Sound

Watch the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2020 event live at 2pm today!

(Image credit: Future)

Today we announce the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2020 Product of the Year winners. And you can watch along live via the video below.

The event starts at 2pm GMT (6am PT, 9am ET, 1am Friday AEDT).

Last month we revealed 111 winners across 26 categories and on Thursday 5th November we will be anointing the Product of the Year in each category for the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2020, in association with Sevenoaks Sound and Vision.

We will also be announcing five winners for the first time: the Readers’ Award, Temptation Award, our Innovation of the Year, a new addition to the What Hi-Fi? Hall of Fame, and this year’s winner of the Outstanding Contribution Award.

Will Samsung or Sony take home the TV Product of the Year? Will Rega remain undefeated in the turntable category? And which pair of wireless headphones will earn the ultimate accolade? All will soon be revealed.

And remember, the special issue of the Awards magazine will be on sale the following day, in shops and online.

See all the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2020 winners
The What Hi-Fi? Hall of Fame

Bang & Olufsen’s gorgeous Golden Collection celebrates 95 years

(Image credit: Bang & Olufsen)

Bang & Olufsen is celebrating 95 years in the business by launching some of its “most popular and enduring products” in a new gold colourway.

The Danish audio firm, which started life in 1925 when Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen began making radios n their attic of Olufsen’s family home, has treated the – deep breath – Beolab 50 and flagship Beolab 90 speakers; Beosound Balance, Beosound 2, Beoplay A9 and Beosound A1 2nd Generation wireless speakers; the Beoplay H95 headphones and Beoplay E8 3rd Generation earbuds; and Beovision Harmony TV to gold finishes that collectively combine golden-hued aluminium, earth-toned textile, genuine lambskin, solid oak and Carrara marble.

Today! Watch the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2020 event live

(Image credit: Bang & Olufsen)

For example, the Beovision Harmony TV features a golden-hued aluminium sound centre with a matching floor stand, complete with a Beoremote One control that’s made out of a single piece of gold tone aluminium. The Beoplay H95 marries sand-coloured lambskin earpads with a golden aluminium user interface on the earcups, while the Beolab 50 and Beolab 90 boast golden-hued aluminium detailing, sand-coloured textile and hand-crafted light oak accents.

This all-new Golden Collection will be available from Bang & Olufsen and third-party retailers from 17th November, the company’s official birthday.

(Image credit: Bang & Olufsen)

Pricing, which is unsurprisingly at a premium compared to existing finishes, is as follows: Beosound Balance (£1750, $2250); Beoplay A9 (£2250, $3000), Beosound 2 (£2250, $2250); Beovision Harmony (£12900, $19400); Beolab 50 (£26,000, $40,000); Beolab 90 (£61,000, $85,000); Beosound A1 2nd Generation (£200, $250); Beoplay H95 (£700, $800); Beoplay E8 3rd generation (£300, $350).

MORE:

Best B&O headphones 2020

Bang & Olufsen at 90: behind the scenes

Naim and Focal serve up super savings on complete systems

heise + | Monitor home appliances with Fritzbox and Telegram

Washer or dryer not emptied? With a RasPi, a couple of smart sockets and some software, I’ll show you how you will never forget it.

Monitor home appliances with Fritzbox and Telegram Registration of DECT sockets Registration procedure Fritzbox Test message Thresholds Configuration files Systemd Service Unit Conclusion Article in Make Magazine 5 / 2020 read Regardless of whether you live for rent, in a condominium or in a single-family house, household appliances such as washing machines or dryers are often located outside the apartment in mezzanines, communal basements or laundry rooms. And even if not, the same problems still arise: You forget to take the laundry out of the machine and hang it up, to empty the dishwasher or you wait unnecessarily in front of the porthole of the washing machine until it has released the magnetic lock.

To get out of the way, I was looking for an inconspicuous solution without having to touch the building cabling, intervening in the electronics of the devices or, as with the laundry-ready detector, sticking sensors to the devices and annoying cable strips to have to move to the control module. My choice fell on the smart, DECT communicating sockets from the company AVM of the DECT model 200 in connection with a Raspberry Pi and my Fritzbox. I still had three of these sockets from a previous project.

The Raspberry Pi asks about the AVM Home Automation API the current power consumption of the devices connected to the sockets at the Fritzbox. If defined threshold values are exceeded or not reached, it sends a message to a telegram group on behalf of the respective socket. The project software is written in Python and uses a library to communicate with the Fritzbox. In order to keep the program code as simple as possible, I deliberately do not use any of the existing libraries for sending the Telegram messages.

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Next Mi Mix to arrive in 2021, some impressive specs rumored

Xiaomi’s Mi Mix lineup has always been about innovation. However, this year the lineup is on pause and we should expect the next phone to arrive in 2021, said Digital Chat Station, a Chinese leakster with solid record.

According to him, the specs are going to be mightily impressive and instead of a wrap-around screen, this time Xiaomi will introduce a folding display.

Last Xiaomi Mi Mix that actually hit the stores came with a sliding screen

The specs sheet looks fiery with a 200W fast-charging solution, and yes, that pun was intended. We already have the Mi 10 Ultra that supports 120W charging over the wire and tops 40% of the battery in five minutes while reaching a full charge in 26 minutes. During our tests, we established the phone gets very hot and we have no reason to believe it won’t get hotter with a rumored 200W solution.

The display is said to be a foldable panel with QHD resolution. We don’t know whether it will be a clamshell-like the Motorola Razr and Galaxy Z Flip or a book-like solution like the Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Fold2. Guess we have to wait and see but the rumor does sound promising.

Source (in Chinese) | Via

Best 13-inch laptop cases 2020: Make sure your laptop’s protected

(Pocket-lint) – Modern laptops are as slim and lightweight as they’ve ever been, and that means many of them are absolutely gorgeous to look at. That said, it’s also true that they largely don’t cope well with even small drops or bangs, so getting a case for travel or storage is a must.

Best laptop: Top general and premium notebooks for working from home and more

There are plenty of cases out there that cater to all sizes, but 13-inch laptops are increasingly being seen as the default size that most people end up with. If you’re looking for a case for your new 13-inch laptop, whether it’s a Windows machine, a Apple MacBook or Chromebook, we’ve got some great options for you to pick from right here.

The best 13-inch laptop cases to buy today

Twelve South

Twelve South Journal

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Twelve South makes a whole heap of great accessories for a variety of devices, and we’ve been using the Journal case for our laptop for a good while now.

It’s sturdy without being totally hard and offers nice protection while also bringing with it an obvious touch of class, thanks to its leather construction.

Pocket-lint

Woolnut Leather & Wool Sleeve

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If you’re into the leather aesthetic of Twelve South’s case, but don’t want to fuss around with a zip, Woolnut’s come up with a great option with this sleeve.

You can slide most 13-inch laptops in and out fairly easily, but with enough friction that they won’t fall out accidentally. That said, it’s built with MacBooks specifically in mind, so might be a risk for other models.

JETech

JETech Laptop Sleeve

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If you’re looking for something a tad more basic, but also a case that’s much more likely to fit all manner of 13-inch laptops, this could be a success.

JETech’s case is really impressive for the price, with solid build quality and really good cushioning to keep your device safe and sound.

Inateck

Inateck Case

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For a slightly tighter fit and less roomy case, Inateck’s got you covered with this excellent case.

It’s also got a handy external pocket for storing cables, dongles, or whatever else you can fit in it. A water resistant coating means you can rely on it in advserse conditions, too.

Rainyear

Rainyear Case

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If value is your number one concern, and you want a case that doesn’t even break into double figures on the price front, Rainyear has got your covered with this no-frills sleeve.

It might not be made of the fanciest materials, but it’ll give you laptop some much-needed cushioning without breaking the bank.

Writing by Max Freeman-Mills.

PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X: Dolby Vision and Atmos support

The next generation consoles will debut in a few days: Sony PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Detailed tests of all devices will be available in the days, so we will know how consoles work well in terms of temperatures and achieved volume. Access to multimedia content also remains an important issue. The consoles will support popular VOD applications, there will also be Ultra HD Blu-ray drives that will support Blu-ray discs with movies and games with a capacity of up to 100 GB. We finally got to know the details of support for two Dolby technologies – Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The Xbox Series X console will perform best, although it cannot be denied that people counting on Dolby Vision support from discs will be disappointed.

We got to know detailed information on support for techniques Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S.

We are already testing the Sony PlayStation 5 console! Our first impressions

Dolby Vision is an enhanced HDR format that uses dynamic metadata for each image frame to present the displayed image more naturally. Dolby Atmos, on the other hand, is a multi-channel audio format that uses ceiling speakers to create surround sound. We learned about the support for Dolby techniques in the upcoming consoles from Sony and Microsoft. The worst is PlayStation 5, which at the time of its premiere will not support Dolby Vision anywhere – neither on UHD Blu-ray discs, nor in stringing or in games. There will be support for Dolby Atmos, but only on Blu-ray and UHD Blu-ray. It is surprising that there is no support for apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.

DualSense controller – The test is falling on the example of Astro’s Playroom

The Xbox Series X looks much better in this respect. Here Dolby Vision will be supported in VOD applications and in games – the first games prepared for Dolby Vision will appear next year. Unfortunately, even the Xbox Series X will not support Dolby Vision for Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. In the case of Dolby Atmos, the technology will be supported in all three cases, i.e. games, VOD applications and physical discs. For Xbox Series S, support is the same for games and streaming. For obvious reasons, we do not count physical discs here, because the console does not have an optical drive. Of course, in the case of Dolby Vision, there may be a software update in the future that will add support for Dolby Vision for both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. This would not even be surprising, considering that even in dedicated players support for Dolby Vision appears only in the next firmware updates.

Source: LinkedIn Yoeri Geutskens

heise + | Samsung Galaxy Buds Live in-ear headphones with noise cancellation tested

Samsung’s headphones have a long battery life and good sound. However, the unusual shape does not only bring advantages.

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Live Bluetooth headphones are shaped like beans. They are made of hard plastic and therefore do not adapt to the ear canal as seamlessly as headphones with silicone attachments. This also means: Like other hard plastic in-ears, such as the Airpods from Apple, the Galaxy Buds Live does not fit every ear. A soft rubber attachment can be exchanged on the rear part – Samsung supplies two sizes. But in our experience, that doesn’t make a big difference: if the buds don’t sit properly, they don’t fit and it’s better to use another model. If they fit, however, they are very comfortable and hardly noticeable in the ear.

The fit has a clear impact on the sound. If the buds, each weighing around 6 grams, sit right in the ear, the sound is full and clear. Both bass and treble can be heard precisely. The sound can be adjusted with ready-made modes in the app. The bass on our measuring head in the c’t laboratory was unrealistically strong, which did not match the subjective impression of several test persons. One reason for this is the sound adjustments made by the microphones directed into the ear canal. The buds keep compared with our reference headphones Sennheiser HD 600 in sound measurement with good, only at very They drop at high frequencies.

Striking: The bass sounds pleasantly full, although the Buds Live is not stuck in the ear like a plug due to its design. In everyday life this is quite pleasant, as you don’t feel so disconnected from your surroundings and you don’t have any unpleasant background noises from breathing, eating or drinking. Disadvantage: The active noise suppression called ANC for Open Type is almost ineffective in everyday life. It doesn’t keep annoying noises at bay as reliably as with good over-ear headphones or in-ears with silicone attachments, which close the ear better. The suppression of low frequencies up to 600 Hertz, as promised by Samsung, works poorly.

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StreamView brings Nokia televisions for 300 to 1200 euros and streaming boxes

The Austrian manufacturer StreamView brings a range of smart TVs and a streaming box to European retailers under the licensed brand name Nokia. Of seven TVs, six models represent 3840 × 2160 pixels (Ultra HD); only one 32 – Zöller is satisfied with 1920 × 1080 pixels (Full HD). The top model is 75 inches in size.

All seven smart TVs come with a preinstalled Android 9 operating system. They show 60 Hertz, light up depending on the model with 250 to 350 cd / m² and process 10 Bit per color channel. The specified 178 -Grad viewing angles speak for VA panels. HDMI 2.0 ports transmit Ultra HD signals with 58 Hertz – one at a time outputs sound to the AV receiver using the ARC (Audio Return Channel) function, even if the TV-internal streaming apps are used.

USB 2.0 ports, optical audio outputs, Ethernet, jack connections, Wi-Fi 5 (WLAN 802. 11 ac), Bluetooth 4.2, stereo speakers with 6 to 14 Watt output power and triple tuner for DVB-T2, DVC-C and DVB-S2 round off the equipment.

Nokia Smart TVs and streaming boxes from StreamView (8 images) Nokia Stream Box 8000

(Image: StreamView) High prices at first glance The prices seem high: The 32 – Zöller costs 300 euros, for which there are significantly larger smart TVs elsewhere. The other models cost 450 Euro (43 Customs), 500 Euro (50 Customs), 550 Euro (55 Customs), 600 Euro (58 Customs), 700 Euro (65 inches) or 1200 Euro (75 Inch). The 75 -Zöller Nokia 3840 A is priced in the upper class without having unusual specifications. The specified 320 cd / m² are sufficient hardly for a particularly nice HDR picture.

A similar problem overtakes the Nokia Streaming Box 8000: It brings the operating system Android TV 10 including streaming apps such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix on televisions without their own smart TV functions. With 100 However, it is more expensive than established alternatives such as Google’s Chromecast or Amazon’s Fire TV Stick.

The Nokia Streaming Box 8000 transmits via HDMI 2.0 Ultra HD with 3840 × 2160 pixels and 60 Hertz. On board are decoders for H. 264 and H. 265. StreamView does not comment specifically on HDR formats in the data sheet.

(mma)

heise + | Photogrammetry Guide: Going From Drone Photo To 3D Printing

Photogrammetry guide: How to get from the drone photo to 3D printing drone and camera Photogrammetry Blender Freshly printed Article in c’t 23 / 2020 read Photogrammetry digitizes the world, for example for the new Microsoft Flight Simulator . It uses data from satellite and aerial photography to render realistic-looking cities across the virtual world. This is partly done with algorithms that use photos to determine the height or the pitch of the roof of millions of houses. For example 192 Cities shine with really exact building reconstructions. You can also make such digital copies yourself and even use them to create models that you can touch. Requirements are a high-quality camera drone, photogrammetry software and a 3D printer.

Photogrammetry has existed since over 100 years. But only now is the technology showing its full potential thanks to the computing power of modern computers and a flood of available aerial photographs. For the reconstruction, you often photograph an object in such a way that the photos overlap like a panorama. So that the computer can infer the shape of a 3D model, each point must be visible on at least two photos. The procedure looks for striking common points, so-called connection points, on different photos. These are, for example, corners or striking texture details such as stains. The algorithm calculates both the position and orientation of the camera, referred to as “outer orientation” in photogrammetry, and the position of the connection points based on the angles to one another. With enough points a point cloud is created. The mathematics corresponds to the classic measurement by triangulation, only automatically and with many more connection points. An algorithm (“triangular meshing”) uses the point cloud to determine a model with closed surfaces. Finally, textures can be placed on this. In contrast to competing processes such as laser scanning, these are already available thanks to the photos.

The areas of application for the technology are diverse. It is used in surveying, for example when preparing topographic maps or for cadastral surveys. In the construction industry, volumes of excavated earth, for example, are calculated using photogrammetry to determine removal and landfill costs. It is also useful to document accident sites in 3D or to reconstruct entire cities for films or games. We show you how you can use this technology and a commercially available drone to create a 3D model yourself and then use a 3D printer to produce a real model. The tower of a control room from the 12. Century. The method works for smaller objects without a drone, a smartphone camera is sufficient for a 3D model of grandma’s heirloom.

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Corsair HS70 Bluetooth – simultaneous use of cable and BT

For many of you, probably the name of the Corsair HS 70 sounds like familiar. No wonder, because the presented design is basically a refreshment of the device, which so far has been characterized by high sound quality, the same quality of workmanship, comfort and a great representation of space in games. The new HS headphones 70 are characterized by two options for connection to other devices: wired via 3.5 mm and wireless via Bluetooth. The model will work with Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X / S consoles, as well as with PC or smartphones. In Poland, the product will be available in stores until the end of November this year for the price 479, 99 PLN.

The new Corsair HS headphones 70 feature two connection options. Moreover, both connections can be used simultaneously. The gaming headset is also dedicated to many platforms.

Test of the Corsair Katar Pro mouse and the large Corsair MM mousepad 300 Pro

Corsair HS 70 Bluetooth allows both a wired connection with the console or a computer, and wireless via Bluetooth with a mobile device, which enables convenient conversation via messaging, listening to music or making phone calls during the game. Bluetooth connectivity provides full audio support in applications such as special mobile software for the Switch, while maintaining game sounds thanks to a wired connection to the Nintendo console. A detachable, unidirectional, noise-canceling microphone reduces ambient noise to help make your voice sound clear. In this edition we have a Discord certificate, which gives hope for a actually better microphone than last time (our review of the Corsair HS model 70 Wireless , located HERE).

Corsair MP SSD Test 400 4 TB – XXL size Quick QLC

Corsair headphones offer individually adjustable 50 – millimeter neodymium converters. The construction made of light aluminum and adjustable ear pads filled with soft memory foam are to ensure comfort even during long hours of gameplay. The volume and mute controls on the ear cup make it easy for the user to change settings at any time. After connecting the headphones to the computer via USB, you can freely adjust the settings, microphone volume and many other parameters using the Corsair iCUE software. HS 70 Thanks to the USB connection, Bluetooth also guarantees compatibility with Windows Sonic surround sound technology and Hi-Fi audio level 24 bits / 96 kHz. The built-in battery, in turn, will allow you to use wireless options for 30 hours on a single charge.

Source: Corsair

BlitzWolf BW-VP6 projector test – Native Full HD at a low price

Most of PurePC’s readers are computer enthusiasts. However, even the most die-hard PC fans will realize that the monitor screen is not suitable for everything. Watching a football match, an e-sports tournament or a party playing with several people on the pads are just a few of the situations where it is worth having a larger screen. The question is whether such occasional events are worth buying and keeping a TV at home? Especially if someone doesn’t watch TV at all? In addition, many people live in small studios, rent a flat or simply travel a lot. The golden mean may turn out to be a projector, which is small in itself, but offers a picture with a diagonal larger than many TV sets. Today we will check a cheap offer straight from China in the form of the BlitzWolf BW-VP6 model, which tempts with native Full HD resolution for a few hundred zlotys!

Author: Przemysław Banasiak

The name BlitzWolf is surely known to fans of shopping in the Middle Kingdom. This brand belongs to the Chinese sales platform Banggood, although it is also available on Aliexpress, Amazon or through intermediaries on the native Allegro. The Chinese offer a lot of consumer electronics. From chargers, through cables, powerbanks, headphones, bluetooth speakers, soundbars, lamps, smart home elements, selfists, projectors and many other devices. Today we will focus on the last of the mentioned groups, i.e. projectors. More precisely, on the relatively fresh BlitzWolf BW-VP6 model, which offers, among other things, native resolution 1356 x 1080 pixels, two built-in speakers, keystone adjustment or the ability to play materials straight from a pendrive. All this at a really attractive price for Polish conditions of about 745 PLN.

BlitzWolf BW-VP6 is one of the cheapest available on the market Full HD projectors additionally equipped with built-in speakers.

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BlitzWolf BW-BS Test 14 – Cheap and good stabilizer image

BlitzWolf BW-VP6 is a device with dimensions 300 x 130 x 225 (width x height x depth) millimeters and weighs about 2.8 kilograms. We are talking about a projector using LCD technology and a LED lamp, the life of which is declared on 40 000 hours. As I mentioned earlier, we’re talking about native Full HD resolution, and we can choose the projection size from 53 to 200 inches (projector-plane distance from 1.2 to 5 meters) in aspect ratio 16: 9. As for the other parameters, the contrast is 2000: 1, and the manufacturer promises a brightness level of 500 ANSI or 6000 Lumens. The built-in speakers are 5W each.

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The projector comes packed like other devices of this brand, so we are talking about a white and green, simple cardboard with a plastic handle for easy carrying. Apart from the name of the manufacturer and model, we will find nothing else here – no photos of the product, no specifications Neither in Chinese, nor in English, and even less in Polish. Inside, the projector is secured with foam moldings and a foil bag, and apart from that, you will find instructions (in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish), two string bags and a black one. They hide all the necessary cabling: power cord, HDMI, V GA (D-Sub) and RCA – Jack 3.5 mm. The icing on the cake is of course a small, light but solid remote control. It requires two AAA batteries, which are not included in the set.

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The projector comes with a full set of necessary cables and a small, handy remote control.

BlitzWolf BW-VP6 makes a good first impression The design of the housing, the fitting of the elements and the materials used are exemplary. Nothing smells “Chinese”. If the housing was printed with the name of a more reputable, recognizable brand in Europe / Poland, probably no one would know. The projector is almost entirely white, with black and gray accents. The plastic surface is slightly rough, and on the bottom there are four rubber, twisted legs (you can replace them on your own for other – the thread is universal). The control buttons are located on the top of the device and refer to the navigation arrows, the Menu key, OK and Back. The switch is located on the back of the device, just below the I / O panel. The aforementioned matt black remote control offers some more functions. There are also the buttons listed here (including Power), and apart from them, the Mute, Settings, Source selection, Volume up / Quieter, Home buttons are mentioned.

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The set of connectors offered by the Chinese projector are two HDMI 1.4, one VGA (D-SUB), two USB 2.0, headphone jack and AV All of them are located on the panel on the back of the unit, including the place for the power cord. Next to it is a sponge filter hole through which air is sucked in to cool the inside of the projector. The exhaust hole is on the left side, closer to the front. based on an aluminum, richly ribbed heatsink (about 80 x 80 millimeters) through which four 6-millimeter copper heat pipes pass. The whole is complemented by two unspecified fans – one standard, 90 – millimeter thick 25 millimeters and the second slightly more massive because 93 – millimeter thick 30 millimeters.

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Although the producer declares that files in the .mkv format are supported, in our case attempts to play such films have been unsuccessful.

Image with BlitzWolf BW-VP6 can be displayed in two ways: either by connecting the projector to an external device such as a PC, laptop, smartphone or home theater, or directly from a pendrive. In the second case, the producer says that video materials in AVI, MKV, MP4 format are supported , MOV, MPG, TS, TP, M2TS, DAT, FLV, SWF, ASF, VOB, RM, RMVB, 3GP; audio in MP3, ASF, WMA, AAC, OGG format and JPG, BMP and PNG images. music and photos wasn’t really a problem, yes the projector has not played any of my .mkv files. Regardless of their weight, resolution or codecs used. Each time it returned information about an unsupported format. However, files with the AVI, MP4, FLV or RMVB extension could be played without any problems, just like materials from a computer – even if broadcasted in resolution 1920 x 1200 instead of native 1920 x 1080 pixels.

“src =” http://www.purepc.pl/image/mini_recenzja/2020 / 10 / 29 _blitzwolf_projector_test_bw_vp6_native_full_hd_w_lowkiej_cenie_9.jpg “> Two shots taken in the middle of the night. The image was projected onto a plain white wall, although the photos do not reflect % of the realities are very close to her.

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And what is the quality of the BlitzWolf BW-VP6 I did not expect much from the equipment at this price and straight from China – just a projector to watch with juice of a match or home tournament in Tekkena, but the image allows for much more, it is sharp, bright, and the colors are good, although not perfect (the biggest distortions are seen in green). It is nice to watch films thrown against a plain white wall both at night and during the day, although in the latter case it is better to cover the windows if there is sunny and we lose a lot of details in bright scenes. Built-in speakers are also good for them – audiophiles or owners of good audio equipment will immediately hear that “it could be better”. However, if someone has only a laptop or typical, plastic “farts” for a PC for <100 zlotys, the projector will be better here.

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Same shot – on the top from the projector, on the bottom screenshot from the computer. The difference in colors is clear, but the camera also plays its own. Nevertheless, you can see that the BlitzWolf BW-VP6 has a problem with green and yellow on the factory settings.

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The keystone function may be beneficial in small Thanks to it, the projector does not have to stand in front of the wall / screen.

Of course, it is possible and very easy to adjust the sharpness of the image. We do it manually by turning the lens on What’s more, BlitzWolf BW-VP6 has a built-in, retractable stand that allows you to tilt the device, and in addition, the options include keystone adjustment and the ability to change the image size (from 75% to 100%, in increments of 1%). But let’s focus on the keystone function – what does it do? Simply put, it allows the projector not to stand in front of the wall or screen onto which the image is to be projected. The device can simply be attached to the ceiling or placed somewhere to the side at an angle. Still, the image will not be “crooked” (trapezoidal), but will keep the proportions of a rectangle.

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EIZO test board in the middle of the night at the top, PurePC home page at the bottom about an hour 16: 00 on a cloudy afternoon with the windows open in the room.

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Okay, does BlitzWolf BW-VP6 have any disadvantages? Of course – at this price it could not be perfect. The biggest drawback is, in my opinion, the working culture of the device. While watching the movie, you can still hear the clear noise of the fans. The average volume is about , 7 dB (A) We performed the measurement on our own using a Benetech GM decibelometer 1356 with an accuracy of +/- 1.5 dB (class 2), in a soundproofed room, without reflection of sound waves hey. This value already audibly stands out beyond the background at home or the watched movie (on the low-medium volume of the built-in speakers). The culprit is probably just cheap Chinese fans because the heat sink is really well made. I suspect replacing them with something brand name will solve the problem. Another disadvantage is the fact that while BlitzWolf BW-VP6 allows you to browse the Internet without any problems, smaller fonts (especially black on a white background) can hardly be called readable from a distance of about 2.5 meters. In my case, the text size is only from 16 upwards provided a comfortable reading of articles and comments available on PurePC.

The average volume of the BlitzWolf BW-VP6 cooling system during operation is approximately 43, 7 dB (A). That’s a lot and the air noise is clearly audible.

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At the end, there is one more issue that should be mentioned: If someone does not know the English language, and is also “less technical”, at the beginning he may have a problem with connecting and operating BlitzWolf BW-VP6. the included manual is devoid of Polish, and while you can choose one in the device menu, it lacks Polish characters, in general the quality of the translation is worse than Google Translate, and yet some words are still in English. beginning to end of English. Younger speakers will have no problem with it, and if you plan buying a projector for parents or grandparents is simply to “train” them. The actual installation and use of the BlitzWolf BW-VP6 is simple. Connect the power cord, connect the selected video cord and turn on the projector. Then we use a small remote that has only a few buttons and all of them use the universal markings known from TV remote controls.

“src =” http://www.purepc.pl/image/mini_recenzja/2020 / 10 / 29 _blitzwolf_projector_test_bw_vp6_native_full_hd_w_lowkiej_cenie_8.jpg “> Example of “Polish language” in the BlitzWolf BW-VP6 menu.

To sum up, BlitzWolf BW-VP6 is a solidly made projector that offers Full HD resolution at a low price. The quality and brightness of the image is good, the quality and volume of the sound from the built-in speakers is satisfactory, and in the box we will find everything we need to connect devices for a computer, laptop or home theater. Both the older standard VGA (D-SUB), RCA and newer HDMI. The projector is pleasant to use without dedicated screens, simply by displaying a game or movie on a white wall. for this broke not a darkened room. The biggest disadvantage of BlitzWolf BW-VP6 is the work culture – the fans in the cooling system are quite loud and can be heard while playing or watching, although they do not drown out the sounds from the game / movie. The quality (or lack thereof) of translating the menu from English into Polish also leaves a lot to be desired. Even Google Translate would do better with it.

BlitzWolf BW-VP6 is a solidly made projector that offers Full HD resolution at a low price. The image quality and brightness is really good, as is the sound quality and volume from the built-in speakers.

“src =” http://www.purepc.pl/image/mini_recenzja/2020 / 10 / 29 _ project_projector_blitzwolf_bw_vp6_natyw_full_hd_w_niskiej_cenie_5.jpg “> How much is BlitzWolf BW-VP6? On the Chinese sales platform Banggood, to which the BlitzWolf brand belongs, this is approximately 749 PLN with courier shipping from the Czech Republic included, so the equipment will be with us within 2 to 5 working days.For PurePC readers we have special code BGPUREPCVP6 (number of uses limited), which reduces the price by approximately 665 PLN For this price you will not get anything better in Poland on the primary market. The cheapest branded equipment with similar parameters, c zyli Philips NPX 640 NeoPix Ultra, is an expense from 1299 zlotys upwards. If you already find a projector cheaper, at best with native resolution 720 p, instead of 1080 pi without built-in speakers. Thus, there is nothing else for us to do but award BlitzWolf BW-VP6 with “Profitability!” and “We recommend!”.

BlitzWolf BW-VP6

Price: 745 PLN

Complete wiring kit included
Full HD Native Resolution

Built-in speakers (2x 5 W)

Exemplary Workmanship
Good Image Quality
Keystone function
Low price

Work culture could be better
Low level of menu translation
Cannot play .mkv files from pendrive

The equipment for testing was provided by the company:

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heise + | Nikon Z 5 in the test: Entry into mirrorless full format

With the Z 5, Nikon is expanding its mirrorless full format system downwards and is aimed at ambitious beginners. Beginners also because the camera was initially only available with a kit lens. Nikon recently started listing the camera as “body only”.

Compared to the Z 6 and Z 7 siblings, the camera is clearly slimmed down, which is clearly due to the target group. Despite all the savings, Nikon delivers a solid camera that with a kit lens stays below the 2000 – Euro mark. First a look at the technical data.

FM revived: mini synthesizer with Yamaha chip

Fancy the retro gaming sound of the he? A small kit awakens the sound generators YM 150 or YM 3438 to new life.

The concise sound of FM synthesis shaped a whole generation of music and games – there is hardly a title that did without the bell-like sounds of the legendary Yamaha DX7 at the end of the eighties. The ingenious synthesis process was later found in a slimmed-down form on sound cards and in game consoles (for example from SEGA): Retro gamers will love the YM 2612, which was later replaced by the compatible YM 3438. The latter is characterized by less intermodulation distortion and thus a more “analog” sound.

The Spanish company With the DAFM Synth, Kasser Synths has released a kit that skilfully solves the not entirely trivial control of the FM chips: Four small OLED graphic displays show several parameters (such as the envelopes of the four FM operators) simultaneously, making navigation easy is ensured by two rotary encoders. A small touch keyboard is built in to try out the sounds, but the device can also be completely controlled via MIDI. No SMD knowledge is required to set it up, but a ready-made device is also available. However, the pleasure is not quite cheap: Due to the limited availability of the now valuable FM ICs, the kit costs around 150 euros.

(cm)

Panasonic Lumix S: New lenses and video updates for system cameras

With the Lumix S 85 mm F1.8, Panasonic is expanding the range of lenses for its mirrorless System cameras of the Lumix S series. The telephoto focal length is particularly suitable for portrait photography and opens the aperture to a maximum of f / 1.8. Nine aperture blades are supposed to ensure a pleasant bokeh. The lens remains comparatively compact and weighs only about 300 grams. In addition, according to the manufacturer, it is dust and splash-proof and frost-proof to minus 10 Degree. From the end of November the Lumix S 70 mm F1.8 for just under 650 Euro.

With this lens Panasonic wants to start a series of prime lenses with the same form factor and the speed of f / 1.8. On the 85 he should promptly receive a 24 – millimeter, one 35 – millimeter and one 50 – Millimeter version to follow. In addition to the size and position of the controls, these optics should also share the filter diameter. Photographers could use the same accessories.

With the Lumix S 85 mm f / 1.8 establishes a new line of prime lenses that have the same format factor and the same speed.

(Image: Panasonic)

So far, Panasonic has mainly concentrated on zoom lenses in its Lumix-S system. With the Lumix S Pro 50 mm f / 1.4, the manufacturer only offered one almost 2500 Euro extremely expensive normal focal length. But Panasonic has also announced a new zoom lens for the future. There should be a focal length range from 70 to 300 have millimeters and a light intensity of f / 4.5 to f / 5.6.

Since the Lumix-S cameras for the so-called L -Mount Alliance, also supply Leica and Sigma lenses in addition to Panasonic. Overall, photographers can therefore choose from significantly more than 30 lenses from these manufacturers.

Comprehensive firmware updates for Lumix S and an update for Lumix G In addition to the lens, Panasonic also announced extensive firmware updates for the end of November, especially the video capabilities of the Lumix S5 and its larger siblings Lumix S1 , S1R and S1H. The S5 is supposed to use moving images in C4K resolution of 4096 × 2160 can record pixels. In addition, a raw video output with 5.9k, 4k and 3.5k with 12 bit via HDMI. In addition, the S5 will support the output of Apple ProRes-Raw on Atomos Ninja-V-HDMI recorder.

The S1R should after its update videos in 5K with 4992 × 3744 Pixels with up to 30 P at 4 : 2: 0 10 bit. In addition, according to Panasonic 4K recordings with up to 60 p (4: 2: 2 10 bit) via HDMI. Furthermore, the S1R should then be compatible with the DMW-XLR1 microphone adapter, which enables professional sound recordings.

The November update will improve the autofocus capabilities for all Lumix-S models. Among other things, Panasonic promises optimized subject recognition and that autofocus and manual focus can be used in parallel for video recordings.

The Micro Four Thirds camera G

get a firmware update. It will then be compatible with the Lumix webcam software. Furthermore, the image should be able to be mirrored in the monitor if it is rotated forwards.

(ssi)

Dali Menuet SE

Our Verdict

If space is limited, the Dali Menuet SE speakers could be just what you’re looking for

For

Excellent detail resolution
Class-leading agility and precision
Terrific build and finish

Against

Size limits sonic authority and bass
Needs pampering to excel

For those who are tight on space, the choice of speakers is pretty limited. One of our favourite options in this situation is the long-running Dali Menuet range. We originally reviewed them around a decade ago and they have remained essentially unchanged since then.

Rather than replace them, Dali has now added this SE model. It’s clear that the company didn’t want to mess with a winning recipe, so the changes are relatively subtle.

Build

(Image credit: Dali)

On the outside, there’s a lovely Wild Walnut real wood veneer covered in an immaculately applied high gloss finish. It’s the only option at the moment, whereas the original version of this speaker still comes in four finishes – high gloss in either black or white, light walnut and something called Rosso.

The rest of the tiny 25cm tall cabinet remains unchanged. It’s about a big as a shoebox and feels immensely solid. Overall build is excellent, and we can’t think of a similarly priced alternative that does better.

Dali Menuet SE tech specs

(Image credit: Dali)

Frequency range 59Hz – 25kHz

Sensitivity 86dB

Impedance 4 ohms

Crossover frequency 3kHz

Dimensions (hwd) 25 x 15 x 23cm

Weight 4kg

The drive unit complement is the same as before. That 11.5cm mid/bass driver uses the company’s favoured wood fibre cone material, which is claimed to give a good balance between rigidity, low weight and damping properties. This unit has been designed to cope with wide ranging dynamics so the chassis design is as open as possible to help with airflow when things are really pumping.

At 28mm in diameter, the dome tweeter is fairly typical, but is claimed to be around 30 per cent lighter than similar designs, which helps in its ability to track the input signal.

The biggest change in engineering terms is the upgraded crossover that links the two drive units. This is now built on a higher quality circuit board that reduces electrical interference. The circuit features some pretty flash Mundorf capacitors, the type more usually seen only on high-end speakers costing many thousands of pounds. A set of high-grade single-wire terminals complete the design.

Compatibility

(Image credit: Dali)

These Menuet SEs are rated at 86dB/W/m and have a nominal impedance of 4 ohms, so will perform best with an amplifier with a decent amount of grunt. We think something like Cambridge’s CXA81 would be a good starting point. You’ll need a similarly capable source, otherwise these Dalis will bite with aggressive recordings or partnering equipment.

They work best close to a rear wall. In our test room we settle on around 20cm out from the wall, but it pays to experiment. Go too far and the speakers start to sound a little insubstantial and lack solidity. Also, make sure you fire the Menuets straight ahead, rather than angling towards the listening position. Dali always designs its speakers to sound better when positioned this way.

Our review samples sound a little bright and forward straight from the box, but things settle down after we run them for a few days.

(Image credit: Dali)

The Menuet SE are impressively fast and responsive performers. We can’t think of an alternative that sounds so precise or agile. We play Dvorak’s New World Symphony and are pleased by their ability to render masses of detail and organise it in a musically convincing manner.

These Dalis are dynamic and generate a sense of scale that’s out of keeping with their modest dimensions. They image well, producing an expansive, well-focused soundstage. There’s also a pleasing lack of restraint to the presentation that makes music exciting and entertaining.

Speakers this small are never going to dig particularly deep at low frequencies, but when positioned close to a wall these Dalis do better than expected. They cover their tracks well enough that a lack of bass isn’t a big issue in smaller rooms.

If you go looking for it, the shortfall of bass muscle shows through in a lack of sonic authority and the inability to reproduce enough of the power of an orchestra to truly convince. But we can forgive that, given the Menuet’s compact stature. No one should buy speakers of this size and expect floor-shaking bass or class-leading sonic authority.

(Image credit: Dali)

Tonally, things are nicely judged. There’s a pleasing richness to the midband that gives the sound a decent dose of solidity. The treble is a little forward, but remains refined and well integrated as long as the speakers are carefully partnered.

We switch to High Hopes by Bruce Springsteen and the Dalis shine. They have an explicit and well-projected midrange that makes the most of Springsteen’s passionate vocals. His voice comes through with a level of texture and nuance that’s hard to better at this price. These Menuets really excel with voices.

They can party too, conveying rhythms with precision and drive, and having enough in the way of punch to satisfy. Given appropriate source material, these boxes deliver a thrilling listen that brims with energy.

Verdict

These Dalis are tiny speakers, and that means bigger alternatives will invariably give more when it comes to low-end muscle, sonic authority and dynamic reach. But, when it comes to detail, agility and dynamic expression, particularly in the midrange, these are as good as it gets for the price.

If you’re tight for listening space, these Dali Menuet SEs could be the speakers you’ve been waiting for.

SCORES

Sound 5
Compatibility 4
Build 5

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