB lighting, some are in-your-face, some are more subtle and understated.
The Corsair Nightsword verges on the latter, but with multiple lighting zones and numerous other features that make it appealing.
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The Corsair Nightsword is a brilliantly designed feature-packed mouse that has plenty going for it. We’ve suggested that it’s the best RGB mouse, but it’s much more than that. This is an affordable gaming mouse with all the bells and whistles.
It sports a contoured shape, a rubberised textured finish and a design for palm grip specifically for right-handed FPS and MOBA players. Another highlight is the tunable weight system, with six weights (three 4.5g and three 2.8g) that can be placed in different layouts in the underside compartment.
Add to that a design that includes 10 programmable buttons, with DPI switching buttons and multiple easy-access thumb buttons too.
For RGB lighting lovers, there are four lighting zones on this mouse – the logo, the rear, front and mouse wheel. There’s also a DPI indicator that can be tweaked in terms of colour too. All with the usual Corsair RGB goodness.
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The Nightsword has 11 programmable buttons, as well as the ability to switch DPI on the fly. Set three different DPI levels to switch between, as well as custom level for “sniper” mode that can be engaged by pressing and holding one of the thumb buttons to drop into an uber low DPI level for precise movement.
1/10Pocket-lint
Verdict
The Corsair Nightsword is a fantastic little mouse that’s packed full of features but without excessive cost which is refreshing.
It’s comfortable to use all day, whether working or gaming or both. Customisable lighting, buttons and weight systems round off a brilliant package that anyone will love. Unless, of course, you’re a lefty.
Best high-dpi multi-button mouse
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Razer Basilisk Ultimate
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Customisable scroll wheel resistance
Replaceable Multi-function paddle
Gaming-grade tactile scroll wheel with customisable resistance
Textured grips and an ergonomic grip
2.4 Ghz HyperSpeed Wireless technology
Razer Synapse 3 compatible
20,000 max DPI adjustable in five different levels
On-the-fly DPI switching via buttons with sensitivity clutch too
11 programmable buttons
The Basilisk Ultimate is a pinnacle of Razer’s design – a wireless mouse with multiple buttons, a nifty charging base, some colourful RGB lighting and interesting features too.
This mouse is packed full of features including a removable multi-function paddle that doubles as an oh-so-satisfying thumb button. This paddle can be customised within the Synapse software, but as default works as a sensitivity clutch. Press and hold the paddle in the middle of a game and you get a temporary reduction in DPI levels for accurate sniping or tiny mouse movements. Once you let go again you’re back to whatever level you were using before.
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The other fun feature is the customisable scroll wheel. On the underside of the mouse, there’s a tiny wheel you can roll to change the way the mouse wheel works. Roll it one way and the scroll wheel becomes smooth and fast, roll it the other and you get a clicky feedback with every tiny movement of the wheel. This is a nice little customisation option that we’ve not seen elsewhere.
That mouse wheel is also sideways clickable and this combination of buttons, along with things like the DPI buttons meaning you get a total of 11 programmable buttons with even more when you engage Hypershift.
This is a wireless gaming mouse with a focus on comfort and usability. When not in use you can pop it on the accompanying charging base to refill the juice. That dock also has a USB passthrough meaning you can plug the wireless dongle directly into it, removing the need for using two ports on your PC for one mouse.
Easy access DPI switching buttons, wonderfully contoured and textured thumb rest and brilliantly ergonomic design make this mouse incredibly comfortable and pleasant to use.
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate uses Razer’s HyperSpeed Wireless technology that provides accurate, lag-free wireless gaming goodness. It’s also designed to run for as much as 100 hours with the lighting turned off – though we feel that might be a little optimistic under normal use, but the dock makes it easy enough to charge anyway.
This mouse also has an insane 14 customisable lighting zones for you to play around within the software.
From Synapse you also get access to tweak the mouse buttons, adjust DPI levels and more. You can set up several different profiles, with five on-board memory profiles on the mouse you can switch between using a small button located underneath.
You can also choose levels of DPI switching in five varying levels up to 20,000 max. Set stages here and you can then switch between them using the two buttons on top near the mouse wheel.
We enjoyed this mouse, particularly for its thumb buttons and mass of customisable settings. The textured grips, ergonomic design and thumb rest make it comfortable and capable during gaming sessions too.
With found the Razer Basilisk to be fantastic for FPS sessions, but also great for everyday use, surfing, browsing and working too. It’s really accurate and the wireless connection never let us down. Meaning we could never blame our tools when we failed to claim a Battle Royale victory or outshoot an opponent.
1/19Pocket-lint
Verdict
If you’re looking for something with a mass of buttons, plenty of programmability options and a stylish design, then look no further.
The Razer Basilisk Ultimate is easily one of the most comfortable and flexible wireless gaming mice we’ve tried.
A ridiculous battery life, snazzy customisable lighting and a convenient charging dock certainly round off an awesome gaming package.
Most stylish gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Roccat Kain 202 AIMO
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Roccat Owl-Eye optical sensor with 16000 DPI
1.8m micro USB cable
2.4GHz wireless
1000mAh inbuilt Li-Ion rechargeable battery with up to 50 hours charge
Omron switches
If style and charm is something you need from your gaming mouse and you’re just a tad bored of boring black mice, then this mouse from Roccat might be the answer.
The Roccat Kain 202 AIMO is not only a pleasantly affordable, feature-rich mouse, it’s also a looker.
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This is a compact gaming mouse with some pleasantly understated style. It’s designed to be both ergonomic and durable with a dirt-resistant, anti-wear coating that should keep things clean even for the messiest gamer.
The Kain 202 AIMO has a number of things going for it. Firstly, a battery life that means it can last up to 50 hours before it needs plugging in. Then there are the eight programmable buttons, which can be doubled up with Roccat’s Easy-Shift technology. Then a multitude of settings that include five customisable DPI levels up to 16,000, a tuneable click, scroll and pointer speed as well as adjustable lift-off distance.
Roccat claims the Kain 202 has ultra-fast Titan Click technology and an Owl-Eye optical sensor that make it agile, accurate and responsive. It shows too as this mouse is a real performer, both in game and out of it.
1/10Pocket-lint
Verdict
Although the Roccat Kain 202 AIMO isn’t necessarily the most feature-packed mouse on our list, it is probably the most beautiful. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we love the white colour of this mouse and the durable bodywork that should keep it clean for yonks.
Beauty is more than skin deep too and that shows with this gaming mouse. Backed by a variety of features that include high DPI settings, some funky lighting and neat Easy-Shift button customisation too.
At this price, the Kain 202 is a bargain.
Best large gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Mad Catz R.A.T. PRO X3 Supreme
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Exoframe size adjustable structure with swappable grips and rests
16000 DPI
On-board memory for up to 10 profiles
400 IPS, 50G acceleration, 3000 Hz report rate
Omron switches
10 buttons
If your hands are slightly on the large side, then choosing the right gaming mouse can be tricky. Comfort is a problem and you might find that your thumb can get in the way, at least we do anyway. It’s often hard to find a comfortable, suitably sized mouse that you can use without problem.
The Mad Catz R.A.T. PRO X3 Supreme may well be the weird-looking solution to that issue. We’ve seen Mad Catz mice in the past, but this is the all-singing, all-dancing, supreme version which not only boasts stylish looks but plenty of nifty features too.
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It sports all the usual things you’d expect from a decent gaming mouse. 10 buttons, 16,000 max DPI, onboard memory for profiles and more. But the highlight is the design. Like other R.A.T. mice, this mouse is extendable and ergonomically crafted to be a great fit and one that can be customised to your needs.
It also comes with swappable rests for both sides of the mouse, extra palm rests, pinkie rests and thumb rests that can be swapped out in a matter of seconds. The feet can also be changed and there are even different scroll wheel covers included in the box as well, so you can change how that feels.
1/8Pocket-lint
Verdict
The result of all this is a highly customisable mouse that can be tweaked to fit your particular needs. A real eye-catcher with multiple buttons and a multitude of customisation options. Perfect for gamers who aren’t sure what mouse is for them.
Best MOBA/MMO mouse
Pocket-lint
Razer Naga Pro
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20,000 DPI
19 customisable buttons
2 RGB lighting zones
117g weight
Swappable button sideplates
650 IPS, 50G acceleration
MMO and MOBA gamers are generally a different breed of player. They’re often found trying to micromanage and pull off all sorts of moves with multiple macros and complex button presses. If you’re that sort of gamer there are a few mice out there for you. But what if you like MMO gaming but also like shooters? Well, the Razer Naga Pro maybe just what you need.
This mouse seemingly tries to cater to all with an interesting design that not only has everything you’d expect from a gaming mouse, but also has swappable side buttons meaning you can change the thumb button access depending on what you’re playing.
Two side buttons for FPS or 12 for MMO/MOBAs the choice is yours.
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These side plates are held on with magnets, so they’re easy to snap off and on at a whim, to suit your needs. You can then customise the buttons within the Razer Synapse software, setting macros, button presses, actions and more. With Razer’s Hypershift tech, you can also assign a secondary button action when in that mode too, making the number of programmable buttons likely more than anyone would need.
The Naga Pro thrills in other areas too. One of those is its ability to connect in wired, Bluetooth or wireless mode. In Bluetooth, with RGB lighting off you can get as much as 150 hours of battery life out of it too.
Throw in five onboard memory profiles, five custom DPI levels, 100% PTFE feet and a Pixart Optical sensor and you’ve got a real gaming powerhouse.
1/9Pocket-lint
Verdict
The Razer Naga Pro is a fantastic option for gamers who need a different mouse setup for particular games but don’t want to own multiple mice and the expense that comes with that. It’s all-singing, all-dancing and generally fantastic.
Best lightweight gaming mouse
Pocket-lint
Glorious PC Gaming Race Model 0
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12,000 max DPI
50 G Max acceleration
250 IPS Max Speed
~0.7mm Lift off Distance
Up to, 1,000 Hz adjustable polling rate
67g weight
6 buttons
Professional gamers will tell you that weight is all that matters. A lightweight mouse is easier to move swiftly, even on lower (more accurate) DPI settings.
That’s where the Glorious PC Gaming Race Model 0 comes in. This mouse weighs in at just 67 grams and delivers speed in other areas too.
It’s designed with slick PTFE feet known as G-Skates and a lightweight flexible USB cable that makes the entire thing nimble and agile.
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It sports a honeycomb design and some seriously snazzy RGB lighting thanks to the lighting strips on either side which send a satisfying glow through the inside of the mouse.
Simple software allows you to adjust DPI levels (switchable via the button underneath), adjust lighting, tweak polling rate, lift off distance and more.
1/8Pocket-lint
Verdict
The Model O is a surprisingly affordable gaming mouse with fantastic style and gaming prowess. The lightweight design makes it nimble and agile and it’s incredible feature-rich for such an affordable mouse too. It might be tough to keep clean in the long run, but there’s no denying it’s a looker and a great bit of kit.
Others to consider
1/9Pocket-lint
Roccat Burst Pro
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Lightweight 68g design
16,000 max DPI adjustable in five levels
Roccat Titan Optical Switches
Honeycomb design with outer shell
Eight programmable button
The Roccat Burst Pro is the company’s answer to the wave of lightweight honeycomb mice that have hit the market of late. With the benefits of a hollow mouse but without the danger of dirt and dust build-up on the internals. It’s also affordable but doesn’t skimp on quality. The Burst Pro has an accurate Owl-Eye optical sensor and Roccat’s Titan Optical Switches making it accurate and robust – guaranteed upto 100 million clicks. This mouse won’t burst your wallet, but it might make you pro.
1/8Pocket-lint
Endgame Gear XM1
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50 CPI to 16,000 CPI sensitivity
50 G Max acceleration
450 IPS Max Speed
2mm Lift off Distance
250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz adjustable polling rate
The Endgame Gear XM1 might not look like anything special, but don’t let that fool you. It’s understated in its gaming power but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. It’s accurate, responsive and swift too. Thought has clearly gone into the design and we love the simple touches like the ultra-flexible cable which doesn’t tug or snag on the desk.
It’s affordable and serious. If you don’t care about the thrills of RGB and more premium mice and just want something that does the job, then you’re in for treat.
1/11Pocket-lint
Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini
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8500 max DPI
300 IPS max speed
35G max acceleration
100% PTFE feet
Speed flex cable
62-gram weight
6 programmable buttons with Hypershift
If you have smaller hands or prefer a diddy mouse to do your gaming with then the Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini may well be the device for you. This is a titchy little mouse which is designed to be lightweight, comfortable and agile too.
It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of other gaming mice on this list, but it makes up for that in other ways.
It weighs just 62 grams, sports six programmable buttons (more with Razer Hypershift) and is surprisingly nifty. We also like the optional anti-slip grips included in the box which make the mouse easier to grip and meaner looking too. Small mouse, small price, big personality. What’s not to like?
We’d recommend combining it with the Razer Gigantus V2 for the hilarious joy of using a tiny mouse on a gigantic mouse mat.
1/13Pocket-lint
Mad Catz R.A.T. 6+
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11 programmable buttons (including side slung additional mouse wheel)
Up tp 12,000 DPI
50G acceleration, 2,0000Hz report rate
131 grams
The Mad Catz R.A.T. 6+ is one of the most bonkers looking mice you’re ever likely to see. It’s also feature-rich for this price too. It boasts an adjustable weight system, multiple programmable buttons and is even able to extend in size as well.
We feel like this mouse is probably the perfect choice for those who aren’t too sure what size mouse they need or gamers who vary their grip between palm, claw or finger-tip. A comfortable thumb rest, easy access buttons and extendable length make this mouse ergonomically enjoyable.
Add in all the usual features you’d expect from a decent gaming mouse like DPI switching, profiles, macros and customisable buttons and you’ve certainly got a great package. The R.A.T. 6+ might not be the best mouse on our list, but it’s certainly worth considering.
A welcome refresh has done Linn’s entry-level streaming system wonders, even if it isn’t the most entertaining of its kind we’ve heard
For
Clean, organised sound
Comprehensive connectivity
Easy to use app
Against
Lacks verve
Build not premium
At the risk of sounding like a hair-ruffling aunt greeting her nephew after a lengthy absence, oh boy, hasn’t streaming grown? That thought comes to mind as we scan the all-inclusive specs of the new Linn Majik DSM.
Ten years ago, we called the original Majik DSM “an interesting proposition”, owing to its then-rare combination of pre and power amplification and music streamer. Fast forward to today and while the Majik has become Linn’s best-selling streaming product of the past decade, the world of music streaming has grown somewhat since.
Audio hardware has followed suit and just-add-speakers streaming systems are now familiar propositions. When executed effectively, they tick the boxes of convenience and connectivity while still offering a great sound. Linn was there at the start, one of few streaming-savvy hi-fi brands around when Spotify was in its infancy, but the competition has now opened up. So how does its entry-level streamer system stack up at the more affordable end of the high-end market?
Features
(Image credit: Linn)
Like its predecessor, the new Linn Majik DSM has been designed to be the nucleus of an AV and hi-fi system – a one-box solution to which a pair of stereo speakers can be connected. It welcomes all manner of sources, with built-in wi-fi and an ethernet socket the gateways to music (up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM) stored on a network and from streaming services such as Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz and Apple Music.
Linn Majik DSM tech specs
(Image credit: Linn)
Hi-res Up to 24-bit/192 kHz
Max power 100W x2 (4 ohms)
Inputs HDMI, optical, coaxial, USB type B, line-level / MM phono
Outputs HDMI ARC, RCA, 6.3mm headphone jack
Finishes x1
Dimensions (hwd) 10 x 35 x 35cm
Weight 4.1kg
There’s internet radio via TuneIn, too, while Bluetooth and AirPlay are quick and easy streaming alternatives for Bluetooth-supporting and Apple devices respectively.
Physical sources from CD players and turntables to TVs and laptops are catered for, courtesy of eight inputs – four 4K-compatible HDMIs and one USB Type B, optical, coaxial (which can be configured as an output) and line-level stereo RCAs.
That single analogue input can be configured as a moving-magnet phono input for anyone wishing to connect a turntable with an MM cartridge. Those going down this route can feel safe in the knowledge that the built-in phono stage uses architecture derived from the company’s reference Urika II model.
The Urika II isn’t the only Linn product to have had its engineering sprinkled over the Majik DSM, either. In addition to Linn enhancing its 100W-per-channel Class D amplification, and implementing a digital volume control in a further effort to reduce distortion, the Majik DSM’s DAC design has been trickled down from the flagship Katalyst streamer. This promises improved upsampling, a lower noise reference voltage and an ultra-low jitter clock for greater timing accuracy.
Build
(Image credit: Linn)
The Majik DSM’s aesthetic predictably echoes that of the recently refreshed Selekt DSM, with its stylish, glossy black facade, a monochromatic OLED display and six handy preset buttons that offer neat shortcuts to content you can select in the Linn control app (Linn App for iOS; Linn Kazoo for Android).
However, the Majik DSM forgoes the Selekt DSM’s top-panel multi-control dial and nicely contoured underside edges, signifying its pecking order below the Selekt in the Linn streaming system range. But while this is entry-level territory for Linn, the Majik DSM’s aluminium casework doesn’t feel quite as premium as we might have expected at this price. It’s far from shoddy, though, and we’re generally fond of its classy minimalist appearance.
Unlike the Selekt DSM, the Majik doesn’t have Linn’s advanced Katalyst DAC upgrade or the option for surround speaker terminals. But what it does have is plentiful – as well as the above, that also includes control via the new ‘Linn App’ for iOS users and Linn’s Space Optimisation software.
The former now has a tweaked interface that offers quicker, easier access to browse, search, room selection and system settings, but the headline feature over the former Kazoo iOS app is its universal search, which brings up results across streaming services you’re logged onto and stored music on your network.
Search for ‘Michael Jackson’, for example, and all MJ tracks and albums on our NAS drive and in the Tidal library appear before us. Though initially perturbed by this function having replaced the in-app Tidal search bar, we soon find ourselves on board with this more encompassing method of navigation.
(Image credit: Linn)
While Android users will get the Linn App shortly, for now, it’s still the inferior, but functional, Kazoo app. Alternative control is offered through the Majik DSM’s support for Roon, for subscribers of the increasingly popular playback software. There is also a physical remote control, which remains the simplest go-to for volume adjustment.
Linn’s Space Optimisation software (‘space’ stands for ‘Speaker Placement And Custom Environment’) ensures the optimum performance of the Majik DSM and its partnering speakers in your listening environment. It builds a full acoustic picture of your room – based on the placement of connected speakers and the properties of the room – identifies the frequencies being distorted and adjusts frequency response accordingly.
This configuration is typically performed by a Linn specialist, however, the software, which is accessible through Linn’s website, is comprehensive and relatively straightforward to use. The software maps our test room’s dimensions, including wall contours and special features such as doors, and we select the pre-installed profile for our partnering speakers, the ATC SCM50 – Linn says Space Optimisation has profiles for ‘hundreds’ of speakers. Once our profile has been saved, we can simply turn the Majik DSM’s Space Optimisation on or off from the website.
We activate Space Optimisation and note that it draws out some of the bass richness, making way for a cleaner, slightly leaner balance. The presentation has clear gains in articulacy, though it loses some musicality and cohesion in the process and we end up preferring it deactivated. For troublesome rooms, however, Space Optimisation could prove handy in cleaning up unwanted frequencies.
Sound
(Image credit: Linn)
With or without the neat software, the Linn Majik DSM performs much as we’d expect – that isn’t a criticism, just that Linn is so pleasingly consistent. Like many Linn products before it, it has an open and expansive soundstage filled with crisp, precise detail, and is wonderfully eloquent across the frequency spectrum.
Our listening begins with a newly released live recording of John Williams’ Theme From Jurassic Park and the Linn rises to the occasion, with its wide-open sound only enhancing the sonic spectacle. The horns have headroom to soar, the woodwinds acres of room to weave softly beneath and the surging strings come to the fore with presence and precision, carrying the detail and dynamics necessary to evoke the necessary sentiment in its listener.
Radical Face’s Sunlight proves a great indication of the Majik DSM’s analytical, articulate approach too. The Majik DSM handles the acoustic plucking shrewdly, each twanged note tangible and dynamically varied. Even when the tunefully delivered descending bass line, crisply-drawn drumbeat and the subdued piano melody crash the initial party, the Linn keeps tabs on every element, steering everything into the right direction like a conductor controlling an orchestra.
The denser the composition gets, as Ben Cooper‘s storytelling and the bed of strings enter the mix, the more impressed we are by its refusal to sound flustered. We’ve come to expect this kind of precision from Linn products and the Majik DSM doesn’t stray far from that.
10 of the best songs to test your speakers
The Linn’s openness and organisation plays into the hands of Oneohtrix Point Never’s Toys 2, the experimental orchestration having space to unfold while never sounding too condensed or incoherent. Each squeak, fizz and scratch comes through with cleanliness and clarity, and an openness that the more affordable What Hi-Fi? Award-winning Naim Uniti Atom cannot match.
However, the interplay between the synths underpinning the track isn’t as tight through the Linn, as its Naim rival stitches the sequences together with more rhythmic purpose. The Naim, while not as technically adroit as the Linn in some areas, comes across as the more entertaining machine.
Similarly, as we move onto Gang of Youth’s What Can I Do If the Fire Goes Out?, the Linn doesn’t quite relay the excitement of this relentless foot-tapper of a track. The Naim is more energetic, pummelling through the cyclical drumbeat and piercingly shrill synths, whereas the Majik DSM’s rendition is comparatively reserved. It doesn’t exactly rob the track of all energy and drive, it simply comes across as more concerned with dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s than simply writing the letters in big, bold, colourful text, as the track demands.
Verdict
The Linn Majik DSM is not as versatile and all-encompassing in the sound department as it is for its features and that ultimately costs it a fifth star. However, it is still a highly desirable machine – especially for the music fan whose sonic preference errs more on the side of analytical than animated. It can accommodate a wide range of sources, is easy to use and sounds good.
Music streaming has come a long way over the past few years, and Linn’s just-add-speakers system shows just how high-quality, convenient and flexible such propositions can be.
The first Macs with Apple’s ARM processor M1 are fast devices that are suitable for everyday use and that allow comparison with x – models don’t have to be afraid of.
ARM Macs with M1 processor in the test: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini M1 processor Apple’s influence Individual meetings Conclusion and test table Article in c’t 1 / 2021 read Apple has the middle of the year 2020 announced transition from Intel CPUs with x 85 – Technology started towards in-house ARM processors: Since mid-November 2020 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini are available in new versions, all of which use Apple’s M1 chip.
The M1 is closely related to the latest iPhone and iPad processor A 14 related: There are also four Icestorm cores trimmed for energy efficiency (4 MB shared L2 cache), but also four (instead of in A 14 two) powerful Firestorm cores (12 MB shared L2 cache). All eight CPU cores can work together on pending tasks; Firestorm is left out in favor of the energy balance when the CPU load is low. This principle, known as big.LITTLE or DynamiQ, has been standard in ARM processors for years – unlike in the x 86 – World.
As a system-on-chip (SoC ) the M1 has a number of other function blocks on board. There is a GPU with eight cores à 101 Execution units, a block with 15 Special cores for AI calculations, a large system-wide cache (probably 16 MByte) Controller for PCIe 4.0 and Thunderbolt 3 as well as the T2 controller, which was previously installed as a separate chip in Macs. The latter not only acts as a security processor for TouchID authentication and SSD encryption, but also generally as an SSD controller, signal processor for the webcam and as an audio codec – functions that it has already taken over in previous Intel Macs. In the case of M1 Macs, Broadcom is no longer the supplier of the WLAN adapter; the devices are now transmitting according to Wi-Fi 6 (11 ax) instead of previously only Wi-Fi 5 (11 ac).
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